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Part 2
By Ladyglen
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"C'mon, guys. The mornin's wasting. Let's get goin' already! Guys? Guys! Mia, you marshal the troops. They're ignoring me."
"All right, listen up! We all promised Ryo we'd help him, did we not?"
"Yes, Mia!" (chorus)
"Are any of you going back on your word?"
"No, Mia!" (chorus)
"Fine, then quit fooling around and let's *go* already. General Ryo? The troops are mustered."
"Hah! General, my ass!"
"Yuli!"
"Oops, sorry Mia."
"C'mon, Ryo, what's takin' you so long? Can the general beat us to the lake?"
"Rowen! Hey, not fair. You got a head start! Sage, help me catch him!"
*SLAM*
"Huh?" Sai's sleepy interrogative seemed to echo in the sudden silence that descended on the house. Jarred from a sound sleep, he tried to gather his scattered wits.
"Mmm, oh," Sai murmured in slow realization as he drew his legs up to his chest and snuggled the blankets firmly up around his chin. It had been the voices of his friends and the sound of the front door slamming that he'd heard. At dinner the previous evening, Ryo had started a determined campaign to convince the others to shovel a large enough area on the lake so that they could go skating. At the time, his friends' enthusiasm had been dubious, at best, yet now, the happy clatter and clamor that had awakened Sai seemed to indicate otherwise.
Wait a minute. Silence? The house was silent? That was... unexpected. Cautiously, Sai cracked an eyelid. No doubt about it, the bedroom he shared with Kento was quite empty. Nothing more threatening met his gaze than the bright sunshine that streamed through the balcony doors, turning the hardwood floor where it touched into a glowing, honey-gold pool, silhouetting the ladder-back chair that Kento had placed at their bedside. Hmmm, the empty, *unoccupied* ladder-back chair. Sai slowly smiled. It was the first time in nearly 2 weeks he'd awakened without his watchdog. Perhaps the others had persuaded Kento to accompany them to the lake as well? Sai hoped so. The idea of having the house to himself was incredibly attractive.
At the tail end of a yawn, Sai rolled onto his back. His lazy stretch was abruptly aborted before he reached full extension by a taut, mildly sore twinge in his middle. "Oh, damn." Beneath the covers, slender fingers traced the 3 inch scar on the right side of his abdomen. It was still a bit sore, yet Sai couldn't help but smile to himself as he curled back onto his side. That scar might still be sore, but every time he awakened, it seemed less so. Dr. Mori had been right. He was young, in good health, and was, indeed, recovering quickly.
But, not quickly enough. Like the cloud which crossed the sun and dimmed the luminescent, gold of the floor to a flat tan, the thought dimmed Sai's smile. Sighing heavily, he threw back the covers, shivering slightly as the cool air prickled across his naked body. He wasn't recovering quickly enough... why'd he have to get sick to begin with?
"Please, is Dr. Mori in? Sai needs to see him right away."
Sai wasn't surprised when the nurse standing behind the receptionist's desk took one look at them and motioned Kento towards the nearest examination room. Perhaps it was because the waiting room was empty, perhaps it was because of the fear in Kento's voice, perhaps it was because of the way Kento was cradling him in his arms since he'd hurt so badly he'd been unable to walk into the office himself. Whatever the reason, Sai really didn't care. He needed help, and barging in on Dr. Mori without an appointment was *way* better than the emergency room.
The nurse must have gone for the doctor immediately after closing the door behind them, for Kento had barely set him down on the examination table before Dr. Mori, already ruffling through Sai's charts, bustled into the room.
"You boys are lucky you caught me here. I'm due at the hospital for rounds in about an hour. What's the prob-, good lord, Sai, you look absolutely horrible!"
From his curled position on the examination table, Sai watched his doctor's normally cheery demeanor melt away into complete seriousness. His fear that something was seriously amiss grew even as he tried concentrate through the pain in order to answer Dr. Mori's rapid-fire questions. Yes, he'd felt feverish; no, he'd not suffered from either diarrhea or constipation; yes, his appetite was non-existent; yes, he was constantly nauseous, though he hadn't actually thrown up; yes, the pain in his stomach had started around his belly button, and then moved to center around the lower right-hand side; yes, the fever and nausea had started after the pain.
Taking Dr. Mori's suggestion, Sai held Kento's hand as his abdomen was probed. Though the doctor's fingers were gentle as they pressed, the pain they elicited was the sharp thrust of a dagger's blade, lancing through him and pinning him to the examination table. It hurt! Oh, it hurt! Scarlet dripped from Sai's lower lip as he turned his head to the side, mingling with the few tears he was unable to suppress and staining the white tissue beneath his cheek pink. Miserable, aching soreness reverberated around and through his mid-section as Dr. Mori eased up on the pressure, bleeding away sight and washing away the sound of Kento's cry as Sai's hand spasmed tightly on his.
"Doc Mori! What does all that mean? What's wrong with Sai?"
Kento's strident, insistent voice drew Sai out of his pain-filled fog, pulled Dr. Mori's attention away from Sai's chart and his confusing, medical-speak mutters.
"Appendicitis. Sai, the intestinal virus you had most likely infected your appendix. The good news is that we've caught it in time, but the bad news is that I'm quite sure that your appendix has ruptured and that peritonitis has developed. When we get to the hospital, I'll order up an abdominal x-ray and a CBC before we operate, but I'm sure those will only verify my diagnosis."
"Hospital? Operate!?!"
"Kento, sit back down and calm yourself! Yes, operate! Peritonitis is fatal if left untreated. We must operate to remove the ruptured appendix and cleanse his abdominal cavity of the infection immediately, or Sai will die."
"Die..."
But I didn't die, Kento. Sai scuffed his feet into his slippers, and slowly stood. After rummaging through his dresser for jeans and a sweatshirt, he made his way out of the bedroom, down the hall, and into the shower.
"Die..."
Sai stood still, eyes closed, water as hot as he could stand it pounding on the back of his head and shoulders. He wished that the drumming droplets could wash away the memory of the mingled dread, guilt, and accusation that he'd heard in Kento's hoarse whisper, that he'd seen shining from Kento's eyes, as easily as they washed the shampoo suds from his hair. He was beginning to fear that he wished in vain, that that particular memory would never fade, for it was reinforced daily.
Not in the ambulance, not before they wheeled him into surgery, not in the four miserable days he'd spent in the hospital after his surgery with nothing more exciting to do than watch the antibiotics and pain-killers drip through his IV, not one single time in the 12 days since he'd come home. Kento never spoke the actual words. He didn't have to, for his every expression and action screamed them until Sai couldn't help but hear: Why didn't you say anything? Why didn't I notice? You could've died!
But, I didn't die, Kento. I'm going to be all right. Sai shook his head so sharply he nearly lost his footing on the slick surface of the shower stall, then resolutely reached for the soap. Instead of further brooding, he needed to think of a way to get Kento to believe that.
Kento. Eyes drifting closed, Sai's cleansing motions slowed almost against his will to lingering caresses; slick, soapy fingers tracing his nipples, moving downwards to brush against his half erect penis. Ah, hell, Kento. His hands dropped slowly to his sides, slowly clenched into fists. No, he didn't want to do it this way. It wasn't his hands he wanted touching him, but Kento's.
With something that approached a growl, Sai turned and wrenched the shower controls to cold, again resisting the desire that had been growing in him ever since his incision had began to itch more than it ached. Sai rapidly rinsed the remaining soap from his no longer aroused body, then turned off the water and stepped from the stall. He hugged his towel to his chest, burying his face into it's plush softness. His incision wasn't the only thing that itched, yet he'd had no more success in getting Kento to scratch that itch than he'd had in getting his love to believe that he was really going to be all right.
Sai quickly and vigorously dried himself, as if his towel could soak up his frustration along with the water clinging to his body. He dressed and groomed himself as rapidly, his stomach beginning to rumble. And no wonder. Strapping on his watch, Sai realized that it was nearly noon. Since his surgery, he tired easily, and had been sleeping much more than he normally did. Hoping that Mia had left something simmering on the stove for breakfast, Sai hung his towel over a hook to dry, and exited the bathroom.
"Yeah! Way to go, dude!"
Sai froze, foot hanging in midair above the first step of the stairs, as Kento's voice drifted up to him from the direction of the family room. Though slightly disappointed, for he'd relished the idea of having the house to himself, Sai couldn't help but smile fondly. No one he knew could get quite so enthusiastically into a game as his love, and Kento's happy cheering was something he'd not heard in far longer than he cared to consider.
Well, as it seemed Kento was occupied at least for a little while, Sai tread lightly down the stairs, hoping that meant he'd have a chance to eat before Kento realized he was awake; he'd have much more peace that way.
Glancing towards the entry hall as he made his way to the kitchen, Sai smiled again, this time just a bit wistfully. As most of the jackets and boots that had taken up residence on and beneath the pegs on the wall next to the front door were missing, it was practically a sure thing that everyone besides Kento had gone to the lake. Sai wished he could've gone as well, but he'd been banned from any strenuous physical activity for another week to two weeks.
Sai continued on into the kitchen, making his way to the pot sitting on the stovetop over low heat. Lifting the lid, he peeked inside, silently thanking Mia for her thoughtfulness. She must have made the oatmeal just before she'd left the house, for it had not yet thickened to the consistency of wall spackle. Grinning, Sai filled a bowl, and then scraped what remained in the pot into the container that Mia had left on the counter. After placing the container into the refrigerator, Sai gave the pot a quick wash, then let the water out of the sink.
Perching himself on a stool near the counter, Sai slowly stirred syrup into his oatmeal, then shook some raisins into his hand. Two more weeks? Would that be the point at which Dr. Mori would declare Sai fully recovered? With the doctor's confirmation that he was all right, would Kento stop treating him as if he would up and die at the drop of a hat? Sai picked up his spoon, then stuck his tongue out at the cheerful smiley face he'd created on the surface of his oatmeal with the raisins. Kento had better, for Sai was unsure he'd last another two days if he didn't, let alone two weeks and beyond.
His natural optimism reasserting itself, Sai smiled and picked up his spoon. He had to hope for the best. It was a new day, and it was promising that Kento had been downstairs bonding with the television instead of hovering upstairs in that darned chair waiting for him to awaken.
Sometime while Sai had been in the hospital, Kento had managed to convince himself that he needed to 'take care of' Sai in order to assure his lover's well being. Sai would be lying to himself if he claimed he hadn't enjoyed that extra special attention the first couple of days back from the hospital. It had been nice to be pampered, for that incision had hurt! On the bright side of things, after those couple of days, the pain had steadily faded. On the dark, gloomy, 'make you wanna slit your wrists' down side of things, Kento, with characteristic pigheadedness, continued to treat him as if he were still incapacitated no matter how Sai protested that he was capable of caring for himself.
Kento followed Dr. Mori's orders as if they were gospel. Dr. Mori said to get lots of rest, so Kento badgered him into bed at regular intervals. If Sai protested he wasn't tired, Kento simply scooped him into his arms as if he were a babe, carried him to their bed, and then practically stood guard until he inevitably did fall asleep. Dr. Mori said to avoid rigorous exercise, so Kento fetched and carried. He wouldn't allow Sai to do *anything* for himself. Nothing! Sai was surprised that his lover wasn't there to hold his penis for him while he peed, not that that would be such a bad thing. At least that would be one way to get Kento's hands on him again. Since he'd fallen ill, his lover made no move to touch him and ignored any attempt on Sai's part to instigate any kind of sexual play. Kento made sure Sai followed Dr. Mori's diet. Kento made sure he took his medication on time. Kento hovered, rarely leaving Sai's side. Kento was solicitous. Kento never raised his voice. Kento wouldn't bicker or banter. Kento was acting so out of character, that Sai was beginning to suspect some elves had stolen his love away, leaving a changeling in Kento's place. And that changeling was slowly driving Sai right out of his mind!
Sai carried his empty bowl over to the sink, and turned on the water. Watching the crystal tide flow over the edge of the bowl, carrying bits of oatmeal with it, Sai tried to decide what he was going to do. He understood that his illness had rattled Kento. It had rattled him. It was not as if he were a stranger to death or the possibility of dying, but death as a result of fighting alongside his friends for something they all believed in was far different than dying a pointless death due to sudden illness. Sai understood that Kento, with all his mothering and hovering, meant well, so had, thus far, held his tongue, hoping that his constant improvement would reassure Kento that he was well. Thus far, it hadn't.
"All right! Yes!"
Startled, Sai looked up from his contemplation of his breakfast bowl, then scowled as he realized he was simply putting off going to Kento. He hated that he felt that way, but no matter how many times he tried to speak with Kento it was as if he spoke a foreign language. Kento would *not* hear him, either couldn't or wouldn't understand him. He loved Kento with all of his heart and soul, but his lover was smothering him, and he feared that when he finally could hold his tongue no longer, he'd say something he truly regretted. Sighing, he turned off the water. It was a new day, and he hadn't lost hope. At least not yet.
The sound of fans cheering on the television grew louder as Sai approached the family room. He paused in the doorway, unable to prevent a smile at the sight of Kento on his feet, one arm pumping in a close-fisted victory sign, and practically dancing with excitement as whatever team he was rooting for scored again. Sai's hope grew with each step he took into the room. Kento was acting... normal. Wonderfully, beautifully ordinary. Finally! Could it be his Kento had returned, ousting the loony changeling?
on to Part 3
back to the Gazebo
