Prince Of Tennis Fan Fiction ❯ Learning To Land ❯ Learning to Land by Suteishichic. Chapter One Hundred Six ~ Tachibana ( Chapter 108 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
By: suteishichic 
Anime/Manga: Prince Of Tennis Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Drama | Type: Yaoi | Uploaded On: 08.25.2007 | Pages: 6 | Words: 7.7K | Visits: 208 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: Prince Of Tennis Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst / Romance / Drama | Type: Yaoi | Uploaded On: 08.25.2007 | Pages: 6 | Words: 7.7K | Visits: 208 | Status: Work In Progress
Learning to Land by Suteishichic. Chapter One Hundred Six ~ Tachibana
Warnings: Yaoi, Love, Angst, Fluff, and Lots of Sex. Some kink. You've been warned ;)
Disclaimer: Nope not mine. Still in my dreams. ;)
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As they reached the corner on the street where the hospital was, Ishida very politely said, "Tachibana-
san? Please know we are all very grateful for all of your support and help. You've been...very kind to us
and we appreciate it from the bottom of our hearts. The thing is, we really don't wish to involve you in
this any more than you already are or cause you any trouble. I've been to this hospital several times--
we all have through the years, and if it's okay with you...well...see....there's a system we've come up
with to handle these kinds of things. Instead of tryin to explain it to you because everything is
so...complected, if you'd please just allow me and the guys to handle things now, I'll be glad to answer
any questions you might have after we're done? Please?"
It was an extremely odd...request. The big freshman's tone and mannerisms were as if he knew he was
asking Tachibana for a huge favor but there was a steely determination behind Ishida's eyes. Tachibana
was even more confused when he looked closer at Ishida. He clearly could see the high level of stress
stretching out Ishida's normally handsome face turning his smile into one so fake it was almost a
grimace. The big freshman was so worried and intense about whatever this was, he was practically
begging. Tachibana seriously worried that Ishida right there, on a busy city street in the middle of a
Thursday morning was going to collapse to the ground and dramatically start kowtowing to him.
"Uh...sure...fine...okay. As you wish...?" Tachibana had to agree because the last thing any of the
freshmen needed was him adding to their stress. After he agreed he watched amazed at how much
Ishida visibly relaxed. It was like when the big freshman was done crying earlier, Ishida was able to put
his emotions aside because they were so on the surface. He expressed everything he felt the moment he
felt it. That's how these freshmen were. Totally open with no shame over their feelings. It was unlike
anything Tachibana ever experienced before. Not even gentle, kind to a fault Yasuo was this open. If he
had been, Yasuo would have been prey. He would have been too vulnerable and thus torn to pieces in
his old school by the vultures everyone secretly was.
A second after Tachibana agreed, a very relieved Ishida practically fell all over Tachibana in his
gratitude. The big freshman hugged him bone-crushingly hard all of a sudden then released him and
patted him on the back. Hard. Not even realizing his tremendous strength in his exuberance. Ishida
must have also not realized his volume because the strong freshman exclaimed, "Tachibana-san, thank
you! Thank you! I knew we could trust you. I knew you were one of us, Tachibana-san! We all did! We
just knew it. Now, okay, I gotta warn you it's gonna look a little crazy at first or kinda like we don't
know what we're doin, but don't worry. Please do not worry. You know us and if we say we're gonna
handle something, we are. I promise we can handle this. So Tachibana-san, if you wouldn't mind when
we get inside the hospital, if you could just stand back and kinda outta the way? Let us handle things?
I'll explain everything once we get everyone outta here. Or if you'd rather Tachibana-san, you can even
go ahead on to school and we can meet up with you later? That way you don't have to be involved
any..."
"No Ishida, I'm already involved and I'm going. I want to make sure they're both all right, but as I told
you, I'll let you guys handle it and I will follow your lead in this." For now, Tachibana silently added.
At least until he had a better grasp of what the hell really was going on. He had no idea why Ishida was
so stressed, or why he wouldn't want Tachibana to 'handle' this situation. Tachibana felt slighted and
rather aggravated. He was their senpai after all and as such they were his responsibility. Didn't they
trust him by now?
While these freshmen may have had a system, he couldn't imagine that it was anything he didn't already
know how to do. After all, he was the only one out of all of them who had lived on his own. Only
Tachibana been out in the real world and already had to make some adult decisions. He really wasn't at
all sure if he should let the freshmen take charge like this, but he reasoned to himself if things got out
of hand once he saw where the situation was going he could jump in and take over. He knew these guys
from playing tennis well enough that he could predict how they would act.
Or so he thought.
When they walked through the sliding glass automatic doors into the hospital, Tachibana wondered if
he somehow made a wrong turn into an alternate universe. Utter chaos and pandemonium did not even
begin to describe the scene before them.
It seemed to be nothing less than a three-ringed circus with the freshmen Tachibana thought he knew so
well all acting outrageously and inappropriately.
Mori and Uchimura on his left were loudly and animatedly arguing the best treatments for a sprain
including some crazy-sounding folk remedies with two young doctors. Sakurai to his right was
bothering three of the nurses. He asked first for directions to the toilet, next for the telephone, and then
for the water fountain. He apparently couldn't find any of them on his own so the giggling nurses
started drawing him a map. Kamio stood before him in the middle. The red-headed freshman was busy
doing what could only be called outright flirting with the other nurses. He was actually juggling what
looked to be a dozen or so tongue depressors while telling the serious-faced nurse closest to him she
looked dazzling in her uniform. "...like an angel of mercy. I wish I had a sister as pretty as you. I wish
any of my friends had a sister as pretty as you!"
With his mouth hanging open, Tachibana turned to look at Ishida but the big freshman was gone.
Ishida already was jumping in next to Kamio and his normal quiet, polite demeanor disappeared. His
personality completely changed in the span of three seconds to what Tachibana could only call
aggressively obnoxious. The tall freshman bumped Kamio which caused the freshman to lurch to the
side and the tongue depressors flying through the air to clatter to the ground like pick-up sticks. Loudly
Ishida said, "Kamio-kun why is it that you are always surrounded by the prettiest women in town and
all you can do is play with wooden sticks? Look at the mess you made. You're such a little kid. I'm so
sorry, has this clown been bothering you, ladies?"
To Tachibana's surprise the nurses didn't tell Ishida to be quiet or apologize. Instead the group of them
girlishly...laughed.
Kamio loudly said while he quickly picked the depressors up, "Oh please! You're just jealous because
I'm cute. I didn't get the bright idea to cut all my hair off." Kamio rolled his eyes and said to the women
in a loud fake whisper, "Be kind ladies, he's sensitive about his hair--or lack of it. Don't say anything
about how scary and egg-shaped his head is...whatever you do!" He pushed Ishida back and stepped in
front of the big freshman.
Tachibana thought Ibu was going to get angry or possibly even push Kamio back for his harsh and
insensitive remarks. Truth was Tachibana always thought Ishida was one of the few people who looked
good without hair. Tachibana certainly didn't look at all good when he shaved all his hair off before he
left his old school. Even Yasuo just looked at him like he was worried Tachibana just lost his mind.
Tachibana was about to reprimand Kamio for his behavior--especially inappropriate in a hospital
where sick people were, but before he could move the nurses surrounded Ishida and asked him to
remove the scarf from his head. When the big freshman reluctantly did blushing and smiling, the nurses
all cooed and touched his head. One after the next fawned on him and told him having no hair made
him look very handsome--and much older.
Tachibana's jaw dropped open wider and he looked around trying to make sense of the madness. He
couldn't.
Amid the chaos he noticed for the first time, Ibu sitting off in a corner alone--forgotten.
Ibu said nothing as usual but he wiggled his fingers in a brief greeting. Tachibana wondered if anyone
remembered him at all over the ruckus that was being made. Poor Ibu. It was almost like his friends
were going out of their way to ignore him. Ibu was the one who was injured after all. Tachibana didn't
know what happened, but Ibu's white school shirt was covered in blood. Ibu looked fragile and pale and
when their eyes me, the freshman stood up. It looked like he was a little shaky on his feet so
Tachibana's instinct was to go to help him. Despite his friends being all around Ibu looked completely
alone in the world. Their eyes locked and Tachibana felt his heart go out to the guy. Whatever happened
must have been bad, and his friends were all ignoring him when they should have been helping and
comforting him.
For a moment, Tachibana remembered the last time he was in a hospital. He had been waiting for news
in a very hostile environment with no one on his side. No one except Yasuo. If Yasuo hadn't been there,
Tachibana is sure he would have gone crazy with grief. He might have even hit some of the people who
challenged him to a fight as soon as they noticed him there. He would have fought them and probably
lost on purpose just to try to right things, but Yasuo, loyal to a fault Yasuo, quietly asked him not to. He
asked Tachibana to go home together with him. Yasuo stopped the fight by pointing out to everyone
there was nothing more there they could do. That hurting Tachibana for what happened wouldn't undo
any of the damage done. All they could do was wait and see.
Yasuo is the one who made Tachibana realize he was making things worse just by being there.
Tachibana was angry. No, furious with Yasuo for making him feel stupid. He grew even more enraged
with Yasuo for the way he finally tricked Tachibana into leaving by saying they would just stop by
home for a change of clothes. Only when they were out the hospital doors and down the street did
Tachibana realize they weren't going to be returning. That Tachibana's presence was making things
worse for everyone and Yasuo knew it so he was dragging Tachibana home.
They walked home in silence. Tachibana was so angry and upset he could barely see straight and it was
only Yasuo walking beside him that kept him going in the right direction. His smaller roommate
matched him step for step. Yasuo said nothing the entire way. He didn't make a sound. They walked the
entire way. They never even talked about getting a cab or hopping on a train. Nearer home after all this
walking, Tachibana started to calm down.
He realized Yasuo was right to make him leave. Tachibana was a stupid, angry, malevolent idiot. All he
was good for was destroying things and hurting people who didn't deserve it. People relied on him and
cared about him and all Tachibana did was let them down. He figured Yasuo never wanted to talk to
him again after what he had done--there was no way they were ever fooling around or anything like
that ever again. It was over. Everything was over. With one clever shot Tachibana ruined everything
and there was nothing he could do to fix any of this. Tachibana knew he was going to lose his only
friend in the world, and hell he deserved it after the monster he had become did so much damage when
unleashed.
As they walked towards home Tachibana went from being furious at Yasuo to now only feeling bitterly
angry and disappointed in himself. Yasuo leaving him that night and not wanting to be his friend ever
again hurt so much that he still felt the pain of that loss stuck in the middle of his chest now sucking the
life out of him. It hurt worse than anything. It hurt worse than Fuji. It still hurt to think about it now.
Even though that wasn't what happened.
Instead, when they got safely to their room, Tachibana was surprised to see Yasuo had been crying. He
never cried--not even when he was badly hurt. He once saw Yasuo get his kneecap smashed to pieces
during a match. His roommate never shed a tear when that happened. Hell, he wanted to keep playing
but their coach stopped the match. Tachibana wasn't even aware how bad his injury was until later
when the doctors said Yasuo needed surgery, but that night walking together from the hospital silently,
Yasuo must have been weeping. His face was tear stained and puffy--a mask of sorrow and loss.
He waited to hear Yasuo say that he couldn't stand Tachibana anymore and that it, whatever it was that
they had and whatever it was that they were to each other, was now over. Yasuo would tell him that he
finally figured out what a bastard his roommate was and to get the hell out. He waited for Yasuo to tell
him to go sleep somewhere else that night and that he never wanted to see Tachibana again, but that
didn't happen. Before Tachibana could respond or say he would get his things and go. Before he could
even do that to try to cling to just a shred of his pride, Yasuo was clutching him tightly.
Tachibana protested. He told Yasuo to let go. He told his roommate he would leave. He tried to push
Yasuo away. He thought in his heartache Yasuo was just doing this because he felt he had to. Tachibana
would not let someone pity him. He said it was fine and that he understood. He understood it was for
the best although he felt his heart breaking worse than it ever had.
He didn't tell Yasuo that.
Tachibana never said how bad it hurt or how bad he knew it was going to hurt for Yasuo to let him go,
but it scared the hell out of him because he didn't think this time he would recover. Not like he had
from Fuji because this time he wouldn't have Yasuo at his side. Tachibana bit the inside of his cheek to
keep himself from crying. He bit down so hard he tasted the salty copper tang of his own blood and still
had a scar back there. He refused to cry. Yasuo didn't deserve to see him weak like this after
discovering what a ruthless monster bastard he was. He didn't want Yasuo to feel guilty.
Yasuo didn't say a word. He just kept holding onto Tachibana with his damn strong hands. He held on
to him so tightly that Tachibana realized he would have to hurt him to break his grip and pry his hands
away. For a smaller guy, Yasuo was incredibly strong when he wanted to be. And that's around when
Tachibana realized that Yasuo was being strong and holding him--not letting him go because he
wanted to. He wanted to hold Tachibana. Wanted to be there for him. Wanted to...
Tachibana shook off the memory because he realized he was standing there in the hospital stupidly
staring at the scene unfolding before him because he was stuck in the past again. Hell, he could call
Yasuo later that night to talk to him instead of putting it off like he had been. He didn't know why the
hell he kept putting it off. He wanted to talk to him, didn't he? He did. Hell, remembering back then just
now made him miss Yasuo for a moment with an almost overwhelming ache.
Almost. Because it was an ache he promptly put aside.
Again.
He had to focus and handle this terrible situation right here and now. This was no time to drift off into
things that already happened. He went to go to Ibu to help him. Tachibana decided after he helped Ibu,
he would reprimand the other freshmen for ignoring him. But before he could move, Ibu shook his
head silently no. Tachibana had barely taken a step towards the freshman when he was told no and
stopped short.
His urge had been to go over and hold on to Ibu like Yasuo had done for him. Just hold him in his arms,
make Ibu feel safe, and let him know someone cared about him. Someone cared a lot about him. Ibu
might cry. Tachibana knew that and decided he was okay with it. He cried. That night when Yasuo held
him. It had taken a long time, but eventually Tachibana broke and a flood of tears poured out of him.
He ruined everything and they both knew it.
Yasuo didn't say a word for what felt like hours. Tachibana cried in racking sobs that hit so hard that he
pulled the both of them down to the floor, but Yasuo held him firmly even then. Eventually when
Tachibana's tears wound down, probably because he wept so much he cried himself dry, Yasuo kissed
him.
He kissed his lips and his face as he held him. Instead of asking Tachibana why he was such a monster
or why he had to ruin everything they had that was so good, all Yasuo said was Tachibana's given
name. Over and over again he whispered it as he kissed him, "Kippei...Kippei...Kippei..." Yasuo didn't
say it in a singing kind of baby comforting way or in a fake everything is okay way, but in the sweetest
way possible. Every time he said Tachibana's name, Yasuo was letting Tachibana know that he was
okay with what happened. He accepted what happened and even the consequences. Yasuo was saying
he would stick by his side. Yasuo was saying he forgave Tachibana even if Tachibana wasn't able to
forgive himself yet. If ever.
Okay, so Tachibana wasn't going to let things with Ibu go that far or anything, but he wanted to be there
for the freshman like Yasuo had been there for him. Tachibana figured he could just hug the freshman
and let him know that even after whatever happened, he was okay and everything was going to be all
right. Apparently Ibu didn't even need him to do that. Tachibana felt stupid and useless as he stood
there. His feelings were hurt, not to mention his pride. He wondered why the hell he was even there. He
should be on his way to school before he was late. Maybe he should just leave and he wondered if
anyone would notice if he left. Or care.
He also noticed that Kamio had blood on his shirt. It must have been Ibu's blood. Kamio now held an
ice pack in one hand that the nurses kept laughingly reminding him to put on the back of his head.
In the maelstrom of activity, a passing nurse accidentally knocked over a huge stack of papers and
Ishida was blushingly helping her pick them up. Eventually everyone else within earshot seemed to join
in helping with the cleanup. Even waiting patients and people just watching moved to help. Everyone
was participating in Kaimo's jokes and the rest of the freshmen's antics and it looked like a comedy
sketch from one of the stupid shows Tachibana's little sister and grandmother liked. They were all
laughing and smiling like the freshmen were a comedy team sent in to entertain everyone that day.
Everyone except for Tachibana and Ibu.
Several of the nurses and even one doctor were all laughing along with the freshmen as Kamio told a
story about when the freshmen were kids in a club learning archery. It was a story Kamio told to
Tachibana before so he knew how it went. Somehow by accident Kamio shot Ibu in his left butt cheek
with an arrow during their archery lesson. The arrow even with a blunt tip hit its mark. It stuck there
like a peacock's plume and Ibu ended up needing to have it removed and get several stitches. He still
had a scar and although Tachibana never saw it, Kamio said it was a heart and Ibu's future wife was
going to wonder what girl Ibu once got a tattoo for. The way Kamio told it this time though with
everyone focused on Kamio and laughing at Ibu, Ibu might as well not even been in the room.
Ibu was smiling, but the smile never reached his eyes.
Tachibana wondered what the hell all this was about. Why everyone, especially the freshmen were
completely ignoring Ibu. Was it a strategy? Why? What could it possibly do? What could it...?
Slowly, it dawned on Tachibana that maybe the entire thing was done to distract the adults from Ibu--
although Tachibana had no idea why.
Within the flurry of activity, stories, and laughter somehow the group of freshmen paid for both Kamio
and Ibu's treatments. They paid in cash so fast Tachibana wasn't sure which one of them actually paid.
He guessed only by the speed it was Kamio who settled the bill.
Just after they met Kamio told Tachibana the freshmen all pooled their meager amounts of money
together and shared everything they had. Birthday money, gifts, and anything else got thrown together
into a communal pile. The subject of money came up when Kamio asked to borrow some of
Tachibana's video games and CDs. He discussed arranging a trade if the junior needed or wanted
anything that the freshmen had. Kamio explained how if one of them got a new CD, movie, book,
video game, or anything Ibu was very good at making everyone copies. The original would be re-sold
for cash. Kamio joked he ended up being the treasurer but Ibu was the banker. He said the freshmen did
better when they kept their financial assets liquid and pooled for rainy days. Apparently today was a
rainy one.
Luckily, from the instructions Tachibana overheard the nurse giving Kamio, it seemed Kamio did not
have a concussion. All he had was just a painful knot on his head which he kept forgetting to hold the
cold pack to. The nurse who seemed to have the stern face when Tachibana walked in with Ishida now
actually giggled as Kamio brushed his hair out of his eyes and flirtilly said to her that he should warn
her he had a hard head and a soft heart.
Ibu's injury apparently was more serious judging by the amount of blood on their clothes. Tachibana
listened closely to the instructions on how to care for the stitches and what the nurses were saying.
Something or someone cut Ibu behind his ear so that when he and Kamio first walked into the hospital,
as one nurse joked, "...your friend's poor ear was hanging off his head. Imagine a good kid like that
getting mugged for his lunch money. What is the world coming to?"
With several more jokes and laughs, somehow the freshmen got Ibu out of there. They got the staff to
give them a written excuse for being late for school. They even were able to dismiss the stern nurse's
who insisted that Ibu's parents come to pick him up.
She said Kamio could return to school with his friends, but Ibu should go home and rest. The nurse said
she would call Ibu's parents to come get him, but Uchida was the first to respond. He stopped debating
the doctor long enough to coolly lie. He said Ibu's mom didn't have a car and if they called she would
be very worried.
Before anyone could ask any other questions and having a sudden inkling that this was what they
freshmen were trying to distract the adults from, Tachibana volunteered. He wasn't even aware he was
going to lie, but somehow the words just flew out of his mouth. Tachibana knew he could sound older
and more responsible when he needed to and he used that tone of voice to talk in.
He said he and Ibu lived right down the street--practically around the corner. He said as Ibu's senpai he
could walk Ibu home before Tachibana returned to school and this way it wouldn't be a shock to his
mom. The hospital staff at first resisted. That one gruff-faced nurse Kamio had been flirting the most
with said she wasn't sure. She said Ibu really shouldn't be alone but Tachibana assured her the freshman
wouldn't be. Tachibana promised her Ibu would be with him and then home with his family in under
five minutes.
If someone insisted that an adult be called, Tachibana quickly thought to himself he could have the
hospital call his home. His parents and his grandmother were out at work but his great-grandmother
was home. Even at her age she was active and did most of his family's cooking while everyone else
was busy working. The bonus was his great-grandmother pretty much refused to speak Japanese. She
usually pretended she didn't understand it but he knew that she did. Tachibana just hoped if someone
did call his house they didn't speak very much Cantonese. His great-grandmother loved to babble on
and on for hours in her native tongue.
As luck would have it, after Tachibana volunteered to take Ibu home and mentioned again it was less
than a block away, that stern nurse and the rest of the hospital staff agreed.
With big smiles plastered on all their faces he and the guys left. In the end, no one needed to call
anyone's parents. Tachibana sent the freshmen on to class and went with Ibu to his home. It was the
first time Tachibana had been there though he knew where it was from walking past it.
Ibu's house was a tiny old dwelling down an even older side street that was more alley than street. It
was too narrow for even a small car to fit through. The house was small, with fading paint and looked
dark because it rest in the shadows of larger multi-family dwellings all around it. It leaned more to the
left side resting on the house next to it. It looked rundown, but outside there were lots of plants and it
looked orderly and well maintained. Everything was neatly arranged as if a great effort was made to
make what little someone had seem welcoming and presentable. When they got to the front door, Ibu
bowed in thanks and went to go inside, but Tachibana insisted, "I promised everyone I would make
sure you were all right. I'll stay with you for a while, that is, if you have no objections?"
Ibu shook his head no, shrugged, and gestured for Tachibana to step inside after he unlocked the front
door. Tachibana noticed that the home seemed dark and empty. It had a feel as if no one lived there.
Almost like it was abandoned and when he thought about it, sometimes that was the feeling he got from
Ibu. As if he too was left behind, neglected, and forgotten. Ibu did not turn a hallway light on while
they removed their shoes. The house slippers he loaned to Tachibana were soft but so well-worn they
were almost worn through the soles. The house was cold, felt damp, and their every sound and footstep
rang with a hollow echo.
As they entered the kitchen, Tachibana asked Ibu if he could use the phone. He figured he should call
his great-grandmother and explain why he was missing school that day. He figured it would be better to
say it was due to a classmate's illness. He had never gone to public school and had no idea if he was
absent if they would try to call his home. At his old school, attendance was considered a student's
responsibility, but at this one he was unsure of the rules. This way at least if the school did do anything
his great-grandmother could tell his parents when they got home or if there were any questions.
Tachibana knew his parents trusted him and they would understand probably without asking any
questions. He had told his parents earlier he might be late coming home because he intended to try to
get answers out of Kamio. Somehow ironically he ended up with Ibu who wouldn't say a word to him.
Ibu handed Tachibana his cell phone.
Tachibana wondered about it as he waved the portable phone away. He hated cell phones and detested
that he had one. His family insisted he needed it. He never used it when he was away at school. He
carried one but only used it a few times at school when he would have Yasuo meet him for dinner or
something.
All the freshmen used their cell phones frequently and were on some pay as you use it plan Kamio
showed Tachibana. They text messaged each other constantly. Every time Tachibana was with one or
two of them, they text messaged the others at least once if not many more times.
Kamio and the other freshmen often text messaged Tachibana. He never answered. He thought texting
was annoying. If you had something to say you could just call the person and it would take less time
than trying to type out each message. He never sent anyone a text message in his life and was rather
proud of that.
When they first met Kamio showed Tachibana how he and the other freshmen were on some combined
pay as you use it plan that really cost much less than the one Tachibana and his family used.
Tachibana's phone was paid for by his parents so he really couldn't switch to the freshman's plan. He
explained this several times although Kamio still tried to get him to switch usually after a long sales
pitch. Sometimes even now Kamio asked Tachibana to reconsider by saying his joining the freshmen
would cost all the rest of them less every month. Kamio was quite a salesman. He offered Tachibana
everything from a free phone to a month for free never getting that Tachibana hated his phone and
never used it.
The only phone number he had programmed in was Yasuo's and that's only because his roommate put it
in there for him. He didn't even know how, although Kamio offered to put all of their numbers in for
him. Tachibana didn't see the point when he could just remembered their numbers. He remembered
Yasuo's too but something wouldn't let him delete the entry. Not that he called the number much. He
really should give Yasuo a call later today.
Since he moved back home the one who called Tachibana the most was his little sister. Usually she was
calling to bother him with questions like when he was coming home, where he was, and who he was
with. It was annoying. At least Yasuo never did that. Not even when they lived together. Now Yasuo
sometimes called him and left messages. He usually just said hello and that Tachibana could call him
back whenever he got around to it. Sometimes he noticed Yasuo called and didn't leave a message. He
was probably busy. No pressure. That was nice.
Anyway, for a guy who never talked and who was supposed to be so short on money, why would Ibu
even have a cellular phone? It confused Tachibana and he often wondered who answered Ibu's phone
for him. On accident one time Tachibana called Ibu to tell the freshmen that he was going to be five
minutes late meeting them in the morning because his sister that day had a morning club meeting. She
got in the bathroom first and took so long doing her hair and things he couldn't get in the bathroom to
even brush his teeth. Kamio smoothly answered Ibu's phone and talked as if it was his own. It wasn't
until he was on his way to see them when Tachibana realized on accident he'd called Ibu and not
Kamio. Their numbers were only one off from each other. All the freshmen's were. Kamio said that was
part of the deal from the store they got their phones and the plan at. It was owned by the father of a
childhood friend of theirs that now went to another school somewhere else. They were no longer
friends, but they still got a discount.
Still he wondered if Kamio wasn't around, who answered Ibu's phone and said hello?
Ibu was looking at him so Tachibana explained, "I have a long distance call to make later today. It's
going to be a long call probably and I don't want to waste any minutes on a local call. I'm just going to
call my house to tell my parents that I'm with you and not going to be in sch..." As he talked, Tachibana
picked up the receiver to Ibu's house phone and put it to his ear. There was no dial tone. He stated the
obvious, "This phone doesn't work."
Ibu shook his head no and as Tachibana watched a blush spread along his face.
"Do any of your home phones work?" Talking to Ibu was like playing twenty questions. The only thing
more annoying was trying to get Yasuo to admit when he was mad or upset about something stupid
Tachibana inadvertently did. When Yasuo was mad it was often like talking to Ibu, Tachibana realized.
You had to ask a million questions while he sat there silently and would occasionally hint by shrugging
when you got close to what was bothering him. He wondered if it was his practice with Yasuo that
made it easier for him to get to know Ibu. "What if someone needs to reach you or the school calls or
something?"
Ibu shook his head no and shrugged. He pointed to his cell phone and handed it again to Tachibana.
Tachibana gave up and dialed his home number on Ibu's phone. When his great-grandmother answered,
Tachibana quickly filled her in and told her she could call him if she had any questions, but otherwise
he would try to give her an update later. He was just getting off the phone with her when Ibu gestured
to get his attention and pointed to the tea kettle on the stove. It was only then that Tachibana noticed
how many stumps of burned down candles were spread all around the room. A few on every surface it
seemed.
Tachibana shrugged and then remembered Ibu was supposed to be resting, "Sure, but you sit down and
let me do that. You're supposed to be resting. Thank you for letting me use your phone."
He handed the phone back to Ibu who set it on a counter next to a charger but not in it. He wondered if
the power was out and glanced at the stove to make sure it was gas and not electric. It was. There was
water in the kettle so he turned the burner under it on. Tachibana thought Ibu was going to protest or
not budge but after a moment of being stubborn, the freshman did sit finally down.
The counter tops were bare so he asked, "Where do you keep your tea...?" Tachibana opened the first
cabinet to find it was completely empty. He opened the one next to it to find it was the same. He
opened the next but all that was in there were some plates and cups. He started opening cabinet after
cabinet and other than utensils, pots, or candles he found nothing. No tea, no food, and nothing else.
Not even any spices. He opened the refrigerator and Ibu was on his feet. Except for a large pot of what
looked like water, there was nothing in the refrigerator. Or the freezer. In fact, they must have been
unplugged because the light was off in both and there was no sense of cold coming from either.
He closed the doors to find Ibu standing there with his head hanging down as if in shame. His face was
red again in a blush.
Angry and worried Tachibana demanded to know, "What have you been eating?"
Ibu gestured to the top of the refrigerator. There was a box that was one of those huge industrial
packages of instant ramen noodles. The gross too-salty kind laden with chemicals instead of anything
nutritious that you had to choke down once you were over the age of five. Tachibana reached in the
box. There was one packet left and a small resealable bag with three tea bags in it. The tea was the
cheap brand their school used. Tachibana suddenly suspected Ibu had been drinking tea-less tea--hot
water during the week and pocketing the bags for...? Really, he had no idea why. It was all strange. And
heartbreaking.
Ibu was gesturing that he would "cook" his last ramen packet for Tachibana and the junior knew that
the freshman was most likely starving. He probably hadn't eaten anything since the day before unless
he ate one of these disgusting ramen things for dinner the night before. Thinking of yesterday,
Tachibana remembered how everyone gave Ibu some of their lunch. They always did. Ibu never
brought or bought lunch.
When Tachibana asked why Kamio with a shrug joked that Ibu was their garbage disposal and never let
anything go to waste. Why Ibu's friends didn't know how bad things were, or why if they did know they
didn't do anything, Tachibana had no idea. But the freshman might have not eaten any dinner the night
before either. Certainly nothing healthy or good.
"Where is the store nearest here?" Tachibana asked and tried to sound gentle. Yasuo always told him he
was too abrupt when he spoke. He said Tachibana often sounded gruff when he didn't mean to. It was a
bad habit.
Ibu looked at him confused, or perhaps exhausted. Tachibana turned the burner under the kettle to off.
"Never mind, give me your house key. I'll be back in a little while, go get some rest." Ibu blinked at
him. He looked even a little unsteady on his feet. He still had his bloody school clothes on. "Come on.
Your room is this way?" There was only one hallway so it could only be in that direction. Tachibana put
his arm around Ibu to steady him and lead him down the hall to his room. He tried to switch on the
light when it occurred to him that indeed the lights were out. Tachibana wasn't sure if they were shut
off for Ibu not paying the bill or if it was something the freshman did on his own. The small bedroom
felt very cold but more lived in than the rest of the house. He managed to get a sleepy Ibu out of his
clothes and back in his pajamas.
Adorably, even though he lived alone, the freshman folded his pajamas up and put them under his
pillow to use again.
In fact, everything in Ibu's room was neat. Everything was exceptionally clean, but his entire room was
comprised of basically things most people would have long ago discarded as trash or replaced.
Certainly everyone Tachibana formerly went to school with. The students at his old school had nicer
furniture in their dorms. Even Tachibana did although the better stuff he had actually was Yasuo's
things that they shared.
It was almost literally a bed room. Ibu slept on a huge mattress that took up most of the space. It lay
right on the threadbare and worn floor. Tachibana was surprised that Ibu didn't sleep traditional style
since he was almost doing that anyway, but he didn't for whatever reason. There were more used unlit
candles scattered everywhere but the majority were around around a table made of milk crates in one
corner of the room. Tachibana guessed by the spine-split and dogeared books piled high this was where
Ibu must do the majority of his studying. He must study while sitting on another milk crate which
seemed to have only a thin worn square of cloth as a cushion.
On Ibu's bed there was only a top sheet, very worn and repaired in places, six old flat pillows piled up
where one side of the bed touched the wall, and a very big very worn and repaired comforter. So
repaired it looked like the Frankenstein of comforters. His room was freezing cold but the curtains were
open to the little bit of daylight the buildings around his little house didn't steal. Tachibana folded the
tattered blanket in half to let Ibu sleep under both halves for warmth, but before he was finished fixing
it, Ibu snuggled between the halves with an exhaled contented little sigh. It seemed as if that was how
he slept and he was comfortable. The freshman was clearly exhausted. He needed to rest and he needed
to eat.
Tachibana took Ibu's bloody shirt and uniform and went to stand up. Ibu grabbed his arm though and
looked up at him in question.
"I'll be back in a little while. I want you to rest while I'm gone. Don't worry, okay? I'll leave your phone
here right next to you in case you need to reach me for anything. Is there anything you need? Or
anything you would like me to bring you?"
Ibu was looking at him dazed and half-awake as if the questions were strange ones.
Tachibana smoothed his hair back, and when he got Ibu settled back down he was finally able to notice
all the tiny ugly black stitches that ran up behind the freshman's ear. Why someone would hurt this
sweet, gentle soul Tachibana had no idea. It made him angry and afraid for Ibu and the other freshmen,
both at the same time. They were doing the best they could. They didn't deserve this. It wasn't fair. Not
when other people had so much and never appreciated it.
On impulse, Tachibana kissed his temple after he smoothed back his hair a little more, "I'll be back
before you know it. Rest now. If you need me for anything just call my phone and I'll come running
right back. I won't be long or far."
He stood and closed the curtains. "I'll be back soon," he promised and closed the door to Ibu's cold,
dark room.
Warnings: Yaoi, Love, Angst, Fluff, and Lots of Sex. Some kink. You've been warned ;)
Disclaimer: Nope not mine. Still in my dreams. ;)
------------------------------------
As they reached the corner on the street where the hospital was, Ishida very politely said, "Tachibana-
san? Please know we are all very grateful for all of your support and help. You've been...very kind to us
and we appreciate it from the bottom of our hearts. The thing is, we really don't wish to involve you in
this any more than you already are or cause you any trouble. I've been to this hospital several times--
we all have through the years, and if it's okay with you...well...see....there's a system we've come up
with to handle these kinds of things. Instead of tryin to explain it to you because everything is
so...complected, if you'd please just allow me and the guys to handle things now, I'll be glad to answer
any questions you might have after we're done? Please?"
It was an extremely odd...request. The big freshman's tone and mannerisms were as if he knew he was
asking Tachibana for a huge favor but there was a steely determination behind Ishida's eyes. Tachibana
was even more confused when he looked closer at Ishida. He clearly could see the high level of stress
stretching out Ishida's normally handsome face turning his smile into one so fake it was almost a
grimace. The big freshman was so worried and intense about whatever this was, he was practically
begging. Tachibana seriously worried that Ishida right there, on a busy city street in the middle of a
Thursday morning was going to collapse to the ground and dramatically start kowtowing to him.
"Uh...sure...fine...okay. As you wish...?" Tachibana had to agree because the last thing any of the
freshmen needed was him adding to their stress. After he agreed he watched amazed at how much
Ishida visibly relaxed. It was like when the big freshman was done crying earlier, Ishida was able to put
his emotions aside because they were so on the surface. He expressed everything he felt the moment he
felt it. That's how these freshmen were. Totally open with no shame over their feelings. It was unlike
anything Tachibana ever experienced before. Not even gentle, kind to a fault Yasuo was this open. If he
had been, Yasuo would have been prey. He would have been too vulnerable and thus torn to pieces in
his old school by the vultures everyone secretly was.
A second after Tachibana agreed, a very relieved Ishida practically fell all over Tachibana in his
gratitude. The big freshman hugged him bone-crushingly hard all of a sudden then released him and
patted him on the back. Hard. Not even realizing his tremendous strength in his exuberance. Ishida
must have also not realized his volume because the strong freshman exclaimed, "Tachibana-san, thank
you! Thank you! I knew we could trust you. I knew you were one of us, Tachibana-san! We all did! We
just knew it. Now, okay, I gotta warn you it's gonna look a little crazy at first or kinda like we don't
know what we're doin, but don't worry. Please do not worry. You know us and if we say we're gonna
handle something, we are. I promise we can handle this. So Tachibana-san, if you wouldn't mind when
we get inside the hospital, if you could just stand back and kinda outta the way? Let us handle things?
I'll explain everything once we get everyone outta here. Or if you'd rather Tachibana-san, you can even
go ahead on to school and we can meet up with you later? That way you don't have to be involved
any..."
"No Ishida, I'm already involved and I'm going. I want to make sure they're both all right, but as I told
you, I'll let you guys handle it and I will follow your lead in this." For now, Tachibana silently added.
At least until he had a better grasp of what the hell really was going on. He had no idea why Ishida was
so stressed, or why he wouldn't want Tachibana to 'handle' this situation. Tachibana felt slighted and
rather aggravated. He was their senpai after all and as such they were his responsibility. Didn't they
trust him by now?
While these freshmen may have had a system, he couldn't imagine that it was anything he didn't already
know how to do. After all, he was the only one out of all of them who had lived on his own. Only
Tachibana been out in the real world and already had to make some adult decisions. He really wasn't at
all sure if he should let the freshmen take charge like this, but he reasoned to himself if things got out
of hand once he saw where the situation was going he could jump in and take over. He knew these guys
from playing tennis well enough that he could predict how they would act.
Or so he thought.
When they walked through the sliding glass automatic doors into the hospital, Tachibana wondered if
he somehow made a wrong turn into an alternate universe. Utter chaos and pandemonium did not even
begin to describe the scene before them.
It seemed to be nothing less than a three-ringed circus with the freshmen Tachibana thought he knew so
well all acting outrageously and inappropriately.
Mori and Uchimura on his left were loudly and animatedly arguing the best treatments for a sprain
including some crazy-sounding folk remedies with two young doctors. Sakurai to his right was
bothering three of the nurses. He asked first for directions to the toilet, next for the telephone, and then
for the water fountain. He apparently couldn't find any of them on his own so the giggling nurses
started drawing him a map. Kamio stood before him in the middle. The red-headed freshman was busy
doing what could only be called outright flirting with the other nurses. He was actually juggling what
looked to be a dozen or so tongue depressors while telling the serious-faced nurse closest to him she
looked dazzling in her uniform. "...like an angel of mercy. I wish I had a sister as pretty as you. I wish
any of my friends had a sister as pretty as you!"
With his mouth hanging open, Tachibana turned to look at Ishida but the big freshman was gone.
Ishida already was jumping in next to Kamio and his normal quiet, polite demeanor disappeared. His
personality completely changed in the span of three seconds to what Tachibana could only call
aggressively obnoxious. The tall freshman bumped Kamio which caused the freshman to lurch to the
side and the tongue depressors flying through the air to clatter to the ground like pick-up sticks. Loudly
Ishida said, "Kamio-kun why is it that you are always surrounded by the prettiest women in town and
all you can do is play with wooden sticks? Look at the mess you made. You're such a little kid. I'm so
sorry, has this clown been bothering you, ladies?"
To Tachibana's surprise the nurses didn't tell Ishida to be quiet or apologize. Instead the group of them
girlishly...laughed.
Kamio loudly said while he quickly picked the depressors up, "Oh please! You're just jealous because
I'm cute. I didn't get the bright idea to cut all my hair off." Kamio rolled his eyes and said to the women
in a loud fake whisper, "Be kind ladies, he's sensitive about his hair--or lack of it. Don't say anything
about how scary and egg-shaped his head is...whatever you do!" He pushed Ishida back and stepped in
front of the big freshman.
Tachibana thought Ibu was going to get angry or possibly even push Kamio back for his harsh and
insensitive remarks. Truth was Tachibana always thought Ishida was one of the few people who looked
good without hair. Tachibana certainly didn't look at all good when he shaved all his hair off before he
left his old school. Even Yasuo just looked at him like he was worried Tachibana just lost his mind.
Tachibana was about to reprimand Kamio for his behavior--especially inappropriate in a hospital
where sick people were, but before he could move the nurses surrounded Ishida and asked him to
remove the scarf from his head. When the big freshman reluctantly did blushing and smiling, the nurses
all cooed and touched his head. One after the next fawned on him and told him having no hair made
him look very handsome--and much older.
Tachibana's jaw dropped open wider and he looked around trying to make sense of the madness. He
couldn't.
Amid the chaos he noticed for the first time, Ibu sitting off in a corner alone--forgotten.
Ibu said nothing as usual but he wiggled his fingers in a brief greeting. Tachibana wondered if anyone
remembered him at all over the ruckus that was being made. Poor Ibu. It was almost like his friends
were going out of their way to ignore him. Ibu was the one who was injured after all. Tachibana didn't
know what happened, but Ibu's white school shirt was covered in blood. Ibu looked fragile and pale and
when their eyes me, the freshman stood up. It looked like he was a little shaky on his feet so
Tachibana's instinct was to go to help him. Despite his friends being all around Ibu looked completely
alone in the world. Their eyes locked and Tachibana felt his heart go out to the guy. Whatever happened
must have been bad, and his friends were all ignoring him when they should have been helping and
comforting him.
For a moment, Tachibana remembered the last time he was in a hospital. He had been waiting for news
in a very hostile environment with no one on his side. No one except Yasuo. If Yasuo hadn't been there,
Tachibana is sure he would have gone crazy with grief. He might have even hit some of the people who
challenged him to a fight as soon as they noticed him there. He would have fought them and probably
lost on purpose just to try to right things, but Yasuo, loyal to a fault Yasuo, quietly asked him not to. He
asked Tachibana to go home together with him. Yasuo stopped the fight by pointing out to everyone
there was nothing more there they could do. That hurting Tachibana for what happened wouldn't undo
any of the damage done. All they could do was wait and see.
Yasuo is the one who made Tachibana realize he was making things worse just by being there.
Tachibana was angry. No, furious with Yasuo for making him feel stupid. He grew even more enraged
with Yasuo for the way he finally tricked Tachibana into leaving by saying they would just stop by
home for a change of clothes. Only when they were out the hospital doors and down the street did
Tachibana realize they weren't going to be returning. That Tachibana's presence was making things
worse for everyone and Yasuo knew it so he was dragging Tachibana home.
They walked home in silence. Tachibana was so angry and upset he could barely see straight and it was
only Yasuo walking beside him that kept him going in the right direction. His smaller roommate
matched him step for step. Yasuo said nothing the entire way. He didn't make a sound. They walked the
entire way. They never even talked about getting a cab or hopping on a train. Nearer home after all this
walking, Tachibana started to calm down.
He realized Yasuo was right to make him leave. Tachibana was a stupid, angry, malevolent idiot. All he
was good for was destroying things and hurting people who didn't deserve it. People relied on him and
cared about him and all Tachibana did was let them down. He figured Yasuo never wanted to talk to
him again after what he had done--there was no way they were ever fooling around or anything like
that ever again. It was over. Everything was over. With one clever shot Tachibana ruined everything
and there was nothing he could do to fix any of this. Tachibana knew he was going to lose his only
friend in the world, and hell he deserved it after the monster he had become did so much damage when
unleashed.
As they walked towards home Tachibana went from being furious at Yasuo to now only feeling bitterly
angry and disappointed in himself. Yasuo leaving him that night and not wanting to be his friend ever
again hurt so much that he still felt the pain of that loss stuck in the middle of his chest now sucking the
life out of him. It hurt worse than anything. It hurt worse than Fuji. It still hurt to think about it now.
Even though that wasn't what happened.
Instead, when they got safely to their room, Tachibana was surprised to see Yasuo had been crying. He
never cried--not even when he was badly hurt. He once saw Yasuo get his kneecap smashed to pieces
during a match. His roommate never shed a tear when that happened. Hell, he wanted to keep playing
but their coach stopped the match. Tachibana wasn't even aware how bad his injury was until later
when the doctors said Yasuo needed surgery, but that night walking together from the hospital silently,
Yasuo must have been weeping. His face was tear stained and puffy--a mask of sorrow and loss.
He waited to hear Yasuo say that he couldn't stand Tachibana anymore and that it, whatever it was that
they had and whatever it was that they were to each other, was now over. Yasuo would tell him that he
finally figured out what a bastard his roommate was and to get the hell out. He waited for Yasuo to tell
him to go sleep somewhere else that night and that he never wanted to see Tachibana again, but that
didn't happen. Before Tachibana could respond or say he would get his things and go. Before he could
even do that to try to cling to just a shred of his pride, Yasuo was clutching him tightly.
Tachibana protested. He told Yasuo to let go. He told his roommate he would leave. He tried to push
Yasuo away. He thought in his heartache Yasuo was just doing this because he felt he had to. Tachibana
would not let someone pity him. He said it was fine and that he understood. He understood it was for
the best although he felt his heart breaking worse than it ever had.
He didn't tell Yasuo that.
Tachibana never said how bad it hurt or how bad he knew it was going to hurt for Yasuo to let him go,
but it scared the hell out of him because he didn't think this time he would recover. Not like he had
from Fuji because this time he wouldn't have Yasuo at his side. Tachibana bit the inside of his cheek to
keep himself from crying. He bit down so hard he tasted the salty copper tang of his own blood and still
had a scar back there. He refused to cry. Yasuo didn't deserve to see him weak like this after
discovering what a ruthless monster bastard he was. He didn't want Yasuo to feel guilty.
Yasuo didn't say a word. He just kept holding onto Tachibana with his damn strong hands. He held on
to him so tightly that Tachibana realized he would have to hurt him to break his grip and pry his hands
away. For a smaller guy, Yasuo was incredibly strong when he wanted to be. And that's around when
Tachibana realized that Yasuo was being strong and holding him--not letting him go because he
wanted to. He wanted to hold Tachibana. Wanted to be there for him. Wanted to...
Tachibana shook off the memory because he realized he was standing there in the hospital stupidly
staring at the scene unfolding before him because he was stuck in the past again. Hell, he could call
Yasuo later that night to talk to him instead of putting it off like he had been. He didn't know why the
hell he kept putting it off. He wanted to talk to him, didn't he? He did. Hell, remembering back then just
now made him miss Yasuo for a moment with an almost overwhelming ache.
Almost. Because it was an ache he promptly put aside.
Again.
He had to focus and handle this terrible situation right here and now. This was no time to drift off into
things that already happened. He went to go to Ibu to help him. Tachibana decided after he helped Ibu,
he would reprimand the other freshmen for ignoring him. But before he could move, Ibu shook his
head silently no. Tachibana had barely taken a step towards the freshman when he was told no and
stopped short.
His urge had been to go over and hold on to Ibu like Yasuo had done for him. Just hold him in his arms,
make Ibu feel safe, and let him know someone cared about him. Someone cared a lot about him. Ibu
might cry. Tachibana knew that and decided he was okay with it. He cried. That night when Yasuo held
him. It had taken a long time, but eventually Tachibana broke and a flood of tears poured out of him.
He ruined everything and they both knew it.
Yasuo didn't say a word for what felt like hours. Tachibana cried in racking sobs that hit so hard that he
pulled the both of them down to the floor, but Yasuo held him firmly even then. Eventually when
Tachibana's tears wound down, probably because he wept so much he cried himself dry, Yasuo kissed
him.
He kissed his lips and his face as he held him. Instead of asking Tachibana why he was such a monster
or why he had to ruin everything they had that was so good, all Yasuo said was Tachibana's given
name. Over and over again he whispered it as he kissed him, "Kippei...Kippei...Kippei..." Yasuo didn't
say it in a singing kind of baby comforting way or in a fake everything is okay way, but in the sweetest
way possible. Every time he said Tachibana's name, Yasuo was letting Tachibana know that he was
okay with what happened. He accepted what happened and even the consequences. Yasuo was saying
he would stick by his side. Yasuo was saying he forgave Tachibana even if Tachibana wasn't able to
forgive himself yet. If ever.
Okay, so Tachibana wasn't going to let things with Ibu go that far or anything, but he wanted to be there
for the freshman like Yasuo had been there for him. Tachibana figured he could just hug the freshman
and let him know that even after whatever happened, he was okay and everything was going to be all
right. Apparently Ibu didn't even need him to do that. Tachibana felt stupid and useless as he stood
there. His feelings were hurt, not to mention his pride. He wondered why the hell he was even there. He
should be on his way to school before he was late. Maybe he should just leave and he wondered if
anyone would notice if he left. Or care.
He also noticed that Kamio had blood on his shirt. It must have been Ibu's blood. Kamio now held an
ice pack in one hand that the nurses kept laughingly reminding him to put on the back of his head.
In the maelstrom of activity, a passing nurse accidentally knocked over a huge stack of papers and
Ishida was blushingly helping her pick them up. Eventually everyone else within earshot seemed to join
in helping with the cleanup. Even waiting patients and people just watching moved to help. Everyone
was participating in Kaimo's jokes and the rest of the freshmen's antics and it looked like a comedy
sketch from one of the stupid shows Tachibana's little sister and grandmother liked. They were all
laughing and smiling like the freshmen were a comedy team sent in to entertain everyone that day.
Everyone except for Tachibana and Ibu.
Several of the nurses and even one doctor were all laughing along with the freshmen as Kamio told a
story about when the freshmen were kids in a club learning archery. It was a story Kamio told to
Tachibana before so he knew how it went. Somehow by accident Kamio shot Ibu in his left butt cheek
with an arrow during their archery lesson. The arrow even with a blunt tip hit its mark. It stuck there
like a peacock's plume and Ibu ended up needing to have it removed and get several stitches. He still
had a scar and although Tachibana never saw it, Kamio said it was a heart and Ibu's future wife was
going to wonder what girl Ibu once got a tattoo for. The way Kamio told it this time though with
everyone focused on Kamio and laughing at Ibu, Ibu might as well not even been in the room.
Ibu was smiling, but the smile never reached his eyes.
Tachibana wondered what the hell all this was about. Why everyone, especially the freshmen were
completely ignoring Ibu. Was it a strategy? Why? What could it possibly do? What could it...?
Slowly, it dawned on Tachibana that maybe the entire thing was done to distract the adults from Ibu--
although Tachibana had no idea why.
Within the flurry of activity, stories, and laughter somehow the group of freshmen paid for both Kamio
and Ibu's treatments. They paid in cash so fast Tachibana wasn't sure which one of them actually paid.
He guessed only by the speed it was Kamio who settled the bill.
Just after they met Kamio told Tachibana the freshmen all pooled their meager amounts of money
together and shared everything they had. Birthday money, gifts, and anything else got thrown together
into a communal pile. The subject of money came up when Kamio asked to borrow some of
Tachibana's video games and CDs. He discussed arranging a trade if the junior needed or wanted
anything that the freshmen had. Kamio explained how if one of them got a new CD, movie, book,
video game, or anything Ibu was very good at making everyone copies. The original would be re-sold
for cash. Kamio joked he ended up being the treasurer but Ibu was the banker. He said the freshmen did
better when they kept their financial assets liquid and pooled for rainy days. Apparently today was a
rainy one.
Luckily, from the instructions Tachibana overheard the nurse giving Kamio, it seemed Kamio did not
have a concussion. All he had was just a painful knot on his head which he kept forgetting to hold the
cold pack to. The nurse who seemed to have the stern face when Tachibana walked in with Ishida now
actually giggled as Kamio brushed his hair out of his eyes and flirtilly said to her that he should warn
her he had a hard head and a soft heart.
Ibu's injury apparently was more serious judging by the amount of blood on their clothes. Tachibana
listened closely to the instructions on how to care for the stitches and what the nurses were saying.
Something or someone cut Ibu behind his ear so that when he and Kamio first walked into the hospital,
as one nurse joked, "...your friend's poor ear was hanging off his head. Imagine a good kid like that
getting mugged for his lunch money. What is the world coming to?"
With several more jokes and laughs, somehow the freshmen got Ibu out of there. They got the staff to
give them a written excuse for being late for school. They even were able to dismiss the stern nurse's
who insisted that Ibu's parents come to pick him up.
She said Kamio could return to school with his friends, but Ibu should go home and rest. The nurse said
she would call Ibu's parents to come get him, but Uchida was the first to respond. He stopped debating
the doctor long enough to coolly lie. He said Ibu's mom didn't have a car and if they called she would
be very worried.
Before anyone could ask any other questions and having a sudden inkling that this was what they
freshmen were trying to distract the adults from, Tachibana volunteered. He wasn't even aware he was
going to lie, but somehow the words just flew out of his mouth. Tachibana knew he could sound older
and more responsible when he needed to and he used that tone of voice to talk in.
He said he and Ibu lived right down the street--practically around the corner. He said as Ibu's senpai he
could walk Ibu home before Tachibana returned to school and this way it wouldn't be a shock to his
mom. The hospital staff at first resisted. That one gruff-faced nurse Kamio had been flirting the most
with said she wasn't sure. She said Ibu really shouldn't be alone but Tachibana assured her the freshman
wouldn't be. Tachibana promised her Ibu would be with him and then home with his family in under
five minutes.
If someone insisted that an adult be called, Tachibana quickly thought to himself he could have the
hospital call his home. His parents and his grandmother were out at work but his great-grandmother
was home. Even at her age she was active and did most of his family's cooking while everyone else
was busy working. The bonus was his great-grandmother pretty much refused to speak Japanese. She
usually pretended she didn't understand it but he knew that she did. Tachibana just hoped if someone
did call his house they didn't speak very much Cantonese. His great-grandmother loved to babble on
and on for hours in her native tongue.
As luck would have it, after Tachibana volunteered to take Ibu home and mentioned again it was less
than a block away, that stern nurse and the rest of the hospital staff agreed.
With big smiles plastered on all their faces he and the guys left. In the end, no one needed to call
anyone's parents. Tachibana sent the freshmen on to class and went with Ibu to his home. It was the
first time Tachibana had been there though he knew where it was from walking past it.
Ibu's house was a tiny old dwelling down an even older side street that was more alley than street. It
was too narrow for even a small car to fit through. The house was small, with fading paint and looked
dark because it rest in the shadows of larger multi-family dwellings all around it. It leaned more to the
left side resting on the house next to it. It looked rundown, but outside there were lots of plants and it
looked orderly and well maintained. Everything was neatly arranged as if a great effort was made to
make what little someone had seem welcoming and presentable. When they got to the front door, Ibu
bowed in thanks and went to go inside, but Tachibana insisted, "I promised everyone I would make
sure you were all right. I'll stay with you for a while, that is, if you have no objections?"
Ibu shook his head no, shrugged, and gestured for Tachibana to step inside after he unlocked the front
door. Tachibana noticed that the home seemed dark and empty. It had a feel as if no one lived there.
Almost like it was abandoned and when he thought about it, sometimes that was the feeling he got from
Ibu. As if he too was left behind, neglected, and forgotten. Ibu did not turn a hallway light on while
they removed their shoes. The house slippers he loaned to Tachibana were soft but so well-worn they
were almost worn through the soles. The house was cold, felt damp, and their every sound and footstep
rang with a hollow echo.
As they entered the kitchen, Tachibana asked Ibu if he could use the phone. He figured he should call
his great-grandmother and explain why he was missing school that day. He figured it would be better to
say it was due to a classmate's illness. He had never gone to public school and had no idea if he was
absent if they would try to call his home. At his old school, attendance was considered a student's
responsibility, but at this one he was unsure of the rules. This way at least if the school did do anything
his great-grandmother could tell his parents when they got home or if there were any questions.
Tachibana knew his parents trusted him and they would understand probably without asking any
questions. He had told his parents earlier he might be late coming home because he intended to try to
get answers out of Kamio. Somehow ironically he ended up with Ibu who wouldn't say a word to him.
Ibu handed Tachibana his cell phone.
Tachibana wondered about it as he waved the portable phone away. He hated cell phones and detested
that he had one. His family insisted he needed it. He never used it when he was away at school. He
carried one but only used it a few times at school when he would have Yasuo meet him for dinner or
something.
All the freshmen used their cell phones frequently and were on some pay as you use it plan Kamio
showed Tachibana. They text messaged each other constantly. Every time Tachibana was with one or
two of them, they text messaged the others at least once if not many more times.
Kamio and the other freshmen often text messaged Tachibana. He never answered. He thought texting
was annoying. If you had something to say you could just call the person and it would take less time
than trying to type out each message. He never sent anyone a text message in his life and was rather
proud of that.
When they first met Kamio showed Tachibana how he and the other freshmen were on some combined
pay as you use it plan that really cost much less than the one Tachibana and his family used.
Tachibana's phone was paid for by his parents so he really couldn't switch to the freshman's plan. He
explained this several times although Kamio still tried to get him to switch usually after a long sales
pitch. Sometimes even now Kamio asked Tachibana to reconsider by saying his joining the freshmen
would cost all the rest of them less every month. Kamio was quite a salesman. He offered Tachibana
everything from a free phone to a month for free never getting that Tachibana hated his phone and
never used it.
The only phone number he had programmed in was Yasuo's and that's only because his roommate put it
in there for him. He didn't even know how, although Kamio offered to put all of their numbers in for
him. Tachibana didn't see the point when he could just remembered their numbers. He remembered
Yasuo's too but something wouldn't let him delete the entry. Not that he called the number much. He
really should give Yasuo a call later today.
Since he moved back home the one who called Tachibana the most was his little sister. Usually she was
calling to bother him with questions like when he was coming home, where he was, and who he was
with. It was annoying. At least Yasuo never did that. Not even when they lived together. Now Yasuo
sometimes called him and left messages. He usually just said hello and that Tachibana could call him
back whenever he got around to it. Sometimes he noticed Yasuo called and didn't leave a message. He
was probably busy. No pressure. That was nice.
Anyway, for a guy who never talked and who was supposed to be so short on money, why would Ibu
even have a cellular phone? It confused Tachibana and he often wondered who answered Ibu's phone
for him. On accident one time Tachibana called Ibu to tell the freshmen that he was going to be five
minutes late meeting them in the morning because his sister that day had a morning club meeting. She
got in the bathroom first and took so long doing her hair and things he couldn't get in the bathroom to
even brush his teeth. Kamio smoothly answered Ibu's phone and talked as if it was his own. It wasn't
until he was on his way to see them when Tachibana realized on accident he'd called Ibu and not
Kamio. Their numbers were only one off from each other. All the freshmen's were. Kamio said that was
part of the deal from the store they got their phones and the plan at. It was owned by the father of a
childhood friend of theirs that now went to another school somewhere else. They were no longer
friends, but they still got a discount.
Still he wondered if Kamio wasn't around, who answered Ibu's phone and said hello?
Ibu was looking at him so Tachibana explained, "I have a long distance call to make later today. It's
going to be a long call probably and I don't want to waste any minutes on a local call. I'm just going to
call my house to tell my parents that I'm with you and not going to be in sch..." As he talked, Tachibana
picked up the receiver to Ibu's house phone and put it to his ear. There was no dial tone. He stated the
obvious, "This phone doesn't work."
Ibu shook his head no and as Tachibana watched a blush spread along his face.
"Do any of your home phones work?" Talking to Ibu was like playing twenty questions. The only thing
more annoying was trying to get Yasuo to admit when he was mad or upset about something stupid
Tachibana inadvertently did. When Yasuo was mad it was often like talking to Ibu, Tachibana realized.
You had to ask a million questions while he sat there silently and would occasionally hint by shrugging
when you got close to what was bothering him. He wondered if it was his practice with Yasuo that
made it easier for him to get to know Ibu. "What if someone needs to reach you or the school calls or
something?"
Ibu shook his head no and shrugged. He pointed to his cell phone and handed it again to Tachibana.
Tachibana gave up and dialed his home number on Ibu's phone. When his great-grandmother answered,
Tachibana quickly filled her in and told her she could call him if she had any questions, but otherwise
he would try to give her an update later. He was just getting off the phone with her when Ibu gestured
to get his attention and pointed to the tea kettle on the stove. It was only then that Tachibana noticed
how many stumps of burned down candles were spread all around the room. A few on every surface it
seemed.
Tachibana shrugged and then remembered Ibu was supposed to be resting, "Sure, but you sit down and
let me do that. You're supposed to be resting. Thank you for letting me use your phone."
He handed the phone back to Ibu who set it on a counter next to a charger but not in it. He wondered if
the power was out and glanced at the stove to make sure it was gas and not electric. It was. There was
water in the kettle so he turned the burner under it on. Tachibana thought Ibu was going to protest or
not budge but after a moment of being stubborn, the freshman did sit finally down.
The counter tops were bare so he asked, "Where do you keep your tea...?" Tachibana opened the first
cabinet to find it was completely empty. He opened the one next to it to find it was the same. He
opened the next but all that was in there were some plates and cups. He started opening cabinet after
cabinet and other than utensils, pots, or candles he found nothing. No tea, no food, and nothing else.
Not even any spices. He opened the refrigerator and Ibu was on his feet. Except for a large pot of what
looked like water, there was nothing in the refrigerator. Or the freezer. In fact, they must have been
unplugged because the light was off in both and there was no sense of cold coming from either.
He closed the doors to find Ibu standing there with his head hanging down as if in shame. His face was
red again in a blush.
Angry and worried Tachibana demanded to know, "What have you been eating?"
Ibu gestured to the top of the refrigerator. There was a box that was one of those huge industrial
packages of instant ramen noodles. The gross too-salty kind laden with chemicals instead of anything
nutritious that you had to choke down once you were over the age of five. Tachibana reached in the
box. There was one packet left and a small resealable bag with three tea bags in it. The tea was the
cheap brand their school used. Tachibana suddenly suspected Ibu had been drinking tea-less tea--hot
water during the week and pocketing the bags for...? Really, he had no idea why. It was all strange. And
heartbreaking.
Ibu was gesturing that he would "cook" his last ramen packet for Tachibana and the junior knew that
the freshman was most likely starving. He probably hadn't eaten anything since the day before unless
he ate one of these disgusting ramen things for dinner the night before. Thinking of yesterday,
Tachibana remembered how everyone gave Ibu some of their lunch. They always did. Ibu never
brought or bought lunch.
When Tachibana asked why Kamio with a shrug joked that Ibu was their garbage disposal and never let
anything go to waste. Why Ibu's friends didn't know how bad things were, or why if they did know they
didn't do anything, Tachibana had no idea. But the freshman might have not eaten any dinner the night
before either. Certainly nothing healthy or good.
"Where is the store nearest here?" Tachibana asked and tried to sound gentle. Yasuo always told him he
was too abrupt when he spoke. He said Tachibana often sounded gruff when he didn't mean to. It was a
bad habit.
Ibu looked at him confused, or perhaps exhausted. Tachibana turned the burner under the kettle to off.
"Never mind, give me your house key. I'll be back in a little while, go get some rest." Ibu blinked at
him. He looked even a little unsteady on his feet. He still had his bloody school clothes on. "Come on.
Your room is this way?" There was only one hallway so it could only be in that direction. Tachibana put
his arm around Ibu to steady him and lead him down the hall to his room. He tried to switch on the
light when it occurred to him that indeed the lights were out. Tachibana wasn't sure if they were shut
off for Ibu not paying the bill or if it was something the freshman did on his own. The small bedroom
felt very cold but more lived in than the rest of the house. He managed to get a sleepy Ibu out of his
clothes and back in his pajamas.
Adorably, even though he lived alone, the freshman folded his pajamas up and put them under his
pillow to use again.
In fact, everything in Ibu's room was neat. Everything was exceptionally clean, but his entire room was
comprised of basically things most people would have long ago discarded as trash or replaced.
Certainly everyone Tachibana formerly went to school with. The students at his old school had nicer
furniture in their dorms. Even Tachibana did although the better stuff he had actually was Yasuo's
things that they shared.
It was almost literally a bed room. Ibu slept on a huge mattress that took up most of the space. It lay
right on the threadbare and worn floor. Tachibana was surprised that Ibu didn't sleep traditional style
since he was almost doing that anyway, but he didn't for whatever reason. There were more used unlit
candles scattered everywhere but the majority were around around a table made of milk crates in one
corner of the room. Tachibana guessed by the spine-split and dogeared books piled high this was where
Ibu must do the majority of his studying. He must study while sitting on another milk crate which
seemed to have only a thin worn square of cloth as a cushion.
On Ibu's bed there was only a top sheet, very worn and repaired in places, six old flat pillows piled up
where one side of the bed touched the wall, and a very big very worn and repaired comforter. So
repaired it looked like the Frankenstein of comforters. His room was freezing cold but the curtains were
open to the little bit of daylight the buildings around his little house didn't steal. Tachibana folded the
tattered blanket in half to let Ibu sleep under both halves for warmth, but before he was finished fixing
it, Ibu snuggled between the halves with an exhaled contented little sigh. It seemed as if that was how
he slept and he was comfortable. The freshman was clearly exhausted. He needed to rest and he needed
to eat.
Tachibana took Ibu's bloody shirt and uniform and went to stand up. Ibu grabbed his arm though and
looked up at him in question.
"I'll be back in a little while. I want you to rest while I'm gone. Don't worry, okay? I'll leave your phone
here right next to you in case you need to reach me for anything. Is there anything you need? Or
anything you would like me to bring you?"
Ibu was looking at him dazed and half-awake as if the questions were strange ones.
Tachibana smoothed his hair back, and when he got Ibu settled back down he was finally able to notice
all the tiny ugly black stitches that ran up behind the freshman's ear. Why someone would hurt this
sweet, gentle soul Tachibana had no idea. It made him angry and afraid for Ibu and the other freshmen,
both at the same time. They were doing the best they could. They didn't deserve this. It wasn't fair. Not
when other people had so much and never appreciated it.
On impulse, Tachibana kissed his temple after he smoothed back his hair a little more, "I'll be back
before you know it. Rest now. If you need me for anything just call my phone and I'll come running
right back. I won't be long or far."
He stood and closed the curtains. "I'll be back soon," he promised and closed the door to Ibu's cold,
dark room.