I'm sorry it's been so long since I updated last. I've been busy with finals and working on various projects. As you all know, several one-shots have been completed for the 100-themes challenge lately and I have two more on the way, as well as a collab that I am working on with Fiyerna.
Ah, thinking about it... Fiyerna helped me a great deal with Misanori's story in this chapter and it is because of him that I was able to update today, so be sure to leave him thanks, hm?
I will be uploading chapter six in a few minutes and I hope that you all enjoy this... It's hard to think that the story is almost over.
Chapter Five
The room had fallen into complete silence. Two pairs of worried eyes lingered on Naoto, whose gaze was focused on the floor. She nibbled absently on her bottom lip, trying to stop the trembling that had started in her hands. Souji's eyes were locked with Ikeda's, filled with guilt, fear, concern, and many other emotions the nurse couldn't quite name. How the boy was able to look directly at her without being able to see her, the nurse could only guess, but his gaze felt just as strong as anyone with perfect vision.
With a soft sigh, Ikeda dropped her chart on the table loudly, startling everyone in the room and successfully gaining their attention.
"I do wish I could say this kindly, Seta-san. I want to be able to tell you that there is another reason for this. That Shirogane-san had an illness or something close to the fact, however… While I did say that this is because of you, Seta-san, her condition itself is not your fault—not unless you intentionally let yourself be hit by that car."
Souji remained silent, looking in the direction that he heard the clipboard drop, unable to meet the nurse's gaze. Naoto shifted in his lap again, and his hands were pulled away from her waist as she stood up. He reached for her hand, drawing back when she shook her head. Yakushiji stepped forward quickly, pulling a chair from the wall up beside Souji's. The sleuth nodded silently in gratitude and sat down, clasping her hands together tightly in her lap, before returning her gaze to the floor.
Misanori, who'd been standing by the door, shifted, slowly moving further into the room to sit on the edge of the bed. His pale-blue eyes moved from Ikeda, to Souji, and finally to Naoto, who winced. She didn't need to look up to know who was staring at her; the only gaze stronger then Souji's sightless one was her grandfather's. He shook his head sadly, and shut his eyes, letting out a long, slow breath before he finally spoke.
"Ikeda-san, I believe I can explain what is happening here. If you'll allow me to speak with them privately… this is a family matter as well."
"Of course," Ikeda nodded. "I'll return before dinner to check on Seta-san." With a polite bow, Ikeda left the room quickly, glancing once at Souji over her shoulder before shutting the door.
"…Grampa?" Naoto finally spoke quietly, looking at the elder Shirogane with a questioning gaze. "A 'family matter'? What… do you mean? I understand that I am your granddaughter, but I'm fine. There is no need to—"
"Naoto Shirogane, I ask that you be silent!"
Naoto jumped, her eyes widening as she felt Souji shift uncomfortably next to her. Neither of them had ever heard Misanori raise his voice before—let alone sound anything close to angry. Yet it wasn't anger that had been in the elder Shirogane's tone, it was closer to that of fear. Yakushiji had moved over to the bed, standing next to the other silently, a comforting hand on his shoulder, as if knowing that was coming.
"Shiro—Misanori-san?" Souji spoke hesitantly, wincing at his small slip. Countless times the old man had asked Souji to use his first name—as he was quite sure they'd 'legally' be a family soon—and he'd yet to pick up the habit.
"…I apologize," Misanori sighed softly, raising a hand to meet Yakushiji's briefly, a silent gesture to assure the secretary he was alright. "I shouldn't have shouted at you, Naoto, but I wish to speak with both you and Seta-san on a serious level. The situation and troubles you two are facing… it is not the first time I have seen such events happen. The previous time I was powerless to change anything, and I will be damned if I allow my family to slip through my fingers again because I didn't take action before it was too late."
Naoto opened her mouth to speak, wanting to know what exactly had been 'too late', but her lips closed before the words could form. She leaned back in her chair silently, glancing at Souji before returning her gaze to her grandfather, meeting his eyes with her own in a silent gesture urging him to continue.
"…You once asked me how your grandmother died. I told you that I would tell you when I felt you were ready to know, and to this day I have withheld the information. I did not feel you needed the stress that it would place on your shoulders, because I knew you would attempt to take some of the blame in an attempt to ease my own . However, I must make you understand that neither her situation, nor Seta-san's are by any means your fault.
"I must take this time to point out that Seta-san had always worn a watch before the day you gave him one, and it could have just as easily been the watch that he owned previously that fell off. I need you to remember that before I start this story. I believe it is safe to say that no one who has entered this room or knows of Seta-san's situation blames you for what has happened, and nor would Seta-san even begin to imagine accusing you of doing this to him." Misanori paused to chuckle weakly, "And if I am not mistaken, Seta-san is working quite hard to fight the urge to say something to back my words, if the look on his face is anything to go by."
Naoto glanced at Souji, taking in the pained look of restraint on the silverette's face. He coughed awkwardly, feeling the sleuth's gaze as he quickly averted his attention back in the direction of Misanori's voice.
"I am quite certain you have many theories regarding the circumstances surrounding your grandmother's passing, Naoto, the most obvious of which would be the link between her death and the deaths of your parents. They, too, were victims of a tragic accident, as you are well aware. In an odd twist of fate, our son and his wife were out on an errand for your grandmother which involved the retrieval of her watch from the repair shop. They had just finished investigating a case and had wrapped everything up quite neatly, so their high spirits allowed them a fair amount of generosity. But as fate would have it, not everything went according to their expectations."
Misanori sighed as he removed his glasses, withdrawing a handkerchief from his back pocket and proceeding to clean the lenses. His eyes appeared distant as he slowly pushed the glasses back onto his face and the painful memories flooded back into his mind. Souji could hear the pain in his voice and, for the first time, Misanori Shirogane seemed like a frail old man than one of Japan's foremost investigators.
"The murderer was, in fact, caught and punished according to the law, as justice demands," continued Misanori calmly. "However, your grandmother never forgave herself for the entire affair. She felt largely responsible for your parents' murders, as only a mother can. You've no conceivable idea what it feels like for a parent to outlive their children, Naoto. Of course, I did all that I could to talk her into coping with the pain and moving on with her life, particularly because you were still a toddler and required a devoted maternal figure.
"Yet she fell deeper into depression and despair in spite of it. She would not eat, and she obtained very little sleep at all. There would be times when I would wake up alone in bed and find her staring out the window toward the driveway, as though expecting your father and mother to come home any minute..."
The elder Shirogane closed his eyes, and his hands ceased polishing his spectacles as he released a shuddering sigh. "Your grandmother died two weeks after your parents... from malnutrition and self-neglect. Until the very end, she swore that it was her penance for sending our son and his wife, your father and mother, to die before their time, even though she was absolutely blameless.
"However, the memories, and the lesson, have never left my mind. I cared too much to put my foot down and force her to reevaluate herself, and the way she handled the tragedy. I cared too much many months ago when I merely stood and watched you begin wasting away, just like your grandmother did, hoping you would find the strength within yourself to exercise the necessary self-control. But I shall no longer stand idly by and watch you destroy yourself; because you are not the only one who will suffer should the worst case scenario come to pass. For the sake your friends, your family, and for the man you claim to love with all of your heart and soul, I demand... no, I beg of you--"
"G-Grampa?!" Naoto's eyes widened in total shock as she watched her grandfather, the man whom she admired and respected beyond all others, kneel in front of her, his worn hands clasping her thin, cold fingers as he looked into her silver-blue eyes with as much emotion as he could muster.
"Naoto... Nao-chan... Please stop doing this to yourself." Misanori's voice cracked as he fought back tears. "I cannot lose you, too. Don't make me watch another person I love die right in front of me... I need you."
"Grampa…" Naoto's own voice cracked as she choked on her words. Something stung in the corner of her eyes but she ignored it, not caring if tears fell or not.
Fingers brushed against her cheeks, just under her eyes. She turned, blinking as the familiar feeling of Souji's hand wiped away the few stray tears that had fallen without her notice. "Souji-san…" Grampa… I had no idea that my actions were giving you such a large amount of grief... And Souji… Despite your condition and lost abilities, it's still me that you continue to worry about. You both…
The sharp ring of a cell-phone filled the room, cutting off Naoto's thoughts. Misanori produced a phone from his pocket, giving the screen a weary glance before opening it and answering. The grave look in his eyes darkened as he listened to the speaker, a sorrowful look falling across his features.
"I don't think that I'll be able… Yes, I realize that you need assistance, but… Isn't there any other agency that you can employ? Surely I cannot be the only one that… No, I quite understand, but my—"
"Grampa…" Naoto spoke softly; gripping the hand still wrapped loosely around one of her own tightly. "It's alright… You should go."
Misanori began to shake his head, looking uncomfortable.
"I'll be alright, Grampa. I… I understand and have realized how foolish I allowed my actions to become and I know that I need to fix them. I have Senpai here, as well as a large nursing staff and friends. All of which I'm sure who are willing to help me. Please do not neglect your job on my account. I don't want you to put on hold because of me, I-"
"Misanori-san, if I might interrupt…" Yakushiji spoke from the bed, talking over to stand beside the elder Shirogane. "Normally I go with you on the bulk of your travels, but should it give you comfort, I will remain here with Naoto-sama. I can see to it that she follows the road of recovery in your absence and give you a full report each night—that is alright with you, isn't it, Naoto-sama?"
Naoto looked up at the secretary and nodded, then smiled gently at her grandfather as she spoke. "I can assure you that I will be alright. I have many arms to fall into should I stumble and I know yours are there as well… But I ask that you please go and help them. I want no poor rumors started in the Shirogane name because I was a fool. So please, Grampa, take the case."
The old man stared at Naoto silently, his eyes calculating and concerned. His gaze shifted to Souji before finally falling on Yakushiji, the corners of his mouth twitching faintly. He sighed softly and nodded slowly; taking the hand Yakushiji offered him to stand up and placed the phone back to his ear, talking quickly and quietly to the person on the other end. After hanging up, be pocketed the phone and bent over, pulling the young sleuth into a gentle embrace.
"The case will be just over a week, Nao-chan. I promise to return as soon as I can… but in return, please promise me you will do all that these kind people ask to help yourself."
Naoto nodded slowly, returning her Grampa's embrace. "I promise, Grampa. I can never properly apologize for what I've done these past few months… but I will do all in my power to make it up to you and everyone else who has worried for me."
Misanori nodded and pulled away, offering the detective a warm smile. "I know you will, Naoto-chan."
He turned, facing Souji as he reached out and—much to the surprise of everyone in the room—hugged him as well, pulling away slowly leaving Souji with a faint flush of embarrassment. "I wish you a full recovery as well, Seta-san. I know I am leaving Nao-chan in capable hands. Between yourself and Yakushiji, I have full confidence that Nao-chan will be alright."
"Thank you… Good luck on your case, and a safe journey to you, Sir." Souji said politely smiling as he looked up at where he hoped the elderly man's face was.
"I will see you two again soon…" Swooping down to hug Naoto once more, the Misanori hesitated before sighing softly and shaking his head, pushing away the doubt that plagued his mind.
He turned and hurried towards the door, producing his phone once more as he opened it and began flipping through saved contacts.
"Ah… Misanori-san, I will organize your traveling arrangements. Allow me to return to the estate with you temporarily. You simply need to worry about packing. I can be back at the hospital by…" The secretary's voice faded as he followed the elder Shirogane out the door, letting it swing shut behind him.
Silence passed between the two young adults left in the room before Souji spoke, turning his wheelchair around to face Naoto fully.
"Naoto, I…"
"Don't… I know what you're going to say. It's alright. No apologies… no attempts at taking the blame. You are not at fault for what I have done, just as I was not at fault for what happened to you. From this point forward, if we wish to atone for whatever guilt we may be needlessly feeling… Let us simply work on recovering."
Souji nodded and rolled forward slowly, holding out a hand and waiting patiently for Naoto's. The sleuth smiled and intertwined their fingers together, slipping forward into his lap before he could pull her himself. Her head laid lazily against his shoulder as her free hand absently played with the cloth of his hospital scrubs.
"…It won't be an easy road, will it?"
"Probably not, it'll take a long time, for both of us."
Naoto chuckled. "It's too bad we can't simply use a Persona to heal this problem, hm?"
Souji nodded, smiling faintly. "We wouldn't learn anything that way though, would we?"
"Mm… You are most likely correct. Still, I'm sure that if we were able to face and overcome half the things we did when you came to Inaba… I'm sure that we'll be able to face this as well."
"Without a doubt," Souji's smile grew. "Everything… will be just fine."