Ch. 14
Pale Image
In the end Mr. and Mrs. Wilsen had gotten their way. Tsukiyono Omi was not placed within a Kritiker hospital and instead was placed in a normal one where he was allowed to recover from all his injuries with no visits allowed. Manx had approved of this plan to the outrage of the other Weiss members. But even their blinding anger did not change the fact that she knew Omi would not yet be ready to face them. Somehow she doubted the boy would ever be able to face them again.
She had been the one to make the decision that should have been made years ago. Omi had a family. He had a home… He was free. She instead had stayed trapped in her obligations to Kritiker and the first thing that had needed to be done was to clear up this murder incident and to wipe any evidence found on the crime site that could possibly lead back to Omi. His darts, his blood… Anything at all.
Months had passed and so it was with real surprise when she answered her phone to hear a soft voice.
"…hello?" The air stayed stuck in her throat as she recognized it and tears that she'd been hiding for so long now started to pearl into her eyes. She tried to blink them away and her hand came up to cover her mouth, hoping to suppress the sound that was too close to a sob to come out.
"Mmm-hmm." She muttered, hoping that would be enough and that this dream wouldn't end. Because it just had to be a dream.
"Are… are you Manx-san?" The shy voice asked. She nodded and then bit her lip. He couldn't see her.
"Yes…I am."
"I. I'm not sure if I remember many things correctly but…I know you. Or I did. And I knew of others. I…Okaa-san and Otto-san told me that… that all of you were sad… and…wanted to see me." The voice kept breaking as it spoke those words. It made her heart in her chest hurt. 'I wish I could have protected you better…oh Omi… how I wish…things had been different.' "W-would that be all right?"
"O-of course! Of course! You…" Her face twisted with the grief she'd been forced to bear alone and out of sight. "We miss you." A tear fell down her cheek, marring the makeup that had been put on her face to hide the palor of her face. "When?" Her voice caught on the word. Was this dream a reality? Was this truly happening?
"I…I don't know. I… I will call back. Soon." There was a pause. "…did…did you really miss me?" The question was what did her in. Crying as softly as she could, Manx continued in trying to answer and found it impossible.
"…y-es…" God how he had been missed. There was an odd sound at the other end of the phone.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. It was… rude of me. I'm sorry. I—goodbye." The communication was ended abruptly. And for a few horrifying moments Manx was struck down with the horrible feeling that it truly had been another dream. But when a secretary came in her face showing the utter shock at seeing this usual cold woman breaking down, a spark of hope entered her. That was when Manx started to chuckle, her fist now rising to her forehead.
The strength of this child… She closed her eyes, wiping away the tears before looking up and smiling. A real smile. Omi.
She let the phone drop back in it's cradle before picking it up again. There were others who needed to hear this kind of news…
…
Omi placed the phone back in its place and closed his eyes, a pained look on his face. It still hurt when he tried to remember but not the excruciating pain that he'd felt before. All the doctors had said it was a miracle he could even remember anything at all… So much of that poison had been placed into his system in one go that he should have been rendered into a vegetable… a person in complete comatose. He felt a warm and reassuring hand rest on his shoulder. Omi's eyes opened and he turned his face slightly to see that his mother was standing next to him with a certain sadness and pride mixed in her eyes.
The Wilsen's had truly adopted him. And they had continued to love even though they knew of his lies… and the lies that Manx had given them no doubt to protect them. But to protect them from what? He couldn't remember. When he tried… He hissed as a sharper pain stabbed through him. The hand that was on his shoulder tightened. He gave a wobbly smile.
"I'm okay." Omi said softly. "I'm okay…" He let his own hand rise and grasp the hand that was giving him comfort. He leaned back into the support and let himself be held until the pain was pushed aside. "How much time until I can have the next painkiller, Okaa-san?" His mother's eyes darkened.
"I think its another couple of hours." She said just as softly. "Is it your head or your hands?" As she asked this, Mrs. Wilsen was very careful not to move her hand that was underneath him. She didn't want to rub or irritate the still very sore hand. After many operations, skin grafts, and the very beginnings of physical therapy, Omi had started to regain some motion in the right hand. The other one, due to infections was still heavily bandaged and regular visits to the hospital were still needed. Still even the right hand was still too tender for most things. The adoptive mother looked carefully at the face that was giving her such a trusting look. He hadn't remembered the events of that one day and night that had caused him to come home in such a state. Perhaps it was for the best that he didn't.
Still though… She wished it would be easier on her son to remember other things. Such as Aya-chan, and those young men who had taken care of him before that one case they'd all been working on had taken a bad turn.
"Okaa-san…" His soft voice was worried. "Daijoubu?" She nodded. Omi moved his hand gingerly, feeling the muscles ache. He'd used it more today than he'd had for months now. "D-do you think seeing them will be okay?" He asked, hoping that his fear didn't show in his words. There was a soft sigh that dispelled the air near his hair.
"We'll do it on your time honey. If it hurts or if its just too much… you don't have to do this Omi." She paused. "I'm sure they're happy just knowing that you're safe. Maybe you could start by writing them or…or e-mailing them! Yes that would be good, ne?" She threw in the random Japanese word to show that she hadn't been slacking in her studies. Omi shook his head a smile stealing onto his face. A random thought had made its way back to him. Perhaps a memory?
"Ke—" He frowned. "Most of them don't know how to use a computer very well but…uhm…" Her hand rose to gently go through his hair, trying in vain to get his longish bangs to stay out of his face. "…that girl does. I… think I taught her how to. Maybe."
The woman stayed silent as she watched the perspiration bead down the young looking face. If those men who had done this to him and other children hadn't already been killed… she thought she would have gladly done it. Nothing could make up for what they'd done. Nothing. Her hand came to the forehead and wiped it off gently. Omi's eyes closed again.
"Why does it always feel like the effect of this medicine is getting worse?" Omi asked, his voice rough with pain.
"Because you're fighting it." And you're doing the impossible. He was remembering…
"I think….I'm gonna go lie down. But I will write to them. I just… don't know what to write…"
…
Ken awaited impatiently behind Aya-chan as she logged onto the computer. Mrs. Wilsen had called Manx a day after Omi had called her to say that Omi though he wasn't ready to see them, he wanted to write to them. E-mail. Computers. It was the first time in his life that Ken actually liked the stupid technology. He'd always found it useful but that hadn't meant he liked it. Now he did. It was going to bring him news of Omi. Omi…
He was alive and well… and he… he was going to talk to them. Ken could kiss anyone at the moment, he was so happy. Even Yoji.
Speaking of the man, Ken looked at the older man and grinned at him.
Things were going to be okay.
Everything was going to be okay. Ran's pale but strong hand came to lean on Ken's shoulder in an attempt to get the jock to stop bouncing around. Even he was smiling though as he waited for the internet connection to take place.
"We've got mail guys…" Aya-chan broke the suspense with a squeal. "It's him!"
…
Weeks had passed, days and hours melting away as life continued endlessly to go on its merry way. Today was different though. The little flower shop was closed but the Weiss members were sitting in the room, tense and waiting for someone to come from the back entrance.
It was Ken who held the little diary that he had started in his lap. His fingers were tight around the item. A tentative knock was heard and all members stood up, faces alight. It was Ran's longer stride that reached the door first and greeted the Wilsen's and Omi inside.
Omi was hidden slightly behind his adoptive parents, his face already strained. He paused at the doorway though, his eyes widening as he took in the faces that were looking at him. Everyone stilled, no one dared to move, much less breathe. Until…
Ken leapt from the spot that he had been rooted to, the small notebook landing to the ground with a dull thud as he passed the anxious looking parents, seeing only one thing. He placed this one person into a strong embrace before breaking down in great gasping sobs.
Omi was home.
He'd finally gotten proof of Omi's existence.
Omi was home.
A/N=Another chapter or two and then this fic is over. Teehee… does a little dance. Is this still okay? I hope you guys still enjoy this story! Please let me know!