"Okay, so tell me." Yuki pounced on his brother in the hall outside of Kyo's door.
"Why, Yuki-kun. Whatever are you talking about?" Ayame countered.
"You haven't shown your face around here in all the months Kyo has been here, suddenly on the day he may be released, here you are. All friendly and conciliatory. I don't buy it. So spill! And no holding back, or you won't see me or Kyo again in this lifetime." Yuki threatened.
"Oh, Yuki-kun, so mean." Yuki glared, not giving an inch. "Okay, okay. Akito sent me. To find out how the neko is doing. I am to see if he is healing and report back. Happy?"
"No! Now here is what you are going to do. You will return to Akito and report that the only reason the hospital wants to release him is financial. He is still in terrible health, and you would be surprised if he lives a month. You didn't see me. And you made Kyo so mad, it would be surprising if he ate again in this lifetime. Understood?"
"Hai, Yuki. But, why?" Ayame was truly confused now.
"Don't ask questions, it will only get you in trouble. Now, go and no mistakes. Or I will make good my threat. And then some." Ayame paled and walked away. Yuki took a deep breath and entered the room to see Kyo reading a book and drinking his juice. Yuki smiled. It was a good sign that his brother had not been detrimental. Kyo looked up.
"What an idiot, thinking he could make up for his negligence by showing up late, again. It is so like my brother." Kyo nodded without much emotion. He knew that Ayame had once failed his brother, but the details were vague at best.
"I figured it was something like that."
"What time are your doctors going to decide if you get out?"
"Right about now, Sohma-san." The doctor and the psychologist entered and took in the scene. The thin youth was drinking, and seemed calm. He had passed most of the test to determine the condition of his liver, kidneys, and stomach. He was no longer considered suicidal and in general seemed to be taking his recovery seriously. But, such as these cases seemed to be, it could always be a ruse on the patients part. He would need follow ups and a lot of understanding by his family. Set backs were common and if reacted to improperly or not at all, a person could be lost before it was possible to save them. Yuki had been given all the details needed to keep a look out for signs of relapse. It would help to be living with Nijan, the nurse was also expert by now on how to deal with an Anorexic or Bulimic patient. Kyo was in the best hands. The doctors had already signed all the papers, all that was left was to do one last check and say goodbye.
"Kyo, you understand that from now on it is up to you? No one can heal you, you have to take the responsibility for you actions, and your healing. We have faith in you, and your cousin seems to also. What do you say, ready to leave?" Kyo looked from one doctor to the other and then to Yuki's hopeful face. He snorted at them, and then smiled.
"I happen to be all packed, so I guess it's as good a time as any." And with that he threw the covers off, to expose his legs already in his pants and his tee shirt under the hospital gown. He was fully dressed sans his shoes and they were lined up next to the bed ready to be slid into. Yuki laughed, and the doctors smiled. It was a good sign.
A very good sign, indeed.