Reinasinnax
Chapter 12
Kennex rushed into the small room. The patient was huddled beneath the large blankets, propped up. He seemed to be conserving all his remaining energy. He only opened his ambers when she stroked his hot forehead.
"Why are you getting worse? Tomo! Tomo chan." Apparently his body was deteriorating rapidly. On the X ray the diagram showed signs of infection by illness, white patches on the lungs. Doctors ran outside, inside, so did the nurses who administered injections and drips. His skinny arm wore the numerous bruises and had remnants of bloodstains. He jerked his head and whispered.
"She's praying. Hang on. Please don't leave me. We're getting wed!" the woman sobbed uncontrollably. Minutes later Tomo coughed, his body arched upwards, paling considerably. The patient was unable to breathe. Even with help from the large mask. His chest rose and fell quickly. The system went chaotic.
Tears leaked onto the pillows. In loss. Hirosaki felt very very weak and clutched with flagging energy his fiancee's hand.
Tears of sorrow, regret, exhaustion. 'Can't…. be with you… anymore…' didn't know whether he spoke or thought, a marathon down a narrowing tunnel. Fight, I have to fight.
The adrenaline pumped on as the racing heart, surgeons, medical staff all strove for the same aim, to keep it beating. To save the singer as he slipped in and out of coma. Tomo was dimly aware of the sweat soaking up his bed, hair, but couldn't ask for assistance. He could see, faintly, people surrounding him, hands moving rapidly, pressing down. The loud and hoarse respiration.
Bernadette came, pressed herself to the glass. Kenni barely stood, supported by a friend, streaks came. She must have cried till no more sound could emit. "Tomo-sempai, do you hear me?"
Dreaming
Tomo was light, looked down and saw his body on a bed, sweating and barely able to survive. He floated aimlessly. Suddenly blackness cloaked his vision, he couldn't breathe. Went under and drank it up. He coughed.
I'm all alone. What of Kennex? He thought, crying again. Faintly he heard their voices. He drifted to them, his fingers went through them instead.
"Tomo."
"Bernadette?" he smiled, swam towards her. The strokes were very tough, it seemed like he was negotiating thick squishy mud before reaching her. Her hand was big, full of strength. He sat on a white flat platform. He looked around for her, she had vanished.
She asked him not to give up. Everyone's voices became louder. Tomo lay down feeling dizzy. I can't. I don't want to…. But I am too weak. I am dying.
"Get up! Get up, for me." With an effort, the artiste sat up panting and crawled inner, the black eating up the white piece left. Blinding white light surrounded him, like flames. Tomo looked up at a man whose face was unclear, held out a strong arm for him to take.Lift, and support. Tomo laid on his lap.
Calmness flowed through. Tomo smiled, very happy. No pain.
The surgeons performed artificial CPR for the patient, his eyes shut, barely breathing. His lips were bloodless, no fresh coat of perspiration dripped down. It was futile. Another staff pressed firmly on the flat ebony chest and blew into his mouth. The lungs inflated slightly, the heart stirred up fainter, and fainter. The lungs went down. Did not revive.
They took out the electric shockers and shocked him. He jerked from the impact.
"Do you wish to stay, or go home?"
"If I go back, my pain will return. I like it here……But I love my wife, and my friends. They will be worried for me." The man smiled, raised him up and helped him to stand up. They walked to a spot where flowers grew, and a scene showed the people outside the room crying. The doctors shook their heads.
"I want to return," Tomo was certain now. The cloth came close to covering his still face, about to seal his breathing passage permanently.
Landing
Softness, impact. Hirosaki gasped once, pumping his heart up. The machines beeped. Cloth wiped his face. "Color has come back! You're back!" a nurse said incredulously. Tomo took in fresh gulps of air and each one circulated the oxygen so his paleness went away. His lungs inflated.
The nurse took off the mask, found he was breathing independently. "It's a miracle." He must have survived from the CPR skills. Tomo realized that he was naked. He moved his fingers. Cold bit. Someone kind replaced the thick cover over him.
I saw God?
"Nurse, … tell them… I am… ok. Don't worry," tiring to speak but Hirosaki knew he must or the people outside would keep crying. The woman nodded, explaining how he fought a losing battle and they were ready to close the cloth on him when he suddenly awoke, 5 hours later.
He slept. When he regained consciousness, she was at his side, asking him if it hurt. Tomo shook his head and tried to get up but failed. He panted. Gently, she pushed him back and Tomo closed his eyes to rest again.
Alan came to the bed and stood looking down on his charge, the color returned to his pale cheeks. "I've sent the others back for some sleep. You naughty thing, keeping us tensed up." The only sound was the soft respiration, oblivious to the man's chiding. The shutters were firmly closed against any disturbance, the long graceful hands folded by his side, right attached to an IV tube, the blankets swathed him on the pallet. Andy cupped his face then trailed down to adjust the blankets higher.
Kennex had blessed him with her kiss earlier, a kiss on his forehead and lips. Tomo hadn't responded except to smile and dive deeper into the next world. "Get well soon, my pal," Alan said and shut the door.
Everybody's Thinking?
Sarah roused from the deepest sleep she had ever gone into since her cousin became ill. What a refreshment! She smiled remembering the nurse's call: You all needn't worry. I'm awake now. Message from Tomo.
You survived the cancer, Again! Sarah combed out her paled out dyed hair and made a face in the mirror. Maybe it was time she returned to her original brown hair color. After all the color's disappearing once more. Yuck. She ran out after cleaning up and helped herself generously to the fridge's snacks, the sodas. I didn't know Cousin likes all these junk! Cool for me.
Saito rubbed his eyes, jumping into full fledged panic as soon as he saw the time. Oh shit what's happened to my brother?? Then he relaxed when Sarah ran in, holding out the carton of orange juice. "Yo, man. I guess you're conscious now. Let's go visit him today! I can't wait. Could you help me dye my hair back?"
The man smiled lazily. Laid back on the pillows. Tomo ototochan, he was gonna be okay. And he called me brother. Despite how much I was angry he wouldn't admit it, but in the end, he did. Thank you. Thank you so much God. Aloud, he declined, and received a pounding from the fierce spitfire.
Bernadette sat up, wondering where she was. Then , yeah, she had put up with Bow, he'd offered to drive her here after finding her own house had been empty of people. Her parents again neglected to inform her of another emergency outing.
"Benedict, where is the bathroom?"
"Here, turn right." She washed out her hair, and smiled weakly. Her face had fingermarks from resting hard on her side, her eyes were slightly swollen. It was delicious taking a shower! Smelling of soap the teenager stepped out. She'd tied up her hair, wore her T shirt. Tomo's friend prepared a big breakfast, eggs, bacon, salad, ice cream too.
"Wow you spoil me…."
"It's no problem. We had such a scare yesterday," he affirmed deeply.
"I know. But Tomo san is strong. It just proves it right? He must have heard our prayers."
The big man shrugged, fingering the watch. It had automatically restarted itself when the patient pulled through. It stopped at 2am, during the critical hour. Something larger than them was at work.
"Hello Sir. How are you feeling? I'm Ally. Do you want anything?"
Tomo sat up from the pillows and grinned. "I'm hungry." She told him 'right away'. He changed into his fresh pajamas and scraped back his greasy unwashed hair. After eating he looked forward to a good hot shower. He picked up a magazine to browse, enjoying its contents without fretting for the first time. When the food arrived Tomo ate it, finishing everything. "Ally, thanks so much."
"You're welcome. Since you're stable, I can remove your drip needle. Hang on a sec k?"
Finally his hand was free of needles. He looked closely at the scars adorning the pale skin, feeling the strange emptiness when nothing was attached. The plastic band remained.
"When can I go home?"
"Soon. Your family is coming. Ask someone to come to the counter and you'll be out by the afternoon," the bubbly person replied. She helped him to the bathroom. Hirosaki was able to bathe without supervision, the staff weren't free anyway, and return to his bed.
He slicked back his bangs and toweled dry his hair, feeling the sharp ends flick on his shoulders. The best sensation in weeks! I can't wait to be discharged!
