Exactly a week later, it was Kazama Ren's turn to darken the hospital corridors. Unfortunately, he was not in the position to yell at anyone.

It had been two months since the surprise attack by the Morimoto clan. The entire Oedo family, together with Ren, had come to visit Tetsu before the scheduled brain surgery tomorrow morning. Although Tetsu was still being kept in a medically-induced coma, they wanted to bestow their well-wishes to him in person all the same.

The timing of the visit, however, could not have been worse. Yamato was engaged with a last-minute complicated surgery that Ren couldn't even pronounce; and was therefore isolated in an operation theatre somewhere in the hospital. They were so close and yet so far. It didn't help that it was some sort of really advanced surgery that only a few surgeons in the country can perform; and the entire hospital grapevine was preoccupied with Dr Ogata and his surgery. All in all, it left a bad taste in Ren's mouth.

If he wasn't in such a bad mood, the situation would have been quite humorous. Half of the hospital staff was simpering over the Most Eligible Bachelor, practically falling over themselves to help him find directions to the toilet and cafeteria and guest lounge and what not; while the other half of the hospital was going gaga over Dr Ogata and his minimal-invasion amygalohippocampectomy procedure. The occupants of Natsume General Hospital would probably have a large-scale emotional breakdown if they found out that their two current objects of affection were in fact dating one another.

Ren's sharp hearing picked up a soft conversation by the nurse's station. An attractive male resident was talking to a middle-age female doctor about one Dr Ogata Yamato.

"I've just been to the observation room. Ogata-sensei has finished Stage One and is moving to Stage Two. It looks good so far. All the patient's vitals are still stable."

"Ah, it's too early to tell though. Stage Two and Three are the critical ones" The elder female doctor replied.

"I know. He looks like he's got it all under control though. No trace of sweat yet, even after being in there for… nearly 3 hours now." The male resident commented as he glanced at his watch.

"That's Ogata-sensei for you. I've been working with him for nearly 5 years now; I'm yet to see him other than totally cool and composed during a surgery. Even back when he was a resident, mind you." The older physician informed him.

"Ugh. I wish he had picked me to help him with the amygalohippocampectomy! I even stayed up a whole night to read up on it when it became obvious that the patient was going to need one."

"When it became obvious that the patient was going to need one, or when it was announced that Ogata-sensei was going to perform one?" The female doctor teased good-naturedly.

The male resident blushed. "Both, probably." He muttered.

The female doctor grinned. "You and the rest of the hospital, kiddo. Our entire library collection of books relating to epilepsy and amygalohippocampectomy were checked-out the same day after the director asked Ogata-sensei to perform the surgery. You have plenty of competition."

The resident rolled his eyes. "Don't I know it?" He huffed. "Some of the residents have already pre-written congratulatory cards and bought congratulatory balloons! We don't even know if the surgery will be successful yet!"

The female doctor patted his back. "Keep trying, kid. You never know, one of you youngsters might catch Ogata-sensei's eye one day."

Ren jumped slightly at a hand landing on his shoulder. He turned and saw the only person who could sneak up on him unnoticed – Aniki. The amusement on Shin's eyes showed that he, too, had overheard the conversation.

"Come on, Ren. Let's go." He said gently.

Ren gave him a reluctant look.

Shin smiled knowingly. "It doesn't matter how many cards or balloons they give him or whatever complicated surgery he performs at work, Ren. At the end of the day, it is you whom he goes home to."

Ren sighed sceptically, but moved his feet to follow Shin out of the hospital.


Yamato finally got home at half past 8 that night.

Ren gave a strained smile as he welcomed his boyfriend home. "Okaeri."

"Tadaima. How was your visit to Tetsu, Ren? I dropped by his ward before I left. His doctor said that his condition is much better than expected, so I guess that's a good indication?" Yamato said tiredly.

Ren pulled him onto the couch and started to massage his aching shoulders. Yamato groaned at the soothing touch.

"I'm hoping for the best for his surgery tomorrow too. How was the amy-galo-hippo-cam-pec-tomy?" Ren asked casually.

Yamato turned to look at him, amusement evident in his eyes. "Do I want to know how you learned that word?"

Ren huffed. "From eavesdropping on an attractive young male resident who had stayed up all night reading up on the procedure in hopes that you will pick him to help you with it."

Yamato couldn't help laughing. He had a feeling that this would happen when he found out that his procedure would coincide with Ren's visit. He leaned back into Ren's broad chest, pulling at his boyfriend's long arms to wrap around his exhausted body. "I do not know of any attractive male resident. And I don't have a fetish for long words or medical terms. I do, however, have a particular weakness for big-shot CEOs with a part-time Yakuza job."

Ren cheered up immensely at Yamato's words. He tightened his arms around Yamato and nuzzled the top of his head lovingly. "What about the congratulatory cards and balloons?"

"Mmm. You mean those gaudy things I threw into the bin? Are those what they are?" Yamato replied mischievously.

"Oh dear, those poor kids. Getting their hearts broken by the grumpy old consultant."

"The grumpy old consultant can always heal their broken hearts at the next big surgery if he wants to." Yamato said cheekily.

"No." Ren growled possessively, holding Yamato in a deathly grip.

Yamato laughed. "Alright. The grumpy old consultant needs a good, long soak in the hot tub. Do you know of any cranky old CEO that may be available to accompany him?"

"Oh, you bet I do!" Ren all but carried his boyfriend into the bathroom.


"So, really, how was your surgery?" Ren asked concernedly as he washed Yamato's back with a wet cloth.

Yamato opened one eye blearily. "It was okay. I did well, I guess. The patient survived."

"How long before he or she can get out of bed?" Ren asked, not trusting Yamato's assessment.

"We won't really know until we check on her recovery progress tomorrow morning. But if there are no complications, then in about 3-4 weeks."

"And what's the normal recovery rate?"

Yamato blushed. Ren definitely knew how to ask the right questions now. Damn Minami and his big mouth. "About 6-8 weeks." He said reluctantly.

Ren gave Yamato a stern look. "That is NOT just an okay, Ogata Yamato." He said accusingly.

Yamato grinned apologetically at his boyfriend; gazing at him with guilty, puppy-dog eyes.

"Oh come here you." Ren relented and pulled Yamato into an embrace. "You deserve a congratulatory gift from me."

Yamato smiled but held out a hand. "I'm a little tired now, Ren. I've been in surgery for 10 hours straight. Can I claim my present tomorrow instead?"

"Of course. Now just relax, let me wash you up and tuck you right into bed."


They were busy the next day though, because it was time for Tetsu's surgery. The Oedo family waited in tense silence outside the operation theatre; while Yamato dropped by whenever he could between his rounds. He was always busy though, he would stop by and barely manage to get out a few words before his pager would go off shrilly, demanding his presence at another location.

Ren put the frustration out of his head. It wasn't the right time to be concerned with such frivolities. Not when his foster-brother was fighting for his life in the operating theatre. Plus, Yamato was at work; it was normal for him to be busy. Both of them loved their work zealously – the stress, the hecticness and all. He concentrated on Tetsu. He and Shin had prepared two versions of the new clan leadership line-up, one with Tetsu and one without. It had affected Shin tremendously to plan the one without Tetsu. The quiet and loyal henchman held a special place in all their hearts, but this was especially true for Shin. Tetsu had been Shin's friend even before he had joined the Yakuza. It was Tetsu who had taught him the little bits and pieces of the Oedo clan – things too insignificant for Ojiisan to tell him, but still useful to know nonetheless. He was the older brother that Shin never had.

Ren sat beside Shin and put a hand on top of his. "He'll be fine, Aniki. Tetsu is one of us. He's a fighter down to the last bone."

There was a hint of dampness in Shin's usually stoic eyes. "Thanks, Ren." He replied hoarsely. "You're right. He'll be fine. He has to be fine."

"Is this a not-so-subtle way of telling me that I'm not wanted as your waka?" Ren joked softly.

He was pleased to see a ghost of a smile on Shin's lips. "Yeah. Can't wait to shake you off. The clan can always use more money, after all." He replied jestingly.

"And here I was, thinking that you truly love me from your heart. But it was just the money. Always has been just for the money." Ren pretended to cradle his head in sorrow.

Shin smiled, a proper one this time; and pulled Ren into a brotherly hug. "I do love you, Ren. From the bottom of my heart. So much that sometimes I even forget that you weren't born as my brother."

Ren returned the hug. "Then let's both forget that insignificant detail, Aniki. You are and will always be my brother; in this life and the next."


It was another three hours before the lights of the operation theatre finally went off. Both brothers, with their extra-sensitive senses, jumped to their feet before the others could even react.

They accosted the brain surgeon immediately when he came out.

"How is Tetsu, doctor?"

The brain surgeon looked at them empathetically. "The surgery went well, but we won't know until the patient wakes up in a day or two. And when he does, he may be a little disoriented for a while, so I ask that you guys bear with him for the time being."

"Of course, doctor." They replied.

"We'll move him to the recovery ward now. You can visit him once he's settled in."


"Aniki, Aniki, can you hear me?" Minoru asked.

Two beady eyes opened slowly, the confusion evident in them. Tetsu blinked rapidly. It took his eyes some time to get use to the light after being kept in a coma for over two months.

"Tetsu-aniki, how are you feeling?" Minoru tried again.

"I… Who are you?"

Everyone gasped. There was no way that Tetsu could not recognize Minoru. There wasn't that many people who came in that size, after all.

Shin gestured Yankumi to step forward. They had thought that it was best that Shin and Ren and Koisuke did not get too close to Tetsu in case he felt threatened. They weren't sure how much he remembered about the Yakuza and how he would react to them.

"Tetsu," Yankumi started gently. "That's Minoru, he's your friend. My name is Kumiko, do you remember me? You call me Ojou most of the time."

Tetsu looked at her thoughtfully. She looked familiar, but he couldn't put a finger on it. "Are you a princess then?" He asked carefully.

Yankumi smiled. "No, but you often treat me like one. It's annoying and endearing at the same time."

"Mmm. I feel like I remember you a little. And the fat man too."

Yankumi choked back a laugh. "Of course, Tetsu. We're all your friends. Just take your time and heal, alright? We'll come and see you often."

Tetsu raised his head to look around the room at the mention of 'all your friends'. He gazed at Kuroda for a long time, as if trying to place something in his mind. After a few minutes, his brain gave up and moved on to the next person. He swept past Koisuke and Makoto and Ren without a hint of recognition – until his eyes landed on Shin.

"Oyasan." He whispered.

Shin was startled. He walked up to Tetsu cautiously. "Do you remember me, Tetsu?"

Tetsu frowned at the red-haired man. Somehow this man's identity seemed to be ingrained in his brain. He couldn't recall his name or how he knew him, but he knew that 'Oyasan' was someone very important to him. Even right now, he had an overwhelming desire to get out of bed and protect the man; despite the fact that neither of them was in any danger. "I… don't know."

Shin smiled at him soothingly. "Don't worry, Tetsu. You'll be able to remember all of us soon. My name is Shin."

"Oyasan." Tetsu repeated obstinately.

Shin looked at him amusedly. "Yes, you do always insist on calling me that. That means you have to get better soon, though; because only my… employees address me in that manner."

Tetsu cocked his head to the side. "I'm sorry." He said.

"What are you apologizing for?" Shin asked.

"I'm not sure." Tetsu admitted. "I feel like I did something wrong."

Shin laughed. "You got hurt trying to protect me, Tetsu; I can assure you that you did not do anything wrong."

Tetsu's doctor, Ben-sensei, strode into the room.

"Asakura-san, how are you feeling?"

"Uh…" Tetsu stumbled. What was he supposed to say? Did he know this person?

"Oh forgive me, Asakura-san. I'm your doctor, Ben-sensei. You've been in the hospital for more than 2 months due to a brain injury. You were kept in a coma and finally underwent an operation 2 days ago. Now, tell me; does your head, eyes or anywhere else hurt in any way?"

Tetsu shook his head. He did feel achy all over, and there was a dull throbbing in his head; but he knew it was no big deal. Something in his body told him that he was used to far greater pain than that.

Shin was watching Tetsu sharply. "Tetsu, tell the doctor exactly how you're feeling."

Tetsu looked sheepish. "Hee, Oyasan. Umm… I feel achy all over, like I overexerted my whole body; and there's a dull throbbing in my head right here." He touched the back of his head gingerly.

Ben-sensei threw Shin an appreciative glance. "Good. You need to tell me that, Asakura-san. The aches are to be expected, as you have not moved for a very long time. I'll recommend some basic physiotherapy to help restore the blood circulation to your whole body and prescribe some painkillers for the throbbing in your head. Remember to let me know if anything changes."

"Yes, doctor." Tetsu answered meekly at a look from Shin.


Over the following weeks, Tetsu's condition improved bit by bit. It was obvious, however, that he made the most progress whenever he was with Shin. Within the first week, he had already recovered all his memories relating to the red-haired man. After that, all that remained was his memories of other people. Even then, it was easier for him to use Shin as his focal point; such as Oyasan's grandfather, Oyasan's wife, Oyasan's brother and so on.

The Oedo family worked with him patiently. They asked him simple questions such as their names and age, and made him recall the most significant characteristic he associated with them. Minoru got 'fat and stupid', Koisuke got 'meticulous', Makoto got 'Wakamatsu's shadow' (which sent everyone into a sombre mood momentarily), Ren got 'Shatei', Kuroda got 'father' (to his absolute delight), and Yankumi got 'sister' (to Shin's relief).

At the same time, Tetsu seemed to be hitting off very well with his physiotherapist, a middle-age lady by the name of Yoko. It seemed that with his memories and inhibitions temporarily displaced; Tetsu became a very charming man. He flirted with Yoko shamelessly while the rest of the Oedo family watched him in shock and delight. They only hoped that Tetsu would not retreat into his shy self again once he recovered.

It was another 4 weeks before Ben-sensei allowed Tetsu to be discharged. And even then, he warned Tetsu not to engage in 'vigorous activities'; which Tetsu would not have heeded, if not for the fact that Shin had already overheard and was agreeing with the doctor whole-heartedly.

Once the doctor left, he tried to protest. "But Oyasan, Ren can't keep doing two jobs at the same time; you'll tire him out! Let me help him, at least!"

"Not a chance, Tetsu. And I will help Ren by undertaking more tasks on my own and making sure that he doesn't burn out. You just concentrate on making a full recovery as soon as you can."