Make a Wish

Make a Wish Part 8

Izumi slipped off the bus and ran up the street, holding his bag in place on his shoulder with one hand and the bag with the other so it wouldn't fly about and hit anyone. "Excuse me, pardon me." He slipped through the crowd until he reached a small cafe. Another young japanese man sat at one of the outside tables. Izumi sighed in relief as he slid into the seat across from him.

"I'm so sorry, Hideki. I got off work late. And then with missing the bus?" He plopped his bag under the table. "It's been such a crazy week."

"It's been almost an hour." The other man pointed out sourly.

"You know what Tokyo traffic is like." Izumi frowned at him. "I sent you three texts. How come you didn't reply?"

"It's always like this with you, y'know. My replying wouldn't make the traffic faster, would it?:"

"It would make me feel better."

"Maybe I didn't want you to feel better."

"Well, wasn't that nice of you?" Izumi's frown darkened.

"Like I said - it's always the same with you. You make it to class on time, regardless. But our dates? Forget it. Everything's more important than us."

"You're just being childish. I'm not late for our dates everytime. I have been late for class. And I know what you're really talking about. It's about Naoya and the other night. I refuse to feel guilty about helping out a friend."

"So Naoya is more important than us."

"Hideki, Naoya was having troubles. We just had a date. If you were troubled and I was supposed to have coffee with Naoya, I'd cancel on him."

"You see? You're making us even. Shouldn't I be more important? Shouldn't we?"

"No, I'm putting who's troubled ahead of what's fun. You're just interpreting it that way because you're jealous of Naoya."

"Naoya this and that. Sure you aren't hooked on him?"

"Hideki, for crying outloud." Izumi sat back. "Naoya is a good guy and a great friend. Just friend. And it isn't just Naoya. You're jealous of everyone. Any time I spend what you consider too much time with a friend you accuse me of cheating."

"Well, maybe you are. How should I know?"

"That's bullshit. I'd never cheat and you know it."

"Well maybe I don't know it. You know, Izumi. Just forget it. We're obviously incompatible. I hope you find someone with alot of patience. Because they'll need it with someone as inconsiderate as you."

"You...I..." Izumi spluttered. "Well, whoever dates you next better be planning a life as a hermit. Cuz if they dare talk to anyone but you, they'll be cheating in your mind."

"Screw you!"

"Fuck you!"

Picking up his own bag, Hideki stormed off.

Izumi suddenly became aware of all the people watching the exchange. Flushing bright red, he grabbed up his bag and ran from the cafe. Stopping in the nearest square he sat down by a fountain, face still red in humiliation. "Stupid Hideki." He cursed quietly. Tears threatened and he wiped them aside. "I don't care one bit anyway.

"Hey, you okay?"

Izumi glanced up and found himself looking at Takamiya Katsura. "You? What are you-"

"I was at the cafe."

Izumi's cheeks colored again. "I...that wasn't..."

"Hey, don't worry. As break-ups go that wasn't so bad. Atleast no punches were thrown."

"Who asked your opinion anyway? You follow me here to make fun of me or what?" Izumi stood up, facing him determinedly.

"No, of course not."

"Even if Hideki is an ex, it doesn't mean I'm going to date the first pervert to ask me out. So don't even bother."

"That wasn't my purpose either. You just seemed really upset. I wanted to be sure you were okay."

"Oh? There's really such nice people in the world, huh?"

"I can't say about the world. I just know I don't like when people are upset. Life's too short to dwell on the bad things. And, really, I think your ex was in the wrong. If a friend is having problems, it should be more important than a night out. As a partner, you should be being supportive, not jealous. Isn't that what you were saying?"

"Yah, but you say it better than I do." Izumi shrugged. "Maybe if I'd put it that way, Hideki wouldn't have stormed off."

"It's just a carry over from my job, really." Takamiya excused. "And I doubt he'd have stayed no matter how you put it. If you ask me, you're better off."

"Well, I didn't ask you. But you seemed to have invited yourself into the conversation anyway." Izumi crossed his arms. "...what is your job?" He couldn't contain his curiosity.

"I translate books between languages. So I have to figure out the best way to translate lines to convey the meaning behind them, not just the words. Atleast, when I translate that my goal. I want people to understand the essence of the story - not just the actions."

"It sounds interesting. So you can speak alot of languages? That must come in handy."

"I can speak a few." Takamiya avoided giving a direct answer. "And read some more. Sometimes it's easier to read a language than speak it. Do you speak any other languages?"

"English is a requirement in my business course. So much business is done in English. I'm one of the top in my class. But I still struggle with finding the right words alot."

"So you like tea and can speak english." Takamiya's tone sounded happy. "Have you ever been to England?"

"No, I've never been out of Japan." Izumi told him. "Some internships are abroad, though. I was debating about applying for one."

"You should try England. I'd bet you'd like it there. Do you like horses?"

"I grew up in Tokyo." Izumi replied "If you want to spend time with animals, you go to the pet center and rent time to play with them."

"There's a horse ranch not far from town at all." Takamiya informed him. "I was thinking of visiting today. Would you like to come?"

"Real horses?" Izumi asked, fascinated.

"Didn't you have a client today?" Katsuki asked Izumi as they exited the restaurant they'd eaten lunch at.

"He unexpectedly canceled." Izumi replied.

"That's unusual, isn't it?"

"It's not uncommon for the B&B to have a cancellation. But, in truth, I think it's been years since I had one." His expression was troubled.

"Well, it's just one. It's not big deal." Katsuki hastily put in.

"Oh, it's just that today it was Owner's son's friend's appointment."

Katsuki looked over at him. "You mean Kiichi?" He hedged.

"No, I mean Young Owner. He's in town this week."

'That must be Aoe-san. "Owner" in my world.' Katsuki reflected. "He isn't here often." He said aloud.

"Didn't you know? He lives in England. He has a lover there."

'A lover in England? What about Naoya?' Katsuki wondered. "I didn't know."

"That's right, you almost never leave Jin's room." Izumi spoke thoughtfully. "Young Owner hates Aoe-sama. It's a known fact. He'll tell you himself, if y ou ever meet him. He comes once every six months or so. It's part of a deal he has with Aoe-sama. If he comes and takes care of some business for him, he doesn't bother him in England."

"Let me guess. There was an incident a few years ago." Katsuki replied grimly.

Izumi offered a wane smile. "With Aoe-sama, is there any need to guess? As I understand it, Young Owner tried to cut all ties."

"And Aoe-sama wouldn't let him."

"He had his friend kidnapped. If Young Owner found him within seventy-two hours then he'd let him cut his ties. If not..."

"I take it he didn't find him."

"If he had, would he be here now?"

"...that guy's so sick. Everything's a game for his amusement, isn't it?"

"I'm the wrong person to ask. I've told you before I find Owner's level of cruelty tolerable. I suppose that makes me "sick" too."

"Izumi, I didn't mean-" Katsuki began, but Izumi waved away his objection.

"It is the truth, though. Even Sensei dubbed it a sickness once. He said he'd hoped my owrk as a host might work to my benefit. But he doesn't feel it has...I must seem cruel. Never even batting an eye at anything Aoe-sama does even if it's right in front of me."

"Not cruel, just...I don't know. Listless."

"Listless." Izumi considered the word. "That's fitting, I suppose. I don't agree with what he does, you know. I just don't see the point in fighting. The world is a cruel place. Is there anything worth fighting for in it?"

"Of course there is!" Katsuki snapped. "Ow-Young Owner obviously thought so. And what do you think Amagai-sempai is doing?"

"...I wish I knew that feeling. I want to know it...but..." Izumi suddenly winced, doubling over.

"Izumi!" Katsuki grabbed his arm, but the other man only fell to his knees, grabbing his chest. "Izumi!" Katsuki turned to the others on the street. "Help! Someone call an ambulance!" A crowd began to gather.

"No...don't..." Izumi got out, he fumbled for his phone. "Hospital...emergency operation. Call Sensei..." He collapsed, and Katsuki caught him.

The phone was in Izumi's hand, but Katsuki was fast translating the message and his eyes narrowed.

"An ambulance is on it's way." A business man stepped out of the crowd to kneel by them. "What happened?"

Katsuki paused a moment. Though older, the man was quite beautiful - with long hair pulled into a ponytail down his back. For some reason something told him he should know the man. But he couldn't place him. "He has a heart condition."

The man removed his jacket, making a pillow out of it. "Here." He laid it down on the sidewalk, glancing up. "The young man has a heart condition." He was still on his phone.

As he laid Izumi down, Katsuki slipped the B&B phone out of his hand and into his own pocket.

"Relatives?" The business man glanced at him.

"He doesn't have any that I'm aware of."

"He a friend of yours?"

"A friend and co-worker."

"I hope you aren't on lunch break." The man quipped, offering a small teasing smile - trying to lighten the tension. And Katsuki was reminded of someone else. Akechi. "What's his name?"

"Uh...Izumi."

The man leaned down. "Hold on, there, Izumi." He glanced up again. "And yours?"

"Katsuki Kyousuke."

He placed a hand on his shoulder. "Just try to stay calm, Katsuki. Help is coming, okay?"

"Who are you?" Katsuki asked him

The man was listening to whatever the person on the phone was telling him. He looked up at the crowd. "Everyone, please keep your distance! Don't crowd him!" He placed a finger under Izumi's nose. It was a long moment before he spoke into the phone again. "He's breathing, but it's shallow. yes, I understand." He offered Katsuki a half smile. "Tokyo city streets. The ambulance could be half an hour."

Katsuki nodded, one hand was resting on Izumi's arm. 'Crap. Half an hour. Should I call Kiichi?'

"Hey."

He looked up at the businessman again. "He's going to make it."

And for some reason, Katsuki knew he could believe him.

Kiichi and Haruomi entered the B&B's staff elevator. Kiichi's face was grim as he pushed a button.

"It could wait til tomorrow." Haruomi offered.

Kiichi shrugged. "Today or tomorrow. Why delay the inevitable? If I have to see him, I'd rather get it over with."

"Whatever you want."

Kiichi gave him a sly glance, then scooted closer, laying a hand over his heart. "When we get home, you can cheer me up." He suggested. Haruomi showed no outward sign at the suggestion, but Kiichi felt his heartbeat quicken under his palm. He smirked. "Or..." He leaned closer. "We don't have to wait that long. The elevator has an emergency stop. For...y'know...emergencies." Again the pulse under his palm grew faster in excitement.

"Cameras." Haruomi said though.

Kiichi paused, then withdrew - crossing his arms. "Hmph. That certainly killed the mood. But you're right. I refuse to be his cheap amusement for the evening.

The elevator doors opened, but before Kiichi could get off, Reiji and Kashima Jr entered.

"Good, you're here." Reiji pushed the ground floor. "Saves me the trip."

Kiichi paused, actually caught off guard. "I came to see-"

"He left town. I'm in charge for the week."

Kiichi frowned. "Did he say where he went?"

"No."

"Well, Taido has an STD. His client must have forged the health paperwork he presented."

"He's banned for six months. But we don't have time for that."

"What's happening now?"

"Izumi's in the hospital."

Kiichi turned. "What? Where-"

"He wasn't at the B&B. Someone named "Katsuki" is with him. The devil must have hospital staff on payroll."

"Katsuki's with him? Why didn't he call?" Kiichi wondered, then his eyes widened. "Is Izumi-"

"He's in surgery."

Kiichi couldn't help but smile. "Bravo, Katsuki." He whispered.

"What the hell is going on?" Reiji demanded.

"I'll fill you in on the way. I know Jin's out. Does Marudo have a client?"

"I took over an hour ago, do I know?" Reiji snapped.

Kashima was looking at the PDA he carried. "No, he just got back this morning."

"We better collect him, then, too."

Katsuki paced the hospital waiting room.

"You're going to wear a hole in that floor." The businessman mentioned.

"Should it take this long?" Katsuki asked him.

"I'm no expert, but I hear surgery can take hours."

Katsuki sighed and sat down.

"Is there anyone else you should be calling? There's a pay phone downstairs or you could use mine."

"Not yet."

"Not yet?"

"It's complicated."

"Life often is. When was your friend due to go into surgery?"

"He's past due, but he's been delaying it."

"I hope you don't mind my saying so, but that's rather selfish. You and his other friends must have been worried about him."

"We have been, but Izumi...he had his reasons."

"It's complicated?"

"Very complicated."

The man chuckled. "You seem to live a very complicated life, Katsuki-san."

"So I'm discovering." Katsuki quipped, even though the man wouldn't understand his meaning.

"If you aren't calling anyone in, maybe I'll hand around. You look like you could use some support."

"I wouldn't want to put you out."

"Between you and me, I'd been trying to find an excuse to get out of the business luncheon I'm supposed to be at. So I'd appreciate you putting me out."

"If you want out of it so bad, why did you schedule to go?"

The man's face grew serious. "Without an excuse I couldn't get out of it."

"It's complicated?" Katsuki offered.

The man gave a half-smile. "It's complicated." He confirmed. His eyes seemed sad.

"I never did catch your name."

The man looked up, startled. "I never introduced myself? I really am the world's biggest idiot sometimes. Forgive me. My name is Yabi." He bowed. "Yabi Souma."

Katsuki stared. 'Souma??'


To Be Continued....


Becha didn't see that! Betcha didn't see that! LOL

Huh? You don't remember who Souma is! You're sentenced to have to go read/reread my other fic Jesters & Kings before you can read any more installments!

J/K!

But wait, isn't Souma dead? In the regular world, he sure it. But so's Shouga. ^-~

Cheesy Christmas movies, remember? There must be falling snow, pumpkin pie. And happy feel-good endings. ^-^ Closer and closer! What will happen next?