Warning: Small section containing strong/offensive language and homophobia.
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Soma listened attentively to Loïc's enthusiastic comments about Seishi's recovery. His special privilege was still in effect, and with a little persuasion, he had managed to get admitted to the hospital at night, as before. He had thus tried twice to see Seishi… only to lose heart at the last moment and settle for catching a discreet glimpse of him. He knew these visits were pure madness, but he couldn't help himself. Tonight would probably be one of his last chances, and he had vowed to speak to Seishi…

Unfortunately, upon arriving at the scene, he discovered with dismay that Seishi had been moved to a regular room. Luckily for him, he ran into Loïc, who, although surprised to find him still there, offered to guide him.

"Well," said Loïc, "here we are. I have to go back, but try not to stay too late... for his sake as well as yours! You look like a little rest wouldn't hurt you."

"Don't worry, I'll be careful."

"Okay, well then, see you soon, Soma."

"See you soon, Loïc. And don't forget, now that I have my own place, you can drop by whenever you want."

"Yep, I'll remember that," he said, waving goodbye.

Soma watched him disappear down the corridors for a moment. Getting news of Sei in real time had been unexpected… as had his progress. Sei would be home soon, having started rehabilitation a while ago. It seemed dangerous to him, but Loïc had assured him that lying still was far more dangerous.

He sighed, the emotion palpable in his voice.

"Oh, Sei…"

~*~

Ryô's hand froze on the doorknob. He had lingered at Seishi-san's and was surprised to hear Dr. Kervellen arrive at this hour with what seemed to be a visitor. He flinched as the doctor greeted him and took his leave. Was it…

"Ryô?"

"Ah, it's nothing… Good evening, Seishi-san."

He slipped through the door as quickly as possible under the doctor's astonished gaze and carefully closed it behind him.

The visitor had spoken to the doctor in French. But the sound of his sigh brought Ryô back to nights gone by. When the stranger turned around, everything came flooding back and clicked into place. The overheard confessions in the night, that name haunting Seishi-san, the visitor announcing his awakening… and omnipresent in Seishi-san's photos… He who had been the object of Seishi-san's gaze, captured in those pictures, and who had stolen that happy smile from him. How could he have been so stupid as not to realize it sooner? His blood boiled.

~*~

Soma turned around and started when he saw Sei's young companion at his door. He composed himself and smiled. It was said that his visit was to be public. All that was missing was Camille…

“Good evening… Saneda-kun. I heard you were discharged from the hospital. I'm happy for you.”

He stopped speaking when he saw the young man's expression of surprise turn into a flash of hatred.

“You!” he spat. “How dare you?”

“Wh-how?”

Only old reflexes saved Soma from a well-aimed right hook.

“You bastard…”

“Sa… Saneda… What’s wrong with you? Did something happen, I…”

Something was definitely wrong. He parried another blow, completely stunned. This seemed to enrage his attacker even more.

"You have some nerve coming here. I forbid you to go anywhere near him, you filthy scum."

Changing tactics, the young man braced himself as best he could on his cast and transformed his crutches into an improvised bokken. Taking Soma by surprise, he struck him in the face.

This time Soma swore and retaliated. What right did this stranger have to attack him, and apparently about "his" Sei? He deflected and blocked the makeshift weapon with a fluid movement, trying nonetheless not to worsen his opponent's injuries. Saneda tried in vain to break free.

"You fucking faggot, I'm going to..."

Soma paled and relaxed, throwing the young man off balance. He staggered, taking a moment to regain his composure.

"So that was it... but how..."

He saw Saneda about to strike but didn't flinch, too shocked.

"RYO!"

~*~

The young man froze, and the two adversaries slowly turned to see Seishi leaning against the doorframe.

"Have you gone mad? Stop this immediately!"

Ryô immediately put down his "weapon" and returned it to its original purpose with more relief than he'd like to admit.

"S... Seishi-san..."

"Such behavior is unacceptable!"

The doctor's features were tense, his voice harsher than Ryô had rarely heard from him. When he saw Seishi-san wince and clutch his chest, he forgot about Noguro and rushed to support him.

"Seishi-san, you shouldn't be standing! Rehabilitation doesn't mean walking! I'm going to..."

"That's quite alright, Ryô-kun..." the doctor interrupted, gently pushing him away. "I can handle my own affairs, and I certainly don't want things to come to such extremes for me."

Although he had softened somewhat, the anger and disappointment Ryô read in Seishi-san's eyes made him lower his gaze. The same rage and disappointment he had seen months earlier in Africa after the senseless death of that old man from the village. Although he had always feared it, he had never before received such a look. Ryô clenched his fists and glared at Noguro.

"Next time I won't have these damn crutches anymore, you'll pay for this..."

He whirled around and moved away as fast as he could, without looking back at Seishi-san's shout.

"Ryô-kun... Wait!"

~*~

Saneda’s threat jolted Soma out of the semi-trance he felt he was in… or rather, out of this bad dream. He too had witnessed Seishi's all-too-rare outbursts of anger… but the players were quite different then. Unlike young Saneda, he knew what it took to affect Seishi so deeply… and to see him interact with Saneda like that, not to mention the latter's behavior… Oh yes, the tables had turned.

Ignoring the erratic beating of his heart, he closed his eyes and calmly wiped what must have been blood from his lip.

Seishi's gaze then shifted to him, and, pulling out a handkerchief, he reached out to help. Soma gently pushed his hand away.

"Please, don't waste your time with me and do everyone the favor of not prolonging your stay here… I'll try not to bother you anymore."

He turned on his heel and walked away under Seishi's bewildered gaze.

~*~

The pain he had seen in Soma's eyes had left Seishi feeling distraught. The adrenaline rush having worn off, he suddenly found himself weak and slumped to his knees, pains in his chest robbing him of breath. He greeted the nurse, who arrived at a run, with undisguised relief.

~*~

Soma turned back one last time toward the building and clenched his fists. The initial shock had given way to a growing anger. Rarely had he been so humiliated… so hurt.

“Ah, you don’t care… The past doesn’t matter. You prefer the ‘youngsters’…”

He kicked a discarded can, which ricocheted loudly into a nearby trash can.

“Okay, me too. You’ll regret it, but it’ll be too late to cry!”

Completely disregarding the patients, he yelled.

“Go to hell!”

Then he ran off, the rising breeze drying his tears on the fly.