This took a while, I just couldn't squeeze the fluffiness out so I went to my dear friend for some slight help. To JoYi, you're awesome! I don't think I can start the story if you haven't given me the first three paragraph! I owe you one but if you demand more, I'll kick your ass. And I don't care if you're a black belt and I'm a blue, I still have moves! *huffs*
Anyways, thanks to her, this chapter will be filled with angst and fluff and just..oh you know what, just read it. I was bombarded with reviews and alerts from chapter 7, you guys sure know how to make me happy *laughs* I guess we all want to see what happens to Saruhiko, hm? Well, don't let me keep you from reading, enjoy!
There were some things in life that you would never be prepared for. He can't believe it- couldn't believe it. He won't believe it. It was impossible. He bit his lip, eyes screwed shut for a long moment, but the gory image would not leave his mind, and the weight in his arms is far too real. He couldn't get the image of a dying Fushimi, bleeding heavily from the wound in his chest, out of his mind. He didn't want to believe it, but a part of him had stopped denying it. Losing himself, he cried out;
"Saruhiko, please wake up! Don't leave me- not again!" He pulled Fushimi's limp body closer to his own being. He didn't care if his shirt would be stained such a painful shade of red, and he couldn't be bothered about the overpowering metallic odour that was clouding his mind- he simply wanted those blue eyes to open and look at him.
Fushimi have always looked at him, and taking care of him as subtly as he could. Back in junior high, out in the streets, through high school, and even in Homra before he left for Scepter 4. Those mesmerizing blue eyes have always watched him with passion, possessiveness, gentleness, care and above all, love. And Yata had been blind to all of it until now.
"Please Saru..." he sobs out and pressing their foreheads together as tears continues to stream down his face. "I want you by my side; I don't want to loose you anymore,"
The people surrounding them can only watch with a tight feeling in their chests, and a few women have already cried from the heartbreaking scene. A couple of girls then enter the bank and walk towards the crying boy. Some of the people tried to stop them but two pair of yellow-green eyes glare at them, challenging them to stop their march forward.
A hand gently pats Yata on the shoulder and he looks up only to meet Ayame and Yua. Glaring up at the two, he pulls Fushimi closer to him. "What do you two want? Come here to gloat about something?" he hisses venomously. Yua seems somewhat shaken by his angry looks but Ayame simply stares at him emotionlessly, though her eyes are glowing somewhat.
She then turns to Yua before whispering something to her. The straight-haired girl nods and with a snap of her fingers, the strings disappear, but the pink cuffs remain on their respective wrists. "Seeing how he needs a surgery to close that horrible wound and possibly a blood transfusion, we can't have you loitering around the ER for no apparent reason," Yua says as she points at the cuffs. "So I made the string disappear, though you two will still feel a pull towards each other, you especially."
Ayame regards Yata coldly before her eyes soften and a small smile graces her lips. "You two have done well, but it's not done yet. Until the cuffs are pure white, we can't do anything about it. Take care of him," she said before the two runs off outside and disappearing into the crowd.
Yata couldn't believe what he just heard and seen. To think, he and Fushimi had been trying to trail the girls for a few days only for them to be trailed instead. But right now he doesn't care about those two, only focusing on Fushimi's pale body as the blood continue to gush out of the wound in his chest. Looking down, Yata could see the cuffs are bright pink with a slight white hue to it. Whatever the cuffs are doing, he doesn't care.
Pulling Fushimi even closer, if that was even possible, Yata cradles him gently and even humming a soft tune. He didn't know if Fushimi's able to hear or not, but if Fushimi is to die now, then he'd die listening to his favorite song coming out of Yata's voice.
Not a moment later, the ambulance arrives and lays Fushimi on the stretcher. Since Yata knows Fushimi, the doctors allow him to come along and all of them went into the ambulance. The vanguard doesn't know what the doctors are doing, he only watches in silence as Fushimi is hooked into lines and tubes, his mouth covered with an oxygen mask. Tentatively, Yata plucks Fushimi's glasses from his face and cradles it close to his chest.
The trip to the hospital is a silent one with the only noise being Fushimi's heart monitor beeping in a rhythm, showing that the blue clansman is still alive and breathing, albeit weakly. The doctors question Yata about what happened and why Fushimi got shot to which the skateboarder answers a little shakily. He still couldn't believe what just happened.
"He'll be alright, won't he? Won't he?" he asks with a choked sob as one of the doctors gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder. Tears continue to stream down his face and he circles his hand around Fushimi's, squeezing it lightly hoping to have some sort of reaction from the taller boy, only to receive none.
Upon arriving at the hospital, Fushimi is quickly brought in towards the emergency room to undergo surgery. Yata only watches from the door solemnly, his hands still clutching Fushimi's glasses close to his chest. He then slowly made his way to the waiting room and promptly plops himself down, not caring that people are staring at him.
He simply sat there for God knows how long, staring at the floor and fiddling with the thick-rimmed glasses when a pair of white shoes came into his view. Looking up, he could see some members of Homra and Scepter 4 in the same room as he is, looking at him with concerned eyes.
"Yata-chan," Izumo calls out softly. The vanguard's eyes are glazed and void, showing that he had been crying for a while now. "Maybe you should go home and rest for a bit, maybe change some clothes. Visiting hours is still on, you can come back later after you've freshened up," the bartender deals and places a comforting hand on the teenager's shoulder.
"We'll keep you informed about Fushimi's status," Awashima continues just as softly. She could see that whatever the Strains have been doing, it had helped the two settle their differences and strengthen their friendship. If the two are to come into custody, she'd like to thank them first. "Go home, Yatagarasu,"
At first Yata is reluctant, but seeing the Blue King and his Vice-Captain, Izumo, Kamamoto and even Anna made him feel relieved somewhat. If the Tundra Woman says she'll keep him updated, then maybe he could feel at ease for a bit. "Yeah, I'll be going to Saruhiko's to change clothes," he says quietly before heading out of the hospital.
Those who are still in the waiting room only watch him forlornly as he retrieves his board and went off towards Fushimi's apartment.
The evening breeze swept past Yata, making him feel somewhat better and his head a little lighter. He trusts the doctors to take care of Fushimi, and he has the feeling that Fushimi doesn't want to see him all bloodied up when he wakes up, even if those aren't his blood to begin with.
You look like crap; don't you know anything about showering? Would be most likely what he'd say once he awakens. Yata doesn't realize that he's been smiling when he thinks about that, and the thought alone fuels his need to see Fushimi better again. Speeding up, he soon arrives at the apartment and quickly heads inside.
The onslaught of Fushimi's smell in the bedroom somehow made Yata stop in his tracks. The vanguard reminisces the nights they shared together over the past few days and how in the night he'd sometimes wake up from lack of oxygen, only to realize it was Fushimi holding him so tightly and so close to his chest.
Picking up a pillow, Yata breathes in deeply, taking in the strong masculine scent of his friend. Fushimi always have this smell on him that's not on anyone else, not even Mikoto. Sure, the King smells like tobacco and a mix of alcohol, and something else entirely that screams of power. But Fushimi's scent is a little gentler but still shows that it's his scent and not anyone else's.
Unconsciously, Yata had wet the pillow with his tears and pulls back before he could do anymore damage to it. Drying his face with the back of his hand, the vanguard enters the bathroom to freshen himself before pulling a clean shirt and a pair of pants from his bag. He'd have enough time to grab something to eat in the kitchen before heading back out towards the hospital.
The scene in the waiting room is as normal as before, but Reishi had left along with Kamamoto and Anna leaving only Izumo and Awashima there. From such a distance, Yata could see the two sitting rather close together and Izumo having his princely face on while Awashima looks torn between entertaining him or keeping her cold exterior on.
I knew there's something going on between those two, he thought before looking down at the cuff on his right wrist. He wonders if the girls would do him a favor and get those two stuck for a change, that way Izumo would know that this isn't all that fun and games.
"Ah, Yata-chan, what are you doing standing so far? There are plenty more seats here," the bartender calls out. Yata can clearly see the cold exterior of the woman back in place as he nears the two adults.
"Is Saruhiko alright?" was his first question. Both adults seem somewhat surprised at the genuine concern the crow is expressing, but they both know that he wears his heart on his sleeve, and that their relationship isn't so strained anymore. "Is he out of surgery yet?" he continues to press on.
"Calm down, Yatagarasu. The doctor isn't out yet so we're not sure the current condition Fushimi is in," Awashima answers coolly. Yata hung his head slightly and takes a seat next to Izumo. The three sat in silence when Awashima's PDA rang signaling that her King needs her for another mission. She bids farewell to the two boys and heads off towards the waiting vehicle.
Once she's out of sight, Izumo glances at the teen sitting next to him warily. Though the vanguard had taken a shower and perhaps something to eat, he still looks distraught and pale, as if he's just there but his mind is off somewhere far. Well, Izumo could understand that, Yata's always the one who shows his emotions the most, especially with someone he holds dear.
Slowly, those amber eyes look up to stare at him. "Kusanagi-san, you can leave me here, it's alright," the vanguard says shakily. Izumo regards him for a while and shaking his head.
"Sorry Yata-chan, but I can't just leave you here when your mind's out of sorts. Until the doctor gives the green for Saruhiko, I'll be staying here. The bar should be fine, I closed it," Izumo answers back with a wavering smile. True, he didn't want to leave Yata here when his emotional state is in turbulence, but he also wants to know what happens to Fushimi so he could report back to Awashima later on.
Yata was about to retort back when a doctor bursts out of the door and turns to the waiting boys. "Are you acquaintances to Fushimi Saruhiko?" he asks. Yata realizes that he must be the doctor who operates Fushimi and quickly stands up.
"Yeah, is Saruhiko alright?" he asks the doctor frantically. The doctor sighs lightly and regards the vanguard with a serious gaze.
"Fushimi-kun is in critical state. His lung is punctured due to the bullet and misses his heart by only a few millimeters, we've managed to remove fragments of the bullet and close the wound but his heart is weak. It almost stopped twice but we managed to get that under control too, the problem is now we don't have enough blood supply for the transfusion. If this goes on, he won't make it," the doctor says as he shakes his head.
Yata feels as if the whole world just crashed on his back after hearing that news. Saruhiko...won't make it? He thought shakily. Izumo quickly got up to his feet to catch Yata as he falls to his knees, the vanguard's breathing hitches and frantic. Both the bartender and doctor can only watch forlornly as the vanguard cries silently. But soon his sobbing stop and he looks at the doctor straight in the eyes.
"Take everything you want from me," Yata says pointedly as he rise to his feet. Izumo and the doctor seem surprised by his decision and even try to make him rethink his choice since a lot of blood is needed for the transfusion. But the skateboarder is adamant to donate some of his blood to his friend. "You said so yourself, if he doesn't get enough blood, he won't make it!"
With a sigh, the doctor agrees and brings the skateboarder into the donation room. Izumo only watches him with an exasperated look, sometimes he just can't win against the teenager.
Moments later and after getting his blood drained to the point where he feels like fainting, Yata returns to the waiting room where Izumo is more than glad to help him to his feet. He could see the skateboarder's face paler than usual and his eyes lost its gleam. They stayed there even after visiting hours and the moon high in sky, waiting for any news about the blue clansman.
As he waits in silence, Yata starts to remember the times they used to share together before Homra. Fushimi was warmer back then whenever they have to protect each other from the cold, and he was smiling a lot more too. Where had it all gone wrong, Saruhiko? Yata thought solemnly.
Minutes gone by replaced by hours and still there isn't any news about Fushimi which just makes Yata all the twitchier. His eyes move frantically from the floor, to the door and back to the floor again as he twiddles his thumbs. Izumo only watches him in silence knowing this isn't his place to offer comfort.
He sighs and stretches his arms above his head when he notices the gentle rays of the sunlight filtering in through the windows. Dawn already? He thought tiredly. The two had stayed up the entire night and with Yata not having enough blood in him, Izumo's worried the boy would collapse all of a sudden.
All of a sudden, the doors open and the doctor comes out causing two sets of eyes to look up at him. They note that the doctor looks tired, but he has a soft and reassuring smile on his face causing Yata to hold his breath in anticipation.
"He's stabilized thanks to the blood you gave him," the doctor says causing Yata to release his breath and slumps in his seat with a tired but happy smile. However, the doctor's smile soon turns into a light frown and the two males wonder if something else is the matter. "Unfortunately, Fushimi-kun is now in a coma due to the injuries and his heart stopping twice. We don't know when he'll wake up, that's as far as we can get,"
The hope that was in his chest now crumbled to pieces upon hearing that, and Yata buries his face in his hands. Izumo can only place a comforting hand on his back and he turns to the doctor. "Are we allowed to visit him?" he asks the doctor who nods his head. Tentatively, Izumo snaps Yata out of his shock and pulls him to his feet before following the doctor to Fushimi's room.
Seeing white all around, it just doesn't suit Fushimi in the least. The vanguard slowly made his way to the chair and sat down, staring into Fushimi's face and waiting for a reaction. Izumo followed suit as the doctor leaves them for privacy and stands beside the comatose blue clansman.
He eyes the vanguard when he pulls Fushimi's limp hand into his and squeezing it lightly. That action itself speaks a thousand words and Izumo looks down at Fushimi's face so he wouldn't have to see the small but meaningful action. "You can talk to him you know, he can still hear you," Izumo said after a long while.
Yata snaps his head up to look at the bartender in surprise before lowering his gaze back at Fushimi's face. Izumo could see behind those lively amber eyes hold such gentleness for the slumbering figure, a gentleness he had grown to miss seeing. Yata's normally brash and loud, but he only sees that kind of look when it comes to Fushimi. After the boy's betrayal, Yata's eyes have hardened and that sort of gentleness was hidden.
Until today.
After a while, Izumo thought it's best if he leaves to open his bar, Yata was more than happy to stay by Fushimi's side but the bartender warns him to go home and get some rest as soon as possible or else he'd drag the vanguard away if he has to. Yata heeds the warning and nods his head before Izumo left the room.
Gripping the hand tighter, he brought it to his tear-streamed face and chokes back; "Saruhiko..."
*twitches* I think I gave myself cooties with this.. Can you feel the fluff? If not..well..I'll have to work harder in the next chapter, but if you do, I have reached my goal! Hmm..should I make an alternate ending to this story? Because I have multiple ideas on what to do to Fushimi, and the first one will probably make you guys squeel and scream and probably begging for more.
The others..well, multiple reactions is most likely I'll get from you *laughs* But I'll go with the first one for starters, and if I have enough encouragement, I'll probably put up some alternate endings just for you guys. So, leave me a review and say what's on your mind *smile*