The office was dimly lit , most of the employees had gone home to their families and he was the only one left .
Yohji sat up suddenly on his chair , his brows knitted together in surprise .
" ... you will ?
Yes , I understand that there are no guarantees ;
but ...
they're willing to take the risk .
Hn .
Yes , the expenses will be covered by my company . Yes , I've contacted someone who will supply all the instruments you'll need .
I have to verify it with his doctors , I'll talk to you about it when he's healthy enough for an operation .
Thank you , Doctor . I'll call you soon ."
Yohji sighed as he replaced the receiver and leaned back on his chair .
He was harboring a large headache and it was getting on his nerves .
" Schul . You owe me one ." He said out loud , gulping down his fifth cup of lukewarm coffee before jumping up to his feet and hurrying to his car , grabbing his coat on the way out .
† † †
He knew he had a fever . He knew it the moment he had gotten into his car . Over-fatigue had taken its toll and he knew it wasn't long before he'd have to be bedridden as well . He clenched his teeth as his vision blurred into a kaleidoscope of colours .
... just a little more ...
His fingers felt like jelly as he turned the key and switched the engine off ; his teeth were chattering now , and he was feeling colder than he had ever felt in his life .
I'm almost there , Ken ...
People were staring strangely at him now as he lurched through the corridors and into the elevator , his head rolling over to the side uncontrollably as if it took too much effort to hold it up .
" Excuse me sir , are you alright ?" The only other passenger there , a nurse , asked him with worried eyes .
Schuldich looked at her vaguely , reminded of the other nurse's words , in a different world , a different time , a different reality . " I'm fine ." It took all his energy to say those few words .
The numbers on the digital face rose slowly .
15 ... 16 ... 17 ... 18 .
Ping !
The doors opened and he stepped out unsurely , his normally graceful stride looking like a drunkard's swagger .
The white corridors spun , and white walls blended with white doors into a mass of whiteness .
He could Ken's door ; it was almost in his reach . In a sudden fit of helplessness , he collapsed but was caught by a pair of strong tanned arms .
" Whoa there ! Your little lover there wouldn't want to see that kind of Schul inside his room !" The teasing voice of Yohji greeted his ears .
And he looked up to see the grinning face of his friend ; him with his cheeks slightly reddish with fever . " How ... is he ?"
" He's gonna be fine man . A doctor's willing to operate !"
" He ... is ?" Schuldich croaked ; a small worn-out smile lighting his flushed face before he fell asleep in Yohji's arms .
† † †
Yohji placed his friend on the chair beside the boy's bed and put the redhead's cheek against the steady rising and falling chest of the sleeping brunette .
He knew that Schuldich had sacrificed so much for this kid . He'd sacrificed so much that maybe he hadn't even thought of leaving anything to himself .
It was sad , and yet at the same time , it made Yohji smile .
The arrogant and detached photographer Schuldich Schwarz had finally learned what it is to love and he knew that Ken was worth it too .
He was glad that he would finally be able to give something back to Schuldich .
Soon ... everything will be fine soon ...
" Nurse ! Could you get a spare bed in here please , I've got someone here who's got a high fever ."
† † †
He woke up from a dreamless sleep , his head heavy .
He had no idea what had happened , only that he was on his way to Ken .
Ken !
He jerked up from his leaning position only to find that he had been sleeping bent over the one person that mattered to him the most .
He still felt like hell , that much was for sure – but the sight of Ken looking as if he was just sleeping peacefully on that white bed was enough to reassure him completely and ignore the pounding in his temples .
He looked so perfect ...
So beautiful .
Schuldich couldn't believe how lucky he was to have met such a beautiful person as the one who was lying so silently before him . Even after all the pain , all the heartache ... Ken was well worth it .
Schuldich would have rather died a painful death that spend a moment regretting that he had never met that glorious angel that had changed his dull existence into a beautiful dream .
Even the worst day was fine just as long as Ken was at his side ; and Schuldich felt his heart constrict every time the thought occurred to him that just a little difference would have caused him not to meet Ken at all .
It was frightening .
" So you're awake ." He turned slowly , knowing who he was going to see standing over him with a self-satisfied smirk on his face .
" Yohji ."
" So , man . How're you feeling ?"
" I've seen better days ... but I'll survive ." He gave a small grin as he straightened up on his seat ; feeling a little bit sluggish still .
" Well , I have a feeling that you won't die so easy ." Yohji teased .
" You can bet on that ."
" The doctor says that there's a big possibility that he'll wake soon . Maybe a few days . Maybe a few hours ." Schuldich pulled up a chair and sat down beside Schuldich , watching the rhythmic rise and fall of Schuldich's source of affection .
Schuldich nodded slowly , feeling vastly relieved at the good news .
" I love him Yohji ." He said it so suddenly , with such emotion that Yohji looked up in surprise . " I couldn't help it , even when I tried ."
" Yeah , I know , Schul , I know ."
† † †
Redemption_Moon : Goodness gracious ! Chapter twenty-two already ! And I intended for it to end at twenty five !!! O___O;;; Crap . Maybe I should try for the thirtieth chapter mark . NOOOO !!! I wanted to end at twenty-five so I could start my other fic ! T_____T Support it please !!!! *Kenken kitty-katzchen eyes*
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Schu : Yes , I'm afraid he did . *sighs in relief that RM won't be killed* O____O ;;; Mymymy , you're pretty violent if I say so myself ... oh yes , please continue on reviewing !! ^____^
ariestar48 : Any comments ? Everything , including flames are welcome (I think I've gotten a LOT of those recently) ^___^
KyraEnsui : *fans her and tries to get her to wake up using everything from smelling salts to smelly socks* Eheheeee ... *mumbles* Scary people ...
Mariki : *leg gets gnawed on ; shakes leg with Mariki still attached* Arigatou , I appreciate that . And yes , the BradxKen Vice Versa SchuxKen Vice versa will continue !!! Just please support it ! (You guys have indulged me on this ! ^_____^) *big BIG BIG grin*
Dark Demigoddess : Hello there ! I don't think I've ever seen you around before ! *runs away to hunts for napkins and returns with a box in the mouth wagging tail* 3:00 a.m. ? I'm very much flattered nyah that you stayed up late to read my fic ! R_M's very honored nyah ! . Well , you can try kiss him ; but I'm not sure a disfigured dead and bloody Aya is much to look at . O___O;;; *major sweatdrops*
Ketty : Arigatou ! Please do keep reading and reviewing . ^_____^
Isil : Yes , I've heard more than several times now . *sweatdrops* And no , I don't want to die ! Schu has already promised me immunity from *her* death threats .
Whisper Reilman : *ponders mumbling to self* Maybe I'm turning predictable ... hmmmm ... Arigatou ! I can't believe that I actually have a FAN !!! *runs around screaming ecstatically and hides under Ken's bedcovers* Kenken , nyaaaa !!!! *finds Whisper Reilman hiding there too* HYYYYYAAAAA !!! *scandalized stare*
Zeto : Saaa ! Cyber Pocky ! *glomps Zeto*
Mistress of Drakness1 : Waaaaaiiii ! Arigatou ! Arigatou ! Arigatou !!!!! ^____~
Ran Mouri : IYYYYYAAAA ! *runs away from ax , screaming*
Misura : A-anou ... Don't cry ! *patspats* Ah , saa . I thought they would come out tacky but I guess they worked out fine didn't they ? ^___^
Anna Hibiki : à O____O;; (didn't really understand anything about Kurt Cobain-sama) Ah , I thinking about that RIGHT NOW ! ^___~ *winkies*
Manx16 : I had to try ! Y____Y *shrinks at all the loud shouts and verbal attacks* Aiyah ! T____T ... eh ? O___O;;; . Waiiii !!!!!
Schu-chan : ooooh ... yet another one . *patspats* Cheer up !!! You said so yourself , Aya's only dead in this fic , ne ? *gringrin*