"We got here as soon as we heard of your predicament."
Izumi's voice is half earnest, half relieved.
It has been twenty-five hours since Shisui regained consciousness. And in the early hours of the morning, the hospital is already ablaze with a hoard of activity. On his end of the corridor, however, the quietude is unusual.
"Your recovery is of utmost priority, so it sounds like they are trying to keep the activity level down to a minimum on this end," Itachi says.
Shisui frowns.
"I do not think my recovery should be prioritised over the recovery of others. That is hardly fair."
He gazes dispiritedly out the window. Vague as his memories are of prior events, his mind has been inundated with pained feelings that are disconnected from reality. There are subtle references to a black ditch and cries of villagers, yet the boundaries between false imagery and repressed memories have become increasingly blurred.
"This is unlike you to be poisoned," Izumi says frankly.
"Yes, I was not careful, but I am still human at the end of the day," he answers quietly.
The atmosphere turns morbidly tense. Perhaps there is the underlying expectation that someone of his 'calibre' should not have fallen prey to the simple notion of poison. But the more these entrenched expectations linger, the more he disapproves of his need to be overtly present.
He briefly glances in Itachi's direction, who has been watching him with an inexplicable expression. Though they do not exchange any significant form of communication, there is that indistinct aura that Itachi has an understanding of Shisui's position.
"I suppose they all knew you would be alright in the end. Most would not have made it through the way you have. Tulips poisoning isn't something that is taken lightly," Izumi says.
"I agree with that explanation."
Yuki's distinctive voice saunters through in cut like motion - firm and obstinate. Behind her is Nanami and Tsubaki, who are both staring wildly at Shisui's conscious presence as they enter the room.
"We all knew you would be okay," Tsubaki agrees.
Nanami does not speak. She nods timidly in agreement, then turns away when he meets her gaze.
The comments, though with good intentions, does little to quell the discomfort.
"Someone of prodigy status would never succumb to something so mediocre as poisoning, regardless of its lethality," Yuki says admiringly.
"Because of status or prioritised treatment?" Shisui replies solemnly.
There is a passive indignation to his quiet tone that only Itachi seems to notice. Shisui dislikes the prodigy label, especially for its use to gain unwanted privileges.
"Shisui, how are you feeling?"
Nanami steps through between Yuki and Tsubaki, who clearly have been pushing her to speak with him directly. And it is also at this point that Shisui notices the clear similarities between Yuki and Tsubaki.
They are sisters.
"Doing much better, thanks for asking," he answers cheerfully.
Nanami gives a reticent smile that indicates her sudden comfort. And when Shisui reaches over and takes a round brown-white dotted sweet from the side table, Nanami's jovial expression falls.
"What is it that you are eating?" She asks warily.
He is already half way through when he realises her question.
"Not sure, but it is good and I have been eating this since I woke up," he replies confoundedly.
"Oh you got it from the hospital here," Nanami says.
Her tone is unusually high pitched, an element of hopefulness that is strongly laced with strands of anxiety.
"It was here when I woke up, so maybe?"
"Shisui, maybe not eat that just in case," Nanami takes the plate from his side table, oblivious to the disapproving look on his face, "Here, I got these for you, they are much better than whatever those may be."
She places several dull looking dumpling-like food by his table, then hands him one.
"What is it?"
"It's like red beans, but healthier, try it."
Despite its questionable appearance, Shisui does not mind the taste. There is a bitter flavour that signifies medicinal herbs, yet the sweet-tanginess is a good balance to the unpleasant sharpness.
When he reaches for the second one, a sudden loud crash from across the room breaks his action.
"Excuse me, Shisui, but I do not believe it is healthy for you to consume that."
Honoka's monotonous voice ambles through from somewhere below. Shisui does not see her, but her sudden presence sends a disturbing sensation that permeates his core. As if conditioned to react, he automatically flinches in response.
When he leans over, Honoka steadily gets to her feet. There is a flicker of intense inscrutable emotions grazing her features as she stares blankly at the plate of food on the side bed. In her hand is half a tray full of the round brown-white spotted sweets - the rest scattered on the floor during her dramatic 'entry.'
"Where the hell did you come from?" Tsubaki shrieks.
She gives Honoka a detestable look before Yuki chimes in.
"Judging from where the cockroach is standing, and the enormous mess made, she's been skulking around near those back sliding doors this whole time."
Yuki gestures idly in Honoka's direction.
Behind sits an inconspicuous sliding door that is covered in unused medical equipment and spare bedding. No one would have noticed its use for concealment.
"I'm going to have a word with the medical staff. What kind of security is this? Who knows how long she's been here," Tsubaki says angrily.
"Get lost!" Yuki snarls at Honoka.
She advances forward, ignoring protests from both Nanami and Izumi.
Sensing danger, Honoka swiftly closes the distance between her and Shisui's bed. She does not meet his perplexed gaze as the half-filled tray of food is placed at the end of his bed.
"Shisui, these are very good for your recovery. I will make more to recover the lost ones," she says quickly.
With all the disturbance and imminent peril that surrounds her, Honoka is remarkably composed. But as she runs for the exit, there is a look of apprehension beneath her vacant expression.
In that moment, Shisui gets the vague sensation that Honoka is terrified of her situation, though its temporary suppression may come from the brief interaction with him.
Yuki and Tsubaki have already disappeared, followed by Nanami, who is no doubt trying to abate the situation.
"I'll go too, this is getting ridiculous," Izumi says exasperatedly.
When she vanishes, the deafening yet alleviating silence suffuses.
Shisui's mind is still floating in the space of five minutes ago. His conscious is refusing to accelerate to the present.
"I'm sorry you had to wake up to this," Itachi says ruefully.
"I'm sorry you even need to apologise," Shisui sighs.
When Itachi does not answer, Shisui continues.
"How did the mission go?"
His tone remains light, a forceful attempt to dismiss the recent commotion.
"Success but not without its own set of problems," Itachi replies.
Shisui laughs. A conversation with Itachi is always a starting point for normality in his world.
"Isn't that what makes it a mission?"
"You are not wrong there," Itachi agrees.
The underlying intention is clear from Itachi's comment - Shisui's most recent mission landed him in hospital for over a week.
"You should rest up," he continues.
"Itachi, before you leave, I need to let you know...your absence was a cause for suspicion," Shisui's tone is suddenly grave, and with it, the atmosphere turns disconcertingly bleak, "It may be best not to discuss this with Izumi."
There is a shard of bemusement to Itachi's expression, albeit an emotion that borderlines anger is covertly reflected.
"I see."
"I'm sorry to spring this on you, but it is something we will have to shelve for until later. This isn't the best place for it," Shisui says.
Itachi does not answer, and it may be that his mind is already removed from the outside world.
They let the quiet sit for several minutes.
"Shisui, I should let you rest. But before I go there is also something I would like to put forward as a suggestion," he hesitates before a determined expression transpires, "What goes on in your own private life is not my business, but Honoka's suffering may be unnecessary around you."
Shisui does not immediately process Itachi's explanation, but a small part of him grasps that sentence with a strong presentiment. The puzzlement to his tone, however, is a clear indicator that his conscious has detached itself from that small intuitive part.
"What are you trying to say?" He asks.
Itachi remains silent, politely so for several seconds, but his watch communicates a very different form of quietude.
"Of all the Uchihas, you have the strongest visual prowess, and with that, the ability to change a person's thought process. If Honoka forgets about her need to always protect you, she will also be spared of any dire repercussions that follows."