![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Title: Second Life
Chapter: 7 - Broken Wings
Character: Aoi Ryosuke, Ryuzaki Shinji, Hasebe Nagisa
Fandom: Orthros no Inu
Rating: PG13
Summary: Shinji visited Ryosuke again as he noticed that his younger brother was depressed...
-------------
It was yet another day for him, to walk through this particular floor of the hospital. For some reason, it felt like since the past week; all he ever did was spending his time at the hospital. Shinji chuckled to himself. He was never a fan for hospitals before. Even when he used to have the power to heal any injuries or illness, he never liked being around hospitals. It just reminded him about how desperate the villagers of Ryukoku could be, seeking him out. Asking to be healed. Seeing all those patients who were hopeful to be cured, especially those who had already been told that their injuries or illness could not be cured because of the limitations of current medical technologies; made him relive all of the bad experiences that he used to face.
It was painful. Those people who were long dead; buried somewhere in Ryukoku or what’s left of it, used to be his relatives, neighbours... elders that he used to be fond of. But because of the power he used to hold; because of their own fear of death and desperation to keep on living, they succumb themselves into madness... attacking each other for the selfish desire to keep him for themselves—such dreadful images of his past was something he would rather forget.
But now with him no longer hold the power to heal, being in the hospital still felt awkward; yet here he was—because Ryosuke was here. And the place now felt more like a second home to him, for as long as his brother was here. How weird was that notion?
“Mum...! I can eat this by myself! You don’t have to—!”
Shinji couldn’t help but smile as Ryosuke’s adopted mother shoved the spoonful of porridge into Ryosuke’s mouth. Despite how much the latter had been protesting; Ryosuke obediently swallowed the porridge down his throat. Such adorable sight this was...
Ryosuke’s eyes flitted towards him as he finally realised he was being watched. Surprised, he hastily pulled his bed covers to cover himself as Mrs. Aoi laughed. He laughed as well as he entered the room.
“What are you doing, silly? Hiding under the covers like a baby...”
“I’m not a baby—!” he exclaimed again, pulling back the covers as Ryosuke jeered at him. Shinji chuckled again as he stared at his younger brother’s face.
“And I thought you’ve finally regained some colours on your face. Right now, your face was as red as a ripe tomato!” he teased as Ryosuke covered his face with his hands in embarrassment. “You sure are being loved by this family—” he added as Ryosuke snappily asked him to shut his mouth.
Mrs. Aoi just smiled.
“Ryosuke... was a beloved child of the family. Even when I had Shiho later, I’d still treat Ryosuke as such...” said the woman as she rose to hug and kissed her son. She turned towards Shinji.
“I’m sure you’d like to have some private time together. I’ll return home for now.”
“Eh!”
Shinji gasped as he rose to stop her. “No, you don’t have to—I didn’t mean to intrude...”
The woman just shook her head.
“It’s all right. I was about to leave also, just that I was worried to leave Ryosuke by himself.”
Mrs. Aoi bowed as she excused herself before Shinji could argue any further. Ryosuke pouted as he watched his mother leave... and remained silent. After a few minutes, he turned towards Shinji.
“Aren’t you heading home any time soon?” he asked as Shinji turned his attention towards him and frowned.
“Why? I’ve only just arrived. Why are you so quick to shoo me away?”
“It’s nothing...” Ryosuke answered evasively.
Shinji was about to probe further before noticing that Ryosuke started to get fidgety. He thought about it as he chanced on a random guess.
“Did you want to go to the toilet?”
The strong façade Ryosuke was having at the moment started to crumble as he hastily looked away. Shinji realised his guess was right on track as he sat closer to him.
“Did you want me to help you get there?” he asked as Ryosuke started to get defensive again and edged away from him.
“No. I can get there by myself!” he cried out as he let his legs down from the bed. Shinji bit his lips as he watched Ryosuke struggle to get up and exclaimed loudly when Ryosuke stumbled and collapsed onto the floor.
He hurried to the other side of the bed as Ryosuke held the side of his head with his hand, which has now started to bleed when his head hit the nearby cabinet during the fall. Ryosuke covered his face with the other hand as he tried not to break into tears but the tears kept falling. Shinji frowned as the sight unnerved him. He gently wrapped his arm around his brother in an effort to calm him down.
“It’s all right. It’s nothing to be ashamed of...” he started to say as Ryosuke kept sobbing. He sighed before noticing Ryosuke clutching his chest now.
“My... you are such a crybab—“ Shinji frowned as another thought crossed his mind. “Ryo—can you even walk now?” he asked worriedly.
Ryosuke did not reply as Shinji got his answer anyway.
“Since when did—was it since yesterday?”
Ryosuke tried to wipe the tears on his face away as he nodded softly.
“I thought it was because I’ve been bedridden for quite some time so perhaps my legs were a bit numb for not being able to move much. But this morning I realised... I can’t really feel any strength on my legs—I don’t want to think it might be true... I—!”
Shinji continued to pat his shoulders in a comforting gesture as he helped his brother up.
“Anyway, let’s settle this current business first... okay? Before we worry about the other thing.” Shinji spoke, trying to reassure his brother but Ryosuke didn’t smile.
xxx
Both of them were quiet as Shinji pushed the wheelchair silently.
“Doctor, what’s wrong with my brother?”
The doctor shrugged. “It was not much to be worried about.” said the doctor as he put up some X-ray slides that belonged to Ryosuke.
“During the incident, the bullet that hit your brother barely missed his heart but still punctured one of his lungs. The angle to which the bullet has passed through his body, clearly showed that the bullet might have possibly grazed a part of his spine as well.”
The doctor smiled weakly at him. “But don’t worry. During the operation, I saw that there wasn’t any permanent damage to the spine and that he should be able to heal normally without any other complication. This paralysis of your brother might be around for a while, but rest assured that he would recover the use of his legs after a while.”
Shinji sighed. Although he was a bit relieved after hearing the doctor’s explanation about Ryosuke, seeing his brother’s behaviour right now; he could not help but still worried. Ryosuke had been very quiet ever since they have walked out of the doctor’s office.
Shinji decided to cheer him up as he wheeled Ryosuke towards the park outside the hospital. Ryosuke appeared unaffected when he noticed his brother was taking him to the place. Shinji sighed as he sat on the bench in front of Ryosuke.
“Ryosuke, cheer up. You heard what the doctor had said earlier. It was temporary, you’ll be able to walk again soon. The doctor did say that there would be some rehabilitation program the hospital could provide to help you regain the strength on your legs. And don’t forget, your injuries aren’t fully healed yet.” Shinji said as Ryosuke continued with his mock silence.
Shinji sighed again as he cupped Ryosuke’s face with his hands.
“Ryosuke... at least you’re still alive. If the bullet had hit your heart instead and killed you, I would never forgive myself. It was painful already when I could not save our father last year, I don’t want to lose you as well. Not mentioning how the Aoi family would mourn your death as well as others who cared about you, I would be devastated if you had died.”
Shinji shrugged. “Before... when I still thought that you have died with our mother, I had only kept myself alive through the years remembering what little memories we used to have together. When that day Detective Nagisa talked about you and later you appeared before me, very much alive and living well... I couldn’t have been more than happy. I cannot bear it if you had to die again after I’ve finally found you again.”
Ryosuke looked up towards him, teary-eyed. Shinji smiled weakly as he got up and embraced his brother.
“Now, now... enough crying. Just because I’m around, doesn’t mean you have to always be the crybaby...”
Ryosuke frowned as he rubbed his eyes vainly.
“Not my fault that I am a crybaby. So there!”
Shinji grinned as he hugged him tighter.
“Act more like a big brother, Ryosuke. Don’t tell me you also acted like a crybaby with Shiho-chan...”
Ryosuke pouted again. “None of your business! Since when did you get all friendly with Shiho? Don’t pull any weird stuff behind me!” cried Ryosuke again as that only made Shinji laughed even more.
xxx
“Oh, you’re still here. I thought by now it’d be a bit late for you to hang around...”
Shinji turned around as Nagisa arrived with Mio. Nagisa showed him the fruits basket she was bringing as he placed it on top of the nearby cabinet.
“Finished work?” he asked as Nagisa shrugged.
“Hmm... and I thought I’d come pay a little visit here. Mio was a bit worried having not seen Ryosuke for a while...”
Shinji gave her a wry look at her sudden use of Ryosuke’s first name for the first time but ignored it for his attention turned towards Mio. Mio had been holding a single feather—Shinji wondered when she had it in her hands— as she started tickling Ryosuke’s nose. Shinji grinned as Nagisa started fussing at her daughter.
“Mio! You’re not supposed to do that!” she hissed as Mio-chan laughed.
She continued doing it as Ryosuke started to stir. But instead of fully waking up, Ryosuke lifted a hand to try swatting the feather away; while muttering some incoherent words. That sight was enough to amuse the other two adults as both Nagisa and Shinji laughed...
Chapter: 7 - Broken Wings
Character: Aoi Ryosuke, Ryuzaki Shinji, Hasebe Nagisa
Fandom: Orthros no Inu
Rating: PG13
Summary: Shinji visited Ryosuke again as he noticed that his younger brother was depressed...
-------------
It was yet another day for him, to walk through this particular floor of the hospital. For some reason, it felt like since the past week; all he ever did was spending his time at the hospital. Shinji chuckled to himself. He was never a fan for hospitals before. Even when he used to have the power to heal any injuries or illness, he never liked being around hospitals. It just reminded him about how desperate the villagers of Ryukoku could be, seeking him out. Asking to be healed. Seeing all those patients who were hopeful to be cured, especially those who had already been told that their injuries or illness could not be cured because of the limitations of current medical technologies; made him relive all of the bad experiences that he used to face.
It was painful. Those people who were long dead; buried somewhere in Ryukoku or what’s left of it, used to be his relatives, neighbours... elders that he used to be fond of. But because of the power he used to hold; because of their own fear of death and desperation to keep on living, they succumb themselves into madness... attacking each other for the selfish desire to keep him for themselves—such dreadful images of his past was something he would rather forget.
But now with him no longer hold the power to heal, being in the hospital still felt awkward; yet here he was—because Ryosuke was here. And the place now felt more like a second home to him, for as long as his brother was here. How weird was that notion?
“Mum...! I can eat this by myself! You don’t have to—!”
Shinji couldn’t help but smile as Ryosuke’s adopted mother shoved the spoonful of porridge into Ryosuke’s mouth. Despite how much the latter had been protesting; Ryosuke obediently swallowed the porridge down his throat. Such adorable sight this was...
Ryosuke’s eyes flitted towards him as he finally realised he was being watched. Surprised, he hastily pulled his bed covers to cover himself as Mrs. Aoi laughed. He laughed as well as he entered the room.
“What are you doing, silly? Hiding under the covers like a baby...”
“I’m not a baby—!” he exclaimed again, pulling back the covers as Ryosuke jeered at him. Shinji chuckled again as he stared at his younger brother’s face.
“And I thought you’ve finally regained some colours on your face. Right now, your face was as red as a ripe tomato!” he teased as Ryosuke covered his face with his hands in embarrassment. “You sure are being loved by this family—” he added as Ryosuke snappily asked him to shut his mouth.
Mrs. Aoi just smiled.
“Ryosuke... was a beloved child of the family. Even when I had Shiho later, I’d still treat Ryosuke as such...” said the woman as she rose to hug and kissed her son. She turned towards Shinji.
“I’m sure you’d like to have some private time together. I’ll return home for now.”
“Eh!”
Shinji gasped as he rose to stop her. “No, you don’t have to—I didn’t mean to intrude...”
The woman just shook her head.
“It’s all right. I was about to leave also, just that I was worried to leave Ryosuke by himself.”
Mrs. Aoi bowed as she excused herself before Shinji could argue any further. Ryosuke pouted as he watched his mother leave... and remained silent. After a few minutes, he turned towards Shinji.
“Aren’t you heading home any time soon?” he asked as Shinji turned his attention towards him and frowned.
“Why? I’ve only just arrived. Why are you so quick to shoo me away?”
“It’s nothing...” Ryosuke answered evasively.
Shinji was about to probe further before noticing that Ryosuke started to get fidgety. He thought about it as he chanced on a random guess.
“Did you want to go to the toilet?”
The strong façade Ryosuke was having at the moment started to crumble as he hastily looked away. Shinji realised his guess was right on track as he sat closer to him.
“Did you want me to help you get there?” he asked as Ryosuke started to get defensive again and edged away from him.
“No. I can get there by myself!” he cried out as he let his legs down from the bed. Shinji bit his lips as he watched Ryosuke struggle to get up and exclaimed loudly when Ryosuke stumbled and collapsed onto the floor.
He hurried to the other side of the bed as Ryosuke held the side of his head with his hand, which has now started to bleed when his head hit the nearby cabinet during the fall. Ryosuke covered his face with the other hand as he tried not to break into tears but the tears kept falling. Shinji frowned as the sight unnerved him. He gently wrapped his arm around his brother in an effort to calm him down.
“It’s all right. It’s nothing to be ashamed of...” he started to say as Ryosuke kept sobbing. He sighed before noticing Ryosuke clutching his chest now.
“My... you are such a crybab—“ Shinji frowned as another thought crossed his mind. “Ryo—can you even walk now?” he asked worriedly.
Ryosuke did not reply as Shinji got his answer anyway.
“Since when did—was it since yesterday?”
Ryosuke tried to wipe the tears on his face away as he nodded softly.
“I thought it was because I’ve been bedridden for quite some time so perhaps my legs were a bit numb for not being able to move much. But this morning I realised... I can’t really feel any strength on my legs—I don’t want to think it might be true... I—!”
Shinji continued to pat his shoulders in a comforting gesture as he helped his brother up.
“Anyway, let’s settle this current business first... okay? Before we worry about the other thing.” Shinji spoke, trying to reassure his brother but Ryosuke didn’t smile.
xxx
Both of them were quiet as Shinji pushed the wheelchair silently.
“Doctor, what’s wrong with my brother?”
The doctor shrugged. “It was not much to be worried about.” said the doctor as he put up some X-ray slides that belonged to Ryosuke.
“During the incident, the bullet that hit your brother barely missed his heart but still punctured one of his lungs. The angle to which the bullet has passed through his body, clearly showed that the bullet might have possibly grazed a part of his spine as well.”
The doctor smiled weakly at him. “But don’t worry. During the operation, I saw that there wasn’t any permanent damage to the spine and that he should be able to heal normally without any other complication. This paralysis of your brother might be around for a while, but rest assured that he would recover the use of his legs after a while.”
Shinji sighed. Although he was a bit relieved after hearing the doctor’s explanation about Ryosuke, seeing his brother’s behaviour right now; he could not help but still worried. Ryosuke had been very quiet ever since they have walked out of the doctor’s office.
Shinji decided to cheer him up as he wheeled Ryosuke towards the park outside the hospital. Ryosuke appeared unaffected when he noticed his brother was taking him to the place. Shinji sighed as he sat on the bench in front of Ryosuke.
“Ryosuke, cheer up. You heard what the doctor had said earlier. It was temporary, you’ll be able to walk again soon. The doctor did say that there would be some rehabilitation program the hospital could provide to help you regain the strength on your legs. And don’t forget, your injuries aren’t fully healed yet.” Shinji said as Ryosuke continued with his mock silence.
Shinji sighed again as he cupped Ryosuke’s face with his hands.
“Ryosuke... at least you’re still alive. If the bullet had hit your heart instead and killed you, I would never forgive myself. It was painful already when I could not save our father last year, I don’t want to lose you as well. Not mentioning how the Aoi family would mourn your death as well as others who cared about you, I would be devastated if you had died.”
Shinji shrugged. “Before... when I still thought that you have died with our mother, I had only kept myself alive through the years remembering what little memories we used to have together. When that day Detective Nagisa talked about you and later you appeared before me, very much alive and living well... I couldn’t have been more than happy. I cannot bear it if you had to die again after I’ve finally found you again.”
Ryosuke looked up towards him, teary-eyed. Shinji smiled weakly as he got up and embraced his brother.
“Now, now... enough crying. Just because I’m around, doesn’t mean you have to always be the crybaby...”
Ryosuke frowned as he rubbed his eyes vainly.
“Not my fault that I am a crybaby. So there!”
Shinji grinned as he hugged him tighter.
“Act more like a big brother, Ryosuke. Don’t tell me you also acted like a crybaby with Shiho-chan...”
Ryosuke pouted again. “None of your business! Since when did you get all friendly with Shiho? Don’t pull any weird stuff behind me!” cried Ryosuke again as that only made Shinji laughed even more.
xxx
“Oh, you’re still here. I thought by now it’d be a bit late for you to hang around...”
Shinji turned around as Nagisa arrived with Mio. Nagisa showed him the fruits basket she was bringing as he placed it on top of the nearby cabinet.
“Finished work?” he asked as Nagisa shrugged.
“Hmm... and I thought I’d come pay a little visit here. Mio was a bit worried having not seen Ryosuke for a while...”
Shinji gave her a wry look at her sudden use of Ryosuke’s first name for the first time but ignored it for his attention turned towards Mio. Mio had been holding a single feather—Shinji wondered when she had it in her hands— as she started tickling Ryosuke’s nose. Shinji grinned as Nagisa started fussing at her daughter.
“Mio! You’re not supposed to do that!” she hissed as Mio-chan laughed.
She continued doing it as Ryosuke started to stir. But instead of fully waking up, Ryosuke lifted a hand to try swatting the feather away; while muttering some incoherent words. That sight was enough to amuse the other two adults as both Nagisa and Shinji laughed...
Tags: