And it stops... But why?
Beep.
Beep.
Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee…
A sharp gasp punctured the silence as his eyes opened.
He put his hand over his heart and melted back into the seat. His breath hitched. Arms came around him but he shrugged from their warmth. His head rested back on the wall behind and his eyes almost closed in a haze, lazily blinking and unfocused.
"Drink this."
He turned his head and his eyes focused briefly on a steaming cup before they unfocused once more and his head went back to its prior position.
"You can't do this to yourself."
He ignored the voice and just closed his eyes.
I don't think we'll be meeting at the studio tomorrow as planned.
Oh dear… Mr. President will be very angry. Shuuichi… what have you done…!
He hasn't moved since we arrived, someone needs to pound some sense into that pretty little head. He patted the magnum in his pocket.
Shuuichi… Please don't fade away…
…
The doctor walked in, pulling all attention towards him. Hiro sprung to his feet.
"Doctor, what's wrong with Shuuichi?"
Tohma stood as well.
The doctor looked at him and everyone else. "I'm being carefully optimistic by saying he's going to be fine after some proper care. It seems to be a sever case of exhaustion, obviously from missing a lot of sleep given the unfocused sight and general hints of anxiety. Also, he seems to have unhealthy eating habits. We're injecting fluids and necessary nutrients through an IV. He will be strong enough to wake and go home today, but I would like to keep him overnight for observation."
"When can we see him?" Hiro asked.
"You can see him now, I expect him to wake up soon. There's no harm in having his friends to wake up to. Are his parents available?"
"I called his home already, no one answered. We're just as good. Is there something else that you're not telling us, doctor?"
"No. There is nothing."
"How long will it be till he can resume daily activities?" Mr. Sakano said, appearing from behind Hiro.
"That depends on how well he recovers. He needs to rest, drink a lot of fluids and make sure he doesn't over-exert himself in his daily activities."
Everyone looked at Yuki as he abruptly stood and left the room. Hiro's eyes narrowed.
Hiro walked out quickly and followed Yuki down the hall.
"Is that it? Are you leaving?"
Yuki kept walking.
"Hey, I'm talking to you!" Hiro reached over and swung Yuki around from his shoulder.
Yuki looked at him, bored.
"IS THAT IT?"
Yuki turned and started walking away again. Hiro grabbed him and slammed him into the wall, holding onto his collar. Yuki glared.
"You're destroying my shirt."
"ARE YOU SERIOUS? SHUUICHI LOVES YOU! YOU… monster." Hiro let him go and stepped back. "You don't deserve him." He took another step back, shaking his head. "You destroyed my friend, and I will never forgive you, Yuki Eiri."
"Please, be quiet. This is a hospital!" The doctor hissed.
"That will be enough, Mr. Nakano," Tohma Seguchi's quiet voice commanded.
Yuki turned and walked away from everyone else, towards the elevators.
"YUKI EIRI!" Hiro yelled, fury in his eyes.
"I always thought Mr. Yuki was cold to Shuuichi… but I never thought him to be so heartless." Fujisaki sadly observed the scene in front of him.
Mr. Sakano simply nodded.
"I apologize for this disruption. I must make my leave. I will check on Mr. Shindou at a later time." Tohma nodded and left.
Hiro exhaled and went into Shuuichi's room. He sat down silently one of the chairs already lined next to the bed.
"He's so pale."
"Shuuichi is always pale," Fujisaki stated.
Hiro frowned.
"Do you think he'll be healthy enough to at least start writing again soon?"
"Mr. Sakano, please stop talking about work or leave," Hiro said, tersely.
"I'm sorry if that bothers you, Hiro, I just need to tell Mr. President when we'll be able to go back to work."
"I could care less about Tohma Seguchi at this moment, Mr. Sakano!" Hiro growled, standing and facing the manager.
A motion caught Fujisaki's eyes and he looked over and saw Shuuichi's eyes looking back.
"Shuuichi."
The other two turned towards the bed.
"Shuuichi," Hiro gasped.
"Hiro… Where's… Yuki?"
Hiro's eyes narrowed.
"Did he… Does he hate me now?"
Hiro's lips pursed to a thin line.
"Hiro… I ruined everything, didn't I?"
"Stop it," Hiro hissed, almost shaking in anger. "Why?"
"Why?" Shuuichi echoed.
"Why do you care about him so much when all he does is hurt you! Look where you are because of him."
"Yuki loves me, he just hides it. He… Yuki doesn't know how to show his feelings… I think I overdid it this time. I think I completely drove him away, Hiro."
Hiro let out a tormented wail. Shuuichi jumped, eyes wide in fear.
"Hiro… I'm sorry… please don't leave me too… I'm sorry… Hiro…"
When Hiro looked back at Shuuichi, the hand with the IV was over his mouth, eyes wide and brimming with tears, his frame slightly shaking from exhaustion.
"Shuuichi… Shuuichi, no. I'll never leave you. I'm your best friend. I'll never leave you."
"Get out."
Everyone turned to the door. A furious Yuki Eiri was standing there.
"Excuse me?" Hiro said.
"I said, "Get out." Which word do you need a reference for?"
"YOU get out before I call-"
"The poor little nurses to restrain me?" Yuki raised an eyebrow. "Get out!" he growled at everyone, a dangerous glint in his eyes.
"That's it, I'm calling-"
"Hiro…"
Hiro stopped and everyone turned to Shuuichi.
"Please…."
Hiro, going mentally insane, ran his fingers through his hair in frustration and walked out. Yuki turned his glare to Mr. Sakano and Fujisaki, who, with a start, left the room as well.
"Yuki, I'm-"
"Shut up."
Shuuichi jumped at the tone.
"You've done enough talking for this minute."
Shuuichi's eyes brimmed with tears again, his heart hollowing.
"If you want me to leave, I will. If you want me to stay, I won't push you away. But, in return, you can't be someone who won't exist anymore. You have been staying up nights and working days, driving me crazy with silence. You stopped bugging me and your endless, senseless chatter."
Shuuichi looked down.
"And then you said you're going to leave me. Obviously, our being together proved to be a health hazard to each of us." Yuki snorted. "Before either one of us leaves, Shuuichi, you owe me an explanation. It's my turn to ask. Why? Why do you follow me everywhere and won't give up even though I've shown no intention of doing the same? Why do you keep clinging to me when your tears don't move me? Why? Why do you stay?"
"I love you. I love you. I move you mountains, Yuki, you just don't show how I affect you. I love you. I love you, Yuki."
Yuki stood at the foot of the bed. "You do realize that if we stay together, we'll be the ultimate downfall of each other."
"I do, Yuki. But I don't care." After a moment of silence, Shuuichi said, "I wrote a song, Yuki. About us. Please don't leave me before you hear it. You'll know… everything."
Yuki sat on the chair next to the bed.
Fujisaki leaned on the corridor's wall. Mr. Sakano paced nervously. K stood in the middle of the doorway, arms folded. Hiro leaned on the door frame.
"It's called 'When You Sleep'."
Shuuichi closed his eyes.
"You close your eyes, And leave me naked by your side,
You close the door so I can't see,
The love you keep inside,
The love you keep for me.
It fills me up,
It feels like living in a dream,
It fills me up so I can't see,
The love you keep inside,
The love you keep for me.
I stay,
To watch you fade away.
I dream of you tonight,
Tomorrow you'll be gone...
It gives me time to stay,
To watch you fade away,
I dream of you tonight,
Tomorrow you'll be gone...
I wish by God you'd stay.
I stay awake.
I stay awake and watch you breathe.
I stay awake and watch you fly,
Away into the night,
Escaping through a dream.
I stay,
To watch you fade away.
I dream of you tonight,
Tomorrow you'll be gone...
It gives me time to stay,
To watch you fade away.
I dream of you tonight,
Tomorrow you'll be gone.
I wish by God you'd stay."
Author's note: Credit to "When You Sleep" goes to the re-titled and edited "The Second You Sleep" by Saybia.