Chapter six : Voided contract
" Sir." Farfarello had silently appeared into his office as he was wont to do and bowed before his raven-haired boss who did not even bother to acknowledge his presence.
He waited there for more than ten minutes, motionless and silent, waiting for his presence to recognized, patiently waiting for Crawford who was intent on reading the last piece of paperwork on his neat and antiseptic desk.
After the last clause had been read and analyzed, Crawford picked up a gold fountain pen and signed over the dotted line before putting it back down and looking up at the liveried servant.
Farfarello took it as a signal to begin his report.
" Arrived at the MagicBus Hospital at 10:45 a.m. on account of heavy traffic due to thick snow. Checked the front desk at 10:46 a.m. Hidaka Ken left the hospital at exactly 10:23 a.m. Destination : unknown."
Crawford snapped his eyes up to glare at Farfarello.
" What ?" He said in a monotone, his icy façade still somehow managing to hide his underlying displeasure.
" Hidaka Ken –"
" I heard you the first time." He interjected coldly. "Did you inquire as to where he had gone ?"
Farfarello bowed his head in reply.
" Well ?" Crawford knew that he was showing his impatience, an occurrence that has never happened to him before even in the worst of situations.
" He left no forwarding address, sir. The nurses said that they hadn't at all seen him leave and that he was simply gone."
Which, of course would be impossible. There's a certain protocol that should be followed when discharging a patient and both Crawford and Farfarello knew that.
There were three plausible explanations. One was that he had managed to escape unnoticed from his hospital room – which was highly unlikely. The second was that the hospital was indomitably negligent which could sooner or later result in a lawsuit or third ... they knew where Hidaka Ken had gone but were unwilling to divulge any information.
That made Crawford even angrier. To think that someone was capable of giving the proper information but ... he clenched his fist in an attempt to control his temper.
" Awaiting instructions, sir."
Crawford, paused, trying to calm himself before saying in cool collected words, " Find him."
That was all.
That was all he wanted to happen.
Find him
† † †
One week.
He'd been living at Schuldich's pad for one whole week.
For the first time in his conscious history, he had actually experienced something akin to luxury.
The day he'd arrived was a strange one – it seemed like Schuldich already knew that he was going to come and there was another room in the spacious flat ready for his occupation.
It was unlike anything he'd ever experienced, having his own room adjoining his own bathroom – furnished with all the necessary things he'd need and he'd been even given his own television and computer, which, Schuldich promised, he'd teach to use sooner or later.
Ken was comfortable, and what's more, Ken felt like he belonged.
Schuldich treated him warmly, the kind of treatment that he'd give to his nephew or his friend's younger brother and he didn't avoid showing Ken his affection for him.
More and more, Ken was learning to adapt to this new environment and living alone with Schuldich in that large penthouse flat.
True enough, Schuldich was gone almost every night on shift. He was, after all, a doctor. A surgeon even, to be precise, and Ken understood the reason why he was on call most of the time.
But that didn't stop Schuldich from spending his spare time with Ken. And despite the fact that he had many duties, he seemed to have a lot of that ... spare time, that is.
Come to think of it ... why would a specialized doctor like Schuldich go on rounds ? Ken didn't have any head trauma when he'd come in and he was merely dealing with a major loss of blood and other rather appalling injuries - but why would they call on a specialized brain surgeon like Schuldich ?
He'd never thought about it until that moment as he tossed another popcorn into his mouth.
He glanced at Schuldich, who was taking another swig at his beer as he watched the flashing screen intently.
They were watching a movie at Schuldich's insistence and halfway through the film, Ken had been distracted by his thoughts that he had lost his interest in the movie while his thoughts started to drift.
Maybe there was no one else one call.
He shrugged to himself.
It might have been just coincidence that Schuldich was assigned to do his rounds with Ken, right ?
Sighing softly, he looked back at the t.v. screen in an attempt to concentrate at the protagonist's futile attempt to raise the large steel pipe from his dying sidekick.
This movie sucked. Why don't they just watch a soccer match on cable t.v. ?
† † †
Seven full days and not one word of that boy.
It was getting quite a nuisance for Crawford just thinking of what had happened to the boy.
He had sent Farfarello to collect him that day and yet he had seemed to vanish into thin air without a trace.
He had the Irishman inquire among the nurses and other doctors once again if they knew anything as to where the brunette had gone but they had merely professed their ignorance or lied that they were unaware of anything.
The white-haired employee had tried most legal means to get them to talk but it was either the people at the hospital were fiercely loyal to the young boy – which wouldn't quite come as a big surprise, or they truly didn't know anything and he was merely wasting his time.
In the meantime, he had sent more people to scour the city for the young boy in case he had decided to return to his way of living.
He was annoyed.
Hell, he was furious. Unlike he had ever been in his entire successful adulthood.
He was, after all, aptly named Mr. Cool by his employees behind his back; or Iron Ass by other disgruntled staff and rival office executives.
And as he thought about it, he realized that there were two reasons for his underlying displeasure.
One was because of the missing boy, and the other reason was the fact that he actually gave a damn about where the boy had gone – he was actually a bit worried as to where the boy had run off to.
It was a totally alien emotion to him and he wasn't quite up to thinking of a plan to get him to return. And he didn't at all like it.
The thing was, he actually wanted the boy to be found and 'returned' to him.
It certainly wasn't to demand from him the large sum of money he had spent on the hospital bills. Goodness knows that he had more than ample money to waste to his own intents and purposes.
His personal collection of paintings of world-renowned artists such as Michelangelo, Picasso and the like alone was one of the largest, and was also one of the most priceless art collection in history.
Needless to say, a few ten or hundred grand was merely petty cash for him.
No.
It wasn't the money, nor the hunger for some semblance of gratitude coming from someone he had helped ...
The true reason was THAT someone.
That someone with the beautiful grey eyes.
Gritting his teeth, he closed his own cobalt eyes as he rubbed his temple against another onset of a migraine.
It was more than one week and still no trace of him. It looked bleak. But he wasn't about to let go.
Farfarello would find him sooner or later and when he does, he'll make sure that the boy will be brought straight back to him.
And after that ... there wouldn't be any escape . With that resolved, he slammed his palm on the desk.
Redemption_Moon : Needless to say, I'm very very happy! 11 reviews! At this rate, I just might achieve my goal!
I'm warning you people though, you are in for a long tough ride. I mean it. I have too many things in plan!!!
Remember people, 350!
*Raises fist* Let's go! *Marches on*
Tryster : We have yet to find out what will happen and although I can't say that they actually knew each other, yes, there will be many gruesome and grisly confrontations and face-offs in store.
AA Battery : Yay for dancing! Wave your legs in the air and I will continue typing! Say hello to your little cats for me! *Meows* Eeeep!
Kasugai Gummie : Yay! Help! ^___^ They ARE! Theyaretheyaretheyarepossessivebastards!!!! Fweeee!!!! *Lol* He does, doesn't he? I figured he's been so secluded all his life he doesn't know what 'conversational skills' mean.
Whisper Reilman : Chapter Bandits ... *goes O___O;;;* I think I posted the wrong chapter, removed it and reposted it. Or maybe it was really the chapter bandits. *sweatdrops again* *LOL* Yay for aphrodisiacs ! Schuldich's an ass? I like his ass-y-ness here! ^_____^ Yes, I do spoil you don't I? But the KenxAya would be a little far away from now.
Mariki : Yay for trouble! I LOOOOOVE trouble! And no, it's no longer a love triangle ... we-well, right now it is, but there's gonna be a love QUADRANGLE soon! Fweee for love quadrangles!
Marsupial : *Lol* Maybe you are, maybe you aren't. After all, we don't know ALL the stakes in this fight. *Lol* I wouldn't want you to cry... well, I do want you to cry if a chapter warrants it so, but please don't cry due to my inactivity and laziness, so I present this to you~ Enjoy! ^____~
Shini-kuma : Oh yes, there'd be plenty in store of that, please continue to R and R!
KyraEnsui : I will, I will! YesYesYes!!! Sugar and spice and everything nice.
Miyuki : *Lol* Let's wait and see. Although I predict some slavery here and there. *insert evil cackling*
Jack : P.O.ed ? *is totally ignorant* Huh ? O____O;;;; Nope, Braddy is certainly NOT the type to just step aside methinks. Continue too! Yes, you!
Misura : No, my guess is, it's a talent he'd been born with. *Lol* Crawford is certainly lacking in social skills, I agree. Aya? Nawww ... not Ken's brother. That would be like, so unoriginal since I used it before. I have something 'funner' in store for him.