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Title: Second Life
Chapter: 6 - The Valley of Elysion
Character: Aoi Ryosuke, Ryuzaki Shinji, Hasebe Nagisa
Fandom: Orthros no Inu
Rating: PG13
Summary: Seeing Ryosuke opened his eyes again was like a moments reprieve. For such a small thing to happen; for his brother to wake from his deep sleep; it felt as if the whole world was bright again...
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Ryosuke slowly lifted his right hand to touch Shinji’s face.
“Why are you crying? You looked stupid.”
Shinji choked in his laughter as he hastily wiped the tears that still clung on his face. Nagisa managed to draw a faint smile at him. Thank goodness, Ryosuke finally came out of his coma. It’s a blessing to be able to see him open his eyes and smile again...
Ryosuke’s eyes hovered between Shinji and Nagisa as he frowned.
“Why are both of you look so worried? I've only been—”
Suddenly, Ryosuke had a bout of coughing attack as Shinji gently lift him up into a sitting position and patted his back. Shinji grinned.
“Slow down. You’ve just woken up... and survived two murder attempts on your life. Take it easy, can you?”
He frowned at his brother and Nagisa.
“Two?”
Nagisa sat beside his bed.
“Sawamura... shot you that evening during the party. You’ve been in a coma since then. And just now... he tried to kill you again by strangulation. About that... I’m really sorry. I was supposed to protect you, yet—”
“Hasebe-san, what are you talking about? I don’t... blame you or anything. It’s not like you could predict—!”
Ryosuke started coughing again as Nagisa hastily got up.
“I’ll get a doctor. It might be a false alarm but Sawamura did strangle you. I’ll be back soon enough.” said Nagisa as Ryosuke nodded weakly at her. It was another moment of silence before Ryosuke sighed.
“Strangled... was I?”
Shinji glanced towards Ryosuke as he leaned on his brother’s side.
“I had a dream. Mother... our mother, had called for me. I tried searching for her... but I couldn’t find her. I couldn’t find you either... or anyone else. And then suddenly, I fell into the sea. I couldn’t breathe... I couldn’t move. I kept on sinking and sinking... and sinking...”
Shinji held him tighter.
“I thought... I’d never see anyone ever again.”
Shinji choked as he ran his hand all over Ryosuke’s head.
“You are such a baby. I’d never leave you alone.”
Shinji glanced down to see that Ryosuke had fallen asleep again. But at least he was still breathing. The bruise on Ryosuke’s neck... it made him realise how close it was for him to lose his brother. It was such a close call. If he was any later...
“Excuse us... did Aoi-san regained consciousness?”
Shinji turned his attention towards the newly arrived doctor and nurses as he nodded. He gently lowered his brother on the bed as he stepped away.
“He’d just fallen back to sleep though—” he said as the doctor nodded before starting to do the usual check up needed.
Shinji stepped out of the room as his eyes met with Nagisa’s. He smiled weakly to her as he joined her, watching the doctor and nurses tended to Ryosuke...
xxx
“It was lucky... you know.” said Nagisa finally as they walked out into the open.
Shinji frowned as he turned towards her.
“What did you mean, lucky? My brother had been SHOT... and just now a crazed officer almost strangled him dead! What’s so lucky about that?”
Nagisa shrugged.
“It could be worse.”
She sighed before turning towards him.
“I’ve gone to the crime scene, few days ago. We’ve found the bullet that came from Sawamura’s gun not far from where Aoi-san had collapsed.”
Shinji cocked his head at her; not getting what was she trying to say. Nagisa stared at him meaningfully.
“Shinji, that bullet went through Aoi’s body! That time, with all of us standing there... it was a miracle that no one else got hit by that bullet after it hits Aoi-san. The crime scene crew had recreated the scene. Somehow the bullet’s trajectory after it passed through Aoi-san barely missed hitting one of Aoi-san’s students before hitting one of the glass walls of the restaurant. If the angle was slightly lower, there’s probably more than one victim that Sawamura would have claimed that evening.”
Shinji sneered at her.
“So you’re saying it was also lucky that Sawamura was up there choking the air out my little brother? Because if not because of that, Ryosuke probably still be in a coma until now—”
“—That’s not what I’m trying to say!”
Nagisa made a face at him before letting out a frustrated cry.
“I wanted to say that it was lucky that no lives had been taken. Sure... Aoi-san got shot and even if he just barely survived the earlier commotion, he’s still alive! And no one else had got hurt during both incidents.”
Shinji calmed down a bit after hearing that before he sighed.
“Even then, I didn’t like the idea of having Ryosuke being in the brink of death every time...”
“You are being very honest now, aren’t you?” Nagisa asked, quite amused.
Shinji snorts.
“I didn’t get so much chance to become Ryosuke’s big brother in the past, did I?” he said as Nagisa smiled.
“So what about Sawamura?” Shinji asked again as she shrugged.
“There’s no denying it. Sawamura... got it very badly. He really thinks he was like that Greek mythological hero, Heracles. He called both of you as Orthros’s dog.”
Shinji frowned. He barely recalled Sawamura mentioning that name before...
“Why Orthros?”
Nagisa shrugged.
“Perhaps of the fact both of you had a power directly opposite of each other. Orthros... was a two-headed dog from the Greek Mythology. In the myth, Heracles killed the dog in order to fetch the red-skinned cattle it was suppose to be guarding.”
Shinji gave a look of distaste.
“Why did he referred to us as such?” he asked as Nagisa shrugged.
“In Greek, the name Orthros means ‘morning twilight’. Morning and twilight... in a way you can associate that with life and death. When you think about it, it was not that hard to piece things together.” Nagisa explained.
“You really did your research, detective-san,” he commented as Nagisa shrugged.
“It was part of my work. I did have to do a bit of profiling on Sawamura. I just had to wonder since when Sawamura had started to become like this. In just a few months, he could turn from a normal officer in the force into a crazed maniac—”
Shinji took a seat at the nearby bench. “It’s not that surprising. I’ve seen people going mad over my power in even less time than that.”
“But this is Aoi-san we’re talking about!” Nagisa pressed as she sat beside him.
“That’s what I’m saying!” Shinji exclaimed before looking away. “My grandfather... and the elders at the Ryukoku village, all of them wanted to have Ryosuke killed when he was still a child! His own grandson! Sure he regretted that decision later... but not because of the right reason. It’s because the villagers had became even more crazy since then. If Ryosuke’s powers had been known to many as mine had, you can bet it won’t just be Sawamura who would become crazy. Everyone else too... because they would be fearful of his powers and certainly they would try every means to prevent Ryosuke to use his powers on me.”
Nagisa turned away. When put it that way, it did make some sense. But such scenarios were better left unimagined. She couldn’t stand the thought of what more calamities that could have happen. Why think about it anymore when both brothers had already lost their powers?
xxx
Much later at the precinct, Nagisa stared towards the officers escorting Sawamura away to the asylum as she held the documents relating to the transfer. Her thoughts hovered towards her friend Chiharu when she used to still worked at the morgue. She always regarded Chiharu to be eccentric then, but that’s because it’s been a while since Chiharu became a coroner. It was to be expected for her to be like that, having to tend to so many dead bodies.
Even then, Chiharu was still able to behave like a normal person. Her getting used to her new job at the paediatrics was proof enough. Then what made Sawamura different that made him turned this way?
Her phone rang as Nagisa answered it.
“Hey, Nagisa. Are you free for some late lunch?”
Nagisa smiled. Chiharu, just when she had been thinking about her.
“Sure.” she said as she ended the call. Better off leaving her musings until that point. For some reason now, she had no intention to find out even more about Sawamura...
Chapter: 6 - The Valley of Elysion
Character: Aoi Ryosuke, Ryuzaki Shinji, Hasebe Nagisa
Fandom: Orthros no Inu
Rating: PG13
Summary: Seeing Ryosuke opened his eyes again was like a moments reprieve. For such a small thing to happen; for his brother to wake from his deep sleep; it felt as if the whole world was bright again...
----------------------------------------------
Ryosuke slowly lifted his right hand to touch Shinji’s face.
“Why are you crying? You looked stupid.”
Shinji choked in his laughter as he hastily wiped the tears that still clung on his face. Nagisa managed to draw a faint smile at him. Thank goodness, Ryosuke finally came out of his coma. It’s a blessing to be able to see him open his eyes and smile again...
Ryosuke’s eyes hovered between Shinji and Nagisa as he frowned.
“Why are both of you look so worried? I've only been—”
Suddenly, Ryosuke had a bout of coughing attack as Shinji gently lift him up into a sitting position and patted his back. Shinji grinned.
“Slow down. You’ve just woken up... and survived two murder attempts on your life. Take it easy, can you?”
He frowned at his brother and Nagisa.
“Two?”
Nagisa sat beside his bed.
“Sawamura... shot you that evening during the party. You’ve been in a coma since then. And just now... he tried to kill you again by strangulation. About that... I’m really sorry. I was supposed to protect you, yet—”
“Hasebe-san, what are you talking about? I don’t... blame you or anything. It’s not like you could predict—!”
Ryosuke started coughing again as Nagisa hastily got up.
“I’ll get a doctor. It might be a false alarm but Sawamura did strangle you. I’ll be back soon enough.” said Nagisa as Ryosuke nodded weakly at her. It was another moment of silence before Ryosuke sighed.
“Strangled... was I?”
Shinji glanced towards Ryosuke as he leaned on his brother’s side.
“I had a dream. Mother... our mother, had called for me. I tried searching for her... but I couldn’t find her. I couldn’t find you either... or anyone else. And then suddenly, I fell into the sea. I couldn’t breathe... I couldn’t move. I kept on sinking and sinking... and sinking...”
Shinji held him tighter.
“I thought... I’d never see anyone ever again.”
Shinji choked as he ran his hand all over Ryosuke’s head.
“You are such a baby. I’d never leave you alone.”
Shinji glanced down to see that Ryosuke had fallen asleep again. But at least he was still breathing. The bruise on Ryosuke’s neck... it made him realise how close it was for him to lose his brother. It was such a close call. If he was any later...
“Excuse us... did Aoi-san regained consciousness?”
Shinji turned his attention towards the newly arrived doctor and nurses as he nodded. He gently lowered his brother on the bed as he stepped away.
“He’d just fallen back to sleep though—” he said as the doctor nodded before starting to do the usual check up needed.
Shinji stepped out of the room as his eyes met with Nagisa’s. He smiled weakly to her as he joined her, watching the doctor and nurses tended to Ryosuke...
xxx
“It was lucky... you know.” said Nagisa finally as they walked out into the open.
Shinji frowned as he turned towards her.
“What did you mean, lucky? My brother had been SHOT... and just now a crazed officer almost strangled him dead! What’s so lucky about that?”
Nagisa shrugged.
“It could be worse.”
She sighed before turning towards him.
“I’ve gone to the crime scene, few days ago. We’ve found the bullet that came from Sawamura’s gun not far from where Aoi-san had collapsed.”
Shinji cocked his head at her; not getting what was she trying to say. Nagisa stared at him meaningfully.
“Shinji, that bullet went through Aoi’s body! That time, with all of us standing there... it was a miracle that no one else got hit by that bullet after it hits Aoi-san. The crime scene crew had recreated the scene. Somehow the bullet’s trajectory after it passed through Aoi-san barely missed hitting one of Aoi-san’s students before hitting one of the glass walls of the restaurant. If the angle was slightly lower, there’s probably more than one victim that Sawamura would have claimed that evening.”
Shinji sneered at her.
“So you’re saying it was also lucky that Sawamura was up there choking the air out my little brother? Because if not because of that, Ryosuke probably still be in a coma until now—”
“—That’s not what I’m trying to say!”
Nagisa made a face at him before letting out a frustrated cry.
“I wanted to say that it was lucky that no lives had been taken. Sure... Aoi-san got shot and even if he just barely survived the earlier commotion, he’s still alive! And no one else had got hurt during both incidents.”
Shinji calmed down a bit after hearing that before he sighed.
“Even then, I didn’t like the idea of having Ryosuke being in the brink of death every time...”
“You are being very honest now, aren’t you?” Nagisa asked, quite amused.
Shinji snorts.
“I didn’t get so much chance to become Ryosuke’s big brother in the past, did I?” he said as Nagisa smiled.
“So what about Sawamura?” Shinji asked again as she shrugged.
“There’s no denying it. Sawamura... got it very badly. He really thinks he was like that Greek mythological hero, Heracles. He called both of you as Orthros’s dog.”
Shinji frowned. He barely recalled Sawamura mentioning that name before...
“Why Orthros?”
Nagisa shrugged.
“Perhaps of the fact both of you had a power directly opposite of each other. Orthros... was a two-headed dog from the Greek Mythology. In the myth, Heracles killed the dog in order to fetch the red-skinned cattle it was suppose to be guarding.”
Shinji gave a look of distaste.
“Why did he referred to us as such?” he asked as Nagisa shrugged.
“In Greek, the name Orthros means ‘morning twilight’. Morning and twilight... in a way you can associate that with life and death. When you think about it, it was not that hard to piece things together.” Nagisa explained.
“You really did your research, detective-san,” he commented as Nagisa shrugged.
“It was part of my work. I did have to do a bit of profiling on Sawamura. I just had to wonder since when Sawamura had started to become like this. In just a few months, he could turn from a normal officer in the force into a crazed maniac—”
Shinji took a seat at the nearby bench. “It’s not that surprising. I’ve seen people going mad over my power in even less time than that.”
“But this is Aoi-san we’re talking about!” Nagisa pressed as she sat beside him.
“That’s what I’m saying!” Shinji exclaimed before looking away. “My grandfather... and the elders at the Ryukoku village, all of them wanted to have Ryosuke killed when he was still a child! His own grandson! Sure he regretted that decision later... but not because of the right reason. It’s because the villagers had became even more crazy since then. If Ryosuke’s powers had been known to many as mine had, you can bet it won’t just be Sawamura who would become crazy. Everyone else too... because they would be fearful of his powers and certainly they would try every means to prevent Ryosuke to use his powers on me.”
Nagisa turned away. When put it that way, it did make some sense. But such scenarios were better left unimagined. She couldn’t stand the thought of what more calamities that could have happen. Why think about it anymore when both brothers had already lost their powers?
xxx
Much later at the precinct, Nagisa stared towards the officers escorting Sawamura away to the asylum as she held the documents relating to the transfer. Her thoughts hovered towards her friend Chiharu when she used to still worked at the morgue. She always regarded Chiharu to be eccentric then, but that’s because it’s been a while since Chiharu became a coroner. It was to be expected for her to be like that, having to tend to so many dead bodies.
Even then, Chiharu was still able to behave like a normal person. Her getting used to her new job at the paediatrics was proof enough. Then what made Sawamura different that made him turned this way?
Her phone rang as Nagisa answered it.
“Hey, Nagisa. Are you free for some late lunch?”
Nagisa smiled. Chiharu, just when she had been thinking about her.
“Sure.” she said as she ended the call. Better off leaving her musings until that point. For some reason now, she had no intention to find out even more about Sawamura...
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