𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐄 𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐘 | ᴋᴜᴢᴜʀʏᴜ ꜰᴜʏᴜʜɪᴋᴏ x ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ

~𝟒𝟐~

That night, Hannah tossed and turned in the bed of her new room, wincing every time her body made contact with the sheets. Her bruises and wounds from the kidnapping were still fresh, aching with a dull, relentless throb. Her head pounded, the aftermath of both the physical and emotional strain she'd been under. After what felt like hours of restless discomfort, she sighed in frustration and swung her legs over the edge of the bed, sitting up slowly.

Her muscles protested, but she knew she wouldn't be able to sleep like this. She glanced at the clock on the wall, it was the middle of the night. Not wanting to disturb anyone or ask for help, Hannah decided to get up and find some painkillers on her own. She didn't want to burden anyone, especially after everything Fuyuhiko and the Kuzuryu clan had done to keep her safe.

Quietly, she padded out of her room, careful not to make any noise. The halls were dark, only the soft glow of moonlight seeping through the windows guided her. The manor was eerily silent at this hour, amplifying every soft creak of the floorboards under her feet as she made her way to the kitchen.

Once inside, Hannah took a deep breath, grateful to be away from the memories of her abduction, at least for a moment. She began rummaging through the cabinets, opening them as quietly as possible. The kitchen was well-stocked, but she was having trouble locating the paracetamol. Every movement sent small shocks of pain through her, especially her bandaged ribs, but she kept going, determined not to wake anyone else up.

"Come on..." she whispered to herself, opening yet another drawer. Her hands fumbled through the various boxes and bottles, but nothing seemed right.

She was so focused on her task that she didn't hear the soft footsteps approaching behind her.

"You shouldn't be up."

Hannah jumped, her heart leaping into her throat as she spun around, clutching the edge of the countertop for support. Fuyuhiko stood in the doorway, his arms crossed and his expression a mix of concern and frustration. His hair was slightly disheveled, evidence that she had, in fact, woken him.

"I- uh, I didn't want to bother anyone.." she stammered, trying to catch her breath after being startled. "I just needed some painkillers. I couldn't sleep."

Fuyuhiko let out a sigh, walking toward her with purposeful steps. "You should've called for someone." he said, softer now. "That's what we're here for, you know? You don't need to do everything on your own."

Hannah glanced down, feeling embarrassed. "I just didn't want to be a burden."

Fuyuhiko stopped in front of her, his face softening as he reached into one of the higher cabinets and easily pulled out a box of paracetamol. He placed it on the counter beside her and gave her a look, one that was equal parts stern and compassionate.

"You're not a burden." he said firmly. "Not to me, not to anyone here."

Hannah swallowed the lump in her throat, her eyes flicking up to meet his. She still felt guilty for all the trouble her presence seemed to cause, but Fuyuhiko's words carried a weight that was hard to argue against. She nodded, accepting the paracetamol he offered.

"Thanks.." she mumbled, opening the box and taking out a couple of tablets. She filled a glass with water from the sink, her hands trembling slightly as she downed the pills.

Fuyuhiko stayed close, watching her with a protective intensity. Once she'd finished, he sighed again and ran a hand through his hair. "You should be resting, not sneaking around in the middle of the night."

"I know," Hannah admitted. "I just... didn't want to wake you. You've already done so much."

Fuyuhiko shook his head, stepping a little closer. "Look, you're going through a lot right now. No one expects you to handle this all on your own. It's okay to ask for help, alright?"