This chapter is to entertain my sweet ailing Black Flamingo. Kisses to you!
Homesick: Chapter Two
Nowaki was awakened by the sound of the phone ringing.
He automatically grabbed his cell on the nightstand before realizing it was the apartment's land line that was chiming. He considered allowing it to ring through to the answering machine, but then after another moment he pushed himself up off the futon with a yawn and padded out into the front room to answer it.
"Kamijou Kusama residence, Kusama speaking." Nowaki voice was still groggy; he rubbed his sleep-tousled, black head.
On the other end of the phone Miyagi's brow rose considerably. His hand unconsciously went to his throat.
His junior had made Kusama apologize to him formally after the young man had attacked him, so Miyagi knew full well who he was speaking with. Still he was surprised to learn that Hiroki was actually living with him.
That certainly explains a lot.
"Eh… uh, Kusama-kun, this is Miyagi." Miyagi offered this uncomfortably; he could almost hear the other man's aura darken over the phone.
"Ah, hello, Sir," Nowaki said stiffly. He had apologized but still felt Miyagi had been in the wrong to try and kiss his Hiro-san.
"Look, I'm sorry to bother you but is Kamijou there?"
"No... He's not here Professor Miyagi. Hiro-sa… Kamijou-san teaches today. I would think you would know that." The temperature of Nowaki's tone had risen slightly, along with the level of curiosity it carried.
"Ah…I was afraid of that," Miyagi sighed.
"Look, Kusama–kun, Kamijou looked ill when he got to school today. I tried to send him home then, but he refused. I went to check on him after his first class when he didn't come back to the office right away. You see, we had this faculty meeting we were supposed to go to…"
Nowaki listened to Miyagi draw a breath as he inhaled on his cigarette. The young intern felt a sudden twist of unease in his stomach.
"So I went down to his classroom and Kamijou appeared even worse than he was when I'd first seen him.
"Anyway, I sent him home over an hour and a half ago. I offered to drive him in my car or call him a cab, but he refused. I mean he wouldn't budge.
"God that guy is stubborn!" Miyagi's concern was evident in his exasperation.
"Kamijou assured me he could take the train just fine… but like I said he looked really bad, so I was just calling to make sure he made it there okay. I tried to ring him on his cell a few times first, but he didn't answer."
Hearing Miyagi's words the twist in Nowaki's stomach quickly turned into a full blown knot. His pulse immediately quickened.
"Please excuse me, but I have to go, Professor Miyagi," Nowaki felt the adrenaline surge he got whenever an emergency case came in to the ward.
Miyagi surmised where Nowaki would be heading as soon as they hung up.
"I understand. Will you do me a favor, Kusama-kun, and let me know when you find him and if he's okay." He offered his cell number.
"Of course, Professor and thank you for letting me know, I really appreciate it." Nowaki's opinion of his lover's senior had just risen considerably.
He quickly typed the number Miyagi relayed into his cell phone. With that Nowaki hung up.
Not caring that he was just wearing sweats and a tee-shirt, Nowaki dashed to the entry, grabbed his jacket, and slipped into his shoes. He punched the auto dial to Hiroki's cell phone as he sprinted out the door.
Nowaki sped to the station where Hiroki usually caught the train to the University, praying that his lover would be there.
He'd tried calling half a dozen times on the way, but there was no answer. He wove agilely through the crowds at the station. Reaching the platform, he scanned up and down.
A wave of relief washed over him when he recognized Hiro-san on a bench to the side. Hiroki was slightly hunched over as he sat there looking at his phone.
The trip from the University had been almost more than Hiroki could bear. The train had been crowded, so he'd been forced to stand. The sway and the jostle of the packed car had been excruciating.
He had stumbled out of the train at his stop and all but collapsed on the bench, unable to go any further. He'd been waiting for some time now for the pain to subside as it had the last time he'd sat down, but it wouldn't relent and in fact seemed to be getting worse.
Since he had left the University, Hiroki had ignored Miyagi's calls when he'd seen his senior's name on the screen. He couldn't bear to speak to his senior: he was too embarrassed to acknowledge that Miyagi was right and he should have let the older professor drive him home or taken a cab.
He'd also ignored Nowaki's calls, though he'd wondered what the dumb-ass was doing, calling him when he should be sleeping. Hiroki didn't pick up, because he knew his voice would reveal his condition and that would just worry Nowaki needlessly.
Besides I managed on my own for a year without Nowaki. Just because he's back now doesn't mean that I should suddenly go depending on him for every little thing.
Despite this thought though, amidst the mounting ache, Hiroki sat there wrestling with his pride, wondering if just maybe this one time he shouldn't call Nowaki back, or answer if the younger man called him again.
Hiroki grimaced as a he shifted slightly and a new blade of pain pierced him. If he could just give it a few more minutes to subside, he was sure he could probably make it the few blocks to the apartment.
His head jerked up sharply when he heard the unmistakable sound of Nowaki's voice call his name.
"Hiro-san?"
Nowaki was shocked by how poor Hiro-san looked. He was so pale and his cheeks were glazed with a thin sheen of perspiration.
He also saw the spark of relief in Hiroki's eyes, which then quickly flamed into irritation. But more than these, Nowaki also caught the unmistakable flicker of pain that burned brightly in his lover's hazel gaze.
Hiroki dropped his eyes to the floor knowing Nowaki had seen his weakness.
"What are you doing here, Nowaki?" He tried hard to keep his voice even.
"Professor Miyagi said he sent you home. He called the apartment to see if you were there yet. When I realized you should have been home a long time ago I came here hoping to find you, Hiro-san."
"I wish that troublesome guy would mind his own damn business," Hiroki growled. "Now he had to go and drag you into this!"
The truth was however, that while Hiroki was immensely relieved to see Nowaki, he was also suddenly more than a bit uneasy because his senior had called his home.
Miyagi will know now that Nowaki and I are living together. As if his library knowledge wasn't enough... Fuck! I'll be doing his bidding forever.
"Why didn't you answer your phone, Hiro-san?"
"Because I didn't want to okay!" Hiroki drew a shallow gasp as the exertion of his exclamation brought a fresh wave of pain with it.
"I'm fine really; I probably just ate something that doesn't agree with me." Hiroki offered, his tone much more subdued.
"Hiro-san, you're far from fine."
While he didn't want to admit it, Hiroki knew what Nowaki was saying was true.
"When did this start, Hiro-san?"
"Yesterday afternoon."
"And it's been getting worse since then?"
"Ummmm…"Hiroki conceded.
"And where does it hurt?" Nowaki asked kindly.
Hiroki wanted to find this sudden flash of bedside manner annoying, but in reality he really found Nowaki's presence had already made his discomfort diminish.
Without saying anything, Hiroki weakly waved his hand over his right side and low belly.
"Look, Nowaki," he muttered a few moments later, "I'm sure if I can just lie down at home I'll feel better soon."
"No, Hiro-san," Nowaki said firmly. "We're leaving here and I'm taking you to emergency."
Nowaki was feeling very convicted now that he hadn't pressed Hiro-san earlier about how the he was feeling. Especially if his lover was suffering from what he suspected.
"Can you walk?" he asked cautiously as he offered Hiroki his hand to help him up.
Hiroki regarded the outstretched paw suspiciously. Then grudgingly he took it as he gingerly lifted himself up. The pain as he did this made his breath come in shallow rasps.
Nowaki went to put his arm around Hiro-san to help support him, since Hiroki looked like he might topple over at any minute.
Hiroki pushed the arm away in one last attempt to preserve his dignity. "Of course I can walk, Dumb ass! I'm not some damsel in distress that needs to be carried."
Slowly Hiroki started moving forward, heading out of the crowded station.
Though he was slightly bent over, he remained stoic, his head held high, his face set in a grim mask of determination.
Nowaki slowed his pace and walked beside him, acting as a buffer, trying to keep the people milling around them from getting to close or bumping into him.
Hiroki made it three quarters of the way through the station, before he stumbled slightly against Nowaki. When this happened, Nowaki gently reached out and took Hiroki's arm that was closest to him and braced it with his own. With his other hand, he reached around Hiroki's back and placed a warm hand on his lover's shoulders propping him.
Hiroki scowled but he didn't say anything, and this time he accepted Nowaki's proffered touch. Now supported, he allowed himself to melt just a bit under the warmth of Nowaki's comforting arm.
Nowaki too remained quiet, as together they slowly worked their way out of the station.
Thank you for reading and reviewing
Props to: Puppyfacetwo, Loopyhutton, Deathday1313, Blaysers, and Amaya Kawano for the favorites and alerts!
Review Shout outs to:
Wragziez- here's your answer. Nice to hear from you on another story!
Blayers- I love readers who review when they alert. Here's another chapter in thanks!
Loopy Hutton- Thank you for your faithful comments. Even one line makes my day.
TBF 101- My poor Baby Bird, so sorry you're unwell. I shall do my best to keep you entertained as you convalesce. Your reviews always make me feel immensely revived whatever my state.