Chapter 37: Deals and Promises

Masaomi stopped at his favorite coffee shop to pick up a bag of cinnamon doughnuts and hot drinks before arriving at the hospital. The nurses welcomed him and greeted him with their usual familiarity. A couple asked him whether he was coming back to work. He –for the first time in over five years– answered no; he was here to visit his brother and not to begin a shift.

The staff left him alone after that. They even let him carry the food to the patient´s room even though no one else was allowed to.

As soon as he was in front of Louis´s door he took a deep breath. The last time he´d seen the redhead they were both crying, and Louis was almost unconscious. It was a rather unpleasant memory, it hurt him. He´d broken down yesterday. He didn't want it to happen again. He wanted to go inside the room with a peaceful look to his eyes and a smile upon his lips. Four Louis´s sake and support he wanted to look as strong as the redhead always seemed to think he was.

"Alright," the doctor murmured, knocked a couple of times, then gripped the doorknob and pushed the door open.

Louis´s chuckle was what first reached his ears. He took it as a good sign, and his shoulder relaxed without him knowing they´d been tense in the first place.

His relief vanished when he saw what Louis was doing.

All blood left his face. He almost dropped the doughnuts in his hands.

"Asahina Louis, what do you think you´re doing?!" he squeaked. He squeaked because he was too shocked to scream.

The redhead glanced at his brother from under his messy hair and around Kazuhiko. "Oh, Masaomi-nii-san, hello," he panted. His face was sweaty.

The doctor gaped, then glared at Kazuhiko, who had frozen upon seeing the elder enter the room.

"Kazuhiko-kun!" he scolded.

The brunette shivered, tightened the arm he had around Louis´s waist. He glanced at his boyfriend, who had an arm slung around his neck and was resting his full weight against his body to hop on his good leg back to the hospital bed.

"Yes?" he ventured.

Masaomi huffed, pointed an accusatory finger at them. "Louis isn't allowed to get up from that bed until tomorrow at the very least, much less is he allowed to walk. What the heck is he doing limping around and what are you doing helping him?"

Louis gave another weak chuckle. The brunette flinched. "Louis needed to go to the bathroom," he murmured.

"And you couldn't call a nurse to help him with that? Bathroom or not, Louis isn't allowed out of bed. You came here to take care of him, didn't you?"

"B-But he insisted and… and since the bathroom was right here…"

"Masaomi-nii-san, don't be too hard on him. I was the one who insisted on getting out of bed," Louis said.

"And he couldn't very well tell you 'no'?"

"Why would I tell him no? It´s the bathroom!" Kazuhiko protested, his face red.

Masaomi stared at them both, then sighed. "You two are impossible," he grumbled, then went to the redhead´s other side to give him support.

"On the count of three we lift him up and we carry him to bed, okay, Kazuhiko-kun?"

Louis froze. The brunette snorted. "I tried to carry him before, but he said if I did he was going to break up with me," he said.

Masaomi blinked. "You did?" he asked Louis.

The latter blushed with what little blood he had in his body. "I am not a child, I am not a woman and I am not completely helpless," he pointed out.

"No, but you´re injured, and you can´t be moving around. Your wounds are still too fresh."

"But they don't hurt."

The elder gave him a look. "Don't lie to me."

"They really don't. A nurse came in like half an hour ago and gave me some painkillers. She said I´d be fine for at least a couple of hours."

"And you couldn't ask her to help you with the bathroom issue?"

"I didn't feel like going half an hour ago."

Masaomi gave another sigh. "Let´s go, Kazuhiko-kun," he called.

Five minutes later, Louis was back on the bed hooked back to the his respective machines, resting against the brunette´s chest to keep himself elevated. Kazuhiko offered to lift the bed, but Louis was still feeling touchy-feely, and he couldn't say no when Louis asked him to sit with him. Masaomi was sitting at the foot of the bed and watching as Louis rummaged through the canvas bag while the brunette rubbed a gentle and caring hand down his boyfriend´s arm.

Masaomi didn't know what to think. On one hand –for the umpteenth time– he was glad Louis had a man like Kazuhiko with him. It was more than obvious how much the brunette loved his brother, how willing he was to stay by his side. Kazuhiko was the company Masaomi had always wished for Louis: someone he could rely on and have fun with. Someone who would give him a sense of security and love. Of course, he´d always envisioned a girl being the personification of those hopes. Still, Masaomi wasn't really bothered it had turned out to be a man instead.

On the other hand, and after yesterday´s incident he felt like he´d lost Louis to this man already. If Louis or anyone else was in fact a girl and they had a boyfriend he was sure this… protectiveness would be worse. He´d raised them, he´d loved them as much as he could and had done their best for them. He´d always wanted them to be independent and strong. Seeing the young couple in front of him made him realize just how independent Louis was now. He supposed the others were like this is well, but it wasn't as obvious as Louis´s case.

Masaomi felt like one of his many chicks had left the nest to form their own.

Man, he was getting old and poetic.

Trying to chase those depressing thoughts away from the front of his mind, Masaomi patted Louis´s good leg under the blankets. "You´ve been rummaging through the bag for a good five minutes. What are you looking for?" he asked.

Louis hummed. "I have something for you. I´d planned on giving it to you before dinner on the 24th but I forgot. It´s your Christmas present, Masaomi-nii-san."

"… My present?"

"Yes."

The doctor glanced at Kazuhiko. "Do you know what it is?"

"Yes."

"What is it?"

The brunette shrugged. "I would have given it to you the night Louis came into the hospital, but I know how much he wanted to give it to you himself, so I didn't say anything. Besides, I thought Louis had given it to you already."

Masaomi raised an eyebrow. Kazuhiko smiled at him. Louis finally found the thick manila envelope in his bag, took it out and stared down at it. The other two men noticed the hesitation in his expression.

Kazuhiko worried his bottom lip. He began to pull away form Louis. "I… um, I´ll leave you two alone so you can talk," he said, but the redhead´s soft, "You promised you´d stay with me even after Masaomi-nii-san came," stopped him short.

"Don't you want privacy?" he tried again.

Louis shook his head. "Don´t leave me"

Those words –so strange coming out of the redhead´s mouth– and the somewhat vulnerable look in the mauve eyes he adored were too much for Kazuhiko to take. "I won´t," he said.

The redhead smiled his thanks, squeezed the envelope between his hands, then faced Masaomi.

"I called you dad out loud, didn't I?" he asked.

The doctor froze for a second, then nodded.

"It was the first time."

"That you´ve said it to my face, yes. However, it isn't like you haven't implied it before." Masaomi smiled. "And I´m happy you consider me your father. You and the others are everything I have."

"You are everything we have, Masaomi-nii-san. You have no idea how thankful I am to you for… for…"

Louis gulped. "For being you, really. Always there when we all need you; always taking care of us, supporting us and doing your best for us. In my case…" He glanced back at Kazuhiko. "You´ve supported the relationship between us since the very start and have stood up to the others for me… for us." Another gulp.

"You´re incredible, Masaomi-nii-san… but you´re still human. You mustn´t forget it," he finished.

Those last few lines confused Masaomi. His chest had been swelling with both pride and tenderness at Louis´s little speech. However, the last bit made him tilt his head to the side.

"I…" he began.

"You deserve and need a vacation," the redhead cut off. Without further delay, he handed the envelope over.

The doctor raised his other eyebrow He took it, opened it…

A deep sinking feeling began to form in his belly.

Biting his bottom lip, Masaomi pulled out the contents. Inside he found various pamphlets about what things to do, what places to visit, which foods should be eaten and information about the Naladhu Resort in…

"Maldives?" he said, and raised his eyes back to his brother, who nodded."

"Okay… this is evidently a vacation package." He picked up the hotel pamphlet. "Why are you giving me this?"

A few seconds of silence, then Louis wrinkled his nose. Kazuhiko chuckled.

"Look at that. Absentmindedness is not an inherited trait but a learned one," he murmured.

"Hey," Louis protested. He half tried to elbow his boyfriend on the ribs. He failed –as expected– and ended with Kazuhiko holding him closer and laughing.

"Masaomi-nii-san, I gave you that because your Christmas gift is a vacation to the Maldives," the redhead said, turning back to the doctor. He adopted a serious expression. "You deserve a break from the family, from your work and from the rest of your life. You need a vacation, don't you?"

"Of course I don't. I have a job and a family…"

"But your life shouldn't be about your family and your job alone. Masaomi-nii-san, don't you feel like you need some time off?"

He was used to being asked this question. Several people had asked it at least once thorough his life. He´d learned to smile and say 'no, I don't need a break'. He´d made it his automatic response because he loved his family to death and would always be there for him, no matter how tired and furstred he was.

Which lead to the truth.

Did he want some time to himself? Yes. Did he want to be alone and worry only about his own well-being for once? Yes. Was he tired? Gosh, no. He wasn't tired. He was exhausted. This pants months especially had taken a toll on him.

He took too long to answer. His silence was enough for Louis.

"Please accept it, Masaomi-nii-san," he said, and managed to lean forward without so much as feeling a hard pull on his leg. He pushed the envelope farther onto the other man´s lap.

"Please accept it," he repeated.

"Do you want me to… leave the country, Louis? To leave you boys alone?" Masaomi asked in a muted tone.

"Don´t you want to leave us, at least for a little while? Like is aid before, you´re still human, Masaomi-nii-san. Even you need to cool your head before you can go back to your daily life. Most of us are adults and we can take care of ourselves."

"Wataru…"

"In Wataru-chan´s case… well, he´s got over half a dozen brothers to take care of him while you´re gone."

"My job…"

"You´ve worked here for so long and you´ve never ever taken a vacation. You´ve covered many times for various doctors who aren't pediatricians. You take more shifts than what you should. The hospital won´t tell you no."

Why wasn't Masaomi surprised to hear those arguments? It sounded like Louis had given this much thought and was already prepared to shut down whatever excuse he could come up with.

He rubbed his thumb over the paper. "And what about you? I can´t possibly take a vacation when you´ve just been injured."

Louis gave him a look, then grabbed Kazuhiko´s hand between both of his own. "You don't have to worry about me. I have a mother hen to take care of me."

This time it was the brunette who said, "Hey!"

The redhead nodded. "See?" he said.

Masaomi smiled, sighed. "Well, I suppose you´re right. You have someone who can take care of you. However, I don't think it´d be wise for Kazuhiko-kun to stay at the apartments full time while you recover. I mean, he could stay in a futon in your room but not everyone would be happy, so…" He shrugged.

Kazuhiko´s eyes went wide. Louis frowned. "Go back to the apartments?" he murmured.

"Yes. I made sure your room was ready and I´ll go check with the surgeon when are you free to go home."

"But…"

"Don't worry. So the situation might not be the best. You´re still our brother, though, and Hikaru and the others will be glad to help you out with…"

"Masaomi-nii-san, I´m not going back to the Sunrise Residence."

The doctor stopped talking. He blinked, processed the words.

"… You aren't?" he asked after a long silence.

Louis hesitated before shaking his head. "It isn't my house anymore," he mumbled. As if he sensed Kazuhiko opening his mouth to offer his place he added, "I won´t go back to your apartment either, Kaz. It´s your home."

The brunette craned his neck to stare at his boyfriend. "But you´ve been living with me since you came back from Hokuto."

"Yes, but I can´t be there for these coming months. You don't know how much trouble I´m going to be."

Kazuhiko looked offended. "And you think I care about the trouble? Louis, you´re injured and I will see you through to the end and beyond this situation, no matter how much 'trouble' it might mean."

"And if your boyfriend says that don't you think your family would do the same as well?" Masaomi put in with a stern expression. "I talked to everyone before coming. I told them you would need a place to stay. Not a single one of them protested or told me not to bring you back."

"And what if I don't want to go back there?"

"I hate to say it, Louis, but it´s been your house for twenty years give or take. Not even a tiny little part of you wants to come home?"

Louis didn't answer. He gritted his teeth. After mulling it over for a couple of minutes he said, "I… I don't know."

"Then you´re coming with me," Kazuhiko said, though it sounded more like it was a command.

Louis shook his head. "I know it´s a very stupid and selfish request, but I want to have my own place. A small apartment would be the best. I´d like to have a place to myself so whatever treatment and therapy my body needs can be done without anyone worrying too much or bothering someone else´s privacy."

Kazuhiko and Masaomi exchanged glances, then the doctor sighed. The brunette frowned.

"Honey, I don't think you´re thinking straight," he murmured. He prepared himself for an explosion.

Louis merely turned to him with confusion written all over his face. "Huh? What are you implying?"

"I´m not implying anything. It´s just… i don't know what goes through your mind right now. Whatever it is, though, it… it´s coming out as if you want to be alone."

Panic flicked through mauve eyes. Alone? No. Louis didn't want to be alone. If he was alone he knew he was going to have a bad time with his thoughts crowding and scaring him. He didn't want to sleep either. He was sure he was going to get nightmares if he did. And if he was going to have nightmares he didn't want to wake up alone and defenseless. Because he also knew he couldn't do much in his current condition.

At the same time Louis didn't want to give anyone else more trouble. While trying to figure out what to give Masaomi for Christmas he´d come to the conclusion that if it hadn't been for him, Masaomi wouldn't have had to deal with all this crap, Kazuhiko wouldn't have been involved in an incestuous mess, Subaru wouldn't have turned into a jealous Rottweiler and…

He gasped as he figured out where his thoughts were taking him. They sounded, first of all, like things Ema would think. That alone should have been a wakeup call. What surprised him the most was: if he kept thinking like this after his 'accident' he was going to get depressed for sure. He´d read about this. It was possible to get depression after being involved in a traumatic experience. He´d had a traumatic experience a few days ago.

He let out a soft moan as his mind was filled again with images about the last thing he remembered before waking up in the hospital. He began hearing Fuuto´s voice, panic settle in his stomach and then the sound of the gun away..

His head began throbbing. He hid his face against Kazuhiko´s chest and tried not keep his breathing even.

Kazuhiko went as still as a statue. "Louis?" he wondered, and tried to meet the redhead´s eyes, but the latter refused to lift his head. He gave a shake of his head and a breath that was so deep it hurt his already weakened chest.

"Louis? What´s wrong? Do you hurt anywhere?"

While Kazuhiko tried to figure out what was the matter with Louis, Masaomi´s eyes went back to the pamphlets on his lap. He tapped one of them with his fingertips, thought about what was being offered to him.

Was he worried about Louis? Yes, he was, but he knew he couldn't help the redhead with what was happening to him now. One part of him knew Louis was having a flashback to the night he´d been shot. It was to be expected. In fact, Masaomi had been surprised his brother hadn't had hysterics when he´d woken up earlier today. There was no way to avoid those sudden and painful memories. Louis needed to talk to someone about this. It was the best Masaomi could think of.

To his disgrace, it wasn't like he could rush out on the spot to get the closest doctor. He was going to schedule some appointments for him later. As for now, if Louis had Kazuhiko there Masaomi felt confident the redhead would come back to his full senses in little time.

Which left him free time to ponder about the gift Louis had given him. If Louis had been well Masaomi may have taken the opportunity after a little more thought. He would have made sure everyone was well tended, had all their limbs and not one of them was in jail before accepting to take a vacation.

As it was, Masaomi wouldn't leave even the city until Louis was up and running again.

The best way he saw to care for his brother was to bring him back home. He could keep an eye personally over Louis and the others like that. It wasn't like he didn't trust Kazuhiko with Louis´s welfare. Masaomi simply wanted to be there liked he´d been all his life.

"Louis, I can´t do this," he said.

Even in his mental hell, Louis was able to hear those words. He unglued himself from his boyfriend and looked at Masaomi with watery eyes.

"You have to," he whispered. "You more than deserve it, Masaomi-nii-san."

"Let me finish, Louis. I can´t do this today, nor tomorrow or even next month. I will not say otherwise until you have recovered. I´ll take the vacation afterwards. However, I will reject your gift right here and now if you refuse to come back to the apartments," the doctor finished. He shook the papers. "You care for me, and I am doing the same, so this leaves us at an impasse, I´m afraid."

Kazuhiko´s eyes were wide. He waited for Louis to say something, but when he didn't he said, "Did you hear what he said?"

The redhead heard. Yet… "I don't understand." His thoughts were too muddy and vague to make sense of the words.

Masaomi gave a lopsided smile, nodded at the brunette. "You know where I´m going, don't you, Kazuhiko-kun? Please inform Louis about it."

Kazuhiko´s eyes widened even more, the he nodded. "In a nutshell, he´s saying he´s taking the vacation you offered him after you´ve been nursed back to health by him and the others at the Sunrise Residence."

Louis pursed his lips. He managed to process the proposition without his head feeling like it was going to split in two. By the time he was finished he was surprised.

"You´re playing dirty, Dad," he accused.

The doctor chuckled. "So I am. What do you say, kiddo? Do we have a deal?" he replied.

It wasn't like he had much choice.

"Yes," Louis said. "We do have a promise, not a deal."

The doctor gave another smile. "Of course," he agreed, then stood up. "Now let me go get you a nurse. Kazuhiko-kun, we also have to talk about how to sneak you into the Sunrise Residence. Let´s eat and talk about it as soon as I come back."

To be continued…

Hi everyone! Sorry for the late update and for bringing such a short chapter this week. However, I decided to cut it here so next chapter will be about Louis´s discharge from the hospital and New Year alone. If time´s on my side, the next update will be Saturday. ;)

About this chapter… I haven't got a lot to say except it´s heartwarming to write Masaomi, Louis and Kazuhiko being at such ease with each other. It´s quite a relaxing father/son and father/son-in-law relationship hahaha.

Thanks everyone for reading and keeping up with the story! :*