Gravitation Fan Fiction ❯ Ryu's New Assistant. ❯ A Shocking Turn of Events ( Chapter 24 )

Title: Ryu's New Assistant - Chapter 24

Authors: Dark Nuriko and Mayhem

Disclaimers: Neither one of us own anybody or anything from Gravitation. We only wish too.

Warnings: YAOI!!!

Summary: Tatsuha meets Ryuichi while working at the club that's last on Ryuichi's tour stops. Ryuichi's grateful to the nice waiter, and tracks him down again. He learns of Tatsuha's secret dream job and makes it happen.

 

xxXxx

 

Tatsuha gasped, taking the phone. He listened as Tohma explained what had happened and where his brother was, before he nodded. "Ryuichi, would you mind if we put this evening on hold and go to the hospital?"

 

"N-no! Of course not! We should be there too." He told his lover, shocked himself at the news. Just when things finally seemed to be going well… it all went to hell again.

 

Tatsuha gave his lover a small smile. "Thank you," he gave him a small kiss with those words, before slipping from his arms and heading on to slip his shoes on.

 

"Which hospital is he at?" Ryuichi asked as he came over to do the same, grabbing his keys from the table as well.

 

"Kanndoki General," Tatsuha called over his shoulder, running a hand through his hair.

 

Ryuichi shut the door behind him, catching up with his lover. "He'll be okay." he murmured, putting an arm around his shoulders.

 

Tatsuha leaned into his embrace, enjoying being close to him. "I know. But... even knowing that, I worry about him."

 

"I know you do. I admit, I'm a little worried myself. It can't be good if this keeps happening..." He said, opening the door for his lover and stepping out onto the street.

 

"I thought things were going well for Shuichi and him. I wonder what caused him the distress this time around."

 

"I really don't know. Probably stress from deadlines. And smoking. And drinking."

 

"I keep telling him to stop. Yet he won't listen to anyone."

 

"I know. He's quite stubborn. But at least you try."

 

He nodded, even as he felt tears prickle at his eyes.

 

Ryuichi nodded, and drew him close. "Shh. It's going to be okay. You know your brother. Nothing like this will stop him."

 

He let out a shaky breath, nodding his head. "Yes, I know."

 

"Okay." He said, pressing a kiss to his temple. "You'll see, we'll get there and it won't be as serious as we think."

 

Tatsuya sighed once more and nuzzled with his lover for a moment. "You're right. How serious could it be?"

 

Ryuichi didn't respond to Tatsuha's comment, preferring to cuddle and give him comfort. It had chances of being quite serious, although Ryuichi remained firm in his belief that it wouldn't be terribly bad. They sat silently until the car pulled up to the hospital entrance.

 

Tatsuha rushed into the hospital, only to be given tons of red tape. Apparently, just because he was Yuki's brother didn't mean he could learn anything. They were treating him like a stranger and not telling him anything.

 

Ryuichi stood quietly by as they told his lover absolutely nothing about the condition of his brother. Finally, no longer able to bear the ridiculous staff and the tears streaming down Tatsuha's face, he spoke up. "Look, it's his brother! Just tell him what's wrong - this isn't fair, and you're only making it worse!" Ryuichi glared at the doctor.

 

"We're sorry, sir, but other than the mother or father, we can't tell anyone anything."

 

Tatsuha moved to pace, his tears and worry still clear on his face. This was ridiculous... the only time the hospital was ever this bad was when...

 

His steps paused mid-step and his eyes widened, before his knees suddenly gave out and he sank onto the floor. No... It couldn't be that serious... could it?

 

Ryuichi rushed over to him, wrapping his arms around him tightly. He had seen Tatsuha's face just before he collapsed, and it looked like he had thought of something he'd rather not have thought at all. "Tatsuha? What's wrong? What are you thinking?"

 

"The... the only... re... reason they... would only... want... mother... and father... is if... its... really... really... serious..."

"How serious, Tats-chan? Like, death bed serious? I need to know so I can help you." Ryuichi asked, knowing that the answer would probably be a yes. He closed his eyes, willing away that answer.

 

"I... don't know... but... possibly."

 

Damn. He could feel his own tears starting. "You know that the doctor's are doing everything they can right? That's why they can't tell you anything yet. And we have all kinds of modern medicine and technology to help, so it should be okay. Even if it takes him a couple days, he'll pull through, right?"

 

Tatsuha felt his tears slow slightly, even as he nodded. "Yes... your right."

 

Ryuichi hugged him tighter. "Good. Are you okay now? I think we should go find a chair to sit down on."

 

With a nod, Tatsuha got up and let Ryuichi led him to a chair to sit down and wait.

 

Ryuichi and Tatsuha sat there for about an hour, before Tohma appeared. "Tohma! Can you tell us anything? You're the one that called..."

 

Tohma came up to them, a worried expression on his face. "He was in a car accident. This time it wasn't his fault. A drunk driver ran a red light and smacked into the drivers side of the car."

 

Tatsuha's eyes went wide. "Is... he... all right?"

 

Tohma shrugged. "I don't know yet. He's still in surgery."

 

Ryuichi held Tatsuha against him as he fell back against the seat. They had just assumed it was a problem with his ulcer. It always seemed to be. But this... this was far worse. He could only pray for all of them that he would survive. Everyone still needed him. Hell, he wouldn't even be sitting here at this moment if it hadn't been for the arrogant novelist. He still owed him for that too.

 

Tatsuha whimpered, clinging to Ryuichi. There was so much that he had never told his brother. He couldn't die.... damn it... he just couldn't.

 

Ryuichi ran his fingers through Tatsuha's dark locks, murmuring soothingly to him. He looked up when he saw someone approach out of the corner of his eye. It was a doctor, finally. "Mr. Seguchi? If we could have a word, please. Privately." The doctor added, when he noticed Tatsuha become interested.

 

Tatsuha was beginning to feel upset. "But... I'm his brother! I should be able to hear this!"

 

Tohma was about to argue, but just one look at the haggard look to Tatsuha's usually young and hyper looking face, and he couldn't. "You can speak about this in front of him. He's family."

 

The doctor nodded. "All right. As long as it's just family." He led them to a small conference room down the hall. "Please, have a seat."

 

Tatsuha, with Ryuichi's help, took a seat next to Tohma, his eyes locked on the doctor like he was about to deliver the worst news ever.

 

Tohma was cool and collected, even though he was scared and panicked on the inside. "What did you want to tell us doctor?" he asked.

 

"Your brother,” he started, directing his look momentarily to Tatsuha, "was badly injured when the other car hit him. In most accidents we've seen like this, the impact would have been so great, as well as the resulting injuries, that he would have died almost instantly, or soon after. Yuki-san was lucky, however, and managed to survive, though his injuries are still near fatality. We've done what we can in surgery, and he should probably wake up tonight, if not, tomorrow. It will be a long road to recovery, and things are probably going to have to change." The doctor finished, looking around at all of them.

 

Tatsuha felt the color leave his face, even as he whimpered slightly. "What... kind of changes?" Tatsuha asked.

 

"Will we be allowed to see him?" Tohma asked, knowing that would be the younger mans next question.

 

"We are unsure at this moment of a few things. Like what mobility in his legs will be or in his left arm. We have repaired what we can, and have expectations for full recovery, but things can, and do, go wrong. As to the second question, not until tomorrow. You can peek in briefly now, but that is all."

 

Tatsuha was up before anyone could blink. "Please... I just... want to see him for a moment."

 

Tohma sighed. "I'll wait till tomorrow to see him, so give him my time as well."

 

The doctor nodded. "I'll show you to his room." He said, opening the door, and allowing them to pass him through it.

 

Tatsuha waited for the doctor, wanting to see his brother.

 

He led them down the hall, far into the intensive care wing, before stopping at the door. "Combined with Seguchi-san's time, you have 10 minutes. I'm sorry that it's not longer, but that's all we can do for right now."

 

Tatsuha nodded. "Thank you... ten is more than nothing..." That said, he walked into the room and almost froze. His older brother, who was always so confident and cocky, was lying in bed, battered, bruised, and bandaged. Tubes and machines seemed to sound around the place. It was... scary, to see such a thing.

 

Walking over to him, he slowly took Yuki's good hand into his and gave him a warm squeeze. Tears pooled in his eyes. "Come on Yuki, you have to make it through this. You have someone who loves you very much waiting for you."

 

He sniffed before looking away. "You have a younger brother who loves you... and I want you to pull through."

 

Ryuichi watched from the doorway, as Tatsuha pleaded with is brother to come back. He couldn't hear what exactly Tatsuha was saying, he didn't want to go closer and interrupt. Tatsuha needed this moment to himself. Turning, he went back to the waiting room, and sat down next to Tohma.

 

Tohma looked toward Ryuichi, giving the other man a soft smile. "Are you feeling all right, Ryu?" he asked softly.

 

He let out a long sigh before answering. "I'm fine. It's just... this is way more then we thought it was. What if everything that doctor said comes true? What are we going to do?"

 

Tohma sighed, looking away. "I suppose we will deal with that when and if it happens."

 

Ryuichi laid his head back against the hard chair. "And I guess that's all we can do, right?"

 

Tohma nodded, placing a hand over one of Ryuichi's. "Yuki won't let this beat him. Shindou won't allow it to beat him either."

 

"Neither will Tatsuha. I guess... it always seems like they don't get along, but they really love each other, ne? I think it's just a special brother bond." He laughed then, short and harsh. "Even in this moment, I envy that a little."

Tohma raised an eyebrow. "And why is that?"

 

"Because it's something I can never share with Tatsuha, no matter how deeply we love each other. And because I can't share it with a brother of my own as well." Ryuichi smiled softly. It must be the stress of everything, because he was definitely not sounding like himself.

 

Tohma shook his head. "You may not be able to share what they do, but if that was you in there, instead of Yuki... Tatsuha would be a lot more broken up than he is now."

 

The singer looked at him questioningly. Now that he was thinking about it, he wondered how true Tohma's statement was. Probably very true, if it was in anyway reflective of how he would have felt had it been Tatsuha lying there. He shuddered at the thought. "I suppose you're right." He admitted out loud.

 

He smiled softly. "I'm always right, Ryu."

 

Ryuichi snorted at that. "That you are, Tohma."

 

Tohma's smile broadened and he hugged the singer gently. "Glad you know that."

 

Ryuichi leaned into the hug gratefully, smiling against Tohma's shoulder. "We should go get Tats-chan now, right? I think his time is almost up..." He said reluctantly, not wanting to pull his lover away, but not wanting him to get kicked out either.

 

"I guess we should," he murmured. "Yet I think we could leave them alone for a moment."

 

Ryuichi pulled away. "All right. I'm going outside, okay? I just need some air." He walked away down the hall, just about to exit through the doors when a blur of pink streaked by him, sobbing Yuki's name. He glanced back at Shuichi, and remembered his thought moments before of what it would be like if it was Tatsuha or himself in that condition. Racing after the blur, he caught the teen by the arm. "Shu-chan. He's this way, Tatsuha's with him now."

 

Bright violet eyes shining with tears looked up at the person who held his arm. "Ryu-chan? What are doing here?"

 

Ryuichi smiled at him. "Tohma called us. I thought you had already come and gone... but no, I guess you would have stayed, ne?" He said, answering his own question.

 

"Traffic..." Shuichi mumbled. "I couldn't get here any faster. Is he all right? Will you take me to him?"

 

Ryuichi nodded, leading him to the room. "He's out of surgery, but they're still unsure about a lot of things. A drunk driver hit him on the driver's side." He explained, not wanting to make Shuichi feel worse, but knowing he needed to know these things.

 

Tatsuha came out of the room, his face drawn. "Oh, Shuichi, you should go see him. I know Yuki would love to hear your voice."

 

That just caused Shuichi's eyes to tear up further. He ran to the door, and stopped dead. He couldn't see him like this! Yuki was the stronger of the two; it was Shuichi who always ended up in the hospital because of something, never Yuki. He fell to his knees in the hall, a hand clasped over his mouth as his sobs got louder. The terrify thoughts plagued his mind, and he couldn't go further.

 

Tatsuha walked over to Shuichi and knelt beside him, holding him gently. "Come on, Shuichi... he needs to see you... hear you."

 

"I-I-I can't! He shouldn't even be in there! It should be me! I'm always the one in stupid accidents! How could this happen Tatsuha?!" He asked, now sobbing into Tatsuha's chest. It was warm, and it felt good... but it wasn't Yuki.

 

Tatsuha held him, rubbing his back. "It happens. But remember, Yuki's strong. He won't let this stop him."

 

Shuichi sniffled still, the soothing motions Tatsuha made on his back helping, as did his words. "I know... it's just... it's scary, you know?"

 

Tatsuha nodded. "Very. When I walked in here, I thought you were here. I was... so scared when I saw him lying there.

 

Shuichi nodded. "I wanted to be here, but I just couldn't get here fast enough." He said quietly into Tatsuha's shirt. "Will you... will you stay here while I go in? I can't do it alone."

 

Tatsuha nodded, even as he looked to his lover for assurance that he'd remain with him, Tohma having gone to talk to the staff.

 

Ryuichi nodded, knowing that they both were still needed. He didn't think Shuichi should be alone tonight, either, and they had plenty of room at the apartment.

 

Shuichi stood shakily and grasped Tatsuha's hand tightly. He entered the room, careful not to touch any of the many tubes and wires connected to his love. Reaching out, he stroked blonde bangs back from a bruised forehead. "Oh Yuki..." He sighed. "You just can't stay out of trouble can you?" He laughed weakly, "I know, that's something you're always telling me, isn't it?" He gazed sadly at him.

 

"Come back to me please. To us. We need you. And I'd be mad at you forever if you left me alone here. So hurry up and get better okay? If Tatsuha wasn't here, I'd make you more promises, but for now, I'll just say that you'll get a lot of strawberry shortcake. I'll tell you about the other stuff when you're awake to appreciate it. “He told this lover with a watery smile.

 

"I love you." He pressed a kiss to a bare spot on his temple, and left the room again, afraid to stay there any longer.

 

Tatsuha hugged Shuichi once he came out. "You ok?"

 

Shuichi nodded a little. "Yeah... I just couldn't stay in there any longer." he rubbed the back of a hand across his eyes.

 

Ryuichi walked towards them. "Why don't you come stay with us tonight? I don't want you all alone at home."

 

Shuichi smiled at him. "Thank you for your offer Ryu-chan, but I don't know. I don't want to intrude. I'll just go back to the apartment."

 

Tatsuha shook his head. "No intrusion... we'd welcome the company."

 

Shuichi looked between the two of them. "Well... all right. I don't really want to be there with out Yuki anyways." he said, looking back to the room where the older man lay.

 

Tatsuha wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "He won't leave you, Shuichi..."

 

"I hope not. Thanks Tatsuha." He turned to Ryuichi. "Were you leaving when I came in?"

 

Ryuichi shook his head. "No, just wanted some air. We don't have to leave till you're ready to."

 

"Oh. Okay. No, I'm ready now, you don't have to wait." Shuichi told him. "There's not really anything I can do anyways. I'll see him when he's awake tomorrow."

 

Tatsuha nodded and led the way to the car, but he wasn't his usually bright self. He wasn't certain his brother would be awake tomorrow.

 

Shuichi and Ryuichi followed quietly behind, getting in and hardly speaking on the ride back to the apartment. With so many uncertainties, only one thing was certain - tomorrow was going to be a long day, and everyone was tired.

 

When they arrived home, Tatsuha moved to his room and got things fixed before showing Shuichi inside. "Why don't you get some sleep? I'll wake you in the morning."

 

Shuichi nodded gratefully. "Thank you, for everything, Tatsuha. I know it isn't any easier for you. Sweet dreams."

 

He nodded and left the room, moving over to Ryuichi's. "How are you handling this?" he asked.

 

Ryuichi looked up from the drawer he was looking through. "Me? I... I don't know. I don't want to lose him, for the sake of you two, but we're not very close are we?" He paused, pulling out a t-shirt. "I just... keep thinking 'what if that was Tatsuha?' and I feel a shadow of what Shu-chan must be feeling. But I don't know. I just want to make sure everyone's okay through this."

 

Tatsuha nodded, smiling softly. "Everything will be all right. Because my brother is not one to quit."

 

"Exactly." Ryuichi nodded. "I know it'll work out, but like you two said, it -is- scary. Are you okay though? And not just saying you are?" He asked, moving close to his boyfriend and enveloping him in a light hug.

 

Tatsuha sighed, cuddling against him. "I... don't know... I just know... I have to be for now."

 

"Yeah. I understand. Come on, we need to get some sleep." Ryuichi said, leading him over to the bed.

 

Tatsuha allowed himself to be led, then laid down on the large, comfortable bed. He would worry about things as they came. After all, being overly stressed wouldn't accomplish anything.

 

Laying a soft kiss on his love's lips, Ryuichi snuggled down into the blankets, pulling Tatsuha tightly to him. Hopefully sleep would come quickly for both. Worry wouldn't do anything now.

 

Tatsuha slowly let sleep take him over, drifting off into a dreamless sleep.