The Second Doctor
My first ever Arashi fanfiction! Hope people might enjoy this~
warnings: mentions of non-graphic violence, subtle descriptions of harmful things
A fine afternoon, as usual, the radio blasted some latest hits; green leaves and bright sunlight accompany the drive to the hospital. Fingers tapping on the wheel drive matching the beat of the music played in the background, while the face attempted to lip-sync the artist but to no avail. Gear shifted to Neutral as the blue metallic city car stopped in front of a red blinding light; as the performance faded out, bold eyes focused on the pedestrian in front and turn up the volume for the sound system.
Back at it again with your MC Andrea, bringing you the latest hit songs and entertainment news at Mad Tea Party FM! ~
The playful, cheery voice of the radio station host filled the small surround space. The jokes and laughter followed not long after such comments were thrown back about the news regarding a boastful act from one of the prestigious politician in the country. Small chuckles escaped from the lips of the person behind the wheels, nodding along to whatever amateur comments made about today’s government issues while making a powerful comeback inside the mind. The wholesome atmosphere soon crashed by the honking sounds from the cars behind. The driver looked up and saw the red light had turn green, then proceed to gear the car and step on the gas pedal slowly. It seemed like any other trip to the hospital, alas, some dreams are too good to be true.
“Yes, how may I help you?” A man stood tall behind the receptionist desk at the hospital. Wearing those sickening light blue gown that is almost white if you squint; sometimes the male nurse can even be blended with the hospital walls if he wanted to. “Um, I have an appointment with a doctor…”, but the conversation was cut off for a realization face from the nurse, “Ah, yes! I’ll get your file immediately. Your face is very fresh today so it’s really hard to recognize. Pardon my rudeness, please have a seat.” Blushed face replaced the once cut conversation. A fresh face…it’s a compliment, no? The nurse rushed to the filing cabinet and pulled out a pastel mint manila folder filled with papers and some plastic holder files, “Ah, yes. You do have the appointment for today with doctor…” the nurse cut his lips short. There were an uncertainty and anxiety written on his face; eyes moved to corner to corner from the folder he’s holding as if searching for the right words to say. Finally, he looked up to the person seated and motion to come forward. When they were near, the male nurse lowered his head to match the eyes of the other person’s and explained in a very hushed voice, “I’m afraid your doctor is missing.”
It’s like suddenly the world doesn’t make any sense. For a second the hospital consisted of a big glass entrance and a reception desk with the filing cabinets, then one second later you’re seated on a comfortable cashmere couch in a dim-lighted room, on the corner of the room is a desk with books stacked; many titles hovered around the human mind and how to perceived them, behind the desk is a bookcase filled with books old and new. One peculiar book stood out from the rest. The leather maroon cover gave it all, with yellow sparkling streaks on the cover added the contrast to the whole monograph. The male nurse did ask to wait in the room, but a little snooping won't hurt anyone, no? The unique book now in the hands of a very curious little being. Grazing the cover and read Journal, which faded, lost in time. Must be a very old journal, one that can hold so many memories; I wish I knew who wrote it.
“Ah! That is…” This man will surely endanger someone with a heart attack at some point in his life, the male nurse from before entered the room with no sound whatsoever. “I’m sorry, it seems like even I can’t get a hold of the doctor. I know I’ve asked you to wait for me here, but I don’t think you should snoop around.” The male nurse eyed the maroon journal, “Come to think of it, I never saw the doctor showed that book to anyone and it is always held so dear. Maybe a memento of a loved one?” Then big hands of a well-trained nurse stole the book and began to inspect the outside cover, he squinted his eyes, lift the book up and down, while holding the book in his fingertips as to not plant any of his fingertips just like a detective would. “Would it be bad if we…open it? Maybe it belongs to the doctor. It may have clues to where the doctor is now.” The idea of the other person lightened up the male’s face. With a quick glance to and fro- as if they’re going to be people looking at us - the nurse put down the Journal on the desk and opened it on a random page.
A bingo card.
A bingo card?
Both asked the question in their heads. Why would someone made 5 by 5 box and filled it with words? The words itself doesn’t make any sense. Stone Cold Barbeque Meat, Last Stage for Me. What does that mean? Glancing towards the other person, the nurse is a very expressive being. Face paled, mouth gaping and breath fell in short puffs and wheezes as if he saw the devil standing before his very eyes. But the nurse is looking at the journal, so the devil must be small…still, no one got to meet the devil every day so it must’ve been a real shocker to him.
“I wanna see other pages.” The nurse complied and opened up an earlier page, which consisted of a handmade map of some big location filled with what appeared to be marked by a double circle. Unsatisfied with what he found, the nurse skimmed through pages to a page where a photo of a child is glued on the right-hand corner of the page, on the left is what appeared to be the information of the children like name, age, address, and committed crimes.
Eh.
Committed Crimes?
Both looked at each other in a very fearful way, just like what they did in the movies when the mystery’s about to be solved. Always wanted to know how that feels. But the circumstances now are different; the mystery is far from over.
It’s only the beginning.
Pages and pages of children with graphically explained horrible truths they have been put through. One by one both looked away as to escape from the reality smacked down to their faces as they read the contents of the book. Sexually abused, mutilated, is the doctor a victim? Or is he the main cause of it?
“Who would have done such terrible things? You don’t think…the doctor did this, don’t you?” Maybe not other can see it, but the male nurse is surely terrified by now. He’s shaking to the point where his eyes were unfocused and his lips trembled vigorously. Sweat formed on his large forehead almost staining the clean light blue uniform he wore as a sign that he worked at a hospital. As if he can blend to the walls…
Ah, I have said that already.
Perhaps silenced by the ugly truth they came across, both are unable to speak as to how to broke this invisible awkward wall. After regaining a few sense and coming down from that shock, one of them spoke to the other - it is certainly not the scared male nurse, “Maybe we can find out whose book is it by looking at the first page? People tend to write their name on the first page, no?”
As to not knowing what else to do, the male nurse opened the first page of the journal slowly. Wondered how the every cheerful happy-go-lucky radio host Andrea would report these founding. Perhaps she will be more enthusiastic than the both of us.
Ta-da.
Nothing.
The first page is blank. Nothing. Nada. No names, no contact, nothing. Frustrated, the nurse flipped the page and it landed on the next page where big bold letters were written forcefully as to show the one who had been writing this is very serious. It read:
For I have confess to anything and everything that is written in this book. -NK
“NK? Is that the initial of the owner? But…” “Maybe it’s one of the patients? Even being the second doctor in a hospital does not mean the only patient is I, no? You must have the list of every patient!” the nurse looked perplexed yet determined, “I do. Let’s check it!” he closed the journal then made his way to the front desk and asked the other person to sit next to him while he looked at some files.
“Ah! There it is! A patient named NK!”
Looking at the bright screen is like looking into the mirror. Kazunari Ninomiya. That’s the name. That’s the owner of this journal’s name.
Kazunari Ninomiya.
“It says here that a certain Kazunari Ninomiya is thrown into jail a few years ago. We can ask about that journal and maybe the doctor’s disappearance.”
“We can go with my car. I brought my car to the hospital today.”
The road is yet so pleasant again even though the duo is heading towards a very bad place. A bad place for bad people; and if the owner really did do all those things written in the journal, serve them right. A catchy strum of a guitar filled the silent vehicle with nodding heads and occasional hums. The male nurse glanced towards the driver, “It’s my first time ever riding with a patient before. It’s also the first time I’ve actually search for a missing person to this extent.” His attempt to make small talk was awarded silence. The nurse sighed and looked at the outside sky once more, closing his eyes to feel the singers following their strums of guitars and nodding his head to the rhythm. “My name is Sakurai, Sho Sakurai. I thought I would as well tell you my name if we’re going to go this far on a journey.” It caught the driver’s attention as both looked at each other, “Hello, nice to meet you.” Smiles were exchanged, the atmosphere turned to friendly at once, before both were back to being quiet while enjoying the vocalist reached its highest vocal range before the song came to an end.
The receptionist looked at them in confusion and squinted eye. Yes, we are an incredibly rare pair - a hospital staff and a patient - but you should wipe some of that judgemental look on your face, Missus. "I'm sorry, there is no Ninomiya nor Kazunari in this penitentiary. Perhaps you should be looking somewhere else?" the lady behind the reception desk sneered as she wouldn't let us pass. The irritated looked in her eyes went straight to her voice. It's very annoying. Why is she so annoying. I wish I could just...
"But there has to be a mistake. I have this file right here that said otherwise. See?" the male nurse, no. Sakurai. He has a name and his name is Sho Sakurai. I shall call you Sakurai, the male nurse from the hospital. He showed the file of patients’ records earlier. The lovely lady adjusted her glasses annoyingly while clicking on her tongue, very annoying. Such an annoying lady; I shall call you a woman, lady.
While Sakurai and The Annoying Receptionist Woman argued, with each exchange increase their volume more and more, the other person there tried to look around the waiting room, maybe for...entertainment?
It's a boring room; well it won't be a room with colors and wonders. Big wooden door, grey walls, metal chairs, grey cushions, grey wooden table, is this place obsessed with grey or something?!
There is one thing in this four-walled room with colors. And no, not the annoying lady; I believe that she was created in gray scale. Hm, gray scale; Maybe this is a gray scale place...But
AH.
WAIT.
I have seen that before.
The only color in this place, plastered to the wall with a grey frame. A map, a big map.
A MAP!
Not that big. It's the map of the city. That's the hospital, the jail, the road...is map available anywhere? Then the commotion at the front desk turned into something quite critical, "For your information, I have this book! This book belonged to someone with the initial NK!", "Gimme that." the sudden command startled both Sakurai and the woman. Both blinked comically at the sight of the other person shorter than both. "Give me." a finger pointed at the book held by Hadley, "That!" and the sudden wish was granted by the male nurse. Aligning the book and the map on the wall appeared to be easy, unfortunately it's not. But there were similar points from the reckless drawing in the book. And the writing on the book-map doesn’t make any sense. Why would someone wrote 'Friends with Hangman' where the hospital maybe. And also ' Last Stage for Me', 'Stone Cold Barbeque Meat' Where have...
You know what?
Having sudden realization twice in a day is very exhausting I tell you.
But you remember the words, right?
"SAKURAI! It's a MAP!" Sakurai turned to the source of the sudden exclaim, "Pardon me?" "The pages where there are many circles! It's a map of this town, Sakurai!" Sakurai smiled and moved towards the one holding the book in front of the map on the wall. "See, what’s written here is the same as the one in the bingo card earlier? This must be where the owner is!" both gleamed with sparkles in their eyes, another adventure awaited them both. Now it's time to crack open the weird words on the bingo card.
Maybe you should have a go, too?
If you can guess one or a few things, write them down in the comments~
I've solved it all.
Pretty terrible things, huh?
"Sakurai, what are the rules of bingo?" Sakurai looked up and tapped his chin slightly, "I've never played them before, I think you have to circle the box in one line?" the other looked at him confused, Sakurai chuckled and motioned his finger on the bingo part of the book, "You have to circle it diagonally, vertically, or horizontally. So you have to do those 5 horrible things in a row. Ugh, who would do such a thing?" Sakurai made a disgusted face. True, the bingo card is circled in red, must have meant that whoever made this done those things written on it. Hm? Only one thing left before bingo..."Let the four minutes passed slowly, where is that on the map?" as the pages of the worn out book turned, both look to and fro from the book and the map attached to the wall. "River valley?" Hadley said pointing at the words River Valley with a bed of daisies next to it on the wall map. "Could be. How far away is it?" "A few hours drive, maybe.", "Okay. We're heading to River Valley next!" both stood up and ran to the door, "Hope you enjoyed your stay." The forgotten woman sneered as the two unlikely visitors exited the penitentiary.
The sneering woman, hope she rots in thee forsaken earth space~
Have you heard this song?
Well, MC Andrea is here to stay folks. So let's hear a few slow beat 90's hit songs to accompany your ride in the afternoon breeze~
Had Andrea been talking this long? How is she not tired or bored already. The pair sank to the comfortable chair while humming to the melody; a stable velocity drove them to the long roads of the city to their new destination, River Valley. "You know, I've been working with the doctor for almost two months now. I can't believe the doctor's name didn't come up. Perhaps...the doctor is missing for good." Sakurai sighed deeply while looking at the window, avoiding the looks he got from the driver beside him. Oh yeah, we are on this ride right now trying to find the missing doctor, right?
Almost forgot about that, huh?
River Valley. It's a landscape-lover wet dream. River streamed down the lanes and lanes of green grass, beds of flowers and clovers adorned the scenery while the wind is surely breezy, such a pleasing sight to the eye. Sakurai stretched his arms and made a satisfied grunt, he looked at the beautiful landscape of the valley and smiled contentedly as his eyes traveled from the hills to the flowing streams, all of sudden his eyes caught something and he pointed to something, the other person followed his pointed finger to one of a hill across them. On top of the highest peak, stood a silhouette of a person, perhaps it is sitting, the edges are sharp and it stayed there like a stone. Paying no attention to Sakurai, the already tired driver climbed up the hill with small steps while huffing and puffing all the way up.
It sure is windy up here. Windy-er.
Approaching the silhouette seemed easier than walking up the hill, so a tap on the shoulder should do the trick for now. Alas, the silhouette turned and a face of a very elderly man smiled upon seeing his visitor. His lips curled from ear-to-ear as his eyes squinted and cheeks puffed up. His long, fluffy, white beard only enhanced the friendly atmosphere he brought.
"And what brings you here? Are you looking for me?" the grown man asked, mouth quivering as the other tried to answer as if trying to decide which words to use where it's all jumbled and tumbled in the brain. "Ninomiya?" the other finally asked the old man shook his head, his beard swung furiously from right to left, "My name is Ba-ngoon."
"Huh?"
"Megasameru."
"Pardon me?"
"Hey!"
"Oo Yaan MAK!"
"HEY!" Sakurai turned the younger around, startled, confused, and worry painted on the face of the male nurse. "Whom were you talking to?" "Um...The man?" his face became redder, "WHAT MAN?!"
Wait.
What?
"ARE YOU GOING MAD SO YOU STARTED TALKING TO A GRAVESTONE?!"
A stone?
Gravestone?
"IS THIS THE ATONEMENT OF YOUR SINS?!"
.
.
.
.
Then suddenly the world made sense.
Awoken, laid in a comfortable bed with short breaths coming out of my mouth. Sitting up I wiped the sweat forming on my forehead and pushed the strands of hair wet to the sides of my face. I stopped for a while and looked up.
So, it was all, a dream?
I turned to the bedside table and there it lay. The old maroon journal with yellow streaks. I stared at it for a couple of seconds, tried to remember the adventures I had in dreamland before all of it dissolved into nothingness.
I remember.
None of it.
Let bygones be bygones they always said, so I looked at the time on the wall and sighed; Time for work.
A fine afternoon, as usual, the radio blasted some latest hits; green leaves and bright sunlight accompany me to the hospital. My fingers tapped on the wheel matching the beat of the music played in the background while I attempted to lipsync the artist with all my might; I still failed. I put my car to stop in front of a red blinking light and looked at the pedestrian crossing the road then turned up the volume for the sound system.
Back at it again with your MC Andrea, bringing you the latest hit songs and entertainment news at Mad Tea Party FM! ~
The playful, cheery voice of the radio station host filled the small surround space. I laughed at the jokes and comments made by the hosts and her guests. Such a wholesome atmosphere ruined by the sound of honking vehicle behind me. I looked up at the traffic light and saw that the light has turned green. Avoiding another angry horn, I stepped on the gas pedal slowly. Just another day to the hospital, I guess.
When I arrived, the hospital is busy as ever. The halls were filled with adults and children going about. Some laughter, some cries, some agonizing sounds can be heard as I walk to my station. As I waited for the elevator, I read the board beside the hospital and searched for my name.
There it is!
Just after the first doctor.
Ding went the elevator as the door opened with an electronic voice of a lady greeting "Door Open," so I walked into the small chamber and pressed the floor button. Watching the button lit up after you pressed it is a satisfying thing, right? Maybe it's just me.
As I arrived at the door, the familiar smell and color have woken me up even further. I walked slowly to the receptionist table when someone greeted me with gleeful eyes and a heart-warming smile,
"Good morning, Doctor Ninomiya! It's nice seeing you today!" the male nurse pulled out a file, still smiling like always, and accompanies me to my workplace. "You know, we've been working together for two months now, and I remember telling you to call me Kazu. My name is Kazu, Sakurai." I put my bag on the floor and sat on the chair while Sakurai put some files on my table, "I'm sorry Doctor N...Doctor Kazu. Then you may call me Sho too. Your patients will be arriving soon, so I suggest you go and get ready." We looked at each other and smiled. As I searched my bag, my hand caught something leathery. I took out the worn out journal and placed it on the bookcase behind me. Sho looked at me curiously, "What is it with you and that book, Doctor Kazu? It seemed very dear to you." he asked innocently, I just chuckled lightly while looking at his slowly, batting my eyelash and smirking, "It's something I would never want anyone to see."
For I have confess to anything and everything that is written in this book.
~
Did that confuse you?
I sure hope you read it until the end. Thank you for everyone who made it this far.