Chapter Summary: It's hard to admit something you've been avoiding all your life. For Anna, it took several margaritas, an almost fatal incident, and spending the night with two eligible Asakura bachelors.
Warning: Slightly sensual scenes. Nudity. Swearing. Mention of prohibited drugs.
. . . . . . . . . . .
AN APPLE A DAY – Chapter 17: Bed Weather and Sticky Situations
His hangover is killing him.
In fact, this must be the worst borderline dehydration, nausea, and throbbing headache he has ever experienced in his entire pitiful life.
A pained snarl escaped his mouth as he entered the hospital's lobby just five minutes before 6 AM. One could only imagine how early he had to abandon sleep just to reach his duty on time.
First, he hated how he had to be called to work on a bed-weather-y Sunday morning with barely enough sleep; and second, he abhorred how his physical body seemed to struggle following his brain's commands compared to how it used to, back in his student—and younger— days.
There was only one thing he probably loved, or will love about his current situation, and that would be the upcoming extra 'moolah' on the next pay day for accepting an on-call shift, and on a Sunday at that.
Oh, and that he doesn't have to attend his second job on a weekend.
Not that he would be earning anything near compared to what his specialist friends would be usually making—no, not even a fraction, sir—but at the end-of the day, he was thankful that he has 2 jobs and that he is able to provide for his family and himself because of that.
Sometimes, he wondered how it must feel to be in the shoes of his friends who were much more fortunate than him in the 'financial' department. How it would feel to be able to miss a few days at work for reasons like mental health day or laziness, but not be thrown into an immediate crisis of poverty. Or worse, risk losing the job.
Shaking off the self-pity and almost dragging himself through the light-grey and white marbled floor, he juggled between his self-made coffee— because he couldn't afford the fancy take aways that the doctors like him usually could everyday of their lives— and his phone in his hands, he took a peek at Doctor Faust's message, instructing him to pick up some lab results at the Pathology Department on his way to the E.D.
He didn't even comprehend how Doctor Faust, the head of their department, is minding work on a weekend, too, but he could only shrug it off. He didn't have enough brain juice to contemplate about it.
Turning towards some hallway shortcuts here and there, his head continued to spin, aggravated by the bright hallway lights, and the morning rush by busy-bodied staff from all mixed departments.
He even caught a reflection of the unruly overall appearance of himself on one of the tinted glass rooms as he passed by. His usually well-kept blue hair now the opposite, and dark eyebags weighed his lower lids down. Was his doctor's coat still even white?
I look like shit.
His thoughts were an understatement.
He could even bet his limbs that if he came across his sister, Pirika, right now, then she would've already made a novel's length of reprimanding about taking care of himself more, about what good is his money for if he's already dead, or even along the lines of getting himself a girlfriend so that someone would look after him and that he could re-focus his life into more important things other than earning money.
HoroHoro scoffed.
Some people make it sound that having a romantic relationship is somewhat similar to having a personal secretary or house maid.
How is having a girlfriend going to help him run his life? Heck, how will that help him with his throbbing menace of a headache right now?
'Just drink some analgesics now, idiot. Seriously, you call yourself a doctor?'
That made him freeze in his tracks.
He literally imagined Anna scolding him for drinking too much alcohol but offering him Aspirin to help with his hangover anyway.
On why he suddenly thought of the blondie just seconds after debating the benefits of having a girlfriend in his mind, he had absolutely no idea.
It was weird. Baffling, even.
Though that made him draw out his first smile of the day.
It was probably because of his long-standing admiration for that woman. And it may as well be the reason why he had such high standards when it came to dating.
Anna was easily a no-brainer crush for any guy back then in med-school, and even up to now at their workplace, simply because she was drop-dead gorgeous, talented, and on top of that, she possesses a unique kind of personality which, although not everyone's cup of tea, is still admired by many, especially those who revere strong-willed women.
It wasn't that surprising that even he, himself, was not immune to Anna's charms, but he never considered her as someone he would go after romantically, simply because she seemed to be way out of his league, and that she was his dear friend's— girlfriend— fiancé— ex.
And he's cool with that.
It was just an innocent crush, and he has long made peace with just being Anna's friend, and that he wouldn't die if he didn't end-up with her… unlike his said friend, Yoh… and his said friend's twin brother, Hao.
Those three— Anna and the twins— were inseparable ever since fate brought them together.
Eventually, Yoh, being the lucky bastard that he was, became successful in getting the girl. Then, being the stupid jerk that he also was, eventually lost her— after some third-party allegations, and behind-the-curtains interventions by the Asakura family.
Well, at least according to Anna's version of the story.
Hao, on the other hand, albeit always keeping mum about his true intentions around Anna, would undoubtedly kill for the woman. Therefore, his close relationship with his brother's partner has always been a subject of scrutiny.
Everyone knew it, yet Hao would never admit it.
In fact, when one brave soul— named Lyserg Diethyl— once dared to ask, or rather, call out Hao's flirtatious actions towards Anna despite Yoh's presence years ago, the older Asakura outright disregarded the question as somewhat 'non-sense' and he expounded that some type of relationships simply cannot be understood by humans with 'feeble' minds; and his relationship with Anna was an example of that.
Nobody challenged Hao's views in that regard after that, and Yoh's friends also found it frustrating how the younger twin remained non-reactive towards the matter.
Or so it seemed.
Continuing through his debilitating journey through the lower ground floor, Horo Horo's musings also travelled to his memories of last night.
It was not such a common sight for Anna to be that vulnerable around everyone to the point of almost becoming prey those vicious perverted animals at the club.
Bad luck for them, the victim they targeted for dinner were already surrounded by wolves—the elites of Izumo. One can't blame them for not recognizing the Asakura twins though, for they were probably new to town.
Unfortunately, Ren almost became a casualty, and they were lucky they still got away after that.
Turning to the last corner closer to his destination, Horo Horo heaved an exhausted sigh before taking a swing at his cup, letting the aroma and taste of his caffeinated drink take over his dulled senses.
He wondered if Ren was still confined in the hospital. Afterall, it was only several hours past the incident. He made a mental note to check in with the admissions team so he can visit him on his break time—if ever he gets the chance to have one, anyway.
He also wondered if the Tao's, other than Jun, already knew about the attack against their current heir. That's going to be bad news for the other guys. Hell hath no fury like a Tao En scorned.
Horo Horo shuddered just by thinking about it.
But because he knew there are far more things he has no control over at this point, he dedicated a quick moment to wish his friends wellness and safety—Anna and Ren, hopefully recovering by now, the twins, hopefully haven't slit each other's throats, and everybody else, including Pirika's new female friend, hopefully tucked in the coziness of their own homes for they deserved all the peace in the world… except himself.
Oh! That's right! He didn't even get to say hello to the pretty dark-haired lady accompanying his sister because of the shit that went down last night.
Finally arriving at the reception with another exhale of heavy air, Horo Horo tried his best to put his thoughts aside to start focusing towards the day ahead of him.
Reaching for the front desk buzzer—he wasn't expecting anyone to be readily available there by six in the morning— his movements abruptly ceased as he was met with a mix of grey and blue irises, shaded by wispy bangs consisting of shiny ebony hair.
With a mere see-through glass window separating them, Horo Horo's vision trailed further and was welcomed with a familiar face. And, judging by the lady's surprised countenance at the sight of him, it was safe to assume that she apparently recognizing him, too.
The blue-haired doctor's mouth remained ajar, but without words. The sleepiness had now been wiped off from his system.
Maybe—just maybe— despite having to wake up at ungodly hours just to catch public transport while braving through the lazy 'bed weather', he will have another good reason to love working on the weekends.
. . . . . . . . . . .
Approximately six hours earlier…
"Not so fast, little brother."
Time seemed to still when Asakura Hao spoke. His hand firmly clutching his younger brother's wrist in place.
Just minutes ago, they were kicking their common enemies' asses together, and now, they looked like they were about to butt heads, too.
Everybody else were too stunned to see the two interact under a different light, except Yoh, who was equalling the fire in Hao's eyes, both locked in a heated stare.
Every second that passed made the air around them thicker.
Manta was on the phone calling for assistance and possibly an ambulance for both Anna and Ren, yet he remained vigilant towards the interactions between the twins. He knew that those two are ticking time bombs waiting to detonate, especially now in the presence on an endangered Anna.
Tamao, who had just calmed down after being reassured by Yoh, harnessed another wave of mixed emotions after realizing that Hao was present amongst them. The poor shaken woman couldn't even keep her eyes on her eldest adoptive brother.
Lyserg was eyeing his close friend— or rather, used-to-be close— Jeanne the same way a big brother would reprimand his younger sibling just by throwing some meaningful eye contact. Jeanne tried to evade Lyserg's intense glaring by concentrating on an injured Ren.
Horo Horo was about to speak just to break the ice when Manta neared the group to announce that help is on its way.
"Good."
All eyes directed to Yoh who retracted his arm harshly to break free from Hao's hold. He motioned to squat next to an unconscious Anna as if nothing happened. "The ambulance can take Ren. You guys can go with him, and I'll take Anna."
The others threw him a puzzled look except his brother.
Hao scoffed at his twin's arrogance. "I didn't know you have trouble understanding simple words now." Yoh didn't move an inch, his back remained against Hao as the older Asakura continued to speak. "What part of 'not so fast' did you not understand?"
Manta intervened, desperate to stop a further altercation between the brothers. "Yoh, Anna needs to be seen in the hospital. Why would—"
"Do you think she'll be happy to be brought to her place of work only to be treated for prohibited drug intoxication?" Yoh explained in one breath.
He raised his hand for everyone to see a small vial containing a light bluish liquid, which one of Anna's attackers unintentionally dropped on the floor during the commotion.
"I'm almost a hundred percent sure this is GBH… And I'm also certain that even though it wasn't her fault, 'drug intoxication' will still be added to both her medical and employment records." His sad pools momentarily brushed towards Anna who was still knocked-out senseless, before his vision strayed to Tao Jun. "I don't think she'll appreciate that given her... her history at Shimane Medical."
Jun could only blink in mixed wariness and curiosity. She wondered how Yoh seemed to know information about that incident involving Anna six years ago, given that it happened after the brunette's disappearance from Japan, and, well, his abrupt separation with the blonde.
Has he been snooping at Anna's employee record?
Which was the only remaining possibility, because if not one of the executives, only she, as the head of Shimane Medical's Human Resources Department, should have access on files with confidential information in them.
Though if Jun was surprised, she didn't show it. For no matter what the reason, Yoh is still an Asakura, and Shimane Medical—amongst other things that his family holds— is also his domain.
Hao raised a brow at Jun's inner dialogue as if reading what's on her mind. He was going to probe Yoh for more to know the extent of his knowledge about Anna's past, but was interrupted by one of Yoh's friends.
"But Yoh, I don't understand. Doesn't Anna need medical treatment?" Lyserg interjected.
"I am a doctor, am I not?" Yoh flashed him a wide smile before leaning back down to pick Anna up from the ground. "And since she doesn't seem to exhibit respiratory and gastro symptoms right now, I can—"
"You will do no such thing." Hao also crouched next to the blonde to level his twin's gaze once more. "If she's not in danger, then that means I can just bring her home."
A snort almost escaped from Yoh. "Hao, she's still hurt, and she needs medical help."
"Please," Hao mocked, almost chuckling to himself. "We both know who's more capable of hurting her between the two of us… and I'm not talking about just now."
The silence amongst the peers became more evident, even the gasps around them were almost audible despite the club music continuing to blare in the background.
If anything, Yoh's face remained passive, yet his eyes reflected a thousand shades of pain after hearing his big brother's words.
Hao was clearly hinting at whatever fiasco went down between Yoh and Anna's past. And even though he had his own reasons for his actions back then, now was not the proper time nor place to discuss it all.
Yoh shifted as if fighting away the tears that had built-up in his eyes.
"Tz, says the moron who was supposed to be watching out for Anna tonight." Ren entered the exchange unexpectedly, throwing shade at the older Asakura while still wincing in pain.
It was Hao's turn to display an insurmountable surge of guilt even though he masked it with a sardonic smirk.
Jeanne hushed Ren, telling him that he shouldn't be moving unnecessarily with his injury, but he was already growing impatient. Luckily, an ambulance siren could now be heard from a distance.
"Let me know when you two are done with your little battle of testosterone. Anna and I can definitely wait a little longer before dying." Ren spat sarcastically as more blood spurted out of his wounded thigh. This time, it was Jun who reprimanded him before he totally shut his mouth.
Horo Horo said something about needing to put more pressure on Ren's injured thigh due to a suspected hit on the femoral artery, judging by how much blood he was losing now. Jeanne followed his advice, earning a louder yelp from Ren.
Hao carried off Anna from the ground, ignoring everything else that was taking place around him, but it was Yoh's turn to stop him.
"Hao. She. Needs. A. doctor." The younger twin articulated his words loud and clear just to prove his point.
"Yeah. So I'll call for one after I bring her to her place… or mine." Hao replied with much confidence.
Despite the urge to throw his brother a dumbfounded glare, Yoh replied coolly, "Alright then. But are you sure you have the supplies you will need to treat her at her place… or yours?"
It took a moment before Hao opened his mouth to speak but was once again interrupted.
"Besides… how do you plan to take her on your motorcycle in her current state?" Yoh followed, jangling his car fob in front of Hao's face, with a smirk that was surely intended to annoy his older brother.
At this point, even their companions grew wildly confused at the twins' display of personalities.
Some sort of magical body switch must've occurred now that they're witnessing a sassy Yoh against a speechless Hao.
Lyserg—or rather, everyone— almost cried to the heavens above when Jun, being the eldest of them all, spoke like a true adult amongst the adults in the room.
"Guys, I think the more time we spend arguing, the more we throw Anna and Ren towards danger." The silence amongst the group implied they all agreed with her. Jun faced the twins, "for starters, I agree with Yoh about Anna not approving to be admitted to the hospital… for certain reasons," she stared at Yoh directly in the eye before shifting.
Tamao nodded, whilst Jeanne rolled her eyes.
"But if you Asakuras still can't come to an agreement on who will take Anna to safety… then why don't you two take her while the rest of us can either go home or accompany me and Jeanne to escort Ren to the E.D.?"
A pair of paramedics entered the scene just right after Jun voiced her brilliant suggestions.
Manta was the first to approach the ambulance men.
Whilst Ren was being strapped on to the stretcher with Jeanne and Jun on stand-by, Lyserg offered to take the other ladies home, including Tamao, Pirika, and her still unnamed friend.
The twins finally came into mutual— but unspoken— agreement of taking Anna together, with Yoh as the appointed driver, and Hao carrying her bridal style.
The blonde woman was still half unconscious, completely unaware of the turmoil that everyone had to go through, including witnessing the Asakuras bicker about her, similar to how 5-year-olds would fight over their precious and most-valued toy.
. . . . .
Oh, no (oh, no)
Oh, no (oh, no)
You're going around in circles
Got you stuck up in my head, yeah
He remembers the twinkling lights from the tallest skyscrapers of Tokyo as their vehicle emerged from a tunnel, running over an elevated highway. There was also the carefree countenance of his older brother, who was driving the car with such ease.
They were laughing at some senseless dad joke that they heard over the radio.
Memories follow me left and right
I can feel you over here, I can feel you over here
You take up every corner of my mind
He recalls the flowery scent of Anna's perfume— hints of blossoming nectarine and honey— as her hair billowed from the winds that entered the car's half opened windows.
Her back was leaning comfortably against his chest as they sat at the passenger's seat that was slid all the way to the back to accommodate both of them.
Your love stays with me day and night
Even the muscles on his jaw hurt from holding a wide, genuine smile for God knows how long.
Yes.
If ever someone would ask him how happiness and contentment looked like, he would be proud to describe them this very moment in each and every miniscule detail.
His vision moved down to his lap where his hand, laced with Anna's, rested.
He will never grow tired of holding her that way.
I can feel you over here, I can feel you over here
You take up every corner of my mind (whatcha gon' do now?)
Yoh is indeed staring at a set of hands joined together. And yes, one of them is Anna's, but the other one unfortunately isn't his.
He continued staring for a few more seconds before finally realizing his reverie and turning his chin up, only to be met by Hao's chestnut eyes that were brimming with amusement.
It wasn't until an aggressive honking from another car blasted through Yoh's eardrums, propelling him back to his present where he's the one currently behind the wheel with a pained expression, and his brother and ex-fiancée were the ones cramped—but appeared comfortable— against each other, next to him at the passenger's seat.
Anna was half-awake now but was still totally out of it. She was mumbling something about dangerously handsome men with long hair, brawny physiques, and towering heights, taking her for a midnight snack at a McDonald's Drive-thru.
Yoh almost chuckled at her cuteness, if it wasn't for Hao's obnoxious display of pride, staring back at him with an irritating smirk. His other arm was encircling Anna's shoulders from behind, due to the fact the passenger's seatbelt won't be able to accommodate both of them.
He definitely knew what he was doing.
The younger twin never questioned his life decision of buying a sports car, until today, where he's wishing he opted for a normal 4 to 5-seater sedan instead.
Yoh reluctantly gazed back at the road ahead of him after letting the other car overtake, but not before the other driver lowered his window and flashed him the infamous middle finger while his tongue slid against his upper teeth like a maniac.
Biting his lip, Yoh held back a sarcastic fit of laughter directed towards that hostile driver. The clueless cretin was driving a Toyota hatchback with an automatic transmission, modified to guise a sporty look; while Yoh was literally commandeering a ZL1 Camaro, which would undoubtedly feed him dust if they were to get involved in a road-rage competition.
God, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.
The brunette gripped the wheel tightly as he clenched his jaw.
If he was in his young adult years, he would've already stepped on it to engage in an impromptu race against a stranger. A common way of measuring dicks amongst boys.
But today is special, and he's not a boy anymore, but a man.
He would never risk flying at a minimum of 200 kilometers an hour with a groggy Anna unstrapped to a seatbelt.
Even Hao threw him a warning look. Despite being the adrenaline junkie that he also is, his older brother would also never choose winning an ego-fuelled game over Anna's safety.
The older twin chuckled, which made both of them re-focus.
"Do you miss it?"
Hao started when Yoh only responded with a quiet hum.
"The feeling of it all… Being high on adrenaline. Riding on deadly speed that could rob you of your life anytime…" He inhaled loudly as he went on with his monologue. "The smell of petroleum being burnt faster than gargling your mouthwash."
The older Asakura continued with a pout when the younger one continued to ignore him.
"No car talk either, huh? Fine. So, tell me, Yoh, were we re-living the same memory just a while ago?" Hao asked with the kind of feigned innocence he knew would irk his little brother to his core. "'Cause I swear I can recall myself being in your position now: driving the car, with you in the passenger's seat, having Anna sitting on your hard o—"
"Shut up." Yoh retorted, with eyes remaining on the road while turning to exit the motorway. "I swear, Hao, I'm this close to kicking you out of the car."
Hao arched a brow, even more entertained. "Rude. Is that one of the things you learned from America?"
Annoyance seeping into his nerves, Yoh pressed a button— that was conveniently available from his steering wheel— to change the music. He pressed a few more times to increase the volume.
An upbeat intro welcomed him, and he drummed his fingers in satisfaction, thinking that the next song would be any better, both at rescuing him from his unrelenting twin, and from his painful memories.
He had no idea how wrong he was.
Nothin' to say
When everything gets in the way
Seems you cannot be replaced
And I'm the one who will stay, oh-oh-oh
In this world, it's just us
You know it's not the same as it was
In this world, it's just us
You know it's not the same as it was
As it was, as it was…
. . . . .
"I SAID, NOOO!"
Sweat lined Yoh's forehead as he struggled to get a delirious and enraged Anna fastened steadily in one comfortable position.
As promised, he was going to treat her at home— well, his home for that matter— for being high with date rape drugs. Therefore, he's now desperately trying to insert an I.V. cannula on her left arm, in order to administer some fluids to help her flush the chemicals out of her system.
All was well and Anna was calm prior to attempting the procedure, but then she suddenly threw herself into a violent fit when Yoh was inches away from sticking the needle against her skin. The drugs that she unknowingly drank must now be reaching its peak, causing her momentary bouts of confusion and combativeness.
A right-handed slap almost connected with Yoh's jaw. Good thing it lacked the power of her usual slaps.
"Anna! God, it's just an I.V.!" He shrieked incredulously.
Anna's orbs, despite half-lidded, were glaring at Yoh like a vicious animal that was sentencing people to some sort of death penalty. Yoh, in turn, struggled to keep his ex-fiancée in place with his left hand whilst raising his gloved right hand in air as an attempt to keep the sharp sterile instrument out of contact with anything.
Yoh groaned in frustration. Even more when he saw Hao, who was unsurprisingly being unhelpful by casually lounging in his armchair at the corner of the room. He was slouching with his legs spread wide, and his left palm was supporting his jaw as a display of boredom.
Something told Yoh that despite how many eye rolls he had directed towards his brother, and despite almost being murdered by Anna, Hao would still be left diplomatically unbothered.
"I told you! I am not going to have sex with you again!" The only woman in the room blurted out without an iota of shame. She was still frantically wriggling out of Yoh's hold, with her foot now pushing against his face.
Yoh paled, while Hao clicked his tongue, still with delight on his lips but a dark glint in his eyes.
"What!?" Yoh's face reddened in no time. "We're not gonna—" He inhaled a chunk of air, quickly side-eyeing to check if his brother was paying attention. "We're not gonna have sex! I'm just trying to stick this needle in—"
"That's the same shit, you perv!" Anna's knee half-landed on Yoh's crotch. "Get off me!"
Laughter began, and Yoh knew he didn't have to turn his head just to see that Hao was literally clutching his stomach while engaged in his form of mockery.
"HAHAHAHAHA! I can't! Oh, this is too funny to pass up!" Hao held a palm up in resignation while bursts of chuckles still escaped his mouth. "I mean, is this your type of foreplay? I'm impressed."
Already flushed from Anna's words, Yoh felt his face heat-up further when he realised their current position—him straddling Anna's hips down against the bed, with her dress now almost hiked up to her hips from all the thrashing around.
He sought to ignore the blonde's dangerous amount of exposed skin. It wasn't the right time and place to get turned on.
At the same time, Yoh didn't really like how he had to resort to using his masculine force to subdue a woman to do his bidding, but Anna needs medical treatment now, and fast, so she left him with no choice.
Biting his lower lip to keep himself from wincing in pain and from yelling expletives, the younger twin continued throwing his nasty glare at his brother.
"How about a little help?"
"Oh, so now we're suddenly on speaking terms?"
"Hao!"
"Okay, chill."
After tying his long chestnut mane—to avoid the risk of being ripped apart by the raging bull named Anna, of course— Hao reached to gently caress the woman's upper arm from her right side, just so he doesn't startle her. He nearly got punched as part of Anna's reflex, but he easily evaded it.
"Shh, shh, Anna. Hey, baby… It's me." Hao caught the blonde's attention which earned an arched brow from his younger brother.
"I told you! I DON'T—"
"Hey! Shh! It's me…" Hao placed a knee between Anna's legs to keep her from thrashing around, his left hand lightly guarded her right wrist, and his other large palm touched the side of her face to coax her into staring at him.
"It's Hao."
Still breathing heavily, Anna surprisingly ceased her movements when she took a moment to process the words spoken by the man that was almost breathing warm air onto her face due to the proximity.
Suddenly, tears gathered in her eyes.
On the other side of the bed, orbs of sweat dropped on the mattress as Yoh battled to keep a straight face amidst everything. He thanked the gods when Hao finally decided to join in the fun by taking over the task of pinning their current 'patient' down, while he, himself, got the chance to concentrate on applying the torniquet.
It was hard to focus when you're trying to pin your alluring-as-hell-but-hostile ex in your very own bed. The one who's accusing you of trying to have sex, while she was also being sweet-talked by your annoying-as-fuck brother.
Yoh was only able to escape his musings when Hao called his attention and mumbled a hushed "Do it, now!" while he was securely holding a seemingly bewitched Anna.
Finally successful in palpating a 'good vein'—with some difficulty due to Anna's compromised status— he quickly uncapped another needle and pulled the tourniquet off with his other hand. But just when he was about to pierce that spot at the opposite of her elbow, he heard Anna burst into sobs.
The twins froze.
It was such a sudden move, and for a second, they feared that the reason she was crying was because she thought she was being taken advantage by two grown ass men.
Well, it did seem like it in a sense, but they would never, EVER, do that to Anna. For so many years, everything that they did involving her was always for her own good.
Yoh heard Hao muttering more words of comfort to Anna, trying to pacify her despite the uncertainty dancing in his eyes.
Neither of them knew the true reason behind her sudden outburst, and they were nervous to find out.
"Shh… hey… want to tell me what's going on?" Hao started.
Anna continued weeping. She seemed to forget that Yoh was also in the same room as them. That, or she may have thought that Yoh was just a part of her hallucinations, and that Hao was actually there instead of him.
Blame it on the drugs.
Hao even let go of her wrist so he could wipe away her smudged mascara with his thumb, though it was no use for he only scattered it further across her cheeks; but damn, the woman still looked beautiful despite looking deranged.
The cries only intensified, and the twins' hearts sank seeing Anna in so much agony. At one point, the blonde grabbed a section of Hao's shirt and squeezed it hard all while she wept.
Hao grabbed her nape to slightly lift her up from the bed and meet his embrace. It muffled the sounds of anguish, but it was never enough.
Yoh was too stunned to even move while witnessing Anna's emotional state. He didn't know if it was guilt or jealousy, or even contempt, that rendered him immobile.
A couple of hours ago, Anna almost became victim to some unspeakable crime in the hands of strangers and seeing her being this helpless made him feel like his heart was being sunk into the deepest depths of the Pacific Ocean. Caged in darkness and crushed by overwhelming pressure.
Pulling her face away from his chest, Hao cupped Anna's cheeks—his palms almost engulfing her face.
"I'm sorry, okay? Was it something I did?" he asked. Then his eyes went darker, "Did someone hurt you?"
Anna shook her head while trying hard to stifle her sobs, yet she still didn't utter a word.
"Tell me."
Hao urged and more tears began flowing from Anna's eyes again. She felt some snot joining in the fun while she ugly cried, but she couldn't care less. It was either she was too comfortable being around her best friend, or her drugged brain couldn't keep up with the salad of feelings and emotions she was going through at once.
"I…" Anna started, still crying. "I hate myself."
Blinking, Hao waited for her to say more and Yoh quietly expelled some air he was holding. Anna carried on when the older twin was about to speak.
"After all these years, I thought I was ready." The blonde stared directly at Hao with vexed pools, and the long-haired brunette could never be prepared for what she was about to divulge.
Yoh had his mouth ajar, wanting to interrupt the moment, but also wanting to hear Anna's side of the story. An idea was already dangling in front of his nose, but he wanted to hear it.
He wanted to hear it coming from Anna.
"Why?" Anna demanded. "Why do I still feel like this?"
Quickly picking-up on an impending confession, Hao reacted quickly, and he planted his forefinger on Anna's lips to stop her from the semi-obvious matter she was about to say.
"Okay, I changed my mind. Don't tell me."
Anna didn't listen. She never does, anyway.
"I tried my best to avoid it. But why—"
"I said don't tell me!"
"Why am I still in love with Yoh?"
Time stood still amongst the trio.
If there was one thing that was clearly audible right at that very moment, it was the sound of their own breathing fuelled by adrenaline.
Anna was busy searching answers from Hao.
Hao was heaving ragged breaths, trying to calm himself down while he avoided eye contact with the woman below him.
And Yoh, who previously had his mouth open, gradually closed it to swallow air— or his shock.
Something within him screamed joy and melancholia after witnessing Anna's confession. If anything, he even seemed more confused than the drugged woman next to him.
He literally didn't know what to feel.
All this time, Anna spent a myriad of ways in rejecting him and his efforts into entering a relationship again.
She made it quite clear that she didn't want to be back in his arms, nor she even wanted to share the same air or space with him.
So how? When? Why?
Should he be happy hearing Anna say from her very own mouth that she still loved him? Or should he beat himself for it instead because she looked scared and devastated admitting the same?
Was he really that complicated to love?
Did the odds really weigh more than their happiness?
Beside the fact divulged just a moment ago about him and Anna apparently still being in love with each other, what about Hao? Up to now, he still wasn't clear on his brother's real relationship with his ex.
Sure, Anna denied being romantically involved with anyone, but was that her being serious? Or was she being deceitful… just like how she was in the past?
He knew his older twin's feelings for her ex for a long time coming, but Hao never really did anything about it before, which made him less threatened— until those series of unfortunate events six years ago that led everything to its demise.
He almost choked on air looking back at it.
Thinning his lips, Yoh glanced away when he saw Hao stare at him, after sensing his inner turmoil. It was easier to pretend he didn't see or hear evil than to acknowledge the truth.
At first, Yoh wanted it so, so, bad. But now that it finally came, it felt awkward enough to make him go sprinting back into his shell which he tried so hard to build over the years.
Although it must be harder for Anna, knowing her as the prideful woman that she always was. He wondered how she came to a tipping point of finally admitting her feelings, even not directly to him.
His brother was still glancing at him.
Even though he couldn't decipher what Hao was thinking, he could tell that he was probably having an emotional storm—like him—and it was all Anna's fault for detonating the bomb.
With the blink of an eye, the twins were rendered hostages to their emotions all because of one woman, whom despite being intoxicated, still had them in the palm of her hands.
Without returning his twin's intent gaze, Yoh exhaled and straightened up his posture, determined to carry on like nothing happened, his eyes glazed with frost.
"Keep her still," he whispered almost to himself.
Hao tipped his chin and returned to pressing Anna against the crook of his neck. Normally, he would argue just to annoy his younger brother as payback for ordering him around like that, but he was also on auto-pilot mode, so he didn't have the strength to initiate that.
In a few swift movements, Yoh was able to insert the cannula into a vein in Anna's arm, even Hao was impressed at how quick and efficient he was when he was focused at his work.
Anna jerked in surprise from the pricking of the needle, but Hao used his hand to turn her head to glance back at him and distracted her with some incoherent words.
Yoh then stood-up and regulated the flow of fluids coming from the I.V. bag that was hooked to a coat stand next to the bed. His countenance remained lifeless.
Minutes passed in silence as neither of the twins spoke and while Anna's bouts of hysteria caused by the drugs has died down.
Or so they thought.
Strange laughter came from the blonde and they thought she was mumbling something against Hao's chest.
When the Asakura brothers leaned in to make sense of her words, Anna paused and flashed a glare so dangerous, it would send even the fiercest soldiers home crying.
"You jerk."
Those were the last words the twins heard before a slap hit Yoh's cheek, and a knee came in contact with Hao's groin.
. . . . . . . . . . .
At present…
While her friend, Usui Horokeu, had already started his day grudgingly in the same morning at another side of the town, Anna had the luxury of fluttering her eyes open to soft sunrays seeping through wide windows, and the melodic chirping of birds behind them— just like a true princess.
Her slumber, beautifully uninterrupted.
Finding the clock on the wall, she realised it was already thirty past twelve at noon.
Feeling a bit sore on her wrists and left arm, she turned her head to inspect them. She didn't see any obvious injuries on her, but she noticed an I.V. cannula was inserted onto her said arm. Her vision traced the line to see a nearly empty bag of fluids— with the words "0.9% NaCl" written on it— was connected to it.
Why on Earth did she have to be on I.V. fluids, she didn't know; but she shrugged it off as her brain was still processing the world around her.
Next to the bag, hanging neatly on the coat pole was an orange hoodie with the numbers "512" printed on the front. Draped over it was a black and white bomber jacket with some intricate embroidery of palm leaves or some sorts on the sleeves.
Funny, she remembered Hao had something similar to that only that the hoodie was in the shade of red.
She couldn't recall a single memory of last night except for the fact that she was swinging margaritas at Hao's bar like a deprived prisoner, before being taken away by… some men.
That memory was enough to rev her senses up and make her jolt out of the bed.
Aside from recognizing that she just woke-up awfully late, more panic creeped into her system after seeing some familiar objects around her— a towel, a pair of trackpants and headphones—all coloured orange.
Familiar objects owned by a familiar person.
Anna's eyes almost went bulging out of their sockets.
What in the actual fuck?
Did I just sleep with him, again?
"No, no, no, no, no."
The blonde kept muttering to herself while she scrambled to get out of bed, only to see that her clothes from last night were gone and were now replaced by a white shirt that almost swallowed her like a dress, and a pair of boxer shorts from beneath it. Her undergarments seemed to be intact.
More anxiety ensued within her. She felt wild butterflies—no— it felt like a giraffe kicked her in the gut.
Without thinking straight, she ripped off the cannula out from her arm and fashioned some facial tissues—that were conveniently available atop the bedside table— over the puncture site.
Her bladder was almost busting, and her professional logic guessed it was from all the alcohol she consumed and the fluids that were introduced through her vein.
Debating whether she'd use the ensuite in Yoh's room before leaving, she ended-up requesting her bladder to suck it up, at least until she could brave though the 'walk of shame'.
Yoh was nowhere to be seen, which was good, just as how she hoped for.
She didn't want to let him know that she was now awake and therefore give him the chance to stop her from leaving or whatever the hell he would likely do.
That man, despite being the calmest person to ever exist, always had a capricious nature. So, yeah
Who the hell knows?
Anna tip-toed her way downstairs.
She was quiet as a cat stalking her prey, or in this case, she was becoming a prey to a bigger feline.
So far, she was successful on being unseen or heard as there were also no signs or sounds of life within her ten-meter radius.
Being only a few strides away from the main door, a series of movements suddenly caught the corner of her eye from the outside porch, at the side of the house. The woman immediately ducked for cover next to a nearby piece of furniture.
The bright sunlight brought in by the large glass windows was hurting her eyes, so it was a little difficult to identify who was standing outside. A thin layer of smoke floated around the figure that appears to be a man. His arms moved vigorously—a traditional red paper fan with intricate flower prints clasped in his hand—which gave the impression that he was… grilling food?
He's shirtless.
And if any woman, or even man, would bear witness to the jaw-dropping sight of his back that was faced against the bi-fold glass doors—the muscles rippling and shoulder blades popping in and out of view with every movement, the beads of sweat that slid along the terrain of more muscles and stopping at the slope of his buttocks, and the long brown hair that swayed graciously while tied up in a ponytail—
Sweet mother! Is that… Hao?
Alarmed once again, Anna felt her breathing accelerate. Her heart was ramming against her ribs faster than a racing horse.
She stealthily motioned backwards and towards the exit in a crouched position, slowly working her way out of the darn place while watching her oblivious friend sizzle the food with his hotness— with fire.
Why is Hao there, casually cooking barbeque as if he was in his own house while she was snoozing upstairs wrapped in Yoh's sheets and clothes?
Where the hell is Yoh?
Numerous unlawful scenarios plagued her mind.
"Oh, no. Don't tell me I— he— we— oh God, please no."
Anna was busy mumbling to herself when all of a sudden, her backside hit something sturdy.
"You should at least eat first before you run."
She almost yelped out loud if she hadn't clasped a hand on her mouth. She whipped her head around only to come face-to-face with the younger Asakura, whom she was blatantly searching for in her thoughts just moments ago.
Anna had her mouth left open as her hand dropped to her side, while Yoh's expression was almost emotionless, except for his eyes that were laced with concern.
His hair was left down. A small towel hung around his neck and rested on his… bare chest. His moist and toned abs displayed for the world to see.
Why the heck is he also shirtless?
These Asakura men don't seem to have a good grasp on the concept and dangers of nudity and indecency, it's frustrating.
Anna's first instinct was to take a step back, and this caused her to bump against something once again—this time, a decorative vase that was conveniently resting atop the hallway table.
The object almost fell to the ground if it wasn't for Yoh's agile response of reaching for it on time, which in the process, caused him to box-in Anna against the wall.
The ex-couple went through another time stopping moment where all they could see, hear, and feel, were their emotive orbs, raging heartbeats, and warm breaths fanning against each other's faces.
The brunette's left palm rested against the wall to prevent him from squishing Anna, and his right stilled on the vase as he put it back into place.
Awkwardness creeping in, Yoh casted his eyes dow, towards a random thing that was not Anna's sparkling amber eyes.
"I'm sorry. I just—"
"It's okay. I was the one who wasn't—"
In one swift movement, Yoh grabbed Anna's left arm and picked a sheet of tissue from a wooden box that was also on the table. And before Anna could question any of his actions, he already had his palm encircling her arm like it was a mere can of soda.
"You're bleeding."
It was all the explanation he could give her. And her eyes strayed toward the tiny skin opening where the I.V. cannula had previously been inserted.
Anna watched Yoh press his thumb over the wound, firm enough to help cease the bleeding, but gentle enough to not hurt her.
"I was pressing on it earlier after I took out the cannula. Guess I wasn't pressing hard enough." She felt the need to explain her side.
"No, you weren't." A small smile curved Yoh's lips.
They stayed in that position for longer, none of them moving nor uttering a word. The tension and awkwardness persisted until Yoh couldn't bear it anymore, so he opened the hallway table drawer and reached for something inside.
Again, Anna could only watch his fluid movements— not missing the details like the notable veins in his arms and hands— until she saw him fasten the folded tissue onto her skin using a medical grade tape.
She gaped at Yoh's masterpiece.
"You keep Micropore inside your hallway drawer?" She pointed out in disbelief, amongst all the things that were happening between them.
Yoh chuckled in response. "Pretty handy, huh?"
Anna giggled in return.
Something caught Yoh's vision, and he chose to comment on it. "Hope you don't mind our choice of clothes. That's the best we could find after you puked on your dress last night."
For some reason, Anna let out a sigh of relief. Does that mean she didn't spend the night with him?
The reprieve only last a few seconds before she stood frozen as it dawned on her.
Wait!
Did Yoh mean to say that not only did she vomit in front of him, but he, and Hao, had seen her half naked while she was out cold?
Anna's head was spinning again, and she couldn't tell whether it's from a hangover or due to the current load of information she's receiving. She literally wanted the ground to swallow her whole to get this over and done with.
Sensing her apprehension, Yoh flashed her an apologetic look.
"Sorry, Anna. We couldn't leave you that way, but we tried our best not to take advantage of the situation." Anna continued gaping at Yoh like he sprouted a second head. "Hao and I slept downstairs, too."
Was that his way of telling me nothing happened between us, or with Hao, for that matter?
What really happened last night?
Anna wanted to ask Yoh so badly.
"Food's ready!" Someone suddenly spoke from behind them.
Yoh and Anna turned to see Hao peeking halfway through the sliding door, holding up a stick of grilled squid. He was in his usual carefree self, but something else glinted in his eyes. Something one couldn't just figure in one glance.
The picnic table outside was already set up, and there was music playing from a wireless speaker.
"I don't think I'm hung—" Anna tried to reason out when her stomach decided to throw her under the bus by growling.
Yoh bit his lip to supress a chuckle, which made Anna narrow her eyes at him. How dare he make fun of her?
Hao was the one who snorted loudly as he approached the two. Seeing his brother approaching them, Yoh quickly let go of Anna's arm.
There was a split second where Hao threw a meaningful stare at Yoh before turning to Anna and flashing her a wide grin.
"You need food now. Non-negotiable." Hao handed the food stick to Anna, which the woman distractedly accepted.
She couldn't resist the yummy aroma that now invaded her senses, so it took her a few seconds before she caught herself.
"Seriously. Are all of your shirts in the laundry?" Anna addressed the twins as a jab at their nakedness, then quickly headed to the side porch to eat— and also to hide the blush that was staining her cheeks.
The Asakura brothers glanced at each other before following her outside, but not without smirking to themselves. Just like that, Anna was back to her sassy self.
Yoh apologised for the 'indecent' display A.K.A them being half-naked. He explained that they had to take their shirts off because they were grilling fish and meat outside on a warm day.
Hao sat in front of Yoh and took a puff at his cigarette that was resting on a nearby ash tray. That earned him a glare from Anna, which made him toss it back.
Smoking was one of his old vices and the blonde always reprimanded him for it, being the doctor that she was, stating all the usual facts and health issues he could be getting fromt. None of which made him fear for his life compared to facing Anna's wrath.
So, he resorted to smoking a stick or two when she wasn't looking.
Lucky for him, Anna seemed preoccupied at that moment.
She stood by the end of the table, seemingly torn as to where she should take a seat.
Given that the chairs were fashioned in a bench-style seating, she will eventually need to choose whether she'd sit with Yoh or with Hao.
Aware of the existing rift between the two due to certain issues, mainly with their family, choosing sides had always been a difficult task for her.
First of all, how are the twins co-existing in one room right now without trying to kill each other? And second, why was she being punished this way?
What in the world happened last night?
It was most opportune when Yoh jumped from his seat, paling as he looked at his wristwatch.
"Shit, it's 1 P.M.!"
Hao and Anna watched him in bewilderment as he slipped on a shirt that was placed on top of a large duffle bag next to him. It seems like he's prepared for a short travel.
"What? Are you leaving?" Hao inquired with a raised brow.
"Uhh, yeah. I'll be away for the weekend. I just need to drop by somewhere first before heading to the airport." Yoh didn't even face his brother as he talked. He was busy doing a quick check on all of his belongings.
Hao only gave him a look that screamed 'are you kidding me?' and Yoh beamed a smirk in return as he grabbed his duffle bag and slung it across his shoulder.
"You guys, feel at home. Feel free to use up the goods, just don't eat up all the oranges, okay?"
The older Asakura rolled his eyes, while Anna only gaped back and forth between the twins.
"The doors lock automatically when you leave so don't forget to bring the spare house keys if you intend to return." Yoh continued as he prepared to leave. "And oh! Which reminds me!" He faced Anna. "Sey's asking if you would come with us to Tokyo Disney. We'll leave later tonight so we'll have the whole Sunday for it… but you don't have to if you still don't feel well. I'm sure she'll understand."
Anna blinked a few times. It took her longer to process Yoh's words realising that she almost forgot her promise to Seyrarm sometime ago.
She opened her mouth to speak but felt difficulty in forming the words. "I… I think I have an appointment the day after tomo—"
"You should go." Hao interrupted.
Anna turned to him, stunned. "I thought we have that thing on Monday?"
It took a while before Hao answered back, and for a moment, Yoh glanced at the two with fleeting jealousy, yet he didn't let it show.
"I think I can manage for now." The older twin finally responded, a smirk on his lips, but eyes never leaving Anna's.
Yoh understood nothing from their gestures, but he was sure something was up. He will leave it for a later discussion with his brother.
"If we leave Tokyo by dinner tomorrow, I think I can bring you back to Izumo on time." Yoh reassured, eyes now also fixed on his ex.
If Anna wanted the ground to swallow her earlier, then this time she wanted to just disappear. Of all the sticky situations, this was the kind she hated the most. The type where she had to make a decision that would end up favouring just one of the twins.
It was one of the things she would avoid at all costs ever since she grew to develop deeper relationships with the two.
She knew it wasn't smart to spend the weekend with Yoh, but part of her was screaming 'YES!' and at the same time, she would feel the utmost form of guilt if she broke her promise with Seyrarm.
Finally, Anna drew into a conclusion as she nodded her head and muttered "okay," to agree with Yoh's weekend proposals.
She glanced at Hao and saw him flashing her a knowing smile. A smile that was annoyingly indecipherable, and she absolutely despised it.
"Great. I'll pick you up at five. And don't worry about clothes, I'll ask Tamao for help. Just have some rest and please… eat something."
"Oh, that can be arranged." Hao interjected, biting his lower lip. His eyes flickered to the barbeque stick he held treacherously close to his crotch, before looking back at his younger brother.
He was back to his old self, trying to annoy the hell out of Yoh with something as low as throwing sexual innuendos.
Yoh almost had his eyeballs roll at the back of his head as he turned to leave only to be stopped by Anna.
"Yoh..."
The younger Asakura turned halfway to acknowledge her with an innocent inquisitive look.
"Thank you."
Two words. It was different from the three words that he longed for her to tell him, yet these two words were definitely a progress.
Yoh nodded and flashed a warm smile towards Anna before he left, leaving the two behind and the only spoken words came from speakers as a song continued playing through it.
When I'm away from you, I miss your touch (ooh-ooh)
You're the reason I believe in love
It's been difficult for me to trust (ooh-ooh)
And I'm afraid that I'ma fuck it up
Ain't no way that I can leave you stranded
'Cause you ain't never left me empty-handed
And you know that I know that I can't live without you
So, baby, stay
Anna stared at the spot where Yoh once stood.
Her pulse rate was rising again, and she couldn't tell if it was still the hangover, or something else. Some new—or old— emotion that was beginning to blossom—or is re-blossoming— within the deepest parts of her heart.
Shaking her musings off, her attention is now divided between starvation and her bladder that's about to burst. She figured it was smart to address the latter first, so she excused herself from Hao to do a quick trip to the bathroom.
Oh-whoa (oh-whoa, whoa)
Oh-whoa (oh-whoa, whoa)
Oh-whoa (oh-whoa, whoa)
I'll be fucked up if you can't be right here
Hao watched Anna run for the toilet.
Even though she's still clearly not at a hundred percent—with her dishevelled hair, oversized clothes, and confused expressions—he still find it cute how she always managed to put on a tough front.
His mind briefly travelled back that midnight where Anna shamelessly admitted that she still had feelings for Yoh.
Does she even remember? He hoped not.
It was quite illogical to let Anna spend the weekend with his brother—for obvious reasons— but an idea immediately formed in his head, and he just knew straight away that it might work.
His vison strayed towards his cigarette that was still emitting some smoke at its tip. The fire hasn't reached the filter, indicating that there were still some left of it.
"This'll do."
A mischievous smirk adorned the corner of his mouth before blowing out the smoke.
I do the same thing, I told you that I never would
I told you I changed, even when I knew I never could
I know that I can't find nobody else as good as you
I need you to stay, need you to stay, yeah
After exiting his garage, Yoh kept driving until he couldn't shake the butterflies that fluttered frantically in his stomach.
He turned to a corner adjacent to the street where he lived, and there, he abruptly stopped the car, not even pulling the hand brake nor completely parking to the kerb.
He was lucky there weren't other cars passing by, but just this once, he couldn't care about the world around him.
Things have been too much lately.
He just needed to breathe.
Staring at his steering wheel for more than a minute, he ran his palm against his face.
"You love her. And she still loves you back. Now what?"
You can start by not being a pussy about it. He could almost hear Silva tell him.
It was no laughing matter, but light chuckles vibrated out of his throat anyway.
After composing himself, he pressed on the clutch and shifted back to 1st gear, turning the radio on as he continued driving. The same song playing at his house went on as he chose to continue his Spotify playlist.
Whatever plans he needed to conjure about his 'Anna situation' will have to wait. For now.
I do the same thing, I told you that I never would
I told you I changed, even when I knew I never could
I know that I can't find nobody else as good as you
I need you to stay, need you to stay, hey
Whoa-oh
I need you to stay, need you to stay, hey
. . . . . . . . . . .
A/N: I dunno. This chapter is long and was quite the slowburn, but at the same time, it revealed a few vital elements to the story, especially establishing that OT3 vibe. I hope you didn't get bored with all the details I tried to put in it and the— ehem—*sticky* situations. LOL.
Thank you to my readers for the undying support! Hope you'd still join me through this journey 'til the end in 2024. Here's my present for you. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!
Song Playlist:
Left and Right – Charlie Puth Ft. Jungkook of BTS
As it was – Harry Styles
Stay – The Kid LAROI, Justin Bieber
Medical Terminologies/ Abbreviations:
E.D. – Emergency Department
Analgesics – medications for pain.
GBH – A.K.A. 'Gamma-hydroxybutyrate',an illicit drug that has a depressant effect on the central nervous system. Most commonly known as a 'date-rape' drug which can be easily mixed in drinks and go undetected due to being odourless and almost tasteless.
Testosterone - the primary male sex hormone and androgen in males.
Femoral artery - is a large artery in the thigh and the main arterial supply to the thigh and leg.
IV cannula - a small plastic tube (initially with a needle inside), inserted into a vein, usually in a patient's hand or arm, creating a way to administer fluids or medications into the bloodstream.
Torniquet – a medical tool that comes in a form of a rubber tie or belt-like fabric which is placed on a person's limb to temporarily stop the flow of blood and allow the blood to accumulate in the veins. This allows the veins to be more visible and easier to palpate and ready for blood drawing.
Micropore – a medical tape that is used to secure dressings, I.V. catheters, and other medical devices to the skin.