Disclaimer: Sunrise
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Tachikawa, October, 2020
All along the train ride to the hospital—the stranger who answered Athrun's call managed to tell him the hospital name and place, Kira, Lacus and Athrun held their thoughts to themselves and didn't say a word, only exchanging a few words when they had to change lines at Shinjuku station.
Kira was staring at his wrist, bandaged with thick gauze. His infirmary teacher suggested he put on a brace so his sprained wrist would be more stable and heal even faster. But he didn't have time to think about his own injury as Athrun hurriedly—panickly—told him that Cagalli just had an accident. Sometimes they could feel this bond that alarmed them when something happened to each other, mostly whenever someone pulled him away to bully him, Cagalli had always known where to find him. When Kira asked her how she found him, she just answered that she somehow knew where to go.
Though he felt vaguely that something happened to Cagalli, Kira had hoped he was wrong. To think that something like this happened not long after he just found his sister again. But he also could feel that Cagalli was still with him; he didn't know how bad she would be, but he was quite positive she would survive. But still, he couldn't rest well before seeing her directly. So he sat in silence throughout the ride to the hospital.
Lacus couldn't find anything to say to Kira either. All along she could only hold Kira's hand, and Kira didn't let it go. He needed something he could hold on to, while Lacus needed Kira to keep her mind from going awry. They sat side by side at the corner of the bench inside the train.
Athrun on the other hand, was on his feet near the train door, at the corner right beside Kira and Lacus; even though the seat beside them and other seats were available. He felt like he wouldn't be able to sit still while waiting till they reached the hospital, without knowing what exactly had happened to Cagalli. He stood straight, gripping the metallic pole tightly until his hand turned white, and staring outside without really seeing as the sky turned from blue to reddish, gritting his teeth impatiently whenever the train had to make stops.
After what seemed like forever, they arrived at the nearest station. When they exited through the gate, Kira was planning to ask the station master about the hospital's whereabouts, when Lacus pulled him straight out of the station, towards the taxi driveway. Instructing the boys to get in, Lacus sat in front, telling the driver the hospital name. In no time, they arrived at the hospital lobby driveway. Lacus handed her IC-card out to the driver, while telling Kira and Athrun to go in first. As they were thinking about Cagalli, they got out first, both of them noting in their own head to pay Lacus back when things settled.
As they arrived at the hospital lobby, Athrun and Lacus saw a familiar figure. "Athrun, isn't that…" Lacus said, as she realized Athrun was aware of her too.
"What, who? You guys know her?" Kira asked.
Slowly Athrun approached her, trying to call her name "Miri…san?"
The girl called Miri turned her head. Recognition dawned on her face as she saw Athrun's. "You are... Cagalli's friend, right?"
"Yes, my name is Athrun. This is Lacus and Kira, he is Cagalli's brother." Athrun waved his hand as he said their names.
"Eh, Cagalli had a brother?" Miriallia's surprise was clear on her face.
At her words, someone who had been standing beside Miri turned his head. "Oh, you guys are finally here," a blonde, dark skinned man said. He was wearing attire that a construction worker usually wore. Holding a phone he thrusted it to Athrun. "You were the one who called right? I remembered your voice." When he said that, another person also turned his head towards the gang. "I'm Dearkka, I work with her and was in the same construction at the time of the accident."
"Where is Cagalli?" Athrun asked, receiving the familiar phone, because of the strap.
"She is in surgery now—hey, hear me out!" He suddenly added as the three new-comers gasped and paled. "It's a minor surgery for a tear on her left shoulder, and she probably can go home today after it's done. The doc said it will take about 1,5 hours tops, it's been around…"He glanced at Miri who mouthed the time, "An hour I guess. Still a while, but not a very long one. Wait here, the nurse will let us know when it's done."
"What actually happened?" Kira stepped in front.
"I'm terribly sorry!" Suddenly the other guy bowed his head deep down. "It was my fault! I was the one who made her fall!"
"What do you mean?" Kira asked with a normal voice, but Athrun caught Kira's wrist in anticipation. He saw Kira's hand, which was clenched tightly; it looked like he was ready to punch the boy.
"You didn't exactly make her fall, Ahmed," Dearkka interjected.
"But it was still my fault. I should have checked my safety equipment thoroughly," the guy looked like he was about to cry. "And because I lost my balance as I was fixing it, Cagalli senpai happened to catch me, but since she just came out from the lift, she didn't have her safety clamp clasped. We both fell but she protected me and took the fall," at this point his tears were falling freely on his face.
"Ahmed, no need to berate yourself like that," Dearkka patted his shoulder. "Scaffolding related work was naturally risky. It was unfortunate, but blaming yourself like that won't do anything. What you need to do now is get yourself together because there will be a hearing with the labour safety association regarding this accident. You need to get a grip so you can answer as accurately as possible. Cagalli should be okay; the doctor said the recovery won't take too long. One thing for sure, I'm glad you were only in the second story back then, and not any higher." Dearkka then glanced at Kira, "Cagalli had injuries on her shoulders and elbow. So she'll probably wear a sling on her left arm for a while. She might need someone to stay with her during recovery. Her guardian is currently away for work, so she is all alone at home. Can you take care of her? I was thinking maybe Miri could do it, but her schedule is quite packed" he pointed at Miri. "I called her here just in case, but if you can do it then…"
"It's okay. I'll do it," Kira answered confidently.
Right from Dearkka's side, Miri exhaled in relief. "I was worried too. I might be able to do it but my semester has just started again and I'm busy with college tasks so I'm afraid I can't take care of her properly. If it's her brother, then we are relieved."
After that they waited patiently while staring at the hallway where the treatment rooms were, and nurses popping every few minutes calling out patient's names and relatives. In another 30 minutes, a nurse called out looking for them. "Excuse me; are there any relatives of Miss Cagalli Hibiki?"
"I'm her brother," Kira stepped up.
"Are her parents here too?" the nurse asked again.
"We don't…"
"I'm from the company where she worked. I have the responsibility to report to our superior since the company will be covering all her medical expenses. I'm of age already, if that's needed," Dearkka added. "Her guardian is currently out of town, but he is in the same company as us."
"Then you two can see the doctor at room two over there, she will explain the result of the examination. After that please wait at the waiting room and we'll call you again," the nurse guided them to the room, and pulled a file from the file case right beside the room's door. Inside the doctor's room, she pulled out two chairs for both him and Dearkka, and put the file on the doctors desk. After confirming their identity, she moved to her computer on the desk and showed them a picture, an anatomy of one's shoulder.
"I heard you are Ms Hibiki's brother?" to which Kira nodded. "So I'll explain about the arthroscopic surgery we just performed. First I want you to take a look at this part of a shoulder," the doctor pointed a pen at the picture. "There was a tear in this tissue where the biceps tendon attaches to the shoulder, so we did arthroscopic surgery to repair it. She'll be in the recovery room for a few hours and then she can go home. She'll experience some pain around her joint area, so I'll prescribe some pain reliever and another one to prevent blood clots. In 24 hours, use an ice pack to reduce the swelling on the area. Tomorrow you can change the Keep the wound as dry as possible while recovering." After that she showed Cagalli's X-ray scan file, showing them her elbow and proceeded to tell them about the wound, which was not as severe as her shoulder and the treatment. "She will have to wear a sling for around four weeks, and in the meantime she will have to get her shoulder regularly checked, as well as some rehabilitation programme for her arm since there will be stiffness after being unused for a long time. She should be able to recover fully in less than two months."
At that, Kira let out a heavy, relieved sigh, like a heavy burden was finally lifted off of him.
"I'm concerned about one thing though," the doctor continued and she had a concerned face toward the brother, Kira. "There are marks around her wrist… It looks old, though, so hopefully..."
"It's in the past. We are not in that environment again now, thank you for your concern though," Kira stated firmly, and the doctor let out a relieved sigh.
"Then I won't have to worry about calling the Social Service then. Now that that is cleared, is there any question you'd like to ask?"
Kira and Dearkka took the offer to ask their concerns about Cagalli's healing process, though most of Dearkka's questions were related to work, as he said he would have to make a report later. After they were both satisfied, the doctor led them to the surgical waiting room so the nurse could call them anytime when Cagalli was ready.
"Don't worry, I'll handle all the papers since the company will take care of the expenses, you go see Cagalli," Dearkka said as they walked out of the doctor's room.
"But—"
"It's okay, go," he said shortly before walking toward the hospital lobby with Miri.
While Kira was with the doctor, Athrun and Lacus had the chance to see Cagalli—still unconscious with the anesthetic post-surgery—being wheeled out to the recovery room. When they asked about her, the nurse informed them that they have to wait another hour before being allowed inside the recovery room, and only for the shortest amount of time.
So, they moved to the surgical waiting room again, and waited until Cagalli regained consciousness and the nurse let them in.
When Kira came back alone, Kira told Athrun and Lacus about planning on staying with Cagalli for a night, and if possible, ask Cagalli to stay with him for a few weeks since she would need someone to be with her and take care of her.
Not long after that, Dearkka came to them, handling Cagalli's bag and copy of her medical papers and her prescription to Kira. After explaining which medicine for what, he excused himself since he had to go back to the factory first. Miri had her shift at the café so she couldn't stay long. Kira too, explained his plans for taking Cagalli home with him, to which Dearkka showed his agreement, and he would inform Cagalli's guardian so he could be sure that Cagalli was in safe hands. After dragging Ahmed who was insisting on seeing Cagalli to apologize, the three of them left the highschoolers by themselves.
Then, Lacus offered to call her family driver so they could move Cagalli easily. Lacus told Kira that if she could stay at his house from this night, the better, but they had to make a stop at her house first to pack her belongings for the following weeks. After that, Kira and Lacus went outside to make some calls, leaving Athrun alone in the waiting room, secretly feeling useless for not doing anything for Cagalli.
Just then, a nurse came and asked Cagalli's relatives if they wanted to visit her, though only allowed 5 minutes. Athrun, not knowing when the two would come back, asked the nurse if he could go first. It wouldn't be longer than 5 minutes anyway; by the time he was done from Cagalli, Kira and Lacus should be back again. And then, after getting sanitized and shown where to go, Athrun walked into the room, toward the bed number told by the nurse.
He didn't know what to expect, but seeing Cagalli lying there looking frail and fragile, constricted his heart even more than last time, when he was thinking about the life Cagalli had had.
She was not leaning down, but in a half seating position, leaning back to the lifted part of the bed. She had her eyes closed, maybe from the small amount of anesthetic still left on her system or maybe from the painkiller dripping from the IV. A few cables were hooked onto her, connected to a monitor screen showing her vital signs. A small area on the left side of her face was bandaged; her injured left hand was supported by a sling. The wristband she usually wore was nowhere to be seen, and thanks to that, now he could see what Cagalli was probably trying to hide with it.
Warily, Athrun sat at the chair beside the bed and cautiously took her uninjured hand on his. "Cagalli…" he whispered, looking at the sight before her.
He didn't expect her to hear him, but in a moment, Cagalli's eyes fluttered open. He looked up, letting out a small gasp from his mouth. At first she looked disoriented, but it was not long before she realized who sat beside her bed. "Ah, Athrun. You came," she let out a weak, small smile. "I didn't think anyone would come here. How did you know?"
Athrun, on the other hand, was still silent and just sat there.
"I'm sorry I made you come all the way here," Cagalli said, trying again. "If I'm slurring, please forgive me. The drugs are making me feel a bit funny."
When Athrun didn't answer back all her words, even with a cloudy mind, Cagalli started to get worried. "Hey, Athrun, are you okay…?" He didn't say anything but just stared at Cagalli with an unreadable expression. "Athrun, you scared me. Say something, what is it?" she urged him. "Is it my face? I could feel the gauze; do I look hideous?" She tried to lighten the mood, anything to get him to talk.
"...Safe…"
"Yes?"
"You are safe…"
"Well, I am. Just a small broken bone and torn ligament, a few scratches—wow all those things sound bad, but I'm quite-"
Cagalli halted her words when she felt Athrun lifted her hand up and leaned his forehead on her outer wrist.
"You're okay, you're safe…" he repeated over and over. Even though she was still tired from today's event, she could still make out Athrun's body shaking slightly, and the small sobs coming out from him.
The relief that Cagalli was still alive was starting to seep into Athrun's mind, and the realization was so hard it made him feel like losing the strength on his body. All that calm facade in front of Kira and the others, the fake strength he mustered to keep himself together, flew away. He didn't realize he was so scared of losing her. That time after he had some realization that he started to think differently about Cagalli, he had always been looking forward to seeing her again. To think that their usual study session last week was his last chance to see her, to talk with her.
"Hey, it's okay. I'm okay. I'm sorry I made you worried…" Cagalli tried to move her hand which was still on Athrun's grip, to caress his fingers, trying as she possibly could to comfort him. "Athrun… Look at me." With her hand, Cagalli tried to wipe one lonely trace of a tear on his face. "I'll go home and get back to the way I used to be soon. I might look like a wreck now, but I'm going to be okay. I'll bother you again with all those exam questions I can't answer and have you explain to me again and again," she said while putting up a smile, to lift him up from his worried state.
Wiping his eyes, though there wasn't much for him to hide, he apologized to her, "Sorry you had to see me like that. But I was worried. I called you since Kira said something, asking me to help you, and when I called you, some dude answered saying you fell from the scaffolding. I was imagining the worst outcome, but kinda glad my imagination was wilder compared to your condition now." Worried was an understatement. He was fretful, but Cagalli didn't have to know to that extent.
"Kira? Ah, yeah, that," Cagalli remembered the connection he sometimes had with Kira. "That explains why you are here. With Kira?"
"And Lacus, Dearkka-san and Miri too. Dearkka-san said he had to leave to take care of your leave at your workplace. Miri-san had a shift to cover, so she left with Dearkka san. Kira and Lacus are outside, making some calls. I—"
"I'm sorry to interrupt, Zala san," the nurse came from her station. "Your time is up in a minute," she reminded him.
"Ah, yes, thank you," Athrun answered, only slightly turning his head without meeting the nurse's face.
"You are leaving?" Cagalli asked, feeling a little bit lonely. He was the first familiar person she saw after waking up.
"I'll be waiting outside until you are discharged. Lacus is arranging someone to pick us up, and Kira's planning to take you to his home, since you'll need someone to look after you while recovering. We're only allowed 5 minutes to see you here, so I'll see you again later," he rose from the chair and plopped his hand on Cagalli's head. Before leaving, hesitantly, he leaned down and laid a peck on top of her head. In seconds, Athrun walked out of the recovery room, leaving Cagalli, who was astounded, on her bed.
When she was still thinking about it, without realizing how long it was, her brother came in. "Cagalli!" Kira's worried voice went to her, trying to keep his voice down but sounded like he was calling out to her. "Are you okay? How are your wounds?" Kira walked and sat at the chair where Athrun had sat there just before, and ran his eyes thoroughly on Cagalli's body. "Does it hurt anywhere?"
"Kira, you are too loud," Cagalli said, shutting her eyes in discomfort.
"Oh yeah. Right, sorry I forgot," he put one hand on his mouth and glanced around him. One nurse who was walking past their section to answer her pager, gave him a warning glance with her side eyes. Kira bowed his head down once in apology, and turned his attention back to Cagalli, now talking with reasonable volume. "Are you okay?" Kira asked again.
"I felt like I'd been hit by a truck, my face is kinda sore, my shoulder felt like it's swelling, which the nurse said was to be expected for now. I'm kinda feeling nauseous, but she said the drug should kick in in no time. Other than those things, I'm okay," Cagalli explained as she currently felt. "What did the doctor say?"
"Since they used general anesthesia for the surgery, someone has to stay with you for the next 24 hours to monitor you. Your left hand will feel numb for the next 12 hours, so you'll need help for most of the things you have to do. I called my Mom and she insisted for you to be brought there. I heard that your guardian is not around, so even if you go home, you'll be alone, right?"
"Well, I'll manage—"
"No, Cagalli. You won't be able to fully function with your left hand like this. If you insist on doing everything by yourself, at some point it will burden your hand, and prolong the healing progress," Kira relayed what the doctor had told him. "Stay with us for a while, at least for one to two weeks. Lacus said her driver is on his way here, we'll go to your house to pack your things for the next week, and we'll go straight to my home."
Reflectively, Cagalli attempted to shake her head, "But I—Ouch!" Her own sudden movement took a toll on her head, and she was hit by a sudden wave of vertigo.
"Careful there," Kira was right on his feet again, leaning down. "Take it easy. You are going home with us, no arguing," he said in a final tone.
"But you have school—"
"That's why you have to come to my house. My mom volunteered herself to take care of you while I'm in school. Of course I'll help on the weekend too.
"But I don't want to impose on your family—"
"Cagalli-nee." Kira pulled out the name he used to say when he wanted something from Cagalli. "My foster family had always wanted to see you. They were actually genuinely worried for you when they couldn't find you in that foster care. They did feel relieved when they knew you were taken by our grandparents, but still wished to talk to you at least once. So please, at least until your guardian comes home, stay with us?" Kira implored her, and Cagalli didn't have anything to say back. "Okay?"
"How about work…?" She asked in a low tone instead.
"Of course you are not going to work with that hand," Kira asked accusingly.
"But I—"
"Not even the simplest kind of work. The doctor said to give you at least 4 weeks leave, so you'll have that much time to heal. Dearkka san was the one who took care of all of the things regarding your hospital admission and administration, and also your work leave. But he said you'll probably hear from the factory's GAA about the official notice and your accident allowance, and you'll probably have to come to the factory for that. The factory will cover all hospital expenses so all you have to do now is rest. You can tell your guardian or Dearkka san or Miri san our home address later if they want to visit you. And no, my mom won't mind some people visiting you," Kira added in the last part as he saw Cagalli was about to argue again."
"I'm sorry you and your mom have to do all that for me, and thanks."
"No problem, just get well soon. You have your exam next month, right? Don't fail just because of this injury, you hear?" Kira plopped his hand on Cagalli's head, the way Athrun had before, and Cagalli's mind went back to that small peck she received from him. Maybe it was because the anesthetic was running out, her mind is getting clearer now, and made her extremely aware of what Athrun had done. Embarrassed, she stared down at her hand, and realized something.
"My wristband?" she asked Kira.
"The nurse took it out, I think. Maybe it was with the rest of your clothes," Kira said, pointing at the hospital gown Cagalli was wearing. "They should give it back at the time you are cleared to go home. Since Lacus is here, do you want her to help you change later?" To which Cagalli nodded her head.
Then she remembered something. "Have you heard anything from Lacus?"
"Huh? About what?" Kira asked, confused.
Oh, not yet then, Cagalli thought. "It's nothing then," She dismissed.
"What is it? Are you two hiding something for me?" Kira pouted.
"Lacus will tell you later," Cagalli said. She was almost sure Lacus might feel bummed if she knew Cagalli gave Kira a hint about her studying abroad plan, but she felt like Lacus would put off telling Kira about it with her current condition. With this, Kira might ask Lacus himself if there is something he had to know about that Lacus was not saying.
When the nurse came and informed Kira that his time was up, Kira stood and patted Cagalli's healthy shoulder, saying he will see her again soon and he would send Lacus in if she wanted, before leaving her alone again with her thoughts.
In that spare time, her mind went back to her wrist, wondering if Athrun saw her wrist, her scars. Scattered small circular scars just below her wrist. Somehow she hoped he didn't; she didn't want him to feel disgusted with her because of this. But thinking about that small kiss, she was almost sure he didn't; why would he do that if he saw the scars? If he did, he would be appalled and wouldn't want to touch her.
Right?
That was a long one. Hope it didn't bore you out. In case you find some typo that made the sentences didnt make sense, I apologized before hand. I butchered this chapter so much since the first draft didn't satisfy me enough.
Thank you so much for your support to this story; all the reviewers and silent readers. I reckon there are only 5 to 6 chapters left before this story is finished.
You know now what is behind Cagalli's wristband, and to remind you, I put M rating on this story for a reason. Prepare yourself for a (maybe for some people) disturbing explanation on the scars, maybe in next couple chapters. Hope you stay with me till the end.
See you next chapter
Cheers
