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 Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 6:56 pm
Nozomi nodded, immediately writing in his notepad that he did like the apartment. Do all people live in places like this? he wrote, curious. If they do, it might be a little troublesome for large families, since they would need more living space.
There were so many questions about the outside world that he really wanted to know that Mother wasn't able to answer. Now that he was finally away from the hospital, though only for a little while, new questions just joined the huge pile in his mind.
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Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 7:47 pm
Kiba laughed, pulling out two bottles of Ramune. (Marble soda) "No, no, no. Just the poor people. Larger families usually live in houses or mansions. Poor people like me pay rent and live in single room apartments like this." Kiba explained. Nobody had bothered to teach this child anything? Probably the person that Nozomi had called Mother had tried, or he never asked. Either way... it was kind of sad.
Kiba pulled the push-top off of the soda bottle and pushed the marble down. It made a loud pop sound, but Kiba was pretty much used to it. "This is Ramune. Try it, it's good." The green haired young man held out the bottle toward Nozomi, smiling.
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Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 8:46 pm
Though a little skeptical, Nozomi took the bottle and drank a little of it. Almost immediately, he shook his head and held it away from him. It was a little too sweet for him. Apparently, he wasn't used to the food or drinks of the outside world. After having eaten hospital food for his whole life, it probably was reasonable that the Ramune was too sweet.
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Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 10:45 pm
Kiba looked surprised, but smiled kindly and took the bottle back. "Well, I can see you don't like it. Too sweet?" He asked, taking a drink from the bottle he received from Nozomi. He liked the drink. It was his favorite. And it was lychee flavored, his favorite. He usually didn't really like people who didn't like ramune, but if he had to live in a hospital for as long as Nozomi had, the drink would definitely be too sweet.
"Water then? Hot water, tea, ice tea, juice, milk. Is there anything else that you like?" Kiba asked, patiently and kindly. He wasn't here to make the kid's life miserable. He was here to make it better; that's what volunteers do, right?
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Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 1:21 pm
I'm sorry, Nozomi wrote in his notepad. Anyway, I think some milk would be fine. Inside, however, he was very afraid. What if Kiba was offended and decided to quit? That would mean Nozomi would be alone again and then who knows how many more years will pass before another kind person helps him, if there were any kind people left in the world.
Loneliness was something Nozomi had desperately feared, even as a child. Before Mother had come into his life, he had been miserable. Tears would be constantly running down his cheeks, but nobody knew because he could never make a sound and he always hid himself from anyone's eye. Mother had managed to prevent this misery, but she couldn't do that forever. Her death only triggered more tears, even though Nozomi, now a teenage boy, should be at an age where he was expected to control his feelings.
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Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 6:25 pm
"Warm or cold?" Kiba asked as he stood up from his seat at the counter and moved back towards the fridge. The milk was all the way in the back of the fridge, making it a bit troubling to reach. But after moving some things around, and then moving some others out of the fridge, he was able to reach it.
"I think warm is good, but it makes you really sleepy. Cold can be a bit... hm, how should I say this? It can make you feel sick sometimes if you leave it out too long." The green haired young man turned around to face Nozomi. "But I recommend warm."
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Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 8:50 pm
I guess I'd like some warm milk, Nozomi wrote down. If you recommend it, then it should be okay. He had forgotten what the taste of warm milk was. All he had had since Mother had passed away was just cold or lukewarm milk. He was never able to request anything due to the lack of a pen or paper.
Right then, Nozomi grew very worried. What if he was troubling Kiba? That would only give evidence to prove true that rumor that made him miserable. But why was he so afraid now? He had never been afraid of offending or unintentionally taking advantage of someone, because no one besides Mother or Kiba would try to get to know him. Why now was he so scared?
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Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 10:34 pm
"Of course." Kiba smiled, putting the milk in a mug and putting it into the microwave. When the green haired young man turned around, he was genuinely surprised to see Nozomi's face in a mask of worry. What was going on? Did something happen?
"Nozomi, is there something wrong?" Kiba asked. Immediately, his mind threw him back towards the hospital. "That mute kid, Nozomi? The kid's a spoiled brat, don't let him walk all over you." The reply that he had gotten from one of the other volunteers kept on repeating over and over like a broken record. "You're not being spoiled, if that's what you're worried about. I know spoiled brats. You're nothing like one."
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Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 4:09 pm
Do you really mean that? Nozomi wrote down, still worried. I don't want you to force yourself to be nice to me. This was the exact same thing that happened when he and Mother first met. How long ago was that? Just about few whole tormenting months since Nozomi first arrived at the hospital?
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Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 6:51 pm
Kiba looked at Nozomi like he was an alien for a minute. Forced to be nice? Kiba never forced anything except for submission. But force kindness? Was this kid insane? His mind flew back to his question to the other volunteer back at the hospital, and he soon understood.
But instead of tormenting the younger boy, the green haired young man just shook his head and laughed. "Force me to be nice to you? You probably couldn't force this lazy bag of bones to do anything, really." Kiba said, pointing to himself as he pulled the mug out of the microwave. "Be careful, it's really hot." Kiba said as he placed the drink on the table. "Let it... cool down for a bit first, okay?"
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Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 8:40 pm
Nozomi nodded and then he looked around the room. He wanted to take a seat somewhere, but this was Kiba's apartment, so that meant he would have to ask for permission. That was what Mother had always told him. Always ask for permission to borrow or use someone else's possessions or something like that. It would be a great trouble for the owner if he just did as he pleased.
Right away he grabbed his notepad and pen and began writing down that question. Is it okay if I sit somewhere? Kiba may most likely let him sit, but he didn't want to take the risk. Nozomi didn't want to risk Kiba getting annoyed at him or something.
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Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 11:21 pm
"Sure, sit anywhere you like. Go anywhere you like, do anything you like. My house, your house. Oh, but don't go into the bedroom closet. That's all." Kiba waved his hand absently, not even turning around to look at Nozomi. He was presently fussing around with his shoe laces, trying to tie them.
"Um, but don't spill anything on any of the furniture or on the rug. That's a pain to clean up, especially since most of the flooring in here is tatami." Kiba said, finally looking up to see the young blonde. "Okay?"
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Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 12:09 pm
When Kiba mentioned something about not going into the bedroom closet, Nozomi immediately wondered what was in there. It was definitely a secret, so he didn't bother to write it down. All he would need to do is to just wait for the volunteer to tell him on his own will.
There was a something a bit... ominous and strange about the mention of the bedroom closet. Bad things had happened to those who were curious, and very few curious people actually benefited from trying to find the answer. Nozomi doubted that he'd be one of those lucky people.
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Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 9:50 pm
Kiba saw the pondering look in Nozomi's eyes, which brought an almost wicked smile to the green haired young man's features. "Tempted? Don't be." The Kyuuketsuki started. "I have a shot gun that I am not afraid to use." He smirked.
Expecting a look of fear, Kiba immediately raised his hands in defense and began laughing. "Just kidding, just kidding. I don't own a shot gun. But seriously, I do have a black belt and will use it whenever necessary. Understand?"
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Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 10:30 pm
When Kiba had mentioned a shot gun, Nozomi froze in fear, but he relaxed when the volunteer announced he was just kidding. Of course, he was still serious about the bedroom closet thing, so when he spoke what may be a threat and then asked if Nozomi understood, the mute boy nodded.
Yes, I understand, he wrote. I won't go to the bedroom closet. Curiosity killed the cat, or at least that was what Mother told me. He smiled a little, trying to hide his still lingering fear, but in vain. His heart, however, still saddened when he read the last thing he wrote.
Why is it that he was always mentioning Mother? Because she was practically his whole life? His teacher, his potential mother, his best friend, all those and more had been Mother. Nozomi could never think about something without thinking about Mother. It wasn't strange at all, however, since she had been the only person in the world before Kiba who had truly loved him.
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