Chapter Seven

The paramedics rushed in on the scene with Hiro and a sobbing Aunt Cass not too far behind. Tadashi was already being treated on the spot due to the burns on his back but dread fills them when they learn Masashi has to be put in the ER. The eldest Hamada brother only had a few burns on his back that were treatable thankfully, but would leave scars and some on his legs.

The worst for Masashi was…his arm.

Tadashi could literally smell the burnt/charred flesh that was once his right arm when he held the younger male in his arms. It was a horrible, rotten smell…almost enough to make him vomit on the spot.

He had also inhaled far too much smoke due to being inside longer than he, they needed to operate immediately on Masashi.

"Can I ride with him?" Tadashi asked in a hope filled voice with pleading eyes towards the lead medic. "Please. He's my best friend…I-I want to be there with him at all times."

"So do I!" Hiro piped up, a determined look clear in his eyes. "I put Masashi through a lot of crap lately. This is the least I could do."

The lead medic looks back and forth between the Hamada brothers, pursing her lips in a thin line before sighing wearily giving the okay. "Alright. Just know that we don't do this for anybody now: But since he's apparently an extremely close friend I'll let it slide just this once…get in boys."

"Thank you so much." They both bow in respect, Tadashi looking towards Cass. "Aunt Cass would you-?"

"I already let his parents know…t-they should be here in seconds." Cass replied, no longer sobbing such as earlier but tears still glistened in her eyes watching the ambulance speed off towards the hospital.

Please….God please. Don't take Masashi away from us…

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Hurt. Everything hurt. And what was that smell? That unnatural stench surrounding him when his eyes finally fluttered open. Masashi stared blinkingly up at the ceiling, trying to make a move to sit up only to bite his lip hard at the searing pain in the back of his head.

W-Where the hell am I? Everything's so…so white. Is this heaven I wonder? They always say it's like a bright white light just before you see the Golden Gates…but you aren't supposed to feel any pain. At all. So why…?

"Hey he's awake!"

"Masashi!"

Two familiar voices cried out, calling for the doctors as the men and women in white coats stood on either side of Masashi's bed when his vision came to. Panic instantly set in. His chest heaved up and down, looking madly around for Tadashi and Hiro relieved when he finally sees them, reaching his good hand out which Tadashi takes instantly as does Hiro. "T-Tadashi…Short-Stack…" He chokes out, still using his nickname for Hiro. "You're o-okay…you're both okay…"

"Yes Masashi w-we're both fine," Tadashi chokes out in return, squeezing his hand tight. Struggling to say what he's about to say next. "But…Listen alright? W-What they're about to do next. It's going to hurt…really, really hurt…but it's to save you. Just squeeze our hands as tight as possible alright? Don't worry if it hurts us."

"Dashi what're you g-going on about? What are they doing to me?"

Then that's when it happened.

Masashi's blood-curdling, worse pain then you can even fathom scream cut throughout the hospital. Tears cascaded down his slight burnt face, feeling one of the nurses put a towel towards his lips. "Dear please: Bite down on this. I-It may help distract you from the pain."

Masashi did as she recommended and although they gave him as much numbing medication they possibly could he still managed to feel his right arm being cut from his body…

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About a week had passed since the fire at the university. Masashi was still to be kept in the hospital for another week just to make sure he was doing okay. Sometimes, out of habit when Tadashi watched him slip on a clean shirt the younger male would reach for where his right arm used to be only to grab nothing but air.

And his face.

Every time Tadashi would see him look in the mirror, he would see Masashi flinch at the scars from the fire.

Callaghan even paid them a visit along with Wasabi and the others. When Masashi was asleep one night, Tadashi and Callaghan whispered amongst one another.

"So…there's no signs of Ackerman?"

"I'm afraid not, Tadashi. The police looked everywhere…it's as if he vanished." Callaghan then muttered something along the lines of "I hope that's the case" but like Tadashi, the old professor had a terrible gut feeling.

"That fire wasn't an accident professor." Tadashi muttered, giving Masashi's good hand a squeeze. And the fact he saw Ackerman try to…do 'that' to Masashi disgusted him beyond belief. Forcing himself on him. Trying to kill him by keeping him trapped in that building. "It just…It doesn't seem real you know? Did you trust Ackerman at all professor?"

Callaghan gives a solemn nod. "Yes. I admit, I had the same feelings as you however when we first became partners. But I shrugged such feelings away. Thinking it was only in my head…what a fool I was. If I had gone with my feeling perhaps I could have-."

"Professor that's crazy," Tadashi piped up. "I don't think any of us could have known Ackerman was capable of a thing like this."

"I may be sleeping but I can still hear you."

Both nearly jumped out of their skins at the sound of Masashi's dry, cracked voice sighing with relief as he simply chuckles at their reaction. "Masashi you should be resting." Callaghan lightly scolded him making Tadashi grin.

"Can't sleep." Masashi mumbled, lifting his head up to face the older male. "Sir. If you don't mind…could Tadashi and I have a moment for a while?" Callaghan nods in understanding reaching down to pat his shoulder in a very parental fashion but halts just a bit when the other speaks. "I really wish you wouldn't feel so guilty about Ackerman sir…it's not healthy for you to feel that way."

Callaghan's lips form into a soft smile, nodding at his words whispering a 'Thank you' before exiting the room in silence.

But while Masashi told Callaghan just now to not feel guilty. Here he was. His stomach was churning on the inside not understanding how he could have possibly allowed himself to be 'sweet talked' like that by the former school professor. It was still too unreal. Too unreal to think all this had happened.

That's when he feels the bile in the back of his throat, motioning Tadashi to quickly grab a bucket as he begins to vomit rapidly into it. After, Tadashi wipes Masashi's face gently and cleans out the bucket embracing the now shaking boy in a hug.

"Sorry…I-I'm so sorry Dashi….I tried t-to forget what happened with m-me and Ackerman…I want to f-forget." He chokes back a sob as Tadashi embraces him just a little tighter then he probably meant to, burying his face in Masashi's hair whispering soothing words to him.

"It's okay. It's okay Masashi…Everything will be okay alright? I won't let him hurt you or anyone else ever again. Shhhhh…" Tadashi wanted nothing more than to track Ackerman down and exact revenge on him. But would that really be the ultimate answer?

He can feel Masashi's heart beat quiet down, rubbing his back in gentle circular motions even after the other finally sleeps. Wiping the remnants of his tears and kissing the corner of his lips.

"Just rest Masashi…"