I Met You Again // giyushino

Chapter 31: Tying The Knot

TP

"This is our 4th meeting this week, Douma- san!" Kotoha said with a smile. At that moment, he felt himself change. Something clicked in him that he must see her smile everyday "Kotoha- chan." He called as she hummed at him "All we've been talking about is me. What about you? Don't you have problems?" Douma asked as her expression dropped "I-I mean I'm sorry for asking so bluntl-" "I don't really talk about them with my patients, but I guess I need to let them out at some point." Kotoha said before raising her head up with a smile on her lips as tears lined the edges of her eyes. Silence fell between them before she spoke up "I have a successful son. He's happily married to this wonderful girl that understands him." She started before wiping her tears "I'm glad he didn't take after his father. A drunkard who was never satisfied with us." She sniffed upon recalling her past "What did he do to you?" Douma asked as he leaned forward "H-He uhhh... used to beat my son and I often. It was hell, until he was on death's bed because of his liquor addiction." She explained before breathing out a shaky breath "We felt peace and freedom rather than sorrow." She said before standing up and turning to the corner of the room as she composed herself. Her tears couldn't help but come crashing down. Douma stayed in his seat looking at her back as he felt pity wash over him. Something has definitely changed ever since he met her. He slowly stood up and hesitantly approached her. He tapped her shoulder lightly before she slightly faced him "Do you uhmm..." He trailed off before opening his arms with a slight blush on his cheeks. Never in her whole life had she wanted a hug from any man ever since her late husband became an alcoholic, but this was different. She knew his crimes and actions, but she could sense the change in his attitude and manner. Kotoha hesitantly walked towards him and encircled her arms around his torso. He placed his hand on the back of her head while the other rested on the small of her back "It's okay." He said as she started to sob into his shoulder. His sudden change of heart meant good. They finished their daily session before she exited the room "Doctor Hashibira! Are you okay? What-" "I'm fine, Shinazugawa- kun. I see you're the guard on duty today." She pointed out as he hastily nodded "Well, I'll leave him to you. See you." She bid before walking down the hall. He decided to ask Douma what went on so he closed the door and asked him to sit down "Okay, why is Doctor Hashibira crying?" He asked as Douma drooped "It's her personal problems. I can't tell you." He replied "What was your name again?" He asked as the guard crossed his arms over his chest "Shinazugawa Genya. You're lucky I'm not that harsh type of guard." Genya said as the blonde latter nodded "What's with the sudden change? Just weeks ago you almost killed a guy for his lover. Where's that creep that went to court?" He asked as Douma rested back on his chair "I don't know either. It just feels... different when I talk to her. She's confident in her manner. She isn't creeped out by my looks or smile." He stated before resting his hand over his chest "My chest feels tight whenever she greets me and I feel sad whenever she's about to leave, but I always hope that she'll come back the next day." He explained with a soft smile and blush. Genya widened his eyes upon the realization "You're in love..." He stated as Douma looked up at him confused "Wha-" "Not the kind of love you had for the girls you assaulted in your past, but genuine love." Genya stated before covering his mouth with his hand "I-Is that a bad thing?" He asked as the younger Shinazugawa shook his head "I'll get going. My duty is almost over, the other guard will take you to your cell." He said before standing up and heading to the door "Shinazugawa- san! Don't tell anyone, please." Douma pleaded as Genya looked back at him and nodded with a small smile. Once he was left along in the room, he threw his head back and stared up at the ceiling as he remembered her sweet voice that greeted him and talked to him like he was a normal person "I guess I am in love... I've just known her for 4 days and yet..." He said to himself before sighing.

The beeping heart monitors filled the room along with Shinobu's soft snores. She sat on a chair right next to Giichi's bed and fell asleep while holding his hand. Her head rested on her other arm against a space on the hospital bed. She stayed there again crying and praying for him to wake up. As if the heavens heard her prayers, he groaned as he stirred a bit before slowly blinking his eyes open. He looked down at the weight on his hand to see a sleeping Shinobu with her hand intertwined with his over his abdomen. He slowly sat up trying not to wake her and not to crack open his wound. He looked at her sleeping face as a frown appeared on his lips. Dark circles resided under her eyes along with the red puffiness on their sides. Dried streams of tears marked on her cheeks. She looked paler and her hair was a mess. He brushed his hand over her hair and tucked some strands behind her ear. She hummed before slowly blinking her eyes open "Good Morning." Giichi greeted groggily with a smile as her eyes widened "Giichi..." Hot tears formed in her eyes as she pulled him into a tight hug "I'm so glad... so glad." She said as she cried into his good shoulder "Shhh. It's alright, I'm here." He hushed as she continued to sob "I have to call Tsutako- chan and Nee- San and- and-" "Relax. You can do that later." He cut her off as he held her wrists. He caressed her cheek as she leaned into it "What happened to you?" Giichi asked as he meant the changes in her appearance "I thought you would die..." Shinobu stated as she looked down "Look at me." He spoke before raising her chin up for her to face him "If I didn't do that, you'd be dead." He started "I'd rather die than have your body buried 6 feet under." He said before resting his forehead against hers "B-But I can't-" He cut her off by capturing her lips in a soft kiss. She let her tears fall as she kissed back. Tamayo came in to check on her fellow subordinate, but stopped in her tracks after opening the door. The two were too caught in the moment to even notice or hear her enter. She closed the door before resting against the wall beside it "Something wrong, Tamayo- chan?" Koyuki asked worriedly as she was about to open the door "Leave them be. He finally woke up." She stated as the pink eyed girl nodded and waited with Tamayo. They pulled away before smiling at each other. He brushed his hand over hers as he felt something on her finger "Excuse us." Koyuki said as she and Tamayo entered in. They called everyone as they began to update him on their lives and happenings. Giichi remembered that thing he felt on Shinobu's finger as he grabbed her hand and looked at it "What is it, Giichi?" She asked as everyone's attention averted to them. His eyes widened upon seeing what it was "You're wearing... the ring." He said as he looked up at her. She fell silent as he felt his stomach churn in nervousness "That wasn't the proposal I was going for, but..." He trailed off as he couldn't believe she was wearing it "Wait! Does that mean you?!-" "Yes. I do." She smiled widely at him as he pulled her back into his chest and let his tears flow down his cheeks. Everyone cheered and congratulated them as they cried tears of joy "My brother is getting married." Tsutako said as tears formed in her eyes and Tojuro patted her back "Shinobu's getting married!" Kanae cried loudly as Sanemi sweated nervously upon not knowing what to do "W-Why are you crying so heavily?" He asked as he patted her back "Because it was my only wish for her. To fall in love, get married, and grow old with that person." She sniffed as Shinobu smiled at her before hugging her "And you should be thanking Giichi too." She whispered to her as Kanae ran to Giichi and hugged him tightly "You'll be my brother- in- law now, Giichi- kun!" She cried as he gently hugged her back "Thank you for making my wish come true!" She said as he assured her it was alright. Everyone was happy for them as night came by. They all left while Shinobu stayed by his side "You'll get back pain if you keep sleeping there." He said as she shook her head "I'll be fine." She assured, but he didn't buy it. He pulled her under the covers of his hospital bed and tucked her in "Better. Don't you think?" He asked with a smile as she just blinked at him "Don't you miss this?" He asked as he pulled her into his chest. His radiating warmth came back as it comforted her "I do, everyday." She said as she buried her face into his chest before they drifted off to sleep.