When We're No Longer Here - Chapter 20
Chapter 20 - The Wise Old Man
Author : rei *me*
Rating : pg
Disclaimer : Everyone knows that HSJ belong to JE. .sadly. .T_T
Summary : Imagine what will happen, if your presence are no longer exist. Imagine what will hapen, if you're no longer known by any. Imagine what will happen, if the one you can count on is only, you. [I'm suck even at summaries, I know. .T_T]
Author's note : okay.. so here's the deal.. i'll try updating every sundays.. and if there's a time when i don't update anything at sunday, then i probably is at work.. pls bear with it.. i'll try to update regularly since now on.. TToTT
and most importantly, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO TSU-CHAN tsubasa_quill & MY TWIN-CHAN cherry_ryosuke !!!
it's late.. but i only had the chance to say it~ TToTT
When We’re No Longer Here - Chapter 20 - The Wise Old Man
“You can sleep while we get there.”
Ryosuke turn to his side slowly with a frown. “Ryutaro ?” He calls out confusedly.
Ryutaro just sigh. “You can sleep here. The trip will still take about an hour or so.” He pats his own laps.
Ryosuke stare at him for a good minute before smiling weakly. “Arigatou.” He’s about to lean back on his seat when he starts coughing.
Ryutaro just sigh again. He reaches out his hand and pull the older boy’s body close so now Ryosuke’s head is laying on his laps.
Ryosuke widen his eyes in surprise but soon relax in the younger boy’s warmth. “Arigatou, Ryutaro.” And he slowly drift off to a dreamless sleep.
***************************************************************************************************************
“Sou. I understand.” The old man pput the phone at the cradle as he sighs deeply. His eyes darted toward the walls where the posters are hanging. But his eyes fixated on the one poster. The poster which consisted 10 young boys with smiling faces. He focused his gaze at the boy in the middle. The pale complexion of his skin looks perfect with his brown eyes. His eyes twinkles, but he sees deeper behind those shining contacts and see the burning passion inside him. He can see how much the boy devoted his life for his works.
The man sigh again. He stands from his seat and walks toward the windows. He peeks behind the curtain and he can see 2 cars and 1 motorcycle pulled off in front of the building. He couldn’t figure out the faces from the 7th floor he’s now in, but he can imagining them just fine.
He takes a deep breath as he fixes his composure. “Now you can’t be uncertain of what you have decided Kitagawa Johnny.”
****************************************************************************************************************
Ryosuke just stand still as his eyes gazing longingly at the tall building stood before him.
“It’d been a long time since I came here.” He whispers softly. “But yet, it still feels like just yesterday that we left this place laughing. As if we don’t care about the world.”
Yabu approach the boy with a sad look. “Ryosuke…”
Ryosuke just smile. “It’s okay, Yabu-kun. Let’s go.”
Yabu’s sad eyes just turned sadder as he follows the boy inside quietly.
None of them say a thing in their way toward the room of the top floor. It was still too early for the younger boys to showed up, but too late for the older ones to walk around the hallway, so their way was particularly undisturbed by the shrieking Juniors or the sempais who will yell at them for their unnoticeable disappearance. And somehow, they feel relieved.
Ryosuke stop his track in front of one big oak door. He inhales deeply as he tries to calm himself and keep himself composed. A gentle squeeze of his right hand startled him, but as he turns around and see Yuto’s smile, he couldn’t help but feeling relaxed so he smiles as well. Taking a final long breath, he raises his hand and knock the door.
****************************************************************************************************************
At the sound of the first knock of his door, the old man’s heart skipped a beat. ‘It’s time.’ He thought as he returns to his seat and straighten his figure.
“Come in.” Comes the deep voice from his very own mouth.
Slowly, the thick door opened and soon it revealed the boys he’d been waiting for. His mouth curved upwards ever so slightly, but as soon as he locked his eyes at the boy standing at the very front of the group, his smile fade.
There is something going on with this boy.
The lights he used to see shining around him now had dimmed into almost nothing. The compassion he used to adore now clouded behind those dark eyes. The star he used to be so proud of, now slowly fading away.
He frowns as he watches the group walk closer. And without any opening words, he stares at the boy piercely and ask, “What had happened, Yamada-kun ?”
Ryosuke flinch at the mention of his name. He lowered his head as he fiddles with his fingers.
“I-I… I m-mean…” He stutter rather nervously.
Yabu, being a responsible oldest member he is, decided that he should take the wheel now. “Johnny-san, we are sorry for the troubles we’d caused, but-“
“I’ve heard so many explanations from you, Yabu-kun. And I think I’ve had enough. As for now, I wanted to hear the story from Yamada-kun’s point of view.” Johnny-san didn’t even look at Yabu as he said those words. “Now, if you don’t mind Yamada-kun ?”
Ryosuke start to break a sweat. He’s having an inner battle between telling the man the real story, or trying to make up any. He’s really tempted to just spill the bomb right here and now, but there’s this nagging feeling inside him that tells him that this is not the right time to tell the man about the whole truth.
“We are waiting, Yamada-kun.”
Ryosuke bit his lips hard. He really can’t decided. At least not yet.
“Yamada-kun,I don’t have…”
“Gomenasai !” Ryosuke suddenly exclaimed as he bow his head real low. “There is one very important reason of why I caused this trouble ! But I really can’t tell you now ! But you can’t blame the others ! It was completely my fault ! So, hontou ni gomenasai !”
An eerie silence followed after that. All the time, not once Ryosuke dare himself to lift his head. As for the other 9 boys, they could only watch as they were too confused to do anything.
“You were thinking too much Yamada-kun.” A soft voice can be heard.
Ryosuke was taken aback by the unexpected reaction. He had anticipated the probability of Johnny-san’s madness. He even had thought that he’ll receive a hit or two.
“Look at me now.” He can hear the man said as a hand was put on his shoulder, and then Ryosuke look up, only to meet eyes with the gentle look. “You don’t have to be afraid of it, not anymore.”
“But, why ?” Ryosuke could only frown.
The man chuckle at this. “I didn’t say that I wasn’t mad. I was so upset to you all at first for suddenly disappearing without a notice. But then, as I was thinking it back, I knew that you had your reasons. And when this young lady came and explained me everything, I was kind of worried actually, so I called you up here.”
“Oh.” Was the only reaction Ryosuke made before he realizes something. “EH ? Who is telling you what ?” He widens his eyes in horror.
“Touyama-san just came and told me everything. About the plan his father made. About the reason of your sudden disappearance. And more importantly, about ‘your’ condition.” Johnny-san squeezes Ryosuke’ shoulder as he presses on the word ‘your’.
“I.. I…” Ryosuke averted his gaze towards his friends, asking for help.
“Johnny-san, we are truly sorry for causing you trouble, but we really don’t have any other choice.” Yabu decided that he should speak something now. “And if you don’t mind, please keep this information for yourself. We can’t take a risk of people knowing about this and accidentally spread the news to the people we shouldn’t tell. Especially now Ryosuke’s condition had gone worse…” Yabu covers his mouth in realization as he widens his eyes as well.
Johnny-san frown at this. “What ?”
“It’s nothing !” Ryosuke shout frantically. “Really…” He adds up in a desperate tone.
But the old man was too experienced in reading people to be lied on. Since the very first time he saw the boy’s eyes today, he knows that something is wrong.
“I know there’s something you hide from me. Now, tell me.”
And the boys are all know too well that the man really mean it.
“I guess there’s no point in hiding it anymore.” Ryutaro sigh.
“Ryutaro !” Ryosuke warn him.
“Why so persistent on keeping this anyway, Ryosuke ? Johnny-san had known most of the stories anyway. And by acting this suspiciously, he will only pry for more, don’t you think so ?” Ryutaro stated matter-of-factly.
“But-“
“What’s the harm on telling him anyway ?” Ryutaro ask even before Ryosuke could finish his words, leaving the room silence.
After a few while, Inoo start sighing as well. “Ryutaro was right. There’s no harm in telling Johnny-san about this. Beside, he even could possibly help us in the future.”
Ryosuke bit his lips in confusion. He stares nervously at the man’s challenging eyes before him. After some times, he closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. He nods.
Ryutaro make a small victorious smirk at this. And the others just sigh in relief, including Johnny-san as well.
“So, what haven’t you tell me ?” The man ask again.
“Well, it’s actually, considering to our observation, Ryosuke is in his latest stage already…” Ryutaro trail off.
“Ha ?” For once the man looked like that he doesn’t even know what’s going on around him.
“He was suddenly having a high fever this morning, and vomiting endlessly. And it’s been long since he was sick. So I presumed that he’s entering the last stage already. It was shorter than what Rui-san told us, so I also presumed that the medicines were not really working, or, they were not taken according to the prescription Rui-san made.” At this, Ryutaro take a glance toward the said boy who is seemingly nervous at this.
“Anyway, it happened, and we couldn’t do more. So we contacted Rui-san just now. And I think that was the reason why Rui-san mailed Yabu-kun and informed him that she’ll be coming over this night. But it was out of my presumptions that she would come to you beforehand Johnny-san. So I was kind of surprised.” Ryutaro cross his arms in front of his chest with a frown in his face, with the others looking at him dumbfoundedly.
“Wow. I never knew you thought that far.” Chinen commented curtly.
But before anyone could say anything anymore, Johnny-san burst out. “What ?! So you mean that now Yamada-kun is sick ?!”
“Uh-huh.” Ryutaro nod in confirmation.
“So why are you here now ?! You should have stay and rest !” Johnny-san yell at Ryosuke. “And you !” He march toward Yabu. “You should’ve known better that you can’t let him walk out like this In this kind of condition ! You could’ve tell me !”
“But Johnny-san, we didn’t know that you know.” Ryutaro state logically. “And we tried, but apparently, Ryosuke himself wanted to come here. With an excuse that ‘we will know why he needs to be here.’ “
Another silence.
“Wow, Ryu-chan.” Again, it’s Chinen who break the silence.
“Was that true, Yamada-kun ?” All heads turn toward the boy who hangs his head down low.
”I…”
“Yamada-kun ?” Johnny-san called out worriedly.
“I…” But before he could continue, his body sway and he falls to the ground.
“RYOSUKE !”
~~~~~tbc
well, what do you think ?
i personally think that i'm getting worse.. TToTT
anyway, review !!
Author : rei *me*
Rating : pg
Disclaimer : Everyone knows that HSJ belong to JE. .sadly. .T_T
Summary : Imagine what will happen, if your presence are no longer exist. Imagine what will hapen, if you're no longer known by any. Imagine what will happen, if the one you can count on is only, you. [I'm suck even at summaries, I know. .T_T]
Author's note : okay.. so here's the deal.. i'll try updating every sundays.. and if there's a time when i don't update anything at sunday, then i probably is at work.. pls bear with it.. i'll try to update regularly since now on.. TToTT
and most importantly, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO TSU-CHAN tsubasa_quill & MY TWIN-CHAN cherry_ryosuke !!!
it's late.. but i only had the chance to say it~ TToTT
When We’re No Longer Here - Chapter 20 - The Wise Old Man
“You can sleep while we get there.”
Ryosuke turn to his side slowly with a frown. “Ryutaro ?” He calls out confusedly.
Ryutaro just sigh. “You can sleep here. The trip will still take about an hour or so.” He pats his own laps.
Ryosuke stare at him for a good minute before smiling weakly. “Arigatou.” He’s about to lean back on his seat when he starts coughing.
Ryutaro just sigh again. He reaches out his hand and pull the older boy’s body close so now Ryosuke’s head is laying on his laps.
Ryosuke widen his eyes in surprise but soon relax in the younger boy’s warmth. “Arigatou, Ryutaro.” And he slowly drift off to a dreamless sleep.
***************************************************************************************************************
“Sou. I understand.” The old man pput the phone at the cradle as he sighs deeply. His eyes darted toward the walls where the posters are hanging. But his eyes fixated on the one poster. The poster which consisted 10 young boys with smiling faces. He focused his gaze at the boy in the middle. The pale complexion of his skin looks perfect with his brown eyes. His eyes twinkles, but he sees deeper behind those shining contacts and see the burning passion inside him. He can see how much the boy devoted his life for his works.
The man sigh again. He stands from his seat and walks toward the windows. He peeks behind the curtain and he can see 2 cars and 1 motorcycle pulled off in front of the building. He couldn’t figure out the faces from the 7th floor he’s now in, but he can imagining them just fine.
He takes a deep breath as he fixes his composure. “Now you can’t be uncertain of what you have decided Kitagawa Johnny.”
****************************************************************************************************************
Ryosuke just stand still as his eyes gazing longingly at the tall building stood before him.
“It’d been a long time since I came here.” He whispers softly. “But yet, it still feels like just yesterday that we left this place laughing. As if we don’t care about the world.”
Yabu approach the boy with a sad look. “Ryosuke…”
Ryosuke just smile. “It’s okay, Yabu-kun. Let’s go.”
Yabu’s sad eyes just turned sadder as he follows the boy inside quietly.
None of them say a thing in their way toward the room of the top floor. It was still too early for the younger boys to showed up, but too late for the older ones to walk around the hallway, so their way was particularly undisturbed by the shrieking Juniors or the sempais who will yell at them for their unnoticeable disappearance. And somehow, they feel relieved.
Ryosuke stop his track in front of one big oak door. He inhales deeply as he tries to calm himself and keep himself composed. A gentle squeeze of his right hand startled him, but as he turns around and see Yuto’s smile, he couldn’t help but feeling relaxed so he smiles as well. Taking a final long breath, he raises his hand and knock the door.
****************************************************************************************************************
At the sound of the first knock of his door, the old man’s heart skipped a beat. ‘It’s time.’ He thought as he returns to his seat and straighten his figure.
“Come in.” Comes the deep voice from his very own mouth.
Slowly, the thick door opened and soon it revealed the boys he’d been waiting for. His mouth curved upwards ever so slightly, but as soon as he locked his eyes at the boy standing at the very front of the group, his smile fade.
There is something going on with this boy.
The lights he used to see shining around him now had dimmed into almost nothing. The compassion he used to adore now clouded behind those dark eyes. The star he used to be so proud of, now slowly fading away.
He frowns as he watches the group walk closer. And without any opening words, he stares at the boy piercely and ask, “What had happened, Yamada-kun ?”
Ryosuke flinch at the mention of his name. He lowered his head as he fiddles with his fingers.
“I-I… I m-mean…” He stutter rather nervously.
Yabu, being a responsible oldest member he is, decided that he should take the wheel now. “Johnny-san, we are sorry for the troubles we’d caused, but-“
“I’ve heard so many explanations from you, Yabu-kun. And I think I’ve had enough. As for now, I wanted to hear the story from Yamada-kun’s point of view.” Johnny-san didn’t even look at Yabu as he said those words. “Now, if you don’t mind Yamada-kun ?”
Ryosuke start to break a sweat. He’s having an inner battle between telling the man the real story, or trying to make up any. He’s really tempted to just spill the bomb right here and now, but there’s this nagging feeling inside him that tells him that this is not the right time to tell the man about the whole truth.
“We are waiting, Yamada-kun.”
Ryosuke bit his lips hard. He really can’t decided. At least not yet.
“Yamada-kun,I don’t have…”
“Gomenasai !” Ryosuke suddenly exclaimed as he bow his head real low. “There is one very important reason of why I caused this trouble ! But I really can’t tell you now ! But you can’t blame the others ! It was completely my fault ! So, hontou ni gomenasai !”
An eerie silence followed after that. All the time, not once Ryosuke dare himself to lift his head. As for the other 9 boys, they could only watch as they were too confused to do anything.
“You were thinking too much Yamada-kun.” A soft voice can be heard.
Ryosuke was taken aback by the unexpected reaction. He had anticipated the probability of Johnny-san’s madness. He even had thought that he’ll receive a hit or two.
“Look at me now.” He can hear the man said as a hand was put on his shoulder, and then Ryosuke look up, only to meet eyes with the gentle look. “You don’t have to be afraid of it, not anymore.”
“But, why ?” Ryosuke could only frown.
The man chuckle at this. “I didn’t say that I wasn’t mad. I was so upset to you all at first for suddenly disappearing without a notice. But then, as I was thinking it back, I knew that you had your reasons. And when this young lady came and explained me everything, I was kind of worried actually, so I called you up here.”
“Oh.” Was the only reaction Ryosuke made before he realizes something. “EH ? Who is telling you what ?” He widens his eyes in horror.
“Touyama-san just came and told me everything. About the plan his father made. About the reason of your sudden disappearance. And more importantly, about ‘your’ condition.” Johnny-san squeezes Ryosuke’ shoulder as he presses on the word ‘your’.
“I.. I…” Ryosuke averted his gaze towards his friends, asking for help.
“Johnny-san, we are truly sorry for causing you trouble, but we really don’t have any other choice.” Yabu decided that he should speak something now. “And if you don’t mind, please keep this information for yourself. We can’t take a risk of people knowing about this and accidentally spread the news to the people we shouldn’t tell. Especially now Ryosuke’s condition had gone worse…” Yabu covers his mouth in realization as he widens his eyes as well.
Johnny-san frown at this. “What ?”
“It’s nothing !” Ryosuke shout frantically. “Really…” He adds up in a desperate tone.
But the old man was too experienced in reading people to be lied on. Since the very first time he saw the boy’s eyes today, he knows that something is wrong.
“I know there’s something you hide from me. Now, tell me.”
And the boys are all know too well that the man really mean it.
“I guess there’s no point in hiding it anymore.” Ryutaro sigh.
“Ryutaro !” Ryosuke warn him.
“Why so persistent on keeping this anyway, Ryosuke ? Johnny-san had known most of the stories anyway. And by acting this suspiciously, he will only pry for more, don’t you think so ?” Ryutaro stated matter-of-factly.
“But-“
“What’s the harm on telling him anyway ?” Ryutaro ask even before Ryosuke could finish his words, leaving the room silence.
After a few while, Inoo start sighing as well. “Ryutaro was right. There’s no harm in telling Johnny-san about this. Beside, he even could possibly help us in the future.”
Ryosuke bit his lips in confusion. He stares nervously at the man’s challenging eyes before him. After some times, he closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. He nods.
Ryutaro make a small victorious smirk at this. And the others just sigh in relief, including Johnny-san as well.
“So, what haven’t you tell me ?” The man ask again.
“Well, it’s actually, considering to our observation, Ryosuke is in his latest stage already…” Ryutaro trail off.
“Ha ?” For once the man looked like that he doesn’t even know what’s going on around him.
“He was suddenly having a high fever this morning, and vomiting endlessly. And it’s been long since he was sick. So I presumed that he’s entering the last stage already. It was shorter than what Rui-san told us, so I also presumed that the medicines were not really working, or, they were not taken according to the prescription Rui-san made.” At this, Ryutaro take a glance toward the said boy who is seemingly nervous at this.
“Anyway, it happened, and we couldn’t do more. So we contacted Rui-san just now. And I think that was the reason why Rui-san mailed Yabu-kun and informed him that she’ll be coming over this night. But it was out of my presumptions that she would come to you beforehand Johnny-san. So I was kind of surprised.” Ryutaro cross his arms in front of his chest with a frown in his face, with the others looking at him dumbfoundedly.
“Wow. I never knew you thought that far.” Chinen commented curtly.
But before anyone could say anything anymore, Johnny-san burst out. “What ?! So you mean that now Yamada-kun is sick ?!”
“Uh-huh.” Ryutaro nod in confirmation.
“So why are you here now ?! You should have stay and rest !” Johnny-san yell at Ryosuke. “And you !” He march toward Yabu. “You should’ve known better that you can’t let him walk out like this In this kind of condition ! You could’ve tell me !”
“But Johnny-san, we didn’t know that you know.” Ryutaro state logically. “And we tried, but apparently, Ryosuke himself wanted to come here. With an excuse that ‘we will know why he needs to be here.’ “
Another silence.
“Wow, Ryu-chan.” Again, it’s Chinen who break the silence.
“Was that true, Yamada-kun ?” All heads turn toward the boy who hangs his head down low.
”I…”
“Yamada-kun ?” Johnny-san called out worriedly.
“I…” But before he could continue, his body sway and he falls to the ground.
“RYOSUKE !”
~~~~~tbc
well, what do you think ?
i personally think that i'm getting worse.. TToTT
anyway, review !!