Hello, Hello, Hello! The next chappy, hurray! I suggest you listen to music for this chapter to intensify the effect. :3 (Something saddish and slow, but mixed with some joy. Not too depressing.)
Please review and tell me if this chapter ends up being too rushed or sucks. There isn't much left to write XD
Enjoy~!
-Chapter 4-
Three days. Three days and nothing. Onodera had a third but minor surgery; his last one. His swollen face had gone down and he looked more like his normal self. He could breathe on his own now and a bit of his complexion returned too, but he never made a movement. A flicker of eyelids, twitching of a finger, nothing. They checked for brain damage but Onodera was always fine. Dr. Fukushima was starting to doubt if he would ever wake up, but Takano kept his word to Riko. A sliver of hope was strong in Takano, but he had his own doubtful thoughts. Whenever a negative thought clouded his mind, he pushed it away and mentally slapped himself. He had to stay strong for Ritsu. He had to.
Takano was always by his side, holding his hand. Onodera still cold and stagnant, Takano constantly watched his hand and face, looking for some kind of movement. Marukawa had already received the news. Flowers, cards, and gift baskets surrounded Onodera's bed like a halo. Kisa, Mino, and Hatori had each paid their respects and visited, giving their blessing to both men.
Onodera's parents had visited yesterday. His mother never said a word or shed a tear, shocked beyond relief. She just sat silently, as pale as her son and stared at his face. His father just looked down, gripping the bed railing until his knuckles were white. But before they left, Onodera-mama had bent down and kissed Takano on the cheek, silently thanking him.
Then four days passed.
Then five.
"Please Ritsu, just wake up…..Please."
.
.
.
Brightness. Too bright. He couldn't see anything as he squinted his eyes. Then everything cleared and his vision focused, looking at the scene before him. A long white hallway stretched before him leading to a door. A pale floor, walls, and ceiling surrounded Onodera as he looked before and behind him. Before he knew what he was doing, his feet started moving. Stepping slowly at first, he progressively broke into a run towards the door. Breathing ragged and a stitch in his side, the hallway seemed to stretch as he ran. The door just never seemed to be closer.
Finally, the door approached as he continued to run. But before he could touch the door knob, the floor beneath him gave out shattering into a million pieces. He fell with it, a sound not escaping his hoarse throat. The hallway melted away, and Onodera was just falling. Emptiness surrounded him as he just seemed to float there. It wasn't a shadow, just a black bareness. Nothing existed here but Onodera, as he observed the space. Minutes of an eternity passed while Onodera fell leisurely.
A white speck blinked into existence. It grew as Onodera sailed towards it and an arched doorway formed. Full of white light, Onodera was entranced by it as he balanced in the space. He faced it as his feet hit an invisible floor leading to the light. As if a great force was pushing against him, he dragged his feet forward gradually. The force relented as he persisted and he effortlessly walked to the light.
Ritsu.
Onodera stopped as the voice quietly echoed in the space. He stood right before the door, staring into depths of white. The familiar voice had shaken him from his trance and he tried to desperately remember whose it was.
Ritsu.
The voice louder and clearer this time, Onodera's eyes widened. He whipped around as a name formed on his lips.
'Masamune?' The memories and thoughts flooded his mind, overwhelming him. Tears filled his eyes as he looked back at the door of light. 'Not yet,' He thought.
'I'm sorry. This is not my time. I choose to be with Masamune,' Onodera smiled to himself as images of his husband filled his mind. He brought his left hand up and watched as a silver ring formed on his finger. He started to fall again, the door of white light rising above his head. He closed his eyes and grinned as he fell continuously.
"Masamune," His whispering voice rung out as everything melted into existence.
.
.
.
"Ritsu," Takano whined again, closing his eyes. He laid his head down on the bed as he squeezed Ritsu's hand. Minutes passed of silence when suddenly Masamune's eyes snapped open from the feeling of something moving in his hand.
He watched as small fingers twitched, then slowly curled into his hand. Onodera's small hand entwined weakly with Takano's and his head snapped up to look at his husband's face.
His eyes twitched the slightest. His brows then furrowed as his eyelids slowly lifted, squinting at the sudden light. Takano's own eyes widened as Onodera's head swiveled slightly in Takano's direction. His half-lidded emerald eyes found the older male's wide soft amber ones. He barely croaked out, "Masamune?"
He watched with his mouth slightly agape and eyes impossibly wide. He didn't know if this was a dream or hallucination from sorrow as he watched Onodera. Said male whispered, "What's the date?"
Without thinking, Takano replied dimly, "T-The 24th."
Onodera was silent for a few moments before he weakly smiled and said, "Happy Birthday, Masamune."
Takano's breath stopped and he jumped up from his chair. He grabbed Onodera suddenly and pulled him close. The smaller male's left arm came up and wrapped around Takano's back as Onodera continued to smile. He felt something wet fall on his shoulder and Takano trembled in his hold, squeezing Onodera tightly.
"Ritsu," Takano whispered almost imperceptibly, tears of joy cascading down his cheeks and onto Onodera's shoulder. He continued to embrace Ritsu tightly until he brought his hands to the cheeks of his lover's face, holding his face in his hands. Takano kissed his lips lightly, then again and again. Again and again, he pressed his lips to his Ritsu's, tears still falling from his amber eyes. Onodera's hand slid up Takano's back and entwined into his black hair as he smiled into the kisses.
"Ritsu, I love you," Takano finally smiled as looked into his husband's eyes. The smaller male grinned broadly and brushed his lips with Masamune's. He replied happily, "I love you too Masamune."
'In a choice between Love and Death, Love will always conquer,' –Anonymous
Ritsu woke up! Hurray! Sorry if this chapter was rushed, but it was time to satisfy my readers. See, I didn't kill Ritsu! (In this fic :3)
Please review and tell me what you thought! One or two more chapters as the aftermath, which I promise will be fluffy and happy to make up for all the pain and sorrow.
See you next chapter! :)