Kiyaku: Closed Windows

Warning: Yaoi through and through. Don't like it? Don't read it!

Disclaimer: Do I have to say? Geez!

Chapter 13: Awakening

Kurama groaned as he woke to consciousness. It must have been some time after the operation. One he felt more rested then he had in weeks and two, the sunlight coming through his window suggested late afternoon.

Groaning he attempted to sit up when he noticed two things. One he was on his back and two, he was tied down. The straps weren't tight enough to hurt but he couldn't move at all. He suspected they put the straps on his to keep in place while he slept and not rip open the stitches on his back. Looking down near his right hand he found the buzzer and pressed it for the nurse.

The nurse that walked in had dark brown hair and liquid blue eyes. She gave a warm smile to Kurama as she walked in and check his vitals.

"When did you wake up," she asked.

"Not long ago," he said.

"Well, I'll just go get Doctor Yamaguchi and he'll talk to you about how the operation went," said the nurse. "My name's Kagome and if you need anything just buzz for me."

"Actually, I am hungry," said Kurama, noticing the rumbling in his stomach. Nurse Kagome laughed.

"Well, you're been asleep over half the day! It's nearly dinner time."

"It is? Haven't slept that long since I was a baby. How's Hiei?"

Nurse Kagome stopped laughing and cleared her throat.

"Yes, well, the doctor can give you a better explanation than I. I'll go get him and have an orderly bring you dinner, all right?"

At Kurama's nod she left, flashing him on last smile before walking out of the room. He didn't have to wait long when Yamaguchi walked in and look over Kurama's clipboard.

"Any nausea," asked the doctor and Kurama shook his head. "Any aches or pains?"

"A little," said Kurama.

"Where?"

"All over," said Kurama and the both laughed.

"I'll have Nurse Kagome bring a dose of Morphin for you. How does that sound?"

"Wonderful," said Kurama. "How's Hiei?"

The doctor sighed but smiled.

"He still has yet to wake. It's probably due to the larger amount of injuries he's had. I'm afraid you can't see him yet as you're still recovering, but I'm sure I can schedule you in for later in the week."

"But what if he wakes up before then?" asked Kurama. "He'll freak! You have him tied down too, don't you? If he wakes up tied down, he'll try to get loose and bolt."

The doctor rubbed the back of his head to think.

"It's risky but I could assign him here if it'll make you feel better."

"Much."

"All right. I'll talk it over with my superior. I'll let you know if I can change his room or not. Ah, here's your food."

And orderly had walked in with a two cups, both with straws. Kurama suspected that one held broth and the other had juice.

"Sorry to say but we'll have to start you on broth for a while," said Yamaguchi. "You'll have to lie on your back for a week until the incision is strong enough to hold while you're moving around. You understand?"

"Yes, doctor."

"Good, now Hiroshi will help you eat and when you've eaten your fill I suggest you rest. Nurse Kagome will come in soon to give you the pain reliever."

"All right."

The doctor nodded and left the room so Kurama could eat. After he was fed Nurse Kagome walked in and gave him the pain reliever. The stabbing pain he felt in his back quickly went away. Not long after Shiori and the other's walked in. Shiori looked in a state of disarray. Her hair was almost out of her usual bun and her eyes were blood shot, hinting that she had been crying. Her hands shook as she held them to her chest, trying to calm herself.

"Shuichi," she whispered harshly. Kurama gave a little smile.

"I'm all right, mother," he said, his voice a little slurred from the pain reliever.

"Oh, Gods, I was so worried," cried Shiori throwing her hands to hide her face. Kurama wished he could comfort her, but instead he looked over to Yukina. The teal haired girl's eyes were also blood shot and she could barely stand, leaning against the support of Kuwabara.

Keiko went over to comfort Shiori.

"I'm all right, now, mother," said Kurama. "Everything's all right now."

"Everything wasn't all right a few hours ago," said Shizuru.

"You nearly died," said Kuwabara and Yukina went into a small hiccupping fit. "Sorry! Sorry!"

"I what?"

"We were watching over the procedure room," said Yusuke. "At first everything was okay, then Hiei's heart computer thingy…."

"Monitor," corrected Keiko. "Heart monitor."

"Right, heart monitor went all haywire and the doctors were in a frantic. Next thing we know your heart computer thingy…"

"Monitor."

"Right, went haywire too and the doctors were even more confused. Then something about brain waves and then everything was all right again."

"Yusuke, you have a very apt way of explaining things," said Kurama.

Yusuke shrugged. "It's what I do."

"Have you seen Hiei?"

Keiko nodded. "He hasn't woken up yet. We've asked the doctor and he said that it'll take time."

Kurama looked down at the floor, not wanting to meet his friend's eyes. What if the procedure wasn't a success? What if Hiei never woke up? He couldn't bear to be without the raven haired boy. What if he woke up and Hiei was gone. Tears started to form around his eyes.

Kurama nearly jumped when he felt someone lean against his back, comforting him. Without any reserve Kurama let the tears flow. For ten minutes he cried his throat harsh and his eyes hurt. Every so often someone would wipe the tears and mucus away from his face. When he was done a tissue was held to his nose and he blew. Wiping away the last of his tears Yukina's face came into view.

"I've known you for years, Kurama," said Yukina. "You were never the one to cry. I'm sure you have a headache now." Kurama nodded. "You are the bravest, loyalist, smartest and stupidest person I've known! Ever since I've known you I have never seen you cry. You always put on a brave face so the people around you wouldn't worry. You try to do everything on your own, but you're not alone! Kurama, you don't have the whole world on your shoulders. Ever since Mother got sick you made it your responsibility to look after Hiei and me. We appreciate that but you have to start looking out for yourself. Other people can do things without you. For now just look out for yourself."

Kurama nodded, a little more relieved then he was the day before.

"Go to sleep now," said Yukina. "We'll look after Hiei-niisan."

Kurama nodded and closed his eyes. He was asleep before the group left the room.

CCCCCCCCCC

"Do you remember what happened next?"

"I was asleep. I didn't dream, I didn't have a nightmare. I just slept."

"Did you want to wake up?"

"I had no reason to. Till I heard voices."

"Voices?"

"Yeah, the first one was familiar in a way, but it was sad and asked for my forgiveness in something. I couldn't hear what. Then there were other voices. They were very angry. The first voices said something I couldn't catch, then I never heard it again."

"Our hour's up. If you want to continue, we can."

"No. I'm okay."

"Well, if you need me, just call."

"Uh, thanks, by the way, Doctor Smith."

"Hiei-kun, just call me Kate."

CCCCCCCC

Kaoru sat on a chair by the bed and looked down sadly at the boy in it. Hiei was laying on his stomach so the stitches could heal and his eyes closed in a peaceful slumber. A bandage was wrapped around one arm and also around his head. A butterfly band-aid held a slit lip together.

"I'm sorry," she said. "This wasn't supposed to happen. I didn't want this to happen to you. I wanted you to like me. I'm sorry."

"What are you doing here," said a voice angrily. Kaoru looked around and saw the rest of Hiei's friends, Yusuke looking angrily at her.

"Yusuke," hissed Keiko.

"It's all right, Yakamura-san," said Kaoru. "I was just leaving."

Silently she left the room.

"That's right. You better leave."

"Yusuke!"

"What? I never liked her."

"Join the club," said Kuwabara.

A groan behind them made them turn around to look at the raven haired boy behind them. Hiei's face at first contorted into pain and he groaned again. They watched as Hiei opened his eyes and looked at the white ceiling above him.

"Kurama," he said in a low voice.

"He's not here, Hiei," said Yukina. "They set him up in another room."

"What happened," Hiei asked.

"What's the last thing you remember," asked Keiko.

"Some punks were following me and Kurama. They attacked us. My head…."

"Me and Kuwabara saw what happened and joined in," said Yusuke. "Kurama's all right. Just a little banged up."

"And me," asked Hiei.

"You, uh, nearly died," said Kuwabara then went to comfort his sobbing girlfriend.

"How…."

"We'll explain later," said Shiori. "Yusuke go tell Kurama and Doctor Yamaguchi that Hiei's awake. Everything will be okay."

The last sentence she told everyone, but she was looking right at Hiei when she said it.

Kurama was happy to hear that Hiei had woken up and no complications were present in his condition. Doctor Yamaguchi looked him over and informed them both at everything was fine in the both of them and had gotten permission to move Hiei into Kurama's room. Other then both patient's backs were still tender they both were fine. Of course Hiei found out about the operation and when he had successfully been moved into Kurama's room he had more then a few words with the red head.

"Minamino Shuichi, that was a very stupid thing to do!" Kurama sighed. Full name. Yep, Hiei was pissed. "Could you be an even bigger idiot! You could have died!"

"So could you," said Kurama softly.

"Who cares if I die! I would rather die then to see you dead!"

"So would I,"yelled Kurama. Hiei looked over at Kurama for a second before looking down at his pillow. "Hiei, I would rather both of us be alive then one of use. If I can help you, I will. I can't lose you."

"I can't lose you either, Red."

"Good. That's one thing we agree on."

Both boys started to laugh until their sides flared in pain.

"No more stupid stuff," asked Hiei.

"From both of us," said Kurama.

Yusuke, Kuwabara, and the three girls sat in Yukina and Keiko's living room, Kuwabara and Yukina sitting on the sofa while Shizuru slouched in a chair and Yusuke and Keiko sat on the floor.

"We need to get more money from the operation," said Yukina. "Even with Shiori-san's help we only have enough to keep her in the hospital."

"Even with the donations," said Shizuru, "we don't have enough. No one's contributing."

Yusuke sighed. "If only we could set up a small carnival or something."

Suddenly Keiko gasped and jumped from her seat, which was Yusuke's lap, making Yusuke fall in a heap.

"Yusuke, that's it!" she cried.

"What's it?" asked Kuwabara.

"We'll have a small fair," said Keiko. "We'll try to get permission from the president of the college and set up a small carnival for the college students. And not just the students, the whole town. We can have games…"

"Those kiddy rides with horses," said Yukina, chipping in her idea.

"A hay ride," said Yusuke.

"Cotton candy," said Shizuru.

"A petting zoo," said Kuwabara and they all looked at him. "I liked petting zoos when I was a kid."

"It's true," said Shizuru.

"First we have to make a game plan to tell the president," said Keiko. "And the donations won't just be for Surichuudo-san, but all cancer-related victims!"

"Brilliant, Keiko," said Yukina.

And they began to plan.

TBC