A/N: I am so shocked at the attention this is getting. Thank you guys! I feel more fired up to write it! Enjoy this Chapter guys and/or girls!
When they entered the abandoned Dormitory, Yukio rolled Rin into the kitchen. Yukio set the bags down on the table before stretching out his back. "I will get your room ready down here. We can't have you going upstairs." Yukio explained before walking out of the room and up the stairs, leaving Rin alone.
Rin sighed, hearing Yukio's steps fade up the stairs. He wheeled himself out of the kitchen and toward the common area of the Dormitory, wheeling over to the sliding back door. He opened it and wheeled out away from the porch and toward the fence where he was able to see the lights of the town.
Rin?! Kuro shouted, hopping down from the window and jumping onto Rin's shoulder.
Rin smiled, reaching up to pet Kuro on behind the ear. "Hey Kuro, how are you feeling?"
I'm fine. How are you, why are you in a wheelchair? Kuro asked.
Rin's smile faltered slightly, but he tried to hide it. "I got into a fight and got injured." Rin shook his head, returning his smile back to his face. "Enough about that. What did you do while I was gone?"
Oh! I played with some yarn, some of the Coal-tar's that floated around and chased my tail. It's been boring without you here. Kuro said, rubbing his face against the crook of Rin's neck.
Their heartfelt moment was cut off by the sliding door opening abruptly. They both look back to see Yukio standing there, looking a little panicked. He physically relaxed when he saw Rin and Kuro sitting by the fence.
"Rin, come inside. Someone is here to see you." He commented, before turning back into the room.
Rin and Kuro shared a glance before Rin wheeled himself into the common room, getting a little help from Kuro when he couldn't get over a bump. When he entered he was immediately smothered. Rin was disoriented for a moment before he focused on who it was. His face heated when he realized he was being smothered by Shiemi's breasts. He pulled away from her, getting flustered as he pushed her away. She seemed to get the hint and pulled away.
"Oh, sorry Rin. I got excited to see you!" She said, tears falling from her face.
Rin's hopes got up as he looked behind her for the others, but found it was only her that was there. Rin's stomach fell in on itself before his eyes found hers. At least one of them cares about me. Rin thought.
"Hey Shiemi. How's it going?" Rin asked. Shiemi smiled, walking over to sit down on the Love seat. Rin wheeled around, facing her.
"I was so worried Rin. When you got injured I just wanted you to know I tried to do all I could to help." Shiemi explained.
Rin's smile appeared once again. "I know. Yukio told me." Rin heard footsteps behind him, when he turned it was Yukio who had three steamy mugs in his hands. He stopped by Rin, giving a mug to him. Rin took it and noticed it was tea. He walked over to Shiemi, handing her a mug before he sat down on the chair next to Shiemi.
Shiemi took a sip, before finally addressing what she had been meaning to ask. "Uh Rin… if.. You don't mind me asking. Why are you in a wheelchair?"
Rin shared a glance with Yukio before silently taking a sip of his tea. "Isn't it obvious, Shiemi. I'm paralyzed." He said flatly, making Yukio nearly spit out his tea from the sheer bluntness of his words. Shiemi froze in her spot. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. All her thoughts fluttering to how she had treated him all those weeks of sitting away from him and isolating him all because she was scared of him. Those feelings faded away fast, but Shiemi still sat away from him, leaving her to believe this was all their faults.
Shiemi shot up, dropping her cup and tea on the ground. "I'm sorry, Rin!" She blurted out, bowing her head. "I was avoiding you all those weeks… you must've been so lonely." She explains.
Rin blinked at her, his jaw falling open. "Wha-no Shiemi its fine. You're here now. That's all I need." Rin whispered, a tint of blush and a small smile finding its way on his face.
Shiemi slowly raised her head and sucked in a breath before smiling. She knew they would be fine and Shiemi was going to make sure she doesn't act like she used too. She needed to help him, because that's what friends do.
Rin twirled the pencil in his hand, tapping the table with his unoccupied hand. He was bored staring at the book in front of him. It had been a week since Shiemi stopped by and he had to say his heart felt lighter knowing she cared a great deal about him. Although he did feel depressed at how the others haven't even bothered to stop by or even check on him.
"Rin, come on, it's time to take your bath." Yukio said, coming down the stairs with a towel over his shoulder. Rin looked over at him seeing just how tired Yukio was. He had bags starting to form under his eyes and Rin flinched, feeling like he was the cause of them. Ever since he became like this, Rin has been a burden on his brother, requiring around the clock care. Emptying bags, feeding him, bathing him, helping him around the house, Rin just felt like he was getting in the way of Yukio's life. He hadn't even gone back to the Cram school and Rin was worried he was going to cost Yukio his job.
Yukio walked over to Rin and readied him, pulling Rin out from the table before bending down and shoving one hand under his knees while the other wrapped around his back. Rin wrapped his arms around Yukio's neck, blushing at how embarrassed he was. Yukio heaved him up, pausing to have Rin grab the Catheter bag before started heading up the stairs. There wasn't a word that passed between them as they ascend up the stairs. Yukio placed him down on a bench and told him to undress.
As Rin undressed he looked down to see the small plastic piece of the Stoma bag on his abdomen, next to the scars. It was unusual to see scars since no matter what his powers never left scars, but these ones were the exception. When he got to his pants, he struggled. He had to figure out a way to get them off without messing anything up. He finally got them up by the time Yukio had filled one of the tubs.
It was until Yukio placed Rin into the tub that Rin decided to speak. "Are you going back to the Cram school soon?" Rin blurted.
Yukio was washing his back when he paused, peering over to look at Rin. "Of course. I don't know when but I will." Yukio said, his voice sounding tired.
Rin looked away, bringing his arms up to clasp his shoulders, making sure to not submerge his stoma bag in water. "You should go back tomorrow. I will be fine here. Besides, I will be back there next week." He said.
Yukio silently continued washing Rin's back, making sure to not hit the injury near his spine that still refused to heal.
"I don't want to leave you alone just yet." Yukio spoke honestly, rinsing him off.
"You don't have to worry. I may be crippled but im tougher than I look." He put his serious face on, looking down at his limp legs in the water. "Besides… I don't want to be the cause of you losing your job as a teacher." Rin whispered but it was heard by the other one.
Yukio lightly chuckled, standing to his feet before handing Rin the rag. "I will go if it will get you to stop pestering me." Rin took the rag, looking confused. Yukio shoved his hands in his pocket. "I think you can take care of it from here. Call for me when you are done." Yukio left the bathroom and when the door closed, Rin sighed, lying back in the tub. His gaze looked up at the blue tiles, watching as the steam from the bath twirled above his head. He just couldn't believe how much his life had changed in a short amount of time.
He closed his eyes, thinking back at the night it all happened, cursing himself for listening to his inner cowardice. If he had used his sword he wouldn't be in this mess. Yeah he would've been scolded by the others and still feared, but it beat having to rely on someone else. Rin's eyes slowly lifted, but they were almost like lead. Was Rin really this tired?
Come to think of it Rin couldn't remember the last time he had good sleep. Probably when he was in the hospital. He was tired and the heat from the water seemed to wrap him like a blanket. He was just so tired and no matter how hard he fought it, he couldn't help but let his eyelids fall as he sunk deeper into the bathtub. He was just thankful the water was shallow so he knew he wouldn't be in any danger.
Before he knew it, Rin had fallen asleep.
Yukio came in a few minutes later to see Rin was asleep. He shook his head, grabbing the towel and walking over to Rin, pulling him out of the bath. He dried Rin off and put new clothes on, all while Rin slept soundlessly. Yukio lifted him up, grabbing the bag before walking down the stairs slowly. Once down the stairs he noticed Shura by the door, helping herself in. Yukio ignored her and walked into the common room, lying Rin on the couch, throwing a thin blanket over him before walking into the kitchen where Shura disappeared too.
"Wow, yew look like shit, Four eyes." Shura said, grabbing a soda from the fridge before walking over to a chair, seating herself on one of them. Yukio sighed, surrendering to one of them as well.
"I know. It's been exhausting looking after Rin." He explained.
Shura opened the soda before leaning back in the chair, smiling. "If yew would like I can look after him while yew get some rest." Shura explained.
Yukio looked surprised by her offer. "You would do that? Why?"
Shura shrugged. "It was just an offer of kindness. Take it or leave it."
Yukio knew she meant more than that and he let a hysterical giggle escape his lips before standing up and waving Shura away. "Do what you like then. I'm retiring for the rest of the day." He exited up the stairs, and Shura couldn't help but let a smile slip onto her face as she grabbed the soda and walking to the other room, flipping open her phone and started occupying herself.