Chapter 6- Awaken

Suoh stared blankly at the blonde. The doctors said that the patient will be alright, soon after they had treated his wounds and cleansed his body. They said that he needed lots of rest and still... "He won't wake up." He hasn't opened his sapphire eyes for so long and everyone has been so worried.

The doctors also said that the cuts on Nokoru's body are caused by his dreams, however… no one believed them but if it is the truth... "Then I must go in his dreams and save him." But the question is… "how?"

Suoh sighed as there is no chance to be in his dreams. He doesn't even know what Nokoru is dreaming about and what more may happen to the blonde's body rather than cuts and bruises and what more if his one may die? The young ninja held his one's hand and placed it on his right cheek, making himself feel hope that the blonde is still alive, breathing and is just sleeping. "Nokoru… I miss you already… so please… Nokoru… open your eyes… please, for me. Nokoru, I-" He turned his back as the door creaked open revealing the youngest among the three detectives, Akira. He slowly went in and silently closed the door, keeping the solemnity of the room. "Sempai…?" Akira started with a frown as he closed the door behind him. He never thought that his superior would be so worried like this and yet he is wrong, Suoh has been by Nokoru's side since the day he was rushed to the hospital and until now. "Sempai, here, I brought you lunch and tea." The young chef handed out the meal he made especially for his superior. He knew that he hadn't eaten much and had enough rest just to stay by Nokoru's side so by the time he would wake up; he would be the first one to see him, and his sapphire eyes; the ones that always lingers in his mind.

"Thank You Akira. I really appreciate your kindness." Suoh forced a weak smile. He turned around and faced the blonde again. He had been like this; if only none of these problems happened then they would just all be happy and Nokoru will not be in this white room; so dull, so… nothing and it only brings so much misery. "If only they painted it with different colors… bright ones." Akira whispered before he placed a small pout on his lips. He placed the meal he cooked on the table and silently he walked toward Suoh but he stopped midway and smiled. "I know!" The young boy shouted making his superior look at him with a shock on his face. "I'll be back sempai!" Akira hurriedly turned his back and made his way out of the room. "He knows what?" Suoh asked as he heard the door slam shut.

Curious, he just let it be. "He's always like that." Full of ideas and jolly. He's still a kid… Suoh stood up and went to the table to eat his lunch. He smiled, knowing that he still have friends to lean on and they are always there for him. Moments later, Akira came barging in bringing buckets of different colored paints and brushes. "Sempai! I'm back!" The young boy greeted as he placed the buckets near the wall. "What the!" Suoh was startled, he didn't even know what will Akira do and his oh so called 'plan'.

"Don't worry sempai. I asked Idomu-san if he could help and yes, he's coming." Akira stated as he placed an apron around his waist then he drew, using a pencil, on the walls. Just as he started, Idomu came in bringing the same thing as what Akira brought earlier. "Hi Suoh! Akira just had a nice plan on welcoming Nokoru by painting the room so I came along."

"What!" Suoh asked in disbelief. "Akira this is a hospital not an ordinary room that you can just paint or anything such as, you know." He continued. "But sempai, I already asked them if I may paint the room and they said yes… uhm… with the help of Nokoru's mother, of course." Akira defended innocently. "So no we're going to paint! Care to join?" Akira handed out a pencil and a brush at the defeated ninja. Suoh sighed; he never thought that it would be like this. He took the pencil and brush and did his part on the other wall. Luckily, Nokoru was wearing an oxygen mask so that he would not smell the intense scent of the paint. And they started.

Time passed by, twelve noon, three in the afternoon, and they still continued painting, filling the room with no more misery but colors of hope and happiness.

Nokoru stood up and straightened his shirt. "Enough… I don't want to hurt anyone, anymore." He whispered. He felt nothing more but guilt. He was hurt for the better and still it was a big mistake. "To give others happiness before mine." He had failed to do it. "I am not what others think who I am." He is not perfect at all. He feels pain, rejection, sadness, selfishness and anger. He just can't let them see these emotions because he will let his whole family down, the whole Imonoyama. "But this cannot be…" He knew he should stand for what is right and this time he will not hurt anyone, anymore.

"I knew you would come." His sapphire eyes glowed in the dark, the only ones that can possibly be seen. Those deep meaningful eyes, they mean something; but what could it be? "Well I thought I could sneak up your sleeping form but… by the looks of it, you are wide awake. I guess I was wrong." Idomu smirked and went closer to the blonde. His eyes were shed with sadness, as what Nokoru saw, he was sad and until now. He never did forget after all and he was alone. Nokoru tightened his fists. "How could I do this to him?" He silently said.

Idomu held the blonde's chin, moving his face to see him more clearly. He is still the Nokoru he knew. "Punch me." The red-haired was stunned. "What!" Idomu asked to reassure what he heard. "If that would make you happy. If that's how you can release the pain, then just do it. Punch me, thrust me." With those words, it had angered Idomu and as soon as he finished his statement, he started beating him up. "I hate you Nokoru! I really do!" Idomu continued but this time with every blow he sent, memories of their childhood would come back and at the same time, he felt more than hurt. Again, he punched him but this time they fell on the floor and still he continued beating up the blonde.

The three boys were exhausted, for all the work they've done. The room was sure to be happier than ever. It was filled with designs of such that would really make Nokoru feel all so inspired. Soon, Idomu and Akira managed to sleep by the small dining table as far as Suoh remembered before he placed the blanket on them, he heard Akira spoke. "Kaichou, we made your room full of love from our hearts. Isn't it nice? We really missed you Kaichou."

Suoh sat on his chair by Nokoru's side. He held his hand and placed it on his cheek. "Nokoru… I wish you heard Akira… He really does miss you already. So please… open you eyes." The young ninja yawned; he too was tired from all that painting and drawing. "Nokoru…" He tried to keep his eyes open but he just can't and fell asleep, holding his one's hand. "Nokoru…"

Idomu was about to punch him on the face once more but was stopped when Nokoru faced him. "Those eyes…" Idomu was speechless. He never has seen him like this before. "Nokoru…" Slowly, the blonde tried to sit down. "He…" The red haired lowered his fist. "He is crying…" Unexpectedly, Nokoru hugged him. "Idomu, I'm sorry." The red haired was motionless after he lowered his head. There was silence for a while. Both of them felt each other's heart beat until Nokoru continued. "When we were young, back when I was hospitalized, I lied to you… I was afraid. I was afraid to lose you. Idomu, you were my best friend and you were the only one who understood me. But… I didn't want to lose someone I love… anymore."

Just then Idomu remembered the death of Nokoru's beloved sister. She was the only one who was with him all the time and he loved his sister dearly. Just because, she was the only family that showed him love. His other family members were always busy doing their jobs and they had no time for him.

"After that incident, I thought that… that-" Nokoru was cut off by Idomu's sudden outburst. "That it would be okay for me to forget our friendship? To make me look like an idiot in the hospital? That I won't be hurt anymore? Is that so… Nokoru?" The blonde was silent, yes, he thought that would be for the better. "But didn't you think that I would be awfully hurt? Nokoru… I"

"I'm sorry Idomu. I thought it would be safer for you and I didn't want you to get involved in my own problems. Idomu, you are my friend and I don't want you to get hurt." The other smiled, at least, until now, he cares for him. "Nokoru… I think it's time to say… goodbye. Nokoru… thank you."

The young ninja woke up as he felt something move. He cleared his vision and was stunned to see the bed empty. "Nokoru?" Suoh turned his back and saw a familiar figure by the window. He turned around and smiled at the ninja.

"Those eyes"

"Suoh…"

"Those sapphire gems."

"I'm sorry to make you worry."

"His genuine smile… NOKORU!"

Suoh quickly made his way to the blonde and hugged him. "We almost lost you." The blue-haired whispered, just in time Akira and Idomu woke up; seeing the sight, they too went to the blonde and hugged him. "Kaichou we painted the walls for you!" Akira happily said. "Thank You Akira. Indeed, it is very beautiful." Afterwards the blonde gazed at Idomu and spoke up. "Idomu, when we were young-" He instantly stopped when Idomu shook his head. "Nokoru… that was all in the past. Let's just move on… Kaichou…"

"Welcome Back!"

Owari