New Beginning

Yuki was absent from school for the rest of that week. His arm had been broken, and he had needed an operation to sort everything out.

Every night after school, Akina had gone to the hospital. It wasn't for any particular reason, and it wasn't like she had anything to say. She just wanted to be there. Some evening they would just sit there in silence. Not that it mattered. There was nothing awkward about it. Some times friendship doesn't need words.

That Friday night Akina perched herself at the end of Yuki's bed for the fourth evening in a row. Her school bag lay in the chair to the left of Yuki. She still wore her summer uniform with the knee-high socks and knee-length skirt and the black shoes. She wore her hair down and naturally curled, the way it always went after she washed it in a hurry.

"Tohru and Kyo said they would come later to pick you up. Looking forward to your own bed?" Akina asked with a grin.

"I long for it," Yuki smiled. Akina laughed; she knew exactly how he felt.

"I know what you mean. These beds are so bland and uncomfortable."

"Yes, I agree." Yuki laughed and propped his pillows higher so he could sit up more comfortably.

"You look so funny doing that with one arm," Akina smirked.

"You try having a broken arm; it's not as fun as it looks." Yuki replied, glaring at his sling.

"Giving it evil looks won't make it go away," Akina said, hoping down from the bed. She walked over to Yuki and helped him with his pillows.

"There, is that better?" she asked as he sat back and closed his eyes.

"Much better, thank you," he said dreamily. Akina watched him, admiring her work, until she realised he was falling asleep.

"Hey don't you have a nap while I'm here!" she snapped, clicking her fingers. She laughed as Yuki groaned and pulled the bed covers over his face.

"You know they wake me up at eight O'clock every morning? It's not very nice to wake a sick person at such a ridiculously early time," he groaned from under his blanket.

"Not a morning person?" Akina noted. She knelt down and lifted Yuki's covers, resting her chin on his mattress. Yuki turned his head and smiled warmly at her.

"You seem quite tired too. Did you get up earlier than usual?" he asked her.

Akina sighed. "Not really, I've just been having trouble sleeping lately." She allowed Yuki's bed spread to fall over her head.

"Hah!" she laughed. "Now it was like our own little den."

"You are so easily amused," Yuki smiled, gazing at her. He shuffled down on his pillow so their faces were level.

"It's like our secret place," he said quietly, looking into her happy brown eyes. Then before he knew what he was doing, Yuki leaned forwards and kissed her lightly on the lips.

At first Akina was in shock, but she then slowly closed her eyes, and there they stayed, in their own secret place.

Shigure strutted down the ward corridor to Yuki's cubical; Tohru and Kyo walking behind him. As they reached it, Shigure pulled back the curtains dramatically to announce their arrival.

"Yuuuuki we're – oh hello!" he cried joyfully. "And what do we have here?" Akina's head shot from under the blanket. She was still kneeling by the side of the bed, her hair was now a mess and her lip-gloss had smeared around her mouth.

Yuki pulled the blanket from over his head and glared at Shigure.

"You have no right to barge in like that, I could have been changing," he spat angrily.

"Oh Yuki, now why would I want to see you change? This on the other hand is far juicier!" he said with an evil glint in his eye. Tohru blushed from behind Shigure and Kyo tutted and glared at Shigure.

"You sick bastard! What kind of perverted freak are you?" he yelled.

"Oh now now Kyo-Kyo," he said with a casual wave of his hand. "I am not perverted; my heart is merely lifted by the sight of such sweet, innocent young love!"

"So then why when you say that does it sound so wrong?" Kyo questioned irritably.

Shigure ignored his last remark and made to leave the cubical. "Let's leave these two lovers alone," he announced dramatically. "I'm going to call my dear old friend Aya-"

"Don't – you – dare," said Yuki furiously, his eyes burning with hatred.

"O-Okay…" said Shigure, cowering under Yuki's evil glare; he then retreated to the bench outside of the cubical.

Tohru beamed at Yuki and Akina. "I'm so happy for you!" she exclaimed before hugging Akina, who was now on her feet and packing Yuki's things.

"Oh, thanks Tohru!" she replied, blushing furiously.

The two girls finished packing the remainder of Yuki's belongings into a rucksack before leaving the cubical, allowing his to get changed.

When Yuki emerged, Akina's heart beat quickened. Not because of what he was wearing or anything like that, but because of the way he was looking at her. Those eyes so deep and mysterious she thought she would never understand him. But I'm willing to try, she thought happily before taking his hand and walking from the hospital; all of them together.

They met Momiji, Haru and Hatori in the car park. They were there to take them home as Shigure had had his licence taken from him after only one week of owning a car. Serves you right, your driving sucks, Kyo had said at the time. The memory made Akina smile. She felt like part of this family, and as they drove back to Shigure's house for their 'Welcome Home Yuki!' Celebration meal, Akina felt, for the first time in her life, happy, and at home.