A/N: LIKE WOW! This project has been going on for so long, it's kind of surreal to see it come to an end. One last chapter to finally put this work to rest. Doesn't mean that I won't write more ShizNat fics, it's just satisfying to finish a project and get to start a fresh one.
Getting Shizuru down the mountain and into the hospital became a gigantic pile of noise and blurs. The nearest hospital was almost an hour away from the rescue point, all Natsuki really remembered of the ride on the ambulance was helping Reito massage Shizuru's arms and legs to bring warmth and circulation back into the older woman's nearly frozen body.
The pair had waited long excruciating hours when the doctor eventually came out to see them in the waiting room. "So, Fujino-san is suffering from a severe case of hypothermia, but because of your efforts on the ride to the hospital, she will make a healthy recovery."
Natsuki's and Reito's breath puffed out from their lungs at the same time. Natsuki's knees had gone weak from holding her breath for so long, that she collapsed into the seat behind her. Cradling her head in her hands, Natsuki made sure to breathe evenly until the grey spots behind her eyes faded away. "She has a steady IV drip and several blankets to keep her temperature back to a regular range, but I cannot say how long she will remain asleep. That being said," The doctor's owl eyes peeked over the rim of his glasses, "As a good physician, I suggest that you both get some much needed rest too."
"Thank you doctor," Reito kneaded his hand over the back of his neck. "I- we really appreciate it."
Reito plopped down into the seat beside Natsuki's. "Thank you."
He remained seated beside Natsuki for as long as his bladder could hold it. Slapping his thighs, Reito left for the restroom. When he returned, Natsuki felt a warm can bump the top of her greasy head. "Doc's right. We should go get rest. And before you say anything different," Reito said over Natsuki's intake of breath. "We should at least get cleaned up. She's in good hands now."
Natsuki's eyes drifted toward the hall where Shizuru's hospital room was, then took the can.
…
Reito was able to find accommodations for them both at a nearby inn. The owner was grateful for the business that the winter storm had drove away and showed his thanks by providing his best linens and cooking his finest dishes. "Well, I'm stuffed." Reito laid on his side, the small bloated pot belly poking through his robes. "You okay?"
"Hm? Yeah. The food was good."
Reito frowned and moved to sit up, placing his hand behind his neck again. "I've been meaning to ask you. What happened up there?"
"…I thought she was dead."
When Reito realized that was all he was going to get, he respectfully left the room. Natsuki barely registered that Reito said he was going back to the machiya in the morning to make sure Kiyohime was okay and not to wait up for him before going back to the hospital. Natsuki watched herself enter the cabin over and over again in her mind's eye. Seeing Shizuru's blue lips, feeling her icy skin, straining her ears to search for the smallest sound of breathing, Natsuki's gut twisted so painfully that the blunette doubled over. Natsuki walked through the cabin once more, she watched as Takuya and the foreign woman bundled up Shizuru's body before setting her on Takuya's snow mobile, and just as Natsuki was about to leave the cabin, found a neat little pile of papers. A completed manuscript.
Natsuki's shaking hands went to gather the manuscript when a note floated toward the floor. Natsuki could hear Takuya's and the foreign woman's voice calling out from the cabin.
For my darling Natsuki. I hope that one day you'll forgive me and find the happiness you deserve.
Natsuki's eyes filled with hot tears and she fell to her side on the floor.
"You fool."
…
Natsuki dragged her feet into the hospital room, flinching when the loud beep of the heart monitor sounded in her ears. The blunette's hand tightened around the bouquet of cheap flowers she'd bought from the hospital's gift shop downstairs. The plastic crinkled and slid within her sweaty palm. "I don't know why I brought you flowers," Natsuki started as she sat on the seat at Shizuru's bedside. "I don't know if you even like these kinds of flowers."
The heart monitor beeped in an unwavering rhythm.
"Shizuru, I know that you told Reito, I know about your study, I know that you've changed. But do you know that I forgive you?"
Natsuki liked to think that Shizuru's heart monitor skipped a beat, and continued.
"I loved you back in high school and I realize that I still love you now. Before I left. When we were…you know, at the cabin. I was comfortable, I thought that I had gotten over it, but I wasn't. And it's not your fault, well, back at the cabin I mean. I just pushed myself too far, too fast. I wasn't ready, and you were so caring. Argh, I'm sorry."
Natsuki pushed out of her seat to pace at the foot of Shizuru's hospital bed.
"I shouldn't have left you alone out there. I knew that you being out there alone was dangerous, that's why I went with you in the first place. Even before I left, I heard that this storm was pretty big. And I left you behind. I can't even imagine how scared you were for the last three weeks. I'm so, so sorry."
Natsuki went to slump back into her seat and laid a heavy head over Shizuru's blanketed legs. "I guess we're kind of even, huh?" Natsuki spoke into the blankets. "Who am I kidding?" Natsuki set her forearms to rest on Shizuru's bedside and rested her chin on them. "You know, I rather like being your assistant."
The heart monitor responded with a steady beep.
"I don't want to leave Shizuru, and after today, I'm never leaving your side again. No matter what you say, I'm going to convince you to keep me on as your assistant. And when you wake up," Natsuki waited for her heart to stop beating so quickly when Shizuru sighed in her sleep. "I'm going to tell you everything properly."
Natsuki placed a kiss on Shizuru's cool temple, hesitated and placed a small kiss on the side of the ruby-eyed woman's mouth.
"Now, we're even."