[Caged Heart]

Arrhythmia.

A strange word. A foreign, alien one. One you don't want to be in the same room with.

Once again, I was found myself lying in a hospital bed, hooked up to more tubes and wires than I ever imagined fitting into my body. Not even a full year had passed since my first heart attack, and I found myself back at square one.

[Damage]

Well, not quite.

Looking to my left, I saw a large collection of cards and gifts. Over the past few days since I was admitted, my classma-No, my friends had kept me supplied with more than a steady stream of support. Unlike the first time I was hospitalized, it was clear my friends at Yamaku had each been putting more thought and effort into their wishes than I had gotten from any of my old friends. Although I didn't expect the massive amount of attention and care, I wasn't all that surprised.

I suppose that, for one reason or another, we've all been in this situation: Long, unwanted hospital stays. Unlike my old classmates, almost everyone had some form of noticeable disability.

Emi's missing legs.

Shizune's deafness.

Hanako's burns.

Misha's ear problems.

Rin's missing arms and... Rin-ness...

Lilly's blindness.

[Concord]

Lilly...

After a pause, I turn to the right side of the room, looking at the blonde woman currently slumped in one of the chairs across from me. My Best Friend. My First Love. My Lilly Satou.

Only a few days ago, she was about to board a plane to go across the world. I had thought I'd lost her, yet here she was: sleeping in the hospital by my side, waiting for me to get better. If nothing else, her being with me is what's keeping me going. After everything that happened, she decided to stay. Even with all of the pain and trouble that I've gone through since my second heart attack, having her here is enough to keep me grounded. True to her word, she hadn't left the hospital since I was allowed visitors, and she only seldomly left the room.

I was shocked back to reality with the sound of the door behind me opening, immediately turning to face whoever was coming in.

"Hisao, when I said you needed to start exercising, this wasn't what I meant."

[Ae Eh I Oh You]

My eyes widened in surprise as I watched Nurse stroll into the room, followed closely by Mutou. Blinking, I noticed that neither of the men were dressed in their normal work outfits, instead wearing more casual summer wear. The two approached my bed, taking their seats by the table and heart monitor on my left side.

"Nurse Enomoto, Mr. Mutou..." I replied, fumbling for words, "I, uh... Wasn't expecting to see you two..."

"Sorry to disappoint, Hisao." Nurse replied, giving a wink. "Had we known you already had company, we would've just waited in line."

Mutou frowned, ignoring his partner's comment "Yamaku only just started it's summer break. We would've stopped by sooner if our schedule allowed."

With the shock of their appearance fading, I nodded, "I understand, sir. I doubt there would've been much to visit, given how much I've been put under since the incident."

Nurse closed his eyes and hummed at my response, "And how are you feeling now? I understand you had your pacemaker removed?"

"Yeah, they pulled it yesterday. The doctors said that once I'm healed up, I should be okay to head back to Yamaku." I told him, "I'm just glad to be getting out of here soon."

"That's part of why we're here, Hisao." Nurse responded, his face turning serious, "We need to have a talk about the advice I gave you at the beginning of the year."

I shrank back in my bed as he continued, "When I told you you needed to start exercising, I was serious. If you don't start building up your strength, you're only putting yourself at risk. I've coordinated with a few people, and we're going to be helping you get into some proper habits."

I looked down, cursing myself. He was right. I dropped out of running after a few days, and I was habitually missing my medication. "I know, sir. Trust me, after what happened, I can't let this happen to me again." I gave a quick glance at Lilly, still knocked out on the other side of the room, "I won't let this happen again."

Nurse's expression softened, "We're not trying to be mean, Hisao. We want you to overcome this as much as you do. You have yet another chance at things, which is more than most people get in life."

Mutou nodded, "Enomoto is right, we're here to help you get better. The world has too few men of science to lose another to a problem that can be solved."

I smiled at his remark, "I won't let you down, boss."

Both men returned the grin, before Nurse opted to change the subject, "So, I see you've had some company for a while." He noted, nodding his head towards Lilly.

"Yeah..." I chuckled awkwardly, "I suppose we're both the reason the other is still here..." Looking at her, I couldn't help by smile at her softly stirring, mumbling quietly in her sleep.

"Well, I suppose we should wrap up this visit, then." Mutou commented, himself awkwardly fumbling with the situation, "I brought some books you might like, and Enomoto has some more things from your classmates." Holding up a small stack of books for emphasis, he deposited them on the bedside table before standing up and straightening his shirt. Standing up after his friend, Nurse dropped a few boxes and cards beside the rest of the gifts before the two made their way to the exit.

"Get well soon, Hisao." Nurse called over his shoulder.

"Will do, sir. I'll see you two soon." I replied. The two gave a small wave as they exited the room. As the door closed, I laid back down, once again letting my mind wander in the silence. After a few moments, a smile crossed my face. "Good morning, Lilly" I said aloud, turning to her now silent form.

After a long pause, Lilly huffed quietly, frowning slightly, "I thought I had you!" She mumbled, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"'Your breathing was off'" I parroted back to her, sitting myself back up, "How are you feeling?"

Another cute pout, "I should be the one asking you that, Hisao. You're the one in the hospital bed." Standing up, Lilly slowly shuffled over to my bed, placing a hand on my stomach, "How are you feeling?" She asked, a soft, motherly look coming across her face.

"Much better," I replied, placing my hand over hers. Leaning over to her face, I press my lips against hers, "I love you."

"I love you too, Hisao..." She whispered, placing her free hand against my cheek. Slowly and methodically, she ran her fingers across my face, closing her eyes as she "looks" at me. Shuffling slightly, I wrapped my hands around her waist, inviting her to sit on the bed beside me, a request she immediately obliged.

After taking in the various contours and details of my face, she opened her eyes, a sad smile crossing her face. "I hope you can get out of here soon..." She mused, taking one of my hands in her own, giving it a loving squeeze.

"You and me both," I mutter, letting out a self-deprecating snort, "I hate hospitals. I hate doctors. I hate everything here. It's so boring."

Lilly raises an eyebrow, "You say you hate doctors, but wasn't that our Head Nurse that just came by?"

"That's different," I counter, "He's a nurse, not a doctor."

"I fail to see much difference there," She shoots back, a playful smirk crossing her face.

"He's different. He doesn't feel like he's repeating the same lines he tells everybody."

Lilly nods in understanding, "I'm sure not many doctors here would start a spy network to keep you in good health." She smiled, "Of course that won't be necessary, dear. I'll be sure to keep a closer eye on you from now on."

"So I can do whatever I want and get away with it?" I joke, earning myself a poke in the stomach, "Only kidding!"

"You're lucky you're still recovering, or I would've done more than that, Hisao." She mutters, planting a kiss on my forehead. After a moment, she lets go of my hand, "What time is it? Shouldn't you be getting your medication soon?"

I look over at the clock, for once finding myself distracted from counting down the hours, "It's half past 7, it's still early."

Lilly sighs, "I just want to make sure you get the help you need, Hisao. I..." Trailing off, she turns towards the door, listening carefully with an intent focus. I raise an eyebrow for a moment, before looking over towards the doorway. Moments later, it pushes open, and I'm greeted with one of the hospital nurses, walking in with a stack of papers.

"Mister Nakai?" The nurse asks, "I believe we have some good news for you."

Lilly pushes herself off the bed, returning to her seat as I'm handed the paperwork. Glancing over it, I can't help but grin at what it could mean:

"I can go home?" I ask happily. Lilly tilts her head up at the news, a look of surprise and joy on her face.

"Given your situation, we believe you are fit to return to your school, yes." The nurse confirms, "However, this doesn't mean that you're in the clear yet. The doctor is requesting that you be on bedrest for the next two weeks while you recover from surgery. No strenuous activity, no alcohol, and please, remember to take your medication." The last remark earns a pointed look at me from both the Nurse and Lilly. I sink back into my bed a bit, but nod in agreement.

"Are there going to be any changes to my meds?" I ask, dreading any increase in the massive collection of pill bottles.

I get a single nod from the nurse, "Yes, however only temporarily. It's just going to be some pain killers to help recover from the operations." Reaching for a pen, I hastily begin signing away at the documents, barely glancing over the fine print. It's all the same documentation as before, confirming that I consent to being released from the hospital, that I am aware of the side-effects of the medication I'm taking, and various other odds and ends. Once the stack is filled out, I practically throw the paperwork to the nurse, who responds to my joy with a clearly-faked smile.

"Okay, so when can I go? Should I start calling a taxi?" My heart begins beating faster, not due to my condition, but out of excitement for being released.

"Not so fast, Hisao." The nurse scolds, "We need to give you your medication, get you patched up, and do a final diagnosis before we can officially release you. And as I mentioned before, you need to take it easy these next few weeks."

I sigh, "I understand, ma'am." I reply back, trying to hold back the venom in my tone.

"Good. Well, the doctor will be by soon to get you moving again." With that, the nurse turned around and left the room, not before muttering a 'damn kids...' that didn't escape mine or Lilly's attention. Still, I couldn't help but smile.

I'm going home. And Lilly's coming with me.