Memories of You
Ch.13
Davis's loud cries were now reduced to nothing soft small hiccups. His sister still holding his body tightly as she ran her fingers through his brown spiky locks. Which, thankfully, managed to put the young boys mind and body at ease, at least for now. It was quiet, yet calm… something the two siblings knew they needed, craved even.
"J-Jun, I-I'm sorry," Davis' words sounding like that of a small child as he remained ever still comforted by his older sisters embrace. "Sorry? Whatever do you have to be sorry for?" She questioned looking down at Davis with a loving smile.
"For…" Davis stopped himself. Saliva slowing making its way down his throat as he swallowed. This time he looked up at his sister. "Me… like this, I shouldn't—" but his sister had already heard enough. This road of constant regret and self loathing wasn't healthy. "Stop. Don't say another word. None of what happened to you was your fault. None of it, you hear me?" Jun's words serious as she grabbed his cheeks softly and rested her forehead with his.
"Y-Yeah… I understand Sis. I-It's just…"
"Hard… I know. But that's why I'm here. And I'm not going away. Your big Sis is going be there until you're back and on your feet. I wouldn't be surprised if you get sick of me," Jin replied jokingly. For what felt like the first time that day, Davis smiled. He smiled a real genuine smile.
"I love you Jun."
"I love you too, Dai. I always will."
Jun wrapped her brother in another hug. With both siblings at ease, Jun looked at the hand grip Dr. Mori had brought in sometime earlier. "Are you ready to start more exercise?" She asked pulling away as she looked at Davis with a look of determination.
"Y-Yes!"
Jun picked up the hand grip and placed it softly in Davis' right hand. His hand shakily gripping the tool to the best of his ability. Davis hands fumbled a bit as he wasn't used to truly gripping something of this caliber. Forks and Spoon were his max, so this was a different change of pace, that much was certain. "Ah, and what do we have here?" Both sibling attention were immediately alerted to the door as Dr. Mori had made his presence known and walked back into the room.
Jun looked over at the Doctor with a smile. "We were just going start doing some hand exercises."
"Ah, good, good. In fact, I was originally going to have the nurse come in and have her start Davis's new exercise regime with him. But... since visiting hours are still going I'll let you start it so you two can talk more and then I'll have the nurse come get you to take over, okay. How's that sound to you both?"
Both siblings nodded in enthusiasm. Doctor Mori then gave them a rundown showing Davis how he should have his arms placed while going up and down as not to strain his still recouping muscles monitoring him for a set which consisted five reps before telling him to switch hands and repeat. It seemed a bit tough for him at first. His hands dropping the hand grip a couple times. He would slowly start getting frustrated, only for Jun to calm him down moments later with words of encouragement. This was gonna be an up-hill battle for sure.
"Alright…" Dr. Mori got up and smiled. "I leave the rest to you Ms. Jun. if either of you need any assistance at all don't be afraid to press the assist button at anytime," he said pointing to the small button resting on his now unused IV stand. Both siblings nodded. "I'll see you around. I'll be back to see you later Davis," he said giving one final goodbye to both siblings as he closed the door softly behind him.
Davis and Jun smiled at each other as they continued the exercises. "Sis?" Davis right hand softly gripping and ungripping the hand grip. "Did… heh… this is probably a dumb question to ask... I mean…" Davis sighed. "Davis… what is it?" Jun's face serious as a reassuring smile rested on her lips. Davis looked at her, his brown orbs hesitant and curious. "Mom and Dad… how come they don't—visit? T-they… know I'm awake right? Or… do we even have parents?" He sounded so unsure, clearly not even believing his own question.
Jun was quiet, eerily so. Which in Davis's mind started to confirm his worse fears. "M-Mom and Dad… they've been working a lot recently, so they haven't been able to…" Jun said, her voice trailing off. Her hands clasped tightly in her lap. And yet, a smile never once left her face, in spite of how internally she felt sick to her stomach.
"I think I remember dad and mom saying they'd visit soon, though…"
"R-Really?" His voice sounded almost hopeful. It was clear however, that something was bothering him. "I don't remember anything about them… nothing, Sis." Jun placed a warm hand on his unoccupied one and gave it a tight squeeze. "And that's okay."
"Can you… tell me about them? Y-Ya know… it could possibly jog my memory?" He said holding on to hope. Jun thoughts were in a world of there own. She found herself bitting the inside of her cheek. Her mouth tasting a bit like copper. "Y-Yeah… sure," her words hesitant. "Mom and dad… they…" She wasn't sure how long she talked. But with each memory she dug up to tell Davis. She felt as if she were smashing it to bits with bat to reveal its sad and twisted reality. "Mom and Dad sound so interesting. Dad sounds like a goober, though," he chuckled as he laughed at how their dad could apparently be at times. Mom sounds like she can be tough at times." In the end, no past memories of their parents triggered, but Davis thought they were still nice little tales regardless.
"Hm… yeah." was his sister's only response. The way she was looking at him was one of someone looking right past him. It was worrying to say the least, she was just so talkative minutes ago. Did talking about their parents really make her uncomfortable? Why? . "J-Jun?" He called to her, but she didn't respond. "Jun?" He called again, nothing. Davis' mouth opened only to close again. It then like a sudden chill erupted up his spine and to his brain as the name just fell off his tongue as though it had always been there and had been playing hide n' seek for what felt like the longest.
"J-Junie?"
"W-what?"
"H-Huh?" Davis replied startled by his sister's sudden reaction. "What… did you call me?" She asked surprised repeating the question. "J-Junie?" He replied hesitantly unsure how his sister would react. "Did… I say something wrong? I-I didn't mean to upset you sis I—I don't really know what came over me. I just kinda, said it." He said in a ramble in an attempt to rectify what he thought he did wrong. He seemed almost scared. And his sisters growing silence didn't help matters. At the same time, he practically jumped out of skin at his sister sudden mirth of laughter. His hand grip that now rested by his left hand even managed jump up a teeny-tiny bit. "W-What's so funny?" He exclaimed.
But his sister still continued to laugh, leaving him outta the loop. "Jun, what's so funny?" He whined. Hearing Davis whine even though it was at his expense, of course, filled her heart with joy. He might not have even noticed the change, but slowly, very slowly, he was getting his old mannerisms back. "A-Alright, don't tell me. See i-if I care," he said his once startled expression, changed to one of growing annoyance as it was locked it a quite all too adorable pout.
"I-I'm sorry, Dai. It's just hearing you call me that… it brought back some all to cute memories of you in diapers in the like. You only ever used to call me that when you were really young or when something really bothered you." she explained, slowly calming down her laughing fit til it was practically nonexistent. "R-Really, ugh, that's embarrassing," he mumbled even his cheeks were a cute pink hue. This only gave Jun an even better idea. She slowly pulled out her iPhone and switched it to camera mode. Snapping a pic of an all too embarrassed Davis. "J-Jun! You didn't just—" he said once he realized what his sister had just done.
"Yep!" She replied happily sticking out her tongue. "P-Please, delete that," he pleaded, in hopes that his sister would comply with his wishes, but then again, memory or no memory, she was still his sis through and through. Annoying and lovin' as siblings tended to be. "What? Can't a big sister have a picture of their little brother?"
"Yeah, s-sure, but does it have to be that one?"
"What? I think it's cute," she interjected.
"Well, o-of course you think it's cute, you're my sister, he said trying to explain. "L-look, that's not the point. W-what if someone sees, t-that'll be—" he felt his cheeks heating up again just thinking about. W-what if she saw it? Oh god, he didn't even—no, he was thinking of her again. Why was she the first person he thought of? God, he needed help.
"Someone like—Oh? Do you mean someone like K—"
"J-Jun! Please don't!" His face now was three shades of scarlet.
"Hm…" she said sounding almost contemplative. Which only made Davis more nervous. She then began to mess around on her phone for a bit. "And done!" She announced happily. "What? What's done?" He questioned nervously. Jun chuckled, "Relax, I didn't send the picture to anyone. Instead… I did this, " she says as she thrust her iPhone into Davis's unsuspecting face. His soft blue irises were immediately assaulted by a brightly lit screen. "G-gah," he said his eyes blinking heavily as they slowly started adjusting. Immediately, Davis wanted to bury himself in the hospital sheets and never come out. Hell, in fact, that is exactly what he did.
"Davis? What are you doing?" She chuckled.
"You made it your screen saver?" His words muffled through the sheets.
"Yeah."
"You remember how you said I might get sick of you, I think I'm starting to get there."
Jun only smiled. The air in the room was so airy and happy. It was the best she's felt in a while, hell, Davis seemed better even. And while, there's a greedy part of her that wishes she could stay like this forever. Reality was a cruel slap in the face. She then gave a soft look at the hospital bed. Her brother still but just a small lump in the sheets that covered him. She walked over to him, and slowly pulled the sheets down. His eyes slowly opening as he glanced up at her. His lips resting in a frown letting her know that he was still somewhat upset with her. "I'm sorry, little bro," I just couldn't help myself. "I didn't mean to upset you. I… I just really… I never thought you'd wake up and now that you have I… I'm filled with so many different emotions and thoughts…" as she said this she walked to the other side of the bed and bent down so now they were face to face. "I just got really carried away, forgive me?" She asked, giving an apologetic smile as she ran her fingers through her brother's hair. It was so long.
"Y-Yeah, I do," he said a smile breaking out on his face as well. "I missed you too, Junie. N-not remembering who you were was scary. And seeing you… look at me with a sad expression when you first came… I couldn't really explain why, but my heart hurt, like a lot."
"I'm sorry, buddy." She then gave him a small sisterly kiss to the forehead.
And she was, wholeheartedly so. If she could easily take way her brothers worries and fears she would, but alas, the world was never oh so simple. "Jun weren't we supposed to doing exercises?"
"Oh, yeah!" Jun replied. She then jumped up startling Davis somewhat, as began to slowly sit up. "C'mon let's do a couple more," she announced happily. Davis nodded. A warm smile never leaving either's faces.
An hour or so passed before there was a soft knock on the door and Davis immediately felt a disgusting knot building in his stomach. It was his nurse Maki. The last time he saw her, he'd practically been hysterical, at least in his eyes. "M-Ms. Maki," he said, trying his best to sound happy, but it was clear that something was bothering him and it didn't go in noticed by either Maki nor his sister. "Hey, you okay, little bro?"Jun asked worried as she placed a hand on his shoulder.
He was silent. Both girls looked at each other worry flashed in their eyes. "I-I'll go get the-" Maki started to say and move toward the door handle, only for Davis's voice to startling both girls and keep them plant them in place. "N-no, please. I'm fine… Ms. Maki?"he voice soft as his brown orbs found staring at this hands to be the safer option for him, mentally, at least.
"Yes, Davis?" She asked.
Davis slowly flecked his fingers. He flinched a bit as small wave a pain traveled to the tips of his fingers. No one ever said that rehabilitation was supposed to be easy. "I'm… sorry about, about what happened yesterday, when I— well, I…" in this moment, both Maki and Jun were reminded of a small child.
Maki looked over at Jun. "Davis," she said her voice sounding akin to a mother's. She walked over to the bed ridden boy, her heels clacking softly against the marble floor. She took a finger and lifted his chin, forcing him to look her in the eyes. His large brown eyes, scared. "You're a very kind kid, Davis. Knowing that you were worried about to me is touching, it really is. Yesterday wasn't your fault. Sure I was a bit shocked, but I know it wasn't something you could control. So, don't let what happened beat up, okay?" She then 'bopped' him on the nose, catching him off guard as his nose twitched.
"M-Ms. Maki!" Davis exclaimed. She gave him a warm smile in response. She then turned to Jun who stayed silent during the whole exchange, but internally was happy seeing from the short interaction that her brother was seemingly in good hands. "Hi, my name is Maki Harukawa. I'm your brothers nurse. Jun correct?" She said holding out a hand, Which Jin happily shook in turn. "Yeah, thanks for taking such good care of him, when I, uh, couldn't," the happy demeanor Jun had just displayed, just as quickly faltered, if only for a second. If Maki noticed the quick, yet sudden change, she made no mention of it, probably for her sake. Which Jun ultimately found she was grateful for, even if she didn't say it.
"How'd the exercises go?" Maki commented, throwing Jun off for a moment. "O-Oh, good, good, right, Davis?" She said stealing a glance past Maki to her brother who only nodded vigorously in turn. "Yeah, though my fingers kinda hurt," he replied. "Well, as much as I hate to say this, but that good, normal, even. It means that your finger muscles are slowly getting used to being used once again."
"Hm." Davis nodded.
"Well, for now, Davis. I'm gonna give you a check up and then I'll give you your lunch, okay?"
"Okay," he said.
"Well, I guess I'll get going seeing as visiting hours are over," Jun said as grabbed her satchel and slung it over her shoulder. Jun walked over to Davis and gave him one last kiss on his forehead, blinding him with embarrassment. "J-Jun!" He cried. "Heh. I'll see you soon, okay? Be good for Dr. Mori and Ms. Maki, alright?"
Davis pouted, "I'm not a little kid y'know!" He reminded. "Doesn't matter, you're still my little brother and don't you forget it." she then quickly ruffled his hair. "Yeah, Yeah. I know," a small smile rested on his lips as he watched his sister walk toward the door. The nurse Maki silently watching the exchange between the two siblings, smiling. It was clear that regardless of the unfortunate circumstances forced in between them, they'd continued to forge through the misfortune and pain until the end. "Jun wait!" Davis called.
"Hmm?" She said turning around slightly. "You're gonna come back, right?"
"Heh, of course you goofball!"
Jun smiled brightly at her brother and again, for the—well a lot that day, he smiled ear to ear believing his sisters words wholeheartedly. "See ya, Sis."
"Bye, little bro."
(Davis Motomiya)
When Jun left the hospital, the sun creating goldish-red hue as it blanketed the sky. "Man, it's afternoon already?" Jun heaved a massive sigh, "I guess I should give him a call, not that I expect him to pick up…" at times like this, there was always that annoying thought that tugged at the back of her cranium telling her, why bother? You've done all that can be done. Hell, mom gave up, so would she fault you for giving up to?
Yet, it was because of that thought, coupled with the fact that their mom did just throw in the towel that kept her motivated. And now even more so with Davis. Jun felt as though her head would exploded at the thought of telling Davis how their parents had turned out due to the accident. He'd be devastated, further spiraling himself in a self-loathing depression. No, she wouldn't do that to him, no, she couldn't, she'd rather have him hear what they used to be like then now, anything but now.
She pulled out her phone and immediately went to her father's home number and tapped immediately putting it to her ear.
Ring…
One.
Ring…
Two.
Ring…
Three.
Ring…
Four.
Silence.
She sighed, she always told her dad at least by the third ring. She hung up the phone. Not even bothering to leave a voice message. It's not like he listened to them in the alcoholic state he always found himself in. Though, on the rare occasion that he did, it gave her some sense of relief that he wasn't heavily drunk. Though, it seemed like today wasn't one of those days. She silent made her way to the bus stop. Her thoughts drifting to Akihiko as she wondered what he was up and that he'd come back home soon, even though it had only been a day.
Eventually, Jun reached their old apartment building. Easily traversing up the stairs until she was face to face with an all too familiar dark blue door. The paint once dark and beautiful, now chipped and weathered with time. On top of that, the welcome mat that resting at the front of the door was now old and most like musty and had tons of mail resting haphazardly on top. 'God, please don't let anyone have stolen any important bills.' She thought as she picked up the rather large stack. She then gave the small door bell a ring and a hardy knock on the door, "Dad, it's me, open up," She called. She decided it was best to give him the benefit of the doubt and give him sometime to get to the door, if he even heard it.
After a couple of minutes, she knocked again. "Dad! Can you hear—" at the same time, the apartment door next her opened up. A lady with brown graying hairs and dulling bluish irises, covered by small circular spectacles, popped her head out. "Ah, I thought I heard a familiar voice." Her voice somewhat raspy. "Hi, Mrs. Kishibe," Jun greeted smiling.
"Hello, Dear. It's been a while hasn't it," she commented. Jun nodded it response, "Yeah, it has. Sorry, to bother you, but have you seen my father? He's not answering." She gave a side glance worriedly at the door. It was at that moment, that Mrs. Kishibe decided it was best to step outside fully. With her full figure now in view, she was wearing purple slippers and socks, a black dress, while most of her hair was tied tightly into a bun a small bit of it hung down at her face.
"Yeah, about that dear…" her words soft. While Jun's breath hitched as her mind began thinking of the worst possible scenario. Her sudden change in demeanor didn't go unnoticed by the kinda elderly lady before her. "Jun, are you alright, dear? You look a little pale."
She let out a shaky breath she hadn't even realized she'd been holding as she tried her best compose herself. She was getting herself worried over nothing , Mrs. Kishibe hadn't really even said anything of note yet. "N-No, I'm fine, please. What did you have to say about my, um… father?"
"Well, the reason your father isn't answering is… because he's been with me." Jun's facial feature immediately went from worried and to puzzled as she blinked heavily. "He's… with you? What do you…?" Jun's words trailed off. It was then that Mrs. Kishibe decided it was probably best to go into further detail so as for Jun not to get the wrong idea as young youth tended to do.
"Last Night, I…" she proceeded to say.
"I am so, so sorry" Jun said bowing repeatedly to her. To Jun Mrs. Kishibe was kinda like a second home back then. She couldn't even count how many times she and Davis went to her place when their parent were stuck at work. Or even when that wasn't the case she always be giving them treats or helping the two siblings whenever she could. She was an all around great and amazing lady, even before the loss of her husband, he was just as amazing.
"Please, Jun. think nothing of it. You may think I mind to myself, and while most of the time that is true. Don't think I haven't noticed what's been happening to you and your family these last couple of years. If anything, I'm just sorry I can't do more. You and your brother are the kids my husband and I never had," She said, smiling sincerely. Jun would be lying if she didn't feel tears threatening to fall as she could feel her eyes stinging. "Mrs. Kishibe…"
Mrs. Kishibe waved her hand passively letting her know not to dwell on it. "I'll get my father out of your hair now. Oh, and if it happens again, please don't hesitate to let me know, please. You… shouldn't have to—"
"And neither should you, Jun… it's okay say, "I need help, okay?" Mrs. Kishibe reminded, her smiling of warmth never once leaving her face. Tears, a flow of what felt like endless tears began to flow down Jun's face. She immediately put an arm up to her face in an attempt to shield and wipe her tears, but even so, they continued.
"Oh, Jun, it's okay." Mrs Kishibe wrapping Jun in a warm hug as she cried for the second time in the same day, but for vastly different reasons.