Disclaimer: I don't own Loveless

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Chap 4: Shriek

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After Soubi helped Ritsuka undress and put the hospital gown on, "a few minutes" became twenty, then on. Each moment that passed waiting for Ritsuka's doctor caused the fighter's anger to boil like lava in his veins.

He did not sit, but crouched at the bedside dabbing at Ritsuka's red face with a damp paper towel.

At last a man in a white coat entered, chart in hand. The forty six year old stood several inches shorter than Soubi, with short black hair and wide glasses. He had some weight, though not an excessive amount.

"Hello I'm doctor Saito. I'm told you're not a relative mister…"

"Agatsuma"

Nodding once Dr. Saito glanced at the bandages across Ritsuka's body then at the chart "I see that the patient is having difficulty breathing, let's take a look".

With latex gloves on his hands, he picked up a small flash light. "Aoyagi-kun open your mouth please" He did so, and the doctor pulled his chin down more, straining his jaw.

Saito observed his throat, then put the flash light down and made a note. "Well he doesn't seem to have an infection or inflammation." Soubi wanted to throw the chair at him.

What had he written as the cause of the injuries? A car accident seemed a fairly accurate a trade-off for the truth. This doctor was ludicrous.

"Aoyagi-kun, I need you to sit up". Ritsuka faced his fighter with great pain and exhaustion in his eyes.

"Aoyagi-kun, please sit up" the doctor persisted no more than a few seconds later, with unnecessary annoyance in his tone.

Soubi eased him up the same manner as in his apartment.

"I prefer if the patient sits up on his own. It helps measure the extent of the damage."

"Hurts" Ritsuka whispered then gasped.

"Fine" Saito said scribbling another note then lifted the stethoscope and pressed it to Ritsuka's chest. He grimaced at the pain and chill.

"Breathe in."

Ritsuka did so.

"Deeply Aoyagi-kun." He breathed as deeply as he could, and when the pain became too intense started coughing and gasping.

Laying the instrument over his neck, the doctor placed his hand on Ritsuka's chest.

After regarded the chart Soubi marked with the sites of his injuries, he pressed the tips of three fingers against the injured location between Ritsuka's lung and heart. The boy shrieked.

Soubi shoved Saito away with his free hand, and without missing a beat commanded "You will not harm Ritsuka again".

As he rose from the floor and fixed his white coat, the doctor responded with a scowl "Agatsuma-san you're lucky if I don't call security". Soubi's gaze was laced with immeasurable ferocity, which was not broken by the petty threat.

It is not permissible to kill a doctor, he reminded himself.

"The only reason I won't is since you're the sole adult here with the patient…" Saito said, backing down. "I'll schedule an x-ray" then he left the room.

Soubi turned to his sacrifice, and helped him lay back against the pillow. "Be… careful" Ritsuka whispered "Want… you stay".

Soubi forced his rage to dispel, and pet Ritsuka's cat ears to help them both relax.

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End of chap 4

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Hope you liked it, please review. That's not an invitation for "doctors aren't supposed to do that", "doctors wouldn't do that" or any such comments. I do respect doctors, but have met too many who behave in ways much like the fictional character "Doctor Saito" here.