Oh what an awful week it has been. I had econ and math tests, a paper due for film class, a portfolio due for Creative writing, and 2 projects for management class. And on top of it, work. AHHH the frustration! Well, at least it is all over now and I could actually write today. Anyway, please enjoy! I am really proud of this chapter, you know, considering the recent mental stress I've endured.
Kaoru gathered up a handful of paper towels and pressed them to the gaping wound. The liquid immediately stained the paper red and continued to leak down the side of his arm. "Dammit, it's worse than I thought." He threw the soggy mess aside and opened a kitchen drawer to his mother's precious kitchen towels. "Mom's gonna kill me," he told himself, grabbing the dark maroon one.
Quickly, Kaoru unfolded it and pressed it to his arm. It stung; he squeezed his eyes shut to endure the pain. He needed to clean this wound, fast. So he held the towel to his arm and ventured back to the bathroom, walking slowly due to the lack of lighting.
When he finally reached the bathroom that he and Hikaru shared, he opened the mirror cabinet, balanced the towel on his wound, and pulled out a bottle—hydrogen peroxide. Crap this was going to hurt.
He lifted the sticky towel and cringed at the mess there; blood dripped off his elbow. "Here we go," he whispered to himself, placing the towel on the white counter and grabbing the bottle. Kaoru unscrewed the top and held the bottle above the wound, hesitating.
He breathed deeply. "One, two… three," he counted, letting the liquid slosh over the stinging cut. At impact, sharp pain rippled through his arm, making it spasm. He panted, pulling the bottle away. "Oh god, oh god," he muttered through the pain and shook his arm as if that would make it any better. He breathed in slowly through gritted teeth.
Suddenly a light beep grabbed Kaoru's attention. "Wait," he said, suddenly ignoring the cut and dug into his pants pocket. He pulled out the small phone and stared. He had two bars of service. Without a second thought, he flipped it open and pushed his speed dial for Hikaru's name. The red-head held the phone to his ear and examined his reflexion in the mirror. He looked ghastly; his cheeks were pale, blood on his clothes.
He glanced away and focused on the phone as it took its time connecting. Quickly opening the cabinet, Kaoru searched for bandages. They had to have some decent bandages somewhere. But, unfortunately, all he found were small Band-Aids.
The phone began ringing. "Come on, come on," he whispered, turning around and leaning on the counter. He placed the phone into the hand of his injured arm and used his other to put pressure on the glass wound.
"Kaoru?" a worried voice called abruptly through the speaker.
"Hikaru, Hikaru are you okay?" Kaoru yelled back, tensing his shoulders. He fought back tears. He couldn't be a baby now; they've only been separated for only a few hours.
"Of course, stupid. I'm in the sanctuary," Hikaru scolded. "You should be more worried about yourself. Are you okay? You're not hurt are you?"
Kaoru's eyes flicked to the newly oozing wound beneath his fingers and his breathing hitched. "I'm fine," he said after a moment.
"You paused," Hikaru's voice rose. "You're hurt aren't you?"
"I'm fine, Hikaru. I'm fine," Kaoru cried, resisting the urge to cough. His throat was beginning to tickle again. Kaoru quickly changed the subject. "The power is out here."
There was a short pause. "Hikaru?" Kaoru asked, fear grabbing at his chest.
"The power is out?" Hikaru asked, his voice sounding hollow.
"What's wrong, Hikaru?" Kaoru's voice began to shake.
Hikaru paused again. "I don't know how long we will be in here, Kao… You should find Haruhi and find somewhere place to stay. And… and gather supplies."
"Hold on. You're talking as if we won't see each other for a while."
Hikaru was silent.
"Oh, so we won't," Kaoru stated what Hikaru wouldn't say.
"Yeah."
Kaoru frowned, removing his hand from his wound. It was bleeding too much. So he grabbed the towel again and pressed it to his arm. "So… Haruhi is out here still?" Kaoru asked somberly.
"Just you and her. All of the other host club members are here," Hikaru replied.
Kaoru nodded to himself. "Okay I'll find her and Hikaru-" But the line went dead in an annoying dial tone.
"Sorry, we cannot forward-" Kaoru silenced the recorded voice and stared blankly at the wall.
He blinked slowly and slid the phone back into his pocket. Maybe he would get service again soon. Sighing, Kaoru turned to the cabinet along the wall by the door and took a thick blue shower towel; he wrapped his arm with the towel and tied it the best he could with one hand.
But it was still too loose; there wasn't enough pressure. So he returned to the kitchen and rolled open a drawer to grab what he needed. Kaoru unraveled the black duct tape and stuck it to the towel, winding it around and around until it held the towel firmly in place.
"Perfect," he said with a small smile. He took this as a small victory and basked in it because who knows what could happen next. By what Hikaru said, it sounded like he would be out here longer than he planned and he would have to be prepared for the worst. Kaoru decided to start by staying positive.
Soon after that, Kaoru began gathering supplies in a backpack: matches, water, a few granola bars, Band-Aids, a flashlight, one small blanket, and really anything else he could shove into the red pack. And when he was done, he pulled it over his shoulders and groaned. It was so heavy. Maybe he should take a few things out before he set out for Haruhi's house.
But a crash somewhere inside the house made him freeze. He held his breath and backed against the wall near the kitchen door to the hall.
"You check upstairs and we'll take this floor. Grab whatever you can!" a voice echoed through the halls.
Looters, great. Kaoru immediately bolted for the exit out the back kitchen door. He unlocked it, yanked it open, and closed it as quietly as he could. Kaoru ran into the back gardens and then dove into a space between the bushes, narrowly avoiding a man pacing by with a gun in hand. He was scanning the area as he paced off further into the gardens. Seriously? They were looting housing already? Kaoru shook his head in exasperation.
As soon as the guy was out of sight, Kaoru bolted upwards and down the side of the house. There was nowhere to go but out the front; the rest of the estate's perimeters were fenced in. Kaoru sucked in a breath and plunged around the side of his home; his eyes darted around him, scanning for more the looters.
When he reached the front, he slid behind a tree and peered discretely around the side of the bark. There were two men standing at his front steps, talking, gesturing with their guns. Kaoru chewed his lip. How was he to get them away from the front without getting caught?
Fortunately Kaoru didn't even have to worry. The two walked right inside the front doors. Kaoru braced himself, taking a deep breath to calm his pulsing nerves, and then ran. His legs and lungs burned in the sudden effort; Kaoru choked back a cough.
He raced right through the luscious green grass to the front gate. The gate was broken, torn aside forcefully. How did Kaoru not even hear them break down the front gate? But he continued forward, not dwelling on it.
It seemed like forever when he had finally made his way through the gate at the end of the long driveway and we he did, he debated which way to run. But then he saw the van. It must but the looter's van… But it would be so much easier than walking across town to Haruhi's. Besides, the van was already running with the keys in the ignition.
Kaoru made his choice, barreling into the driver's seat, buckling in and throwing his pack into the passenger's seat. And then he stared at the controls and the steering wheel. He felt his foot around for the pedal and moved his seat so he could reach it better. And finally he rammed the van into drive and slammed on the gas. Today was a good day to learn how to drive.
Hey, lovely readers! I have a new fan fiction out TODAY! It is titled "Paper Cranes and Paper Hearts". It's about Kao and Hikaru of course. So check it out if you feel the urge. Also, do not forget about my other fic, "Lost Without You." That fic is ALMOST finished. Woot woot!