Whole

Chapter 43

Just a random video, but how freaking good is he live?! Like shiiiittttt...DAYMN SON!

Katsuko's POV

I groaned in protest as my phone began ringing, ripping me from the sleep I'd been in. My head pounded as if a hammer was hitting it repeatedly. My throat felt dry, my body ached, and my stomach churned in a way that made me feel as if I was on a small fishing boat in a harsh storm. Bile gathered in the back of my throat and burned as I swallowed it back down. I felt as if the Grimm Reaper was lingering on my back, waiting for my time as I reached for my phone.

"Hello?" I answered, not even looking at the caller I.D. and sticking it on loudspeaker. I didn't even have the energy to sit up or hold the phone to my ear.

"Baby? Baby, are you okay? Atsumi messaged me and said, you got sent home from work. You've been throwing up all morning?" Masato's voice rang from the receiver, sounding worried and panicked.

"I'm fine. I just feel like shit, that's all. Think I got the flu or something. I'm okay, though."

"You don't sound it, baby, do you need me to come home? I can-"

"No, please don't, you're in the middle of a tour, I'll be fine. Akrio is taking good care of me." I lifted my head, just a little to see Akrio lying quietly at the end of the bed.

"We're only opening for Crown The Empire; I'm sure they'd understand. Ryo's worried too, you rarely get ill, baby."

"Masato, I love that you want to drop everything and look after me, but please finish the tour. Your fans are depending on you, and Fateless just dropped; you need the promotion. Plus, it was already hard enough for you guys to make the arrangements to get you guys back to Europe."

They'd almost had to cancel their opening slot with Crown The Empire when Sugi's visa didn't come through with everyone else's. For some reason, even now, we were unsure of, they requested additional information and an interview which took weeks. It was only cleared ten days before they were set to leave.

"Yeah, but how the hell am I supposed to get on stage and act like nothing is wrong when I should be there looking after you?"

"The same way you always do, baby. You'll get up on stage, and you'll do what you love to do. If you bail out, you might lose the chance to get back out there and miss out on a lot of networking and promotion that you need. If you guys are only doing this for two more years, you can't just bailout. I'd feel better if you stayed put and do what you love to do."

"Yeah, well, I'd feel better if I didn't and came to care for the woman I loved. You're more important."

"Masato, please," I begged. I loved him deeply for how much he cared, but I didn't want him to put the band's future at risk. If they were stepping down, then they needed to make the most of it. They needed to make sure they got as far as they possibly could, and played all the places they could.

"Okay, I'll stay put," I heard Masato sigh heavily, and I knew he was running his hand through his hair as he did.

"Give it a couple of days, and I'll be my usual self. Honestly, all I'm going to be doing is sleeping, and Atsumi took the spare key. She's popping in and out with drink and food."

"All right, baby, if you're sure."

"I am. How's the tour going?"

"Really good, Brighton was an interesting place. Right along the coast, more fish and chip shops than I can count. Oh, and I also kicked Sugi's ass at crazy golf. It was this really cool indoor one, that was all dark and painted in U.V. paint. And Brighton has some quirky shops too down this place they call The Laines. I might have found something for you in one of the small shops."

"Oh? What you get me?"

"Well, you know I started buying you those limited edition Eeveelution plushes? The ones in those nice boxes?"

My eyes turned to our bedroom dresser. On top sat seven display boxes, each one with one of Eevee's evolutions in made in quality detail. There was one I was missing, and that was Eevee herself. They'd sold out almost instantly, and he'd not been able to find one without spending far more than they're worth.

"Yeah?"

"Well, I found Eevee! They had an Eevee! I can't find one in the whole of Japan, but I find one in Brighton. I won't lie; it cost a little more than it should have, but not much. Converted is was only about one thousand Yen more. I grabbed it before anyone else could, the woman said she'd only just put her out as well."

My heart warmed, and a small smile kissed on my slightly dry lips, "Aw, finally, the collection will be complete. Thank you, baby."

"You're welcome, was driving me insane not having the full set." He chuckled, "You want me to bring it home with me or mail it to you?"

"Bring it home with you, babe, don't want to risk her getting lost."

"That is a good point. All right, well, I'll keep Eevee nice and safe until I can get her home to you. It's going to be a long-ass five weeks, though."

Usually, we'd make sure we'd see each other when they were on tour. However, I was rammed at work now the company was not only working on the next cell phone but the PS5 too. I had three business trips in the next four weeks planned alone. That was without all the meetings, paperwork, and day to day work on top.

As for them, after England, they were hitting America, and he needed to have a chance to see his brother and his family. Then they were doing four shows around Japan before finishing in Nagoya. So I'd insisted he spent the few days between the Europen tour and the States one to see his family. The dates clashed with the time I was supposed to be at Sony's main office in Tokyo anyway.

"Yeah, I miss you already." I sighed, he'd only left three days ago, but as always, I felt the effects already. The first few days were still the worst, then the few days leading up to seeing him again.

"I miss you too, baby. You sure you're going to be okay?"

"I'll be fine, honestly, babe. You do your thing, and I'm going to sleep this shitty flu crap away. I could sleep for a week right now." I chuckled, wincing a little as the laugh burned my dry throat.

"You get some sleep, Koneko, make sure Akrio looks after you. Do you want me to call you before I go to bed, or do you want to sleep? It'll be about eight in the morning for you when I can call again."

"Call me, please." I didn't want to miss a chance to speak to him just because I felt like death warmed up.

"Okay, baby, I'll call. I love you."

"I love you, too. Have a good show."

"I will, night my love."

We stayed on the line a little longer, just as we always did, in silence until one of us finally hung up.

My hand patted the empty space beside me grabbing Akrio's attention before he moved into the space.

I stroked at his soft fur as he cuddled up into me and I slowly drifted off to sleep.