Admittance
By Kimetara
Multi-part
Disclaimer: Still don't own it. Darn!
Jann Lee sat brooding in the waiting room. He had been, for the past twenty minutes, grilled about what had happened. Finally, he'd exploded.
"I already told you what my last attack on her was!"
"Yes, but the blow to her ribcage, although by no means mild, isn't what caused her injury. Did you release another particularly powerful attack on Miss Fang?"
"Yes!" he yelled. "All my attacks are powerful! But we were just having another fight; we've fought many times before and she was fine. I thought Lei Fang to be stronger than that!"
After that, the doctors had simply looked at each other, then thanked him and told him to go to this damned room to wait. Idiot doctors.
He didn't look up from his seat when the bell chimed. Idiot bell. Why'd it have to be so fucking cheerful in a hospital?
"Jann Lee?" a soft voice asked. Jann Lee looked up to see a young woman with a ponytail of red hair. Kasumi. Accompanied by her newfound brother and Hayabusa, as usual.
"What," he responded flatly.
"What happened to Lei Fang?" Kasumi sounded worried as her brother and Hayabusa moved around the room. "I heard she was in the emergency room."
Jann Lee shrugged and turned away...only to meet Hayabusa's cold stare.
"Did you hurt her?" Hayabusa asked, his tone neutral but his words accusing. Jann Lee couldn't take it, not with all the resentment he still held towards Hayabusa, not when he was wondering the same thing.
"DAMNIT!" Jann Lee leaped up and stalked out of the room. Kasumi and Hayate exchanged glances with each other. Hayabusa appeared slightly troubled, and moved to follow the Chinese man.
"Wait." Hayate blocked the way to the door. "Give him some time."
"...very well." Hayabusa leaned against the wall, arms crossed. Hayate watched him carefully, then sat a chair next to him.
When their spies had first told them about the whereabouts of Lei Fang, Kasumi was instantly determined to see her friend, and headstrong as his sister was, the three of them came to see her. But apparently the playful Oriental female had also warmed up to his best friend.
Hayabusa was not easy to befriend, but once he was, the ninja was fiercely loyal. Hayate didn't envy Jann Lee.
Soon the door swished open again, and Helena stepped gracefully through the door. She looked around at the three. "I'll assume I'm in the right room. How's Lei Fang doing?"
"Still in surgery," Hayate replied. Helena nodded and took a seat. Her wavy blond hair cascaded down her back as she crossed one leg over the other.
"Did something happen with Jann Lee?" she asked conversationally. "He stomped past me on my way here." Helena sounded slightly amused. "He still is quite the noisy boy."
"Yes, he is." Kasumi smiled, then glanced at Hayabusa, still darkly ominous against the wall. "...and nothing happened."
"I see."
Half an hour passed. The door released another *ding*, and Tina stepped into the room.
"Hey y'all," Tina drawled. "Guess we're all here for little Miss Tai Chi. My, I never thought she'd have been so delicate." Tina stretched leisurely before sinking down into a chair, legs over the armrest. Helena raised an eyebrow.
"A bit of delicacy never hurt."
Tina smirked and admired her knee-high black leather boots.
The five waited there like that for the next two hours. Tina read a magazine, Kasumi and Hayate explored the hospital, Helena appeared to be studying a songbook. Hayabusa didn't budge from his crossed-arm position against the wall, eyes closed, face turned toward the floor.
"Hello." The doctor appeared in the doorway. Kasumi ran up to him.
"Please...how is Lei Fang?" she asked earnestly. Helena lifted her gaze to the white-coated man. Tina watched him as well, one leg absently swinging back and forth. Hayate gave the man his full attention. Hayabusa stayed motionless.
The doctor sighed wearily. "First, I'm Doctor Forrester. Second, Miss Fang is currently stabilized. Her injuries were of the norm, considering the lifestyle all of you lead," Doctor Forrester glanced at them all over his glasses, "except for one. It appears she had a severe case of internal bleeding on the left side of her abdomen. It looks to have been there for a while, before the fight between Mr. Lee and herself. In fact, the fight is most likely what worsened the injury and led to Miss Fang's case of shock."
Kasumi looked around the quiet room. Everybody's attention was on the doctor. Tina's leg had stopped swinging, and even Hayabusa's eyes had focused on the man. "Is she...going to be okay?"
"Possibly," Doctor Forrester closed his eyes. "The surgery was a success. However, from the mix of blood loss and shock, Miss Fang is in a coma. We don't know how long it will take for her to wake, or," he sighed again, "if she ever will. I'm sor-"
The doctor was interrupted by the slamming of the door. Hayabusa had left.
Jann Lee sat cross-legged on the roof of the hospital. He had come up here to meditate, to get rid of this inner turmoil. Once relaxed, he didn't want to go back and face that room again. Their faces all accused him.
The night air refreshed him. Cool, mild... Jann Lee closed his eyes and let himself slip into a state of nothingness.
Jann Lee suddenly blinked. A sense of being watched had shaken him from his trance. How long had it been? From the position of the stars, Jann Lee guessed approximately two hours.
Two fingers appeared out of nowhere, pressure pointing into his neck. He yelped. "Hayabusa!"
The fingers withdrew and the ninja stepped forward. Hayabusa watched Jann Lee with cold eyes.
Jann Lee glared right back, rubbing his sore neck. "What was that for?"
"How could you fight her when she was already wounded?"
Jann Lee paused. "She wasn't already wounded."
Hayabusa's eyes narrowed. "She was. Badly. Did she not favor her left side any?"
Jann Lee's brows furrowed. "...yes, she did..." he spoke slowly. "But why didn't she tell me?"
Hayabusa looked away. "Undoubtedly, she thought it was just a simple bruise. The one you gave her when you two fought in the tournament."
"What?"
"When you two fought in the tournament, you won with a spinning back kick," Hayabusa mused. "It went directly into her left side, and," his eyes flashed, "caused her internal bleeding."
Jann Lee stared, flabbergasted by Hayabusa's logic. "You...wait. Why're you so interested Lei Fang anyway?" he asked, both suspicious and unwilling to face that Hayabusa may be right. That thing twisted in Jann Lee again, and he felt his anger, and something else, returning towards dark ninja. "Do you..."
"She is kind," Hayabusa answered simply. "Kind and pure. There are very few people like that in this world. You should feel lucky she cares for you."
Jann Lee scoffed. "I'm just her goal. Lei Fang simply wants to beat me to the ground for calling her a weak woman. Not that she ever will." He exhaled, linking his hands behind his head. "Hmph. I didn't even know who she was when I said that!"
Hayabusa almost seemed to smirk. "Does it bother you if she only thinks of you as goal?"
"What? No!" Jann Lee moved his arm in a swift striking motion to emphasize the word. "Why should it?"
Hayabusa cocked his head. "What do you think?"
Jann Lee shrugged.
Hayabusa raised an eyebrow. "Maybe you should try figuring it out," he suggested quietly. Something in his tone caused chills to run up and down Jann Lee's spine.
"How is Lei Fang?" Jann Lee asked carefully. Hayabusa looked away.
"She is stabilized, but in a coma."
"For how long?"
"...perhaps forever."
Jann Lee stood stock-still. Somehow, he had never doubted that Lei Fang would be fine. That'd she get up, she'd show them all wrong, and laugh gently at them worrying over her. And he'd laugh at them with her.
But... "That's impossible!" Jann Lee burst out, clenching his fists. "She can't!"
Hayabusa didn't answer. He just watched.
"Impossible!" A force was building up in Jann Lee, something terrible. He slammed his fist into the wall, then whirled around.
"Hayabusa." Jann Lee's eyes narrowed, and he shifted into his fighting stance. Hayabusa accepted the challenge and followed suit.
The fight began.
Jann Lee groaned as he got up from the floor, muscles burning. Hayabusa had defeated him. Again.
"How...?" he murmured.
"You have yet to fight me at your best, Jann Lee." To Hayabusa's surprise, his words seemed to sail right over the Chinese martial artist.
"How could I have done that? How could I have made such a mistake?" Jann Lee shook his head. "Lei Fang..."
Hayabusa then understood. Jann Lee needed an excuse to open himself, to admit his vulnerability. Loosing had provided that opportunity.
"I believe that by now we are allowed to visit her." Hayabusa flipped gracefully off the roof of the building.
Hayabusa reentered the waiting room in time to see Tina and Helena emerge from Lei Fang's room. Kasumi and Hayate were talking quietly in the corner.
"Hayabusa," Kasumi called him over. "Do you want to go see Lei Fang? You can if you like." The ninja nodded and slipped silently inside.
It was dim and bare. Moonlight and starlight peeked through the slits of the blinds, casting on Lei Fang's skin a pale glow.
She seemed so innocent and fragile, lying there in the hospital bed. The only thing that gave away her fighting prowess was her beautifully toned body.
The machines beeped softly in the background. Careful of the tubes taped to her body, Hayabusa leaned down and gently kissed her on the forehead.
"Take care, Lei Fang," he whispered. Then he was gone.
Jann Lee entered the waiting room.
Kasumi and Hayate glanced at him, before turning back to their conversation.
"Hey Dragon!" Tina greeted him. "Where've you been?" Jann Lee ignored her and headed for the door to Lei Fang's room. He knew she was in there. He could feel her.
Surprisingly, Helena blocked his way. "What grounds do you have for seeing her?" she asked coolly.
"Let me go, Helena," Jann Lee spoke through gritted teeth.
"Only friends and family allowed," Helena retorted. "And I know you're not family. You haven't been a very good friend to her, Jann Lee."
Jann Lee glared and seemed about to make some scathing comeback, but it just drained away, and he looked at Helena with tired eyes. "I know. I'm sorry."
The room fell silent. Helena probed him with her eyes, before averting her gaze. "Tell that to her," she muttered, stepping out of the way. "If she'll ever hear you."
If she'll ever hear you. Those words made Jann Lee's blood run cold. He shook it off as he stepped into the room.
Immediately, his stomach dropped. Lei Fang lay there, limp and pale on the bed. The machines beeped rhythmically, and Jann Lee shivered.
Carefully, he sat on the bed. "Hey, Lei Fang," he started uncomfortably. "I...wanted to tell you...you've improved a lot." He cleared his throat, before going on, getting the hang of it now. "I mean, I know I said that you'd never beat me, but you did come very close today... It's kinda crazy, isn't it?" he let out a choked laugh. "Hard to believe everything's happened in just one day."
"I'm sorry, Lei Fang," Jann Lee licked his lips, mouth suddenly feeling dry as he struggled to apologize to the comatose girl. "I'm sorry for all those times I put you down, for calling you weaker than me. Your spirit has always matched my own. And I'm sorry," he swallowed, "sorry for putting you in this mess. I shouldn't have been so vicious on you. But y'know..." he leaned down and breathed in her ear, "it's because, I was always afraid you'd actually defeat me."
Abruptly, he grabbed her hand, and gently began massaging the knuckles. "It was with this hand you touched my shoulder today. I...miss being touched, Lei Fang. I'm tired of being untouchable." His voice broke. "Lei Fang...remember when I fought you, and you said you wanted to live in my world? I'd like that. I...I lo...I'd love for you to come live in my world." He couldn't say it. Not after living alone for so long. But this was the closest he'd get, for now.
Jann Lee bent over her unresponding form. "I'm sorry, Lei Fang. Please...I need you to be a part of my world," he murmured, then kissed her lips lightly. They were warm, and he wished desperately that she'd open her honey-brown eyes. But alas, the fairy tales never do come true.
He sat there on the bed, holding her hand, this thumb unconsciously tracing patterns over the backs of her knuckles. Time passed in a blurry haze.
At one point, Helena came in.
"Jann Lee," she called softly. Jann Lee merely looked at her.
"You've been in here for over three hours. Perhaps you should go home and get some rest," the diva advised.
"No."
Helena nodded. "Very well then. I'll send for an extra cot to be set up."
Jann Lee shrugged. Helena closed the door.
"He's just sitting there on her bed, holding her hand," Helena announced as she walked back into the waiting room after talking to the nurse about the cot.
"Really? I wonder what's come over him," Tina spoke, her accent showing clearly as she stretched languidly.
"I never thought I'd see the day Jann Lee fell apart over a woman," Helena agreed. Kasumi smiled.
"I think it's sweet. If only Lei Fang wakes up..." the Kunoichi trailed off. Hayate placed an arm around her shoulders.
"Lei Fang's a tough one. Hey, she managed to get through to Jann Lee!" Hayate smiled encouragingly. Kasumi smiled waveringly back.
"Thanks, big brother."
Jann Lee stared at nothing, having gone back into his trance. The cot was sitting next to the bed, but for some reason he preferred staying on the bed with Lei Fang. The moon had traveled so that Jann Lee guessed it was about five in the morning.
The cold, dark, misty part of the day. Despite himself, the man gave a slight shiver. He could fight wickedly in the tundra, but just sitting in the early morning was still chilly. Jann Lee reached for the untouched blanket on the cot and wrapped it around himself.
"Jann...Lee?"
He froze. The blanket fell from his limp fingers to pool around his waist. Slowly, he turned.
His intense eyes locked with her honey-brown as she struggled to get up. "Jann Lee? What's going on?"
Lei Fang was absolutely shocked when he lunged toward her, his lips crashing against her own. Jann Lee was leaning over her, one hand on the pillow behind her for balance, the other wrapped gently around her waist. Her head spun, and she melted, her eyes sliding shut and her hand reaching behind his head, lacing itself through his thick, short hair.
When he finally sat back and let her go, they were both breathless. Lei Fang stared at him. Jann Lee, noticing her gaze, laughed nervously and shakily ran his hand through his hair.
"God Lei Fang," he blurted out, "we were all so worried about you."
"Oh." Lei Fang blinked, confused. This was all happening just way to fast. "Um...refresh my memory, please. What happened?"
Jann Lee sobered. "When you fainted, it turned out it was from shock and internal bleeding. You got out of surgery about ten hours ago, and have been in a coma since then. We..." he took a deep breath, "were all afraid that you...wouldn't wake up."
"Oh...I'm so sorry for making everybody worry." Lei Fang sighed and lay back down. She did feel horribly sore, and tired.
"It's of no consequence. ...Lei Fang."
"Hmm?" She smiled brightly at Jann Lee, inwardly in utter confusion. What had that kiss meant?
"Why didn't you tell me you were hurting? I wouldn't have challenged you then," Jann Lee asked her seriously.
Lei Fang smiled sadly. "After how you were always calling me weak?"
Jann Lee flinched. "Ah...Lei Fang, I-"
"Jann Lee," she interrupted. "I had the strangest dream. I dreamt you were sitting here next to me and telling me," Lei Fang mentally braced herself, "that you were sorry for all the times you've called me weak, and that...that...you were tired of being untouchable, and..."
"And I wanted you to be a part of my world?" Jann Lee finished softly for her. Lei Fang nodded, her face flushed.
"It wasn't a dream, Lei Fang." He brought her hand up and kissed the back of it gently, his eyes never leaving hers. "Will you?"
Lei Fang hesitated. For once, Jann Lee felt his legendary confidence fail as he watched her consider, and his whole stomach seemed to flip inside out.
At last, she gave a decisive nod. "It's what I wanted. I..." she exhaled, "I think I might love you, Jann Lee."
Jann Lee gaped for a second, trying to figure out how to respond. Lei Fang burst out laughing. Jann Lee couldn't help but laugh as well.
When they'd both quieted down, he leaned in, so that their foreheads were nearly touching. "I think I might love you too, Lei Fang."
Hayabusa watched the pair through the window from his hidden vantage point. When he saw them share a kiss for the second time, he turned and walked away.
The life of a Shinobi...
AN: Ehehe...heh... *sweatdrop* I couldn't help but insert a fair amount of Hayabusa in this story, he's really my favorite male character, and truth be told, I'd love to see a fic with him and Lei Fang. Anybody know of any?
Okay, with that out of the way... Please review!