Hello! First I'd like to apologize for my absence. I was studying abroad in France this summer and things were a little busy. But I am back now! And this fanfic is a gooooo! Thank you so much for sticking with this story and I hope you enjoy! 3
Things were slowly getting better…..well for Saruhiko at least. It was early in the morning and he had just come back from running home to take a shower, one of the only things he ever left the blue's side to do about every other day. He'd walked in to find Saru sitting up, nurses on either side of him taking results for various tests.
"Saru!" His whole face had brightened when he had seen him actually sitting up. "Saru! You're awake and-"
"Excuse me sir but you have to leave."
The nurse had spoken in a polite voice, smiling the entire time. Yata had thought he'd misheard her and his smile faltered a little.
"W-What…..?"
"Sir it's time for you to go now. The patient won't be having any more visitors for awhile."
Again, the woman's voice had been calm, perfect smile still in place and it had done nothing more than anger him. Why was she smiling like that? Why would she try and kick him out? Didn't she see him sitting there day after day? Hour after hour? Didn't she know how afraid and worried he was? Didn't she know how he felt?
"What? No I….I've been here every day…I'm…..Saru? Saru say something. Explain to them who I am. Saru….?"
He watched the blue sit silently, saying nothing as a couple male nurses came to assist when Yata refused to move.
"Saru say something. Saru!"
The two men had grabbed Yata's arms, restraining him even as he thrashed and kicked, starting to drag him out the door.
"No! I made a promise! I promised him I'd stay by his side! I promised! Saru!"
Their eyes had met for a split second and pain reflected back in his golden ones, confusion and pain, as he was dragged rom the room.
That was how he ended up here; on the front steps of the hospital, confused and angry and…and hurt. Saruhiko didn't….want him there? Even after all of this he…. Yata suddenly feels tired. More than tired, drained, like his body is filled with bricks weighing him down, the days of going on an hour or two of sleep finally starting to bear down on him so much that he feels sluggish as he moves slowly, putting distance between himself and the hospital. Saru….hated him so much that this wouldn't even get him the chance to speak? Not even a second glance?
He's unsure what to do…where to go from there so he just lets his feet bring him home, a place he hadn't slept in in days, and it almost feels foreign to him as he sits in his kitchen, picking at food as he tries to move past the uneasy feeling in his stomach. He promised. He promised him he wouldn't leave his side.
Saru's hatred for him should be reason enough for the vanguard to quit but….he wants answers, he wants to be certain that Saru can walk again, live the way he used to. That day, when he'd begged, cried, screamed, pleaded for Saru to wake up he'd promised not to leave his side. The day that he was hooked up to IVs, laying there still and cold….he'd promised not to leave his side. He never went back on his word and he would try until he saw this to the end.
Until then….he refuses to stop trying. The day he sees the blue patrolling the streets again will be the day he'll turn his back on him again. This time….this time he'll do it for good. Their games of fighting…..trying to kill each other….shooting insults at each other to try and bring the other down…..Yata is tired of all of it and this, the way Saruhiko had just sat there and let him be dragged away…..no more. When he's healed Yata won't pick any more fights, he won't look back.
Too exhausted to eat, he gets up and finally gives himself over to sleep, sleeping twelve hours before he wakes up disoriented. He doesn't know what day is it, still looking and feeling like crap. It's sunny out though so he figures he slept through the night. He gets dressed and notices the clock; ten am.
The redhead's out the door and on his way to the hospital, making quick strides with his tired body. He won't give up yet, not yet, not yet, not yet! Not until he's sure. When he arrives though he still has no luck getting in and after threats to call security he's back outside, sitting on the steps leading up to the building. Dammit! What did he do wrong? He looks up when he hears footsteps. What the fuck?!
"M-Munakata?! What are you doing here!?"
"Shouldn't I be the one asking you that." the Captain retorts, stopping just in front of him. "I'm here to see one of my subordinates, that's all."
His teeth grit and just the blue king's carefree tone pisses him off.
"He's not….he won't….he's not taking any visitors." He finally says.
"He's not? How stubborn." Yata watches those violet hues turn towards the entrance. "I'll have to fix that. I must say I'm quite surprised though." Munakata's gaze returns to him. "You continue to come around here, even though Fushimi-kun is fine." A smirk graces his features. "It's shocking coming from an enemy."
"He's not fine!" He doesn't even think before the words fly from his mouth and he looks down, embarrassed. "He's….not fine. He can't walk yet and he can't remember what happened." Yata mumbles.
"But he's awake and alive, right?" Munakata gives another casual smile, and Yata can't tell if it's sincere this time. "That's all that matters, for now. He'll be on his feet soon, and we'll figure out the story soon enough. Which reminds me," The blue king's expression goes serious yet again. "I've been meaning to ask you if you saw anything that day. When you found him."
"Yeah….he is alive. No thanks to you!" Yata snaps, gritting his teeth again. It takes him a moment to calm down and he almost misses the question in the process. His eyebrows raise in surprise. "See anything? No. Just him. I didn't really look around the area. It wasn't my concern at that moment. Why?"
Eyebrows raise in shock at the verbal attack, but Munakata doesn't seem too phased by the comment at all. "We're trying to track the source of the accident. There's not much we can work with, though, unless Fushimi-kun starts to remember things. Which is why I'm here to see him."
That seems to deflate the Yata a little and he sighs. "Well…let me know if there's anything I can help with…ok? I'm already somehow involved I guess and I'm going to see this until the end!"
Another smile appears on his face, and it looks like he's thinking through something. "Will do. I'm sure Awashima-kun will keep HOMRA updated on the current situation. We will let you know if anything comes up."
"Ok. Kusanagi-san will let me know if you guys need anything then. Thanks…I guess. I never thought I'd ever be helping Scepter 4." He glances away again and kicks at a rock.
"We appreciate the assistance." Munakata starts walking in but pauses turning to him again. "I doubt they'll allow him to ban visitors for long. Maybe another time."
That alone gives him a little hope that he'll be able to see with his own eyes if Saru gets any better, if he's feeling ok. He wishes that he could just make himself not care but….he cares. He worries and cares so much he's still not really eating or sleeping well. He worries that any moment something could change to change Saruhiko's condition. Seeing him so close to death had awakened something in him, it ha made all their memories together flood through him as he had pushed down on the blue's chest, willing him to live.
He cares….and it scares him a little.
It's a couple days before he wills himself to go back, too anxious to stay in his apartment and according to Kusanagi, "Not fit to go back to work" either. So he finds himself sitting on the steps again when blue once again catches his eye.
"You're back! Is he accepting visitors now?!" The redhead's eyes are hopeful.
"Not quite." Munakata sounds apologetic.
"O-Oh…" His face falls a little. "Did he…remember anything at least? Are you here to get more information?"
"We're figuring out bits and pieces, though nothing is adding up quite yet. I'm here to check his progress, though. He's nearly ready to be discharged."
"Discharged?!" Yata's eyes widen. "Can he walk again? He's better? Does that mean he gets to go home?" He tries to keep the eagerness out of his voice and sound as casual as possible.
The Captain nods. "He can stand on his own and walk short distances. It's a work in progress but he's recovering quickly. However, I've been informed that he's not ready to necessarily live on his own yet, so he won't be going home any time soon."
"What? Then where will he go?"
"I'll have to get him back to the dorms. Someone will be able to keep an eye on him. That's another thing I have to discuss with him today."
"No!" Yata blurted the word before he could help it and pink rose to his cheeks. "I-I mean….he'd hate that….b-being at work all the time. He…can stay with me. Well if he wanted to…."
Munakata looked shocked to hear that proposal. "What makes you think I'd allow that?" he asks, sounding curious. "I know the details behind you two. Why should I trust one of my best in your hands?"
"What?!" Yata sputters. "You think I'd hurt him when he's recovering?" His eyes narrow dangerously. "Are you a king or a moron? I wouldn't…I…I just want to help him…get to where he was before. I….made him a promise and I plan to stick to it. Besides, are you planning to let a worker off for two weeks? Kusanagi-san is willing to give me the time off to make sure I can take care of him. He'd have a place to stay and meals."
"You're serious about this? I won't be taking things lightly if something were to happen." he warns, though it doesn't look like he's about to reject the idea altogether.
The vanguard glared, eyes narrowing again as he took a step towards the blue king. "don't underestimate me! I can take care of him just fine. I always…." His words fade off for a few long moments and his face falls though he tries to hide it. "I always….used to take care of him."
The King stands his ground, listening to Yata's proposal fully before speaking. "I see. If you're that honest about it, I won't find it as a problem. Though I won't force Fushimi-kun to stay with you if he says no."
"I….understand. It's just another option….I guess…"
Dammit! What was he doing!? No! He was supposed to make sure Saru was ok and then leave it at that. A small voice in his head insists that until he can live on his own, he's not completely better, and it's enough to justify his offer at the moment.
"I'll stay out here until you come out."
He watches the blue walk in and with a sigh he sits again. He never was a patient person when it came to just sitting around, always about action and getting things done, and that hasn't changed over the years. But this time…this time there is no action and he'll be good, waiting until Munakata returns….hopefully with good news.
"How sincere were you when you made that offer?"
Yata spins around, watching as the blue's captain calmly strides out, putting a cigarette between his lips, blowing out smoke.
"What?" He replies dumbly.
"How sincere were you about your offer to take care of Fushimi?" He repeats.
"Didn't I answer that already?! I said I meant it. What else do you want me to say? Did he say no? Yes?" Yata's waiting for an answer, stopping twisting nervously.
"He told me no flat out. I don't believe he means it, though."
"H-He….said no?" Shock crosses Yata's face and he doesn't do anything for a long moment but stand there and stare at the floor. "Oh. Oh I see then…I guess…that's it then. No….doesn't mean anything else."
"I wouldn't necessarily count the idea out just yet." he interrupts.
"He….said no….he said no ok?! What else could he have meant!? I can't….keep going on false hopes anymore!" Suddenly he was screaming, all the emotion and hurt pouring out of him before he could hold any of it back. He was mortified, embarrassed that it had to happen in front of the blue's king.
"He'll come to. Just give it time." Munakata finishes off what's left of his cigarette, putting it out and disposing of it. "Maybe you should visit him next time."
"Tch." He almost sounds like Saruhiko. "No visitors remember? They won't let me in."
"They can't say no forever. And if they do, tell them I sent you. It should suffice."
"Huh? You think that would work? Why would they believe me?" Yata's skeptical.
"This is a hospital, not a prison ward. It's not like security is strict."
"Coulda fooled me." Yata mumbles under his breath but he sighs. "Ok…I'll give it a shot. Thank you…again….for all of this I guess." He scratches the back of his head awkwardly, not good with thanking people like Munakata.
The king begins walking away. "I'm just doing what's best for my subordinate. I suggest you don't go in today. Try another day. Have a good afternoon." he calls as he disappears down the road.
The vanguard could do nothing but watch him and take his advice. He'd give him time to think, hope that Munakata was right about Saru's no not being final. He knew Saruhiko more than anybody, still believed that even after all this time. And he knew that the blue wouldn't want anything to do with Scepter 4's dorms. Maybe Munakata would prove to be right after all. Maybe Saru would hate his job so much that it would be more than his hatred for him.
He waits a few days before going to find out, doing what the blue captain suggested and it works. He knocks on the door before gently pushing it open and stepping in, eyes falling on Saruhiko, sitting up in bed, sitting in the same position he had been when Yata had been dragged out a week prior.
"Hey there…Saru."