Sight for Sore Eyes. by Elise. part four i think...whatever... the next part.
BIG THANK YOU to the reviewers. I gotta say, I really appreciate it. I also, when you review, go and read all of your stories! Thank you thank you!
Hunter called ahead to Ninja Ops to let Sensei know that Cam wouldn't be coming in. Sensei had thrown a million questions forth. It seemed that Cam hadn't been updating his father as well as he should have. Hunter was about to hang up the phone when he paused and asked, "Sensei... Could I talk to you about personal stuff?"
Sensei Watanabe grinned at the question, "If anything, that's the only reason I'm here, Hunter."
"Well... I'm blind. I might never be able to see." Hunter paused and Sensei had the sense to wait patiently in silence, "And Cam said something about blind ninjas. I always thought that I... well I don't feel like I can do my best. I won't be the best, sensei."
"You already are one of the best. Why do you feel you need to be perfect in order to be human?" Sensei wisely said, prodding the boy to speak further.
"What good am I as a ranger if I can't see the enemy?" Hunter pointed out.
"How have you been walking around? How did you get to that park?" Sensei asked.
"Well. I just did it. I remembered where everything was, and listened and just did it. It turned out badly though, Sensei. I see what you're trying to say, but I ended up in the hospital." Hunter ran a hand through his hair, getting upset.
"You didn't have the confidence. If you did, you would have heard the blows before they hit." Sensei paused, "I think you should come back to Ninja Ops. We can start training."
"I can't yet. Cam, and learning to walk and I've been practicing katas. Cam... He's really sick and overworked, and I was thinking if there's something in Ninja Ops that I can do to make things easier for him." Hunter was shifting from foot to foot, not knowing where his nervousness was coming from.
Sensei agreed, "Yes, I will find something, check with CyberCam. Thank you for caring for my son. I didn't know he was as sick as you have said."
"He'll be fine, he just needs rest."
"Alright, Hunter, I expect to see you next week early. We will start training and work then." Sensei said, his voice holding the authority he knew Hunter needed.
"Yes Sensei." Hunter said, hanging up.
Hunter made his way to the bathroom cabinet and began to go through assorted bottles. It frustrated him that he couldn't remember the shapes of the bottles and their correlating medicines. After choosing a bunch, Hunter made his way slowly to Cam's room. Cam watched as Hunter entered. He began to chuckle, "I'm not having all of that."
"Well, pick one." Hunter said, smiling back, "You sound better."
"Good night sleep." Cam put simply.
Hunter sat down on the bed, hearing Cam move his feet. Hunter reached out, trying to remember how far away the table was. The thermometer was there. Cam tapped Hunter's arm down. "I got it, Hunter."
"I can do it."
"I never said you couldn't. Now let me take my temperature. I'm sure i'm fine and can go back to work." Cam said.
"No. I just talked to Sensei. You're out for a few days. You're stuck with me, little one." Hunter grinned at the silence, knowing that Cam had the thermometer in his mouth.
Hunter stretched out on the bed, "So... Sensei also wants me to return to Ninja Ops. I know it's pointless and all... but I kindof like this feeling of hope. It feels nice."
Cam, still mute, kicked Hunter, to show that he disagreed with the "pointless" statement. Hunter chuckled, "We're quite the pair in these few minutes, Cam. You can't talk, I can't see."
Cam moved his legs to rest on top of Hunter's. Hunter's voice caught up and the sheer simplicity of the moment struck him as beautiful. Hunter shut his eyes and just relaxed into the moment, not knowing when the sadness brought on by the accident would return. He heard Cam shifting. "99.8."
Hunter nodded, "You are getting better. You might actually enjoy these few days off."
Cam shrugged and moved his body so he was lying parallel to Hunter. "You want to talk about it?"
"About what?" Hunter said, "You being sick? The next few days?"
"About the way you've been feeling." Cam said, "You seem happier today, and I don't want to ruin that."
"Blake stopped by before you got home yesterday." Hunter said, as if that would answer Cam's questions.
"I know you're afraid-"
"I'm not afraid." Hunter said quickly, defensively. "I'm not afraid."
Cam watched Hunter's face. The younger man had his defenses down and every emotion played across his face. Hunter moved to his side, as if he could look into Cam's face. He took a deep breath, as if about to speak. Cam waited patiently when Hunter's voice, smaller than it ever should, said, "I'm terrified."
Cam reached out and pulled Hunter to him, embracing his friend. Hunter let out a few choked sobs before letting his muscles relax. Cam rubbed his back and Hunter leaned his face into the crook of Cam's neck. "This is silly, i'm sorry. I should be taking care of you."
"You have been." Cam said, "You have no idea how much."
"Your dad?" Hunter said, questioning Cam's reference.
"Sometimes. I mean, I moved out this summer and he didn't take it lightly. Being away from him, and training... it's left me feeling strange." Cam admitted.
Hunter thought on this for a while. Cam never had trouble coming up with what he meant, but here he was struggling to get his point across. "Have you ever felt sad that you were no longer living at Ninja Ops?"
"All the time, but you move on. I am my own person. I can take care of myself." Cam said.
Hunter grinned, "Ah, a bit of my stubborninity has rubbed off on you."
Cam rolled his eyes, "Even you knew that wasn't a word."
Hunter laughed and playfully shoved Cam, who merely tightened his embrace. The boys paused. Hunter listened to Cam's breathing completely stopping after a sharp intake of breath. Hunter looked into what he presumed to be Cam's face. Cam began to move backwards off the bed when Hunter quickly said, "Don't move back. Please?"
"You... will get sick." Cam said softly.
"I don't care. I like this." Hunter placed a hand on Cam's chest, the older one breathing again.
Cam gently leaned forward and kissed Hunter's forehead before laying his head down. Hunter wrapped an arm around Cam's waist and shut his eyes, breathing in contentment. Both boys fell into a restful slumber.
Hunter took a taxi over to Ninja Ops. He hadn't been back since the accident. Cam and him hadn't spoken after they got up, Hunter feeling that Cam should rest, as well as avoid the issue at hand. Hunter told the driver to drop him off by some trees. The taxi driver, recognizing Hunter's disability, gave him a strange look, "Why here? You sure, man? I can drive you back to town, if you'd like... maybe take you somewhere?"
"I'm fine. I can make my way. Thank you." Hunter said, paying him and getting out.
The taxi driver smiled at the generous tip and drove away. Hunter smiled. Being dropped off at the entrance, instead of having Sensei transport him, was a challenge to himself. He wanted to take a walk through the woods, remember the layout of the forest. Hunter made his way, smiling at the sound of birds. He placed his hand on a tree, making his way through. He knew that one day he'd forget the appearance of the area. He'd forget the towering redwoods and the appearance of the birds flocking around. Hunter paused and shut his eyes, more so out of habit. He leaned against a tree and just listened, calming his breathing. The wind was cooler, the shade making the California heat not seem so bad. Hunter breathed in the scents of the forest, feeling the ground beneath his feet. The wind blew in a salty taste. Ocean breeze. These small things put a smile on Hunter's face. He had a lot to think about in the past few days. It hadn't truly caught up to him yet. Hunter felt his blush as he thought about how he had cried in front of a delirious and sick Cam. Cam probably resented him. Hunter shook his head. It didn't matter, it wouldn't happen again. It was time to move on. Blind or not, that is what this meeting with Sensei was about, learning to live again. Hunter began to make his way, his feet scuffing, moving slowly. He entered the clearing he believed was where Ninja Ops was. Hunter felt along the ground, cursing himself for not remembering where the entrance was. After a few minutes, Hunter sighed and sat down and called Sensei. In a few minutes, Shane had left Ninja Ops and sat beside Hunter. "Hey bro, What are you doing, just sitting around."
Hunter snorted, "Not knowing where the door was."
"Why didn't you just teleport?" Shane said, plopping down beside Hunter.
"Because I wanted to see if I could do it on my own, which I obviously can't." Hunter said, not realizing how cynical he sounded.
"Stop it, Bro, look how far you went? Most people can't do that. I'm assuming you went through the forest?"
Hunter nodded and Shane continued, "Well there you go. Do you know how many seeing people get lost in these woods? You gotta start believing that you have great instincts."
"Sure." Hunter said, non-commitally.
"So what are you here for? I see your arms are better." Shane leaned back, enjoying the sunlight.
Hunter shrugged, "Sensei... I think i'm going to start training again, and maybe see if there are jobs I can do around Ninja Ops. I've always said I could fix a motorbike with my eyes closed, maybe I can do the same here."
Shane grinned, "So... you're staying? You're really staying?"
Hunter turned his head, surprised by Shane's reaction. "Yeah, for now, hopefully... you sound surprised about that."
"Well, let's be honest, Hunter, you haven't been talking very nicely at all about your future. For a while it seemed you were just going to curl up and let this blindness thing take over. You realize that you have a personality and loves and hobbies and joys and you're more than just a blind ex-ranger."
Hunter turned his head away from Shane, "Am I that bad?"
"Well, you just called a major success a failure, so I'd say yes. Don't worry, we all understand." Shane paused a moment, "I would like to see the sarcastic, overly confident Hunter back."
"I... don't know how. I've never felt this way before. I don't even know where to begin and... there are other things that are bothering me. I feel like I need a vacation... but i can't do what I want to do on a vacation." Hunter said.
"Motorbiking? You can still do it, you just can't steer."
"Right. Can't steer. Great."
Shane paused for a second before his voice lifted in excitement, "Well, why don't we get blake or Dustin to get you out there? How about after whatever grueling task Sensei has for you?"
"I don't know. It might be too soon. It might hurt too much."
"Nope. You're going. It's time we get you to live again. Isn't that what you want?" Shane said, hopeful.
Hunter nodded and stood up. "OK, you win. After Sensei's meeting, we'll go."
Shane grinned and took Hunter's hand as he offered it. The two made their way into Ninja Ops, smiling like old times. Sensei shut off the surveillance screen, grinning himself.