Chapter 4 : Azure heavens
He didn't know why Schuldich's antagonism towards him had disappeared the moment he stepped into his room – but somehow, he was sure that it did.
Schuldich wasn't wearing the usual white coat, which probably meant that he was about to head out yet here he was standing in his hospital room looking quietly at him.
He raised his head from the pillow and looked at the man , too exhausted from his inner battle to care but the thing was ... just looking at the man made his heart ache and he was suddenly fighting the urge to bury his head back on his pillow and smother himself to death just to avoid the shame of letting the redhead see him so weak and defenseless.
No one has ever seen him like this.
And he had never let anyone see him like this.
" You want to go out for a walk ?" The question caught him by surprise and he tried his best to hide it.
He thought for a moment, his eyes never leaving the redhead's face as he tried to discern the intention of the man standing before him. He didn't want to be betrayed again.
Not the way that ...
No. Not anymore.
But, looking at Schuldich now, there was something different about him. Gone was the usual aloof and annoying egocentricity and was replaced by concern.
Genuine concern.
Was this one real or was he just a better actor than the rest of them ? Trying to bury his confusion, he whispered, "Yes ... I'd like that."
And then he saw the most beautiful and most authentic smile in his life.
Directed at him.
Ken Hidaka.
The homeless wanderer.
Suddenly, like magic, he felt a just little better.
† † †
Crawford had an important meeting with foreign investors that morning, at precisely 10:30 a.m. and he had less than half an hour to go – and yet, he couldn't seem to forget a certain person.
He'd been standing by the French windows of his office for quite some time, looking at the busy street outside and for some reason, all he could see reflected in the windows of passing cars was a single face.
With a beautiful grey eyes.
Imploring him with their soulfulness.
He turned suddenly and pressed a button on the intercom which was readily answered by his secretary. " Sir ?"
" Call Farfarello here."
" Yes sir."
It wasn't long before the Irishman appeared before him, silently awaiting his orders like he was always wont to do, wearing the usual crisp black uniform and white gloves with polished shoes.
If one didn't know any better, one would think that he came from some sort of military unit. Of course that would be a lie because the truth was, he came from the Irish Revolutionary Army, more infamously known as the IRA.
" You came to the hospital today ?" He asked, not bothering to turn from his spot at the window and continued to look out into the busy street below.
" Yes ."
" Well ?"
" He is doing much better. It seems that they will release him soon." Farfarello reported in his usual monotonous voice.
" I see."
" Is that all, sir ?"
" Find out when he'll be released. And pay the bill in advance." He glanced at the white-haired man who bowed in acknowledgement of the order before twisting on his heels smartly and walking away.
It was a moment before he turned back, absorbed in his silent reverie.
† † †
The day was bright despite the underlying cold of winter and the hustle and bustle in the streets was incomparable to most days.
Christmas season was always like that, breeding all kinds of celebratory activities bound to send most people in a cheerful banter.
But Ken Hidaka was not like other people. Since he was young, he'd never had the experience of celebrating Christmas or any other occasion.
He was always too busy trying to find something to eat or a place to sleep that he'd never appreciated the season. In fact, he hated it because it was cold and it was almost impossible to find a dry place to sleep without being chased by guards or guard dogs.
He hated not being able to own anything. Christmas time is when people get things that can be their own. But Ken Hidaka never owned anything in his life. Even the clothes he was wearing at that moment was not his. Schuldich had lent him extra clothes from his locker because Ken's only set of clothes was at the desk awaiting check-out.
He hated Christmas because it was when the memories of ... of ...
Oh God ! He didn't want to remember anymore !
It was too much, and he buried his face in his hands, trying to shield out all those horrifying images of his childhood.
" Hey, are you alright ?" It was the doctor asking him, and when he raised his head, he could see the man looking at him in concern.
He nodded slowly, never taking his gaze off the redhead's face and watched as the handsome face broke into a smile. " For a minute there, I was wondering if I should take you back ."
" I'm fine ." Ken croaked weakly.
" So where do you want to go ?" Schuldich turned his eyes back to the snow-covered road ahead.
" I don't know ."
It seemed like Ken had yet still to trust him. Fine then. He could live with that.
" Well then. The best place to go at this time of year is to the ice skating rink. You know how to skate ? No ? I'll teach you."
Ken turned his head and watched the man beside him. This was a man that he could not really fathom, and yet, somehow he found himself slowly trusting him the way he never trusted anyone else.
They rode in silence for several minutes until Schuldich pulled over for a stop near the perimeter of a large frozen pond, which was fenced off, probably in consideration of winter when people would come to skate.
Strangely enough, the pond was deserted save for a small booth that rented skates to customers.
Whistling cheerfully, Schuldich pulled him towards the booth and took out his wallet before paying for the rent for a pair of skates. Cheerfully, he handed one to the silent brunette and demonstrated wordlessly how to put it on patronizingly, as if to a small child.
Huffing, Ken slipped on the pair of skates and tied them expertly and headed off to the rink, leaving the redhead staring after him.
Schuldich's open-mouthed expression broke into a grin as he finished fixing the skates and putting both their shoes, (Ken's pair had been carelessly discarded) in the cubbyholes before he proceeded to the direction the younger boy was going.
Following the brunette down towards the rink, hearing the snow crunch under the blades of their skates, and watching the boy tromp almost normally to the edge – it made him strangely calm, the way he'd never felt in his entire life.
Schuldich, by nature, was not a calm person. He was known for his violent mood swings, one moment being cheerful and charming, the next, he would be shouting in violent anger and sometimes throwing dangerous fits and inviting fisticuffs in the operating room. Oh, don't get it wrong, he was, more often than not, and despite those very violent outbursts, he was generally adored especially by the female population of the hospital because his exaggerated sense of chivalry. He was charismatic or roguish . He was at times either of those two, but never neither.
And this tranquility was a feeling unknown to him. Everyone knew that Schuldich was a man of unbridled passion. Whether for the good or the bad, it was who he was. And even he was surprised by this new development.
Strangely enough, Ken's demeanor seemed to have also changed.
During the drive there, he felt Ken's mood lighten up. Gone was the dark, almost suicidal disposition that he first saw Ken just several minutes ago and was replaced by a sort of happy innocence so common to children.
Ken was now seemingly enjoying himself, his pace quickening in obvious excitement to get to the ice and start to skate. It was almost like watching a child playing in the snow.
Maybe he was reclaiming his lost childhood, Schuldich couldn't tell.
Ken finally reached the edge of the rink, and he paused, waiting for Schuldich to be standing just a few steps away by a large rock, a small smile, rather unusual for him, Schuldich noted, tugging at his lips, before he took a gigantic leap towards the ice.
There wasn't even time to cry out. Suddenly, Ken was flying in the air backwards, a surprised expression on his face as he tried to twist around to keep himself from hitting the rock with his arms. And all Schuldich could do was rush forward, his arms extended in a last-ditch effort to save him from hitting his head on a large rock jutting up from the snow.
The next thing he knew, he was feeling the biting cold at the back of his neck and a substantial weight on his chest.
Ken was safe. He'd landed on him and they'd just narrowly missed the rock by a few inches.
He was breathing heavily, and his breath were puffs of cloud in the air. Despite the intense cold, he felt a droplet of sweat trickle down the small of his back.
Everything was silent, save for the chirping of bird perched on the bare branches of trees as if singing them cheery songs.
" Are you all right ?"
A crown of soft chestnut hair tickled his chin as its owner nodded, his face buried into Schuldich's thick coat.
" Ken, are you all right ?" He asked again.
This time, he was rewarded by that young face looking up at him with trust and gratitude reflected in the deep grey pools.
He smiled softly, trying to ignore the impossible position they were in. He was leaning back against the snow, his elbows propped up to support both their weights and Ken was curled up on his chest, his knees tangled with the older man's, his hands and arms pinned underneath him, between them both.
It was difficult for Schuldich to ignore the throbbing, but he tried. Dear lord, he tried. And he smiled weakly as he wrapped his arms around the smaller frame as he struggled to his feet.
" Well, now that that's behind us, let us resume our skating lesson." He declared, clearing his throat as he brushed off offending snow from his clothes. " You still up for it ?" He asked as he pulled Ken's arm to support him up.
" Yeah ."
He wasn't really expecting a reply, much less an agreeable one, and he chuckled, pleased before tugging Ken's hand and leading him slowly to the rink, showing him how to place his foot on the ice without falling and claiming his balance.
Ken seemed to be a natural for it, he wasn't struggling to keep his balance and was even moving little by little without any support, breaking from Schuldich's grip sooner than expected and he was suddenly aware that the warm hand, gently clutching his just barely a few seconds ago was gone and Ken was gliding along the rink one step at a time.
" Hey, you're good at this !" He skated towards Ken and drove a full circle around him before skating backwards in a crisscross pattern. " But I'm still better ." He teased.
There was a hint of laughter in Ken's eyes as the birds chirped blithely on the branches before launching themselves into the azure sky above.
† † †
Redemption_Moon : well this sure took me long enough ! O___O;; Actually this was finished about a week ago but I just forgot that I was supposed to post it! *LOL* Anyway, I hope you continue to RnR.
Marsupial : Ooooooh ! *dances with you* Thank you so much ! ^_____^
Kasugai Gummie : Thanks ! You make my heart burst ! I really appreciate that !
Whisper Reilman : *nods* yes, you'll be in for some pretty bad turbulence. I'd say what's in store will probably be enough to crash Air Force One. *LOL* THAT, I CAN GUARANTEE... O____O;; @ 'don't kill Ken rule' . We'll just have to wait and see, won't we ? *evil laughter*
Misura : You're right on the money there ! *LOL* I like Farfie here too, specially the part where ... OooopS !!! That's supposed to be a secret! *zips lips*
Mariki : Mr. Squishy yet again ! *runs* I don't wanna be mauled by your attack sheep ! Yes, I'm working on it too. (I'm thinking of revamping or at least adding a few things to the whole thing and reposting the chapters)
Tryster : I'm glad you do ! ^____^ Please continue your support ! I'd really like that. Ken/Schu, Ken/Crawford, Ken/Aya ... I'm pretty much up for Ken x Any of the three or Farf. *LOL*
AA Battery : *LOL and spins around with you* I can tell you're really happy just by looking at you ! *LOL again* Yes, you do get excited quite easily .
Schu : Yes ! I'm so glad too ! Yup, you'd probably see that in the next chapter. Uh... the reaction, I mean. But I'm warning you though, you'd probably have a love-hate relationship with Crawfie in the future.
Kitsune Hashiba : Peekabooooo ! I see youuuuuu ! Yes, I am enjoying the power. In fact, I think I'm power tripping right now ! Bradley up next ! Don't worry !