At the End of Things
Eva Yasha
A/N For one reason or another, 's system isn't bringing out the little stars and underlines I use to separate the parts of my story, so I apologize for any confusion. I will try to figure something out.
Tremendous thanks to the three people who have reviewed this fic, I'm writing this for you.
Hakkai's eyes fluttered open uncertainly as he slowly regained consciousness. Breathing deeply, he spent the next few moments taking careful stock of how he felt. His muscles felt weak and tremble-ly in a way that told him he'd been in bed for several days. His skin felt gritty and his mouth was terribly dry. Slowly and carefully he sat up and looked around.
His eyes were immediately drawn to the pool of flaming red hair resting on the side of the bed. Gojyo was sitting in the floor beside him, his head and arms resting on the edge of the bed, fast asleep. The late afternoon sun was pouring in the window, highlighting his friend's dark skin with brilliant gold.
I thought it was a dream Hakkai thought to himself, a slow feeling of warmth creeping over him. Hesitantly, he reached out and captured a few of the silken strands between his fingers, marveling at their subdued brilliance.
He looked back down to find Gojyo staring up at him.
"Gojyo...." Hakkai murmured breathlessly, captured in his friend's crimson eyes, drawn further in by the shadows of pain lurking in their fiery depths.
Gojyo frowned and sat up straight, breaking the spell, his hair falling from Hakkai's grasp.
"You shouldn't be up, Hakkai. You had pneumonia, and the doctor says you shouldn't strain yourself."
Hakkai smiled disarmingly. "Maa. Maa, I feel okay."
As if on cue, a sudden spasm of coughing wracked Hakkai's slight frame. Concerned, Gojyo eased up onto the bed to sit next to his friend, wrapping an arm around his shoulders to support him against the violent spasms.
The coughing eased, and Hakkai looked up at him, his emerald eyes unfocused, and his face flushed with fever.
Gojyo's eyes widened in alarm as he realized how warm his friend really was.
"Shit Hakkai! You're burning up! Let me go get some medicine...."
With that, Gojyo made as though to rise from the bed, only to be stopped by Hakkai clutching at the fabric of his shirt.
He looked down at his friend. The light of the setting sun was streaming in the window, bringing out seldom seen auburn highlights in Hakkai's brown hair, and lightening his eyes to the shade of green amber. Hakkai's ivory skin was glowing, and effect further enhanced by the blush staining his cheeks.
"Gojyo.....I'm so glad.....that you came back."
Gojyo felt something within him stir painfully at the sincerity in his friend's eyes. Smiling softly, he reached out and gently eased Hakkai down onto the pillows.
Placing a soft kiss on Hakkai's forehead, he whispered, "Not as glad as I am."