Chapter Text
Chapter 2
Chisaki raced to the hospital. Tsugumo was right behind her as they rushed into the door.
“Hiradaira!” One of the nurses called out as soon as she entered the hospital. “You’re a Sea Person, right?” The nurse asked pulling her along. Chisaki blinked as she heard the question. It was generally considered rude to ask that of someone. “Please. The Sea Person that was just brought in needs a transfusion. None of ours is a match. You’re a universal donor, right?”
“Yes,” Chisaki nodded as it clicked. She raced to follow the nurse into the back. “Tsugumo, find out who it is!”
“Of course, Chisaki,” Tsugumo said as he turned to move to the station. Chisaki followed the Nurse into the back, already taking off her jacket and cardigan. She was just rolling up her sleeve when she paused as they entered a room.
“We’re going straight from the vein. He needs the blood now, or he might not survive. The poor child.” The nurse said as she moved the curtain and Chisaki felt her heart stop.
“Kaname.” The words slipped from her lips as the nurse all but pushed her into the neighboring bed and inserted a needle into her arms. It felt both like forever and instantly as Chisaki watched the blood start to leave her body and enter Kaname. She should have been paying attention. It was not often that they would use a live transfusion rather than just taking it from the person. Still, she could not move her eyes from the younger boy. The same pale brown hair resting against his head, pale skin, paler than she had ever seen, and the one thing she wanted more than anything was to see his eyes. Tears well up in her eyes as she refused to look away.
“Hiradaira, do you know him.” The nurse asked.
“Yes,” Chisaki said. “He is one of my best friends. What could have caused this? How did he get so injured?
“He had a piece of rebar in his shoulder. We found bruising on his skull. He must have been hit by something hard. Whatever caused it, he’s lucky to be alive.”
“It must have been the bridge. We were on the boat together. I made it back on. He didn’t.” Chisaki said. “It was my fault.”
“I doubt that.” The nurse started to take a part of the transfusion at the nod of the doctor. “The blood will help him. You need to rest.”
“Has he woken up yet?”
“Not yet,” the nurse paused. “But he will. Do you know him?”
“He’s my best friend. It’s like he hasn’t aged a day.” Chisaki said as she looked down at him. “Can I stay with him? Please.” The nurse glanced at the doctor who nodded.
“Yes.”
“Thank you,” Chisaki sat down next to the bed and smiled as she reached out and grabbed Kaname’s hand. “I should have known you’d be one of the first ones back.”
Kaname could hear whispers. He tried to open his eyes, but they felt too heavy for him. He didn’t know how long had passed before he was able to open his eyes. He saw brief flashes of gold and blue. He wished he knew just what they were. He felt like they were really familiar to him. He could feel a weight in his hand and then he fell back into blackness.
Kaname awoke to a silent snore. He glanced to his right and saw Chisaki sitting next to him. He could tell something was different, but he just couldn’t place it. So, he glanced to the left and noticed the heart monitor. It was enough to tell him that he was in the hospital. The how and why escaped him. He moved his hand and suddenly Chisaki jumped up. Questions spilled from her lips faster than he could have stopped her. He could understand the basics. Chisaki was asking him how he was feeling. Honestly, he had no idea how to respond. He could feel a pin, he had no idea where it came from, but at the same time, he could see the changes in Chisaki. How long had he been asleep?
He got his answer a few days later. Five years. That’s how long it had been since that fateful ceremony. He had heard that Hikari had awoken a few days before he had. It was both a comfort and dismay to know that his friend was awake. His mind already putting together the situation. There was no word about Manaka. That must have been something that Hikari must be trying to figure out and he wasn’t sure if he wanted to be a part of that drama.
Two weeks into his stay at the hospital, Chisaki had come to him. Telling him that he would be staying with her and Tsugumo. He wasn’t sure how he felt about this idea, however, he also knew that he had nowhere else to go.
Sitting in their living room, as Chisaki made dinner, it was not hard for Kaname to put the pieces together. He gave a sad smile as he looked at the way the two of them interacted with one another. He couldn’t blame Chisaki for finding someone during the time he was asleep. He knew better than that, plus he also knew he was never really in the running for her affections or his, a small quiet part whispered in the back of his mind. He was so deep into his thoughts that he didn’t sense Tsugumo sitting down next to him.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes,” Kaname forced a smile onto his lips. “I am.” Tsugumo looked over at him and then wrapped his arms around him. Kaname blinked and then felt himself melt into the embrace.
“It’s alright to be sad,” Tsugumo said. “You don’t have to be strong for us.” Suddenly tears started to fall from his eyes. Kaname grabbed at Tsugumo’s shirt as he started to sob. All the emotions from what had happened over the last few weeks, the near-death, the sleep, the time skip. All of it hitting him at once. Tsugumo gently petted his head, and Kaname relaxed into his embrace.
Chisaki watched from the doorway, tears in her eyes as she watched Tsugumo embrace Kaname. She knew from experience how calming and soothing Tsugumo could be. Tsugumo glanced up at her and she gave a small smile in return. She blinked at how calm and happy she felt watching the two together. Her mind jumped back to a conversation she had had with Tsugumo in the past. She wondered what would have happened if Kaname was the one to have gotten on the boat, instead of her. Tsugumo had shaken his head and told her that was not the Kaname he knew. Kaname would never have gotten on the boat without making sure the two of them were safe. The wistfulness in his voice gave her the courage to ask him.
“Did you love him?”
Tsugumo was silent for several moments before admitting. “Yes, I do.” Chisaki did not need him to explain exactly what he meant by that statement, but it gave her the courage to admit it too.
“I do too.” Tsugumo had looked at her. The two had spoken about it at length before they were able to settle in their relationship. The massive What-if that existed about when, if ever, Kaname would awaken was something they could not wait and would handle when, and if, that situation occurred.
It had occurred. It took one look at Tsugumo to realize that he was still in the same spot as he was at the time of his confession and when their eyes met over the sobbing Kaname, she let him know too. Neither would push, just yet. Tsugumo had told her about Hikari’s breakdown and Kaname was just starting his. Kneeling on Kaname’s other side, she brought her arms around Kaname and rested her head on the back of his.
“Kaname.” She whispered. “Things might have changed, but that does not mean you’re alone in dealing with this. Tsugumo and I will be with you, for every step of the way.” She felt Kaname give a small nod. “So, trust us.” She looked up at Tsugumo, who gave her a small nod. “No matter what happens. We are here for you. We love you too much to let you go.” She could feel the sobs start to lessen.
“Thank you,” Kaname replied weakly.
Chisaki knew deep in her bones, that regardless of what happened in the future. Regardless, if the rest of the Sea people woke up. The three of them would be okay. They would survive whatever the future held together.