The hospital looked somewhat drearier and dismal than the last time he had been there .
The faces grayer ; the lights dimmer , the odors more pungent . It was if the deaths that have occurred under its roof was killing it slowly ...
He closed his eyes and leaned against the wall as he waited for the doctor to emerge and for the arrival of Aya , whom he had asked Yohji to inform .
Ken had been wheeled inside the hospital for more or less an hour now ; and the last Schuldich had seen of him was when he was swept through a pair of white swinging doors .
He gritted his teeth in anticipation ; in anxiety – in fear and pulled the thermal blanket closer . He needed the comfort .
Several nurses had already tried to ask him to leave so he could at least change out of his dripping clothes but he refused the suggestion or their offers of lending him a hospital gown . He didn't give a shit for himself – hell he'd been so infatuated with himself for so long ... all he wanted to know was if Ken was going to be alright .
He wondered what was taking so long . Ken should be out by now . It was just probably over-fatigue . Ken did look tired and haggard and Schuldich knew that he should have paid closer attention ; but he didn't . Their makeup had made him to happy to notice anything wrong . He had just seen everything as perfect .
Now the world was just a fucked-up place , poisoning , gnawing , killing the dreams and the happiness of all the innocent people .
***
Schuldich looked up ; the door swung open , and out emerged the tired face of the doctor whom had taken charge of Ken .
Schuldich jumped to his feet , the thick blanket falling off his shoulders and dropping heavily to the floor . Sweat trickled down his spine like ice as he awaited the bitter news . Goosebumps had started to raise on his flesh and he clenched and unclenched his fists to control himself .
" How is he ? What happened ? What's wrong with him ?" He couldn't keep the questions from coming out . It just streamed out like a big river and all he could do was ask . It was as if his body was functioning all by itself and he was left on the outside looking in .
The doctor , a stout balding man in glasses and hospital scrubs , smiled wearily at Schuldich . "Don't worry , he's alright for now ; his condition's stabilized as of the moment .."
" What do you mean ?" Schuldich asked , baffled . He stared at the doctor as if it was the man's entire fault, which seemed to discomfit the man .
The doctor gazed at him for a moment , as if composing his thoughts before he replied . " I mean that we've managed to placate all those complications ." He said gently , as if he was talking to a small child instead of a fully-grown adult .
It was patronizing and it infuriated Schuldich even more .
" What complications ? He was perfectly fine ! What's wrong with him ?" The questions kept on pouring out .
The doctor sighed . " I've been Ken Hidaka's doctor for quite a while now and I'm not sure if he would like me to inform you – if he hadn't already told you himself ." The doctor sighed as he rubbed the back of his neck . This is usually the worst part of the job , God he hated saying these kinds of things people . Hell , why did he even become a doctor anyway ? He was overworked and underpaid and –
" Tell me what ? goddamnit !" Schuldich exploded . He was now gripping the doctor's shoulder and shaking him roughly . His heart thudded wildly . His eyes flashed like a trapped animal's .
The passersby , the nurses and patients and visitors stared at him with uneasiness . A few had already inched by to the intercom trying to decide whether to call the hospital security .
The doctor debated whether or not to tell him . He knew about the clandestine visits this man had made a few weeks ago , and he knew by intuition , some way or the other , that his young patient was close to him ... but still , Ken expressed once that he didn't want anyone else to know about his condition ...
Still …
His eyes softened in sympathy as he watched the perfectly sophisticated redhead tremble in fear . He breathed deeply , trying to summon the courage to spit out the words he had to say .
*****
" Ken ... well ... Ken – has severe leukemia . He's had it for years now ."
" Oh God ..." Schuldich gasped . He felt like the wind had been knocked out of him .
He couldn't breathe ! His breaths came out in short little puffs as he tried to inhale blessed oxygen . The doctor looked at him in alarm and hailed a passing nurse to get a paper bag .
Schuldich stood there , breathing shallowly , his eyes dazed . He swayed a little on his feet ; as if dancing a little dance , wavering .
He no longer paid attention to the stares , or the cold , or the doctor who was saying something to him .
All he could hear were the words : Ken has severe leukemia …
Dear God ! Ken has –
Ken has –
He stood there , motionless .
It was a few minutes before the doctor could force him to sit down .
† † †
R_M : Ah , yes , dear , beloved , cherished time . Yes . It took me two weeks to write this crummy chapter because I didn't exactly have the time to do it . So I will now answer your reviews for both chapters 16 and 17 before something school-related comes up and gobbles up all my beloved time .
YESSSSSSSSSSS !!!! Beyond the 150 review line already ! Arigatou to everyone !
Chapter 15 :
Misura : Well , since chapter 16 has already gone out , I'm not sure whether I should answer your question . *patspats* ^__~
Schu : Lol ! I could just imagine – but I'd rather not *blush* and yes , yay .
Jenken : Yup , I know what you mean by school = busy . Yes , it sucks but that just the way life is right ? Almost over ? Nah , I might just have a few or more chapters under my sleeve .
Whisper Reilman : Aha ! I thought so ! ^__~ Wow , what good luck to be able to get paid while reading fics . If only there was a real job like that , you know , d/ling stuff and surfin . That would just be too cool .
Mariki : *hands on hips* I did not force her to do anything ! *Gets Ken's jockey shorts and ties it around Mariki's neck* Go Schuldich , fetch boy !
Suisei Lady Dragon : Yes , I agree . Yup , I agree . Uh-huh , That's right . Sorry ^__^ (Damn am I dead tired)
Ketty : I'm glad it touched you the way it did . Maybe it's a better read than I expected . I will keep reading ; thanks for all the great reviews and keep on dolin !
Brizey : Ah yes , that did get a little bit cut off at chapter 16 ne ? Gomen ne .
Kasugai gummie : Hello there ! Your writing is rather familiar , do happen to be , by any chance one of my former reviewers and just changed your name ? Arigatou anyhow ... I'm not quite sure about Sword Buried Deep considering the lack of enthusiasm and impact on the audience .
Zeto : I don't mind , a review is a review and I'm not that choosy . Ummm ... We'll just have to wait and see ne ?
Chapter 16 :
Anna Hibiki : Arigatou so much for the support . I certainly have been enjoying getting your reviews just as much or maybe even more than you reading this fic . I'm glad that you'll be able to remember this fic even for just a short while !
Schu : Yes , I'm trying my very best to not let that happen , and hopefully it won't . I adore writing this fic most especially since it is my most well-received fic to date . I hope I did well too , and thanks .
Brizey : I agree , the story would be practically uses if it was just peachy the whole way right ? Ending ? We'll see .
Sakusha : You did ?! Cry , I mean ! Whoa ! I'm glad ! (uh ... not that I ever wanna see you crying ... just ... uh , that you empathized ...) lol
Mistress of darkness1 : O___O;;; I suppose I should take that one as a compliment ? Hopefully you wouldn't have a reason to hunt me down !!!
Mazie : O___x;;;; A-anou ... lol . You got me there . No . *fends away crazed Farfies*
KyraEnsui : *Runs around , hyperactive with you *
Mariki : You got your answer in this chapter . Don't worry , I'm like that MOST of the time so there's nothing to be scared of – not unless you're afraid of being a neurotic psychopath like me !
Anushkajan : Arigatou , your support is deeply appreciated . Truly . Actually , nothing really happened that led to this , I had just been dropping hints and stuff that Ken might actually be sick so that people would not just be annoyed that there's another fact to be digested in one surprising chapter . Basically , Ken had already been showing signs of his illness even before he and Schuldich met . ^___^
Schu-chan : Evil ? Moi evil ? Waaaah ! *goes and cries in the corner with you*
Misura : Mean ! Anou ! I'm not mean ! X__X ……... *sweatdrops*
Ketty : Yup , we'll get to that , don't you worry .
Ariestar48 : *O_O; at all the threats* Anou ... don't be mad ... *inches away* Tasukete onegai ! *runs away from a knife-wilding Ariestar*
Ryia Jen Rowen : I'm glad you found it ! ^__^ and hopefully you will continue supporting it ! ^__~ more to come !