Chapter 2: Waiting

Ryuuji sat in the row of semi-uncomfortable chairs along the hallway of the hospital wing. She knows, he thought. she knows that it was me who saved her, and what's worse… she must know that she said all of that stuff to me. He grumbled and twisted around in his seat, leaning back and looking up at the cracked, yellowing ceiling. It was a little cold in the hallway, and the bright lights and linoleum floor were bland and completely lacking in character. Still, as depressing as they were, Ryuuji could never hate hospitals. They were, after all, one of his idols when it came to cleanliness. The gold standard. Breathing in heavily, Ryuuji could smell all the cleaners and disinfectant that had been generously splashed onto the surfaces. Those ae expensive ones too, they spared no expense! This was his version of wine tasting.

He had gotten to see her briefly. She had regained consciousness a little while ago, and a nurse had let her come in and say hello to her briefly.

"Ryuuji…" she had said weakly. "What are you"

"I came in the ambulance with you" he'd said.

"Ah." She replied. "So it wasn't a dream…"

"Taiga?"

There was a knock on the door and the nurse entered. She checked on Taiga and then informed her that her mother was on her way to visit her.

"I think she should get a little rest until then" the nurse said, noting that Taiga seemed a little tired. "Why don't you wait out in the hall for her? Her test results should be coming back soon. We'll let you know as soon as we get them."

"Ah… ok. Thank you" Ryuuji said, bowing to her.

"Ryuuji…" Taiga called out sleepily.

"I'll be right outside, Taiga. I won't go anywhere."

"Mm" she said, starting to drift off.

Shaking his head as if to push the thoughts away from him, Ryuuji started investigating the area around him for dirt, but couldn't find any no matter how hard he looked. As I thought. Hospitals truly are on another level.

He wiped his fingers along the surface of the runner board at the bottom of the wall. He reached behind the row of chairs, twisting his body up into a weird contortion to achieve this. "Wow" he said out loud. "Completely spotless!" Even behind the chairs, there wasn't a single spot of dust or dirt or mould.

Just what in the hell was he doing? Suddenly he became aware of himself, and wondered what was wrong with him. Hanging over a hospital bench at 10 in the evening, looking for dust in the corners. But he supposed that anything was better than thinking about Taiga. About how scared he had been, about how much fear had crept up into his body when he'd seen her there, lying in the snow. About what she had said in the room before.

about the look on her face when—

"Uhhhhhh" a voice behind him said, "you alright there, kid? It was a nurse with from before. She was genuinely confused the scene in front of her, but her face also looked like it was trying to conceal a chuckle.

Ah! Yeah, I'm… fine." Ryuuji started turning red. "Just checking…. For…."

"Oh!" You're the one who came in with Aisaka Taiga? in 12C, right?"

"Yes!" that's right" he got up and bowed to her, feeling strangely formal all of a sudden.

"I'm Takasu Ryuuji. Thank you for taking care of Taiga." The nurse stifled a laugh at his bizarre formality.

"Ah yes, of course. I was just going to say: your… friend? is going to be fine. She had a mild case of hypothermia and a slight concussion, but it looks like she'll heal up just fine, ok?" Ryuuji felt relief wash over him. A big smile came over his face.

"Oh that's such a relief! That's great! Thank you so much!" The nurse nodded, a warm smile coming over her. She nodded at him and continued on with her rounds. Ryuuji went back to sitting on the chairs, feeling relieved. His body relaxed and he sprawled out onto the chairs. She's going to be fine., he thought. no broken bones, no complications. I was so afraid. So afraid that I would lose her, that she'd be gone forever. I wouldn't' get to be with her anymore.

I… don't… want that.

Tears started to well up in his eyes. He thought about all the time they had spent together. How close they had become. He had always told himself that he just couldn't leave her alone, but why? What was it about her that he couldn't leave alone? it wasn't as if she was some stray animal that he felt a responsibility for, was it?

It was something else entirely, and he was just starting to realise it. or maybe he had actually known for a long time. Ahhhh.

He was drawn out of his thoughts by the increasingly loud voices coming from Taiga's room. About twenty minutes ago, a woman in glasses with short chestnut hair and a smart business suit had walked past him in the hallway. Hearing the voices now, he realised that must have been her mother.

Uh oh, he thought, hearing the distinct cadence of Taiga's insults from down the hall. I guess she really is going to be alright after all. He got up and walked over to her room, listening to what was quickly developing into a shouting match.

"Taiga, listen to me!"

"No! Why would I?!"

"Taiga! You—"

Ryuuji opened the door gently stepped into the room.

"Um… excuse me"

"HUH?!" Taiga's mother turned her gaze on him, causing him to jump back a little and flinch. Wow. Truly terrifying. They really are alike after all. He was scared of her, no use denying that. But he was more scared about Taiga. He didn't want her to get too worked up when she should be resting.

"It's just… well… everyone can hear you two out in the hallway, so…"

"So what?!" she yelled. "I'm having a conversation with my daughter, if that's alright with you, so why don't you just butt the hell out!"

"Hey! Don't yell at him, you hag!" Taiga screeched suddenly.

"Who are you calling a hag, you little shrimp-child?!"

"OI!" a fourth voice shouted, bringing them all out of their argument. It was the nurse from before.

"Visiting hours are over." She stated calmly. She stepped to the side of the doorway and extended her arm out, gesturing for them to leave. "I'll have to ask that this conversation be continued at another time."

Taiga's mother lost the blazing look in her eyes and relaxed a little, suddenly brought back to her senses. The four of them stood still in the awkward silence, a minute seeming like an eternity. Finally she sighed, went over to the nightstand and picked up her handbag.

"Taiga… I'm going to go home now." Mrs. Aisaka stated, all the energy gone from her. She looked down at her daughter. Taiga turned her head up and away from her, crossing her arms. I don't need you, you old hag. She thought. Go ahead and leave.

Mrs Aisaka sighed again, feeling defeated. She got her back gently and slowly looked out the door. Ryuuji looked at Taiga, but she was too busy ignoring her mother to pay any attention to what he was doing.

This sucks, eh thought he didn't want to part like this, with everything up in the air, but it wasn't like they could have a proper departure right now.

"Goodnight, Taiga. I'll come back and visit you tomorrow" he said in a small, sad voice. After her mother left, she turned and watched Ryuuji's back as he walked out.

Ryuuji, she thought. Don't go.

Mrs Aisaka!" he said loudly, trying to get the woman to stop storming off. She turned on he heels and glared at him.

"What!?" she spat. She didn't shout at him, but it was clear that there was a lot of pain in her eyes, despite the lack of tears. It was kind of scary in a way, seeing a version of Taiga with a little more refinement, a little more self-control. It was like staring into the future.

"I just wanted to tell you something." he said. Her gaze was fierce and it felt like it would blow him over. The two of them stood there in the cold, empty hallway across form each other, like some kind of stand-ff. Would she even listen to him at all? Or would she just wander off, turning her nose up at him? Like mother like daughter, after all. Finally, she let out another one of those sighs. He'd known this woman for half an hour and he could already say with confidence that they were a trademark of hers.

"Go on" she said.

"Well… I was there in the room with her. Back then. When they told her that you were coming.

"And?"

"Well, umm… she said 'Huh?' and her face twisted up like this this" Ryuuji did his best Taiga impression while her mother looked on in annoyance. "And then she said "Seriously?! Tch… that woman", and—

"Hey! She yelled at him. "Are you trying to make me feel worse, kid?!"

"But then!" he exclaimed, trying to save this. "But then, she stared off into space, and this big smile came over her face, and she seemed content, and… relaxed." Suddenly Mrs Aisaka's face changed, full of surprise. She looked up at him in disbelief and held his faze. Then she walked over to him, closing their distance.

"You're the one who found her, aren't you?"

"Um… yes, I did."

She bowed in front of him. "Thank you for saving my daughter." He was taken aback.

"I don't think we ever actually introduced ourselves, did we?" she said. She bowed again, slighter this time. I'm Tatsuko Aisaka. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Ryuuji bowed deeply to her, feeling embarrassed. "Right! it's nice to meet you too! "I'm Ryuuji Takasu. I'm a friend of Taiga and her classmate at school."

"Well then, Mr Takasu. I suppose I should get going…" She turned away and walked out of the hospital, leaving Ryuuji alone. He let out a huge sighed and slumped over on his feet. That had taken a lot of energy. He felt tired all of a sudden; all the air had gone out of him. The adrenaline had left and now he was left with just the exhaustion of everything that had happened that day. He felt the tiredness in his eyes, the aches and pains in his body, the whirlwind of emotions. He just wanted to curl up in a ball and pass out, but it wouldn't be that easy, would it? even now, he felt alone. He missed her. How would he be able to just go back to the resort like nothing had happened?

"Not bad kid" the voice of the nurse said behind him with a chuckle. "Taking on that scary lady all by yourself!"

Ryuuji went red, putting a hand on his hair. "Ah… haha., it was nothing, really. I'm sorry for all the disturbances." He bowed at her. "I was just on my way out, don't worry. I won't' cause any more problems.

"Hey," the nurse said slyly, "why don't you go back to your friend? I think she could use some company."

"I thought… I thought that visiting hours were over?"

"Well, let's just say that visiting hours are kinda flexible. We tend to enforce them when the visitors in question rile up our patients… we have to look out for their recoveries, after all."

"Ah… I see."

"But I think you'd actually be good for her, right? You do seem to be a calming presence, so why don't you go back and spend some time together. I mean, as long of the two of you don't do anything to get each other too excited right? Then I'll have to kick you out!"

"AH" he exclaimed, going beet red and looking down at the floor. "We're not like that… we… we.."

The nurse burst out laughing. "Sorry, sorry, just having a little bit of fun. I know, she's just your friend, right? Well go on, go and keep her company."

"Thank you" Ryuuji said, walking towards Taiga's room. He stopped and turned around, bowing at her again "Thank you."

"Don't mention it." she said "Hey kid! You ever thought about being a nurse? You're pretty good with difficult patients and their families, you know!"

He smiled as he turned back around, walking towards the door that would reunite with Taiga for the second time this evening.