Hello, my wonderful readers. This chapter is a little medically heavy, just like chapters nine and ten were, and unlike nine and ten it was a lot harder to find definitive information on how this stuff works, so if you have any notes on the accuracy of my writing, feel free to share them. That being said, please enjoy chapter twenty-four :)

Lunar Eclipse

Chapter Twenty-Four

It seemed like no time at all before Amaya found herself walking back through the front doors of Miyagi General Hospital. She hardly remembered the drive home the night before, though Yoshirou followed closely behind her and assured her she didn't hit anything. After shuffling through the door and kicking her shoes off at the entrance, the last thing Amaya remembered before waking up this morning was her head hitting the pillow before she had even had time to change. She woke up what felt like minutes later to a gentle nudge, courtesy of her pajama-clad husband laying beside her, and a quiet reminder that it was time to go to the hospital to see Kei.

The sun had just begun to rise over the horizon when Amaya and Yoshirou returned to the front desk in the hospital's front waiting room. They notified the receptionist of where they were going and after she gave them the go ahead, the couple quickly made their way to Kei's hospital room. As they traversed the white, sterile halls to the ICU, Amaya couldn't help but wonder what would happen once they reached their son. Her fear from the night before grew steadily in her chest as she couldn't help but to think of all the ways things could go wrong. What if he woke up and he was still in pain? What if he woke up and couldn't remember who he was or what had happened, or worse - didn't wake up at all? Amaya couldn't bear the thought of spending the last twenty-four hours trying to live with Akiteru's death, only to lose Kei just when she thought she might make it through this tragedy in one piece. Once the notion occurred to her, it was all she could think about until Yoshirou placed a firm arm around her waist and pulled her close as they walked.

"Relax, Amaya. The hospital staff has kept a close eye on Kei all night. If something had gone wrong, they would have called us. Everything is going to be fine." Amaya tried to keep her husband's comforting logic in mind as she continued to walk until the furnished wood door of her son's room appeared in sight.

When she and her husband opened the door to Kei's room, the first sight they saw was their unconscious son with a young nurse and a stern-looking doctor at his bedside. They seemed to be deep in discussion, pausing every so often to side-eye Kei. They stopped talking suddenly at the sound of Mr. and Mrs. Tsukishima's entrance, and the doctor crossed the room to greet them.

"Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Tsukishima. My name is Dr. Fujimori, and I'm your son's attending physician." He reached out and shook each of their hands as they closed the door behind them. As the nurse watched Kei, Dr. Fujimori sat down with Amaya and Yoshirou and explained what was about to happen.

"You're just in time," he said as Amaya and Yoshirou seated themselves, quickly following suit himself, "We're about to take him off the sedative." Amaya fidgeted in her seat. The closer they got to actually waking him up, the harder it was for her to keep her fears from the surface.

"Is he okay?" she babbled, "Nothing happened, right? There weren't any complications?" Dr. Fujimori, having dealt with plenty of concerned mothers before, was quick to reassure her.

"Absolutely - he's fine. We kept a close eye on him all night, and his recovery is right on schedule. Now," he paused, "The sedative we're using on Kei is an anesthetic called Propofol. Propofol is standard use in hospitals, and as far as sedatives go, it's fairly mild. Patients who are taken off Propofol usually wake up within minutes of the drug's removal. However, we also have him on morphine to help manage his pain. Morphine is, of course, heavier and that could elongate the process a little."

"I'm sorry, if I may," Yoshirou began, turning to his wife and interrupting the doctor, "You didn't tell me they put him on morphine." Turning back to the doctor, he continued. "Isn't that dangerous? He's a kid. Can't you use something less risky?" Dr. Fujimori sighed, a look of general pity and discomfort spread across his face.

"Well, actually, I was getting to that. The morphine dosage we have your son on right now is extremely low. The reasoning is twofold. Not only is morphine addictive, but it also puts a high amount of stress on the patient's organs. The problem your son has right now is the fact that the organ that filters medications and other impurities from his blood, his liver, has been severely damaged by the bullet the surgeon removed yesterday. This means that we can't give him too many heavy pain medications, because his liver isn't healthy enough to handle them."

Amaya's worried expression deepened. What did this mean for her son's recovery? If he couldn't have pain medication, did that mean he'd have to endure his recovery process without meds? How could he possibly sleep at night, or do anything for that matter, if he's constantly in pain? The more she thought about the massive amount of pain that Kei would endure, the more her anger skyrocketed. She was not about to stand by and watch her son suffer.

"If he can't have pain medication, how will he recover?" She stood from her chair in the height of her anger. "That's inhumane!" Dr. Fujimori stood with her, placing a soft hand on her arm and guiding her back to her seat as he spoke.

"It's not that he can't have pain medication at all, it's that he can't have anything too strong in high amounts. We're giving him the most we can, but unfortunately we can't give him the dose we would normally give trauma surgery patients, or the damage to his liver could be fatal." He moved his hand from Mrs. Tsukishima's arm to her knee, patting it gently.

"I'm very sorry. It's the best we can do. He'll be spared the pain for today for the most part, as it'll take him most of the day to become fully aware after being sedated, but as he begins to regain his mental faculties over the next couple days, he'll be more aware of his body and his pain will be more intense. He may have a few moments of clarity over the course of today in which his pain could spike, but for the most part, his awareness will be in and out."

Amaya and Yoshirou let the resulting silence deepen as Dr. Fujimori stopped talking. After letting their current situation settle in their minds, Yohsirou had a thought.

"I'm sorry, you might not have an answer to this right now," he began, trying to be as respectful as possible and keeping his voice at a low deadpan, "But... we recently lost Kei's older brother to a drug overdose... Is there any way he could be released temporarily to go to the funeral on Monday?"

It would have been impossible for the Tsukishimas to fathom how badly Dr. Fujimori wanted to tell them yes. He wanted nothing more in that moment than to assure them that, 'Yes, your son will absolutely be healthy enough to go to the funeral,' that amid all the tragedy this family had suffered already, that he could at least give them that small comfort. Unfortunately, that answer was still up in the air. There was no guarantee that Kei would continue to recover at the rate he currently was, especially since they didn't know how his body would react to his condition in a state of consciousness. All in all, Dr. Fujimori had to give them the best outlook he could: a maybe.

"Unfortunately," he began, "That depends entirely on the course of the next day or two. He'll have to be awake and aware enough to handle being outside of the hospital, for starters, and he'll have to be off the chest tube. Any sort of infection or complication from the surgery would make it impossible, as well. If he is healthy enough to leave, even if only for a few hours, he'll need to remain on oxygen and all his IVs, and he'll be confined to a wheelchair for the entirety of the outing - walking would put too much stress on his body and he could tear his stitches. He'd need someone with him at all times, and he wouldn't be able to do most things on his own. That's the best case scenario. If any one of these conditions isn't met, it would make leaving the hospital far too dangerous for him."

Amaya and Yoshirou looked down out of worry, clearly hoping for a more positive answer. Dr. Fujimori figured he'd better cheer them up quickly - they obviously needed it.

"It isn't impossible," he continued, "Right now, as I said before, your son's recovery is right on schedule. There's a very good chance that things will proceed as they are, and if that happens, he'll be able to go to the funeral." The Tsukishimas went silent for a long time. After several seconds of resulting discomfort, Yoshirou, with his arm slung protectively around his wife's shoulders, finally spoke in a quiet voice.

"Doctor, we don't know how to thank you for everything you've done for Kei." The doctor smiled. The thank-yous were always the best part of the job.

"Absolutely my pleasure. Now, if you don't have any other questions, let's get started."

Dr. Fujimori stood from his chair and led the Tsukishimas back to Kei's bedside. As Amaya and Yoshirou stood off to one side of the bed, Dr. Fujimori joined the nurse on the other side with Kei's IVs. The nurse looked questioningly to the doctor, and he gave her a nod of confirmation in return. She then turned her attention back to Kei's IV pole and removed the bag labeled 'Propofol' and all its connected tubing, careful to do so safely, and without disturbing his other IV lines. Once she was done, with Kei's arm clean and the proper equipment disposed of, she confirmed it with Dr. Fujimori. Amaya and Yoshirou looked toward them expectantly, awaiting any sort of information on their son's condition, or when he might wake up.

Every few seconds, Amaya looked down at her younger son, hoping beyond hope for any sign that he was about to open his eyes. She watched his chest rise and fall slowly but surely as he took steady breath after steady breath. She glanced repeatedly at his heart monitor - at the continuous proof that his heart was still beating. She clung desperately to the evidence that her son was still with her. However, it was torture - every passing moment that Kei remained still was another moment of fear that her precious little boy had slipped away, that he would never wake up, and she would never see the beautiful honey gold of his eyes again.

"He's not waking up..." she mumbled without breaking eye contact with her son.

"Give him a couple minutes. Let the drug filter through his system," the nurse responded. She took a moment to study the pure anguish on Amaya's face. It was clear to her that not having any influence over her son's condition was all but killing her.

"You know," she began with a small smile in an attempt to comfort Amaya, "If you spoke to him or held his hand, it might help him wake up a little faster."

Amaya nodded meekly and reached out, taking her son's hand into her own. With her other hand, she reached up and brushed her fingers along his hairline, feeling his greasy blond hair caress her fingertips.

"Kei, baby," she called, her voice cracking with the threat of oncoming tears, "You've gotta wake up now, okay? I know you're brain's a little fuzzy, but it's time for you to get up now." She waited, hoping beyond hope that her words would shake Kei back to consciousness. As the seconds passed and neither Amaya nor Yoshirou saw so much as a twitch, Amaya felt the hope in her heart crash to the floor. As the despair set into her very bones, she subconsciously began to shake. Yoshirou, noticing his wife's pain, pulled her closer and gave her a gentle kiss on the crown of her head.

"It'll be okay, Amaya," he whispered, "Give him some time - He'll come around. We haven't lost him."

It was in that moment the distraught couple witnessed what they could only describe as a miracle. Just as the words left Yoshirou's mouth, his injured son began to stir. As Yoshirou comforted his wife, he glanced over to his son's bed just in time to see the boy's hand twitch, ever so slightly. Wonder and amazement spread over his face as Amaya gasped loudly in exultation beside him. It was difficult to hide, mostly because he was afraid of worrying Amaya any more than she already was, but Yoshirou was just as terrified that Kei would never wake. The pure, gut-wrenching shock that came with Akiteru's loss was soul-numbing. The moment Amaya had delivered the news during their phone conversation over a day ago, Yoshirou had felt like his world had come apart, unraveling at the seams and disintegrating in front of his eyes. The temptation to fall into the same pit of despair, that death would swallow Kei just the same, was a force almost too powerful to withstand. The relief that came with Kei's stirring, even if it was nothing more than a simple twitch of the hand, was unimaginable.

A half second later Kei's eyelids twitched, tightening ever so slightly and then loosening again - the whole movement passing in less than a second. He rolled his head very slightly to the side, angling his face vaguely toward his parents.

And then it happened. Very slowly, Kei opened his eyes.

When Amaya saw the vibrant color of her son's irises, every cell in her body leaped for joy. It was more than exuberance; it was ecstasy. The sheer amount of relief that flooded her body was unparalleled. As she stared, unable to pull her gaze away from her son's face, the words kept playing in her head like a mantra: He's alive... Thank god, he's alive...

Then suddenly, breaking Amaya's train of thought, Kei met her eyes... and spoke. His voice was small, weakened by injury and confusion, but it was his. It was the voice of her little baby.

"... M-mom?"

The dam burst. Tears flooded Amaya's eyes, cascading down her face in a waterfall of glee. He recognized her. Not only was he awake, but he was still here, mentally intact. She couldn't believe it. Kei had pulled through. He was going to be okay.

"Yes," she eagerly, lovingly responded, "Yes, baby, it's me."

Kei blinked hard for a few seconds, shifting his gaze to Yoshirou. As if speaking through thick gravy, he opened his mouth again.

"...Dad?"

Hearing his son's voice again after such an ordeal brought tears to Yoshirou's eyes faster than he'd ever thought possible. Kei was alive. Giving his emotion free reign over his expressions for the first time in several years, Yoshirou smiled. He always knew his son was a fighter.

"Yes, Kei."

"Kei?" He turned to face the doctor.

"My name is Dr. Fujimori, and I need to ask you a few questions to make sure your brain's intact, okay?" Tsukishima nodded.

"First thing's first. Can you tell me your name?"

"Kei Tsukishima."

"How old are you, Kei?"

"... Sixteen."

"What day is it today?" Tsukishima paused much longer this time, suddenly realizing that he didn't actually know what day it was. The late night volleyball practice was which night again? Thursday? That meant today was probably Friday, so...

"... Friday, March 20."

"Actually," the doctor corrected, "Today is Saturday the 21st. You've been in a medically induced coma for the last twenty-four hours, but that's alright. It looks like everything's working fine up top." He chuckled lightly at his own sense of humor. "Nurse Anzu and I need to go take are of our other patients, but if you need anything or have any questions, you can ask the nurse's station. Or," He gestured to the side of Kei's bed. "There's a help button here you can use that will call a nurse for you." Amaya and Yoshirou smiled and thanked the two as they exited the room.

Unable to contain her relief anymore, Amaya reached over, cupping Kei's face in her hands and kissing him repeatedly. She brushed her fingers through his hair, all the while whispering soothingly.

"Oh, Kei... Oh, my little boy... I'm so glad you're alright..." Hearing a soft grunt, followed by a small shuffling underneath the hospital blankets, Amaya paused to hear her son speak again.

"Mom... please..."

"Amaya," Yoshirou interjected in a stern voice, "Ease up a little. He just had surgery, don't smother him." Coming back to her senses, Amaya relaxed.

"Um... What..." Kei paused and glanced suddenly around the room, struggling through the fog in his brain, "Where...?" Amaya tell by the look in her son's gaze, his focus was shifting in and out. One moment his mind seemed to be as clear as it had ever been, the next he seemed to be staring past her into a void of the unknown. She knew the reason why was nothing more than the combination of drug soup and blood loss Kei had experienced over the last two days, but she couldn't help but worry anyway.

"You're in the hospital, honey," she said, "You were shot. Do you remember what happened?" She watched Kei's brow furrow as he pushed past the cloud hanging over his thoughts, trying to remember the night of the incident.

"I..."

He paused.

"... the store. A man... tried to rob... Sugawara panicked... " He paused again. He blinked several times. He started again.

"My chest... stomach... on fire... fading... I don't...remember..."

"Well, that's to be expected," Yoshirou chimed in, thinking back to Amaya's explanation of the situation as they left the hospital last night. As they'd traversed the long walk back outside to their cars, he had asked her about the details of Kei's injury, and she'd given him the short version of the story Sugawara had told her the night before. The level of terror the poor kid had experienced shocked him, and even if the story's victim hadn't been his own son, he still didn't think he'd forget it any time soon. "By the time the ambulance arrived, you'd lost a lot of blood. Your brain was too absorbed in keeping you alive to form any sort of memory of the incident."

"I was with Sugawara..." Kei reiterated, his focus seemingly waning back into the beginning of his thought, "Not Yamaguchi... his dad... Where's Yamaguchi? I need... I need to talk to him..." As Kei's thoughts continuously returned to his best friend, Amaya could see her son becoming more and more agitated. Wanting nothing more than to keep him as comfortable as possible, she placed her hand on his arm and spoke to him as softly as she could.

"He's okay, baby. Yamaguchi's fine. Why don't you get some rest and I'll wake you in a little while?" Already beginning to nod off, Kei yawned and closed his eyes.

"Mmhmm..." he mumbled, "G'night, mom... love... you..."

As Amaya teared up, Yoshirou pulled her into a hug. She couldn't remember the last time Kei had told her he loved her. After his fight with Akiteru, he'd become so emotionally closed off that he never really talked to her at all. She knew it was natural for teenagers to go through a phase where they didn't seem to care about anyone, but his fight with Akiteru was so final, so devastating for him, that she was sure the emotional damage would be permanent. To see that now, amidst everything that had happened - that underneath all the garbage he was still the same loving little boy she'd raised - was a heart-warming relief.

"Yoshirou..." she cried, her face buried in her husband's chest, "He loves me."

"Of course he loves you," the businessman reasoned, "You're his mother."

As the two stayed like that for several more minutes, Amaya thought about everything she had endured over the course of the last two days. After Officer Hashimoto broke the comfort and silence of her home with the news of the shooting, after she felt every bit of hope left in her soul drain onto the floor of the morgue at the sight of Akiteru's lifeless body, the idea that moments like these, full of love and tenderness, were still possible was baffling to her. Even after all the pain and suffering, she still had a husband on whom she could depend in her darkest hour and a son who still loved her despite the turmoil of the last few years. Now that Kei was alive, awake, and talking, she knew that with her loving family beside her, she really could carry on.

Tada! Tsukki's awake!

Okay, so I said a few chapters ago that I couldn't see this story going beyond chapter twenty-four or twenty-five. I do have the rest of this planned out, so here's how it's gonna work: After this, will be chapter twenty-five, and then twenty-six will be the epilogue, and the story will be done. I am still considering writing a sequel, detailing the aftermath of this mess, but I haven't planned anything yet, nor am I certain I want to write one. Fair warning, though, if I do write a sequel, it will not go up right away, due to the fact that I am a busy person. So that's how it will work. We cool? We cool :D

As always, leave a review if you feel inclined, and all constructive criticism is greatly appreciated :)