Chapter 4-
It was another two days till Rin could stay conscious long enough to listen to the doctor. Most of the big words passed right over his head but Yukio absorbed it all. And apparently Mephisto had come through. Money wasn't an option and he had insisted that Rin received the best care possible. Who knew the Clown cared so much?
"Unfortunately, because this is a secondary cancer, it is deemed terminal due to the fact that they are exceptionally hard to treat. We will have to be aggressive in our treatments early on while he is still generally healthy. So we will start with a craniotomy. We need to get out as much of the tumors as possible. From there, we will treat what is left by whatever means necessary. He will also need to undergo treatment for his kidney with may result in removal. The problem is Rin's regenerative ability. We are not sure if surgical removal will keep the tumors away or if they will just grow back. Even the entirety of the kidney. Your guardian gave his signature for the surgery and we can begin in the morning." The neurosurgeon was talking in a grandfatherly way, keeping an eye on Rin's face. Rin was swallowing around an unpleasant urge to expel what little was in his stomach.
"Alright." Rin whispered, licking his dry trembling lips.
"The surgery will be about five hours. And of course, like all operations, has it's own set of risks which inclu…"
"Sir." Rin interrupted him. The doctor nodded to Rin. "How long do I have?"
The neurosurgeon sighed. "As of this moment, without the surgery and no treatment, I would guess about 3-6 months."
Rin choked on a bitter laugh. "Same deadline just about. Some sort of sick joke."
The surgeon looked to Yukio for an explanation, but Yukio shook his head. Rin wasn't wrong about the irony of the time. Right around the time he was to take the Exorcist Exam and face possible execution.
After the doctor left, Rin looked to Yukio. "Where's everyone?"
"We have kept them away until you were feeling up to visitors. They will pester you for an explanation." Yukio told him.
"I want to tell them." Rin's voice was soft. "Just in case something bad happens."
"I'll call Shura in a little while. But we need to talk about what you want Rin."
"What I want?" Rin looked up at Yukio, puzzled.
"Do you want to fight? Do you want the surgeries, chemo, radiation? Tell me what you want to happen?" Yukio could tell his words were scaring Rin, but he needed to know. It was quiet, Rin's fingers plucking at his hospital band. Yukio thought Rin would give him the silent treatment and sighed before Rin looked up and met his eyes.
"I want to be the greatest Paladin." Rin's strong tone, the (figurative) fire in his eyes. The stubborn resolve took Yukio's breath away. Rin didn't look scared anymore. "I'll fight. I'll prove everyone wrong. I'll pass the exam in six months. I'll live."
Yukio was floored by that response for a moment, unable to process it. Then he realized what a Rin thing that was. Of course Rin would fight tooth and nail against all of life's hurdles.
"You'll do whatever it takes?" Yukio clarified.
Rin nodded, "Hell yeah. I'm not letting anything stop me."
Rebellious to the end. Yukio nodded, keeping his face blank. "Very well. We will go with that plan for now."
Rin beamed, "Alright. Call the others here. I want to see them."
The class had entered the hospital room not long after Yukio called Shura. They were understandably anxious to see Rin. The atmosphere was different from the first night. The window was open, allowing a cool breeze and sunlight to invade the hospital room. Rin was sitting up with Kuro in his lap, his hospital gown was bunched around his waist. Electrodes ran from his chest, sending his heartbeat to resound around the room. The IV drip only had a bag of fluids attached to it, keeping him hydrated. When he saw them, he beamed, his eyes looking pained but bright.
"Sup guys!" Rin chirped, raising his hand toward them as they hesitated in the entryway.
Shura herded the teens in and shut the door with a gentle click. "Hey, kid. How are you doing?"
Rin kept his bright smile in place as he leaned back against the pillows, trying to hide his exhaustion. "I've been better."
Shura grimaced, and Rin turned his attention to his friends. They all looked tired. Shiemi went to him for a careful hug and he beckoned the others to sit in the chairs Yukio had set out. "Have you guys not been sleeping?"
"How could we? You looked horrible." Bon was the first to speak, the aria shifting uncomfortably.
"We thought you were dying on us, Okumura." Shima's words made Rin's heart ache.
"About that…" Rin began. He looked over to Yukio for support. Yukio nodded encouragingly, the exchange not going unnoticed by the students. "I've got brain tumors and kidney cancer."
The room was deathly silent, the heart monitor began to speed up. Shiemi crumpled, her hands over her mouth. Konekomaru choked out a sob. Shima was stiff in his seat. Izumo was looking at the floor, avoiding eye contact. Bon had his head in his hands, his wide shoulders trembling.
"Hey, no. Don't be like this." Rin begged, panicked eyes peering at each of them. "I'll be ok. I will just need to take it easy for a bit!"
"You could die!" Shiemi cried out.
"And I could die in six months if I don't pass the exam." Rin told her. "I don't plan on dying. I still need to defeat Satan."
That made Ryuuji lift his head, Rin's breath caught in his throat at the sheer defeat in his wet eyes. "You better not die on m… us."
"I don't plan on it. So wipe up those tears, Princess." Rin teased.
Ryuuji's face took an interesting transformation, changing from grief to rage. "Don't call me princess, ya monkey!"
Shima snorted, scratching at his bright hair. Konekomaru was wiping at his face desperately trying to stop the tears.
"Nothing has changed. I still want to become an exorcist. I still need to pass the exam."
"I'll help you study." Ryuuji told him.
"We all can help, Rin!" Shiemi chirped.
"I'll do whatever I can!" Konekomaru said, the small boy leaning to take Rin's hand.
Rin looked to each of them, feeling his heart swell. He squeezed the hand in his. Izumo was trying to discreetly wipe away the moisture from her eyes. Shima was still stiff, biting his lip. Rin reached out, tugging Shiemi closer to him. "Everyone needs a hug now."
With much grumbling and some blushing, everyone managed to clamber into a circle around Rin.
"I love the dress, Okumura." Shima giggled. A shrill screech filled the room as someone disrupted the heart monitor.
"You just killed me." Rin whined, as Yukio hurried over and fixed the electrode.
"Shima, get your hand off my butt before you find a foot up your ass." Izumo snarled.
"Its not me!" Shima wailed.
Konekomaru turned an even darker shade if red. "Sorry, Kamiki…"
Laughter filled the room and more teasing remarks left everyone in a rather good mood. It wasn't more than five minutes later when Rin dropped off to sleep, his head resting against Ryuuji's broad chest. The room quieted immediately, everyone careful to not disturb the sick boy. They all sat quietly, soft chatter and the purring from Kuro keeping Rin in a relaxed sleep. Shura leaned over to Yukio, showing him the series of pictures she had gotten during the mandatory hug. He smiled and took a shaky breath excusing himself as he stood and left the room.