Charmshipping (Kawai Shizuka/Mana)

. . .

The bed creaked a bit under the weight of someone settling down at the end of it, shaking as someone began to kick their feet back and forth against the side. Shizuka lifted her head towards where she thought it was coming from—she still had bandages over her eyes from the pre-op, so she couldn't see.

"Mana?" she said. "Is that you?"

"Yup!" came the cheerful voice, and Shizuka had to smile.

She had never actually seen the girl before, but the voice was unmistakable. Shizuka had had the bandages on for a few weeks, and before that, her eyesight had been so bad that some times dark spots would fly over her eyes, and it was just easier to close them instead of dealing with squinting and tearing up when she tried to focus on anything.

That was when Mana had first shown up.

The end of the bed had bounced a bit, and when Shizuka had tried to open her eyes and squint, a hand had fallen on hers with a laugh. "You don't have to open your eyes! It's okay—I'm Mana, I'm from the ward one over. Shhh, don't say anything, the nurse doesn't know I snuck out!"

Shizuka sat up as Mana's hand fell on top of hers—it was a warm hand, like it had the entirety of the sun underneath her skin.

"How are you doing? Ready for your final operation so you can get out of here?"

"I think so," Shizuka said, turning her hand so that she could hold Mana's hand back and feel the warmth there. "I'm a little nervous...my big brother is supposed to come and stay with me during it so that I'm not scared."

"Ahh Katsuya-kun, right? That's so sweet that your brother is coming!"

"You have a big brother too, right Mana-chan?" Shizuka said. "Mahad-kun?"

"Yup! He hasn't been able to be around lately though, he's realllll busy with work."

"What does he do again?"

"He's a bodyguard for a reallyyyy important guy, so he has to work really hard."

"Oh wow, that sounds dangerous."

"It's okay though, because Mahad is really strong!"

Mana laughed, the bed bouncing with her mirth. Shizuka could imagine that she had a huge, sparkly smile—she couldn't wait until she got her eyesight back and she could see her friend clearly, put a smile to the laugh.

"Shizuka-chan is really strong too," Mana laughed, bumping her forehead against Shizuka's. "Are you ready to be able to see again?"

"Oh, definitely!" Shizuka said. "I can't wait to see you for real, Mana-chan!"

Mana laughed again, but it sounded—different?

"I'm really glad I got to meet you," Mana said, pressing her forehead against Shizuka's again, her fingers twining with Shizuka's. "I hope we can talk again after you leave the hospital."

"O-of course we can," Shizuka said. "You're my friend, Mana-chan! I'm really glad we met too!"

Mana let out another one of her clear, bell-like laughs.

"Keep being bright and strong just like you always are," she said. "Oh, I think I hear the nurse coming—I have to go! Good luck with your operation!"

"Thank you, I'll see you soon!"

"Yup!"

Mana squeezed Shizuka's hand—and for a moment, it seemed like she wasn't going to leave.

Then Shizuka felt...Mana's lips brush her forehead.

And then Mana's hand was leaving hers, the bed was shifting again, and Shizuka heard Mana's feet pattering away, the door closing behind her. Shizuka leaned back in her bed, staring at darkness—back to the gentle quiet again in the wake of Mana's laugh.

. . .

A/N: Mana's not actually a patient here, she's a visiting spirit who came to visit Shizuka. They're cutie pies. Next is Chaosshipping (Priest Set x Thief King Bakura x Yami Bakura x Seto)