Oh its Mothers Day today!
Yet another reminder of how old im getting…
“Hongou..”
Hazuki suddenly felt very warm. Her vision started to blur and she felt extremely dizzy. She slighly swayed back and forth in her seat.
“I..i..’m so..r-“
Suddenly Hazuki’s vision went dark and she collapsed.
“Hazuki!” Hongou hissed, watching her go down. He couldn’t move to help her, but simply slammed his finger into the call button, summoning a doctor as fast as he could.
The doctor ran into the room, breathless.
“What’s the matte-“
But she didn’t need to ask. A woman, most likely a visitor, lay motionless on the ground.
She turned to the nurse’s behind and bellowed at them to get her a strecher immediately.
/Later/
“Fatigue…she’ll be…were not sure yet”
Hazuki heard voices. Everything was still dark and she was slightly irritated at the person, a woman, for talking so loudly. Then she heard a man’s voice.
“Yuuta!”
She sat straight up, eye’s wide. A doctor and nurse stood in front of her, looking confused and concerned. Hazuki blushed deeply, realizing she had made a mistake. He was not Yuuta.
She layed back down, suddenly exhausted.
“Hazuki is it? How are you feeling?”
Hazuki looked up to find the woman, probably the doctor, looking at her curiously.
“I-im fine. Just a bit-*yawn*-tired is all”
The doctor smiled slightly and continued,
“Well i’d assume so! You’ve been working alot lately haven’t you?”
Hazuki examined the doctor then realized she had been asked a question.
“Oh..well…you know, mouths to feed…”
Then Hazuki remembered Hongou.
“Oh! I have to go see Hongo-“
“Not right now, dear. You rest for a bit and when you wake up, you can leave.”
Hazuki sighed, adjusted her pillow then quickly fell asleep.
/Hongou’s room, Later/
“Ah..Hongou?”
Hongou could only stare as Hazuki’s pulse, temperature, and other vitals were checked by the doctors and nurses. The older woman was carried off into another room within minutes. He wondered if she would be alright. When he asked, however, they wouldn’t reveal anything and told him not to worry.
A few hours later, she did return. At least, he assumed it was her; she was wearing the same clothes as before. He greeted her with a nod. “Hazuki… Are you alright?”
“Ah yes i…i just seemed to be suffering from a bit of stress lately”
Hazuki looked at her feet.
“And…about your offer. Thank you, but i don’t need your money. I know this..past event won’t be very convincing of that, but i don’t like owing others. I hope you understand”
He bit his lip, giving her a saddened gaze. “I’m very sorry to hear that you’ve been stressed. I… I think we all have, unfortunately.” He looked out the window, sighing.
“It’s alright, I understand about the money. If you or your daughters ever need anything, do not hesitate to call me. You will not owe me a thing.”
“Ahh…I guess we all have been…” Hazuki looked thoughtfully out the hospital window.
She sighed lightly and slumped deeply in her chair. She turned back to Hongou, breathing in deeply.
“Well..thank you. I will…keep that in mind”
Her voice trailed off lightly. Everything seemed as if it were a dream. Maybe this was an after effect of the medicine she was given earlier?
Hazuki pulled her chair closer to Hongou’s bed. She harshly rested her elbows on her knees and rested her jaw in her hands. She laughed lightly.
“So…how long was I out for?”
Hongou pursed his lips. “A few hours. Did the doctors tell you what was the matter?” He paused for a moment. “Fatigue?” he guessed.
“Oh thank god.”
Hazuki sunk in her chair, relieved.
“I was so worried i’d been out for a couple of days…Ah! Just stress from over-working…they suggested I stay home for a little while, but I don’t think I can afford that right now.”
Hazuki dreadfully thought about her waitresing job awaiting her. Lately she had been switching from job to job, barely earning enough to live comfortably. She didn’t particularly mind though, especially now that Nona and Ennea could support themselves.
Images of her daughters flashed across Hazuki’s mind. She hadn’t seen them for a few days..she hoped they were okay. She knew she needed to stop worrying about them so much, after all they had grown up.
“Has anyone else dropped by to visit you since i’ve been gone?”
“Hongou..”
Hazuki suddenly felt very warm. Her vision started to blur and she felt extremely dizzy. She slighly swayed back and forth in her seat.
“I..i..’m so..r-“
Suddenly Hazuki’s vision went dark and she collapsed.
“Hazuki!” Hongou hissed, watching her go down. He couldn’t move to help her, but simply slammed his finger into the call button, summoning a doctor as fast as he could.
The doctor ran into the room, breathless.
“What’s the matte-“
But she didn’t need to ask. A woman, most likely a visitor, lay motionless on the ground.
She turned to the nurse’s behind and bellowed at them to get her a strecher immediately.
/Later/
“Fatigue…she’ll be…were not sure yet”
Hazuki heard voices. Everything was still dark and she was slightly irritated at the person, a woman, for talking so loudly. Then she heard a man’s voice.
“Yuuta!”
She sat straight up, eye’s wide. A doctor and nurse stood in front of her, looking confused and concerned. Hazuki blushed deeply, realizing she had made a mistake. He was not Yuuta.
She layed back down, suddenly exhausted.
“Hazuki is it? How are you feeling?”
Hazuki looked up to find the woman, probably the doctor, looking at her curiously.
“I-im fine. Just a bit-*yawn*-tired is all”
The doctor smiled slightly and continued,
“Well i’d assume so! You’ve been working alot lately haven’t you?”
Hazuki examined the doctor then realized she had been asked a question.
“Oh..well…you know, mouths to feed…”
Then Hazuki remembered Hongou.
“Oh! I have to go see Hongo-“
“Not right now, dear. You rest for a bit and when you wake up, you can leave.”
Hazuki sighed, adjusted her pillow then quickly fell asleep.
/Hongou’s room, Later/
“Ah..Hongou?”
Hongou could only stare as Hazuki’s pulse, temperature, and other vitals were checked by the doctors and nurses. The older woman was carried off into another room within minutes. He wondered if she would be alright. When he asked, however, they wouldn’t reveal anything and told him not to worry.
A few hours later, she did return. At least, he assumed it was her; she was wearing the same clothes as before. He greeted her with a nod. “Hazuki… Are you alright?”
“Ah yes i…i just seemed to be suffering from a bit of stress lately”
Hazuki looked at her feet.
“And…about your offer. Thank you, but i don’t need your money. I know this..past event won’t be very convincing of that, but i don’t like owing others. I hope you understand”
He bit his lip, giving her a saddened gaze. “I’m very sorry to hear that you’ve been stressed. I… I think we all have, unfortunately.” He looked out the window, sighing.
“It’s alright, I understand about the money. If you or your daughters ever need anything, do not hesitate to call me. You will not owe me a thing.”
“Ahh…I guess we all have been…” Hazuki looked thoughtfully out the hospital window.
She sighed lightly and slumped deeply in her chair. She turned back to Hongou, breathing in deeply.
“Well..thank you. I will…keep that in mind”
Her voice trailed off lightly. Everything seemed as if it were a dream. Maybe this was an after effect of the medicine she was given earlier?
Hazuki pulled her chair closer to Hongou’s bed. She harshly rested her elbows on her knees and rested her jaw in her hands. She laughed lightly.
“So…how long was I out for?”
“Hongou..”
Hazuki suddenly felt very warm. Her vision started to blur and she felt extremely dizzy. She slighly swayed back and forth in her seat.
“I..i..’m so..r-“
Suddenly Hazuki’s vision went dark and she collapsed.
“Hazuki!” Hongou hissed, watching her go down. He couldn’t move to help her, but simply slammed his finger into the call button, summoning a doctor as fast as he could.
The doctor ran into the room, breathless.
“What’s the matte-“
But she didn’t need to ask. A woman, most likely a visitor, lay motionless on the ground.
She turned to the nurse’s behind and bellowed at them to get her a strecher immediately.
/Later/
“Fatigue…she’ll be…were not sure yet”
Hazuki heard voices. Everything was still dark and she was slightly irritated at the person, a woman, for talking so loudly. Then she heard a man’s voice.
“Yuuta!”
She sat straight up, eye’s wide. A doctor and nurse stood in front of her, looking confused and concerned. Hazuki blushed deeply, realizing she had made a mistake. He was not Yuuta.
She layed back down, suddenly exhausted.
“Hazuki is it? How are you feeling?”
Hazuki looked up to find the woman, probably the doctor, looking at her curiously.
“I-im fine. Just a bit-*yawn*-tired is all”
The doctor smiled slightly and continued,
“Well i’d assume so! You’ve been working alot lately haven’t you?”
Hazuki examined the doctor then realized she had been asked a question.
“Oh..well…you know, mouths to feed…”
Then Hazuki remembered Hongou.
“Oh! I have to go see Hongo-“
“Not right now, dear. You rest for a bit and when you wake up, you can leave.”
Hazuki sighed, adjusted her pillow then quickly fell asleep.
/Hongou’s room, Later/
“Ah..Hongou?”
Hongou could only stare as Hazuki’s pulse, temperature, and other vitals were checked by the doctors and nurses. The older woman was carried off into another room within minutes. He wondered if she would be alright. When he asked, however, they wouldn’t reveal anything and told him not to worry.
A few hours later, she did return. At least, he assumed it was her; she was wearing the same clothes as before. He greeted her with a nod. “Hazuki… Are you alright?”
“Ah yes i…i just seemed to be suffering from a bit of stress lately”
Hazuki looked at her feet.
“And…about your offer. Thank you, but i don’t need your money. I know this..past event won’t be very convincing of that, but i don’t like owing others. I hope you understand”
“Hongou..”
Hazuki suddenly felt very warm. Her vision started to blur and she felt extremely dizzy. She slighly swayed back and forth in her seat.
“I..i..’m so..r-“
Suddenly Hazuki’s vision went dark and she collapsed.
“Hazuki!” Hongou hissed, watching her go down. He couldn’t move to help her, but simply slammed his finger into the call button, summoning a doctor as fast as he could.
The doctor ran into the room, breathless.
“What’s the matte-“
But she didn’t need to ask. A woman, most likely a visitor, lay motionless on the ground.
She turned to the nurse’s behind and bellowed at them to get her a strecher immediately.
/Later/
“Fatigue…she’ll be…were not sure yet”
Hazuki heard voices. Everything was still dark and she was slightly irritated at the person, a woman, for talking so loudly. Then she heard a man’s voice.
“Yuuta!”
She sat straight up, eye’s wide. A doctor and nurse stood in front of her, looking confused and concerned. Hazuki blushed deeply, realizing she had made a mistake. He was not Yuuta.
She layed back down, suddenly exhausted.
“Hazuki is it? How are you feeling?”
Hazuki looked up to find the woman, probably the doctor, looking at her curiously.
“I-im fine. Just a bit-*yawn*-tired is all”
The doctor smiled slightly and continued,
“Well i’d assume so! You’ve been working alot lately haven’t you?”
Hazuki examined the doctor then realized she had been asked a question.
“Oh..well…you know, mouths to feed…”
Then Hazuki remembered Hongou.
“Oh! I have to go see Hongo-“
“Not right now, dear. You rest for a bit and when you wake up, you can leave.”
Hazuki sighed, adjusted her pillow then quickly fell asleep.
/Hongou’s room, Later/
“Ah..Hongou?”
“Oh?”
Lotus straightens in her chair, taken aback. She wondered what else could have possibly happened that could even remotely begin to make up for his past sins. It hadn’t been that many years since they last saw each other..had it?
He forced himself to smile, despite the pain at recalling everything. “I had a heart attack a while back,” he murmured, shaking his head. “And my house burned down, as well. I had a new one built very recently.”
Lotus’ eyes bored into Hongou’s, mouth wide open. For the slightest moment, she felt a pang of sympathy. She shut her mouth, only to quickly re-open it. She started stuttering nonsense about how sorry she was, though she knew it probably sounded fake, considering their past.
“H-how awful..”
She finally finished, breathless.
“It’s over and done with. I’ve… I’ve put it behind me. Everything’s alright now, I suppose,” Hongou replied with a shrug. “My apologies; I did not mean to dampen the mood. How have you been? How are Nona and Ennea?”
“The mood was damnpened the moment i offered to visit. So don’t feel the need to apologize. I too have been through some hardships since that last time we saw each other…Anyways.”
Lotus realized she had been rambling and remembered Hongou had asked her another question. About her children. She tensed up.
“Nona and Ennea..they are fine.”
Lotus sighed loudly
“No, their not. They’ve both been having trouble sleep for awhile and don’t often leave the house. They also try and keep in contact with me often and stay near me. It’s nice having them so attached to me..however the reasoning for their behavior is not. I’ve been seriously considering taking them to see a therapist for awhile..”
Lotus met Hongou’s gaze, then looked away bitterly, fighting back tears.
“I’ve met them before, you know. I mean, recently,” Hongou replied, balling his fists tightly. “They seemed strong, yet… underneath everything, I knew the fear was still there. I cannot ever erase what I’ve done, but… I can offer my support. Anything you or your daughters need, I can supply. You know how much money I have; I don’t have anyone to spend it on besides myself, my cat, and…” he paused, his gaze flickering about. “And Emiko. But I have more than enough wealth to share. Anything you need.”
Lotus choked, turning pale white.
“Y-you..saw Nona and Ennea?”
She immediately stood up. This man…this man who took her children from her once…she could not contain her rage anymore.
“DON’T GO NEAR MY CHILDREN! HAVEN’T YOU DONE ENOUGH?”
Lotus was enraged. Large fat tears started to roll down her cheeks.
“Do you know how hard it’s been? Everyday they come home, their out of breath. They run home everyday. They don’t hangout with their friends anymore. Do you know how heart breaking it is? DO YOU?”
Lotus hiccups and collapse’s into her chair. She covers her eyes with her hand. They are already swelling.
“I-it’s just so difficult…supporting them on my own…”
Then she remembers Hongou’s offer.
“And i don’t mean money-wise…Im just at a loss..”
They sit in silence for what seems like hours.
“I approached them to apologize. They’re not children anymore, Hazuki.” Hongou’s words were calm as he gazed out the window. “They are young women now. I cannot imagine how hard it must be for you, as their mother, to watch them suffer like this. But please understand that I wasn’t meaning them any harm; I wish to help them.” It wasn’t as if he could offer any sort of comfort - verbal or physical - to the woman, so he simply continued to lay there.
“I-i know but..”
Hazuki’s voiced cracked.
“T-they are still my daughters…and just remembering those first month’s when they..returned…I can’t help but feel protective of them.”
Hazuki looked down at her palms, her vision still blurred.
“I’m sorry for creating a scene…I just..have been putting up a strong front for so long…smiling as if nothing was wrong..bottling up all these emotions of anger. I shouldn’t have taken it out on you. Especially not with your current condition.”
Hazuki’s eye’s flickered upwards to Hongou’s. She gave him a weak smile, trying to compose herself.
“You are not making a scene. I understand,” Hongou replied with a nod. “I understand what it is like to lose control to grief and sorrow. My suffering was not forced upon me like yours, however. Mine was my own doing.” He sighed and his shoulders drooped.
“Hongou..”
Hazuki suddenly felt very warm. Her vision started to blur and she felt extremely dizzy. She slighly swayed back and forth in her seat.
“I..i..’m so..r-“
Suddenly Hazuki’s vision went dark and she collapsed.
“Oh?”
Lotus straightens in her chair, taken aback. She wondered what else could have possibly happened that could even remotely begin to make up for his past sins. It hadn’t been that many years since they last saw each other..had it?
He forced himself to smile, despite the pain at recalling everything. “I had a heart attack a while back,” he murmured, shaking his head. “And my house burned down, as well. I had a new one built very recently.”
Lotus’ eyes bored into Hongou’s, mouth wide open. For the slightest moment, she felt a pang of sympathy. She shut her mouth, only to quickly re-open it. She started stuttering nonsense about how sorry she was, though she knew it probably sounded fake, considering their past.
“H-how awful..”
She finally finished, breathless.
“It’s over and done with. I’ve… I’ve put it behind me. Everything’s alright now, I suppose,” Hongou replied with a shrug. “My apologies; I did not mean to dampen the mood. How have you been? How are Nona and Ennea?”
“The mood was damnpened the moment i offered to visit. So don’t feel the need to apologize. I too have been through some hardships since that last time we saw each other…Anyways.”
Lotus realized she had been rambling and remembered Hongou had asked her another question. About her children. She tensed up.
“Nona and Ennea..they are fine.”
Lotus sighed loudly
“No, their not. They’ve both been having trouble sleep for awhile and don’t often leave the house. They also try and keep in contact with me often and stay near me. It’s nice having them so attached to me..however the reasoning for their behavior is not. I’ve been seriously considering taking them to see a therapist for awhile..”
Lotus met Hongou’s gaze, then looked away bitterly, fighting back tears.
“I’ve met them before, you know. I mean, recently,” Hongou replied, balling his fists tightly. “They seemed strong, yet… underneath everything, I knew the fear was still there. I cannot ever erase what I’ve done, but… I can offer my support. Anything you or your daughters need, I can supply. You know how much money I have; I don’t have anyone to spend it on besides myself, my cat, and…” he paused, his gaze flickering about. “And Emiko. But I have more than enough wealth to share. Anything you need.”
Lotus choked, turning pale white.
“Y-you..saw Nona and Ennea?”
She immediately stood up. This man…this man who took her children from her once…she could not contain her rage anymore.
“DON’T GO NEAR MY CHILDREN! HAVEN’T YOU DONE ENOUGH?”
Lotus was enraged. Large fat tears started to roll down her cheeks.
“Do you know how hard it’s been? Everyday they come home, their out of breath. They run home everyday. They don’t hangout with their friends anymore. Do you know how heart breaking it is? DO YOU?”
Lotus hiccups and collapse’s into her chair. She covers her eyes with her hand. They are already swelling.
“I-it’s just so difficult…supporting them on my own…”
Then she remembers Hongou’s offer.
“And i don’t mean money-wise…Im just at a loss..”
They sit in silence for what seems like hours.
“I approached them to apologize. They’re not children anymore, Hazuki.” Hongou’s words were calm as he gazed out the window. “They are young women now. I cannot imagine how hard it must be for you, as their mother, to watch them suffer like this. But please understand that I wasn’t meaning them any harm; I wish to help them.” It wasn’t as if he could offer any sort of comfort - verbal or physical - to the woman, so he simply continued to lay there.
“I-i know but..”
Hazuki’s voiced cracked.
“T-they are still my daughters…and just remembering those first month’s when they..returned…I can’t help but feel protective of them.”
Hazuki looked down at her palms, her vision still blurred.
“I’m sorry for creating a scene…I just..have been putting up a strong front for so long…smiling as if nothing was wrong..bottling up all these emotions of anger. I shouldn’t have taken it out on you. Especially not with your current condition.”
Hazuki’s eye’s flickered upwards to Hongou’s. She gave him a weak smile, trying to compose herself.
“Oh?”
Lotus straightens in her chair, taken aback. She wondered what else could have possibly happened that could even remotely begin to make up for his past sins. It hadn’t been that many years since they last saw each other..had it?
He forced himself to smile, despite the pain at recalling everything. “I had a heart attack a while back,” he murmured, shaking his head. “And my house burned down, as well. I had a new one built very recently.”
Lotus’ eyes bored into Hongou’s, mouth wide open. For the slightest moment, she felt a pang of sympathy. She shut her mouth, only to quickly re-open it. She started stuttering nonsense about how sorry she was, though she knew it probably sounded fake, considering their past.
“H-how awful..”
She finally finished, breathless.
“It’s over and done with. I’ve… I’ve put it behind me. Everything’s alright now, I suppose,” Hongou replied with a shrug. “My apologies; I did not mean to dampen the mood. How have you been? How are Nona and Ennea?”
“The mood was damnpened the moment i offered to visit. So don’t feel the need to apologize. I too have been through some hardships since that last time we saw each other…Anyways.”
Lotus realized she had been rambling and remembered Hongou had asked her another question. About her children. She tensed up.
“Nona and Ennea..they are fine.”
Lotus sighed loudly
“No, their not. They’ve both been having trouble sleep for awhile and don’t often leave the house. They also try and keep in contact with me often and stay near me. It’s nice having them so attached to me..however the reasoning for their behavior is not. I’ve been seriously considering taking them to see a therapist for awhile..”
Lotus met Hongou’s gaze, then looked away bitterly, fighting back tears.
“I’ve met them before, you know. I mean, recently,” Hongou replied, balling his fists tightly. “They seemed strong, yet… underneath everything, I knew the fear was still there. I cannot ever erase what I’ve done, but… I can offer my support. Anything you or your daughters need, I can supply. You know how much money I have; I don’t have anyone to spend it on besides myself, my cat, and…” he paused, his gaze flickering about. “And Emiko. But I have more than enough wealth to share. Anything you need.”
Lotus choked, turning pale white.
“Y-you..saw Nona and Ennea?”
She immediately stood up. This man…this man who took her children from her once…she could not contain her rage anymore.
“DON’T GO NEAR MY CHILDREN! HAVEN’T YOU DONE ENOUGH?”
Lotus was enraged. Large fat tears started to roll down her cheeks.
“Do you know how hard it’s been? Everyday they come home, their out of breath. They run home everyday. They don’t hangout with their friends anymore. Do you know how heart breaking it is? DO YOU?”
Lotus hiccups and collapse’s into her chair. She covers her eyes with her hand. They are already swelling.
“I-it’s just so difficult…supporting them on my own…”
Then she remembers Hongou’s offer.
“And i don’t mean money-wise…Im just at a loss..”
They sit in silence for what seems like hours.
