|
Post by Sameya -- Artemis on Dec 19, 2005 9:24:40 GMT -5
"You are not pathetic in any way," Katsu said firmly, looking into Natsuki's eyes. Then something clicked in his mind.
"Natsuki...what did you mean by the last time?" Katsu asked after a slight pause.
|
|
Akaru
Senpai
Mrowr.
Posts: 1,867
|
Post by Akaru on Dec 19, 2005 11:35:25 GMT -5
Natsuki tensed slightly in Katsu's arms. He glanced up, and a tinge of sadness and some other emotion appeared in his eyes for a split second. He offered up a small, sad smile. "I-it's nothing. Just something that happened a long time ago. I promise, it's really nothing." Nonetheless, he pulled away from Katsu slightly.
|
|
|
Post by Sameya -- Artemis on Dec 22, 2005 7:53:37 GMT -5
Katsu was torn between needing to know what happened, and trying not to upset Natsuki any more. It was definitely not 'nothing'. If it was truly nothing, Natsuki wouldn't have that sadness and pain in his eyes. "Natsuki, please...tell me..." Katsu said gently, concern etched across his face.
|
|
Akaru
Senpai
Mrowr.
Posts: 1,867
|
Post by Akaru on Dec 22, 2005 20:08:54 GMT -5
Natsuki sighed and allowed his eyes to slide away from Katsu's gaze. "I was....attacked.... when I was thirteen. By someone very close to me. It's all in the past now, but this whole....Kei-ordeal has brought up some not-so-pleasant memories for both of us, it seems. That's all."
Natsuki was about to continue when Adele rounded the corner. "Ah, there you are, Natsuki. The nurse wants you to come back to your room so she can get you ready for an MRI. Just as a precaution."
Natsuki nodded. He glanced up at Katsu one last time before pulling away to follow Adele.
Roni stepped up behind Katsu, arms crossed and a slight smirk on his face. "Attacked, huh? I guess that's one way to put it."
|
|
|
Post by Sameya -- Artemis on Dec 23, 2005 3:10:57 GMT -5
Katsu wished he could have said something, but he had to swallow it as Natsuki pulled away to follow Adele.
Katsu could feel the stinging heat of rage rise in his throat. "There's more to this, isn't there?" Katsu said more calmly than he felt.
|
|
Akaru
Senpai
Mrowr.
Posts: 1,867
|
Post by Akaru on Dec 24, 2005 2:48:08 GMT -5
Roni smiled wryly. "Natsuki told me the truth when we were together." He let his eyes drift to the floor. "He really is an amazing kid, you know. I can't see how anyone could be so forgiving as he is. Especially to someone who raped him. That's part of why we're so worried about him confronting Kei again."
He glanced at Katsu. "To this day, Aaron doesn't understand how Natsuki could forgive him for what he did."
******
(ooc- dun dun dun....)
|
|
|
Post by Sameya -- Artemis on Dec 24, 2005 3:00:09 GMT -5
Katsu froze, speechless and stunned from disbelief for a long moment.
"...Aaron?" he managed to choke out after a few seconds. "But...they...those two...they're...good friends, aren't they?" he said, still in shock.
|
|
Akaru
Senpai
Mrowr.
Posts: 1,867
|
Post by Akaru on Dec 24, 2005 3:42:15 GMT -5
"Now, they are." Roni crossed his arms, leaning back against the pristine white walls. "Natsuki was everything Aaron hated when they met. They were the exactly the opposite...Aaron was poor, orphaned, and trying to thrive on the streets of London as a petty thief. Natsuki was the son of a very elite and old family in England, very rich and powerful. Aaron couldn't stand him.... he couldn't stand how unhappy Natsuki always seemed. He didn't know that Natsuki had only just lost his parents around that time. He hated Natsuki's kindness...saw it as condescending. One winter when Aaron was on especially hard times, after about a year of seeing each other from a distance, Natsuki approached Aaron and offered him his coat. Aaron just...snapped. He hit Natsuki, hard, threw him into an alley and...." Roni trailed off, letting his silence speak measures. "It was only a few months later that Aaron got into a fight with one of the more territorial groups in London...a gang, I guess you would call it. Natsuki found him unconsious in the snow, shot in the side and cut up pretty bad. He wasn't far from death. The kid took him into his home and nursed his wounds, saving his life. Aaron begrudgingly stayed with Natsuki for the rest of that winter season. I think he realized how pure Natsuki really is. Since then Aaron has been Natsuki self-appointed guardian and companion." "Natsuki really is the most important person in Aaron's life. He's the reason Aaron was able to turn his life around. He went back to school and accompanied Natsuki to Wittenburg a couple years later. Natsuki also gave him someone to care for...something he hadn't had in years. The weight of his initial offence is a burden Aaron has carried a long time... it's killing him to see those memories hurt Natsuki now. That's why...that's why he wants to take Natsuki back to Europe, where Kei can't get him. His family's power can protect him there." ******** ooc- okay, it sounded a lot better in my mind. Written out it just sounds petty and stupid. In a nutshell, it all comes down to surmounting animosity and adolescent rage.
|
|
|
Post by Sameya -- Artemis on Dec 24, 2005 4:06:30 GMT -5
ooc- it sounds fine.
ic- Katsu was silent, leaning against the wall beside Roni. Slowly he closed his eyes and slid down slowly towards the gleaming floors, holding his head in his hands. Anger, hate, guilt, confusion, and worry all gripped at his insides, pulling in different directions.
Anger at Aaron for his past crime.
Hate at Kei for screwing up everything in their lives now.
Guilt at himself for pulling Natsuki into all this.
Confusion between his anger towards Aaron, and his respect for Aaron after what had happened today, after his fierce protection of Natsuki.
Worry about what would happen after this.
"...I don't know what to say."
His fingers curled around his hair and he tugged, the pinpoints of pain crackling along his mind. "...What did you think about all this...?" he whispered.
|
|
Akaru
Senpai
Mrowr.
Posts: 1,867
|
Post by Akaru on Dec 24, 2005 4:19:32 GMT -5
Roni glanced at Katsu. "My anger...is directed at Kei alone. I can tell that you blame yourself for what happened, but remember that Natsuki made the decision to pursue Kei himself. There was nothing anyone could have done to stop him."
"Aaron is trying hard to redeem himself and become someone that...deserves to be Natsuki friend, as he thinks. In all truth, he has had Natsuki's forgiveness for a long time. All he needs now is his own."
|
|
|
Post by Sameya -- Artemis on Dec 24, 2005 10:36:57 GMT -5
"...I know. But then, I would think, Natsuki would have been better off without having met me in the first place," Katsu said, his eyes opening slightly, a sad smile on his face. He paused for a moment, staring up at the ceiling.
"You know...even after hearing about what Aaron did to Natsuki...I still have a deep respect for him. What he did for Natsuki today showed how decent he is, and that he would never hurt Natsuki. That's why I didn't say anything when I heard you guys talking about taking Natsuki back to England."
"Even though he can't hear us...I hope I don't seem too forward when I say this...but I hope that the fact that you and I, both, respect him and trust him with Natsuki eases his burden a little."
|
|
Akaru
Senpai
Mrowr.
Posts: 1,867
|
Post by Akaru on Dec 28, 2005 4:58:35 GMT -5
Roni gave a small smile, then tackled Katsu in a large hug. "Vous êtes une personne très aimable, mon chéri. I am sure Aaron would appreciate you saying as much...though he would probably never admit it. Our trust in him will help him make great leaps." Roni then turned slightly, humming. "Your doctor friend is just beyond that door. You should go and say bonjour!
*****
Natsuki meandered back down the hall toward his room when a hand pressed into his shoulder. He jumped slightly, then quickly relaxed upon seeing the mop of bright red hair over that familiar toothy grin. "Aaron," he breathed gently.
"Hey kiddo. Where ya goin now?" Aaron placed his rough hand against Natsuki's back as they continued towards the younger boy's room.
"Aa, the doctor said they wanted to take an x-ray."
"I see." Aaron murmured. They walked in silence until they reached the door to Natsuki's hospital room.
"I'll probably be ready for release after this, so I'll see you all again in about an hour," Natsuki said over his shoulder. He headed in towards his room when a tug at his hospital gown stopped him short. "Aaron?"
Aaron grasped the back of Natsuki's gown tightly. "Natsuki... wait. We need to talk."
Natsuki turned slightly. "What is it? Something wrong?"
Within a moment, Natsuki found himself wrapped in his friend's tight embrace.
"Natsuki... when we get out of here... let's go back to Sheffield, okay?"
|
|
|
Post by Sameya -- Artemis on Dec 30, 2005 8:37:01 GMT -5
Katsu looked slightly surprised by the hug, but then began to laugh quietly. "You're right, I should see him already."
He opened the door hesitantly and was instantly greeted with a wide smile from Drake.
"Katsu! Are you alright?" Drake said warmly, looking much better after all the dirt had been sponged off him, despite the numerous bandages on his arms and neck. Smaller bandages had been stuck onto the little cuts on the corners of his mouth and his cheeks.
"I'm alright," Katsu replied, sitting down in the chair beside the hospital bed. "Are you?"
"Stings here and there, but I'll be quite alright," Drake said. "I'm a doctor, I should know."
A pause between them.
"I want to apologize again for dragging you into this," Katsu said, bowing deeply. "I never knew that they would go after you..."
"Katsu...you know I don't blame you at all. Though if you make me repeat myself again, I might feel like hitting you with something heavy," Drake said with a teasing tone.
Katsu couldn't help smiling. "...Thank you. I-"
His face paled and he shakily clutched at his side, collapsing to the floor, overturning the chair with him, writhing in pain, trying not to cry out, sweat breaking out on his face.
"Katsu! Katsu!" Drake yelled, tumbling out of the bed, ignoring the sharp jabs of pain shooting inside from his wounds, pressing the bell near the bedside furiously.
|
|
Akaru
Senpai
Mrowr.
Posts: 1,867
|
Post by Akaru on Jan 8, 2006 3:46:01 GMT -5
Natsuki froze in Aaron's arms as what the older man had said sank in. "A-aaron....what are you talking about? Go....go back to England? Why would you bring something like that up? How silly." Natsuki pushed away gently until he could look up into Aaron's eyes.
Aaron stared back intensely. "Natsuki, I want to--"
"Natsuki, thank Heavens. There you are." Roni rounded the corner, abruptly ending Aaron's response. The redhead growled irritably.
"What is it now, Roni?" He bit out roughly.
Roni ignored Aaron's harsh tone and turned his attention to Natsuki. "It's Katsu," he said, watching as Natsuki visibly stiffened. "He's collapsed."
Natsuki froze, his heart pounding. "No..."
"The doctors will take care of it, Natsuki. You need to go get-woah... hey, wait, Natsuki! I said wait!" Roni trailed off, as it was too late. Natsuki was already sprinting down the hall.
|
|
|
Post by Sameya -- Artemis on Jan 8, 2006 4:36:10 GMT -5
Katsu could only vaguely feel Drake's voice yelling. Nothing ever hurt so much. He felt like he was going to die; it felt like someone had poured acid into his body. Claws were tearing his organs to shreds. Beads of sweat rolled down his face and he bit his lip, trying not to cry out. What was happening? His fingers were gripping at the fallen chair so tightly his knuckles were white.
--
A nurse came running into the room, her eyes darting from Drake and Katsu as she turned to call for assistance. Another nurse went to find one of the ER doctors, while the first one went to get a gurney.
The nurse half dragged, half carried Katsu towards the gurney. She had never seen a person in so much pain before. Drake was trying to assess Katsu's condition when the ER doctor ran in.
"Dr. Naosaki, I understand you are a highly respected doctor, but you are a patient. Please return to the bed," the ER doctor said firmly, before turning to the nurse struggling with Katsu, helping her get Katsu completely on the gurney, and hurriedly wheeling him out the door towards the ER ward. "I'll need to run diagnostics. Miss Lynx, I need you to give him a tranquilizer immediately..."
Drake tried to follow, but he stumbled, grabbing at the doorframe to stop him for falling to the floor. His legs were numb from his bruises and the anaesthetic he had been given for the wounds on his body. "Shit...Katsu..." he whispered worriedly as he watched the gurney disappear down the corridor.
|
|