Disclaimer: I do not own TRC
Recovery and Confessions
Hikaru's POV
I opened my eyes to have my blurry sight slowly focus on a white ceiling. "Ah, my head." I winced and struggled to sit up, which was a big mistake as, a moment later, I clutched my stomach and flopped back down.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Kurogane's voice caught my attention and I saw him sitting against the wall across from the foot of my bed. His eyes were closed, his arms were folded, and his head was slightly bowed as his sheathed sword was propped against the wall to his left. "You took a serious beating. Rest."
"Wh-what about Setsuko?" I noticed her bed was empty.
"Her injuries were slightly more severe, so Fai took her to a separate room. Yuko gave us some medicine to help your wounds. For once she actually gave us something for free." He added with a grumble.
"Oh." I looked down for a moment, before shifting my brown eyes back up at him. "Thank you."
He stood and turned his back to me and paused. "You really are an idiot."
"Huh?"
"I told you to get out of there with Setsuko, but when those demons came at you, you froze in place!"
"I'm sorry, Kurogane."
He finally glared at me, his red eyes burning. "Do you know what would've happened to you if I hadn't gotten there in time?" I could only stare with wide eyes at how fired up he was. He turned away again. "Stay put. I'll get you something to drink." I watched him walk out and my wide eyes shifted to look at my lap, before they narrowed sadly. Why did he get so upset like that? I've never seen him that way before.
Setsuko's POV
I groaned and slowly opened my eyes to see myself in another room. "Ah, I see you're finally awake." Fai was sitting on the foot of my bed and smiled at me.
"Fai. You're okay?" Relief swelled inside of me as did pure gratefulness that he was free from that torture chamber. "Y-you're not at all weakened from your magic being drained?"
"I assure you, I'm fine." He smiled and stood before he approached me, gently placing a hand on my forehead, stroking my side bangs. "Seeing you in one piece is all I need to know." A deep blush came to my face and I widened my eyes before pulling the sheets over my head.
"Wh-what about Hikaru? Wh-where's she?"
He giggled a little at my flustered form. "Kuropu brought her to your room." Then, his tone became less causal and I peeked from under my blanket, which still covered my nose. "Your injuries were much more severe than expected so you needed a little more attention."
"O-oh." I said quietly, looking down and pulling the sheet down to my chin.
He stared at me for a few moments and stroked my hair again. "But there's no need to feel bad about it. You're safe now and that's all that matters."
I shyly smiled back at him, my cheeks still red. "Thanks, Fai."
He gave me a slight giggle. "I'll go make you some cakes. While I'm at it, I'll make some for Hikaru, too."
I nodded. "All right. She'd like that."
He stood and bowed. "If you'll excuse me, my princess."
I blushed again and he walked out with a smile, shutting the door behind him.
Hikaru's POV
I had been lying around for a while and was getting restless, so, not paying any heed to Kurogane's words, I struggled to sit up and got to my feet. My legs were rather weak, so I held onto the bed until I gained my balance, then I slowly walked for my door. I quietly opened it and peeked into the empty hall, before opening the door to another room and flinched when I saw Setsuko right at the door. She blinked in surprise as well. "Hikaru!"
"Set! Are you okay?" I hugged her, but she cried and I immediately pulled back to see her smiling weakly.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little sore."
"I'm sorry." I said looking down. "I should have come sooner. I could've helped you fight Seishirou off and free Fai."
"Hey," she said, placing a hand on my shoulder and looking up at me with her round, warm, brown eyes, "what matters is everyone is here safe and sound."
"You're right." I smiled back a little. "Should we go find the others?" She nodded and took my arm for support before we slowly walked for the door at the end of the hall.
Opening it, orangey colors of sunset poured into the café and eight eyes turned to look at us. "Hikaru! Setsuko!" Mokona cried as it leapt towards us and Setsuko and I each held up a hand for the furry white creature to land on. "Are you all right? Mokona was real worried."
We smiled.
"Yes, we're all right, Mokona." I said.
"But I would like to know how we got out. The last thing I remember was the stalactites falling on top of us."
"Fai was real brave!" Mokona said proudly. "He used his magic to shield everyone until it was safe to come out! He even used it to fix up the café again!" It blushed teasingly, "Kuropu was so cute catching Hikaru when she passed out."
"Shut up!" The dark-haired man blushed and lunged for Mokona, who leapt away giggling.
I blushed myself and smiled sheepishly at the carpet. "Th-thank you, Kurogane."
"D-don't mention it." He replied looking away.
"Aw, Kuropuru's blushing!" Mokona teased earning him to be swiped at by the flustered, grumbling swordsman. Fai and Setsuko giggled, but my friend stopped when she spotted Sakura asleep on the couch.
"What's wrong with Sakura?"
"Don't worry, she's fine. She just fell asleep after I returned her her feather." Syaoran smiled.
"Are you injured from your fight with Seishirou?" She asked with concern.
"No, I'm completely unharmed."
"Yeah!" Mokona chirped when it leapt onto his shoulder. "Syaoran's so brave! He gets a smooch for it!" Mokona kissed his cheek, making him smile.
"Thank you, Mokona."
The friendly creature leapt onto Fai's shoulder next. "Fai gets a smooch, too, for protecting everyone."
"That tickles, Mokona." Fai giggled when he earned his kiss, then, Mokona leapt onto the couch where Sakura was.
"Sakura gets her smooch for when she wakes up." It said quietly with its usual smile.
"That sounds like a wonderful idea." I said and it leapt back onto Setsuko and my outstretched hands.
"You two especially get smooches, because you're okay, now!" After giving us kisses, Setsuko and I looked at each other.
"And you get one from the both of us for being so caring." I said and we kissed Mokona's cheeks making it blush.
"Aw! Mokona feels all warm and fuzzy, now!" We giggled for a little bit. "Kurgie doesn't get his smooch yet until he's nicer to Mokona!"
"Oh, what, you think I take that as an insult you little creampuff?"
Mokona giggled some more and the two were at it again.
"You two should get some rest." Syaoran advised, "We'll take care of things here."
"All right." I nodded, "Thanks."
"Night!" Setsuko called before we earned our replies and walked back into the hallway.
We walked into our room and lie down in silence for a little while and I thought my friend had fallen asleep due to the intense tribulations we had just recently endured. "Hikaru?" She said suddenly in a small voice, "You still up?"
"I was just wondering the same thing about you."
"Yeah." She giggled.
"You gave me such a freaking heart attack, you know that, right?"
"Yeah. I'm sorry."
"Hey, I'm just glad Fai was there to protect you as best he could."
"Yeah." She said sheepishly. I could tell she was blushing and I took this as the perfect opportunity.
"So . . . how do you feel about him?"
"Wh-what? Wh-what gave you the assumption I feel a certain way about him?"
"Set, it's written all over your voice." I pictured her puffing out her cheeks like she always said she did when she got embarrassed or flustered.
"I dunno. . ." She said at last. "I mean, I care about him a lot. . . He's always made sure I was safe ever since I joined him and the others. And when I was sad and numb and close to reverting, he stayed by my side and he and Mokona did whatever they could to cheer me up."
"He really is a nice guy." I smiled and I pictured her smiling sheepishly as she held the blanket to her blushing face.
"So how about you and the Kurgerburger?" Setsuko asked after a while of silence and it was my turn to blush.
"U-um. . ." Then, I sighed. "I really don't know how he feels about me."
"Oh, come on! He totally likes you! I've seen how he blushes when he's around you sometimes, or when you compliment him, or just when you say or do something in your amazing way!"
"Do you really think so?" I asked, still unconvinced.
"Absolutely. Look, he may be a dark cloud on the outside, but everyone's able to see what a softie he is at heart."
In my mind, I concluded that was the reason why he got so heated when I first woke up earlier.
"Besides, all of those times Fai and Mokona annoy the crap out of him, do you honestly think he would intentionally hurt them?"
I laughed. "I guess not . . . Thanks, Set."
"Don't mention it, Mommy." I heard her smile back in the darkness.
"Well, I'm going to get some sleep now. I'm still beat after everything."
"Yeah, me too."
"Goodnight my daughter."
"Goodnight, Mommy."
It was silent between us for a while, the crickets were chirping in the dead of night and, for once in what seemed like forever, it was peaceful in Ōto Country. I knew I could finally rest easy after all of the hell that had occurred over the course of the past day and a half. With a sigh and a smile, I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.
Finally a good ending, please review! :D