Speechless

Chapter Three: Beyond Barriers

Okay, this is the third chapter. I know other people were super disappointed with the short chapters. I’m so totally sorry. I am now trying to write all my stories longer, but that will mean that you’ll have to wait longer for an update. I hope you will bear with me and continue to read. Thanks so much for the reviews, your thoughts are appreciated.

“Shuichi-kun,” Mizu said softly, “Please don’t be afraid of me. I want us to be friends.”

Shuichi raised his head from his knees to stare at Mizu. His face was still and blank as he studied the tall man. His eyes traveled to Mizu’s raven hair that is cut close to his head and dips slightly into his ocean colored eyes. Mizu watched as amethyst eyes swiveled to stare at the firm, pale features of his rounded face. As he continued to study him, Mizu took a step forward. The effect was instantaneous. Shuichi plastered himself against the wall as if he was trying to slip through it. He hugged his legs tighter. Mizu took a quick step back.

“You don’t want me to be near you just yet.” he said in a calm voice, “I understand that. It’s alright. It’s normal to be scared Shuichi-kun. You don’t trust me yet, but I promise you Shuichi-kun, I will work hard so we can become good friends in the future. We’ll just move little by little until your comfortable with me, is that alright?”

Shuichi lifted his head slightly to stare at Mizu then buried his head in his knees, nodding slowly. Mizu couldn’t help the smile that lit up his features. It was a small gesture, but he knew that it meant he had gotten just the tiniest bit closer to Shuichi-kun.

“I’m glad I called you.” Takanowa said as he shut the door behind him, “He seems to like you. Normally, he doesn’t respond to people he’s just met.”

“It’s going to be a difficult recovery for him, though. He seemed agitated just having me in the room. Can you tell me anything more about his condition and treatment?”

“Very little is known actually.” Takanowa said, “Many of his records were lost or mishandled.”

“What about his family and friends. Do they visit often?”

“Nakano Hiroshi used to visit often, but recently we’ve denied his visits along with anyone else’s. It distresses Shuichi to be in the same room as him. I know that isolation may perpetuate his behavior, but I didn’t have any other recourse.”

“Does he have a history of metal illness?”

“Hiro stated that Shuichi has always been in good health, and was a naturally happy child. He was a member of a band called Bad Luck. I haven’t been able to make Shuichi open up about what’s bothering him. He’s had many therapists, but it seems that they haven’t made any progress either. When I heard about how you handled the toughest cases of mental illness, I knew that you would be able to do something.”

“I wouldn’t get your hopes up yet. This is one of the toughest cases I’ve seen yet. I have no idea how to treat him. Do you know if he was raised in an abusive environment?”

“Hiro said that his family life was normal. His parents died when he was fourteen. They were in a car accident.”

“I doubt that’s the cause of this behavior. Do you know if he sustained any abuse in the other institutions?”

“Not that I know of, why do you ask?”

“It would explain some of his behavior. He seems unusually scared around males, and the fact that he shies away from being touched…. Did you think of introducing him to a female psychiatrist?”

“I’ve had at least three female therapist visit him, but his behavior didn’t change.”

Mizu’s leaned back against a wall sighing deeply. “It’s almost as if he doesn’t like people in general. I don’t think that I’d classify him as insane. He seemed particularly lucid as we talked. I’d put him down as disturbed. He doesn’t seem to show any signs of Schizophrenia. He’s depressed, but a proscription might only make his condition worse.”

“I’m sorry,” Takanowa said, “I know his case will be difficult, but I really can’t give up on him. If it you Mizu-san, I know he can be cured.”

“You give me too much credit, Takanowa-sama.” Mizu replied with a smile, “I’ll do my best.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Mizu-san.” He waved before stepping into another room.

“How am I going to fix him?” Mizu thought as drove passed leafy tree’s that signaled he was close to Yuki’s apartment. Mizu scoffed at himself.

“I’m talking about him as if he’s some broken machinery that I can just randomly replace a part and he’ll be okay. I suppose the human heart doesn’t work that way.”

He sighed again as he slipped out of his black Lexus.

“What’s got you so down?”

Yuki stood leisurely in front of him; a cigarette perched on soft, smirking lips. Mizu snatched the cigarette from his mouth and stomped on it.

“Those are bad for you.”

Yuki glared at him, his amber eyes darkening. “Since when did you become my mother?”

Mizu shook his head. “Sorry, it’s just this new patient. He’s so screwed up and I have no idea how to help him.”

“Then don’t,” Yuki said calmly, “If he doesn’t want your help, than don’t give him any.”

“So what, I’m just supposed to watch him die?” Mizu asked as they stepped into Yuki’s apartment.

“If that’s the way he wants it,” Yuki replied as he closed the door behind them.

“I never thought you were that cold, Yuki-san.”

“Why should you waste time and money on someone who doesn’t want to be saved?”

“Maybe he deserves to be saved.”

Yuki shook his head despondently, “You’re such an idealist.”

“It’s human decency, Yuki-san,” Mizu rebuffed with a pout, “Besides, he’s too young for me to just let him die.”

“Yeah whatever, just tell me what bugging you about him, so I can get you out of my apartment.”

Mizu plopped down on Yuki’s plush leather sofa. “He seemed so…”

“So what?” Yuki prodded as he glared at the younger man who was currently laying his head in his hands.

“Hurt,” Mizu supplied, “like he was in so much pain, but he knew I wouldn’t be able to help him with it.”

Yuki’s amber eyes bore into Mizu’s despondent blue ones. Yuki sighed sitting down on the couch next to him.

“Tell me more about this kid.”

“Thanks Yuki,” Mizu exclaimed his face lighting up, “I can’t tell you much. He’s afraid of any kind of physical contact, he doesn’t speak, and until this point he was a normal, happy kid.”

“It’s probably just a cry for attention. The brat wants his parents to notice him.”

“Both of his parents are dead, and his behavior doesn’t seem attention getting. It seems more like he wants to be left alone.”

“Then, why don’t you leave him alone.”

“He’d try killing himself again.”

“Again,” Yuki questioned.

“He’s tried killing himself three times. I have to find a way to get him to open up to me, but I can’t seem to figure out how. Hey Yuki-san, If he was a character in your book, what would you do?”

“I’d kill him off, I hate whiny brats.”

“Yuki, I was being serious.”

“Who said I wasn’t.”

Mizu glared at him.

“Alright,” Yuki said, “I would probably have one of my character’s buddy up to him, talk to him all the time, so the kid could start thinking of him as a friend. I’d have the character talk about his past, so that the kid would have an easier time telling him about his past.”

“That’s actually a good idea.” Mizu replied, “Thanks Yuki-san, I’m glad I talked to you.”

“Just go,” Yuki admonished as he held open the door.

“Okay, Okay I’m leaving.”

Chapter three, Fin. Please give feedback