Page 42 of The Vanishing
Stepping into the kitchen, the doctor nods his head. The action is stiff. “Good morning, Mr. Hirano. I—well… Sora had a double shift yesterday and you had asked me about medical books. So I decided to make the house call since I’m off on Sundays. I tried contacting you directly but—but your phone was off.”
Haruka has no idea where his phone is. He can’t even remember the last time he’s seen or used it. “Please call me Haruka, and thank you for making a personal visit. Doctor Davies, this is Junichi Takayama. He is a close friend. Junichi, Doctor Davies.”
Doctor Davies bows. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Likewise.” Junichi smiles. “Is this your first time being in a house full of high-level vampires?”
The doctor relaxes his shoulders and scratches the back of his thick ombre hair. The color reminds Haruka of a lion’s mane. He lifts his eyebrows behind his glasses. “Is it obvious?”
“Very.” Junichi sits back, examining him. “But don’t worry. We won’t bite… before a first date, anyway. Do you have dinner plans tonight?”
Doctor Davies blinks. “Ex-excuse me?”
Haruka holds his hand up, shaking his head. “I apologize for my friend’s facetious rhetoric. Nino is in the bedroom—Asao will guide you there—and thank you for the books. That was very kind of you.”
Doctor Davies narrows his eyes toward Junichi, but then adjusts and softens his expression. He smiles toward Haruka. “It’s… my pleasure. I’ll need to draw your blood for the new IV today as well. I’ll examine Nino first, then let you know when I’m ready. Haruka… are you doing okay? You look a little—”
“I am fine, Doctor. Thank you for your concern.”
The doctor nods politely before Asao guides him out of the kitchen. Haruka whips his head toward Junichi when they’re gone. “What are you doing? He’s Nino’s doctor.”
“Whyare you cockblocking me? And why does he smell like that?” Junichi points at the empty doorway. “Do you not notice how incredible he smells? Is he human?”
Haruka blinks, frowning. He has never heard the term “cockblocking” before, but given the context and Junichi’s demeanor he can easily understand. “I admit that he is oddly appealing to my nature. But he reads as human.”
“I know humans.” Junichi folds his arms. “They smell like dirt. He doesnotsmell like dirt, and he’s stunning.He’s at my mother’s hospital with Sora? Damn… maybe I feel sick, too?”
Junichi forces a shallow cough, the sound unnatural and awkward. Haruka purses his lips in a frown. “Please do not harass my mate’s doctor.”
“I make no promises.” Junichi grins. “Do you think he likes males? Humans are very particular about that.”
* * *
Thirty minutes later,Doctor Davies has finished examining Nino and drawn bags of Haruka’s blood for the upcoming week.
With Nino lying behind him, Haruka unrolls the sleeves of his sweater while seated on the edge of the mattress. “He says that the regeneration process is, quote, ‘like earthquakes and hellfire’ in his mouth.”
The doctor smiles. “Well, yes, that sounds about right—I did say it wouldn’t be easy. But everything is progressing as it should. Hopefully the hellfire rages on and burns out soon?” At Haruka’s silence, the doctor pauses from packing his bag and looks up. Nino’s face is flat as he shakes his head.
Haruka grins. “He says, ‘Is he joking about this right now?’ There was also an expletive that I don’t care to repeat.”
“N-no, not at all. Sorry about that.”
The doorbell rings, surprising Haruka. They aren’t expecting anyone else today. But within a few minutes, he can hear the pitter-patter of small feet, the whisper of excited voices. He sits up straighter, his heart light.
“Behave, please, or we won’t do this again,” Sora cautions as they enter the doorway. Shion and Amon are at her sides, their hands gripped in hers and their faces full of wonder. This is the first time they have ever visited the estate.
“Haru-sama!” Amon shouts, then bolts from Sora’s grip. She calls after him but it’s no use. He bounds, then slams into Haruka as he sits with his legs gaped on the bed. He wraps his arms around Haruka’s waist in a tight hug, his face pressed into his sweater.
Haruka grips Amon’s head in his palms and pulls his gaze up, smiling. “Well, hello.”
“Hi!”
“Amon, Mom saiddon’trun,” Shion scolds from beside her mother. Amon turns his head and sticks his tongue out before snuggling into Haruka’s stomach again.
“Hi, Sora.” Doctor Davies blinks. “I told you I’d take care of things today?”
“I know, I know,” she says. “But I wanted to surprise Haruka since it’s been rough the past several weeks. And I forgot that I promised the little ones I’d bring them with me this week so, you know… they don’t understand the concept of ‘Mommy worked a thirty-hour shift so the trip you were looking forward to for three weeks is cancelled.’”
