Chapter Ten
"Oh man I'm starving!" Hiro stated as they dragged Baymax inside.
"I wish we would have stopped at that Japanese restaurant…swore those delicious dumplings were calling my name." Masashi muttered, remembering how Tadashi and Hiro practically dragged him away from the temptation.
"Please don't talk about dumplings." Hiro grumbled, feeling his own stomach growl at the thought. "Why don't we just eat downstairs?"
"Oh yes: I'm sure your aunt will just love to hear about our little 'adventure' tonight," Masashi hissed in a whisper, imagining the mortified expression on that poor woman's face if she found out.
Tadashi sighed rubbing his aching temples, feeling another migraine come on. "For now let's just think about resting up for the night before we jump into our next plan alright? And get something to eat." He chuckles, feeling Hiro and Masashi both hug him wrapping their arms around his waist.
"Thank you." Masashi whispered in his ear.
Hiro let out a silent cheer before announcing to Cass that they were finally home. Ah…they're both really tired. Can ya blame them? Hiro's your little brother and Masashi's your…heck what is Masashi to me anyway anymore? Tadashi frowned in thought at the last part. Was Masashi a friend? A 'special friend'? Or something…more? It made his head hurt even more if he thought too much on it, earning a small groan to escape him.
Feelings can really suck sometimes
"Dashi? You alright?"
Hearing Masashi's concerned voice, he smiles softly and gives a slow nod. "Uh yeah. Yeah. I'm fine Masashi…just got a bit of a head-ache is all. No biggie."
"You fell out a window." Baymax slurred. The trio freeze on the spot before Masashi can ask if Tadashi needed any asprin for his head-ache.
"Shhh you can't say that stuff!" Hiro hissed. "Shhh…."
"We can't let Aunt Cass know." Tadashi hissed in return.
"Shhhh…."
"Hiro? Tadashi? Are you guys finally back? And is Masashi with you?" Cass called from the kitchen.
Tadashi rubs his temples even more as he joins his brother and Masashi, fake smiles plastered on their faces that he knows he'll feel bad about later. "Uh. Yeah Aunt Cass!" He laughs softly, hoping she doesn't sense the nervousness in it.
Upon entering the kitchen, Aunt Cass could be seen sitting at the table with the phone in her hands. It looked like she had been upset over something which confused the boys greatly as the trio blinked looking at one another.
"…Aunt Cass?" Tadashi whispered, putting an arm around her shoulders. "What is it?"
The woman frowns. Biting her lip as she looks up at Masashi unsure of how to share the news she had just received. "M-Masashi…Sweetie…I don't know how to tell you this, but, your mother called…"
"That's why you're so sad?" Masashi laughed, shaking his head. "I know my mom is 'eccentric' but enough to make someone cry about it? First I've heard."
"Your-your father had a heart attack…at five o clock this evening. He went to take a nap and when he didn't wake at his usual time your mother became worried. When she went to check on him…oh. I'm so sorry honey." She reaches over and hugs a stunned Masashi, Tadashi and Hiro unsure of what they could possibly say to comfort their friend.
"I don't understand," Masashi whispers, biting the inside of his cheek. "I-I talked to him just a week ago. When he and mom v-visited me at the hospital…" He soon pulls away from Cass, wiping at his eyes furiously. "I-I…I need to be alone."
"Masashi wai-." Hiro makes a move to go after him but Tadashi puts his arm out to stop him.
"Hiro. Just…Just let him go. Alright?"
"But-."
Hiro had tried. But the minute he looked at Tadashi's eyes, he remembered. How upset Tadashi had been after their parents died in that car accident. Well, he vaguely remembers anyway being only that of three years of age.
It wasn't long before they hear Masashi's sobs echo from Tadashi's and Hiro's bedroom. Tadashi squeezes his brother's shoulder, listening to Masashi's heart break and shatter. And there was no possible way of mending a broken heart…not easily anyway.
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
And the most terrifying question of all may be just how much horror the human mind can stand and still maintain a wakeful, staring, unrelenting sanity.-Stephen King, Pet Sematary
Kenta Nishino's funeral had been a week later. Masashi kept close by his mother the entire time, just wanting to only be with his family and some of his friends. His head lowered all throughout, letting Tadashi comfort him. Letting Tadashi hold him.
He couldn't believe all that had happened…was reality. Life seemed to feel so uncertain as of now. As the pastor said the last of his speech, Masashi watches helplessly as his father is lowered into the ground.
This isn't real…tell me this isn't real… He kept repeating that over and over in his mind, choking back another sob as Tadashi whispers soothing words into his hair and feels Hiro's hand tighten around his.
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxoxoxo
Tadashi could be seen seated on his bed with Masashi laying beside him. Hiro was slumped over his desk, tapping a pencil rhythmlessly against the wood. Baymax was in his red case charging still. Staring over at Masashi. Hiro and Tadashi both frown. "…You're sad. Why is Masashi sad?"
"My…My father's gone. Baymax." Masashi sighs softly, flexing his mechanical fingers that used to be his right hand.
"When will he return?"
"When you're dead you can't come back." Hiro muttered, spinning around to face them and the robot.
Tadashi wraps his arm again around Masashi's shoulders, laying his head against his. This time Masashi doesn't pull away. Hiro fiddles around with his desk lamp. "Kenta Nishino is not gone." They hear Baymax say.
Masashi snorts in disbelief. How many times a day were people going to tell him that? "Yeah. You and everyone else who says that. He's dead. And he's never coming back." Tadashi can feel his shoulders start to shake as he whispers to Masashi to calm himself that Baymax was only trying to help.
"Shh. Sshhh just calm down Masashi," Tadashi comforted him. Stroking his hair gently. "It'll be alright…"
"Kenta is out there-."
"In a grave." Tadashi murmurs lowly, placing his chin atop of Masashi's head. "Nothing but bones…"
Masashi pulls away lightly from Tadashi, rolling over so the other can have more room. They're not facing the other at the moment, pressed up back to back. Although they didn't see the other, unconsciously they were mimicking each other's movements. As if they were in perfect sync. Harmony.
"…My father's really dead." Masashi mutters.
"Mr. Nishino…"
Baymax waddled over to the three. "You are my patients. I would like to help."
"You can't fix this kind of thing, Baymax." Tadashi told him.
"Not like duct tape's gonna fix anything." Hiro sighed, running a hand down his face. "It just doesn't work like that for this."
The only time they blinked was when they heard a steady beeping and looked towards the robot with genuine curiosity. Baymax was standing in front of the computer with his hand pressed to it. Images were beginning to flash.
"What's he-?"
"He's…I think he's downloading." Hiro said.
"I am downloading a database on personal loss."
Baymax finished turning to the Hamada siblings and Masashi. "Database downloaded. Treatments include: Contact with friends and loved ones."
"I've already got that buddy," Masashi stated, wrapping an arm around Tadashi and another around Hiro. "These guys, Cass and my mother."
Baymax tilted his head. "But you all could use some treatment." Several familiar faces showed up before vanishing. "Your friends have been contacted."
"What?!"
"Don't you know what privacy is?" Masashi grumbled. Burying his face in the crook of Tadashi's neck who chuckles at his actions.
"There. There."
The trio all look at one another and smile softly, relaxing just a bit before turning their attention towards the robot. "Thanks, Baymax."
"I am sorry about your father."
Hiro shrugs one shoulder. "Well, we know Masashi didn't bump his head on anything during the fire." His eyes then widened. "And…"
"They won't go after Ackerman because they think he 'disappeared'!" Masashi exclaims, gripping his hair. "Oh man…you guys! Tadashi and I were right all along!"
"But you know what this means…" Tadashi narrowed his eyes. "We gotta catch him ourselves."
They were quiet for a moment until Tadashi gulped with trepidation seeing Masashi and Hiro grin wickedly at Baymax. Hiro rubbing his hands together. "I think I'm going to really like this."
"Me to kid…me to."
What have I gotten myself into?
Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
The trio had waited until they were sure Cass Hamada was asleep or busy. Quietly as possible did they walk down the stairs with Baymax tip toeing behind them as well-trying anyway? She let out a startled gasp, watching a zombie horror show where a young woman was giving birth during a zombie attack. "Aw man: She actually dies?!" Masashi hisses in disbelief as they continue creeping on by. "I'm not even far into that series yet."
"Ah she wasn't all that great anyway," Hiro whispered back as low as possible. "I mean, she cheats on her husband with another dude?"
"Guys: Focus on the priority here." Tadashi bopped them both on the head earning simultaneous yelps. Baymax however had grown curious as well it seemed, stopping to watch only to be pulled by the trio quickly.
As soon as they were in the garage, Hiro flopped down onto his chair with Tadashi and Masashi leaning over his shoulders. "Masashi: "Grab ALL of our kung fu movies…. And Tadashi, grab your old work out tapes."
Masashi gives a salute as both grab the DVD's up in their arms. Baymax was told to raise his arms so Hiro could scan him. "Thank you."
"Will apprehending Ackerman improve your emotional status?" Baymax had asked.
"YES!"
"He tried to assault Masashi, almost got us killed and tried killing us again the third time. We can't let him get away with that." Tadashi said with determination, sounding like that of a person in an action film.
Once they had gotten the armor on, Tadashi and Masashi had to admit Baymax did look pretty fascinating. However the robot seemed to deadpan at his 'new look'. "I have some concerns. "This armor may compromise my non-threatening huggable design."
"That's the whole point!" Hiro laughs.
"I have to admit you do look pretty sick." Masashi commented with a grin, looking over at Tadashi who nodded in agreement.
Baymax tilted his head. "I cannot be sick, I am a robot." They were about to reply that it was only a figure of speech when the computer started to beep. "Data Transfer complete."
Masashi takes out a green marker, writing in bold letters VENGEANCE right on the card. Hiro draws a little skull with crosses beside it. Tadashi purses his lips in a thin line at the design. On the outside he may appear to be calm on the outside, but on the inside he was in debate. Is this really what they wanted Baymax to be? A robot that seeks vengeance?
Hiro pushes the card in gently, taking out Tadashi's and handing it back to him. Baymax optics narrowed as the downloading process was complete. "I fail to see how martial arts makes me a better healthcare companion."
Tadashi faintly smiles up at him. "Well this does count as a way to keep us all healthy…"
Masashi picks up a board laying about, grinning almost like Hiro had when he participated in that Bot fight. Holding it in front of him. "Punch it through."
Baymax usually gentle optics narrowed, rearing his fist back. Tadashi tries to not cringe as he sees the board split in half as if it were butter. Hiro let out a cheer whereas Masashi and Tadashi were more silent. After his 'training session' had ended, Tadashi pulls on his jacket zipping it up, Masashi slipping on his hoodie and Hiro grabbing his own jacket.
"Okay…" Tadashi stated. "Let's go catch Ackerman."
A/n: I think you probably have a hint as to what show Cass was watching? ^^; I've become quite the WD fan as of late XD You'll sometimes find hints of my favorite things throughout some of my works