I know I said I'd update in 3 weeks…not almost 3 months! Sorry, sorry, sorry….blame it one the thesis! It's just been so hectic. I didn't mean to make people hang.

Here we are again! I wont say much but I do hope you like it. I'll edit it as soon as I get the time!

Chapter 14: How to Wake a Sleeping Man

"Are you alright, Kumiko-chan?"

Kumiko Yamaguchi turned her head halfway to her dark-haired companion and tried to smile reassuringly. "Don't worry 'bout me. Just a bit dizzy, that's all." Indeed, the abnormally white and bright hallway typical of a hospital environment made her eyes water; her legs and arms felt wobbly as well. The muscle weakness was really natural, she reasoned through gritted teeth. After all, she was asleep for more than a week…

"Here we are." They stopped before a door by the end of the corridor. Neither of them made a move for the knob.

"Ah," she murmured in assent. Only a door separated them now. Wasn't she the reason there had to be a "door" between them? Didn't she place him there, unintentionally or not, with her rash decisions? The ojou bit her lower lip unconsciously. Has she any right to go be there?

"Come on, Kumiko-chan," came Shinohara's soft voice. "I'm sure he's waiting for you."

"You sound so sure," she answered back bitterly. "And why are you so cheery?"

He smiled down at her and, for some reason, it made her sad. "The operation was immediate and yet you wouldn't wake up. You're awake now. That's all….that's all that matters."

"Shinohara-sensei…" Her eyes stung but she refused to give in. With a small sniff, she said, "I'm sorry for being such a trouble—" The lawyer silenced her with a kiss. She closed her eyes knowing she could never return the same passion. The moment his lips left hers her eyes were open again. Kumiko tried to smile. "Let's—let's just go on together, neh, Shinohara-sensei?"

He nodded and they opened the door.

"Am I dead?"

Shin's voice was lost in that vast emptiness. His wide-open eyes felt hurt and heavy. His whole being seemed to be floating. And yet there was nothing there—he was surrounded by nothingness.

"Am I dead?" He shouted but the sound only faded as soon as it left his lips. Where am I? he wondered. This looks like nothing like Hell… not close to what I imagined Heaven would be like, either. Limbo?

He shook his head. His mind seemed to be assaulted by other thoughts. He tried to stopper them but they trickled through his head nonetheless…

"You disgust me." It was his father's words. He arrived one day to see Shin's head a different color. At first, there was only dumb shock but it was soon replaced by the purest of vehemence. Then that sentence. Shin thought that nothing his father did anymore could hurt him further. He was wrong. Because those words stung far worse than any slap or punch he received in his entire life. Why did he even care? All Mr. Sawada cared for, after all, was his job. He hardly gave a damn about his family. He only cared when their name was on danger of being smeared. He hated him so much.

His brother—the great perfect one—he never thought he would miss the bastard but he did. Shin was not even conscious that he held any attachment to him. Brother or not, he was too self-righteous. When he left him alone to shoulder all the responsibilities and pressures which he could never truly handle, he forced himself to believe that he hated him. But now, in this strangely quiet world, it was hard to think of it like that…

While Shin was no religious, parts of him still believed in the notion of God and the life-after. His father never taught him such things—it was his mother who patiently taught him all. She was beautiful and kind, but always so silent. He saw her as a martyr. And he hated that, too. He couldn't bear seeing her quiet resignation. She never complained about her husband's hardness. She always found excuses for her his always staying out for days and days. He remembered shouting at her. "Why won't you do anything about this? Even brother did something—he left. You, why can't you?"

With her sad, sad eyes, she only sighed and looked out of the window, all misted with snow. "Love…"

That night, he too, left. He thought he would never understand what she meant, until Kumiko came and changed all that.

That's right…but where was she?

"Yamaguchi, where are you?" he asked out loud. But that too was eaten by the silence.

He didn't know if he was dead of alive, but he could not bear it if she died, too.

"Am I dead?" he whispered to no one. Forcing some energy into his legs, he ran. Or rather, considering his floating state, he flew. No matter the method, Shin found himself struggling out of the darkness, like a butterfly pulling out of a nasty dark cocoon, and simply "popped" out.

His "body" pin wheeled in the air for a few seconds, his knees pulled loosely against his chest. Finally, he stretched and opened his eyes into a bewildering sight.

The place was distinctly a private hospital room. After some squinting and refocusing, the location settled more clearly before him. On the bed lay a pale lad, IVs attached to his arms, and a pair of rigid tubes pushed up his nostrils. Even for the brilliant Sawada Shin, it took some moments of scrutiny before he could finally accept that the person lying in that flimsy bed was truly himself. Looking up at the medical monitor at the side of the bed, he instinctively understood that he was comatose, and quickly deduced that he must be undergoing some sort of out-of-body experience. However preposterous the idea, he wasn't all too prepared that this entire clear movie was a dream either—it most certainly do not feel like one.

Beside the bed are two people, one male and one female. One look and he knew exactly who they were. Only Shinohara would stomach wearing such a stupid violet business suit, he thought in vehemence. It didn't lessen his agony seeing that the lawyer was assisting a stiff and weary looking Yamaguchi. She seemed to have lost weight, and some stitches and bruises were peeping out of her hospital gown.

He glided down, and tried to reach her with his translucent hands but they only went past through her. An impatient sigh passed through his lips and he decided to listen to the conversation out of curiosity.

"Sit here, Kumiko-chan," said Shinohara as he pulled a chair beside the bed. The teacher, obviously tired and strained, gratefully took the proffered seat. She returned her glazed eyes at the comatose redhead as the lawyer remained standing behind her.

"I should've died then," murmured Yamaguchi almost inaudibly. "I should've. I was too caught up with playing hero—and now he's lying here. He saved me. I don't deserve this. It's not supposed to be him lying there—it's supposed to be me."

Shin's eyes widened. He has never heard her speak like this—so distraught and self-pitying. Yankumi never allowed anything to keep her down. She always bounced back. Seeing her so downcast and depressed as though incapable of ever becoming cheerful again hurt him. Then again, he knew it was her guilt talking. If I was in her situation and she almost died saving me, I would probably act the same, he reflected. But it really didn't suit her; this repentant and self-castigating attitude.

Apparently, Shinohara seemed to share the same thoughts. Kneeling beside her and forcing her to look down at him, he said almost sternly. "Kumiko, this is not like you. You should never regret living. If Kyou, your grandfather, and the others hear you talking like this, they will feel hurt."

A tear slipped down her cheek followed by more as she spoke in a controlled tone. "But it's true. It's my fault. If I waited, if only I thought of the consequences, if I just used my damn head and—and—thought things through, this wouldn't have happened. I'm—I'm supposed to be the older one, the one with more sense but in the end, I acted just like some bratty, impulsive…kid."

Shinohara raised a hand as though to touch her face but stopped midway. Placing his hand on her shoulder instead, he said, "I will not deny the recklessness of your actions that night but you acted according to your beliefs. If you didn't jump out there, the girl would have been raped by that drunkard."

Kumiko held on stubbornly. "Why didn't I think of some other solution? What if I hadn't climbed up? What if my presence there worsened the already gravid situation? What if—?

"It is useless to think of the past," interrupted Shinohara with a firm shake of head. "What's done is done. Reflecting on 'what ifs' will only frustrate you because you cannot turn back the time. Back then, you acted according to what you thought best, and in the end, you saved that woman at the risk of your own life, while this boy risked his life for yours. No one died—yet." Kumiko flinched at the last word and the lawyer sighed. "You must be strong…for his sake."

"What can I do?" She frustratedly wiped her eyes with the back of her hand but the tears only seemed to gush more willingly. "What can I do? He's been in a coma for three weeks—what if he no longer wakes up? What if…"

Shin felt embarrassed seeing her so helpless—he wanted to jump back to his body, wake up and scold her for crying. If only he knew how…As he was, he could only flit here and there to distract himself. He was in that process when Shinohara's ringing voice halted him.

"Then call him."

"What?"

Shinohara took her hands and gazed at her until her teary eyes were focused on him. "Call him," he said simply. "Wake him up."

"What? How?" The words sounded bewildering in her confused state but somehow, it shed some light into her hopelessness.

"Talk to him. Tell him to wake up. To come back. Only you can do it, Kumiko-chan." The man was wiping her tears and snot with a handkerchief as he said it. The woman was too surprised that her tears came to a slow halt.

"How do you know he'd wake up?" She wondered aloud.

He lowered his lashes thoughtfully, mouth twisted into a sad smile. "I know."

And with that, he excused himself and quickly left the room.

Kumiko Yamaguchi was now alone with the sleeping Shin. Shin could easily feel the tension vibrate from her body as she slowly wetted her lips, mind racing. Now I wait, he thought to himself. How do you wake a sleeping man, Yamaguchi? And with that, he folded his legs in midair and waited.

The door snapped shut and a voice greeted Shinohara as he leaned back with a sigh. "You left her. Again."

"Yes, I have," he murmured without turning sideways at the scar-faced man. "Can you spare me a cigarette?"

He shrugged almost nonchalantly. "Snatched a couple o' cigars. Don't ask how."

"Doesn't matter. May I?"

They mutually agreed that a hospital's corridor was not really an ideal place to smoke cigars. In a few minutes, twin smokes glided lazily and pooled into the low ceiling of a fire exit. Both were silent, too caught up with their thoughts to say something. Finally, Kyou sneaked an eye at the dark-haired man.

"Did you ever love her?"

"Hm?"

"I said, did you ever love her?" repeated Kyou.

Shinohara chuckled. "Do I need to answer that?"

"You made her wait for five years. You can't expect her to wait forever."

"I didn't."

"Then," said Kyou, becoming quite angry. "Why didn't you do anything about it?"

He was silent for a while. That immaculate suit seemed to glow, even in the dimness of the constricting staircase. Softly, he murmured. "I'm the family lawyer. And where I stand, I'm not supposed to let personal matters intrude. We have no future together. But that, too, is just an excuse.

"I guess," he continued. "I thought I wanted her happy. And just when I was finally gathering the courage, settling the accounts, she was stolen right before my eyes...ironically, by a student some 10 years my junior. I didn't know I'd lose so badly."

"And," said Kyou slowly puffing his cigarette, watching the smoke coil uselessly. "You tried to get her back. Then you let her go all the same."

Silence greeted this statement. But they both knew.

"What made you do it?" he asked again.

"Do what?"

"Give her up?" pursued Kyou, unperturbed.

Shinohara liberally sucked his cigar and blew the smoke lazily. His eyes seemed to be glazed in thought. "I don't know."

Kyou raised a brow and took a seat at the lowest stair. "I don't believe you."

Shinohara chuckled morosely. "Neither do I."

How do I wake a sleeping man? She wrinkled her forehead and breathed deeply. Her eyes searched his face; it looked so peaceful—he seemed to be just dozing off on the rooftop.

Kumiko Yamaguchi gingerly took his limp hand. It was a bit cool from the air-conditioning, but instantly warmed against her hand. Without thinking, she twined her fingers with his, marveling at its smoothness in comparison to her rougher, more calloused. A ghost of a smile lingered her face as she imagined teasing him about that.

…if he wakes up.

She swayed up from her seat, shuddering at the thought. Shin Sawada will not die—at least not until he hears her say. But how do you communicate with someone trapped between life and death?

I'll try to speak to him

"Hey," her voice came out in a shaky whisper. She bit the insides of her cheek and tried again, albeit with forced cheer. "I know…this is kinda weird. Here I am, talking to a sleeping—no, comatose—guy. Kind of reminds me of those movies I've seen. I've always thought it was stupid, you know. I mean, how can you talk to someone who can't even answer you, let alone hear you? It's like talking to a wall! But here I am, doing exactly that. Only…somehow, I can feel that you're really there, listening. You can hear me right? I'm not making a fool of myself, am I?"

Yamuguchi paused to catch her breath and when she continued, a wistful tone overcame her. "This situation…kind of reminds me of that time when I saved you from your dad. When I think of it now, it's kinda silly, too. The princess climbing up the balcony to save the prince," she almost smiled here but it disappeared just as quickly. "I'm…always used to be the one to save people, to take care of people. Yeah, I have my family to back me up but most of the time, it was unnecessary worrying, and even they know it coz I always take care of myself. That's really the reason why I learned to do all the fighting—so that I'd be able to take care of myself, and by doing that lessen everyone's worries. Then I'd be able to protect people with my own hands. I didn't realize I could be pushing you away with my stubbornness."

When she resumed, her voice was almost a whisper. "Shin…you saved me so many times that often, I don't even understand why you bother at all. And when you try protecting or worrying over me, I keep pushing you away, saying hurtful bullshit that don't really matter. I guess it's pride—I couldn't accept then that, young as you are, you still seem to be my equal in many aspects. I didn't want you to treat me as some shitty damsel either. I realized later that I wanted to be seen as just who I am…as Kumiko Yamaguchi. Only my family ever did, but after a while, it makes one wonder. The people I knew, as a student and even as I grew old, avoided me. They were always intimidated." A smile passed her lips. "But you weren't. You knew everything and yet you didn't treat me differently. You treat me as I am. You could never be an outsider to me. There aren't a hundred years between us; we're just six years apart after all—often, it even feels shorter."

Shin wanted to touch her so badly but he couldn't; he watched as she braced herself against the side of the bed. Her hand arranged the stray bangs on his head. "It's a bit ironic…was so busy calling you a kid I didn't realize the changes in the short time we've been together. I didn't realize that I—I—"

She found herself leaning close to his face. Being nearsighted, she could easily study his face this near and what she saw brought a pang in her heart. His face and even his fiery head seemed pale and weak. The tubes stuck up his nose made him look especially vulnerable. A sting of guilt promptly took all the fuel out of her as the thought returned to her: You're really here because of me.

Her cheeks hurt as tears squeezed out of her eyes, falling and sliding like rain on his marble-white cheeks. "Shin..." she whispered, shaking lips just barely on top of his. "Don't sleep too long, baka! And you call yourself the 'Red Lion'! Come back..." Unable to resist any longer, she placed her lips above his in a chaste kiss, tubes and all. Then, she lifted the rest of her body into the bed and wrapped an arm across his chest. Kumiko rested her tired and bewildered head against the base of his neck and fell instantly into sleep.

The last image of Kumiko climbing in the bed remained with Shin as he was unwillingly sucked back into darkness. He had to get back there. Rather, he had to return to his body, wake up, and scold Yamaguchi—first of all, he wasn't the one who branded himself as the Red Lion.

…though I saved you a couple of times, it's nothing compared to your life-changing eruption in my life.

He fell back into darkness but he immediately stood up, ignoring the strangeness of the emptiness and ran—

…you took me on a whirl, you baka. You tore my world apart and gave me a new one.

In the distance, a tiny door started to appear. He will reach it. He has to.

…I don't know how you did it but—you brought fire to my world.

His hand touched the doorknob. This was it. I won't be sleeping long, Yamaguchi.

…I'd give myself a thousand times more if you asked me to.

The door swung open and he was swallowed by an explosion of light. As warmth and relief flooded through him, he marveled yet again over that dark-haired woman, her smile cheeky, her eyes glowing with mischief.

God, I love her! Yamaguchi—you'll be the death of me.

Kyou cracked his neck left and right. Shinohara had left just an hour ago. There was nothing much to talk about and the lawyer's silence was not enlightening. But, as different as they were, he found himself respecting the man even more. The conversation made him see Shinohara in a different light. Though he still had not forgiven him for ditching their ojou, he felt almost sympathetic.

"Heh," he muttered to himself as he threw his finished cigarette over a bin. "Who knew that stiff-assed lawyer would be such a martyr."

Finally, he stopped in front of Young Master's room and sighed. The ojou would be inside, probably coaxing her student/friend/lover awake. The mere idea seemed just like one of those mushy movies that he used to watch with her (and the rest of the Kuroda clan). But this one was real: Sawada Shin drifts between life and death. And ojou…Kyou shook his head. He could remember as clear as yesterday, the day the seven-year old Kumiko was dropped at their doorstep. Such a brave expression on the face of a child—it was a heartbreaking moment of Kyou. Imagined images flashed before his eyes, bringing a stinging sadness into the very sentimental feelings of the Young Chief. He sniffed and rubbed his nose.

Steeling himself for any possible scenes, he knocked twice and turned the knob.

The ojou lay on the bed, legs folded under her as her tired head was snuggled deeply into the pillows. And beside her…

A ringing laughter echoed through the hallways that night.

The dream started nicely enough. They were back at the park, leisurely spending their time together. His hand was very tight and snug against hers; everything was just so right. Kumiko found herself drifting off away in her own thoughts thinking, I don't want this to ever change.

At that, the moment did change. Blinking, she realized how strong the wind had become, the change in altitude. Her right side was bleeding when she touched it but there was no pain. A faceless man seemed to smile as two more bullets screamed out of the barrel. One of these dug into her shoulder, throwing her back…back…

She fell. She closed her eyes. Opened them again.

She knew what will be happening next.

Shin, don't jump, don't, don't, don't…came the steady mantra of her mind.

But she knew it was all in vain as she felt a sudden contact, a mighty push sending her farther forward into the pool. He would suffer a bad fall. It would be a concussion. She didn't ask for any of it but it was happening all over again; and this time, she was conscious enough to see it happen.

Time was slowing down on her, as though she wanted these moments to forever mar her memory. His arms were round her, protectively enveloping her body. He tucked her head beneath his chin, burying her head into his neck. She could almost smell his scent—soap and male cologne and sweat.

It would be a long, long fall into oblivion and Kumiko didn't want to reach the inevitable end.

A cry rose from her throat…Shin, Shin, Shin—I don't want you to die…I—I love—

"Yankumi!"

Cut. The scene died. It was just a dream, her consciousness told her. A bad dream. But the feelings of that dream scene still felt raw and fresh; tears still ran afresh down her cheeks—

"Open your eyes, stupid head. I'm not dead yet."

At that, Kumiko Yamaguchi's eyes did fly wide open. The sudden light stung her eyes, rendering her momentarily blind. But she threw her hands out, gripping the one person she never thought she'd see awake again. First she realized that his face was now free of those oppressing tubes. Her eyes focused and refocused onto fiery red hair, onto a familiar smirk, onto dark and searching eyes.

For a moment, she could not speak. It was all too overwhelming. So overwhelming that her dream was forgotten and even her tears had stopped flowing. Clearing her throat, she croaked. "You're—you—Shin—you—"

His smirk widened into a real smile as he patted her head. "Heh. After all the trouble of me saving your life, all you can do is stutter at me."

On impulse, she whacked his hand off her head and immediately regretted it. Masking her uncertainty, she huffed angrily. "Who told you to jump off your carriage, fool? I could've proly survived it."

He raised a brow. "At that height? Heh. Did I happen to wake you from some of superhero fantasies?"

"You—you—" God, he hasn't changed. He'd just woken up and he's already teasing me. Her throat constricted immediately, emotion finally overtaking her. Cheeks shaking, she bit her lower lip to halt the budding hiccups, tears falling unsteadily from her eyes. "You arrogant, inconsiderate fool! How could you do that to me? I thought—I thought—"

Shin's eyes softened and he reached out to brush the steady spill of tears from her eyes. Pulling her gently towards him, he softly planted his lips on the side of her nose before murmuring. "I'm alive because of you. You woke me up. None of me has changed."

"I'm so—"

"Shh. It's okay. I'd jump from that carriage again if that meant I could stay with you forever."

Display of emotion has always been rarity for Shin Sawada. But it won't impede him. Not anymore. Not with her. Love has always been an irrational display in his view but, as he pulled her closer, as she inclined her head to meet his mouth, as her hands went up to hold on to his hair, to his face—

God, Yamaguchi…you just feel so right…

"Shin…" she moaned in between breaths. As he nibbled her mouth, a dozen thoughts heaped over her head. Like, how many hours was it since she fell asleep beside him? Is it okay to be kissing him like this when he's just recovered from his coma? Making out in a hospital bed isn't really the most ideal of venues, nor is it the most appropriate. Doesn't matter, added another sly thought. You're both as energetic as mules anyway. As his mouth trailed to her jaw, she found herself almost agreeing.

Her hands drifted inside his hospital gown, feeling his warm and firm chest…

His fingers, digging into her hair, loosened and trailed down her exposed back, sending shivers of pleasure into her body…

Their bodies were too close, too hot, too explosive—both their intoxicated minds were quite aware that only a pair of flimsy hospital gowns stand in their way, and that they are quite alone…

"Umm, excuse me for interrupting."

If they were standing, they would have jumped apart. As it was, they suddenly jerked from each other guiltily and stared hard at their visitor.

"I just came in for your three-hour check to see if you're both doing fine," the "back-side physician" grinned. "It was unnecessary after all."

"We—we were—" sputtered Kumiko with a fiery blush which rivaled Shin's hair.

The doctor waved a hand. "It's okay. Ahh, love is truly blossoming in the air now. But I believe you must return to your room now, Miss Yamaguchi. You can continue this session later—in a proper bed."

They both mumbled apologetic mutters, properly chastised.

"That's okay, then. Let me see…I'll tell Kyou to escort you from here in ten minutes. I think it'll all be wrapped up by then?"

"Thanks, Doc," said Shin, hiding a smile.

"All right then. No problem." And the doctor went out, humming a tune about birds and bees.

As the door promptly closed, Shin murmured slyly. "Now, where were we?"

Kumiko laughed and punched him lightly. "It's hard to believe you were in a coma just awhile ago."

"Awhile ago? I already came to eight hours ago. When I woke up, you were asleep beside me and Kyou-san came."

"Really, huh?" she could almost imagine the gleeful expression on the Young Chief's face.

"I fell asleep again after that," he said morosely and took her hand into his, pushing their fingers together, nook to nook. Though he didn't say it, Shin was happy to see that didn't take her back to her room. He was absolutely contented. Meeting her eyes, his message was conveyed immediately and she understood.

They simultaneously fell into an embrace. No movement was necessary—just the reality of closeness was enough. For now, touch and breath was the most exquisite treasure in the world. So, they held onto each other for some more minutes, just like that.

That is, until Kyou came, five minutes earlier than expected.

I know. It's a weird chapter. I kinda rushed it up, partly because I don't want to see them aching for long, partly because it came in a burst of inspiration. The ending of this chapter is quite abrupt, though. Three more chaps to go! It might be longer, if I decide to do a sequel.

How was it?

Dung heap?

Smokey Mountain?

Troll booger?

Please tell me! It's just a click away!