|
-Part 4- The Clouds Have Left My Eyes On Friday morning, Ken was abruptly to the sound of the phone ringing loudly on the beside table. At first he had thought it was the alarm clock, and after hitting it repeatedly, realized it was only the phone. He groggily sat up in bed, and glanced at the clock. It was a little after midnight. Reaching out, he pulled the phone from its cradle after the fourth ring. “‘Ello?” “Hidaka-san?” It was
Doctor Shigi, and a much too perky Dr. Shigi at that. He paused, before
continuing. “Sorry for calling at such an awful time, but I thought that perhaps
you’d like to know the new information about Aya’s white blood cell count...” “I was asleep, but it’s.. ..what? New information?” Ken asked, quickly shaking sleep away, to pay attention to the important phone call. “Yes, new information. I wanted to check and see his smears once more, the more latest ones, that is. I was shocked by the results and sent them to radiology immediately, and figured you’d like a call.” Pausing, Ken glanced over at Aya who was asleep peacefully on the bed beside him. Gently reaching out, he stroked Aya’s forehead. The redhead stirred and rolled over. Finally Ken felt content to return to the phone call. “Oh, yes. I’m glad you called. You sent them to radiology? Aren’t they the ones giving Aya the chemotherapy?” the brunette asked, worried. “Yes, they are. They were delighted when they received the slides. You see, Aya’s white blood cell count dropped from around sixty thousand to what the normal count is, in two months.” “In other words..?” Ken questioned, his hopes high as he crossed his fingers, waiting for the doctor’s response. “In other words, Hidaka-san, Aya has gone into remission. He can be taken off chemotherapy anytime.” Ken whooped with joy, the scream loud on Shigi’s side of the phone, startling the doctor, who yanked the phone away from his ear. For the next several minutes, Ken’s shouts of joy filled the tiny room, until the receiver was picked back up and Ken breathed heavily for a minute. “Oh thank you, Dr. Shigi! Thank you, thank you!” Shigi laughed, happy that he had made Hidaka so happy. Through the whole process of chemotherapy, Hidaka had been very strong to help Aya, and been alot of help to the nurses as well. “Anytime, Hidaka-san. I will call you in the morning, and we will discuss taking Aya off the medications, okay?” “Yes! Thank you!” Ken said, his voice now filled with a renewed happiness. “Oyasumi!” he cried, and hung up the phone. Shrieking his happiness again, he ran from the room, amazed that Aya had slept though his happiness. * * * Omi and Yohji were dragged from blissful sleep to hear the shrieking of Ken and their arms yanked to emphasize the need for them to wake up. Yohji tried to swing at Ken, but after being dragged into consciousness, he put together what Ken was saying and a smile plastered his face. “After all this time..” Omi nodded happily, sleep which was obviously needed, showed on his face, but he jumped around the room happily, tears streaking his cheeks along with Ken as the two hugged tightly, crying out of happiness. Yohji smiled as he lit his cigarette and sat back against his headboard. “What are you and Aya going to do first, Ken?” Ken looked down, thinking hard. “Well... he likes the comics of Kizuna, you know? And a movie just came out, so I promised to take him. He’s real excited.”
Ken scratched his chin thoughtfully for a minute. “He likes Enjoji. I don’t blame him. Asian guys are yummy.” Omi laughed, and bounced on Yohji’s bed, rolling his eyes. “You are Asian, Ken!” Ken laughed and nodded. “I know, Omi-chan.” Yohji looked out the window at the darkened streets of the Uguisudani district. It was busy tonite, even after midnight, people still crowded the streets in dark clothes and makeup. Clubbers, obviously, but nevertheless, it was a bit busy. He missed being out so much, but ever since Aya had gotten sick, he had begun to stay in more, to be around his teammate. “I want to take a trip to Osaka soon, since Aya is okay.. and..” Ken continued to talk to them, even though Omi was the only one listening, because Yohji was paying attention only to his thoughts. The brunette decided he would take Omi and Ken out to a club on Saturday evening. It was something the four used to do all the time when Aya was well. Since everyone was in good spirits, he didn’t see anything wrong with going down to Tokyo Neo for a little fun. They could leave Aya to sleep for a few hours. It really wouldn’t do much. Besides. They had their beepers. * * * That afternoon, Aya was taken off Daunorubicin and Cytarabine. The redhead was ecstatic when he found he had gone into remission, and could leave the bed on Sunday. The IV remained in his arm to help maintain the heart monitor, but those too would disappear on Sunday, much to his delight. Reading through his Kizuna comics, he hadn’t paid attention as Ken slipped in past the doorway and sat down on the bed. Only until a small hand reached out and yanked the comic from his hand, is when he raised his amethyst eyes, cocking an eyebrow to see who dared to distract his reading. A smile broke out across his face when he saw Ken smiling at him, his head tilted to the side, his chocolate locks hanging over his face, accenting his emerald eyes. Reaching behind his back, Ken pulled out a tiny box, and held it out to Aya happily. “Happy recovery, koi!” Aya looked startled as he took the tiny box wrapped tightly in gold ribbon. “Ken, you shouldn’t have, you already had taken care of Aya-chan’s hospital bills since I couldn’t go on any missions...” Ken frowned. “I wouldn’t have let you go on any missions anyway. Screw Kritiker, your health is the importance to me. Just open it.. you deserve it, you tough cookie.” Aya smiled and gently tugged at the ribbon, opening the small box as the ribbon fell away. His eyes widened and he gasped, a small smile played his lips as he pulled out a small silver cross on a delicate chain. The cross was an important symbol for the four boys.. it stood for justice.. as they were the white hunters of the light, to destroy the darkness-- the white hunters of Weiss. “Oh Ken!” He whispered, absolutely in awe by the beautiful cross. Ken smiled broadly, clasping the necklace around Aya’s neck. “The person I bought it from assured me it wouldn’t break. I knew you’d like it.” Gently brushing Aya’s hair from his face, he smiled and kissed the redhead’s forehead. Aya hugged him tightly. “Oh Ken! Aishiteru yo!” Ken smiled, hugging the redhead. “Aishiteru. I can’t wait until you can leave your room, we’ll have so much fun, just you and I, okay?” Aya nodded, gently fingering the tiny necklace. “Yes!” Snuggling down against Ken, he closed his eyes, breathing softly. It felt so nice to be in Ken’s arms again. He felt so warm. At last he could live up to his promise, to be with Ken forever. It was a promise he never wanted to let go. * * * On Saturday night, Omi, Ken and Yohji pulled out their tight tops and leather pants to go clubbing. After hours of primping, Ken appeared in their bedroom to kiss Aya goodbye. The redhead was reading his comics again, his fingers lovingly held the cross that hung from his neck. Aya glanced up, breathing in slightly when he saw Ken’s appearance. The brunette had borrowed a pair of Yohji’s tight pants, and wore a sparkly green top that accented his eyes magnificently. A twinge of jealous struck Aya when he knew that Ken would be looked at by everyone in the club, and Aya couldn’t be there to accompany him, as he always had in the past. As the brunette moved beside the bed to hug Aya goodbye, the redhead grabbed him and hugged him tightly. Ken was startled as he was yanked into Aya’s grip, but let the redhead hug him tightly, returning the hug with just as much force. It seemed like an eternity they stood there holding each other, until Yohji walked in, smiling at the two’s embrace. The oldest member of Weiss looked stunning in dark shiny clothes, as he always did. “Well, Ken, should we get the show on the road?” He said smiling.
Aya smiled, and waved goodbye. “I will. Have fun. Aishiteru yo, fishie.” he said. The english came slow, and sounded funny from someone who couldn’t speak it except for that single word, but it nevertheless made Ken laugh to hear Aya trying to pronounce the english. Without a further word, Yohji and the others hurried out the door, locking it on their way out. * * * Late after midnight, Ken was brought back down to earth as his pager went off in the middle of Tokyo Neo, one of the best clubs in Ugusudani. He stopped dancing, and realizing what was beeping wildly, ran to find Yohji and Omi. The other two frantic boys ran to meet him, shaking their pagers as well, terrified looks across their face as they ran for the nearest exit. The ride to the house was short, and as Yohji sped home, Ken’s hands trembled wondering why the beepers would possibly go off. Minutes later, they pulled in front of the Kitten in the House Flowershop. Ken ran into the ajar door. The hospital staff had already arrived. Ken ran swiftly though the shop, flying up the stairs to the apartment with Yohji close behind. Ken’s stomach fell into his knees when he heard the flat lining beep of the heart monitor, and the shouts of Doctor Shigi and a nurse. The single beep of the monitor echoed into his head as Ken rushed through the kitchen to the hallway of bedrooms. The breathless brunette skidded to a stop in front of the door just as Doctor Shigi lifted a sheet to cover Aya, shaking his head. “Ran? RAN!” he screamed hysterically. His knees began to go weak as he tried to run into the room, but was abruptly stopped by Yohji who grabbed him under his arms, and dragged him back. He kicked and screamed, and his body finally went limp in Yohji’s arms, and he broke into violent sobs. “Aya, no, please NO! You promised.. oh Aya, NO!!” Ken screamed, sobbing wildly. Omi stopped in the doorway to see Doctor Shigi turn and look down. His face was filled with sadness and he shook his head. Omi began to tremble as Shigi walked to the doorway. “His body went into shock from the sudden stopping of the medicines.. his central nervous system shut down.. we tried to save him.. but we were too late.” Ken looked up, and before Yohji could stop him, his fist slammed into Dr. Shigi’s chin, throwing him back against the wall. “This is your fault! You stopped the medicines right away without a gradual reduction of the medicine! This is your fault!” Doctor Shigi was thrown against the wall, and rubbed his face, an pologetic look still visible in his eyes. “Alot of patients don’t need gradual reduction.. because of Aya’s rapid recovery, I didn’t think he needed it.. I’m sorry.. I take responsibility..” Yohji released Ken who fell to his knees, sobbing uncontrollably. Doctor Shigi and the nurses brushed past Yohji and Omi, whispering they’d be back later, and would let the boys have a moment to spend with their companion, one last time. Ken continued to cry and whimper Aya’s name, as Omi hugged him tightly to comfort him. The brunette cried hysterically. “I never got to say goodbye, why did he leave me, oh god, what will I tell his sister when she wakes up? Oh Ran.. please wake up..” Yohji walked into the room, and pulled the sheet back, to take one last look at Aya. He was surprised to see a small smile across Aya’s face. He looked as if he were sleeping. His comic of Kizuna laid beside him on his bed, and glancing down, Yohji noticed the necklace Ken had given him held tightly in his hand. Smiling to himself, he wiped the tears that began sweeping down his cheeks. Aya’s last thoughts were of Ken. *At least you died happy, Aya..* Yohji thought to himself, as he walked from the room quietly. He bent down and hugged Ken who continued to scream Aya’s name through muffled sobs. The poor boy was in shock. The recovery time would take forever, Yohji knew, and even then, the pain would not be subdued. It would be a long process before he saw Ken smile again. That Sunday, Ken’s smile was stolen away. And so was his lover. Yohji decided he hated Sunday. |