Blindsided

by Kibethan

[COMPLETE] Yuki isn't exactly a favorite in the public's eye, so his editor decides to shape him up to seem like a good guy by volunteering him to volunteer at a hospital. What will happen when he meets a particularly interesting patient by the name of S

9. Practice

Title: Blindsided

By: Ki-chan! Kibethan! Blueberry!

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Okay, so I do own SOME stuff, but nothing that involves the rights to Gravitation, as much as I want them. Oh, I should probably mention that I don't own Harry Potter either...

Summary: Yuki isn't exactly a favorite in the public's eye, so his editor decides to shape him up to seem like a good guy by volunteering him to volunteer at a hospital. What will happen when he meets a particularly interesting patient by the name of Shindou Shuichi?

Half-warning: Ya' know...I'm trying to figure out exactly why I made this story PG-13...or rather...T as it says now...maybe something will happen later.

Previously, on Blindsided:

Yuki paid for the food and then rather reluctantly took Shuichi back to the hospital with a promise that someday he would take him back out again.

Shuichi didn't want to go back, but he realized that he had to whether he wanted to or not.

As Yuki was leaving Shuichi's room to go home he heard Shuichi shout out rather quietly, "Thank you."

Chapter 9

Practice

They were staring at him. In fact, all of them were staring at him. Their little beady eyes were boring into him; their faces were all scrunched into frowns. Not one part of their bodies displayed anything but anger. Even their little arms were crossed across their chests in a sort of stance that a mother might take when about to scold a child.

Only in this case, it was sort of the other way around.

A vein in Yuki's forehead throbbed. He had walked into the pediatrics ward with his usual grimace set on his face –but really he was smiling inside- when he had to stop short by the block at the door from all the angry children. Hell, even kids that must've been new to the pediatrics ward because he had never seen them before where glaring at him, following the lead of all the other kids.

Yuki mentally slapped himself. He had known that there was a chance that the kids would be angry with him for not showing two days prior and instead going out with Shuichi all day. The thought had even crossed his mind that morning and he had briefly considered bringing along something that would get him forgiveness quick.

He hadn't brought anything though, mentally convincing himself that the kids would be in a good mood, or that maybe they would forget about him not coming and visiting. In fact, he was still trying to convince himself that all the kids were just a figment of his imagination.

He stood there with his eyes closed, mentally counting away the second until he would open his eyes and the kids would be gone.

Ten…

Nine…

Eight…

Seven…

Six…

Five…

Four…

Three…

Two…

One…

Yuki opened his eyes. Damn. They were still there, glaring at him. He closed and opened his eyes again and again, trying to make the kids disappear. It wasn't working and every time he opened his eyes the looks that the kids were giving him kept getting weirder and weirder.

A couple of them even started backing away. Finally, Yuki kept his eyes open and just stared at them. He shook his head to clear his mind and opened his mouth to speak.

"Shut up! We don't want to hear it," one of the older kids yelled. The other kids started yelling too, trying to be like the older kids. Yuki figured that they actually had no idea why they were yelling.

Yuki tried over and over to get the kids to listen to him, to understand that he hadn't abandoned them on purpose, but had wanted, no, needed to help this other person. But, of course, like most kids, they didn't listen. Nope, they just kept on preaching about how bad it was for Yuki to have ignored them two days earlier.

Since arguing with them would get him absolutely nowhere, Yuki decided that the best thing to do –in this situation at least- was to just take it like a man. So that's what he did. He stood there. And stood there. And stood there. And stood there.

Finally, after what seemed like hours –but in reality had only been a couple of minutes- the kids scolded themselves out and went to play with some of the toys in the room. Yuki was left standing there completely amazed. It seemed to him that the kids had completely forgiven him, just like that.

Even more amazing was the fact that they even seemed to forget what they were yelling at him about.

'Adults need to take their cues from kids sometimes,' he thought to himself. Taking a deep breath he treaded carefully into the room, wary of any kids that would remember that only moments earlier they had been extremely angry. Yuki made quiet footsteps around the room, careful not to pound his feet down.

Startling the kids would definitely not be a good idea.

Way in the back corner of the room there was a little boy who was sitting by himself attempting to read. Every once in a while, the kid's eyebrows would furrow as he came across a word that he didn't know. Yuki looked for the title of the book, just in curiosity to see what the boy was reading.

He raised an eyebrow when he realized that the book that the kid was trying to read was upside down. Suppressing laughter, Yuki walked over to the kid to try and help him. As Yuki walked closer and closer, however, the kid seemed to shrink further and further into the corner. The closer that Yuki walked, the further the kid moved away. By the time that Yuki was standing in front of the boy, the boy's back was pressed flush up against the wall and he shaking like mad.

Yuki kneeled down so he was face to face with the terrified boy. Gently, he lifted the book out of the kid's hands and flipped it over. Once it was the correct way, he placed it back in the kid's trembling hands.

The boy in question was so scared that Yuki doubted that he had even noticed that he had changed the way of the book.

"There," Yuki told him, "that should make it a lot easier to read." Feeling that he had already probably scarred the kid for life, he stood up and walked to the exact opposite side of the room after grabbing one of the books that was on the bookshelf.

There didn't seem to be anybody absolutely wanting to play with him (which he found rather ironic after the stern talking-to that he had received earlier) so he figured that if he just read –albeit, read a kids book- in the corner, everybody would be happier.

In the corner that he was headed to there was a chair that was about three times too small for him and there was a giant beanbag chair. Why anybody would chose the puny little hard chair compared to the plush beanbag chair was beyond him. But, strangely enough, there was absolutely nobody in the corner.

'Well, more for me,' he thought as he plopped heavily onto the beanbag chair. He opened the book, ready to be immersed completely into the imaginary world that the book had to offer.

So what if the book was a kid's book? It would provide him at least a little bit of pleasure before he had to find something else to do. After all, he was writer so he absolutely adored reading.

Once upon a time, in the land of Japan, there lived a little boy with magical powers. Only, he didn't realize that he had magical powers because he lived with his evil aunt and uncle (after all, ALL aunt's and uncles are evil). Muwahahaha…I mean, what? Anyway, the little boy was named Hari Pattaa. He was the only that defeated the bad man. Oh yes, but he didn't know it. He would find out soon though. All would have a magical adventure, but, yet again, he didn't know it.

One day in July (on his birthday, imagine that) an owl flew in the house trying to drop off a letter. Well, he did what any normal muggle…I mean, non-magical person would do. He ran around screaming, "AHH! AHH! AHH!" Needless to say the owl was very creeped out…

A tap on Yuki's leg interrupted him from his fascinating reading. Looking down he saw the little boy that he would have sworn he had scarred staring at him with the book that he had been trying to read in his hands. And he had wide eyes. Yes, the kid had a book and wide eyes.

He extended his arms and laid the book into Yuki's lap.

"Would you please read this to me?" he asked in a quiet, timid voice. He looked up at Yuki with those wide, wide eyes. Of course, Yuki couldn't say no. Nope, there was no way that he would be able to say no with those eyes just staring at him. Even he, who up until recently had been good at resisting the puppy-dog face could not ignore this.

The bruises all over the kids face (and as far as he could tell, arms too) didn't help. What or whoever had given him those bruises must have hit him really hard. They looked like they hurt. Yuki almost asked the kid where he had gotten those bruises and then decided that that might not be the wisest of decisions. After all, if he couldn't get a seventeen year old to tell him what was bothering, how did he expect to get a probably-ten-year-old to tell him?

And this kid was exactly like Shuichi (except that he could see where Shuichi could not). It was very obvious that he had gone through some sort of bullying in his life, whether it was from school, or from home.

The more that Yuki thought about it, the more astounding similarities to Shuichi he could find in the kid. Perhaps helping this kid would help him learn how to help Shuichi. It most certainly would be a good thing to try.

Although, right now, the best thing to do was ask the kid what his name was. That was a good thing to do, right? After all, he couldn't keep referring to the kid as "the kid".

"Oi, kid, what's your name?" Okay, so that wasn't the most tactful way to ask him, but it would still work. For a brief second the kid looked like he was going sprint off, but instead he stood his ground and answered him.

"M-my n-n-name is Soushi," he stuttered out quietly, losing his former confidence –well, what little confidence that he had had.

"Soushi, eh? Well, what is it, again, that you want me to do?" Yuki asked, pretending not to know.

"C-c-could you p-p-possibly read me that?" he answered, gesturing to the book that he had laid in Yuki's lap. Yuki looked down at the book and then up and boy. He pretended to be deliberating for a while. The kid looked at him very hopeful.

"I guess," Yuki said, slowly. "I can read it to you." He picked up the book and opened to the first page. Soushi backed up and sat into the hard little seat that Yuki had earlier thought would be the most uncomfortable place to sit in the world.

Yuki sighed. He knew that Soushi wouldn't be able to enjoy the story if he was sitting in a very uncomfortable position. Yet, he didn't look like the kind of person that would ask for anything.

Damn, that meant that Yuki needed to offer him some space. The beanbag chair he was sitting was plenty big enough to fit another person in it, even if Yuki was an adult.

"Soushi, come here," Yuki said, using the kid's name for the first time. Using a command as opposed to a question seemed like the best thing to do. Unfortunately for Yuki it held the exact opposite effect. Soushi seized up, afraid to move at all. Apparently he associated those words with bad things.

Mentally hitting himself he closed the book and stood up moving towards Soushi. Although it probably wasn't the best thing to do, at the time it seemed like the only thing to do. Yuki grabbed Soushi's hand and led him to the comfortable beanbag chair. Soushi wasn't moving at all so it made it a lot easier to maneuver him into position.

Yuki carefully shoved Soushi into the beanbag chair. Though, now, as much as Yuki wanted to sit in the beanbag chair, he couldn't. Letting out a humongous sigh he sat in the little chair.

He most certainly didn't fit in it, but he figured that it was probably more comfortable than the floor.

Actually, Yuki looked longingly at the floor; maybe the floor would be more comfortable. He mentally debated for a minute, but then he saw he kid he had placed in the beanbag chair just staring at him, waiting for him to a read the story. He opened the book to the first page again.

Yuki took a deep breath and began.

From the doorway to the children's room a pair of ears with pink hair dusting on top of them listened to him as he read the kid's story.

End Chapter 9

nervous laughter Okay, so it has been a while. I'll admit that. I'm sorry! Hey, at least I got it out before 2 months, right? Right! Anyway, I figure that I halfway owe you an explanation for why that took so long.

First off, and it shouldn't be too long, we're going to be moving in June, so we've been cleaning our house like mad. It's insane, really. Another thing, I turned 18 on April 4th so I've been reveling in the glow of being legal -by doing absolutely nothing. School has been a bear since I started taking 20 credits (although, it wasn't so hard that I couldn't make a symbol for every letter of the alphabet and write a pretty lengthy letter to my friend). Also, I've started doing "Apple Crisp Parties" with my friends that take up a lot of time.

Anyway, from the bottom of my heart, I'm sorry. I PROMISE that I'll try and get the next chapter out in a timely manner. To be honest, I'm quite angry with myself for taking that long to update. I'm being hypocritical, but I understand how you people feel when somebody takes that long.

Anyway, onto a review of reviews -and man, there are a lot of them:

Crazy 4 Grasper: Too lazy to log in, eh? Oh well, at least now I actually updated, Dooley: I'm so sorry! It took so long, goku-the-saru: Hahah...yeah...silly waiter. Hey! Are we gonna go see Puffy Amiyumi? Eh? Eh, Lily Avalon: Oh my Goodness, that stopwatch would have been going for such a long time, Grimy Grunhilda Grunt: I'm SO planning on updating a lot faster next time, Sakura Minamono: Hhehehe...I like the couple thing too..., PyrokineticFeral: Yes, eventually you will see more characters. I just need to figure out the perfect places to stick them in, je suis: Yay! I'm glad you like, Wilson: :blushes: Hehehe...I'm glad you like it, Shirubaa Kitsune: Shuichi's past is coming next chapter! Yep, Dark Mimiru-chan: I'm sorry that it took so long, I promise next time will be shorter, Shounen Squared: Hmm...I didn't know that. Thank you, though! I will look for it in the future, Bram: Yeah :looks over chapter: he is a little bit OOC. Maybe something'll happen to him though that'll make him broody again, Tokyo Kitsune: chokes on fluff, Shuuichi-chan: Hey! Sorry it took so long! My bad, lemur130: Hahaa...update faster...it took longer...gomen, ne, Cheley: I'm so glad that you like it, Ruby631: A lift, eh? So, where are you from? Thank you for the review, Syaoran is kawaii: Eep! Stop playing with Masa! He's Gackt's, Trogdor the Burninater: Shuichi's past is next chapter, Sliefoxx: Alright, next chapter Yuki will be less OOC...I hope..., clear venom: I will do my best to make it cute from here on out...beware of angst though, WhiteTopaz: Sun will do that toa person, bowwowlover: Like Yuki, do you? blu-rain: Yay! I'm glad that you guys all like it, Kloudy Reignfall: Are you seeing my foreshadowing? I mean...what, DarrkKatt: Shuichi can be mad, and yes, I'm glad you think it's cute, Princess of Mirrors: Hahaha...it's wicked cool. I agree, Aizawa Sakura: Yay! That makes me happy, Ed: You're like the girl from Cowboy Bebop! And it's spelled torture, Sathien: Yay! Somebody who knows who You is! That's awesome! I love Gackt, Sailor Epyon: My friend loves Dir en Grey and Glay...a lot...it's scary, actually..., Elements: Hahaa...okay, so for Earthquake it was 1,000 words...for TTDOC it was 1,500 words (that was a chore, I tell you) and for this one it's 2,000 words at least, WhiteLightning: That's okay, at least you did eventually review, gokuchan: Who told you! I mean...what? Yes, those things will possibly happen...:shifty eyes:..., shuXyuki: Yay! I'm glad that you like it! That makes Heather a very happy camper, ilovekyo: So, exactly which Kyo is it that you love? Eh, Destiny: I think it can be alright...and yes...I do use spell check. I'm glad that you have high expectations, though, Burning Sky: I do my best. I hope that next time it's a faster update though, Silver on the Tree: Yay! I'm glad that you guys all like it, FieldOfPaperFlowers: I'm glad you like it! I just had the weirdest thing happen to me while I was typing up this particular review. The free computer song of the day (on one of our radio stations) played so I called in. I didn't win it, but for the first time EVER (in like, about a week or so) I got through and heard "five keep trying". It doesn't matter that you have to be 101...at least I got through! So happy!...which is why your's is long..., Flame-chan: You know what's really weird. I saw I had a review and I was praying "please don't be a flame" because it had been SO long since I updated and I started cracking up when I saw that your pen name was "flame-chan". It made my day, actually. So funny!

Well, that's it! Woohoo! Okay! Heather's questions that she always asks. First off...what country to ya'll's live in? (I'm in the US of A). And the other question, have any of you heard of 'The Decemberists'? I'm just curious.

Okay! That's it! If you're ever bored, I LOVE to chat with people online. My AIM name is Kibethan, my MSN name is Kibethan at msn dot com, my livejournal is Kibethan, and neopets (sadly, yes, neopets) is holidaycookie.

Until next time!

Ki-chan!