My Sunshine

A Strong Woman - Iruka

Iruka awoke, still at his desk, to the smell of cooking food, which shouldn't have been there.  Haru must be up cooking, which was something that he hadn't seen her do.  

She had officially been out of the hospital for 3 weeks and with him, and it was beginning to get easier.   But he had to admit, his back hurt from sleeping at his desk.  After that night with Anko, she had unofficially moved into his bed.  And he had unofficially moved to sleeping at his desk as to not disturb her.

Honestly, that may be because after those first few days, she spent much of her time asleep.  

She had once slept for two days straight, worrying him terribly.  He had even called for Mizuka, but she told him that her body was probably just healing.  Either way, he did his best to take care of her.  He would wake her up for water and meals and snacks.  Sometimes, they would even watch a movie together on opposite sides of the couch, her wrapped in her pink blanket.  But, after the first few minutes, she was usually asleep.

But today, she was up before him, which was unusual.

Stretching, he headed to the kitchen to find Haru wearing his apron and standing over the stovetop.

"Good morning, Haru."

She turned, a small smile on her face.

"Good morning."

She looked better today than he had seen her yet, but it wasn't physically. It was something in her eyes that had changed. Her violet eyes were brighter, almost like she had come back to life a little more. He moved to stand next to her, but she shooed him away gently.

"Go and sit down. Breakfast will be ready soon."

He reluctantly did as he was told. A minute later, there was a large bowl of rice with an egg cracked on top in front of him. It was simple, but she looked so proud.

"I hope you like it. I'm not much of a cook; I was never allowed to cook back on the island."

"I'm sure I will, but I'm not eating until you sit down and eat as well.

She made a bowl and sat down as well. Iruka took a bite. For someone who didn't cook, the rice was steamed surprisingly well.

"This is really good."

She smiled sweetly and picked up her own chopsticks, fumbling with them a little. She was still healing, after all.

"Do you want some help?"

"No, no. I'm fine. Thank you though."

He watched her with a smile on his face.

"You look like you're healing very well."

"I feel much better.  I'm sorry I haven't been very good company; I've never been able to just... sleep.  It's also given me a lot of time to process the last few months in my head."

"Oh yeah?"

"You... cried. At the hospital. For me. No one has ever cried for me.  And then you did it again when you told me that my body was my own.  I can't stop thinking about that."

He wanted to crawl under the table; his face turning red.

"I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable-"

"No. You didn't. It was the most tender thing that anyone has done for me in many years."

"I'm sorry that you were treated so poorly... and that your body wasn't your own."

She shook her head no.

I've always dreamed of autonomy. I've dreamed of a life where I control my own body. I've been used in exchange for the safety of the island as well a bargaining chip with other islands. The Dragon Islands don't have much to offer, except for an abundance of Aicer Root and Firethorn, among other poisonous plants, so I've been used instead to fill the gap. I'm hoping that Ryujin really thinks I'm dead and I''ll never have to go back."