Sakura Michi - Chapter 21 Part 1 -
Title: Even Cherry Blossom Paths Can Lead Astray
Pairing: KoKame, KameDa (one-sided), MaruDa friendship, JinDa friendship?
Rating: PG-13
Genre: romance, drama? No idea XD
Disclaimer: I don’t own them! I wish I did, but I never will (tear)
Warning: Some random guy-on-guy smut and another Uncommunicative!Ueda character (laugh)
Summary: Kame and Ueda have been going steady since shortly after Jin left for L.A. and Kame finally decided to confess… but what happens when the little things start pushing the two apart? Will they be able to bridge the growing gap, and when Kame decides to take things into his own hands, how does it bode for his lover?
| Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3| Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 |
| Chapter 6| Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9 | Chapter 10 |
| Chapt. 11 | Chapt. 12 | Chapt. 13 | Chapt. 14 | Chapter 15 |
| Chapt. 16 | Chapt. 17 | Chapt. 18 | Chapt. 19 | Chapter 20 |
Chapter 21
- Ueda’s P.o.V. -
Some racket wakes me and I groan, sit up to see Maru practically slamming the door. “Maru…? Who was that?”
Maru turns quickly, surprised, and looks at me thoughtfully before fetching me a glass of water and replying hesitantly, “Kame… and Akanishi-kun.”
I frown, taking the cup with a mumbled thanks. “Why was Kazuya here? He should be spending…spending time with Koki-kun before filming…”
Maru doesn’t answer, but helps me sit up properly without tugging at the stupid IV in my arm. Why do I even still have that thing? I’m fine, I’m just… just a little… off, is all.
“What about… Jin? Why was he here?” has he come before? I can’t remember… I hate these damn sedatives they have me on… I can’t remember a damn thing. It’s all just a jumbled mess.
Maru still doesn’t answer.
“Maru-” I go to complain but the doctor comes in.
“Hello, Ueda-san. Feeling better today?”
“Yes, much, thank you,” I struggle to remain polite and give Maru a pointed glare, which he ignores, as the doctor does his routine check-up. He calls in a nurse before turning to me.
“Well, it seems you’re fine again for now, Ueda-san, but please don’t put yourself under so much trouble and please remember to eat properly,” he says while the nurse removes the IV from my arm.
“Yes, doctor,” I mumble, repressing that light shudder I always get after IV’s and blood tests.
“Your fracture has started to get better, too, it seems,” the doctor continues. “That should help your condition significantly. You’re allowed to exercise again, but no sparring until after you’re completely healed, please.”
“Understood,” I mumble.
The doctor smiles. “Don’t worry, it won’t be long now. If you take care of yourself. And please don’t forget to take your medication.”
“I-I… the medication…gives me nightmares, though,” I whisper.
He frowns. “This kind shouldn’t be… unless,” he furrows his brow and picks up my folder from the table. “Have you ever… oh. I see.”
My head dips lower as a headache starts to form somewhere between my temples. “Is there a different kind I can try?”
He thinks for a moment, reviews my folder more thoroughly. “No, no, I’m sorry. You’ll just have to manage them until… until the medication is no longer necessary.”
I was afraid of that. But, wasn’t I doing well without it, before… things happened? Wasn’t I doing so well to hide it even from Kazuya?
“Tatchan…” Maru sits next to me and wraps a comforting arm around my shoulder. I sag against him, wishing it could at least be Kazuya here, with me, instead.
“Well, I’ll take my leave, then. Ueda-san, take care of yourself. Nakamaru-san, please make sure he’s eating properly.”
I just nod, feeling exhausted again already. Maru thanks the doctor and stands to help me get my stuff together. “I’ll bring you home,” he says after it’s all done. “We can pick up some groceries and-”
“I’d… like to be alone, this evening,” I interrupt. “Thanks for taking care of me and everything, but you can go home now.”
He blinks a couple times, looking surprised and a little hurt. “But-”
“It’s okay,” I try out a smile, my first in days. “I can train back; it won’t be too busy, this time on a weekday. Are my apartment keys in my bag?”
He sighs, resigned. “In your coat pocket, along with your wallet and phone. Take care of yourself, okay? I’ll tell Manager-san you’re out of hospital and he’ll e-mail you your schedule. It’s changed a little, because of Koki’s filming.”
I nod. “Thanks, Maru.”
He sighs. “I swear, you’ll be the death of me.”
“And without you, I’ll get myself killed shortly after and you’ll have to deal with me for all of eternity,” I shoot back and his laugh is a little too loud to be from the joke alone.
“Well, if you’re healthy enough to be cracking your morbid jokes, you should be well enough to get yourself home. See you at work,” he smiles, relieved, and waves goodbye.
I get up and fetch my coat, switch my wallet to my jeans pocket and take my phone out.
“5 missed calls”
“From who?” I check my call log. I sigh. Of course, I should have known. He was here, too, after all. I hit ‘call,’ and set the phone to my ear. It rings… and rings… and rings… and-
“Hello?” Jin’s voice sounds more than a little irritated. It helps my mood to know I’m not the only one.
“Hi to you too, Mr. Sunshine,” I tease. “After calling five times, I thought you’d be a little happier to hear from me, or did you not check your call display?”
A pause, probably in shock. “T-Tatsuya? Sorry, I was just- anyway, never mind. What’s up? Maru said you didn’t want to see me.”
He did, did he? The headache returns. “Well, I was asleep before,” I make some lame excuse and make a mental note to talk to Maru later. “I was just discharged and saw you’d called. Um… do you want to hang out, if you’re free? I haven’t had a decent latte in days.”
“Y-you’re sure?”
“Would I be asking if I wasn’t sure?” I smirk. It’s so much easier pretending to be okay around Jin. Even if… ugh. What am I doing, thinking of him again already?
I can hear the bright smile in his voice when he says, “Okay! Meet you in an hour? Or, do you want me to pick you up there? I’m still kinda nearby…”
“I have to go through some paperwork yet so I’ll meet you at the hospital entrance.”
“’Kay! See you!” he hangs up.
I chuckle. Bakanishi’s going to worsen my headache by the time we get to a café, I’m sure, but it’s kind of nice being able to laugh again, at least. Suddenly, my phone buzzes in my hand, announcing a new mail.
“Sender: Junno
Hey! Heard you’re discharged! See you at work! Ganbarou~ (^_^)v”
Right, work. Shit. I sigh and grab my scarf, wind it around my neck and lift my bag to my shoulder. How much choreography have I missed? When do we start filming? How many promo meetings have I missed, or photo-shoots, costume design meetings and scheduling meetings have I skipped? Well, I guess I’ll hear from our OCD manager soon enough exactly how many minutes of work I need to catch up on. I sling my coat over one arm and head downstairs.
On To | Part 2 |