Fumei no Musubi
Chapter Six
by
Ina-chan
First Posted Online: April 28, 2003
History: Sequel to Jyuunishi no Enkei Monogatari
“…I would appreciate it if you
came. Tooru-kun has been refusing to leave his side. I know
it’s understandable, but with her condition... I know… I
know, I’m sorry. I should have told you earlier…” The
writer’s voice filtered clearly in the quiet hallway, as he
mindlessly tapped his index finger against the public phone
against the wall, “We’re still waiting for the doctor and
the test results. Yes… he’s had two or three more since we
arrived… So you’ll come right away? Yes, I know… I already
said sorry, didn’t I? I won’t do it again. Well, then…
I’ll see you in bit… Ja!”
Shigure hung up the phone and took a
deep sigh. It was very rare to see Ayame seriously angry. It was
even more rare to see Ayame seriously angry with him!
On top of that… He hated being
here. The long pale green corridors… the dull and muted
lighting… the sickening antiseptic smell. Unfortunately, of
course, there was no helping it. Hatori sent Yuki to the
hospital for further tests immediately after that first seizure.
The sleeping mouse has had several more within the past 8 hours.
It wasn’t just the fact that he disliked anything related to
illness and injections... there was also the fact that they’re
risking the Souma Family secret simply by bringing Yuki here.
He stopped in front of Room 532. The
room housing a special case, wherein specific trusted male-only
staff, were hired to care for the person staying there.
That’s one of the frills of being a major founder of a
hospital… special treatment and extreme cooperation of the
staff and board of directors. But the paranoia of Yuki suddenly
transforming as a result of a million and one scenarios that can
go wrong settled uncomfortably in the pit of his stomach. Yet,
it wasn’t just the danger of discovery. If Yuki were to
transform now, it would surely mean his death. And to make
things worse, Hatori was not there.
It was a totally unprecedented move
by his overly cautious cousin... as a matter of fact, Hatori was
the cause to why Yuki was brought back to the main house almost
immediately after the last desperate attempts the doctors in the
hospital did to attempt to save his younger cousin’s life.
Hatori literally breathed down the hospital staff’s necks, to
ensure he was nearby just in case Yuki had a sudden
transformation. However… for some strange reason… Hatori
sent the writer in his stead this time. Come to think of it,
Hatori seemed distracted in their last telephone conversation.
But the doctor skillfully evaded any inquiries Shigure made
relating to why he was not attending to Yuki personally.
He finally opened the door and found
her almost exactly how he left her. The blanket over her
shoulders was now a puddle lump on the floor. It probably slid
off when she shifted in her sleep. Other than that, there was no
other evidence of movement. She sat there, dozing on a chair by
her husband’s bedside, her cheek resting over their twined
fingers. The writer made another sigh. Since they left the Main
House, she hasn’t let go of his hand even for a brief moment.
With almost paternal care, he gently fixed the blanket over the
younger woman’s shoulders. She stirred at the action, before
sitting up to rub her eyes.
“Ah! I’m sorry,” Shigure
quickly apologized, “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“I should be the one to say
that,” Tooru replied as she gave the writer a tired smile,
“I’m sorry for rudely dozing off like that.”
“If it were up to me, Tooru-kun
will be back at home, resting,” Shigure sighed in exaggerated
exasperation, “Unfortunately, this old man becomes powerless
under the teary-eyed gaze of pretty young women.”
“Shigure-san, don’t be so
silly!” Despite of herself, the young woman let out a soft
laugh, before her features sobered to a more serious expression,
“Anou… was Shigure-san able to talk to the doctor looking
after Yuki-kun?”
The writer shook his head, “Not
yet, but I did manage to talk to Ha-san. He said that he talked
his colleague. As soon as they finish going over the MRI
results, we should hear from them soon…”
“I see…” Tooru replied with a
small frown as she instinctively tightened her fingers with her
husband’s
“Tooru-kun… if Ha-san trusts this
person about the Souma Family curse, I’m sure we can do the
same…” Shigure said reassuringly
“It’s not that…” The young
woman replied with a shake of her head, “It’s just that…
everything has been so strange. Hatori-san seems so unnaturally
distant with this particular situation… I don’t want to
think about it that way… but it almost feels as if he’s
hiding something.”
Shigure frowned, as that knot of
apprehension in his stomach tightened even more. Even Tooru can
sense the doubts that his suspicious nature has been trying hard
not to entertain…
“And there’s also what happened
with Akito-san…” Tooru added softly, her voice falling into
a soft whisper as she turned to the older man, almost
pleadingly, “Shigure-san… does Akito-san really have that
kind of power?”
Shigure blinked at the young
woman’s odd question, “Power? What do you mean?”
Tooru lowered her eyes, the fingers
of her free hand instinctively touching her left cheek. “Back
at that time… in the summer house… Akito-san said that he
was someone equivalent to God… he said… he said that he
controlled the souls of all the Jyuunishi… Does Akito-san
really…. have such power? Could Akito-san have done thi—”
“That’s nonsense,” Shigure
interrupted with a deep frown.
The young woman bowed her head and
clasped her husband’s hand tightly, “I couldn’t say it to
Hatori-san. But when Akito-san visited Yuki-kun… before this
happened… Akito-san was saying something strange...”
The older man’s eyes widened in
alarm, “What do you mean?”
Tooru lifted her eyes to face him,
“Akito-san said that God didn’t want the mouse to be one of
the twelve… and that the mouse tricked the cat to protect him.
And the way he was talking to Yuki-kun… it was as if he was
talking to someone else.”
It felt as if his heart at stopped
upon hearing her words. He felt numb as his mind struggled
against his racing thoughts. This only confirmed his suspicions.
Still, he couldn’t help but wish that he had mistaken what Rin
said as his own paranoia… Akito really did know. For some
strange inexplicable reason… Akito knew. When? How? How
could Akito have known that secret he discovered and Hatori
destroyed eleven years ago?
“Shigure-san?” Tooru’s voice
pulled him back to reality, “What did Akito-san mean by
that?”
Her eyes were wide and pleading.
Immediately, the words Hatori spoke in the library eleven years
ago blared loudly in his mind. This version of the Jyuunishi
legend seemed much more than just a coincidence… and who knows
what the consequences were if this version got out and people
started to believe it. But she deserved to know… If that
particular legend and Akito has something to do with what was
happening to Yuki now… she deserved to know.
Unfortunately… he didn’t know
what to tell her either…
“Tooru-kun, Akito has been ill for
a very long time,” Shigure finally explained kindly,
“Sometimes, he says things that only makes sense to
himself.”
He saw the look of disappointment in
her eyes, before she turned away. “That may be so… but I’m
scared, Shigure-san…” The young woman’s voice stated
softy… her shoulders shaking, as she fought against the
tightness in her throat, “Since Akito-san’s visit… it
almost seemed as if Yuki-kun is desperately struggling
against... something… I think it’s making him suffer…
He’s suffering and there’s nothing I can do. I can’t even
hold him just to let know that I’m here…”
He watched her silently. All
this time, she was trying so hard to look strong and walking
around with a big silly smile on her face. It was heartbreaking
to see her like this. He started to reach out to put a
comforting touch over the couple’s hands.
“Excuse me, I’m sorry for
interrupting,” A familiar voice called out from the doorway,
“But I need to see my patient.”
Shigure turned around to face the
newcomer, and his eyes widened in surprise when he realized who
it was.
“Kana-san…” Tooru stated aloud,
bearing the same reaction that Shigure had, before the writer
could utter the name himself.
This time, it was the female doctor
turned to Tooru in surprise, “I’m sorry… Tooru-san,
isn’t it? I don’t believe we’ve met yet…”
“Ah, Kana-cha… Kana-sensei was
such an impressive student that Ha-san continues to talk about
you with such high regard,” The writer interrupted almost
immediately
Kana gave the writer a hearty
chuckle, a slight but noticeable flush lighting her cheeks,
“Shigure-kun… there’s no need for formalities. We’ve
known each other for some time, and we are family after all. And
you’re giving much more praise than I deserve.”
“Kana-chan still hasn’t changed
one bit,” Shigure grinned, “ But why else would Ha-san leave
Yuki-kun in your hands, if you weren’t capable?”
The doctor ducked her head in
embarrassment, “Frankly… I was very surprised when Hatori
called me. I was in a bit of a shock when I reviewed Yuki-san’s
medical records. I don’t understand why Hatori insisted that I
handle his case, when it was clear that a more experienced
specialist would be more appropriate. Unless… ” With that,
her expression changed into a more serious look,
“Shigure-san… Yuki-san is one of the ‘Inner’
Soumas, isn’t he?”
Tooru’s eyes widened in silent
surprise as she watched the scene unfolding before her. The
uncomfortable silence that followed made the soft beeping of the
monitors in the room blare like sirens. Shigure’s own quiet
and controlled voice rumbled like deafening thunder, “Don’t
belittle your own abilities like that, SENSEI. It’s
very insulting to Ha-san’s judgment.”
The young doctor was shocked at at
his words. Of the short time that she knew him, she never heard
him speak that way. Or see that serious, unreadable expression
on his face. Though he didn’t answer her question, his
reaction confirmed it. The Souma family held so many secrets…
Her expression softened as she gazed
at her patient’s wife. At one point in her life, she was
actually willing to be part of one of those secrets, to be in
the same position as the young woman before her. But now, seeing
the pain reflected in Tooru’s eyes… she doesn’t think she
could have been that strong. It was probably her saving grace
her pursuit for love back then was a one-sided race.
“Ye-yes…” With a small pacified
but sardonic smile, she turned back to the writer and
immediately bowed her head apologetically, “I’m sorry.
I’ve forgotten my boundaries as an outsider.” With that she
made her way towards the sleeping young man, “Saa… if you
don’t mind, I’d like to assess my patient.”
“If it’s not bother,” Tooru
began, giving the other woman a pleading look, “I’d like to
stay.”
“It’s not a bother,” The doctor
replied, smiling at the younger woman reassuringly, “But I
assumed that Tooru-san would take this opportunity to take a
break. To get some tea or coffee, perhaps.”
The young woman shook her head
vigorously as she clutched her husband’s hand even tighter
with both of hers, “No. I’m fine. I would rather stay here
with Yuki-kun.”
Kana automatically looked at Shigure,
who at that point returned to his usual easy-going demeanor and
simply made a small shrug, “It’s hopeless. I already
tried.”
“I suppose it can’t be helped,”
The doctor sighed in defeat, before looking up with a small
glint in her eye, “But there’s no need for Shigure-kun to
stay. Perhaps you could get some tea or coffee for Tooru-san
from the cafeteria.”
Shigure raised an eyebrow at her
non-verbal cue, but gave in to the doctor’s request. He made a
small dismissive wave as he turned around to leave the room once
again, “Saa, saa! Just make sure you two don’t fall into a
round of girl talk while you’re at it. Yuki-kun may be in a
coma, but he’s not deaf. We can’t have him bored to death
after hanging on for so long…”
“EH!?!?”
“MOU! Shigure-kun!
What a mean thing to say!”
The writer let out a playful
chuckle as he immediately ran out to the safety of the hallways.
It wasn’t until he was a short distance away, in the vicinity
of the payphone booths, that he allowed the expression on his
face to fall.
To get Kana involved with them
again… What was going on? Hatori would never involve her with
the Jyuunishi… unless he had no choice. That ball of
apprehension in the pit of his stomach tightened once more as he
immediately went to the payphones and dialed the number to
Hatori’s office.
“Gure-san? Is that you?”
The voice in the other line immediately called out after the
phone was picked up before the first ring even finished
“A-ya? What are you doing
there? I thought you were on your way here,” Shigure replied
in complete surprise
“How is Yuki doing?” Ayame
asked frantically, completely ignoring what the writer said
“Yuki?” Shigure answered,
“He’s been the same since the last time we spoke.”
“Thank God! I was about to
rush there just as Tori-san’s phone rang,” Ayame babbled in
relief
“A-ya, what are YOU doing in
Ha-san’s office?” Shigure stressed impatiently
“It’s total chaos here
right now, so I’ll tell you everything when I get there,”
Ayame replied, “Just stay put with Yuki and Tooru-kun. I’ll
be right over.”
“What? Total chaos? What is
going on there?” Shigure frowned
“Eh? You didn’t know?”
Ayame paused, “Didn’t Tori-san tell you? Ah… Tori-san
probably didn’t want Tooru-kun to worry.”
The writer rubbed his throbbing
forehead, “A-ya… Tooru-kun and I have been here with
Yuki-kun all afternoon… and no, Ha-san didn’t say anything.
What the hell is going on there?”
“I just found out myself when
I got here. Tori-san has been trying to keep it from happening
as long as possible,” The snake continued grimly, “But it
would seem that it’s inevitable.”
“A-ya!” Shigure almost
yelled at the phone, the knot in the pit of his stomach was
starting to make him feel nauseated
“Kagura is in active labour,”
Ayame finally stated
“What? But that’s
impossible. Kagura is still two months prema---…”
Shigure’s eyes widened as his voice trailed
/…it
almost seemed as if Yuki-kun is desperately struggling
against... something…/
‘CODE BLUE, FIFTH FLOOR, ROOM
532. CODE BLUE, FIFTH FLOOR, ROOM 532’
“Gure-san? Gure-san, are you
still there? Gure-san?” Ayame’s voice called out anxiously
from the abandoned receiver, swinging helplessly in the air
/…Yuki-kun
is desperately struggling against... something…/
Tooru’s earlier words pounded
loudly in his mind as he fought his way through the quickly
gathering chaos, keeping him away from his destination.
“I’m sorry sir, but I can’t let
you in there,” A staff said apologetically as he blocked the
doorway.
From the crack of the doorway, he
could see Kana and several staff working around his prone
cousin, Tooru sobbing loudly and still holding on to her
husband’s hand as if her very life depended on in. He watched
the scene run in front of him detached, as if in a deep trance.
‘—BP - 180/99—’
‘—heart rate – 160—’
‘—arrhyth—’
‘—it’s no use—‘
‘—et the defib---’
/…Yuki-kun
is desperately struggling... /
‘—TOORU-SAN, PLEASE LET GO AND
WAIT OUTSIDE!’
‘IYAAAAAAAAA!!!’
The sound of her scream
immediately snapped him out of his reverie as he pushed against
the male nurse blocking his way.
“SIR! YOU CAN’T GO IN
THERE!” The staff held the writer by the shoulders,
keeping him at bay
“GET OUT OF MY WAY!” Shigure
suddenly growled dangerously, eyes flashing with a murderous
glint, immediately causing the staff to freeze with a start. The
writer took the opportunity to squeeze through and rush by
Tooru’s side. Kana gave him a pleading look, and the dog
nodded in agreement. He quickly held the young woman by the
shoulders and gently tried to pull her to her feet.
Tooru cried out in protest ,
shaking her head, keeping herself literally bolted to her seat
with almost inhuman strength
The older man immediately
reached out to unlatch the young woman’s hands and froze,
immediately understanding his cousin’s wife’s unusual clingy
behavior. For the first time since his cousin fell ill…
…Yuki’s hand was as cold as
ice.
/Shigure,
for as long as possible/
“No…” Shigure whispered as he
turned to stare at his cousin’s pallid form in disbelief,
“Yuki-kun, you’ve been fighting against impossible odds all
this time, don’t you DARE give up now!”
“Shigure-kun! Please!”
/Even
if it just saves one Souma child from suffering the same
fate…/
“I kept my end of the bargain, you
better keep yours,” The dog continued as he towered over his
cousin, ignoring Kana’s restraining tone, “Kagura needs you
to keep fighting, Yuki. Don’t let her down.”
/…Do
it for as long as possible…/
“Yuki-kun… Yuki… please,
don’t give up yet. Give me more time. I promise to break it.
But I need more time. Don’t let this happen all over
again…” Shigure whispered harshly as he bent down to whisper
directly to Yuki’s ear, “…please… don’t leave us
all over again…”
/One
after the other they arrived to the banquet that God prepared
for them… /
“…Yukino…”
/One
after the other, they fell…/
The only things running in his mind
were random words and a feeling of desperation. He couldn’t
allow Yuki to die. Something deep inside of him that he
couldn’t explain, won’t allow it. He lost awareness of
everything else. Of how long he stayed like that, bent over his
cousin… of the other people in the room… of even what he
said. He almost jumped out of his skin… literally… when he
suddenly felt a warm hand resting on his shoulder. He looked up
and saw Kana looking at him in almost reverent awe.
“Shigure-kun…” Kana whispered
softly, “What did you do?”
“What?” Shigure blinked at her.
It was only then that he realized that the other occupants of
the room, even Tooru, were all looking at him strangely. Beads
of sweat lined his forehead, “I didn’t do anything…”
“Well… whatever it was… it
worked,” Kana finally said, her eyes wandering to the numbers
on the bedside monitor. She turned to the staff nearest to the
door, “Cancel the code.” As soon as the room was cleared of
the other hospital staff, she ran her fingers through her hair
with a sigh before giving Shigure a curious look, “I don’t
understand what just happened, so I’ll just consider it
another one of the Inner Souma’s mysterious secrets.”
“Kana-chan… what exactly
happened?” The writer asked in bewilderment
“My first instinct would be to
say… we just witnessed Yuki-san having a form of a heart
attack… as to what caused it… I don’t know, yet,” Kana
replied almost mournfully, “Since I can’t move Yuki-san to
ICU, I’ll have a constant stand by for the next 24 hours, just
in case. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll come back as soon as I
can.” She gave Tooru a reassuring smile before bowing down
politely and leaving.
“Shigure-san…” Tooru’s voice
said quietly as soon as the doctor left the room, “…thank
you.”
Shigure sighed, “…but I didn’t
do anything.”
“Yukino,” The young woman stated
in a louder voice, her gaze turning inward
“Eh!?” The writer’s eyes
widened in surprise as he spun around to face her
“That’s her name, isn’t it?”
Tooru said as she turned to the older man, tears starting to
fill her eyes once again, “The vengeful spirit of the nezumi-shi.
Yuki-kun is struggling against her, isn’t he?”
He could only stare at her
blankly as she looked back at her, expectantly waiting for his
answer. He bit his cheek and reached out to rest a consoling
hand on top of the young woman’s head. Her lips quivered. The
writer felt panic rising from within him, anticipating her
tears. Instead, he found himself gaping in numb horror as the
young woman’s head lolled forward, with the rest of her body
following, and spilling into an lifeless undignified heap on the
floor.
End of Chapter Six
Return to Chapter
Five
Continued on Chapter
Seven
AUTHOR’S SQUAWK:
This chapter definitely DID NOT turn out the way I expected it
to be. Just as a reference… please see “Jyuunishi Enkei no
Monogatari” for details on some of those “word”
flashbacks, if you haven’t read that fic yet. This fic is
actually somewhat a sequel to that fic. That’s all…
Ja!
Ina-chan
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