A/N: Who is our secret guest? What's gonna happen? BTW: MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! Can't believe 2014 is just about over... BRING ON 2015!
ALSO! To RinRinSingal; Thank you so much for your review on both this story and On The Dark Side of the Moon. I'm really glad you're enjoying this, and enjoyed my previous story. I was really moved by your review that I've gone back and re-read it myself. It was like reading a whole new fanfiction, even though I wrote it xD I like the mention of Vic Mignogna, he's a pretty amazing english voice actor xDD And Katsurou isn't based on Haru from Free... I've never even watched Free though I hear its good xD I hope you enjoy what's to come :D
Chapter Sixteen
Whoever she was, she was beautiful. Tall, slender with a noticeably large chest. Her hair was a gentle red colour, and was tied back in a plat, with blue laced threaded through. She was wearing a beautiful green dress that hinted at the curves in her body, but revealed nothing, leaving the mind to wonder what was underneath. She was beautiful, there was no other way Len could describe her.
However, Shion-senpai looked repulsed the moment he laid his eyes on her. Suddenly, Len felt like the teen standing by their table wasn't their friend, but a stranger with a grudge. "It's been a while, Kai-kun," the woman spoke delicately, her voice small and sweet. "I see you are doing well."
"And you," Shion-senpai replied stiffly. "Why are you here?"
"I came to pick up Mi-chan," she indicated to Miku who sat beside Len. "Mi-chan, Gumi-chan and I were going shopping today, which I feel she forgot about."
"I didn't forget!" Miku wailed. "I wanted to see Len!"
The woman smiled at Miku fondly. "He is a friend you truly value," she commented before looking back at Shion-senpai. "My mother told me… you are still being stubborn."
"It's none of your business," Shion-senpai snapped back. "Remember, you brought this upon yourself."
"Did I?" She didn't sound angry, but there was something dark in her voice. "You just can't admit the truth. Do your friends know? Have you been lying to them all this time?"
"They know I had cancer."
"Had? You still have cancer. For the fifth time already."
"What!" Hibiki cried out. "It came back!"
"So, you haven't told them," She commented. "You claim I'm two-faced, yet you don't even tell your friends what's going on." She looked towards the group. "Do you know what type of cancer Kai-kun has?"
"Meiko, don't do this," Shion-senpai spoke angrily. "I was going to tell them!"
"When?" She snapped angrily. "When were you going to tell them? When you're being lowered in the grave!"
"How dare you!" Shion-senpai yelled. "This is exactly why I hate you. You've never once considered my feelings!"
"You're going to die the longer you put it off. I told you, once you've lost your legs, you'll not rem-"
"SHUT UP!"
Everyone was silent. Len hadn't realised he'd spoke up, or stood up… or slammed his hands on the table until he felt the throbbing in his palms. Everyone was watching him, everyone at the table… and in the café. His explosion had caused a ruckus… but he couldn't stand this.
"You don't understand!" Len turned to her, his eyes teary. "Would you tell a boy whose mother castrated him that he would 'forget what it felt like to have a penis'?! You wouldn't! You can't turn around and say things like that! Yes, Kaito's cancer is bad, it effects his legs but telling him he'd forget what it was like to walk, to run… to stand on his own two feet isn't fair on him! It isn't fair at all!"
"Len…" Shion-senpai whispered, looking a little shocked. So did everyone else.
"If you truly care for Kaito, you'd be supporting the decisions he makes. You'd be beside him through the hard times, encourage him and just be there for him. Whether what you said is true or not, it is something you're selfishly saying because it's what you want. If he was crippled, then he'd need someone to take care of him, and you want to be that person. If it's really bad, and yes, he loses his legs, you're the last person he'd want to take care of him. You've betrayed his feelings, you don't deserve any involvement in his life. That's what his friends are for. Regardless of what the facts are, we still want his happiness. If his happiness is the ability to walk on his own two feet, then that's what we want too! We don't wish for his legs to be taken away from him. It would make him sad. It would make me sad. I don't want senpai to be sad, because he's been sad for a long time now!"
He wasn't sure when he started crying. He wasn't sure when Hibiki stood up and pulled him into a hug. He wasn't sure when Miku ushered Meiko out the café. He just cried. He needed to cry, because Shion-senpai refused to cry. So he'd cry for him.
Kaito watched Hibiki and Len disappear out the back, feeling bad for letting Len get that upset over the situation. He was glad it was Hibiki that had gone with him. Hibiki was a sympathetic guy, understanding and gentle. He was the best person for Len to be with. He turned to Katsurou and Ryunnosuke who'd been quiet the whole time. "It's osteosarcoma," he said suddenly, surprising the boys. "That's what I have. It effects children and young adults mostly."
"It's a bone cancer," Ryunnosuke said softly. "That was why you collapsed that time when you challenged those boys. It was your legs this whole time."
"Yes," Kaito admitted. "Len knows because that day I disappeared after the hospital… I ended up at his place. I was drunk and babbled in my sleep. That's how he found out."
"Kaito…"
"I was going to talk about it… today because I didn't want Len to keep it a secret but…"
"But we started on conversations that made you embarrassed, and made you bolt," Ryunnosuke finished. "There is no one to blame for this, Kaito. You had the best interests… it was just a pity it had to turn out like this."
"But Len is right," Katsurou continued, looking his squared in the eye. "We want you to be happy, and we will support your decision."
"Thank you, both of you."
Ryunnosuke nodded. "If something does go wrong, do not be afraid to tell us. We want to help you."
"I know… it's just a hard thing to talk about. It makes me sound… frail."
"And? There's no shame of being frail," Katsurou replied hotly. "So what if you have a disability or a illness. You are Shion Kaito! You've been a compassionate and strong person. You brought out Len from his shell. You made a group of unlikely people become the best of friends. You've brought us together! We're proud of you, fighting the way you have yet still doing the things you love!"
"Besides," Ryunnosuke added. "There is nothing like the present. If we do consider the chances of you losing your legs, then why do we do things that will give you the best memories?"
"Like camping or travelling!" Katsurou cheered.
"You'd do that?"
"Of course," Ryunnosuke smiled. "Len said exactly what we feel. Your happiness is our happiness. The present is now, let's make the most of it!"
Just as they begun making plans, Hibiki came back out the back and took a seat at the table. Kaito told him what he'd told Ryunnosuke only to be surprised by his reply. "I know. Len told me while we were out back. He wants a couple of minutes to sort himself out, then he has to return to work. He said we can head off without him, since he'll still be here until this afternoon."
"We could stay here," Ryunnosuke said. "I have nothing better to do."
"Same," Katsurou grinned. "Len needs us! We'll stay here so he knows we're here to support!"
"Besides… we need to break the news we have summer swim class next week." Ryunnosuke chuckled.
"He… didn't know?"
"Nope, I forgot to tell him," Hibiki admitted. "Whoops…"
A/N: Swimming next week? Sounds fun... or not :/ (foreshadowing, ooooooooooo) xD Anyways, a special update for Christmas. I only have the next chapter written then I've got nothing left to upload... haven't had much time to do some writing. The next chapter will be up in time for New Years, however; so look forward to it :D