Chapter Twenty

"Don't let Houjun or Kourin see you cry, Mayumi," Mr. Yutake said after a pause. They stood there, at the coffee machine, side by side, clasping the hot cups as the steam twirled lazily into the air. "These kids...they really care for our boy, you can tell. I don't think they need any more—"

The shrill sound of the alarm down the hall cut him off. The plastic cup fell from Mrs. Yutake's nerveless fingers to the ground. The black coffee splashed onto the white linoleum, staining the floor.

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Kourin buried her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking as she slumped against the wall, her body half-blocking the doorway. Sobs wracked her body.

Please don't leave me, Hikou. Please don't leave me here alone.

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Houjun snapped back to reality with the harsh drawing of the curtains. The sunlight was filtering past the moving bodies within, casting dappling shadows that fell across his feet as they danced. They were talking, low, urgent words that meant nothing to him, made no sense even as he knew he heard them.

"Increase voltage," he heard Genrou snap. Instinctively, he moved forward, but stopped just as suddenly, his hands falling to his sides.

The gods must be playing a trick on me. My best friend is unconscious and the man I love is operating on him.

From behind, another man emerged, pushing past him swiftly. The senior doctor. Did it even matter? Yes. Yes, of course it did. He was going to save Hikou's life.

There were dim words of command, harsh breathing, the insistent beep of the machines that swirled around him. "Pass me those." "Inject the drug now!" "We're going to try one more time!"

He sensed more than saw the body rise and fall with the electricity, imagined more than knew the faint pulse stirring in Hikou's failing heart. He closed his eyes and he prayed.

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Genrou breathed in relief when the senior doctor entered, as the nurses cleared to give them space. "He won't revive."

The older man acknowledged it with a nod, his eyes glued sharply to the readings registering on the screen. "Get the medication. Three doses. We're not giving this up."

Genrou passed the handles of the revival machine over, and turned as the nurse there held out a prepared syringe. He took it, checked for air bubbles swiftly, and then turned back. Catching the determined look in the senior doctor's eyes, and the cue when the other man nodded, he held Hikou's arm and injected the drug as the first jolt shook the limp body.

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It was only a few moments, but it seemed like hours, hours that they stood there, waiting anxiously. But when the curtains drew open, and the tired staff streamed out, Houjun knew.

Through the open curtains, he could see Hikou's feet, covered by the white blanket snugly. The machines had gone silent. And the flash of auburn hair as Genrou walked towards him, the emotion in the eyes he had fallen in love with so long ago, only made him surer.

Genrou's steps were soft as he walked towards them, his white coat falling open slightly. He stopped when he was beside Houjun, and bowed his head fractionally, silently. Then he walked further on, halting in front of Kourin, and where Mr. and Mrs. Yutake stood clasping their hands in hope, before turning to face them.

"I'm sorry."

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Author's Note

The End. All right. I'm kidding, LOL. Please don't flame me for this chapter. From your reviews, I know a lot of you wanted Hikou to live, but that was not the original idea I wrote out a month ago, and therefore the death will not be altered.

Speaking of reviews, I would like to take the opportunity to thank you all for taking the time and effort (for those of you who have, anyway) to review this fiction so far. :) I do appreciate it.