-Part 3-

Abandoning the Bonds of Love

 

“You brat. You gave us such a scare!” Ken said, patting Aya’s leg through the thin hospital sheets. The pallid redhead grinned sheepishly at the brunette, who sat in a chair beside the high bed, with his legs crossed. The ‘code red’ had been due to the fact that Aya’s body had rejected the valium, sending him into a shock. Yohji had requested it be taken off the dosage list immeadiately, and as soon as it had been done, Ken went to visit his brother.

 

“I didn’t mean to..” Aya said softly, glancing around the room. “I can go home, tonight, can’t I, brother?

What is wrong with me, Ken? Don’t lie.”

 

Ken looked down, as warm tears began to fill the corners of his eyes. “You have...”

 

Aya raised an eyebrow, reaching out and touching Ken’s chin, forcing the brunette to look at him. “I have what.”

 

“You have myeloblastic leukemia, Aya..”

 

Aya’s eyes widened in shock and his hand dropped away from Ken’s face.  “Myelo..Myelo..” he stuttered. The redhead was in pure shock. That disease was uncurable, which meant.... “I’m going to die?” he whispered.

 

“No!” Ken shouted, clutching the railing of the bed tightly. “No! We’re putting you on chemotherapy, and everything is going to be just fine.. you’ll.. you’ll see..”

 

“What are my chances of remission.” Aya mumured, clutching the sheets tightly.

 

“90.” Ken whispered.

 

Aya dropped his head back onto the pillow, and closed his eyes, breathing with relief. “Why didn’t you just say so in the first place?” he said, swatting at Ken’s forehead.

 

“Because.. it’s not definate..” Ken whispered, tears streaking his tanned cheeks.

 

Aya held out a trembling hand to Ken. “Don’t cry, Ken. I promise.. I won’t leave you. We’ll be a happy family again soon, you’ll see. I love you both too much to lose you.”

 

Ken nodded, diving into the arms of his older brother, sobs wracking him nearly as hard as Aya trembled.

Aya smiled, hugging the younger boy tightly. Nuzzling Ken’s brown hair, tears stung in the corner of his eyes, and Aya let them fall. He wasn’t ashamed of them anymore.

 

Yohji stood in the doorway, hidden in the shadows. He listened to the two converse, pain wracking through his body. Though no one could see, he cried in silence. They were going to lose Aya. He was sure of it. And he felt so guilty. This time.. he couldn’t do a thing.

 

*              *              *

 

The next day, Aya was transferred back into the loving arms of his family, and continued to stay in Ken’s room where he would be monitered better. Day after day, nurses came through, checking on Aya, making sure Ken fed him and took care of him properly. Ken actually cracked and yelled at a nurse one day. He claimed he never got to spend any time with his lover because they were always around.

 

From then on, nurses came twice a week.

 

Over the next month, Ken got used to treating the pallid redhead differently than before. Serving the redhead special foods, and reading to him until he fell asleep. Most activites began to occur in the bedroom, including watching the weekend soccer touraments on TV. The redhead soon got used to the game, and enjoyed watching it with Ken, instead of despising it like he used to.

 

During the third week of Aya’s chemotherapy, Ken began making a habit of picking up special things for Aya. His birthday would be coming up within two weeks, so Ken decided to spoil him early. Little things here, little things there, and the spare money from paychecks after paying for Aya’s hosptial bills seemed to slowly dissapear. But Ken didn’t mind. He looked at it as an investment. An investment of love.

 

*              *              *

 

That afternoon, Ken walked into the small bedroom to find Aya passed out on the bed. A “Two-Mix” music video played noisily on the TV, which, Ken noticed, Aya slept right through, further proving his need for sleep. Setting down a brown bag on the chair, Ken knelt onto the bed, gently shaking Aya awake. “Aya.. Aya wake up. I am making dinner. Come on, wake up.” He said softly.

 

The redhead opened his amethyst eyes, and looked around fuzzily until Aya made Ken’s face out of the bleariness. “Ah, good morning?” Aya mumured, yawning.

 

Ken giggled, and grabbed the bag off the chair, plopping it down in front of Aya. “Since you never can get out anymore..”

 

Aya blinked, looking at the bag. Pulling at the side, he pawed through it curiously. His eyes lit up, and a small smile crossed his face as he began to pull out the contents. Inside was the latest issue of Kizuna, his favorite comic, a few candy bars, a magazine, and two science-fiction books. Aya looked at the back of the bookcovers carefully. “Ooh, I haven’t read these ones yet.. and where did you find the Kizuna issue? I’ve been looking for this forever! Thank you!” he breathed happily.

 

Ken folded his arms, grinning. “That’s my secret, and your welcome. By the way, did Omi tell you? Apparently a Kizuna movie is coming out a week! Are we gonna go?”

 

Aya cocked an eyebrow. “Can I go?”

 

Ken nodded. “I don’t see why not! When you get a little better and can walk, I promise we’ll go.”

 

A broad smile crossed Aya’s face, and he nodded, determined. “I’m gonna get better. Kizuna, here I come!”

 

The two laughed quietly together, as Ken sat down and discussed the movie. Omi paused from typing on his computer in the next room. Tears brimmed his eyes, at hearing Aya laugh. He hadn’t heard it in so long. He’d missed it. They all had.

 

 

*              *              *

 

 

Dr. Shigi looked around the small room, making sure he didn’t leave anything behind before he closed the lab that night. Picking up a book, he looked back. “I wanted to check that slide once more..” Reaching into the drawer, he pulled out the glass slide #067859 FUJIMIYA. Sliding it under the microscope, he pulled off his glasses to take a look inside after flipping on the light.

 

His eyes widened, as Shigi jumped back, slightly startled. “No.. it can’t be...” he whispered, and rubbing his eyes, took another look, to make sure what he’d seen was accurate. Sure enough, he saw the same image. Pulling the slide out, he looked at it again, holding it up to the light. “Well I’ll be...”

 

He picked up his briefcase, grabbing the two texts he needed as well as Fujimiya’s smear. “Man. Just wait till the guys in Radiology see this.”

 

 

[To be Continued]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That afternoon, Ken walked in to find Aya passed out on the bed. A music video played noisily on the TV, further proof that Aya needed alot of rest. Ken