Sukisho Fan Fiction ❯ 10 years ❯ Chapter 9 ( Chapter 9 )

10 years

 

By Sapadu

 

A/N: Summer vacation has begun. And my search for jobs- wish me luck, as the market sucks. But, aside from that- thank you for your support, and yes, Yoru is 'Back'. Or, as Ran will explain, resurfacing.

 

There is no copyright ownership over here. None over there... go check another guy's house.

 

Fujimori Sunao awoke feeling stiff and sore, and noticing, for a second time in two days that he was not in his own bed or apartment. He also felt far too refreshed for him to have possibly been awake on time.

 

His head swam as he looked up at the clock, noticing that it was well past nine.

 

"...Kuso..." He mumbled, burying his face in the pillow before an arm around his waist tightened.

 

Then, his eyes shot open as the memory of last night sank in- he had a fever, the facility was closed for repairs today, and...

 

Sunao's pupils dilated as it suddenly occurred to him how very BARE the arm around his waist was... as well as the waist said arm was around...

 

With a very sincere sensation of panic setting into his stomach, Sunao looked back over his shoulder at the face of Hashiba Sora. Very calmly, especially given how much he was panicking right then, Sunao slithered out of Sora's grip, onto the floor, picking up his clothes, and running into the bathroom.

 

As the first spray of shower water hit him, Sunao braced himself against the wall, shaking with the force of what this meant.

 

For one thing, Yoru was back. But... how? Even Hashiba had sworn that Yoru had left, that he'd made him leave... so... how... before Ran piped up.

 

We're not your servants- we have our own souls, too. And, because we're part of your subconsciouses, we never go away- we just become less obtrusive.

 

Oh... well... now that Sunao thought about it, it made sense. For the longest time, he and Sora had referred to Ran and Yoru as though they were entirely different people all together who possessed them or something of that sort, but all the time forgetting that, in the beginning, they themselves had created Yoru and Ran as a means of escaping their experiences in the laboratory.

 

Sunao shivered, fingernails scraping against the tiled wall. For all these years, he'd insisted that Yoru was gone- that Hashiba Sora was now just himself, and that alone. But this sudden development screwed up virtually everything.

 

Then... oh god...

 

"...kusokusokusokusokuso...." Sunao sank to his knees and curled up under the spray of the shower. He... no, Ran... they HAD to have... after all those years... there was no way they HADN'T...

 

It didn't bother Sunao so much that he wasn't a virgin- he'd lost that LONG ago, so he really didn't care about something like that. But... oh GOD...

 

What was he supposed to tell Nakou-chan NOW? Well... she'd probably take that as a victory, since she'd been working so hard to pair him back up to Hashiba again... but how was he supposed to tell her that it hadn't been HIM and it hadn't been HASHIBA... Their bodies had had sex, but... they hadn't...

 

And... OH GOD... what if Nakou-chan's PARENTS and the go-between found out about this...? Oh, were THEY going to be pissed... And that he'd had sex with a MAN, no less... a woman who wasn't his fiancé was bad enough... but in some cases it might be seen as a display of manliness or trying to gain experience to be a good father... but...

 

Sunao pressed a hand against his face and started to cry.

 

&*)(*)^*&$^%$@&^^)

 

Sora woke up much closer to noon than Sunao had, blinking his eyes blearily as he stumbled out of bed. He stretched before noting that he was very naked. After a moment of looking around for any indicator of a second person in the room, all he spotted were his clothes in a pile at the end of the bed. Oh...

 

Sora scratched his head for a moment, then figured that he must have just taken them off for a lack of pajamas.

 

...Fujimori must have just slept on the floor, in a place where Sora hadn't noticed him...

 

"Fujimori no aistu... He knew he was sick, why didn't he take the bed?" Sora muttered, stumbling into the shower and rinsing himself off quickly. When he stepped out, a pile of folded clothes- his ones from yesterday that Nanami had taken the care to wash and dry, just in case- waiting for him.

 

Sora smiled, a little wistfully, and dressed in them, appreciatively.

 

Both Nanami and Shinichirou were in the kitchen, with, what looked like, lunch instead of breakfast in front of them. Apparently, the two had both slept in on their day off as well as he had.

 

"...Naa... did you see Fujimori anywhere?" Sora finally asked, as Nanami somehow magically produced a plate for him to eat off of. Shinichirou shook his head, moodily sipping his tea.

 

"Why? Did something happen?" Nanami asked, and Sora had the distinct impression that they both knew something he didn't.

 

"...Betsuni..." Sora muttered, sullenly, sliding into his seat.

 

Nanami and Shinichirou shared a glance, then stared back down at the table. Sora looked between the two of them, then left, his food uneaten, picking up his shoes and leaving the apartment for his own home, disgusted.

 

(^#$#@*&)(^&$%(

 

Later that day, Sora found out when he got a call from the school, would be the start of a new term, so he would have new classes to deal with.

 

That didn't make it easier for Sora when he got out of bed the next day and didn't want to wake up.

 

It was due to this bad mood of his that he didn't read his class list very carefully, and ended up at lunch in the math room, feeling like a criminal for having inspired a new definition of terror in his new class. Really, he didn't understand how Minato grew to apparently find pleasure in the role as the sadistic, perverted lecher with the pointer.

 

As Sora sat at his desk, going over papers and feeling sorry for himself- he remembered around mid-morning that he hadn't made himself lunch, so now, he was starving- a knock at the door made him jump, before he turned to see one of the boys from his new class. Sora frowned.

 

The boy had dark eyes and hair which fell over his face in bangs. He looked too small in his baggy uniform, and seemed to be shrinking as Sora glared. In all, he looked terribly shy and timid, which gave Sora a bad feeling about why he was here.

 

He was thus, surprised when the boy extended his hand with a note.

 

“'Tousan said he doesn't have any other way of contacting you, sensei.” The boy explained, before leaving.

 

Sora opened and quickly read the note:

 

Sora-kun,

 

Shinichirou and Nanami were worried about you, so please come and see me as soon as possible.

 

-Kozuki Ryouya

 

Sora gaped, looked back at the door where the boy- apparently a ten-years-older Kano- had just left, then back at the note.

 

(^*(^$^%^^*(*))^*($^%$

 

“Keep in mind though, he's going to come and blame ME if you tell him.” Shinichirou groused over the phone, wishing that Nanami was there to make him lunch instead of the Cup 'O Noodles he was somehow managing to ruin.

 

“...Call that payment for the session, Shinichirou.” Ayano cheerfully informed his grumpy otouto. Shinichirou made a noise which made the doctor wonder if he was sticking his tongue out at the reciever.

 

“Don't talk down to me- you're still carrying around that damn rabbit!”

 

“Of course, that gives you the higher moral ground.”

 

(^*&%&$&)()*&%#^%$*

 

“Yes, Matsuri-chan- I'm fine. I just had something that didn't agree with me for lunch and I've just got a headache from all the stress. I'll be fine.”

 

Sunao knew he was lying- he'd had nothing to eat all day, and still managed to puke up some kind of bile and his only activity all day had been to lay in bed, wishing this headache would go away, and a single call from work, saying the water damage would take another day to repair- but really, he didn't care. Sunao wanted nothing more than to fall asleep, where he could escape the aches and pains of his stomach and head, as the painkillers had only been vomited up, completely whole.

 

“Nao-ku-u-un... I'm just worried about you-u...” Matsuri whined over the phone. Sunao flinched- whining had become a very effective persuasion tool for Matsuri and he knew it.

 

Be worried, quietly, then... Sunao wanted to snap, but wouldn't let himself actually say it- a grumpy tone would have made Matsuri even more worried and he would have come over THEN.

 

“I'll be fine- you don't need to worry. I've taken care of myself through worse than this...” Sunao reassured Matsuri, before hanging up.

 

Not ten minutes later, Sunao cringed as someone knocked on the door. After glaring at the door, waiting for them to go away, they knocked again, and he trudged to the door, swearing to himself that if it was either of the Matsuri-duo- or, God forbid, both- he WOULD throw something at them to make them go away, chivalry aside in Nakou's case.

 

Sunao was, thus, very surprised to see Soushi standing at his door, smiling pleasantly as though he hadn't been waiting at all, or as though he didn't realize that Sunao was still in his pajamas.

 

“Konnichi wa, Sunao-kun. Sashiburi da ne?” Soushi said, with that same polite smile. Sunao blinked for a moment, before mumbling.

 

“Soushi... oniichan?” Sunao finally managed, staring with shock at the lawyer. Sunao knew it must be even stranger for Soushi, as he was sure he'd changed a lot, while Soushi still looked the same, but he was still reminded of exactly how out of touch with his old family he'd been, “You're right... it has been too long...” Sunao finally managed a smile, before Soushi continued.

 

“I heard from Shinichirou where you were staying, so I simply had to come over and visit.” Soushi explained, as though he'd read Sunao's mind, which had mostly been wondering what he was doing over here, unannounced.

 

“I'm sorry, but I can't really invite you in- the place is kind of... chaotic, right now...” Sunao said, hoping that Soushi could understand that. Soushi continued to smile.

 

“Well, if you'd like then, would you be agreeable to an invitation to my place for dinner tonight, to have some time to catch up?” He asked.

 

Sunao paused, very grateful that Soushi had added 'to catch up', otherwise, it would have sounded very much like being asked out on a date. Instead, Sunao smiled and nodded.

 

“...That... that would be nice...” He finally said. Sunao and Soushi said their goodbyes and Sunao proceeded to spend the rest of the afternoon in a panic to get ready- because hell if he was going to LOOK as sick as he felt when dinnertime came around.

 

(^*&$#%^&()&)&(&E%#&*(

 

Sora followed Kano home, as he had no clue where Ayano's hospital was- he'd never gotten there under his own steam, and, for all he knew, the place could have moved.

 

As soon as Sora was about to call it quits, Kano turned in to an apartment building, which made Sora sigh, following. As they reached the apartment, Sora immediately noticed Ayano greeting them, the ever present pink bunny perched atop his head.

 

“Kano-kun, okaeri!” He greeted them, patting his adopted son on the head before turning to Sora, “Sashiburi ne, Sora-kun?” Sora grinned a little as both he and the chibi took off their shoes. Kano went over to the couch to begin his homework, while Sora sat down at a table with Ayano to talk.

 

“Sorry to come over uninvited, Ayano-chan...” Sora started, while Ayano shook his head, pouring tea.

 

“No need- I asked you to come over.” The doctor replied, before beginning to talk, “I told you that Shinichirou and Nanami were worried about you, so I guess the best thing to ask is if anything might have happened that you think might have made them worry?” Ayano asked, but Sora shrugged.

 

“Dunno... I really don't think so... Niichan's just been interfering too much since Fujimori came back... and it's been a year, so it's not like anything's really changed...” Sora mumbled, drinking out of his cup in a loud gulp. Ayano sighed a little.

 

“I thought that's what you'd say...” Ayano mumbled, before Sora suddenly noticed exactly how tired he really felt and fell face forward down onto the table.

 

*(^*&%^#&(*__)(&&#

 

“So, Sunao-kun, I haven't heard anything about how you're doing these days...” Soushi mentioned as Sunao finished serving himself, but before either of them ate anything, yet.

 

“...I've just been working a lot. Not much else...” Sunao said, before Soushi mentioned.

 

“Well, have you and Sora-kun been getting along well?” Sunao's head snapped around, before he remembered that Soushi didn't know that they'd only reunited a year ago.

 

“Um... well enough... I guess... It's difficult though... I'm going to be getting married to an arranged fiancé in the near future... so Hashiba and I aren't really on the best of terms...” Sunao lied, looking away. Soushi chuckled a bit, muttering something that sounded like,

 

“You haven't changed a bit.”

 

“What did you say?” Sunao asked, managing not to sound like he was threatening, before Soushi lifted a teapot.

 

“Would you like some tea, Sunao-kun?”

 

“Yes, please.”

 

()*^&$^%#^&(()(*

 

“Shinichirou-san, I know it might be paranoid, but something is wrong with Nao-kun, and he wouldn't tell me about it, so it might be best to go and check up on him, just in case.” Matsuri's voice said from the answering machine messages as Nanami checked them. Shinichirou was within hearing range, however, and had his coat on almost the same time as Nanami did his shoes, both of them leaving to be sure.

 

With the strange, seemingly repetitive nature of past events, this past year, both of them were very nervous.

 

Shinichirou was busy pounding on Nao's door, demanding to be let in, before Nanami noticed something- the mailbox of 'Hashiba Sora' was still full, as though Sora had never come home from work.

 

“Moshika shite...” Nanami pondered as Shinichirou stared at the two very lifeless apartment doors, side by side, “...Do you think... Soushi might have...”

 

Shinichirou's eyebrow twitched at the mention of the name, giving Nanami a glare.

 

“You certainly can predict where HIS tracks have been, can't you?” Shinichirou noted, in a tone that was was either bitter or accusing. Nanami heard both.

 

“Shinichirou...” He protested, before Shinichirou turned around, disgusted, and ran off down the hall to continue the search for their two lost boys, “Shinichirou!”

 

)&(%^$$)*&)(_+)

 

Yoru woke up in a white, square room, immediately getting out of bed and confirming that nothing had been happening while he was asleep. He was sleepy and hungry, yes, but not sick, weak, or any other signs of being tampered with. This was probably a good sign, except that he still didn't know where he was.

 

Or, more importantly, where Ran was.

 

He opened the door, walking down the hall as he looked for any sign of where he was geographically and carefully memorizing the steps he took, to be sure that nobody was following him.

 

Yoru punched the wall in frustration and fury.

 

Whoever had taken him captive... did they want Sora... or Yoru...

 

Or... were they using the two of them as bait? For Ran and Sunao?

 

#@%#$&$%&*@#*$%#$

 

Ran woke up in a fit of panic as soon as he realized he was in an unfamiliar room. After a moment of collecting himself enough to stand, he did so, only to brace himself as a wave of dizziness came up.

 

Ran kept walking though, leaving through the door and looking down a long hallway, both directions, before he saw a familiar back with blue hair on top of it in the lighting from the ceiling.

 

“...yoru...” He whispered, before trying to walk towards him, dizziness coming over him again, “...Yoru...”

 

The second time Ran said his name, Yoru turned around and immediately running over to catch his beloved before he hit the ground.

 

“RAN!” Yoru called in alarm, arms wrapping around the smaller frame that was leaning against him, but still breathing steadily.

 

“...Daijobu... Yoru...” Ran mumbled, face pressed against his lover's shoulder, before he looked up, “...Koko... doko? It seems so familiar...” Ran shivered, thinking of where he saw this place everyday in Sunao's and his own memories. Yoru's arms tightened around him, pulling him closer and easing his shudders.

 

“...Who knows? And why we're here, too...” Yoru mumbled, leaning them both against the wall, before he noticed a bandage wrapped around Ran's elbow, and reacting with a kind of suppressed anger, “Who did this?”

 

Ran stared blankly down at the bandage, unable to answer, as footsteps echoed somewhere down the hall. Yoru lifted Ran off the ground, into his arms.

 

“Kochi...” He mumbled, carrying Ran back to the room he'd left, opening and shutting the door behind them. Both sat on the bed clinging to the other, but watching the door, guardedly, so that when it opened and Ayano came in, they both weren't surprised.

 

Nor did he seem surprised to see them.

 

“Sorry to cause you trouble, but I had to make sure that both Sora-kun and Sunao-kun were alright.” Ayano said, sitting down on the chair as both Yoru and Ran watched him, cautiously, but not suspiciously.

 

“Was there something that prompted this?” Yoru asked, immediately, in a business-like way. Ayano sighed.

 

“Shinichirou and Nanami asked me to check on them both... And, while it might have been difficult for you two, it was necessary. Sora-kun is fine, but Sunao-kun seems to have some chemicals in his system which could be dangerous.” Upon catching Ran's glance, Ayano quickly explained, “That's why your arm is bandaged- I had to take a blood sample so the exact chemicals can be identified, and then Sunao-kun can be treated for it.”

 

Yoru gave Ran a serious look as he glanced away, almost guiltily.

 

“In any case, that's all that I have to tell you- Yoru, you're free to stay with Ran until the test results come back.” Ayano stood to leave the room, as Yoru and Ran ignored him, the former still staring at his lover, who was still looking away.

 

(^&$%@#%^()*)%#%#%^&

 

“It might be ironic that Sunao was the one who we needed to be worried about more...” Shinichirou mused, frowning at what Ayano told him. The doctor raised a worried eyebrow at his younger brother, whom was staring at the ground.

 

“Maybe... but it's more important that something is happening more than what we know.” Ayano reminded him. Shinichirou grimaced, and continued walking away.

 

)&(^*$^%#%^(&^()

 

“Ran... maybe it would be best to stay here for the night...” Yoru muttered, bringing the more feminine of the two of them closer as he continued to shake. Ran hiccuped a little, as Yoru soothed him by stroking his back.

 

“...I hate this feeling, Yoru... and how I always feel what Nao's feeling, how I'm always the one who has to take it when he wakes up and dreads going to work that day, how I'm always the one who has to deal with it when he leaves work too tired to do anything but go home and sleep, how I'm always...” Ran kept mumbling, as Yoru held him and listened to him let it all out.

 

“...Ran... do you think it had anything to do with that which made Sunao like this?” Yoru finally asked, with a frown. Ran looked up, with a note of shock, but hung his head, unable to answer.

 

“...I don't know, Yoru... I really don't know...”

 

In just a moment, however, neither remembered their conversation.

 

Sora and Sunao were back, both barely conscious as they curled up under the hospital blankets and drifted to sleep.

 

)&*(^$#%^^^(*&&&&%)

 

“...Shinichirou... watashi...” Nanami stopped as Shinichirou walked right past him into their apartment. He'd been waiting outside, anxious for how Shinichirou would act when he returned, and this appeared to be the worst of his fears confirmed.

 

Shinichirou was sitting on the couch with his head in his hands as Nanami approached, quietly.

 

“...Shinichirou... I knew you were worried about Hashiba-kun... so, after you spoke with Ryouya... I asked him to make sure Fujimori-kun was also alright...” Nanami said, cautiously, as though fearing that Shinichirou would react violently if Nanami said the wrong thing, “Demo... demo... I didn't think that...”

 

“Mou, ii yo...” Shinichirou interrupted, looking up. Nanami was taken aback to see a small smile on his face, before Shinichirou patted the seat next to him, and Nanami sat, letting Shinichirou hold him.

 

“Mou ii de ba...” Shinichirou mumbled again, rubbing Nanami's back and pressing a kiss into his hair.

 

A/N: Whoo... I finally finished this chapter... um... the next few chapters, while I know how I want them to go, might not be up for a while, because my dad is a bitch and wants either 40 hours per week for him, or for me to get a job. AKA- I won't be on the computer for awhile.

 

Translations:

 

Kuso- I've heard many different translations for this, such as 'Damn' and 'Shit', but, in general, it's a curseword.

 

Tousan- ...oh, please...

 

Otouto- see above

 

Okaeri- Welcome home!

 

Moshika shite- Spelling issues. It's kind of like 'Masaka' except... more polite? Basically means 'It can't be' or, in this scenario 'You don't think...'

 

Koko doko?- Where is this place?

 

Kochi- [Come] This way