New Beginnings

Hakuei plucked two small teabags from the metal containter and replaced the lid. After dunking them several times into the hot cups of water, he carefully carried them into the livingroom. He handed one to the other man already seated on the couch, then sat down beside him.

"Thank you." Tsukasa said and took a tiny, cautious sip. He closed his eyes and sighed, then scooted closer to the older man, curling up against him, resting his dark head on Hakuei's shoulder.

"I know you wanted to stay at the hospital," Hakuei said quietly, "but the doctors said the procedure could last at least 8-12 hours." He kissed the top of the other man's head, wrapping an arm around him. "Besides, they'll call Yoshiki when he's out of surgery."

Tsukasa nodded and held the other man tighter.

"If everything goes as we hope, against all the odds," Hakuei continued, his hand slowly moving up and down Tsukasa's back, "if Tora does somehow make it through all this, comes home happy and healthy.... what happens then?" He rested his chin on top of Tsukasa's head. "What happens to us?"

Tsukasa sighed and leaned over Hakuei, setting his cup on the endtable, then rose up and kissed Hakuei gently on the lips.

"I don't know," he whispered honestly, then nuzzled the side of Hakuei's face. "But I'm sure... ..... We'll figure something out."

---

Yoshiki picked up the phone and cradled it between his chin and shoulder, eyes never leaving the computer screen before him.

"Moshi moshi." A moment later his hands stilled and Atsushi looked up from the magazine he'd been flipping through on the couch.

"Hai...ok, Thank you." He replaced the phone but didn't resume his work. Instead, he looked up to meet his lover's gaze, a thoughtful look across his face.

"That was Mana-sama." he said. "Tora's out of surgery."

Atsushi grinned. "Great!" He stood and walked over to the desk, leaning down to give the blonde a quick kiss. "Do they think he's going to be ok?"

Yoshiki shrugged. "They won't know until he wakes and they can run a dozen more tests on him. But.." he finally broke into a relieved, desperate smile, "he's survuived this far." He picked up his phone again and dialed. "Kisaki? Yes, can you please tell Tsukasa that Tora's out of... yes, but they don't know yet. He won't be awake for a couple of hours at least, but I thought.. yeah, I'm sure some of the others are going to want to run over there as well. Ok,. see you then." he replaced the phone and stood. "Better go share the news."

The two men stepped out into the moderatly busy bar and grill, loud, fast-paced music blaring from the juke-box Hakuei looked up from pouring drinks and smiled, then paused as the expressions on their faces warned him that something had happened. Yoshiki ducked under the bar and waved him over.

"The hospital called and said Tora's out of surgery." His dark eyes searched Hakuei's face a moment, then continued. "They think he's doing ok for now, but with such a delicate oporation... aside from a whole host of possible complications, they won't even know if it worked until he wakes up. Kisaki and Tsukasa are on their way over, and I though maybe you might want to go with me and Achan."

Hakuei nodded and spun around. He trotted up behind Kirito, also tending bar, and whispered into his ear for a moment. The shorter man nodded and said something back before Hakuei returned to his father. "Kirito said he'd call Tochi and Hide to help close and then they'd all head over in a couple of hours."

Yoshiki nodded. "Alright, let's go."

---

The three men stood in the elevator, no one saying anything as the car carried them up to the ICU floor. A few quiet moments later the doors opened and Hakuei led the way to where the nurses had said the waiting room would be. It was the second night in a row where they had been gathered in the dead of night at this hospital, but they could only hope that this night would prove to be a better one.

Tsukasa looked up as they walked in. Hakuei took a seat next to him as the young man grasped tightly onto his hand.

"Have they said anything?"

Tsukasa shook his head. "They said he may not wake for awhile, so all we can do is wait."

---

The clock on the wall struck 4am and the small waiting room was crowded. Hakuei and Tsukasa were half asleep in a big chair, the younger man leaning heavily into Hakuei's chest, eyes closed but that worried frown still turning the corners of his mouth down. Yoshiki and Atsushi were quietly talking in the corner with Kirito and Kisaki, Bou sandwiched between them, snoring occasionally. Hide, Toshiya, Rose and Kiyoharu sat on the floor around a short table, playing cards. All was quiet save a small TV mounted high on the wall, though it had been turned very low since no one was bothing to watch it.

Suddenly, a shrill beeping noise sounded and several nurses and doctors emerged from the nurses station nearby, rushing past the waiting room door in great haste. Instantly, those sleeping woke and Rose ran to the door, peering outside.

"What room is Tora's?" the blonde asked over his shoulder.

"Um... "Tsukasa closed his eyes to think, his breath coming in quick gasps as he tried to stay calm. "I think its.. 412! Yes, thats it."

Rose nodded. "Stay here." He ducked into the hall and jogged the fifteen feet or so to the nurses station.

"Excuse me, ma'am," he said and the older woman looked up. "Can you possibly tell me what that alarm was for?"

She gave him a stern look. "No, sir, I'm sorry but I cannot. If it happens to concern you, I'm sure the doctor will let you know as soon as everything is under control."

Rose frowned and looked toward the control panel briefly. "so, you mean, that alarm really was a bad sign? Is someone doing poorly?"

She narrowed her eyes. "Well, I wouldn't know since I'm not there, now am I?" She huffed slightly. "Perhaps you should go back to the waiting room now." She pointed back the way he came and shooed him off.

Rose returned to the waiting room, frowning. Tsukasa stood and met him at the door.

"What... what is it?"

Rose shook his head. "The nurse couldn't tell me anything but," he hesitated, "I did see the patient's room curcit board and #412 was flashing red."

"No.." Tsukasa tried to push past him but the taller man blocked the way. Hakuei came up behind him and grabbed him around the shoulders.

"Ssshhh..." Hakuei bent down and whispered in his ear as Tsukasa struggled against his arms. "The doctors are in there now, trying to save him. You can't do anything but get in the way." Tsukasa shook his head furiously a few more moments, then suddenly slumped against him.

"I just don't want to loose him again." Tsukasa whispered, tears gathering around his eyes. "I don't want him to die."

Rose stepped forward and hugged him, sandwiching the shorter man between himself and Hakuei, then stepped back. "Look, the doctor's are doing what they can, ok?" He smiled slightly. "Tora's going to get better, you'll see. He'll make it through all this and then we can take him home." Hakuei smiled at the other man over Tsukasa's shoulder and turned him, leading him back to the chair. Kisaki passed them and stood by Rose, leaning close.

"Do you really think he's going to make it?" he whispered.

Rose sighed. "How good of a surgeon is your brother?"

---

Mana-sama walked into the ICU waiting room a couple of hours later, his face ragged and tired, long black hair braided and pulled back into a tight bun at the base of his neck. Yoshiki noticed his arrival first and turned around to rap his son sharply on the shoulder before standing and crossing the room. Hakuei woke the others and they gathered around the doctor.

"We had a couple of close calls," Mana said, "but we think he's through most of the initial trial period."

"So that was his room earlier?" Tsukasa asked. "The alarm that sounded a few hours ago?"

The dark haired man nodded. "His heart started to give out, twice, but we were able to save him. He's awake now, though I've given him heavy medication that will put him out very soon. I'll allow one of you at a time to speak with him for a moment, but only briefly. He needs to rest."
Tsukasa stepped forward

"Do you know which room is his?" Mana asked him and the younger man nodded and quickly left the room. Mana turned to the others and frowned.

"He's still in alot of danger. Once he's fully awake and responding well, we can run more tests to see if we were sucessful." he rubbed his forhead. "You guys might as well go home and get some rest. I'll call Yoshiki later on today when he's more reponsive."

---

Tsukasa slowly opened the door and stepped inside, carefully closing it behind him. He could see Tora in his bed, tubes coming out everywhere, all hooked up to various machines beeping steadily around him. One whole side of his head had been shaved, and Tsukasa could see a long line of stitches running across his scalp. Tears gathered in his eyes as he made his way to the bed and laid one hand over Tora's, mindful of the IV running from his arm. The other man's tired eyes fluttered open and he smiled slightly.

"Don't try to talk," Tsukasa said, "I can only stay a minute. I just.. I wanted to make sure you were ok." Tora's other hand came up and wiped away the tears flowing silently down his cheeks. "We heard... when the alarm sounded..." Tsukasa looked down. "I was afraid I had lost you." he took a deep breath. "But I know you are a fighter and you will make it through this, for yourself and for the rest of us." He put on a brave smile. "Remember that we love you and are here for you. Just... make sure you come back to us, ok?" Tora nodded and Tsukasa leaned down, placing a soft kiss on his forhead. "I'll go see if any of the others are going to visit you, but I think Mana-sama wants us to let you rest first."

Tsukasa stood, squeezing Tora's hand briefly, then left.

---

Tora closed his eyes and took a deep, weary breath. The tubes going up his nose and down his throat stung, but he forced himself to think of other things. He heard the door open and close again, and before he could will up enough energy to open his heavy eyes again, he heard it open once more. He looked up just in time to see a shock of long auburn hair before the door closed behind the retreating figure and the medication kicked in, sending him to sleep.