This is really just a short, transitional chapter that didn't fit anywhere else so I made it its own chapter. There're some original characters being introduced, but don't worry about them, they're doing absolutely nothing for the plot and can be ignored. See you at the bottom.
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Terazuma was grudgingly put on watch duty while Watari got up to make himself some tea. There were times when he just couldn't stomach coffee and this was one of them. Tsuzuki and Hisoka were constantly hovering around him, making sure he was all right, and their concern brought him comfort. 003 hesitantly fluttered down onto his shoulder and nuzzled into his neck, cooing soft words of encouragement, and even the Gushoshin seemed optimistic.
"Watari?" Wakaba called softly, leading a band in starched white labcoats through the doors. "The doctors are here."
They were the most ordinary-looking doctors Watari had ever seen. A small band of completely uninteresting, homogeneous and traditionally Japanese-looking people in white labcoats. Not even an unusual eye color among the lot, not Hisoka's green or even Watari's own amber. Certainly not the striking blue of Tatsumi or Tsuzuki's violet. The one woman of the group, who seemed to be roughly Tsuzuki's physical age, stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"Good morning, Dr. Watari. I'm Chinami, that's Shim, Seki, and Chu. We're happy to help you out," she said, smiling brightly.
He nodded. "Call me Watari. Wakaba, if you don't mind showing them to the infirmary and letting Terazuma know he doesn't have to babysit anymore, it'd be much appreciated."
"Wait, would you mind telling us what exactly happened?" the one introduced as Chu asked.
Hisoka stepped forward. "It's a long story and Watari's probably not up to telling it so I will and I'll give you the Cliff's Notes of it. One of our colleagues was brutally attacked by a mutual enemy. His physical condition is slowly but steadily improving but the nature of the attacks were such that his mind has basically shut down."
"Can you be sure of this?" the doctor known as Shim inquired.
"I'm an empath. Generally I can't read Mr. Tatsumi's mind because his powers as a Kagetsukai cancel out my empathy, but those have ceased to function as well and I'm telling you there is nothing in his head but some shattered fragments and the reek of fear and self-loathing."
"Jeez, Hisoka, you sound professional," Tsuzuki commented.
"Idiots should shut up," he retorted.
"Wait, Seiichiro Tatsumi the Kagetsukai? The Seiichiro Tatsumi the Kagetsukai?" Seki asked incredulously. "Man, I can't believe somebody laid him out. That's kind of scary."
Chinami shook her head, muttering, "Shut it, Seki."
"I'll show you all where you'll be working if you'll follow me," Wakaba offered.
Tsuzuki nodded. "And you should go home and get some sleep, Watari."
The blonde looked stricken, his eyes wide behind thick lenses. He clutched at his arms, holding himself protectively, casting his gaze to the tiled floor. "Go home? I…I can't. No. Not alone. Please, please let me stay here. I can't go home if he's not there…no…don't make me, please, I'm begging, I can't. Let me stay."
"Watari, you're going to make yourself sick or collapse if you don't go home and get some sleep. I know you don't want to leave him but I promise he'll be fine."
"No, Tsuzuki. I'm telling you I can't. I refuse."
Wakaba coughed delicately. "Watari can stay with me for now. I have a guest room he's welcome to crash in for as long as he needs. Please, Watari? You don't even have to lift a finger, I'll cook and everything. Besides, Mr. Tatsumi would be awfully upset if he knew how much you're abusing yourself. He'd want you to get some rest and a nice hot meal."
"All right," he replied reluctantly.
"Wonderful! I'll be right back, then," she said, ushering the band of doctors down the corridor. Tsuzuki rested his hand on Watari's shoulder, the blonde's own hands trembling around his mug of tea.
"I know you don't want to leave him, but you can't go on without sleep. It's been almost two days since you've had any. He'll be fine; Hisoka and I will make sure of it. Right?"
The ash-blonde boy nodded. "Right."
Wakaba, true to form, returned promptly. "I let Mr. Tatsumi know you were coming home with me and that everything would be all right. And 003 seems to want to stay with him and keep her eye on him. Ready to go, Watari?"
He nodded tiredly. "I'll see you guys tomorrow, I guess."
"Not even tomorrow, Watari. You're not coming back until you're nice and well rested. And don't you worry about Tatsumi a single bit. And be nice to Wakaba. Remember, she's at least ten years older than you!" Tsuzuki chided.
"Yes, Momma."
"And eat your vegetables," Hisoka added quietly.
Wakaba threaded her arm around Watari's, gently leading him along. It was a comforting thought, that he was being taken care of. He just wished it had been under different circumstances.
"Good night, Tatsumi. I'll be here again soon."
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Notes: Wakaba gets a lot of special attention in this fic, doesn't she? I really, really like Wakaba. She's so neglected, probably because she really doesn't have much to do and doesn't have any weird hang-ups regarding Hisoka and pink dresses (Saya and Yuma…) so we tend to think of her as the girl with the Cinnapon. So, you get a more important part, Wakaba, and the Hokkaido girls can do whatever they want because they're not nearly as cool as you.