I Can't Stand You

A Temporary Fog / I'll Make You Well - Ebisu

Ebisu, however, didn't open his eyes to a painless afterlife.

He awoke in a white, sterile room in dull, medicated pain. He couldn't talk. He could only be still and breathe, although he did wiggle his toes to make sure they still worked. Even that took a great amount of effort, though.  The room was filled with the soft beeping of various machines hooked to him. And something was heavy and warm against his side. Or someone. Unable to move his head, he wiggled his fingers, hoping to stir-

"Ebisu?"

It was! It was Katsu!

She quickly sat up and began to cry. He moved his eyes to gaze at her and began to cry as well, tripping several monitors. A healer came flying in.

"Hey, it's okay. Everything's okay. Please, calm down. Both of you. You're in a fragile state, Ebisu Sensei."

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He had lived. He mouthed.

'Gone?'

She nodded.

"He's gone, Baby. You neutralized him."

He had saved his lover and had lived to be with her. He felt something cool enter his IV, giving him a chill.

"Sorry, Ebsiu Sensei. It's a sedative, but we'll have you healed in no time."

He felt as if he were in a fog, but he knew that it was only temporary. The healer reset the monitors and left, leaving him alone with Katsu once again. As the monitors beeped softly once again, she rested her face against the pillow next to his head, kissing his cheek softly.

"Your student is a hero. You wouldn't have made it without Konahamaru. Mizuka gave him directions and he didn't miss a beat. And Mizuka proved that she's the best. She gave you a direct transfusion from me. And then I heard she stuck herself and gave you the rest of the blood you needed to arrive here alive."

She showed him her bruised wrist, heavily packed with gauze and tape. A direct transfusion? That sounded dangerous.  She cupped his face in her soft hand, gazing into his eyes.

"I know you're unable to talk, but fuck do I love you. My hero. I was afraid those were the last words I'd ever hear. The arrow ripped through your neck and the top of your collarbone. It was stopped by your right shoulder blade. But Mizuka and Konohamaru were amazing. And I guess I was too, since it took quite a bit of my blood to save you."

Her nose wrinkled with a smile.  She leaned in and kissed him again as he listened, beginning to drift back off to sleep. And she wasn't alone; as he was on the brink of sleep, Konahamaru had shown up along with Mizuka. He watched them, content as he was losing consciousness.  Mizuka was speaking, but he couldn't understand her words.  Konohamaru put a hand on Katsu's shoulder.  They were here for both of them.  Their support.  They saved his life and made sure Katsu was safe.

Mizuka's fingers felt warm as they ran over the bridge of his nose comfortingly as his eyes closed, falling asleep.

***

"Come on, you can stay in the downstairs bedroom with me until you can get you back upstairs."

Katsu wheeled him inside of the cottage and to the downstairs bedroom.  He was finally home. it had been a long week in the hospital, and even at that the Konoha healers were shocked that he had improved so drastically.  Enough to be discharged only eight days after the incident. 

And, probably, much to the disappointment of the horny shinobi of Konoha, Katsu hadn't left his side.

He had spent the last week being sustained  by a feeding tube and little kisses and little sponges on sticks soaked in ice water to quench his thirst from Katsu.  She must really be into him, he had through those first few days, because all he could do is choke on his own saliva as she tried to help him.  He couldn't swallow at first because of the medications, and then he couldn't swallow because of the pain.

But two days ago, everything changed...

He was cleared to eat by mouth, and he struggled to swallow as Katsu slwoly spooned hot, salty broth into his mouth.  Nothing had ever tasted so good!  They had both cried as he slowly ate, knowing that this was a big deal. She held him as the salty broth in his belly made him sleepy.  She dreamed out loud, holding him as she spoke softly.  But, her dreams weren't sappy: she spoke of summer plans.  Maybe going to the beach.  A trip to Tenchi's legendary hot spring for some relaxation and healing.  Dinners outside in the warm weather.  Walks in the park under the fireflies.  Dancing.  Drinks.  Meeting with friends.  Snuggling together in her shop late into the night, talking. Holding him in their loft area, listening to the rain.  The little things that made the biggest differences in relationships. And he was here for it. He was so in love with her.

He also noticed that she was careful not to get too sexual: she was clearly afraid of getting him too worked up and hurting him.

But now, they were home.  He wasn't cleared to do anything but lay in the bed and eat broth, and that was okay.  Because he was home.  With her.

She gently and unceremoniously helped him onto the bed and under the blankets.  still in a hospital gown.  She untied the gown and instead helped him into a pair of soft, loose sweatpants.  Leaning over him , he watched in awe as she slowly began to kiss his bare chest, leaving drops of tears along with little kisses.  He could only make a little gutteral sound, still unable to speak.  She looked up, crying.  His beautiful Katsu.

"I'll make you well again.  I love you so much."

He weakly ran his hands through her hair, which was cascading loosely around her shoulders.  Katsu.  His weak body was bruised; his arms were still taped where IV's had been inserted and removed, but somehow, he had survived.  He had saved Katsu, and Katsu had saved him.

He could only mouth the words.

'I love you, too.'