You are mine, and I am yours (Gregory House)

Chapter 5

There is something above ⬆️ to bless your eyes with
Credit: @housesgirlie

XxXxXxXx

1973
They left The Philippines and moved to Japan. Greg and Reilly both turned fourteen that summer. Greg no longer told the other children they were morons; at least not to their faces. When Reilly went off to spend time with "those stupid putas," as he called them, he spent time with his new friend, Rick.

One Saturday, Greg, Reilly, Reilly's friend, Emily, and Rick decided to go rock climbing. Emily liked Greg and convinced Reilly to help her get to know him. Reilly told Greg who shrugged.

"She's cute," he told Reilly. "She can hang out with us."

They all carried backpacks filled with ropes, grappling hooks, water and snacks. Once they arrived at the base of the mountain, Emily sat on the ground.

"I'll just wait here," she told them.

Greg shook his head. "Girls," he grimaced.

Reilly, Greg and Rick began their climb. They made it halfway up when Rick slipped and fell. He rolled down about thirty feet and lay still. Greg and Reilly scrambled down after him. He had several cuts and bruises but it was the deep gash in his side that caused Greg and Reilly to exchange a panicked look.

Between the two of them, they got Rick down the mountain and to the nearest hospital. Emily followed behind them crying. Greg stopped outside a door leading into the hospital and turned on Emily.

"Stop crying like a damn darling and open the door," he commanded.

She sniffed and pulled open the door. "I don't like you anymore and I'm going home."
Reilly and Greg helped Rick through the door.

"Good," Greg told her. "You're useless anyway."
Emily began to cry harder and ran off.

As they walked along the corridor, they knew they were in the wrong place. They saw a disheveled man mopping the floor. They approached him and Reilly asked him in halting Japanese where the emergency room was located.

He looked at the three of them with a bored expression. "Go down to the end of this hall and turn right. The emergency room is at the end of that corridor," he responded in perfect English.

Reilly thanked him but he ignored her and resumed mopping the floor.
They got Rick to the emergency room and called his parents. Once they arrived and were assured he would be fine, Greg and Reilly left.

"He spoke perfect English," Greg said as they walked back to the base.

"He did. Seems unusual for a janitor to know English. And did you see how he looked? I wonder if he's a baraku."

"An untouchable?" Greg asked. "They usually deal with dead people not mops. Besides, they're also butchers and leather workers."
Reilly shrugged and let the matter drop.

Three days later Rick developed an infection. Greg and Reilly were visiting him when his temperature spiked. They stood in a corner of the room and watched as the doctors tried to determine what caused the infection. Finally one suggested they call in Saburo. They other doctors shook their heads.

"He'll die and the Americans will cause trouble for us. I will go get him," Rick's doctor said.

Thirty minutes later he returned with the janitor Greg and Reilly met in the hallway when they first brought Rick in. He ignored the doctors and pulled the dressing off Rick's jagged cut. He gave Rick a thorough exam and turned to the other doctors.

"He got the infection here because you're all idiots," he growled. "I will take over his care because you will kill him with your stupidity."

The other doctors averted their eyes.
"He is an American," Saburo continued. "They do not care that I am Burakumin. Now get out,"