Notes: Retroactively inspired by "Breathing" by Lifehouse.
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Yuuko shut the door behind her with a light click. She closed her eyes for a moment before opening them again, the firm, steady resolve back in them. She became aware of the sound of heavy breathing to her right and shifted her gaze to where Doumeki still sat against the wall.
"Go home, Shizuka," she said, her voice firm. Doumeki turned his head to look up at her, his eyes still full of fire despite his exhausted state.
"No."
The air seemed to buzz between them with tension until Doumeki's closed his eyes and took several shallow breaths in an uncharacteristic sign of weakness. Apparently even he couldn't lose that much blood and not feel the effects, though the fact that he had even lasted this long certainly said something about his character. After a moment of contemplation Yuuko knelt by his side and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You can go home now. You're no good to him in this state."
But that only served to tap into the last of his reserves, and once again he turned piercing dark eyes towards her.
"No. I want –" he had to take a breath to steady himself. "I want to stay here. With him." Another breath, this one shakier. "I'm not leaving."
Her mouth flattened into a thin, tight line as she watched him waver between exhaustion and steely resolve she gave in, taking pity on him.
"You can see him now if you want."
Doumeki blinked, surprised, his eyes drifting shut.
"You – You mean that?"
Yuuko nodded. He rose to his feet quickly and moved to the door, but not without a distinct unsteadiness in his stride that betrayed his true weariness. She stood in the doorway and watched as he paused, his eyes passing over Watanuki's bandaged body and finally settling on his face. It was only then that his legs crumpled under him and he knelt down at the edge of the bed, the last of his strength giving out.
After she was sure that he had fallen asleep, Yuuko strode forward and put a blanket around Doumeki's shoulders. She pulled back and watched the two of them, contemplating the fate of these two young men bound by pain and misfortune, but taking solace in the fact that their bond was becoming stronger by the day.
"Mistress?"
She turned her head and saw Maru and Moro standing in the doorway, mutual expressions of concern on their faces.
"They'll be fine." She said gently, walking over and gently taking hold of their hands to lead them out. "Give him a few hours and I'll send him home. Now be good girls and fetch me some tea – I do believe it will be a long night."
The girls skipped off with a harmonic chirp of "Yes Mistress", once again leaving her alone. She smiled to herself and shut the door behind her, taking note that the two boys were now breathing in time with each other.