Disclaimer: Author owns nothing. Mai-Hime belong to Sunrise.
CHAPTER 28
RAJASTHAN INDIA
The surgery was finally almost done after a good three hours, all thanks to Alyssa's expert hands and years of experience.
"Damn. She always lives to expectations. This woman is a fucking genius." A young doctor thought as he moved the bullet away. His eyes were on Alyssa whose blue orbs were focused on patching the wound up.
"I know right." Another young doctor whispered knowingly as he passed by her. "We're lucky she chose us to be in her team."
For some reasons, Alyssa chose those who were still in their early years of residency to be part of her team while most of the superiors chose more experienced ones, not wanting to burden themselves of errors that most newbies commit.
"So, is there anyone who wants to share what he or she learned from today's case?" Alyssa asked, glancing at the young doctors around her.
"Always stay calm." One young doctor chipped in.
"Assess the damage as efficient and as fast as possible." Another one added.
More comments on the technical aspects of surgery were provided by the other young doctors but Alyssa still didn't hear what she wanted to.
"Those are good points but I think we are forgetting something very basic here, don't you think?" Alyssa asked, raising her eyebrows since the mask was hiding half of her face. "I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure. I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those of sound mind and body as well as the infirm." She recited.
"Hippocratic Oath." Another young doctor chimed in.
"We do not discriminate in providing treatments. We do not have enemies except illnesses. We see no fault on man's intentions and actions. We preserve life regardless of race, age, color, ethnicity and beliefs. We are no juries to determine a man's worthiness of life. Please always bear these in mind." Alyssa reminded as she lifted her blood stained gloved hands from Natsuki's left chest.
"All vital signs are stable, Doc." Another young doctor announced.
"Thank you for all your hard work today. I hope you learned something from this case." Alyssa said, regarding everyone with a nod of approval.
Alyssa proceeded to the video conference room to report the incident to Doc Helen and to inform the latter of the next steps she had in mind. She wasn't expecting to see Masashi and Shizuru inside, though.
"How is she, Doc?" Doc Helen asked from the screen. "I was given a few details of the earlier incident."
"She's still unconscious but stable. She will remain like that for more days. I sedated her for extra measures. No vital organ was hit but she needs better facility for fast recovery. I highly recommend that we get her back to New York to receive better treatment." Alyssa answered straightforwardly.
"I have arranged for her return. Her lift should be there in less than an hour, together with her replacement and yours." Doc Helen announced, causing Shizuru to feel a pinch in her heart.
"I'm not yet done here, Doc." Alyssa argued back.
"I know, Alyssa. I'm not replacing you permanently. I need someone with expertise to accompany her and monitor her during the transfer. You are the better option in your team. Besides, you can come back as soon as the patient is fully stabilized. This is an order from your superior, Doc." Doc Helen said, leaving no space for further arguments.
"I understand. Thank you, Doc." Alyssa said with a grateful smile on her face. She was glad that the decision was made for her. As much as she wanted to finish the medical mission, her heart was not at peace knowing that Natsuki was not fully healed yet. The risk of infection was imminent knowing that they did not perform the surgery in the ideal operating room.
NEW YORK
Few days later
Natsuki woke up to the beeping of the heart monitor beside her. She tried to speak but something in her throat was not permitting her to do so. Tired emerald orbs peeped before hiding again, not used to too much light. She tried opening her eyes once again and adjusted her eyes to the intruding light. But before Natsuki could adjust fully to her surrounding, she saw a blur approached her before a light weight body was all over her.
"You scared me. You shouldn't have done that." Alyssa complained, burying her head on Natsuki's right shoulder.
Sure the position that she was currently in wasn't the most comfortable one given that she still needed to be mindful of Natsuki's left chest but she was willing to settle on that. She was just glad that the woman had finally woke up.
Natsuki didn't utter a word for a while as she started to feel silent sobs came from the woman in her arms. She just laid there, trying to make sense of her situation as she gently ran her right hand through Alyssa's blonde locks in an attempt to comfort the woman. Soon memories came back to her in flashes.
"I'm sorry." Natsuki uttered in her coarse voice. Her vocal cord hurt from not being used for days.
"You could have died, you idiot." Alyssa cried as she clung unto Natsuki's body like the woman will disappear any moment. God knew how much she held her emotions in during the surgery in India. "I could have lost you for good and I don't think I can handle that. God, I can't even bring myself to think about that possibility."
"I can't let you get hurt. Alex will hunt my ass." Natsuki replied to lighten the mood. "I'm fine now. No need to worry about me."
"You're a jerk sometimes." Alyssa said between sobs. "Please don't do that again. Ever. Promise me, Natsuki. Promise me." She pleaded as she pulled her body up to look into Natsuki's emerald orbs.
"Only if you will promise me that you will take care of yourself even when I'm not around." Natsuki bargained, holding unto Alyssa's waist instead. "You haven't been sleeping well." She said as a matter of fact.
"I'm getting enough, Natsuki." Alyssa said, avoiding Natsuki's gaze.
"You suck at lying, Alyssa. No offense but you look like shit, honey." Natsuki chuckled at the dramatic bulging of Alyssa's eyes like she was genuinely insulted.
"Insulting a woman is rude, Natsuki. I was willing to charge you free but after what you said, I think I will just charge you at regular rate plus an extra amount as damages for diminishing my confidence." Alyssa bantered with a hand placed on her heart.
"Oh, come on, Doc. We both know that you don't charge that much." Natsuki said knowingly.
"Well, I might make your case an exception given that I have to abandon my responsibility in India." Alyssa retorted
"Don't work yourself too much, Alyssa. It's okay to help but you also need to look after yourself." Natsuki said with genuine concern.
"I'm happy with what I'm doing, Natsuki." Alyssa said after getting up. "Your mom is here. I'll inform her that you are awake. Please refrain from too much unnecessary movements until you are fully recovered." She continued before striding towards the door.
"Alyssa."Natsuki called before Alyssa could open the door. "Thank you."
"No, Natsuki." Alyssa shook her head before turning around. "Thank you for saving me." She said with genuine gratefulness.
"Are you going back to India?" Natsuki blurted out.
"I need to." Alyssa answered shortly.
"I see. Please get some sleep. Thank you again." Natsuki said, flashing a small smile to the woman. "And you're welcome."
"You're welcome, Natsuki. You too, please take care of yourself." Alyssa said before finding her way out of the hospital room.
"Mom." Natsuki acknowledged the woman who settled herself on her bedside.
"How are you feeling, honey?" Saeko asked with worry in her voice.
"I'm fine, Mom. Just need some bed rests. No need to worry." Natsuki reassured her mother.
"Alyssa told me everything. I'm sorry for forcing you to go there, honey." Saeko held her daughter's hand as she looked into those emerald orbs which owner was the primary source of her happiness.
"Hey, Mom. It's not your fault, okay? It was an accident and no one had seen that coming." Natsuki squeezed her mother's hand to comfort her.
"I love you, honey. Please don't forget that." Saeko said to remind her daughter, not really knowing what more else to say. She immediately cancelled her meetings abroad and flew back to New York as soon as possible the moment she received the news about her only daughter being shot.
"I know, Mom. I love you, too." Natsuki said, removing the tear that fell from her mother's eyes. The woman rarely shed tears and it was only in few occasions that Natsuki saw them which cause was usually her. "Please don't cry."
"I'm sorry, honey. I really thought that something worse happened to you. God forbid. I don't know what to do if that happened. " Saeko blurted out, her emotions were getting the better of her.
"Mom, it's okay. I'm alive. I'm safe." Natsuki hugged the woman to comfort her.
"Please stay in our home while you are recovering. I'm not comfortable with you staying in your apartment alone in this state." Saeko pleaded, holding her daughter's face in her hands.
"I will, Mom." Natsuki gave in because there was no way in hell that her mother will leave her alone. The woman could be very persistent when she wanted to.
"Thank you, honey. That's all I am asking." Saeko beamed before kissing her daughter's forehead. "I will leave you to your rest, then." She said before getting up. "And Natsuki" She paused on the doorway.
"Yeah, Mom?" Natsuki asked her mother who turned around.
"Do whatever makes you happy, okay? Your happiness is the only thing that matters to me. Whatever your decision is, I will respect it." Saeko said, her hand was resting on the door knob.
"Thanks, Mom." Natsuki flashed a smile to her mother.
Two weeks later
Natsuki was driving towards her apartment to fetch something important before she will temporarily abandon her place to stay in her mother's home.
"Natsuki, your mother's gonna kill me if she found out you left home in this condition." The man in the driver's seat glanced at her passenger whose attention was completely on the scenery outside.
"She won't know if you won't tell her, Sakomizu. I just need to get something." Natsuki said, looking at the droplets of water cascading down the car's window pane.
"That really important for you to leave in the middle of this crazy weather?" Sakomizu turned her attention back to the road as the surrounding's visibility worsen. It didn't help that it was already past six in the evening plus the rain was getting heavier by the minute. "It's damn cold that I might lose my ears if I step outside."
"It wasn't this bad when we left." Natsuki said as she adjusted her arm sling. "I can't leave Duran starve in there. Mrs. Madison had an emergency and she won't be back for days."
"Why didn't she bring it to your mother's place before going wherever she needed to be?" Sakomizu rubbed his left arm in an attempt to warm himself.
"It was urgent and I told her not to bother doing that." Natsuki said, grabbing her phone and opening it. She sighed when no notification was flashed on the screen. "Not a single call or even a damn message if I'm still alive. Why am I even bothering? It's not like she cares at all." She thought dejectedly before stuffing the phone into her coat pocket with slight irritation.
Sakomizu just glanced at his passenger whose habit started to consist of checking her phone almost every second she got and sighing in disappointment when nothing came. "Is everything cool, Natsuki?"
"Yeah. It's nothing." Natsuki dismissed as she shifted into a more comfortable position at the backseat.
The ride fell into silence as it went on. Natsuki settled on closing her eyes and taking a few naps while Sakomizu kept maneuvering his way out of the slippery road.
"We're here, Natsuki." Sakomizu announced before pulling over. "And I think you have a visitor."
"A what?" Natsuki asked, opening her eyes and looking at her apartment's doorstep.
Her eyes bulged at the sight of a figure sitting on her stairs, hugging her knees. The light from the post made the figure more recognizable. The figure was visibly shaking even from the distance. It also didn't help that the heavy rain kept pelting on her already shivering and fragile frame.
"A visi-" Sakomizu repeated but was halted when Natsuki suddenly burst out of the car and into the heavy rain. "Hey, where are you going?! Get back here!" Sakomizu yelled at Natsuki's back. "At least bring an umbrella." He mumbled before hurriedly retrieving an umbrella and running after Natsuki. "Damn. It's freezing." He teetered once outside and tightened his coat around his body.
Natsuki halted in front of the figure as she tried to calm her raging heart. The figure was still unmoving and probably didn't notice her presence. She released a breath before lowering herself. "Shizuru." She called before holding the woman's arm to catch her attention.
Shizuru slowly raised her head and Natsuki saw her puffy eyes bulged before she threw her shivering body at Natsuki. "Natsuki, you are alive." She announced more to herself.
Luckily, Natsuki was able to prevent them from completely landing on the ground. She caught the woman with her right arm and secured her, ignoring the slight pain on her left chest. "Jesus Christ! You're fucking freezing, Shizuru!" She blurted out as she held the woman closer and rubbed her back in an attempt to provide her some warmth. "How long have you been out in this rain?"
"I am sorry." Shizuru uttered as she clung desperately unto Natsuki, completely ignoring the woman's questions.
"I think it's better if we get both of you inside, Natsuki." Sakomizu came with a large black umbrella in hand, shielding them from the pelting rain.
The women were already drenched from head to toe and he was worried of Natsuki's state more than anything. He was supposed to ensure her safety and oversee her recovery. The situation she was in at that moment wasn't something that he approved of.
"Let's get inside, Shizuru." Natsuki urged the woman. "Can you stand?" she whispered on her ear but the woman just buried her face on the crook of Natsuki's neck. "Shizuru, we need to get inside." She cooed but still got nothing. "As much as I want to, I can't carry you right now. Please you need to get up."
"I am sorry, Natsuki." Shizuru said between silent sobs. "I am sorry."
"Hey, hey. It wasn't your fault, okay?" Natsuki soothed the woman, not really knowing what she was apologizing for. She held her as she slowly guided her to her feet.
Sakomizu unlocked the door before opening it. He was soon greeted by the humble atmosphere of Natsuki's apartment. He closed the umbrella and left it on the stand. "Hurry up, Natsuki. Get in." He called and the two women did as instructed. The lights were automatically turned on and he fumbled on the switch to turn the heater on. "Thank God!" He said before closing the door.
Soon giddy barks were heard and a white Siberian husky came into view. It strutted towards its owner and nuzzled said owner's legs. Its tail was wagging in happiness as it got reunited with its master once again.
"I missed you, too, boy. But you have to stay put for now." Natsuki said, looking down at the dog. "Sakomizu, please take care of him." She said, gesturing to the woman in her arms to tell him why he needed to cover her place for a while.
"Come on, boy." Sakomizu lowered himself down and scratch the dog's ears. "Help me with the fireplace. Need some extra hands." He said, tugging it away and leaving the two women alone.
"Come, Shizuru. Let's get you something dry to change into."Natsuki guided the woman towards her room upstairs.
Natsuki grabbed some towels from the bathroom rack before handing them to Shizuru. "Here. I'll just prepare your bath." She said, sitting the woman on the stool facing the mirror.
"Thank you." Shizuru received the towels and wrapped one around her body. The other one was left on the counter.
Natsuki proceeded to the room where the bath tub was. She turned on the faucets after adjusting the temperature to her desired level. It took her a few moments before the tub was filled. She turned the faucets off before standing up.
For the second time that night, Natsuki froze on her feet. Shizuru was standing on the doorway with only a towel wrapped around her. As if in slow motion, the woman dropped the towel and left it pooled beneath her before slowly walking towards her. Her throat suddenly went parched as she took a gulped. Emerald orbs bulged at the sight of a naked body that seemed to be sculpted by the hands of Gods and not just some amateur artists. "Damn." Was all Natsuki could think of as she willed every nerve in her body to not ogle at the woman. Her emerald orbs focused on the woman's eyes, not wanting to wander in places they had no right to be. "Ahm." She coughed when the woman stood an arm's length away from her. "I'll take the shower. Go ahead." She said gesturing to the tub. "I'll give your change of clothes later." She said, sidestepping to get out of the room.
But Shizuru wasn't allowing her to get away that quick as the woman blocked her way. "Don't leave me." She said in a shivering voice as she brought her arms up and intertwined her fingers behind Natsuki's neck. "Please." She pleaded, looking deeply into emerald orbs.
"I'll just be in the other room, Shizuru." Natsuki reasoned, gesturing towards the room adjacent to where they are.
"No." Shizuru shook her head. "Stay." She whispered, holding Natsuki's face with her hands. "Stay with me please." She pleaded, looking up at Natsuki.
"Shizuru, I can't –" Natsuki started but wasn't able to continue when Shizuru interrupted her.
"Join me please." Shizuru ignored Natsuki's protest and instead started removing Natsuki's arm sling before discarding Natsuki's drenched coat next and tossing it to the side. Her hands worked on the woman's button up shirt but was halted in its place.
"Shizuru, stop." Natsuki said, wrapping the woman's shivering hands in her own. "You don't know what you're doing."
"I know what I want, Natsuki." Shizuru said with determination, looking directly into Natsuki's concerned emerald orbs. Her fists tightened around the woman's garments. She was halfway down the buttons. "I can give you what you want." She said, crimson orbs darkening. "Better than her. Better than them."
Right then and there, realizations struck Natsuki. She gently pulled the woman towards her and wrapped her arms around her. She ignored the fact that she was holding a completely naked woman. She can feel the soft flesh touched her still clothed body and only God knew what that did to her body. "Is that what this is all about, Shizuru?" she whispered, ignoring her own bodily desire because she had a point to be made. "Do you really think that I'm only after sex?" She didn't hear any response but felt the woman shook her head in disagreement.
"I can be better than her." Shizuru murmured, causing a light tugged on Natsuki's heart.
"You're enough, Shizuru. More than enough." Natsuki soothed as she caressed the woman's hair. She placed a lingering kiss on the side of her head. "Don't ever compare yourself to anyone. You're not lacking in any way. For me, you're perfect. I don't care about your flaws."
"Then prove it." Shizuru whispered in her shivering voice as she pulled away from Natsuki. She resumed unbuttoning the woman's cloth as she looked deeply into emerald orbs. "Prove to me that I am enough." She said as she started working on Natsuki's jeans.
Natsuki just stared at Shizuru when she helped her out of the shirt while her mind was working on how to make good of the situation. Finally, she came to a decision and beat Shizuru in removing her jeans. With only her lingerie on, she stepped into the tub and guided the woman down with her.
Shizuru settled herself between Natsuki's legs as the woman slowly rested herself on the tub's edge. Her face hovered above Natsuki's face. She was a few inch away from capturing the woman's lips when Natsuki held her face in place.
"I will, Shizuru. I will show you your worth in the right way and at the right time." Natsuki spoke before planting a soft and lingering kiss on Shizuru's forehead.
"Why not now?" Shizuru said, closing her eyes and enjoying the warmth of both the water and Natsuki's body.
"Because you deserve better than this." Natsuki pressed their foreheads together. She gulped to muster some courage as she caressed the woman's cheeks with her hands. "Only God knows how much I want to make love to you right now. But I can't. Not when I can't be fully yours." She said before adding in almost a whisper. "And not when I'm physically unable to be at my best when doing it."
Shizuru's eyes shut open upon hearing the latter part. She pulled away and looked at the smiling Natsuki who looked at her like she was the most amazing thing on earth. She slowly reached for the patch on Natsuki's left shoulder and gently touched it.
"Ouch!" Natsuki blurted out, wincing. "That hurt."
Shizuru immediately withdrew her hand which Natsuki replaced with her own. "Natsuki, are you alright?" She asked in genuine panic, her crimson orbs scanned Natsuki's face for other signs of pain.
"No." Natsuki continued, feigning hurt. "It hurt. Shizuru, help." She said in pained voice.
"What do I need to do, Natsuki? Do you have any medicine that I need to get?" Shizuru said flustered. "Natsuki, talk to me please. Tell me what I need to do to help you." She said as Natsuki's face seemed to contort in pain.
"Shizuru, it hurt." Natsuki complained again.
"Where, Natsuki? Where do you feel the pain? How bad is it? Natsuki, answer me." Shizuru said in a panic-stricken voice, seeing that Natsuki was displaying a complete discomfort and the woman was not giving her any idea on how she can help.
"Here." Natsuki held Shizuru's palm and guided it to her left chest just above her heart and not on the area with white patch. "It hurt when you didn't call or send me a message after the incident."
"Kami-sama! You scared me!" Shizuru said, letting out a breath that she didn't realize she was holding. Before she could stop herself, she accidently pushed Natsuki on her wound which earned her a genuine yelp from the woman.
"Now that fucking hur-" Natsuki started but was cut-off by Shizuru's mouth covering her own.
The kiss started slow and gentle as Shizuru held Natsuki's face in place. The woman wrapped her arms around Shizuru's naked body before closing her eyes. The kiss got more desperate and dominating when Shizuru darted her tongue out, begging for entrance which Natsuki immediately granted. She allowed Shizuru to deepen the kiss and explore every inch of her mouth. Natsuki's touches remain gentle, not totally exploring places she knew will encourage the woman further and will make her lose control of the situation. She restrained herself even if Shizuru held her tongue captive and even if the woman tugged her bottom lip and sucked it, causing a sexy moan to escape her throat.
"I hate you." Shizuru said breathlessly after breaking the heated kiss for much needed oxygen.
"I could tell." Natsuki smirked through breaths. She could still feel the woman's breath as she hovered above her. Their foreheads were still touching.
"I really hate you." Shizuru repeated as she turned around, causing some ripples in the water. She leaned her head on Natsuki's right shoulder before retrieving the woman's hands and intertwining their fingers. Her hands wrapping Natsuki's hands beneath her.
"Sure. That's why you stayed in the rain for God knows how long." Natsuki chuckled as the woman in her hold shifted. "Right, you hate me. Really hate me."
"I want to see you." Shizuru confessed, playing with Natsuki's fingers. "I was worried."
"And you will kill me with heart attack if you will do that again. How did you even know my address?" Natsuki asked, looking at the woman who was still focused on her fingers.
"Masashi-san." Shizuru said simply, not looking Natsuki in the eyes.
"And that idiot didn't accompany you here? What if you lost your way or worse got hurt?" Natsuki said, almost fuming.
"He didn't know I was coming here. Nobody does." Shizuru said in almost a whisper.
"Shizuru." Natsuki started with a tone of disapproval. "They will worry about you."
"I don't care." Shizuru shrugged as she nudged Natsuki's foot with hers. She can visibly see the height difference in their outstretched legs.
"Just like how you didn't care about your body, huh." Natsuki said, grabbing Shizuru's right arm and examining it closely. "This is a long cut. How did you get this?" She said, tracing the cut's length with her thumb.
"It is already healed." Shizuru said, dismissively.
"Shizuru." Natsuki warned. "Answer my question." She demanded.
"A little accident on the set." Shizuru answered vaguely.
"That's not a very clear answer, Shizuru." Natsuki said, not letting go of the woman's arm. "Tell me what exactly happened." She demanded once again but was met with silence. "I'm waiting, Shizuru."
"I jumped from a thirty feet platform carrying a Naginata." Shizuru confessed before continuing in a murmur. "Without harness." She said, avoiding Natsuki's gaze.
Natsuki blinked a few times, not wanting to believe what she just heard. "You fucking what?!" She asked with eyes bulging. "You did what, woman?!" she said in a more demanding tone this time.
"You heard me, Natsuki." Shizuru answered, still avoiding Natsuki's gaze.
"You could've lost your arm or worse die. What the fuck were you thinking, woman?" Natsuki fumed.
"You." Shizuru said simply.
"What?" Natsuki said, her mind was full of thousands worse possibilities that could have happened.
"You left me, Natsuki." Shizuru said as she pulled her legs together and retrieved her arm from Natsuki's hold.
"You shouldn't have done that." Natsuki whispered as she wrapped her arms around Shizuru's curled up body. "With or without me, you should continue to live." She said, planting a lingering kiss on Shizuru's right shoulder and nuzzling her neck. She held the woman tighter as if she would lose her if she will do otherwise. "Promise me you will stop putting yourself in danger, Shizuru. Promise me you will take care of yourself. For me." She pleaded to the woman who leaned to her touch. "Please."
"Promise." Shizuru said with her eyes closed. "I promise, Natsuki."
"Thank you, Shizuru." Natsuki said as she buried her nose on the crook of Shizuru's neck. The woman's scent was making her feel intoxicated and did things to her body that she was trying hard to put in restraint. "That means a lot to me."
A comfortable silence fell upon them as they basked in each other's warmth.
Author's notes: Thanks for dropping by. Feel free to leave comments in any language that you are comfortable with. By the way, I think Spanish is sexy. I don't speak the language, though.