Stay Tuned As Life Continues

A blonde male laid in a hospital bed. The large windows behind him let the sun shine down upon him. As the light shone upon the blonde’s rather pale face, his cold blue eyes were picking up light from behind their lids. The blonde’s mind started processing the light, {Light? Could it be that I have finally arrived? The light that one sees before one dies. I thought it would be more circular instead of all encompassing. Regardless, I must go towards the light.} As the blonde started to travel to towards the light in his dreams the blonde’s body started to awaken. The blonde became aware that his mouth was dry, like someone had filled it will cotton. His head felt light and lofty. His arms felt numb and in some places like the skin was pulled too tight. He opened his eyes slightly and saw people nearby. People with worried expressions on their faces, people with looks of disappointment on their faces, people the blonde knew. One word quietly crawled its way out of the blonde’s throat, “Fuck.”. The blonde’s eyes closed again. {DAMN IT! I even fuck up killing myself.}

“He’s awake.” Said Yutaka

“Thank god!” Mimi squealed.

“No problem.” Akira said.

A loud slapping sound could be heard throughout the room.

Yamato felt a large hand touch on his shoulder, “Stay with us Yamato.”

Yamato clenched his eyes closed tighter, {Just leave me alone Dad. Let me go back towards the light.}

“Come on Yamato.” Hiroaki said, gently rubbing Yamato’s shoulder.

In Yamato’s mind he looked around for the light again, but couldn’t find the sort of light he was looking for. Yamato knew he was alive, and there was no fighting it. He had to rejoin the world of the living, a world of heartache and pain. Reluctantly he opened his eyes. Yamato looked up into his father’s face. Concern and worry covered his face, but oddly there were gleams of joy in his eyes. “There we go.” Hiroaki said, and gave his son’s shoulder a couple pats.

Yamato shifted in the bed, his arms felt like bricks as he tried to move them.

“Don’t more your arms too much, the stitches may still pop out.” Hiroaki said.

Yamato froze, ‘Stitches’. The word made Yamato shiver. He wasn’t planning on surviving his cutting. But now that he had, he had to deal with the aftermath.

The dryness of his mouth became very noticeable. “Water.”

“Right here.” Hiroaki said, he then placed a glass on Yamato’s lips, and poured a little water into his son’s mouth.

Yamato drank down the water his father gave him. He then gently worked his way up
into a more upright position and began to look around the room. His father was sitting right next to him, Takashi was standing next to him. Akira stood further back rubbing his cheek, Mimi stood between him and Koushiro. Finally his eyes came upon Yutaka.

Yutaka’s face went from concerned, to a smile, to an angry scowl in a flash. “I would sock you right now if I hadn’t promised Taichi he would be the first.”

“Where is he?” Yamato squeaked out.

Yamato felt the energy of the room change, things went from depressing to a lighter, more hopeful atmosphere. “We have good news Yamato.” Hiroaki said.

Yamato looked over at his father.

Yamato could see the joy in his father’s eyes grow, “Takeru woke up.”

Yamato leaned forward, he needed to see his brother. Yamato grabbed the sheets and tossed them off himself, his arms suddenly felt like they were on fire, as pain shot throughout his arms and spread to most of his body. Yamato let out a loud groan and fell back against the bed.

“Calm down Yamato.” Hiroaki said, as his hand grabbed Yamato’s shoulder. “He woke up out of his coma yesterday morning. He was awake for only a few seconds before he fell asleep.” Hiroaki saw the concerned look on his eldest son’s face. “Don’t worry, not coma sleep. Real sleep. The doctors say that it is natural for someone who wakes up from a coma to only be awake a few seconds before going to sleep when they first awaken. Then early this morning he woke up again for about a minute. He couldn’t really talk, but the doctors said that, that was natural too. He’ll keep awakening and sleeping until he’s fully out of it. Another day or two and he should be fine.”

Yamato smiled at the news. “Can I see him.”

Hiroaki shook his head, “Sorry Yamato, but you can’t. You have to stay here for right now. Now that you’re awake I can start on papers to have you discharged. It will be hard because of….” Hiroaki stopped, the words stuck in his mouth.
“I get it.” Yamato said, gloom taking over him.

Hiroaki looked around the room, “Can I have a moment with my son please.” The various people around the room nodded and left the room.

Hiroaki looked at his son, the concerned look as well as the joy in the eyes, were quickly replaced with frustration and disappointment. “Why did you do it
Yamato? What the hell were you thinking?”

Yamato answered truthfully, “It’s complicated.”

“Well uncomplicate it Yamato. I need to know why you did it, so it doesn’t happen again. One of the requirements before you can get discharged is a psych evaluation, so if you tell me why you did it, I can help you prove that you’re not crazy.”

Yamato laid in his bed, looking at his feet for a few moments. Words left Yamato’s mouth flatly,“I blamed myself for Takeru accident, I couldn’t take the guilt that was building up inside.” Yamato looked up at his father, “That good enough for you?”

“For the evaluators, Yes that will be good enough. But I want to know the real reason. I want to know why my oldest son thought the only way he could deal with whatever was bothering him was to try and kill himself.”

Yamato looked away from his father. His mind was screaming for him to flee, that this mess would sort itself out with time. That if he could just get out of that room, then everything would be okay. Because what was he supposed to tell his father? The truth? He knew he shouldn’t, that it would turn things into a terrible mess. Yamato knew if he stayed that he should make up lie. A lie would cover his tracks nicely. However, his arms were still throbbing with pain from when he threw his blankets off of him a few minutes earlier, making fleeing seem highly unlikely. Not only that but the lightheadedness that Yamato felt made his mind clouded. Yamato couldn’t think clearly, he wouldn’t be able to make a convincing lie, which would only get him in even more trouble. Making the truth so tempting to say. “Takeru.”

“We just went over that. I want more of an answer than that.”

“I love him.”

“Of course you do, he’s your brother.”

Yamato sighed, realizing where his own denseness came from. If he was going to lie it needed to be now. But a lie still couldn’t come to mind. So he did what he was always told was the best policy, he told the truth, “I’m sorry Dad. But it’s more than just that, it’s more than just a brotherly connection I have towards Takeru. I’m in love with him.”

Hiroaki looked at his son, he studied the young blonde’s face, and tone of voice. Yamato was telling the truth, as far as he could tell. Hiroaki sat in silence, the only thing he could hear were his own thoughts.

As the minutes started to tick by, Yamato grew more and more nervous about his father’s reaction, or lack thereof.

Eventually Hiroaki moved, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. He flipped the phone open and spoke, “Ishida Hiroaki.” Hiroaki nodded a few times, as if he someone was talking to him. “I’ll be right there.” Hiroaki hung up the phone and stuffed it back in his pocket. “I have to go to work. There’s some crisis at the station. We’ll discuss this later.” Hiroaki stood up grabbed his jacket off the back of the chair he was sitting in and walked out the door.

Yamato watched as his father left him all alone. His heart began to ache, reminding Yamato of the pain he tried to leave behind. Yamato curled up, wrapped his sore and bandaged arms around his knees, and then laid his head upon them. {Why can’t I get away from this? Why can’t I get away from all this pain? All of this intolerance?} Yamato began to cry as his emotional and physical pain began to conjoin and spread throughout his body.

It wasn’t long before there was a knock on the door. “Go Away.” Yamato cried. The person on the other side didn’t listen, they opened the door. And Yamato knew why the person didn’t listen, Taichi hardly ever listened to him.

“How are you feeling Yamato?” Asked Taichi shutting the door behind him.

“Just fucking fantasic.” Yamato said, wiping some tears from his eyes. He winced in pain when he turned his arm too much.

Taichi walked over to his friend. And Yamato saw the serious look on Taichi’s face. Yamato closed his eyes, because he knew he wasn’t going to escape Taichi’s fists this time. And sure enough he was right. Pain flashed about the right side of Yamato’s face, as Taichi’s open hand slapped it. “Don’t you ever do anything like that ever again!”

Yamato went to rub his cheek but remembered the pain last time he touched his face. So instead he just rubbed his cheek on his shoulder, “I’m sorry Taichi.”

Taichi began to shout, “You’re Sorry? You’re Sorry? That’s all you have to say is you’re SORRY?”

“I am Sorry! What more do you want me to say?” Yamato asked.

“How about, Sorry Taichi for putting you through hell. Putting you through something that will undoubtedly scar you for life. I should have stopped and thought about your feelings and all my other friends and family before I did a totally selfish deed.” Taichi said.

“I’m sorry okay.” Yamato said weakly.

“I know Yamato.” Taichi’s voice began to tremble, “You really had me scared. You had us all scared. When I found you, you were barely alive. By the time you got to the hospital you were dead. You actually died Yamato. I had to hear that my best friend had died.” Taichi’s eyes began to water. “I was devastated. I couldn’t breathe, I almost passed out. But by some miracle they were able to bring you back. But I was still a wreck, my best friend had committed suicide.”

“I’m sorry I put you through that Taichi.” Yamato said, reaching out to touch
Taichi’s arm, even though it caused him great duress.

“Just promise me you’ll never do anything like it ever again.” Taichi said.

“I promise.” Yamato said.

Taichi then sat down next to his best friend. The two then began discussing other things, trying to pick up each other’s spirits. But both of them still felt the pain from the day before.

Yamato’s friends slowly trickled by to see him. Where most of his friends gave him a scolding, Mimi gave him a large teary eyed hug, Yutaka punched Yamato’s already sore cheek, and Iori gave Yamato a cold icy stare that made Yamato wish he had just punched him instead. Mostly things that Yamato didn’t want to deal with. Why do so many people scold those that are at their weakest?

It was later that day, just as it was getting dark that Hiroaki returned. Hiroaki looked tired and worn out. He tossed his jacket onto the back of the chair next to Yamato and sat down. He let out a sigh, and took a deep breath. The wheels in his mind were spinning, and Yamato could see that. He was nervous about this talk, even more so by the fact that he had all day to worry about it.

Yamato broke the silence, “Dad I’m sorry….”

Hiroaki raised a hand to stop Yamato. Yamato stopped and the awkward silence returned. Hiroaki rubbed his tired face with his hands and looked up at the ceiling, like the answers to his questions could be read in to spotted ceiling tiles.

“Dad I just want to say…..”

Once again Hiroaki raised his hand and Yamato stopped talking. “I understand now why you did it. I don’t know how you got to that point, and I don’t want to know all the details right now. But as soon as you’re out of here, we are going to have a proper discussion.”

Yamato was shocked, his father didn’t freak out, at least not yet. That would be a couple days down the road, and that was far enough to put it out of mind. But as Yamato looked at his father, he looked as if something else was on his mind. So Yamato asked, “What else is on your mind Dad?”

Hiroaki rubbed his face again before he looked at his son. “They say I shouldn’t tell you this, because they don’t know how you will react to the news. But Takeru was awake again today.”

“Dad, that’s great news! How could that make me any worse? If anything, it makes me want to get the hell out of here quicker.” Yamato asked.

“I’m not done yet, there’s more.” Hiroaki said sternly. “Takeru was awake earlier today while I was at work. I guess Nancy has been there since before he woke up yesterday, and hasn’t left him sense. And when he was awake earlier he was awake long enough for a doctor to get to him.” Hiroaki paused.

The pause didn’t set well with Yamato. He knew his father was thinking of the best way to tell him something. Yamato began fidgeting, “And?”

Hiroaki waited a moment longer before continuing, “And Takeru was able to talk. The doctor was able to talk with Takeru. And while it isn’t official yet.” Hiroaki paused briefly, “And while it isn’t official yet, the doctor thinks he has temporary Amnesia. He believes that it is just a side effect of being in a coma, because some people suffer from memory loss when they awaken from their coma. Most cases are mild and last only a few days. The doctor also said, that Takeru can go home tomorrow, now that he has woken up and in a stable condition.”

“Dad that’s great news. Sure the amnesia sucks, but the doctor said it is just temporary right? So that isn’t that bad of news.”

“That isn’t all the news. Since Takeru is still a minor, and Nancy is still his legal guardian. He can only be discharged to her.” Hiroaki said.

“What!?!?” Yamato shouted.

“Relax Yamato.” Hiroaki said calmly.

“How can you tell me to relax. Are you just going to let her take him? She wants nothing to do with him. You know how terrible she is, you’re not just going to sit back and let this happen are you?”

“There’s nothing I can do about it Yamato.”

“You’re his father! Don’t you have a say in it?” Yamato continued to shout.

“She’s his legal guardian, I signed my rights over long ago.” Hiroaki said, regret filled his voice.

“Can’t you prove she’s not qualified, that she is a terrible mother. She kicked him out, for gods sake.” Yamato said desperately.

“ Not right now, if we took it to a judge it would take a couple days to get there if I really pushed the issue. And with Takeru’s memory loss, it would simply be her word against mine. There’s nothing we can do about it until Takeru gets his memory back.” Hiroaki said.

“So we just wait?” Yamato asked sorrowfully.

“That’s all we can do.” Hiroaki looked at his watch, “It’s getting late, and I’m sure your friends haven’t let you rest at all. Get some sleep. I’ll be by tomorrow as soon as I can.” Hiroaki said standing up.

“Dad.”

Hiroaki grabbed his coat, “Yes Yamato?”

“I’m sorry I put you through all this.” Yamato said.

“Apology accepted, now get some rest.” Hiroaki bent down and kissed his son’s forehead. Hiroaki then walked to the door, “Goodnight Yamato.”

“Goodnight Dad.”

Hiroaki gave his son a smile, then left the room. Yamato closed his eyes, and tried his best to drift away to sleep. He had lots to think about and everything was demanding his attention, but his mind was tired and still rather foggy. So it wasn’t until Yamato drifted off to sleep that he finally got a chance to rest, both his body and his mind.

Yamato was woken up the next morning by the nurse dropping off his breakfast. Once having seen that everything was as it should be the nurse left. Yamato slowly pecked away at his breakfast, he wasn’t too hungry, especially for the food that was given to him. While he was eating Yamato took the time to think about his thoughts from the previous night, about Takeru’s awakening and memory loss, about Nancy taking Takeru, and about his lack of ability to help in the situation. He was still being contained to his room, but the psych evaluation the following day was going to change that.

Yamato was half way through his breakfast and all the way to a stomachache when he heard two familiar voices coming from down the hall. They knocked on Yamato’s open door and entered.

“Your Mother is fucking bitch!” Yutaka shouted with rage.

“Well tell him how you really feel.” Koushiro said sarcastically, before switching to a more serious tone, “And keep your voice down. This is a hospital, people need their rest.”

Yamato looked at his two friends blankly, “What happened?”

“Your mother happened.” Yutaka said.

Yamato shot him a nasty glare, “I have no mother.”

“I don’t blame you. Ms. Takashi the She-Bitch, won’t let us in to see Takeru.” Yutaka said. ,“She says that he isn’t feeling up to company.”

“Sadly, she’s still his legal guardian. So she can make those lies up.” Yamato said.

“Which means there’s nothing we can do.” Added Koushiro.

“Please, this is a hospital. It’s filled with lots of sharp pointy objects and tons of bio-hazardous material. There’s plenty I can do to her.” Yutaka said.

“But none of it practical.” Stated Koushiro.

Yutaka looked around the room. He needed to take his mind off the subject before he grabbed the nearest scalpel and run screaming through the hospital. His eyes focused on Yamato’s plate. “How do you eat that shit?”

Yamato looked at his plate. “I try not to.”

Koushiro took off his backpack, “That reminds me.” Koushiro began digging through his bag and pulled out a bag. “Mimi baked you some sweets. I also picked you up a boxed lunch.” He then handed the bag off to Yamato.

“Thanks Koushiro, and thank Mimi for me too.” Yamato said taking the bag.

Just then a black haired streak came running into the room. “Ms. Takashi has taken Takeru. They’re leaving the Hospital!” Ken said, slightly out of breath.
Koushiro and Yutaka ran to the windows quickly followed by Ken. Yamato bit his lip and tossed the covers off of his bed. His arms began to ache, but he ignored them. Yamato then slid out of bed, made his way to the window.

It took a few minutes but before long, the group of friends were able to watch as their friend was pushed in a wheelchair across the lawn of the hospital. Yamato felt the sadness grow in him. He was watching the best thing that ever happened in his life, being pushed away from him. And part of him knew that it would be a while before that best thing would be returned to him.
------------------------------------------
Author's Note: TADA! Chapter....18? Really???? Wow. I would like to thank those that rated the story, those that read the last chapter, and of course a big thank you to Kiba for reviewing!

For those that give a damn: I thought about ending this chapter on a little lighter note. Yutaka was going to look over and see Yamato in his hospital gown, then make some comment like, "Nice ass." or, "Your ass is hanging out." Something along those lines. But I thought it would take away from the ending, and never wrote it. So if you want the chapter to end that way, go right on and have it. If not, don't worry. It isn't important to the overall story.