Chapter 05 : First meetings , second home
It was a full three days since they went to the rink and since then, his attitude towards Schuldich had changed and vice versa. It seemed like the redhead had decided to slacken his usual fervor of maddening antagonism.
Even the nurses seemed to have noticed a change that deviated from their usual hate-hate relationship and they found it strangely endearing to see those two people conversing in quiet tones on their own.
Sometimes, Schuldich would even spend hours after his shift just conversing with Ken, talking about nothing and everything.
Ken was finally starting to open up to him.
He told him what had happened that day when he got stabbed
That second, that single moment that he thought that he would die, and didn't and he had wanted to.
Schuldich listened in silence, unable to offer to offer any kind of reply, knowing that saying anything was insufficient and feeble because he knew that saying that 'he knew how Ken felt' would be a lie. No, he didn't know or experience the kind of life Ken lived. No, he hadn't come close to dying the way Ken had. And no, he had not been abandoned at a young age.
And as Ken was narrating that without any kind of fear or uncertainty, Schuldich couldn't help but marvel at how strong he was.
This was a boy who didn't fear death, nor anything else, but under all that rough and difficult veneer, he was still a young boy with a soft heart and a childlike wonder for all things new.
But even then, he could sense some underlying secret lurking under that quiet and sometimes troubled appearance.
For a man who had vowed to protect life, this was a story that made him feel a bit indecisive about his own goal. But every time he looked at that young face, he knew that this life was worth saving; and that his mission was worth continuing.
" What do you plan on doing after getting out of here ? You're going to be released tomorrow, didn't you know ?"
Schuldich was leaning back comfortable against a metal chair, dressed in a pair of faded jeans and a long turtleneck sweater to ward off the cold despite the central heating system of the hospital.
" Tomorrow ?" Ken echoed hollowly.
He'd never really thought about it. Maybe he'd go back to the way he was, it wasn't like he had any other choice about the matter.
Hell, he didn't know how he'd be able to pay the person who paid for his bill for the hospital when he didn't even know how to scrape enough money to keep himself alive.
" I don't know ." He said, after some time, ignoring the intent gaze directed on his face. Schuldich had been doing that a lot – he noticed.
Schuldich stood up and ruffled his hair affectionately, as if reading exactly what he was thinking. " Don't worry about it. You can always stay at my place – for free ."
" Thanks. I appreciate that." Ken offered a feeble smile in return for the charming one directed at him. The truth was, he wasn't quite sure that it would be best if he lived with Schuldich. He was starting to owe the man more than he cared to and that in itself was dangerous enough. There was no possible way to repay him and he didn't like that. He'd never owed anyone anything in his life and now, he owed two people his life and more than that.
" Think about it kiddo, and call for me when you have an answer. All the nurses know how to reach me."
" Yeah. I bet they do. See you, Dr. Schwarz."
" Schuldich. But you may call me anything you want – except Mister Schwarz or Doctor Schwarz."
Ken sighed inwardly. The man was incorrigible ! " Whatever . Shove it up your ass if you want to. I'll call you asshole ."
Schuldich glared and stuck out his tongue. " Mind your manners, boy. I just might stick in a c.c. or two of sedatives – or worse, aphrodisiacs, in your food... and the ladies will come pouring in!" He declared in a mock sportscaster voice.
Ken rolled his eyes in reply . "You wouldn't dare, jerk."
Laughing, Schuldich left the room to continue on his way back to his flat.
† † †
It had been barely a few minutes since Schuldich left and Ken felt that he was once more lapsing back to a brooding manner that was so common to him.
He knew that he was starting to rely on Schuldich too much but he couldn't stop himself from being like that because he knew that he had nothing else to live for and Schuldich was the only person from retaking up his burden of having a death wish.
He closed his eyes, resting his tired pupils from the bright light. He had spent the whole night staring out into the dark, trying to create some semblance of order in his thoughts when he sensed an unknown presence in the room.
It was Farfarello.
He blinked, trying to brush away the yawn that threatened to escape when the white-haired man stepped away to reveal one other.
The man he'd been glimpsing in his dreams of for all the nights he'd been staying at the hospital. This was the man who was responsible for his being alive and he wondered if he should thank the man or despise him. He had, after all, wanted to die that day and this man wouldn't let him ... but then again, he met Schuldich and everything turned out fine after all ...
His moment of indecision was snapped short when the man took a step forward and examined him domineeringly. The way a man would examine his pet snake or a tarantula.
It was pure instinct from then on – Ken glared at the man standing in front of him , after many days of wondering who his so called benefactor was , he was finally face to face with him, and he could tell that there was something with this person.
The man was tall , really tall in Ken's eyes ; he had an aristocratic air to him , the manner of one who was used to power and quiet acquiescence by his subordinates . His hair was the colour of midnight , shining like cold steel , so were his cobalt blue eyes . His clothes were crisp and pristine – they were white , the coat , the pants . His shirt was navy blue , almost the color of his iron eyes .
Everything about him screamed 'Master !' and he felt like he was just going to be forced to become his 'slave' .
Ken rebelled at that thought .
"Who are you ?" He bit out rudely, despite the fact that he already knew who the man was. It was not the tone one would use to address your patron ; which was why Crawford looked vaguely surprised .
Ken bristled at the older man , like a hissing cat , ready to strike at any moment with deadly claws . Vaguely , he remembered the day he collapsed on the street , the glimpse of a man in white seated at the back of a black car , looking at him with quiet intensity . The image vanished and he was once more immersed in his revulsion at the thought of being 'slave'
The man was silent , not offering a word or a gesture to feed Ken's spite and they remained there , noiselessly , each sizing up the other , Ken in antagonism while the other in – nothing – apathy perhaps . His face was cold , his expression devoid of any emotion . Like marble . Smooth and cold .
After a while , he spoke in calm , measured words . " My name is Brad Crawford and from tomorrow on, you shall be living at my manor." It was then when he chose to turn and walk away without another word.
Brooding , Ken turned on his back and tried to think .
† † †
This was the day that he was finally leaving the hospital and he had decided what he was going to do.
He was going with Schuldich.
Schuldich had gone to him at the end of his shift and arranged everything that was necessary.
He didn't give a shit if that meant looking like an ingrate to the man who financed his recovery, but he would just have to find a way to pay him back. Brad Crawford.
He had no mind to be just another one of those little servants scurrying around to do his evil bidding.
He said his attempted cold goodbyes to all the reluctant nurses, trying very hard to ignore their mussing and fussing all over him and their sad pouts and teary smiles.
He knew he was leaving a lot at the hospital.
There were people who actually cared for him. People who liked him. People who didn't care to kick him away.
He liked that feeling. It was exhilarating and at the same time, it was restricting.
But now, he was leaving that world and stepping into another.
He was stepping into Schuldich's world.
He was now in the world of a man who had enough money to support them both and ensure that they had something to eat regularly.
That same person was a man he thought he despised at first but then had gradually grown to trust and like.
Although he still may not know it, Schuldich was slowly standing up to be a father figure for him – and then, maybe something else.
As he walked through the hospital door with Schuldich, he couldn't help but feel a little bit nostalgic, but he swallowed all of that and raised his head. That was when he felt a warm hand on his shoulder and a reassuring gaze directed at him.
He nodded and took a brisk step forward, guided by Schuldich's palm at the crook of his back.
" Don't worry kid. Everything's gonna be fine. Trust me ." Those magic words broke his anxiety and he smiled.
" Bye Ken !" A chorus of female nurses waved him goodbye.
And they walked out to the side of the hospital, both not knowing that there was a white-haired Irishman coming to collect a certain brunette.
† † †
" Wow ! This is great !" Ken breathed as he ran to large floor-to-ceiling windows of the flat and pressed his face against them trying to view the street below.
Schuldich smirked in amusement as he dropped the keys on the door-side table and hanged his coat on the rack.
This was one of the few times Ken revealed how young he actually is, and it was refreshing to see him with his guard down.
Ken is, after all, still a kid by many standards. " You like it ?"
" Yeah ! I've never seen any place this huge and this nice !" The brunette exclaimed.
Smothering a chuckle, Schuldich chose to neglect to tell Ken that there were millions of houses still bigger than his. Probably in Ken's world, this (although rather extravagantly large) flat of his is the biggest in the whole country.
" That's good. Because you'll be living here for as long as you like ." Schuldich said.
Ken turned and gave a genuine grin. He felt that he was going to stay here for a long while too.
† † †
Redemption_Moon : Needless to say... I'm a little bit worried coz reviews aren't really picking up. I mean... I noticed this isn't as popular as the 'other one'. *shrugs* I guess I can't be lucky all the time eh ? But as long as we're on this topic... my goal for this one is 350 reviews or more by the time I'm through [if that's possible, it's not bad to dream, right ?] so help me out people ! ^_____^
My second agenda is to tell you guys that I might be expanding the pairing a little ... uh ... |O____O| you all know about the Ken x Schuldich and Ken x Crawford thingy ... weeeell ... there might be some Ken x Aya in the far future, so watch out for that ... anyway . That's all folks ! Stay tuned and RnR !
By the way, I'm usually on YM now and my sn is Redemption_Moon so you can bug me anytime about anything. I'm usually in the anime chatrooms coz it's fun there so drop me a line or two. *LOL*
Anywayyyyy ..........
Whisper Reilman : Wow you're quick ! Within a few hours of posting and you already read and reviewed ! ^___^ *claps* There you go. Some Ken and Crawfie action ... uh ... well more like Crawfie and Crawfie action. *LOL*
I-love-Ken-Hidaka : *LOL* thank you for saying that. Please continue to support this fic ! WE love Ken Hidaka !!!! ^____^
Mariki : Seven words : Thank you and please continue your support !!! ^________^
AA Battery : O____O;;; at all the spinning and dancing and cheering. __
Kasugai Gummie : You'll learn throughout the course of the story one thing ... NO ONE HERE LIKES TO SHARE !!! O____o;;;;
Jack : *LOL* if you do, please continue on reading and reviewing onegai ! (I know that's a bit redundant)
Misura : *LOL* Cheer for whomever ^____~ I'm glad that it made you feel like you've eaten chocolate. As for me, there is a sad deficiency of chocolate at our house. T_____T
Schu : Yes I did ! ^___^ *ish glompied and glompies back LOL* I'm glad too ! ^____~_*winkwink*_