Chapter Summary: With anger, comes confusion, frustration, and uncertainty; and neither Hao nor Yoh is immune to those feelings, too.
WARNING: Sensual/ sexual themes and child mistreatment. Own discretion is advised.
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AN APPLE A DAY - Chapter 12: Unspoken Relationships
Amidst the pouring rain, he hurriedly made his way through the deserted streets of his old hometown's business district. Clutching onto an umbrella, he pressed forward through the neighbouring residential area with determination etched on his face, despite the almost zero visibility from his surroundings.
A certain blonde beauty, his best friend for nine years, has sent him a distressed message saying that she was stranded on some unfamiliar street. With the number of missed calls that he received from her, and judging by how the dark rumbling sky would not cease its heavy downpour anytime soon, he knew he had to get to her no matter what.
Padding through the wet concrete road which was beginning to collect excess rainwater from the gutters, he tried to ignore the guilt that was eating him inside for not answering her calls sooner.
For years, he looked after this woman and has always prioritised her well-being above anyone else, even his own.
A smirk found its way onto the corner of his mouth as the lady crossed his mind. Looking back, he never would've thought he would come to a point when he would call her his best friend, let alone, a friend, because for starters, he was kind of a jerk to her the first time they met, and most importantly, their strong personalities often clashed.
It was an unspoken relationship, and he didn't understand how it came to be that way, but sooner than later he had developed quite a unique bond with her, harbouring feelings within him which he never thought was possible for someone like him.
All he wanted was to be there for her, protect her, and keep her safe at all times. Her rare smiles were his refuge, and even her display of annoyance made her more adorable in his eyes.
He's done a great job in concealing his uncertain feelings so far, fearing that it would somehow jeopardize their friendship. Furthermore, she, being his twin brother's ex-fiancée, made their relationship all the more complicated. And even though her romantic ties with his brother ended years ago, he had already convinced himself that it wasn't going to be a healthy move if they were to be involved with each other as anything more than friends. Especially now that they had concocted a web of plans that wasn't exactly drawn from amicable reasons.
He carefully approached a dimly lit corner under a large tree. Curiosity got the better of him when he saw a familiar red Ferrari casually parked along the street, but the sight that followed made him feel like a katana had pierced his heart. The weird sensation in his gut, he compared to as if he was falling down from the peak of an immeasurable tower.
There, in the embrace of the rain, were his twin brother, Yoh, and his best friend, Anna, locked in a fiery and passionate kiss.
The realization hit him like a bolt of lightning.
Did this mean his twin and his beloved best friend were back in good terms and is keeping a rekindled relationship from him? Or was it a momentary misjudgement on their parts? A step towards their goals, perhaps?
Part of him wanted for this to happen. For Anna to just leave all the past behind and face a life of happiness before her. On the other hand, he wanted to keep her away from all the monsters that had hurt, and will threaten to hurt her even further, one of those being his own brother.
Stunned and confused, his grip on the umbrella loosened, and it clattered to the ground. He stood frozen, rain pouring down on him, as his mind grappled with the painful truth. The image of Yoh and Anna together kept replaying in his mind, intensifying his anguish. It felt as if a tornado was tearing through his soul, leaving devastation in its wake.
Swallowing his emotions, he mustered the strength to approach the two. His heart pounded in his chest, and the raindrops mingled with the tears streaming down his face.
"What are you doing?" he choked out, his voice trembling. The hurt in his eyes was palpable as he looked at his twin and this special woman before him.
Yoh, realizing the gravity of the situation, stepped back, guilt written all over his face. "N-nii-chan, you're here? Anna and I, we—" he stammered, searching for the right words that could somehow alleviate the situation.
Anna's eyes glistened with guilt as she reached out to him. "Hao, it's not what you think it is." Her voice was laced with panic.
Hao's heart ached with the weight of the betrayal.
He turned away, unable to face the two people he cherished most. "I need some time," he muttered, his voice barely audible above the rain's relentless splurge.
And with every step he took, raindrops masked his tears as he retreated into the stormy night, leaving two baffled people behind.
That is how he wished it happened.
Although as much as he hated to admit it, that scenario was way farfetched from the truth.
It was a mere delusion he formulated in his head to cope with the myriad of vexing feelings that continued to swirl within his gut.
Sure, he did approach that dimly lit corner underneath the large Sakura tree. He definitely located the spot where Anna was stranded at, and he most certainly saw his twin brother and the blonde making out like there's tomorrow; but what truly happened was that he remained rooted to the ground, the hand that gripped his umbrella almost bleeding from the force he exerted, while he watched the two drive away, disappearing into the night.
He was not a fool.
He knew for a fact where they were headed and what possible thoughts were going through their heads as they kept each other company amidst that freezing, stormy evening.
After speaking— sparring with Anna at the boxing gym, it was evident that she was still determined into keeping their plans in line, though for she hasn't been entirely honest with him either. She didn't tell him about her current involvement with Yoh, and on how spending the night with him benefited their intentions.
Anyway, he was still willing to let it go this time. He was willing to let Anna have it her way for he, in a way, blamed himself for not being there for her on time.
For Anna's sake, he was always willing, and he knew it would be his biggest downfall.
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Hold.
He needed to hold his breath.
That night, she let herself go.
That same night, he didn't hold back.
Huff.
Puff.
His handsome features backed by his chiselled jaw and muscly shoulders still appeared prominently through the sheen water splashes he created as he continued to be engrossed in his lapping routine.
And as the two deepened their kiss while the storm persisted, time seemed to stop, and they remained oblivious to everything around them…
With his brown hair strands wrapped by a rubber cap and his masculine goods secured by his swimming trunks in a snug fit, he moved gracefully as he glided through the water that engulfed him despite his mind being in a continuous turmoil.
His restlessness did not cease as he drifted back to the passionate memories of one remarkable night that occurred several days ago, partly leaving him wanting for more.
Seeing her effort of tiptoeing with her arms reaching for him, his instincts kicked in, and the first thing he managed was to feel her petite waist and deepen their lip-lock with his bare hands.
Not knowing who exactly initiated things, he buried all his reservations, forgotten at the back of his mind. His only focus now was on her. No one but her.
His body shuddered not because of the water's temperature, but because he was reminded of their intense and steamy display of passion. He could only hope the cold water had calmed him down by now.
Next thing he knew, he was already carrying her in his arms, her legs fastened around his waist, while she nibbled on his neck and he, in turn, stroked her shapely behind.
He climbed the staircase of his home effortlessly while he made sure she was safely tucked in his hold. He laid her in his bed, and he cursed mentally after seeing her flushed face and plump bosom as she repeatedly heaved her breath. The damp strands of her that stuck messily onto her skin and her see-through clothes undeniably pushed him into his edge.
Oh, what he would give up to the heavens just to hold her again. To taste her soft lips and her caress her flawless silky skin once more and watch her immaculate face that became even more ethereal every time his heated actions and touch made her feel good.
Plunging his palm further down the pool with his right elbow pointed upwards, he moved his body fluidly. Putting a lot more than his core muscles into work, his body carried on with its auto-piloted movements—arms alternately propelling him forward, assisted by his legs with their systematic paddling.
Her ecstatic cries that were melody to his ears and the clawing of fingers against his skin gave him a boost to his masculine pride—a beautiful validation for his godly skills in bed.
He has carelessly done the act with other women ever since his abrupt separation with his ex-fiancée, hoping that the physical companionship would drown the pain. In all those years, he aimlessly spent searching for such level of contentment and ecstasy from others, and failing miserably while at it, only to get that very same feeling revived with just one touch from Anna.
The Anna.
His hearing was muffled every time he submerged his face into the pool, his other senses, altered by thousands of bubbles produced by his forceful breaths, yet his thoughts remained dominated by his sweet blonde despite already completing seven laps, non-stop.
As their exchange of moans became more frequent and louder after making her reach her peak twice, he knew he was also nearing his limit. He motioned to switch their positions while successfully keeping their pleasurable contact. He made it his top personal mission to keep giving her all he got with every thrust and with every touch that sought to make her scream his name.
Aside for his aim to his own release, there was no other thing that clouded his brain but his untameable desire to please her, satisfy her—to make her happy.
Feeling both of them simultaneously reach the state of nirvana, he kept his companion locked in his secure embrace while they both struggled to catch their breaths. He never felt her decline his gestures, therefore he made sure he did just that for the whole night.
A smile unknowingly crept onto his face as his consciousness drifted to sleep.
Someone once said that swimming was the only sport during which there are moments one would not be able to breathe even if they wanted to, and so he thought: is that why he was so good at it? Is it because his life was not any different?
His moment of happiness was cut short when he woke-up the next day, butt-naked in solitude in his bed. Confusion clouded his thoughts once he realized that Anna had abruptly left without any explanation that morning.
It's been a whole week since that unforgettable night, and his heart has been in total disarray ever since. What made it worse was that she hasn't returned to their workplace. His mind was plagued with questions, wondering what could have caused Anna's sudden detachment. He tried reaching her not just once or twice, even tried contacting her foster parents, that he started doubting if he was already being borderline creepy for doing so.
But of course, she would.
He knew within his subconsciousness that this reaction was sort of expected from her. Still, he hoped for something different. He wished for something much better.
He sustained his dexterity to keep his laps steady, the cool water against his body failed to distract him from the gnawing ache in his heart. The surgeon was torn between his desire for his ex and the need for answers. He couldn't help but wonder if the night they shared was merely a fleeting encounter or if there was indeed more to their story.
With each stroke, the brunette contemplated his options over and over again. Should he keep reaching out to her, making it obvious that he is desperate for answers to the unspoken questions that lingers to haunt him? Or should he just let it go, accepting that their fiery night was just a momentary spark, destined to fade into a distant memory like what they once was?
Yoh prepared to complete his final lap.
With his palm finally touching the cold tile from the edge of the pool, he took a few seconds to compose his breathing before pulling himself up to emerge from the pool. His sculpted physique glistened in the sunlight that peeped through the fibre glass-covered roof of their hospital's hydro gym.
Grabbing his towel from a nearby bench, he pulled his swimming cap off and ruffled the fabric against his unruly hair. Determination shone in his eyes as he made a solid resolve to confront his uncertainties head-on. He will seek his ex-fiancée, not only to quench his desires but also to unravel the mysteries surrounding their past and their current unspoken relationship.
However, as he wrapped the towel around his waist, motioning to exit the pool area, the sight of a familiar woman stopped him in his tracks.
He blinked several times to confirm if it was indeed whom he think she is, and he was able to confirm once they met eye to eye. A soft smile adorned the face of the person before him, and without wasting time he heard her greeting him.
"Hello, son."
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As a junior doctor, HoroHoro always admired his friend and now mentor, Dr. Asakura Yoh, for his exceptional surgical skills and unwavering professionalism. For the past week, however, the intern couldn't help but notice a change in Dr. Asakura's overall mood. Something seemed off, and it concerned him deeply.
One example of which is the current scenario, where he was attending doctors' rounds to receive handover from his colleagues. He watched Yoh suspiciously from afar while the surgeon stopped by the nurses' station to attend medical orders. He had a few vague ideas about the possible reason for Yoh's strange behaviour, a blonde beauty missing in action, for instance, but he still wanted to investigate.
It was such a favourable moment when Oyamada Manta passed by for a quality inspection that he was ordered to do by his father.
HoroHoro decided to pull out Manta from his task to randomly confide in him. "Psst, Oyamada!" he muttered in a hushed tone. "Come over here for one sec."
Manta, who couldn't be more confused, approached his friend discreetly. "Horo, you do know that I'm in the middle of—"
"Tell me, does Yoh seem to be acting weird to you?" The intern casually leaned on a wall while nodding his head towards Yoh. He couldn't care less about what Manta was going to reason out with him. He was too focused on confirming his apprehensions.
Standing together, hidden behind all the other health professionals who attended the rounds, the duo cautiously observed Yoh from a distance. The once confident and composed surgeondid appear more preoccupied and distant in HoroHoro's eyes.
"What? You mean him being absentminded? Seems kinda normal to me." Manta tried to point out the obvious with an arched brow.
At first, HoroHoro was about to produce an indignant gasp, but after a moment of further stalking, he was almost ready to shrug it off and admit that Manta was right and that he was just being too attentive, only that they heard someone snap verbally.
"That is exactly what I was trying to say, Dr. Hiro! That shouldn't have been initiated it in the first place!"
Apparently, it was Yoh who had raised his voice towards one of the junior surgeons while discussing about an adverse reaction that occurred in one of their patients from the treatment that has been provided.
"And that isn't normal… at all." Manta retracted his previous statement, spooked at Yoh's sudden outburst.
HoroHoro's concerns escalated when he witnessed Yoh, clearly fatigued, unintentionally snap at Dr. Hiro. It was very unlike him to display such impatience and frustration out in the public like that.
Realizing that something was indeed amiss, the blue-haired intern turned to his executive friend to urged him to approach the specialist surgeon to find out what was wrong. As a close friend and colleague, he knew Manta possessed a unique rapport with Yoh that could facilitate an open conversation about his current well-being. However, HoroHoro realised he didn't have to say anything.
Recognizing what he's done after his surroundings have completely gone quiet, Yoh was quick to apologise to his colleague and to everyone that witnessed his misconduct. He bowed towards everyone while he muttered his apologies to them. Some where quick to reassure him that it was okay, others even joked that it was their first time seeing the doctor angry, while Dr. Hiro merely bowed back.
As the rounds had concluded with the other professionals went on with their own businesses, Yoh felt a hand on his shoulder while he continuously bowed towards them. He looked up to see HoroHoro and Manta who both sported concerned looks on their faces.
Dr. Asakura, taken aback by their perceptiveness, hesitated for a moment before acknowledging the urge to confide in his friends.
"I'm sorry, guys. It's just that—" Yoh took one more deep breath as he decided to quit beating around the bush. "It's Anna—" He was so ready to declare his personal issues when someone interrupted his speech.
"Dr. Asakura!" All three men turned their heads to see one distressed nurse approaching them while desperately catching her breath. "I'm sorry to interrupt, doctors, Oyamada-san. It's just that we've been paging you and we haven't gotten a response and so—"
Yoh shook his head with a warm smile to reassure the nurse. "It's okay, Min-san. Please, tell me if it's an emergency."
The nurse's expression was ladened with worry before she blurted out the problem.
"It's about Seyrarm."
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The extensive Pediatric ward of Shimane Medical Foundation was thrown into chaos by the antics of an 11-year-old patient who was simply yearning to see her older brothers she named as: Redseb-nii and Yoh-nii. The little girl had caused a stir in the ward ever since she woke-up from her nap.
Seyrarm's demands escalated when she adamantly refused to take her prescribed medications, especially her insulin, which is quite crucial to her condition. The situation spiralled out of control as the nurses struggled to contain her relentless tantrums.
The girl's desire to escape had already led her to make several attempts, prompting the medical staff to confine her within a locked-coded secure ward for children. However, the isolation did nothing but to add to her distress. Nurses, and even fellow young patients in the ward gathered around Seyrarm, attempting to offer her comfort, but everyone's efforts proved futile.
Due to the challenging situation, one nurse named Kanna, who was overwhelmed by the mounting commotion, succumbed to frustration, and began treating Seyrarm unkindly.
"Girl, what do you want?" the nurse asked, irritation evident in her voice.
"I don't like you! I want my nii-chan!" The girl with straight blonde hair shrieked in between sobs.
"If you don't stop this instant, I will give you six injections to put you to sleep and I will ask the surgeon to stitch your mouth!" The blue-haired nurse was holding up a syringe to show the girl while she dragged her by the wrist. The kids present in the room pleaded for her not to hurt Seyrarm, and some even started to cry, too, but the nurse remained unfazed and proceeded to sit Seyrarm compellingly onto her bed.
"No, you won't." A voice countered out of nowhere.
A lady dressed in a plain black mini dress covered by her doctor's coat was seen standing by the door of the ward. There was a halo that can be perceived surrounding her head, created by the light shining behind her. All the kids who had gathered around Seyrarm, including the girl herself, paused to look at the newcomer in awe, thinking that she must be a real angel.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I know it's quite chaotic here now, but you must be terribly lost, doctor. This isn't the E.D." Nurse Kanna spat back and continued, "your co-staff in your department was right, you really do love to meddle in other people's business up until now."
Anna snorted while raising a brow. "Did Nurse Matisse also informed you about how I deal with abusive and rude colleagues?"
The nurse opened her mouth to retort but was silenced by Anna's further statement. "I'm pretty sure that dragging children to their beds and threatening to put them to sleep are considered as 'abuse' in this place, or any other hospitals, for that matter," the blonde doctor narrowed her eyes at the nurse, "and maybe the Director of Nursing would not be so thrilled to hear about your 'non-conventional' ways, Nurse Bismarch."
With that, a disgruntled Kanna hurriedly left the scene, but not after she threw an intimidating glare at Anna while deliberately hitting her shoulder to shoulder on her way out the door.
The children gave a sigh of relief, some of them finally wiped their tears away. Their eyes glowed at the presence of their temporary messiah. Meanwhile, Anna's attention focused on the little girl who was once throwing the wildest tantrum of all.
Drawing on her innate motherly instincts, the lady doctor approached Seyrarm with compassion and understanding, being careful not to trigger another outburst. She spoke soothingly to the troubled girl, assuring her that everything would be alright. Gradually, Seyrarm's sobs subsided as Anna's comforting aura offered her a warm sense of security.
"Hey, Seyrarm. Remember me?"
The girl nodded, wiping her tears using the back of her hands. Her nose, still red from all the crying. "You're the kind and pretty doctor who saw me before."
Anna smiled. "Kind and pretty," she repeated as she sat next to Seyrarm on her hospital bed, "you think so?"
The young one nodded once again. "My nii-chan thinks so, too."
"Ah." The doctor gave a light expression of amusement, not noticing the blood rushing to her cheeks at the idea of a certain 'big brother'. "And which nii-chan are we talking about?"
"Both." Seyrarm giggled faintly.
"Sey!" A teenage boy, donned in his school uniform, exclaimed as he reached the door. He was panting heavily due to rushing to the hospital after school, concern etched on his face. "Your nurse called just to tell me you were being difficult again! How many times—" He stopped when he noticed the 'pretty doctor's' presence. Redseb's face turned a light hue of pink. "S-sorry…"
"It's okay." Anna acknowledged the boy. "I'm sure Sey would take her medicines now 'cause she doesn't want her big brothers to get upset." She turned to the girl. "I can call you 'Sey' from now on, right?"
"Sure!" Seyrarm chirped adorably.
Anna reached for the medication that must've been left by the nurse on the bedside. She did a quick check of Seyrarm's medical file to confirm the current medication orders for the girl. Upon doing so, she recognised Yoh's signature on all of Sey's medication orders and it made her pause a bit to regain her composure. She went back to attend to the girl's needs by drawing up the correct amount of insulin, after calming herself down.
Anna saw the immediate fear returning to the little one's eyes and so she invited her to sit on her lap facing each other, guiding Seyram's legs on either side of her hips. The doctor prompted the girl to lean her face against her shoulder, her hand soothing the girl's back as she skilfully readied the injection on her other hand.
"It'll sting, but it'll be quick," Anna whispered against Sey's ear as the girl looped her tiny arms around the doctor's neck. She felt Seyrarm tense up a little when she injected the insulin into the girl's thigh, but the young patient displayed bravery as she was continuously consoled by her temporary carer's presence.
"We don't know what caused her to—" A couple of nurses and a certain Doctor Asakura arrived at the most opportune scene but were stopped short as they realised the now evidently calm environment. Their mouths hanged open after surveying the scene.
Witnessing the tender moment between one special woman, whom he was so desperately missing for a week, and his little sister, who was now being gently cradled by said woman… it was definitely Yoh's turn to blush.
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A/N: Of course, like Anna's, Hao and Yoh's *momentous* thoughts deserve their own chapter.
I will not waste time in giving reasons as to why I was MIA for 2 months, but rather, I'd just try my best to update quicker this time, for real. Thank you for your continuous support and patience, my dear readers! :)
We are now stepping into the dangerous terrain of YohxAnnaxHao. So, all I could say is, strap in! It's gonna be a rollercoaster ride!xD
Italics: thoughts/ flashback/ puns/ hints.
Medical Terminologies/ Abbreviations:
E.D. – Emergency Department