Chapter 3
Shuichi was finally able to sit down. For the past half hour police had questioned him. He knew that he had been a suspect, but his friends could place him at NG studios during the time of Yuki's attack.
He took a seat in the hospital waiting room next to Tatsuha. Once Tatsuha had been informed of what happened to Yuki, he had told Mika and Tohma. Now they were all down there, waiting to see if Yuki was still alive.
The look Tohma had given him when Mika and him had arrived was engraved in his head. He looked so angry, and had looked even angrier at the sight of Yuki's blood on Shuichi's hands.
Shuichi scrubbed at his hands with the cloth the nurse had given him. The blood had dried on his hands, making it harder for him to get it out.
"You know it's your fault."
"Eh?" Shuichi's head snapped up and he stared shocked at Tohma. "My fault?"
Tohma glowered at him through swollen eyes. Shuichi could tell he had been crying, so had Tatsuha. Mika somehow managed to keep her composure throughout this.
"It's your fault," repeated Tohma. "If you had actually been on time getting home, you might've spotted the person who did this."
His words cut through Shuichi's heart. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out.
Tatsuha jumped up. "This is NOT Shuichi's fault!! He's not Aniki's keeper!! So what if he was late getting home!! He works his ass off working at your record company!! How can you sit there and try to blame him for this?!"
"It's easy," said Tohma. "Eiri-san's attacker was no doubt someone who didn't approve of their relationship. So then it's Shindou-san's fault."
"Please stop this," demanded Mika. "This is not the time to be placing blame on anyone!! We should be grateful to Shindou-kun for saving his life!!"
"That's right!!" barked Tatsuha.
Tohma sighed. "I'm only stating the facts."
Shuichi was about to speak when the doctor came up to them. "Who is the family of Uesugi Eiri?"
Everyone stood up. Mika was about to speak, but Tohma cut her off. "I'm his brother-in-law. This is his sister, and his brother."
The doctor eyed Shuichi. "Are you part of the family, too? If not, then I'll have to ask the rest of you to come with me."
Before Tohma could confirm it, Tatsuha jumped to his feet. "He's our cousin!!"
"All right, forgive my rudeness," the doctor told Shuichi. Tohma glared at Tatsuha behind the doctor's back.
"How is Eiri?" questioned Mika. "He will be all right, won't he?"
The doctor cleared his throat. "He's stabilized. He suffered a few broken ribs and a broken cheekbone, but those aren't too serious. His most serious injuries are in his head. His skull is cracked and there is a disruption in the brain waves. It's not as serious as we had originally thought, but it is serious. Also..."
"Also what?" asked Mika.
"He's in a light coma. He should come out of it in a week or so. It appears..."
Shuichi couldn't hear anymore of what the doctor was saying. Hearing about his injuries was bad enough. Now knowing he was in a coma made his mind go numb with shock.
Coma...coma. Head injuries often did that to people. Several times people wouldn't wake up from comas and their families would take them off of life support. And other times when they would actually wake up they would be basket cases.
Shuichi went back to his seat and sat down. Why did it have to happen to Yuki? Sure he was probably the biggest asshole Shuichi had ever met, but Yuki had never done anything to deserve this.
There was a gentle tug on his arm, and Shuichi looked up. Tatsuha was standing above him. Fresh tears stained his face. "They're allowing us to see Aniki."
Shuichi allowed Tatsuha to pull him up, not knowing how much time had passed. They both followed Mika and Tohma through the halls of the hospital. Part of Shuichi didn't want to see Yuki, but the better half knew he would find a little closure in seeing him.
They stopped in front of a window. "You'll be able to go inside within the next few days," said the doctor. "For now this is the only way you can see him."
Shuichi stared through the glass, his eyes glued on the still form in the bed. "Yuki..."
There was thick bandage wrap around Yuki's head that circulated around under his chin. He looked so vulnerable, Shuichi wish he could bypass all things of reality and literally yank him out of his coma. But he knew that he couldn't.
Mika touched the glass with her fingertips. "I never thought I would see Eiri in such a terrible state."
"We can only hope for the best," said Tohma, a tear running down his face. "In the meantime, we should contact your father. I know he's not exactly in good terms with Eiri-san, but he has the right to know what happened to his son."
"I'll make the call once we get home."
Tatsuha swallowed. "Aniki will pull out of this. I just know he will. He's too stubborn to die in such a way."
Shuichi rested his forehead on the glass, more tears spilling from his eyes.
God, I don't pray often but I need your help. Please watch over Yuki. Please preserve his life and don't take it away. He's not exactly the nicest guy in the world, but I love him. Please help him...
***
"Are you serious?!" demanded Hiro.
Shuichi nodded. "I can't go home because the police are still checking for clues. Can I stay with you?"
"Yeah, sure." Hiro sat cross-legged on the floor. "Shit, I'm sorry."
Shuichi also sat down. "Don't be, you didn't cause this."
"But you sense that something was wrong with Yuki. We should've just listened to you. If we had-"
"Then I would be in the hospital, too. Hiro, I can't fight worth shit. Even if I had discovered the assailant they would've done the exact same thing to me." he sighed heavily. "Seguchi-san blames me for it."
"W-What?!"
"Yeah. He told me I should've gone home on time today."
Hiro grabbed Shuichi's shoulders. "I'm not bashing Seguchi-san's ass, but you shouldn't let it get to you. When Yuki was sick with that ulcer, whom did Seguchi-san blame? You. When Yuki left for New York, whom did Seguchi-san blame? You. He blames you for everything that happens to Yuki because you so easily blame yourself. He may be your boss, but he's not God. Don't let him walk all over you."
Shuichi sighed. "I don't see why he should blame me. I found Yuki like that and tried to stop the bleeding in his head."
Hiro let him go and stood. "You've had a long day. Go get some sleep, we have an early day tomorrow."
"But I can't go to work!! Not with Yuki in the hospital!!"
"Shuichi, Yuki with get better. When he does, will he want to see you moping around doing absolutely nothing?"
"..."
"I thought so. Now go to bed. Though Yuki is in the hospital it won't stop K-san from getting on your case."
"..."
***
"GET SOME LYRICS DONE OR I'LL BLOW YOU AWAY!!!!!!" declared K, shoving his M16 right into Shuichi's face.
"AGH!!!!!!" Shuichi hid behind Hiro.
Sakano stepped forward. "I know it's been hard on you, Shuichi. We heard about what happened, but we feel the best way to help you is to take your mind off the current situation."
"In other words," said Suguru. "Writing the song that's almost due."
Shuichi sighed heavily, taking a seat behind the school desk stationed in the center of the recording studio. "I'll try. I need a pen and paper."
Both were handed to him. For the next five hours he tried to think of a song, but nothing popped up in his head. He had already written the opening lines for the song, but nothing else seemed to fit it.
Shuichi sighed for the thousandth time, reading over the one line he had:
Ki zukanai furi wo shite
(Pretending not to notice)
This is too hard!! he thought to himself, slamming the paper back down onto his desk. I'm trying not to think of it, but writing the song only makes me think of Yuki!!
Hiro picked up the piece of paper. "Hmm, now this is better than yesterday's crap."
Suguru took the paper. "Just one line in five hours?!"
K looked over his shoulder. "Well, it IS better, but it's not enough to actually call it a song!!"
"Give me a few days," promised Shuichi. "I'll develop on it from that line."
"You'll need to hurry," said Sakano. "The deadline is coming soon."
***
Over the next few days Shuichi tried to occupy his time by writing the song. He managed to find the right words, but those only worked to fill up two more lines.
Shuichi studied the lyrics. They were perfect, but he hadn't developed the melody for them:
Ki zukanai furi wo shite
(Pretending not to notice)
Chiisana mado kara tooku wo mitsumeteta
(I gazed far outside a small window)
Sora ni hirogaru tenshi no koe
(The voice of an angel fills the sky)
"So far, so good," said Hiro, reading the lyrics. "You still haven't developed the melody?"
"Yeah," said Shuichi, taking the lyrics back. "I think I'll come up with one soon though."
"So, you want to go clubbing tonight?"
"Can't I'm going to go see Yuki. Seguchi-san and Mika-san didn't tell me this, but Tatsuha-san said we could visit him in his room."
"All right. Take care, okay?"
"I will."
***
"Shuichi!! You came?!" asked Tatsuha.
"Yeah," said Shuichi, walking up to Tatsuha. "Is something wrong?"
"Onee-san and Tohma-san are on their way here. Try to be careful."
Shuichi quickly nodded. "I'll make my visit quick."
"He's looking better. The swelling in his face has gone down."
"I'm worried about the swelling in his head."
"Me too. But the doctor told me not to worry about it."
They stopped in front of Yuki's door. Tatsuha coughed slightly. "I'm gonna go get a soda. Want anything?"
"No thanks. I just want to see him."
"All right. See ya in a few minutes!!" then he was gone.
Shuichi took a deep breath and entered the room. He was greeted by the soft beeps from the machines hooked up to Yuki.
He walked straight to Yuki's bed and stood next to it. He leaned down and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. "Hi, Yuki. I'm sorry I didn't come earlier today, but I've been so busy."
Yuki didn't respond to him.
"You don't have to worry about your injuries. You'll recover, and then you can get back to writing your books, having an attitude, and...being with me."
He still didn't respond.
"I love you, Yuki. Even if you don't wake up and you die, my feelings won't change. But I hope you don't die, because I don't know if I can live without you."
Yuki's fingers twitched, but Shuichi didn't notice it.
"Everyone loves you, Yuki. Even if you treat us badly, we all want the best for you. You know I'd do anything you asked. Now please do as I ask. Wake up. It hurts me to see you like this, so vulnerable. I want to see you stronger."
His fingers twitched again, and Shuichi still didn't notice it.
Tears fell from Shuichi's eyes. "Please wake up, Yuki. Please don't leave me like this. I know I'm selfish and a crybaby, but I don't care. I want you to wake up! I want you with me for all our lives. Please wake up!" Shuichi grabbed fistfuls of Yuki's hospital gown. "Please..." he buried his face into Yuki's chest.
Yuki groaned. Shuichi's head shot up. "Yuki?!
Was he really out of his coma?! Even after two weeks?!
Yuki's eyebrows knitted together as he started waking up. Shuichi could barely contain the excitement coursing through him.
He heard the door opened. "Shu-"
"He's waking up!!" exclaimed Shuichi.
"What?!" cried Mika, moving quickly to the bedside.
Yuki turned his head slightly, a soft sigh escaping his lips. Everyone huddled around the bed, waiting for Yuki to wake up.
Shuichi could barely contain a scream of delight as a pair of yellow eyes forced themselves open. Confusion and sleepiness surrounded those eyes as Yuki looked around the room.
"Yuki," breathed Shuichi, taking his limp hand. "You're awake."
Yuki stared right at him, his expression unreadable. He sighed again and spoke the question softly. It was a question that stab Shuichi right in the heart.
"Who are you?"
Note: I don't own the lyrics listed in this fanfic. It's a J-Rock song, though I won't list it's name or the artist who wrote it just yet.
Shuichi was finally able to sit down. For the past half hour police had questioned him. He knew that he had been a suspect, but his friends could place him at NG studios during the time of Yuki's attack.
He took a seat in the hospital waiting room next to Tatsuha. Once Tatsuha had been informed of what happened to Yuki, he had told Mika and Tohma. Now they were all down there, waiting to see if Yuki was still alive.
The look Tohma had given him when Mika and him had arrived was engraved in his head. He looked so angry, and had looked even angrier at the sight of Yuki's blood on Shuichi's hands.
Shuichi scrubbed at his hands with the cloth the nurse had given him. The blood had dried on his hands, making it harder for him to get it out.
"You know it's your fault."
"Eh?" Shuichi's head snapped up and he stared shocked at Tohma. "My fault?"
Tohma glowered at him through swollen eyes. Shuichi could tell he had been crying, so had Tatsuha. Mika somehow managed to keep her composure throughout this.
"It's your fault," repeated Tohma. "If you had actually been on time getting home, you might've spotted the person who did this."
His words cut through Shuichi's heart. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out.
Tatsuha jumped up. "This is NOT Shuichi's fault!! He's not Aniki's keeper!! So what if he was late getting home!! He works his ass off working at your record company!! How can you sit there and try to blame him for this?!"
"It's easy," said Tohma. "Eiri-san's attacker was no doubt someone who didn't approve of their relationship. So then it's Shindou-san's fault."
"Please stop this," demanded Mika. "This is not the time to be placing blame on anyone!! We should be grateful to Shindou-kun for saving his life!!"
"That's right!!" barked Tatsuha.
Tohma sighed. "I'm only stating the facts."
Shuichi was about to speak when the doctor came up to them. "Who is the family of Uesugi Eiri?"
Everyone stood up. Mika was about to speak, but Tohma cut her off. "I'm his brother-in-law. This is his sister, and his brother."
The doctor eyed Shuichi. "Are you part of the family, too? If not, then I'll have to ask the rest of you to come with me."
Before Tohma could confirm it, Tatsuha jumped to his feet. "He's our cousin!!"
"All right, forgive my rudeness," the doctor told Shuichi. Tohma glared at Tatsuha behind the doctor's back.
"How is Eiri?" questioned Mika. "He will be all right, won't he?"
The doctor cleared his throat. "He's stabilized. He suffered a few broken ribs and a broken cheekbone, but those aren't too serious. His most serious injuries are in his head. His skull is cracked and there is a disruption in the brain waves. It's not as serious as we had originally thought, but it is serious. Also..."
"Also what?" asked Mika.
"He's in a light coma. He should come out of it in a week or so. It appears..."
Shuichi couldn't hear anymore of what the doctor was saying. Hearing about his injuries was bad enough. Now knowing he was in a coma made his mind go numb with shock.
Coma...coma. Head injuries often did that to people. Several times people wouldn't wake up from comas and their families would take them off of life support. And other times when they would actually wake up they would be basket cases.
Shuichi went back to his seat and sat down. Why did it have to happen to Yuki? Sure he was probably the biggest asshole Shuichi had ever met, but Yuki had never done anything to deserve this.
There was a gentle tug on his arm, and Shuichi looked up. Tatsuha was standing above him. Fresh tears stained his face. "They're allowing us to see Aniki."
Shuichi allowed Tatsuha to pull him up, not knowing how much time had passed. They both followed Mika and Tohma through the halls of the hospital. Part of Shuichi didn't want to see Yuki, but the better half knew he would find a little closure in seeing him.
They stopped in front of a window. "You'll be able to go inside within the next few days," said the doctor. "For now this is the only way you can see him."
Shuichi stared through the glass, his eyes glued on the still form in the bed. "Yuki..."
There was thick bandage wrap around Yuki's head that circulated around under his chin. He looked so vulnerable, Shuichi wish he could bypass all things of reality and literally yank him out of his coma. But he knew that he couldn't.
Mika touched the glass with her fingertips. "I never thought I would see Eiri in such a terrible state."
"We can only hope for the best," said Tohma, a tear running down his face. "In the meantime, we should contact your father. I know he's not exactly in good terms with Eiri-san, but he has the right to know what happened to his son."
"I'll make the call once we get home."
Tatsuha swallowed. "Aniki will pull out of this. I just know he will. He's too stubborn to die in such a way."
Shuichi rested his forehead on the glass, more tears spilling from his eyes.
God, I don't pray often but I need your help. Please watch over Yuki. Please preserve his life and don't take it away. He's not exactly the nicest guy in the world, but I love him. Please help him...
***
"Are you serious?!" demanded Hiro.
Shuichi nodded. "I can't go home because the police are still checking for clues. Can I stay with you?"
"Yeah, sure." Hiro sat cross-legged on the floor. "Shit, I'm sorry."
Shuichi also sat down. "Don't be, you didn't cause this."
"But you sense that something was wrong with Yuki. We should've just listened to you. If we had-"
"Then I would be in the hospital, too. Hiro, I can't fight worth shit. Even if I had discovered the assailant they would've done the exact same thing to me." he sighed heavily. "Seguchi-san blames me for it."
"W-What?!"
"Yeah. He told me I should've gone home on time today."
Hiro grabbed Shuichi's shoulders. "I'm not bashing Seguchi-san's ass, but you shouldn't let it get to you. When Yuki was sick with that ulcer, whom did Seguchi-san blame? You. When Yuki left for New York, whom did Seguchi-san blame? You. He blames you for everything that happens to Yuki because you so easily blame yourself. He may be your boss, but he's not God. Don't let him walk all over you."
Shuichi sighed. "I don't see why he should blame me. I found Yuki like that and tried to stop the bleeding in his head."
Hiro let him go and stood. "You've had a long day. Go get some sleep, we have an early day tomorrow."
"But I can't go to work!! Not with Yuki in the hospital!!"
"Shuichi, Yuki with get better. When he does, will he want to see you moping around doing absolutely nothing?"
"..."
"I thought so. Now go to bed. Though Yuki is in the hospital it won't stop K-san from getting on your case."
"..."
***
"GET SOME LYRICS DONE OR I'LL BLOW YOU AWAY!!!!!!" declared K, shoving his M16 right into Shuichi's face.
"AGH!!!!!!" Shuichi hid behind Hiro.
Sakano stepped forward. "I know it's been hard on you, Shuichi. We heard about what happened, but we feel the best way to help you is to take your mind off the current situation."
"In other words," said Suguru. "Writing the song that's almost due."
Shuichi sighed heavily, taking a seat behind the school desk stationed in the center of the recording studio. "I'll try. I need a pen and paper."
Both were handed to him. For the next five hours he tried to think of a song, but nothing popped up in his head. He had already written the opening lines for the song, but nothing else seemed to fit it.
Shuichi sighed for the thousandth time, reading over the one line he had:
Ki zukanai furi wo shite
(Pretending not to notice)
This is too hard!! he thought to himself, slamming the paper back down onto his desk. I'm trying not to think of it, but writing the song only makes me think of Yuki!!
Hiro picked up the piece of paper. "Hmm, now this is better than yesterday's crap."
Suguru took the paper. "Just one line in five hours?!"
K looked over his shoulder. "Well, it IS better, but it's not enough to actually call it a song!!"
"Give me a few days," promised Shuichi. "I'll develop on it from that line."
"You'll need to hurry," said Sakano. "The deadline is coming soon."
***
Over the next few days Shuichi tried to occupy his time by writing the song. He managed to find the right words, but those only worked to fill up two more lines.
Shuichi studied the lyrics. They were perfect, but he hadn't developed the melody for them:
Ki zukanai furi wo shite
(Pretending not to notice)
Chiisana mado kara tooku wo mitsumeteta
(I gazed far outside a small window)
Sora ni hirogaru tenshi no koe
(The voice of an angel fills the sky)
"So far, so good," said Hiro, reading the lyrics. "You still haven't developed the melody?"
"Yeah," said Shuichi, taking the lyrics back. "I think I'll come up with one soon though."
"So, you want to go clubbing tonight?"
"Can't I'm going to go see Yuki. Seguchi-san and Mika-san didn't tell me this, but Tatsuha-san said we could visit him in his room."
"All right. Take care, okay?"
"I will."
***
"Shuichi!! You came?!" asked Tatsuha.
"Yeah," said Shuichi, walking up to Tatsuha. "Is something wrong?"
"Onee-san and Tohma-san are on their way here. Try to be careful."
Shuichi quickly nodded. "I'll make my visit quick."
"He's looking better. The swelling in his face has gone down."
"I'm worried about the swelling in his head."
"Me too. But the doctor told me not to worry about it."
They stopped in front of Yuki's door. Tatsuha coughed slightly. "I'm gonna go get a soda. Want anything?"
"No thanks. I just want to see him."
"All right. See ya in a few minutes!!" then he was gone.
Shuichi took a deep breath and entered the room. He was greeted by the soft beeps from the machines hooked up to Yuki.
He walked straight to Yuki's bed and stood next to it. He leaned down and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. "Hi, Yuki. I'm sorry I didn't come earlier today, but I've been so busy."
Yuki didn't respond to him.
"You don't have to worry about your injuries. You'll recover, and then you can get back to writing your books, having an attitude, and...being with me."
He still didn't respond.
"I love you, Yuki. Even if you don't wake up and you die, my feelings won't change. But I hope you don't die, because I don't know if I can live without you."
Yuki's fingers twitched, but Shuichi didn't notice it.
"Everyone loves you, Yuki. Even if you treat us badly, we all want the best for you. You know I'd do anything you asked. Now please do as I ask. Wake up. It hurts me to see you like this, so vulnerable. I want to see you stronger."
His fingers twitched again, and Shuichi still didn't notice it.
Tears fell from Shuichi's eyes. "Please wake up, Yuki. Please don't leave me like this. I know I'm selfish and a crybaby, but I don't care. I want you to wake up! I want you with me for all our lives. Please wake up!" Shuichi grabbed fistfuls of Yuki's hospital gown. "Please..." he buried his face into Yuki's chest.
Yuki groaned. Shuichi's head shot up. "Yuki?!
Was he really out of his coma?! Even after two weeks?!
Yuki's eyebrows knitted together as he started waking up. Shuichi could barely contain the excitement coursing through him.
He heard the door opened. "Shu-"
"He's waking up!!" exclaimed Shuichi.
"What?!" cried Mika, moving quickly to the bedside.
Yuki turned his head slightly, a soft sigh escaping his lips. Everyone huddled around the bed, waiting for Yuki to wake up.
Shuichi could barely contain a scream of delight as a pair of yellow eyes forced themselves open. Confusion and sleepiness surrounded those eyes as Yuki looked around the room.
"Yuki," breathed Shuichi, taking his limp hand. "You're awake."
Yuki stared right at him, his expression unreadable. He sighed again and spoke the question softly. It was a question that stab Shuichi right in the heart.
"Who are you?"
Note: I don't own the lyrics listed in this fanfic. It's a J-Rock song, though I won't list it's name or the artist who wrote it just yet.
