Thank you very much for coming back. Not mine.
April 22
Sleeping like a cat is not one of my best skills, one that never needed practice while I lived at Tsuna-nii's house. Still, I was more or less aware of whenever a nurse came in and out, and when Hibari-san groaned in his sleep. It was a peaceful night, and I was grateful.
I became aware of both the sun warming my skin and of a presence approaching that morning. The chi was pleasant, even familiar, but it did not hurt to be ready. I sat up and reached for my weapons.
He still breathed gently. It will stay that way.
The door opened, and I saw Tsuna-nii.
I checked the chi once more, knowing that illusion-casters were in our group and in the enemy's ranks. But it was really and truly Tsuna-nii, that friendly familiar chi and that warm kind smile.
He gently closed the door behind him. "How is he?" he whispered.
I simply faced toward Hibari-san. Even his lips were pale on his already pale face, and he had a wince of pain lining it. Tsuna-nii and I both knew that if things were different, he would already be glaring at both of us for disturbing the peace so early in the morning.
"I know he will always be like this. Still, I wish he could've asked for backup," Tsuna-nii shook his head.
"Never." Hibari-san's eyes slowly fluttered open.
Tsuna-nii sighed and rubbed his head. "Hibari-san, you're not dealing with middle-schoolers. You can't do it all alone."
"Watch me."
I bowed to both of them. "Some tea? While you talk?"
"Thank you, I-pin-chan, but I just came to see how he's doing. Oh, and to give him this." He reached into his trenchcoat and took out an envelope thick with papers. I took the envelope from Tsuna-nii and placed them on Hibari-san's lap. "Some reading material while you are here. Now, for goodness' sake, just tell Kusakabe what you need done, and stop doing it all yourself."
"Speak for yourself, Sawada."
I looked up at Tsuna-nii. There were dark rings under his eyes, and he seemed to carry the weight of a thousand burdens. His hair was messier than usual. He chuckled. "You're right. The meeting lasted all night. There's still so much to do, to plan, to consider. But I can't tell them everything." He looked down at the floor. "Not even Gokudera-kun, and he trusts me so much..."
"Hm."
Tsuna-nii faced him again. "But don't concern yourself about that. Just get better. Our forces will handle any further attacks. Stay the week. We'll be fine."
"Only until tomorrow, Sawada. Then I go home."
"But, but, Hibari-san!"
"Tomorrow." But he grit his teeth as he tried to sit up in bed.
I placed a hand on his back, slowly weaved my arm through. I helped him the rest of the way. I felt the sweat soaking through the hospital gown from his back.
He glared at me, like a tiger. He snarled, too.
Still keeping my arm on his back, I offered a solution. "If it pleases Tsuna-nii, I think Hibari-san can keep resting at home, at the shrine. I'll deal with the housework and the cooking, no problem. Maman taught me well."
I turned to Hibari-san, asking his permission. But he kept snarling at me.
Tsuni-nii did not have to think long. "That's fine, I guess. Fresh air and being home will do him good."
The snarl slowly faded to a frown. "Hm."
"It's settled, then," Tsuna-nii smiled at us. "I'll see you tomorrow." He patted me on the shoulder and made his way to the door.
"Please rest well, Tsuna-nii," I begged as he opened the door.
"I'll try. You, too, Hibari-san."
Tsuna-nii was gone.
Hibari-san grit his teeth and groaned loudly as he held his abdomen. I eased him back onto the bed. As soon as his head reached the pillow he gasped and gasped for air. What little color that remained on his face drained away, and beads of sweat formed on his forehead.
"You should have made me prop the bed up, instead," I said.
"I am not weak," he gasped.
"I never said that." I placed the pillow he lent me back onto his head. "I just want to help."
"I did not ask for help."
"One need not ask for help to receive it." I showed him the tea canister. "Shall I?"
His breaths finally began to slow down and to even out. "Yes."
"Please wait a while." I took out the cups and the teapot.
…………………………….
There was another reason why he was so cranky.
The cherry blossoms began to bloom today.
It makes one wonder if he truly is Japanese, even if he is truly Asian. Cherry trees turning pink create warm sensations in the hearts of all who come from this region. But to him, and I have ten years of seeing him on and off to know, cherry trees turning pink make him irritable. No one dares to stay in front of him, or they will immediately suffer bodily pain.
"Curtain."
"What?"
"Curtain." He scowled at me.
I turned to the window. The window to our room gave us a clear view of the cherry trees turning pink. "Oh. Alright." I closed the curtains.
"Useless flowers." He tossed his head and faced away from the window.
"It's not their fault."
"Hm."
I heard the story a while back from Tsuna-nii. Cherry blossoms no longer incapacitated Hibari-san. Still, they made him so cranky that he was not at his best. He was like that for the weeks that they bloomed.
Just my fate that he got injured now.
As it were, he could not leave the bed, too. A blood transfusion was started, and he had to stay still for at least two hours for each bag. He needed two, so four hours.
"Just close your eyes, so you will not see them," I suggested with a smile.
"Shut up," he said. But he did close his eyes, and eventually drifted off to sleep.
I prayed that Lambo would not choose this time to suddenly appear.
It was odd. It was so peaceful here in the hospital, watching him sleep, watching him be annoyed at something so insignificant as cherry blossoms. Meanwhile, Tsuna-nii had so many problems, so many threats to consider. Surely Hibari-san was also on his mind. His being here with me was a weakness, an opening, on Tsuna-nii's side of the battle.
The calm worried me somewhat. It worried me that I completely enjoyed this calm. Watching him, so relaxed, so at peace.
Surely this was just a calm before a storm.
He woke up early in the afternoon.
"Do you want lunch?" I asked.
He shook his head. "Did anyone come?" he asked.
"Just nurses. You did not notice?"
"No. Thank you. Xie xie, yes?"
I felt my cheeks warm up considerably. "Ah? For what?"
"For being here."
I was sure my cheeks were very pink. "It is nothing."
"Give the envelope to Kusakabe when he comes. Tell him to bring it to the shrine, unopened. I will go through the papers there."
Somehow the orders got to me, but my brain could not truly process beyond the "Xie xie" that he said. He thanked me. He thanked me. Master, did you hear? He thanked me. "Alright. Will there be anything else?"
"No. Wake me for dinner." His eyes closed again.
I bowed from where I sat, as my hands shook on my lap and my heart beat faster than it ever did before.
I will never look at cherry blossoms the same way again.
Thanks for reading, as always. I hope you are still liking. Do review if you do like it.