Everyone is sorry.
The suggestion had been presented two days before. Taiki declined, saying that he'd taken some medicine to sleep and didn't want to mix it with alcohol. He'd then excused himself and retreated back to the guest bedroom, disappearing for the rest of the night. At the time Shuichi had felt foolish and embarrassed for even having voiced the idea -- the athlete was merely grasping at straws, trying to find some non-threatening way to help relieve some of Taiki's stress and at the same time hopefully resolve a few of their issues. As a result the idea was abandoned in Shuichi's mind and not brought up again.
********************
There are no words to adequately describe the frustration of knowing something is wrong with you and not being able to pinpoint or fix it. Senri is seemingly unaware of his injuries; the collar and ribs and arm and bruises and stitches, they all hurt... But it's his brain that is the most agitating. He can't remember what he had for breakfast (without being reminded) but he's sure that his work will go unhindered.
Living under constant supervision is not something he's used to; while he enjoys the company he loathes being treated like he's handicapped. Just over two weeks since the accident and everyone's nerves are shot. Daisuke became upset earlier when Senri insisted that he didn't need to go to therapy -- getting things arranged for his upcoming show was work enough and time was quickly running out on that front, he reasoned. When Taiki had shown up at Daisuke's request -a 'shift change', they'd cheerfully called it- Senri descended into a quiet, sullen funk. He realized that he was driving them all crazy.
********************
Between Lisbeth, Shuichi, Nakao, memory problems, and work, Taiki has no idea which slice of his life to focus on. He's trying to juggle everything but doesn't want to make a move in one direction and lessen his attention in another -- especially concerning the three most important people in his life. The urge to drop everything and flee is becoming increasingly exigent.
...Somewhere warm. A place with sand similar to what's in the bottle Lisbeth gave him. Mexico or Argentina or a tiny island -- anywhere that he can be absolutely alone.
But that's not an option right now and he knows it. He doesn't have many people in his life -even less that he is close to- and at present he needs to be there for all three. He will disappear after he gets everything sorted.
As a result he spends more time with Senri, tries to keep in contact with Lisbeth, and visits a liquor store on the way home to purchase a tall bottle of medium-quality sake.
********************
He fell again.
This is the third time since he's come home. The first two were minor -- he got tripped up and stumbled trying to move around the bed and ended up falling against the mattress. Now he's lying on the living room floor, just minutes after Daisuke got up to start dinner. His chest is killing him and Daisuke is panicked over a cut above his left eye. He didn't even realize he was listing before he tumbled sideways; his arms didn't even move out to catch himself -- he just toppled over.
When Daisuke is reasonably sure that he won't have to take Senri back to the hospital, his stress manifests into anger. If Senri would have just listened to him and stayed put then this wouldn't have happened. They've told him thousands of times that he can't just get up and walk around yet. Has he not learned from the other two falls? Does he want to go back to the hospital? Why can't he just listen?
********************
Someone asks a question and then the other person takes a drink and answers. Then switch. They're sitting next to each other at the low table in the living room -- Shuichi props himself up using the couch while Taiki leans over the end of the table, sitting cross-legged.
After mulling it over for two days, Taiki finally caved to the idea. In the end he decides it will serve a purpose on many levels -- drinking is probably safer than the pills he's been using, he needs to relax, he likes being near Shuichi, and he needs to take a step in repairing things between them. It is also an opportunity for him to get some answers.
There is one argument over why Taiki just picks up and disappears. Shuichi doesn't accept the 'various reasons' response and Taiki counters by bringing up the athlete's public statement from back in March. They sit brooding for several silent minutes before Shuichi sighs and starts again, this time leading with the fact that FC Tokyo has decided to terminate his contract early. The 'game' continues quietly after that.
Just after one in the morning -and after finishing off nearly two-thirds of the sake- they make their way back to the bedroom.
********************
Daisuke is carefully spreading ointment over the cut and apologizing. They're both upset and repentant. Doing his best to hold still, Senri wipes his eyes and nose. A pitiful remark about acquiring yet another scar makes Daisuke laugh, the sound easing some of the tension.
When everything is cleaned up, Daisuke helps Senri to his feet. This time Senri waits for help and together they shuffle back into the living room, Daisuke keeping him steady. Being escorted and nursed like an invalid is embarrassing but Senri's not about to cause another scene. While Taiki and Kaori might stick with him through this, he hasn't been seeing Daisuke for all that long...
Dinner appears a minute later and as Daisuke kneels to sit beside Senri, he presses a firm kiss on the designer's cheek, apologizing once more.
********************
There are no words to adequately describe the frustration of knowing something is wrong with you and not being able to pinpoint or fix it. Senri is seemingly unaware of his injuries; the collar and ribs and arm and bruises and stitches, they all hurt... But it's his brain that is the most agitating. He can't remember what he had for breakfast (without being reminded) but he's sure that his work will go unhindered.
Living under constant supervision is not something he's used to; while he enjoys the company he loathes being treated like he's handicapped. Just over two weeks since the accident and everyone's nerves are shot. Daisuke became upset earlier when Senri insisted that he didn't need to go to therapy -- getting things arranged for his upcoming show was work enough and time was quickly running out on that front, he reasoned. When Taiki had shown up at Daisuke's request -a 'shift change', they'd cheerfully called it- Senri descended into a quiet, sullen funk. He realized that he was driving them all crazy.
********************
Between Lisbeth, Shuichi, Nakao, memory problems, and work, Taiki has no idea which slice of his life to focus on. He's trying to juggle everything but doesn't want to make a move in one direction and lessen his attention in another -- especially concerning the three most important people in his life. The urge to drop everything and flee is becoming increasingly exigent.
...Somewhere warm. A place with sand similar to what's in the bottle Lisbeth gave him. Mexico or Argentina or a tiny island -- anywhere that he can be absolutely alone.
But that's not an option right now and he knows it. He doesn't have many people in his life -even less that he is close to- and at present he needs to be there for all three. He will disappear after he gets everything sorted.
As a result he spends more time with Senri, tries to keep in contact with Lisbeth, and visits a liquor store on the way home to purchase a tall bottle of medium-quality sake.
********************
He fell again.
This is the third time since he's come home. The first two were minor -- he got tripped up and stumbled trying to move around the bed and ended up falling against the mattress. Now he's lying on the living room floor, just minutes after Daisuke got up to start dinner. His chest is killing him and Daisuke is panicked over a cut above his left eye. He didn't even realize he was listing before he tumbled sideways; his arms didn't even move out to catch himself -- he just toppled over.
When Daisuke is reasonably sure that he won't have to take Senri back to the hospital, his stress manifests into anger. If Senri would have just listened to him and stayed put then this wouldn't have happened. They've told him thousands of times that he can't just get up and walk around yet. Has he not learned from the other two falls? Does he want to go back to the hospital? Why can't he just listen?
********************
Someone asks a question and then the other person takes a drink and answers. Then switch. They're sitting next to each other at the low table in the living room -- Shuichi props himself up using the couch while Taiki leans over the end of the table, sitting cross-legged.
After mulling it over for two days, Taiki finally caved to the idea. In the end he decides it will serve a purpose on many levels -- drinking is probably safer than the pills he's been using, he needs to relax, he likes being near Shuichi, and he needs to take a step in repairing things between them. It is also an opportunity for him to get some answers.
There is one argument over why Taiki just picks up and disappears. Shuichi doesn't accept the 'various reasons' response and Taiki counters by bringing up the athlete's public statement from back in March. They sit brooding for several silent minutes before Shuichi sighs and starts again, this time leading with the fact that FC Tokyo has decided to terminate his contract early. The 'game' continues quietly after that.
Just after one in the morning -and after finishing off nearly two-thirds of the sake- they make their way back to the bedroom.
********************
Daisuke is carefully spreading ointment over the cut and apologizing. They're both upset and repentant. Doing his best to hold still, Senri wipes his eyes and nose. A pitiful remark about acquiring yet another scar makes Daisuke laugh, the sound easing some of the tension.
When everything is cleaned up, Daisuke helps Senri to his feet. This time Senri waits for help and together they shuffle back into the living room, Daisuke keeping him steady. Being escorted and nursed like an invalid is embarrassing but Senri's not about to cause another scene. While Taiki and Kaori might stick with him through this, he hasn't been seeing Daisuke for all that long...
Dinner appears a minute later and as Daisuke kneels to sit beside Senri, he presses a firm kiss on the designer's cheek, apologizing once more.