The Wallflower Fan Fiction ❯ Like a Moth to a Flame ❯ Deceptions? ( Chapter 13 )

AN-I will continue this best I can. I have received word that I'm moving overseas, and I really should be preparing for that instead of playing doctor with Kyohei.

Disclaimer: I do not own The Wallflower (AKA Perfect Girl Evolution and Yamatonadeshiko shichihenge).

 

When morning arrived, the gentlemen at the house awoke to some surprises. It seemed that the “maids' had been removed from duty, and a note was found in the kitchen.

It read,

 

“ Oda-san, Morii-san and Toyama-san:

 

We are very sorry about the situation we put you in. We were asked by our employer, your landlady, to find out what was going on at the hospital. Because we were unable to pry any details from you you, we have been recalled to Nakahara-sama. We are uncertain if we will be allowed to return. You seem like nice,honorable young men, not at all like the mistress had said. We're sure your friends are glad you are watching out for them. We have some miso and omlette in the refrigerator and a bento like yesterday. With luck, we'll be able to return. If not, it was nice while it lasted.

 

Hanako & Misaki”

 

“Oh well guys.” sighed Takenaga. “It was really too good to last anyway.”

They ate their breakfast in silence, and prepared to go to the hospital. Knowing how devious the landlady had been, they knew she wouldn't be above bugging the house. After they ate, they got the lunch and headed to the train.

At the hospital, both Sunako and Kyohei a had semi-restful night. There were several checks performed every few hours, but they slept the best they could between them. They were in a “Hurry up and wait” phase now. They were both stable, and did not need a lot of care. However, they could not start therapy or anything and were confined to bed. When breakfast was served, Kyohei was happy to hear he would get the same thing Sunako was getting. His joy was short lived though. They had received a bowl of rice with a side of natto, a piece of salmon, miso soup, eggplant pickles, and a sour plum.

“OI, Nurse!” He called out. When the nurse arrived, he started in on her, “I'm happy that I am getting a bigger breakfast, but no one asked about my food preferences. I HATE natto. It's slimy and sticky and smells bad. I do enjoy a lot of our traditional foods, but there are some that need to go the way of the samurai. I simply won't eat it,and it's stinking up our room.”

“Takano-san,” she began with a smile, “natto is one of our number one treatments here in the hospital. We strongly advise you to eat it. I agree, it does have cosmetic and olfactory disadvantages, but it seems to help prevent blood clots and breaks up the ones you have.*”

“If you say so, but it's still nasty!' He muttered.

“Kyohei, put a little sugar on it. It hides the taste a little.” Sunako offered. “I personally don't mind the taste, but my friend Yuki, from Hokkaido, eats it that way.

By the way, how are you feeling this morning? We have to get all our private talking in now before the guys get here. You know how they are, especially Ranmaru. I think he's suspicious. I'm not ready to give them the satisfaction of saying, 'I told you so'.”

“I'm doing great considering I've been beaten to an inch of my life, have had 2 surgeries in the last 3 days, and am currently hiding an interesting secret from my roomates after declaring my undying love for another roomate.”

“Undying, huh? Isn't that a bit extreme? I will say that this relationship has a lot of potential. If we don't want to kill each other by the end of your physical therapy, I most definitely will admit to anyone and everyone that we are an item. I might even wear a pastel floral dress, do my hair and make up and go to Odaiba park with you. Sound fair enough? But we have to keep it quiet until then.”

“You're on! You do drive a hard bargain though, but you will see that we are a perfect match. You should have never put it that way, I love a challenge. Do I get to pick out your dress? I would be happy to escort you to Odaiba. As much as I enjoy the arcades, I don't think I'll go to that part though. May we go on the ferris wheel? I've never been on it and I hear that's the thing to do with your girlfriend. You have given me a great incentive to get better. You better continue to work out though, because I may still be a little weak and you can defend me from the hordes of fan-girls”

“WHOA! Slow down! I'm talking about having a proper date and you sound like I'll be your bodyguard. I have NOT declared 'undying' love to you. Sorry. I am just getting my head wrapped around the fact I may like you romantically. Judging on how I act instinctively, I care a lot for you. I just don't know how deep that is, and if it's enough to build a relationship on. I thought we said we'd take it slow, it almost sounds like you're ready for a trip to the shrine to share a San San Ku Do,* guess again! We're in high school, for crying out loud!”

“I didn't mean it like that, but I guess it came across that way to you. This whole thing is new to me. The thought of having someone love me for me gives me motivation to get better. Let's face it, the “ME” that everyone thinks they know is just a pretty face. No one has gotten past that except you, not even my own mother. You know how foul I can be, and will put me in my place when I need it. Perhaps what we are feeling isn't enough for a relationship, but I sure am willing to give it all I have. Let me try. I am not asking for you to change,and I won't change for you. I love you for you. Whoa! I said that? I think we better stop and think about this during the day. The guys will be here any time now, and if we want to keep this quiet, we need to stop.”

“Fair enough. I'll try to calm down and think about what you said. As long as you understand where I'm coming from. I have some major trust issues and though I know in my mind you're trust worthy, my heart is getting there. Ok...let's finish our wonderful healthy breakfast.” She turned back, “MMM, natto”

Kyohei just made a face.

They finished breakfast and had gotten the daily clean-up and check up. They were settled in and watching TV when the guys appeared.

“You two behaving yourselves?” Ranmaru shouted as he entered the room.

“We're hee-ree” added Yuki gleefully.

“Oi, did you bring any good food? The hospital is trying to poision me, though Sunako has no problems with it.” Kyohei growled out.

“We did bring a substantial lunch,but we're not eating it until lunchtime” Takanaga answered. “We need to talk. It seems that Auntie is up to her old tricks again. She had sent those maids to us to learn what was going on here. They tried to seduce me last night to find out more.”

“Ha! I would have paid to see that.” Kyohei said, laughing You can be one hell of an 'Ice King'. I assume it didn't work?”

“No. It didn't. But here's the thing, I am willing to bet that you will be getting a new nurse or something sent by Auntie. They may not say who they are even, but will be reporting on what they see and hear. From what I know, you guys don't get along well. You seem at least civil and that's a start to a friendship and more. If it goes that way, please be discreet and not let the staff know.”

“As if that would happen.” Sunako muttered “ I am only tolerating my time in here. Once the treatment is done, I'm out of here. I might not even visit. I got hurt visiting him, just because I live with him. Do you know what a pain in the ass he is? Of course you do, but I can't walk away from him. I have to lie here and hear him bitch and moan about how hungry or how bored he is. If Auntie asked me to spend more time with him, I'd laugh in her face. He's really quite boorish. You can tell her that too.”

“That's awfully harsh Sunako-chan!” Yuki moaned. “If you don't want to visit, you don't have to. You don't have to be mean about it.”

“So...Kyohei,” Ranmaru started, “are you enjoying your roomate? It seems that she's not happy, but you know what they say. The louder they protest, the more ardent their feelings.”

Sunako just rolled her eyes and said “Whatever, that's about what I'd expect from someone like you. Have you diddled the new maid or maids yet?”

“NO!” He hotly contested. “They were fired last night since they failed in their mission” He quietly added.

“As I have said before, don't mind Ranmaru. He has a major testosterone build up and isn't thinking straight.” Takenaga mentioned. “I take it not much is going on here? Do we need to bring anything? It's not all that good we are all here at the same time because of the 'Fan-Girl' syndrome. If you guys are going to be grumpy, we may as well go and come back later.”

“It's not that, we're extremely bored and uncomfortable.” Kyohei answered. “The hospital, it seems, routinely feeds their patients natto. That is so gross and if they keep that up I will starve. Sunako over there just ate it right up, EWWW!”

“I told you how to make it bearable, but you had it in your mind that you wouldn't like it, so you didn't. A simple mind over matter thing” Sunako shot back.

Thus the morning passed with Kyohei and Sunako shooting barbs at each other and the guys just watched in amazement. They weren't sure what to make of it. It was always possible Ranmaru was right, but then his brain was addled. Kyohei ate the bento like a starving man. After lunch, the nurses made their rounds and kicked the guys out so they could examine the pair. They decided to return home because there wasn't anything to do. As they left, they saw the lobby was beginning to get rowdy again and they did not want to be in the same situation Sunako was in. When they returned, Auntie was there with the maids.

“I have decided to let the ladies return. In return, I will be wanting weekly reports on Sunako's behavior. No matter how trivial it seems, I'd like to know. Perhaps, I just don't know her anymore and that she really has no hope of being a refined lady.

Her mother was a bit of an Amazon, but she cleaned up nice. I am hoping for the same with her. She is a Nakahara, so she has the bloodline. I think with the right partner, she'll calm down. That's how it worked with her mother. She was quite rough about the edges, but when her father started courting her, she began to change. Just little changes at first, then before we knew it she could have passed for a débutante. This is what I hope for in Sunako, and I'm looking for the little changes. What can you tell me now?”

Takenaga spoke up, “Right now, they are fighting like cats and dogs. Sunako is acting a lot like a caged tiger. She wants out of the room as soon as possible and says she won't visit him when she's released.”

“She's really in a very bad mood.” Yuki piped up, “I've never seen her act so hateful.”

“It's been my experience that there's a fine line between love and hate. I think this couple may be walking that line. It's hard to say.” Ranmaru added.

“Thank you for your candor. I will be expecting more in about a week. If there's something, I'm sure it will start to show by then.” With that, Auntie floated out the door to a waiting car.

“Do you think something is going on?” Yuki asked Ranmaru.

“I have my suspicions, but they won't let us see anything if there's something going on. Sunako was way too brutal to Kyohei, almost too brutal...like an act. If there's something, I think we need to wait on them to tell us. As far as Auntie goes, just be as vague as we can. My line thing, while it's true, neither confirms or denies a relationship. Even better, it keeps the rent down.

 

*It is often said in Japan that nattÅ is good for one's health, and these claims can be backed by medical research. ..reduces the likelihood of blood clotting. It also contains an enzyme which may also reduce blood clotting both by direct fibrinolysis of clots.

 

* San San Ku do is the ritual sharing of sake during a Shinto wedding ceremony