Chapter Text
There were monitors echoing in the room. Each beep making Hikaru more jumpy. He sat next to Yoshiki's bed. Its been a day and 5 hours. Its a miracle they found him.
-
He threw up. All the shame and guilt building up and creating this disgusting nausea finally let out. Yoshiki is regretting not bringing his Nausea medicine. He was standing next to a fast current of the river. The cicadas were buzzing loud and he could hear the bees as they fly past him. Using the back of his hand, he wiped the spit off his mouth. He was feeling dizzy.
Yoshiki sighed as he sat down under a tree. He found himself thinking about Hikaru. A soft chuckle came out of him. Hikaru had texted him that he wasn't gonna hang out today cuz his grandpa wanted to take him to the shitake farm. Yoshki smiled to himself, remembering the last time he went to that shitake farm. He remembered how hot it was that day.. and he remembered how Hikaru took his shirt off cuz of the heat.
He curled up against the tree. Burying his face in his knees. "Im so disgustin'." He muttered to himself. Hikaru liked girls. He was intrested in one already. Yoshiki felt so selfish that he wanted Hikaru. He felt shameful. He shouldn't want to have Hikaru. He deserved a girlfriend. Someone he could be proud to display. He deserved someone less depressive. Yoshiki felt sick. He was jealous that he wanted to go out with that one girl. "Why cant ya look at me like that?" Yoshiki uttered to no one. He didn't know when it started but his tears were overflowing his eyes.
"Hic- I'm so disgustin'. Why... why did it have to be you?"
He held himself tightly. His gloomy, using composed self breaking down. He was glad no one was around. To hear his broken sobs. He felt like.. like a monster. This village is so suffocating. All Yoshiki wanted, was to go away. He cried until the whites in his eyes become a bit red. His eyes were swollen and the bags under them were dark. He hasn't slept well at all these past couple of weeks.
Maybe thats why. His disorientation and need to get away from it all, lead him to this. He wasnt initially planning it. He was just standing over it. He was watching the river's fast current. Blankly stating at the rushing water. This heat, his nausea, his shame, the pattern of the water. He breathed heavily biting back the urge to throw up. His vision became all blurry.
"Ah.." Yoshiki softly breathed.
One wave from the current splashed towards Yoshiki. The water felt cooling on his skin. It was a tad bit refreshing since it was summer. Yoshiki took one look to the sky, feeling that heavy disorientation come again. He felt all wobbly.
"Maybe I shouldn't have skipped out on breakfast..."
He looked back at the water. It was almost beckoning him to come closer and feel it. He wasn't thinking clearly.
"Will they all notice if I was gone?"
Hikaru sure, but maybe he would move on and find a better friend. Someone who isn't all depressed and gloomy. And his family would have one less mouth to feed. Not only that, but they'd be free from having to find out they're living with a monster. Barely anyone from school would notice. Sure they'd come to his funeral, then forget about him.
There was a small splash. Yoshiki got too close and the dart he was standing on was too soft. He was so lost in his thoughts he didn't realize that he was in any danger.
He coughed as water entered his mouth. He knew how to swim, but this current was too strong. He was scared. If he did die, what would happen to him? He never really believed in a God, so where would he go? He felt a sharp stinging pain hit him in the back. It was a boulder. He attempted to take a hold of it, to no avail. The rock and his hands were too wet and slimy.
He felt his whole body shudder. Finally giving up and letting the current do what it wanted too. He kept trying to keep his head up and breath but the water kept on dragging him down. He coughed out water and more went back in. He felt impact on his skull and the rushing of warm liquid in the back of his head. Thats when he lost consciousness.
-
Hikaru went straight to the hospital when he heard about Yoshiki. He was filled in about the situation. Yoshiki had almost drowned and almost bled to death at the same time. He was found by some foreigners who were looking at the sights of that river. Hikaru tried not to cry. He tries to keep that sinking feeling in his stomach down. Hes been sitting at the same spot for over a day now.
He gently traced Yoshikis hand. Feeling the bone and his soft skin. Slightly tan from being out in the sun. His eyes went up to his face. He looked at the bandages. Hikaru's breath hitched and he bit his inner cheek. They had to sew up a gash in Yoshikis head and he had to have more surgery because of the small crack in his skull. Hikaru shuddered again. The doctors said it would take Yoshiki maybe a few days to recover. They had found so much water in him, they don't know how he was still alive.
"Fuck..."
Hikaru sniffles. His head buried in the bed. His hand unconsciously intertwining with Yoshiki's. Hikaru was pissed and sad. He was going to tell Yoshiki. He was going to tell him about the curse on his family. About hichi-San. About the mountains. He wanted to protect Yoshiki. Hikaru's dad once told him,
"If you find a girl ya like, marry her as soon as possible. Or else Nanuki will take her up the mountains."
Hikaru didnt want to lose Yoshiki. His hand squeezed Yoshiki's hand gently. Hikaru looked up again. He stood up and with hus other hand, reached for Yoshiki's face. He softly pushed his bangs away from his face. He looked so soft. His eyelashes rested beautifully, the moles made him look so pretty. His skin was milky white, but since he was out in the sun, it was a bit tan. Hikaru traced Yoshiki's face. His fingers gently resting on each mole.
Hikaru leaned down. He pressed his forehead softly with Yoshiki's. Hikaru paused and pressed his lips as gentle as possible into Yoshiki's cheek. Hikaru stood up. He was going to the mountains today. He was going to see Nanuki and do his ritual. Hikaru took one more look at Yoshiki before heading out. He knew what his wish was going to be. He just hoped it wont end badly.
-
Yoshiki woke up at midnight. He felt sick and weak. Outside, there was a thunderstorm. He could hear it. He reached up to his neck. Remembering the suffocating feeling he had before. He felt a chill run up his spine.
"Glad to see you awake now, Mr. Tsujinaka."
The doctor walked in to his room. He told Yoshiki about what was happening, filling him in about the days and checking his health. Yoshiki looked completely fine. Everything was fixed. Yoshiki noticed it. Hikaru had left a small letter on Yoshikis bed. Not only that but left some bug pillows for him. Yoshiki softly laughed. He picked the letter up first. "For Yoshiki, when he finally wakes up."
"Huh..hichi-san? Nanuki? The mountains..?"
Yoshiki hit the call button. In this weather, Hikaru could be hurt. A nurse comes in.
"Ah- um.. can I have a phone? I need to dial someone."
The nurse handed him a phone and Yoshiki dialed Hikaru's mom. If Hikaru wont be able to answer, his mom will. Almost immediately the familiar soft voice went through the speaker. "
"Hello?"
"Hi Mrs. Indou, this is Yoshiki. Is Hikaru home?"
"Oh my goodness. Im happy to see you're doing well, especially since your accident. But no, Hikaru isn't home."
"Thank you Mrs. Indou. Um, Hikaru... Hikaru left me a note that he went up the the mountains... Im sorry, I cant do much in this bed, but... could you ask around and help make a search party? I dunno how long he's been gone since I just woke up."
"...."
"..."
"Thank you Yoshiki. I will call Mr Takeda right now. Please dont worry, Hikaru is a strong boy. Thank you for telling me."
"Of course Mrs Indou. Please let me know if the party finds him..."
Yoshiki hangs up and gives the phone back to the nurse when she came back. Yoshiki cant help but feel a sinking feeling. Hikaru's strong but that mountain... Yoshiki took off his blankets. He got out of bed and looked outside. He was in the second floor of the hospital. He found his clothes, they were washed. He felt scared but determined. He looked around his room. Biting his cheek he found some paper and tape.
He braced himself as he took off the IV, and whatever else was hooked on to him. He bundled up the paper and taped it onto the bleeding hole that the needle was in. He put on his clothes. He looked over to his door and opened it. He didnt see anyone looking at him in the halls. He took the elevator and got out.