[-][L-N+][P-1x1] Even if Loving You is a Crime (now playing)

[BrokenScreamBox]

At night, Utsuki felt too afraid to stay in his room. When it seemed that the coast was clear, he ran to the attic to sleep. From there, he prepared a sleeping bag next to his mother's most cherished photos. For some reason, he always felt much safer around the pile of pictures. He could somehow see his mother standing near him like a guard dog.  

[edluver1992]

Kenichi groaned and opened his eyes, feeling someone watching him. He squinted. "Utsuki?" But this wasn't Utsuki. It was a woman. The woman smiled softly. Great. Now, he was hallucinating and pretty sure he had a dead woman's approval of whatever. With those thoughts in mind, he passed out cold, not waking up even when sunlight hit his face the next morning.  

[BrokenScreamBox]

Utsuki snuck away from home early that morning, when he knew his father was in the deepest of sleep. During the night before, he was sure he would hear the doorknob jiggle, and sometimes he thought he saw light streaming in as if the door was opening. All this told him it was no longer safe to stay at home. Packing away his precious camera, some film, a thick blanket, and as many of his mother's photos as he could pack, he left the house. If his dad didn't want him to live in the house, then he would get his wish. There was no turning back.

As he walked, Utsuki noticed an unconscious body in some bushes. Upon closer inspection he found that it was Kenichi, and he panicked. This wasn't the right time of year to be outside like this! But what could he do? It wasn't like he could drag Kenichi to a warmer place. Without thinking, Utsuki took out the blanket he packed and draped it over the criminal, though he doubted it would help.  

[edluver1992]

Kenichi groaned and forced his eyes open. "Hey, kid," he mumbled. "Think... think you could get me to the hospital?" He folded his arm under his head and closed his eyes again. "Sorry about yesterday," he muttered and passed out again.  

[BrokenScreamBox]

Utsuki wished he had taken a phone with him, but what was done was done. With whatever strength he could muster, he took hold of Kenichi's arm and proceeded to drag him to a nearby hospital. It might not be likely that they would help a criminal, but hopefully they would overlook that little fact.  

[edluver1992]

The medical staff went into a flurry, trying to help the unconscious man. One medic sat down with Utsuki to question him while nurses got Kenichi stable. "How do you know this man? What is your relationship with him? Where did you find him? And do you know what happened to him?"  

[BrokenScreamBox]

Utsuki didn't know how to answer the first two questions. He did say that he had found Kenichi nearby collapsed in some bushes and that he might have been beaten, but he didn't say anything about how they met or their relationship. Both of those questions just had no answer at the moment. Perhaps Utsuki could say that he met Kenichi by chance, and that they were merely friends, but what if he messed up?  

[edluver1992]

A nurse came in. "Sir, he's stable if you want to see him. He looks like he's taken a terrible beating, but he I think he's familiar."  

[BrokenScreamBox]

"Is he awake?" Utsuki asked hopefully. "What are his chances of living? He won't die, right?" The questions just flowed out of his mouth like frantic mice trying to leave an endangered home. He wasn't able to stop his words from coming out.  

[edluver1992]

The nurse shook her head. "I'm sorry. He's not awake, but he's not going to die either. As for his chances, they're pretty good. He also has a very good chance of having a concussion."  

[BrokenScreamBox]

At hearing that Kenichi wasn't injured too badly, Utsuki sighed in relief. "I'd like to see him, then," he said, having calmed down.  

[edluver1992]

"Of course. He's right this way." The nurse led the way to Kenichi's room. "Here you are, sir. Please be careful of the wires." Kenichi groaned in his sleep.  

[BrokenScreamBox]

Utsuki took a seat on the chair next to the bed. He wondered if Kenichi would be fine with him being there. Maybe he could stay until the criminal wakes up.  

[edluver1992]

Several hours later, Kenichi groaned and opened his eyes. "Where the heck am I," he grumbled groggily, surprised to see anyone at all sitting next to his bed.  

[BrokenScreamBox]

Utsuki, who had fallen asleep a little while ago, was shaken awake by Kenichi's voice. He wished he knew what the criminal had said. It didn't matter all that much, probably. The important thing was that Kenichi finally woke up.