Chapter 21
A/N: Greetings reader! I'm back after a couple of weeks of summer vacation and, although I doubt anyone is still reading this story, I am now ready with chapter 21 :D
For Mara: Thank you SO MUCH for commenting on the story! I LOVE getting reviews! And sorry to have kept you waiting for a while ^^'' I'm super happy that you enjoy reading my story :D
I read your comment out loud, for my brother, and had to explain to him what 'Fluff' meant – We had some good laughs with that xD So thank you! (^_^)
Warning about content: This next chapter contains some wetting
Enjoy, my (perhaps) readers! And please, don't forget to voice your thoughts about the story! :)
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"I do not understand" Astral said quietly, talking to himself, a hand on his stomach.
"Why do I suddenly feel… hunger? And how can I process human food, when I am a being of energy? It does not make any sense!".
Groaning quietly with the frustration of not understanding, Astral pulled the duvet closer around himself, as he waited for Yuma to return.
His lover had been taken to another room by Doctor Kazuya, for additional tests.
The doctor had asked if Astral would be alright without Yuma for the brief time it would take before they came back, and though the alien had been frightened by the thought of being bereft of Yumas presence, he had nodded and said yes.
Then Yuma had left the key with him, having been told that the metal might interfere with the examinations, thus prolonging them and separating him and Astral for a longer period of time, before he'd been wheeled out by Kazuya himself.
Astral glanced up at the clock on the wall.
They had been gone for 20 minutes now. He could feel that tiredness was sneaking up on him again, but he knew he couldn't give in to it before Yuma was back at his side.
If he did, he might begin to fade again.
He was solid now, sure, and more solid than he had been, since Yuma was admitted to the hospital, but he was still weakened by Yumas continued poor health.
Several times through the past many days, he'd been all but gone.
Yuma had gone in to cardiac arrest twice, and at those occasions, Astral had felt his own imminent death crippling him, making him collapse and become transparent, without solidifying in the slightest in-between his fadings.
Thinking back on it made the blue being shiver mercilessly, and he tightened his hold on the duvet around him, closing his eyes.
"Please, come back soon Yuma" he thought, holding the key firmly in his shaking hand.
A while later, Astral moaned and placed a hand over his stomach.
It was starting to hurt again, feeling like an emptiness was spreading inside him, just like before.
Glancing around the room, the alien spotted an apple on the table beside Yumas hospital bed, and as his stomach growled loudly in response to the sight, he swallowed, moistening his lips before he moved a hand and grabbed it, the other still holding the golden key.
Cleaning the apple in the duvet, he soon took the first bite.
The apple was tart, but crisp, and very juicy. As the alien chewed in silence, his eyes just stared at the apple, not really seeing it, or anything else for that matter.
Then suddenly, the door to the room swung open and Doctor Kazuya returned with Yuma, the young man once more in a wheelchair.
He looked as though he was feeling very uncomfortable and kept shifting in the seat.
Astral lifted his head as he heard them enter and upon seeing how Yuma was acting, he put the rest of the apple back on the bedside table and rose, hovering over to his human half, leaving the duvet behind in a messy pile on the bed.
"Yuma" he said questioningly "are you… feeling alright?".
Yuma lifted his eyes and locked them on Astrals briefly, but then he shook his head.
"I need to go the bathroom, but the doctor here tells me that I can't go there alone yet. I don't want him coming along though! It's too… embarrassing" he replied, blushing and looking away, though his fidgeting seemed to get slightly worse.
"Well, what about Miss Tanima? Perhaps she could help you?" Astral tried, but Yuma shook his head rapidly.
"No. No way! She's… she's a!" he complained, but then he suddenly went completely still for a second and Astral noticed how his cheeks went from rosy to bright red.
Then his partner moaned quietly, lowering his head, before he started fidgeting again, though he didn't look at either of them.
Astral understood. The bond flared wildly in his mind and he sensed clearly, Yumas utter shame and his deep shyness.
When it came to these particular bodily functions, his partner really was an extremely private person.
"Tsukumo, if you don't let me keep an eye on you in the bathroom, you're just gonna end up having to be bathed by Tanima instead. Would you really rather have that?
You are already losing control, which isn't surprising, considering that you are only now getting back to having to take care of these things on your own, after having had a catheter in for weeks.
It will take a bit of training before you're back to normal and your muscles are also still weakened after your bedrest.
Not to mention that you're also still experiencing dizziness and fatigue. You have to be watched, at least for another week!".
"I'm fine!" Yuma exclaimed and shot up from the wheelchair.
It had been a little too fast though and seconds later, he was doubling over, and all color left his face.
As he collapsed, Astral quickly caught him, keeping him upright by sheer force of will, even as he felt himself weaken alongside Yuma.
Another flash of embarrassment struck him, and he felt how his partner tightened his grip on one of Astrals arms, which had been flung around his waist to keep him standing.
With the embarrassment came another feeling, one of urgency and desperation.
And Astral understood.
"I will go with him" he said clearly, tightening his hold around his lover.
"I will keep an eye on him and help him, if he needs it".
He felt Yumas skin heat up as he spoke, but the young man didn't move any part of his body. Didn't even lift his head to look at him.
"You? But you are yourself in a bad state! I couldn't" Kazyua started, but when Astrals gold and silver eyes locked on him, he silenced.
"Very well then… Better hurry up though Astral, or it might be too late" he instead continued after a few seconds, pointing at the floor between Yumas bare feet, where drops of liquid could be seen shimmering in the fading daylight of the setting sun.
"Yuma!" Astral said, startled "hang in there… I will take you to the bathroom. Just hold on".
At his last words, he had lowered his voice so only Yuma would hear it, knowing that his other half was already more than embarrassed enough as it was.
"I… don't think I can" Yuma whispered back, as he moved a hand to his groin and closed his fingers around a part of his white hospital gown, still without looking at any of them.
"Of course you can my love" Astral whispered in return "you're one of the most enduring people I know. You can do this".
And he placed a gentle kiss on Yumas temple, for good measure.
Then the two headed for the bathroom, which was connected to the solo room.
As they moved, Yuma occasionally groaned quietly, tightening his hold on Astrals arm around his waist for a few seconds, before he relaxed somewhat again.
Astral could feel how the other was continuously shivering. He also heard the drops hitting the floor, which usually accompanied his partners low groans, but he ignored them.
As they reached the bathroom, Astral pressed the button that opened the door and then moved the two of them inside.
As the door closed behind them, Yuma let out a loud moan and Astral felt him shaking briefly, before his other half-collapsed in his arms.
Then he heard the splashing against the floor and sighed quietly, hauling Yuma to his feet and spinning him around, before lowering him down on the toilet, moving the already soiled hospital gown out of the way as he helped his partner stay seated.
The loud hissing and splashing told Astral that Yuma had to have been extremely desperate when he lost control and he pitied the young man, thankful for the fact that he himself, didn't have to fight these urges.
Once Yuma seemed capable of keeping himself upright, Astral rose once more, from where he'd been kneeling in front of his lover and went over to the sink.
There, he found some washrags which he went about preparing with hot water and soap, keeping his eyes to himself, not wanting to humiliate Yuma further.
After a bit, the other called for him.
"Astral" he said, somewhat hesitantly and the alien turned around and looked at him.
"I… I'm sorry you have to see me like this… But… Thank you… for volunteering to help me… I don't think I could have handled it if… anyone else, had seen this happening".
Astral sighed softly, shaking his head lightly.
"It's the least I can do for you my love… I'm just happy I can be there for YOU, for once" he responded, sending Yuma a soft smile.
Yuma smiled back, but it was barely visible, and it definitely didn't radiate like usual.
"Are those washrags… for me?" he asked quietly, blushing again.
"No" Astral replied "they are for me, to use ON you".
"Wha… What do you mean?!" Yuma asked, somewhat higher pitched than earlier.
"Well" Astral said "you will need to be washed a bit after this, judging from what I heard and saw – That reminds me, I should ask the doctor for a new hospital gown for you as well – and since you are barely capable of staying on your feet, I thought I would… well, help you with that too… Like you helped me, at the end of my time".
Yumas cheeks were crimson red, and he was about to say something, but before he got the chance, Astral moved to the door to the bathroom and opened it, carefully shielding Yuma from view as best he could.
"Excuse me, Doctor Kazuya" he said, looking at the doctor who was leaning against Yumas bed, arms crossed over his chest, waiting.
As he lifted his head and looked at the alien, Astral continued.
"Do we have any more hospital gowns? We may need one".
Kazuya pushed away from the bed at that and nodded. "I'll go and find one. I'll be right back" he replied and as Astral nodded, the doctor disappeared out of the room.
So, Astral returned to Yuma, crossing his arms over his chest and looking at him.
"Would you like me to go outside for a bit or?" he asked, sensing that his partner wasn't quite done yet.
Yuma nodded faintly.
"Maybe… if you just waited right outside the door?" he said quietly, his hand clutching his hospital gown tightly, as though he was attempting to control himself.
Astral let his arms fall and nodded.
"Very well. I will be right outside. Just call, when you need me" he responded and with that, he left the room.
The door closed behind him, but it was so thin that Astral could still hear what was going on behind it, if he listened for it.
A couple of minutes later, Kazuya returned with a new set of hospital clothes.
Upon seeing Astral hovering just outside the bathroom, back to the bathroom door, he frowned.
"Why are you not with Tsukumo?" he asked, walking over to him.
"He needed a little bit of privacy" Astral replied, noticing that the trail of drops which had been left on the floor in their wake, as he and Yuma moved to the bathroom, seemed to have been cleaned away.
"But do not worry Doctor. I will still know it the moment he would be okay with me entering again… Speaking of that" he continued, silencing, and as was taking the clean cloth from Kazuya, before turning back to the door to the bathroom once more, Yumas voice could be heard from inside.
"Astral… You can come back in now… please" the young man said, sounding far younger than his age.
"I will handle things from here Doctor" Astral said over his shoulder, and Kazuya, understanding the hint, turned to leave the room once more.
"Very well then Astral. Tanima will be by soon, to take any laundry there might be and clean up a bit, if it's needed. I will check in on you again in a few hours" he said, before disappearing out of sight.
Once he was gone, Astral again pressed the button that allowed him entrance to the bathroom, and as he moved inside, he saw Yuma trying to rise from the toilet, extremely unsteady on his feet.
Placing the cloth on the table beside the sink, Astral grabbed the warm washrags from earlier, and then hovered back to Yuma, offering him an arm to help him stand.
"Will you allow me to help you wash off?" he asked softly and Yuma, though reluctantly so, nodded.
"Yes…" he said quietly, obviously still embarrassed, which Astral couldn't blame him.
"Alright" the alien said "let's get this done then, so we can get back to bed… Both of us".
Yuma leaned his back against the table at the sink, hands on the surface behind him for support, and spread his legs a bit further apart, to give Astral more room to move in.
Astral gently helped Yuma out of the hospital gown, letting it slide to the floor.
As he did, he noticed a pair of boxers on the floor, out of the corner of his eyes, and glancing at them, he clearly saw the full extent of damage that had been done to his lovers' underwear as well.
It was completely soaked through, and he could see that there were some dark spots on them too, though they weren't too bad.
Once the hospital gown was off, he glanced up at Yuma and saw that the human had closed his eyes and was biting his lip.
He was still blushing, and so Astral didn't say anything, but just went about performing the cleaning he'd said he would.
It took about 15 minutes for him to finish the washing, and wiping Yuma off with a soft towel, and once he was done, he grabbed the hospital clothing the doctor had previously given him and helped Yuma get into it, aiding him into another pair of boxers as well.
When they were finished, Yuma leaned over and claimed Astrals lips in a soft, reverent kiss.
"Thank you" he whispered, making the words echo across their bond as well.
"I love you" was Astrals reply and in those words were the clear meaning, that there was absolutely nothing to thank him for, and that he had done what he had done, out of just that. Love.
A little while later, Yuma started shaking and Astral placed an arm around his waist once more.
"Let us get back to bed" he said gently, and Yuma nodded.
As they exited the bathroom, they were met by Tanima, who send them a small smile.
"I'll just clean things up out here. You two get under the warm duvet again" she said and Astral nodded once, before he and Yuma started off towards the bed once more.
As they reached it, and Tanima went about cleaning the bathroom for any traces of Yumas accident, Astral helped Yuma lie down, then moaned quietly and placed a hand over his stomach, closing his eyes.
"Astral" Yuma said, voice weak "are you… alright?".
Astral shook his head. "I feel quite faint I'm afraid" he replied "and… I'm hungry".
"Hungry?" Yuma repeated, then glanced around, spotting the half-eaten apple on the bedside table, now looking brown and quite un-appetizing.
"We could ask Tanima when the next meal is – Maybe she'll be okay with giving you some food in between regular dining times" he said.
Astral swallowed. His stomach hurt, which he figured was because of hunger, and last time he'd eaten a larger meal, it had helped on his weakness as well.
So, he hoped it might this time too, as he felt like he could start fading again at any moment, despite not revealing this to his partner. He nodded.
Yuma send him a small smile. "It's gonna be alright Astral. I'm sure she won't say no" he said and took Astrals hand.
Shortly after, Tanima came back into the hospital room, a bag on one arm.
Yuma assumed it contained laundry, which made him blush again, though not as fiercely as before, but he remained focused on what he was going to ask her about.
"Excuse me, Tanima" he said "but could you perhaps get us a bit of food for Astral? He's really hungry".
The nurse looked at him, then at Astral, frowning slightly.
Yesterday, the blue creature hadn't eaten once, and now suddenly, he had a raging appetite.
But who was she to deny a patient food, when he wasn't scheduled for anything where he needed to be fasting?
"Sure" she therefor replied "would you like something more solid, like rice balls maybe?".
Yuma looked at Astral, squeezing his hand gently, to encourage him to answer.
"Yes, please" the alien answered, looking at the nurse with grateful eyes for a moment, before lowering his head again, focused on staying awake.
Tiredness had suddenly washed over him again, like it had before Yuma came back from his additional tests. It was overwhelming, and he fought hard to resist it.
His other half instantly picked up on it.
"Astral!" he gasped quietly, tightening his hold on the aliens' hand. Astral didn't reply.
"Come on, get up here beside me" Yuma then said, all but forcing Astral into the bed with him and placing an arm around his shoulders, pulling him closer to himself protectively.
It was obvious to him that Astral was severely weakened and he felt the old fear of losing him, stirring inside him once again.
Tanimas' frown deepened.
"The two of you better get some rest whilst I find that food. You look completely drained" she said, and Yuma nodded.
"We'll try" he replied "but please Tanima… Don't take too long, okay? I think Astral needs that food as soon as possible".
"How do you know?" she asked, curiously.
"I can feel it" Yuma replied, but that was all.
Then he focused on tightening his hold around Astral a little more, scared that he might just suddenly disappear from his arms.
Tanima looked at them for a bit longer, Astral resting his head on Yumas shoulder with closed eyes, hand on the young mans' chest, covered by one of Yumas hands, his shoulders faintly rising and sinking with his breathing.
And the deeply troubled look on the face of the 17-year-old, young man, that betrayed clearly how worried he was, for the being beside him.
Then she headed for the door and left the room to dispose of the soiled laundry, as well as find some food for her clearly ravenously hungry, blue patient…