Tenacious

2 a.m. Why is my phone ringing? Where is my phone...there is too much sleep in my eyes.

Rubbing the blur away from my vision, I see "Miya" brightly illuminated across the tiny screen.

"Hello?"

"Yusuke. I...uh...Tatsur--" There is pause, and I can faintly make out muttering going on in the background. A sniffle declares his return, and his quivering voice tells me something is very wrong.

"Tatsurou got in a r-really bad accident, man. He got hit by a car a-and I'm not sure how he's doing because they won't t-tell us a-anything." It's the first time I've heard Miya cry so hard, and as soon as the last word leaves his lips it hits me what is really happening.

"Where are you?" I whisper, hot tears sliding down my cheeks.

"Saiseikai Hospital."

I press the "end call" button and jump out of bed, holding my hand over my mouth as I whimper and stumble around for my jacket. I pull it over my wife beater, yanking up the fabric of my cartoon PJs to slip on my shoes, shoving my house keys and phone into the pocket of my coat and running out of my apartment.

For the first time since I moved into this neighborhood I thank the Gods that the hospital is within walking distance. Seeing ambulances speed down this street day in and day out is depressing, but right now it's heaven sent, since I don't think I can stand to be alone for much longer. I rush past the automatic doors into the entrance of the emergency waiting area, spotting Miya and running over. He stands up and wraps his arms around me as soon as I am close enough, burying my face in his shoulder as I start to cry. I pull away and wipe under my nose, sit down beside Miya, glance over at Satochi and place my hand on his knee. He is staring off, not acknowledging my presence at first, trying to keep the tears at bay. He nervously holds his fingers to his mouth, his leg bouncing up and down, finally he tears his eyes away to stare at me.

"Yaguchi-san..." The three of us look up, a doctor in a long white coat standing before us, looking detatched. We hold our breath as Miya stands up slowly.

"Iwakami-san has a broken leg, several minor fractures, and a head injury we're going to monitor, but I think he's going to be fine. The only thing I'm worried about are the open wounds that have caused blood loss, but my staff is treating that as we speak. You said there was no family?"

"No one we could get into contact with...I'll try again. When can we see him?"

"Since he's under sedation still I can't say he'll be too aware of his surroundings until morning. Right now he needs rest, but you're welcome to stay the night if you'd like." The Doctor looks between the three of us, waiting for a response.

"I'll stay. You guys go home...I'm already dressed for the occasion." I laugh, sniffling and wiping my nose on the back of my hand again. Miya nods, and Satochi gets to his feet as the both of them look at me. Miya grabs his coat and pats my shoulder, bowing to the doctor as he starts to leave. Satochi follows, gripping my hand tightly before exiting through the double doors out into the cold air.

"Come with me...uh?" The doctor taps his lip.

"Fukuno Yusuke."

"Oh, yes. I'm Dr. Takashi. Your relation to Mr. Iwakami?"

"He's my partner."

"Mmm." Surprisingly there is no change in expression, no disapproving noises. Only the movement of his arms as he beckons me down the stark white hallways. I hate hospitals.

My stomach is churning, and it seems like a never-ending corridor. Room 17...18...19...20.

"He might acknowledge you, but I can't make any promises until the morning. Ms. Akemi will bring you that pillow and blanket I was talking about."

I move past the doorway and towards the bed, and I can barely breathe from the sight of him. I immediately take his hand in mine, and it's still warm despite it all.

"He looks worse than he feels I assure you. He just needs to sleep, and to know you're with him. Here we go." The Doctor sets everything down when the Nurse hands it to him, and he says goodnight before closing the door.

I wipe away the stubborn tears staining my cheeks, willing myself to stop. You know when you cry and they just won't stop? He'd make fun of me if he knew I was doing this right now. His hair is caked to his forehead, a mixture of blood and sweat is molding the strands together in clumps. I brush it away and kiss his forehead, never letting go of his hand as I catch the bottom of a chair and drag it over with my foot. I just manage to grab the sheet and pillow, throwing them down without a care and sitting myself as close as I could get to him. I want to climb in there.

"You're noisy." I jump and stare at Tatsurou in shock.

"Have you been awake this whole time?"

"I couldn't tell them I needed stronger drugs. It wore off after the surgery...I am, however...still a little numb." He smiles, his eyes still closed to keep the bright lights at bay. He squeezes my hand and I sigh out, wanting to smack him and kiss him all at once. I would find a way if I knew it wouldn't hurt him.

"You bastard. You could have died and you act like you fell off your bike and scraped your knee!" I'm crying again, and I know I am overreacting.

"This is exactly why you shouldn't be yelling at me." He strokes the inside of my palm, tugging on me and barely opening his eyes enough to see where I am.

"I was so scared..."

"Please don't cry. Come here." He winces slightly and shifts across the bed, making enough room for me. I make sure he hasn't pulled any I.Vs out or hurt himself too bad moving before I lift myself up onto the mattress and curl up beside him.

"Please don't do this to me ever again."

"I don't plan on jumping in front of any more vehicles anytime soon." He brushes his lips against my forehead, arm wrapping around me. He is so warm.

When I wake up that morning, I notice that the space next to me is empty and I'm cold. I shoot up when I realize the unoccupied space means Tatsurou is not where he is supposed to be. There he is, sitting on top of a large brown table, head cocked upwards at the TV mounted on the wall. I've learned by now that yelling at him does jack shit, and that the best tactic is to persuade him back into bed with something. There was really only one thing I could do that was tempting enough.

"Mmm, Tatsurou..." I pretend like I've just woken up, stretching and letting my shirt ride up to expose my belly, knowing that it was one of his favorite places on my body. At first he's fails to notice, and I let out a suggestive noise, brushing a finger across my nipple. To most I would look ridiculous right now, but to Tatsurou...

I hear a thud, and it doesn't take long to find him at my side, looking down at me with a wicked grin. I bring my shirt down, scoot over and pat the bed beside me.

"Now get your ass in this bed right now, or that's the last time you'll see me naked."

He looks confused, hoisting himself halfway onto the bed as his encased leg dangles a few inches from the ground.

"Technically you aren't fully naked." He pokes my stomach, making me smack him out of habit. Even when he's broken he just can't seem to lose the smartass within.

"That threat got you on the bed, didn't it?" I tease, kissing his neck and shoving him down just in time for the nurse to walk through the door. It takes her a moment to realize the both of us are in the bed, sprawled out together, my shirt still riding up on the side and my face in his neck. Well, if this isn't awkward...

"Um, should I come back later?" She fidgets, setting down a tray with Tatsurou's breakfast. I don't know why she's even trying, he won't eat it.

"Have you come to drug me up again?" That's Tatsurou, answering a question with another question, perking up when she snaps the tip off of a syringe. He's apparently delighted he's being medicated. Maybe he'll fall asleep for more than 15 minutes this time.

"You have to eat something before I give you this." She says, offering him a bowl of rice with an egg on top.

"Can't I just eat him instead?" He points at me, making me blush and want to slap him again. I refrain from doing so because the woman looks traumatized enough as it is.

"He'll eat the food. Tatsurou..." I warn him, reaching over him and taking the bowl from her and setting it in his lap. I give him that look, and this is the look that can make him change his mind on just about anything. It may look like he controls me, but it's actually the other way around. I just do it with camouflaged class.

He snatches the chopsticks from her and smirks, tearing them into two and diving into the egg and rice. The nurse rushes closer and turns his arm over to find the I.V., injecting the medication through the tube and leaving without another word.

"You know, Yukke. It's a good thing I love you so much, because if it were up to me she would have been here for another 30 minutes trying to convince me."

"This is why you can't live without me. You'd die before you'd let someone tell you what to do."

"You are the only exception to that rule, too." He snaps his chopsticks in the air.

God, he is so stubborn. He is also messy, dropping a few grains of rice onto his chin. I wipe them away and pat his thigh before I jump off the bed and try to find the bathroom.

"Yusuke."

I shut the door and push up the lid of the toilet, unbuttoning my pj pants.

"I'm peeing."

"Well, hurry up! I need to get dressed."

I laugh, shaking my head. He's so pathetic. I flush when I'm finished, putting everything back in it's place and stepping inside the white room once more. I look at Tatsurou, tilting my head. "Did they say you could leave?"

"No, but I'm going to anyway." He stumbles to the floor, holding himself up as he starts stripping out of the hospital gown. As if he heard Tatsurou's comment, the Doctor glances in and blinks at the nude man, turning his eyes to me.

"What's he doing?"

"I want to leave. I can't sleep in this place and the food sucks. No offense, Doc, but I'd rather be in his apartment recovering." He points at me and grins, not phased in the slightest by the fact that almost the entire hospital staff is seeing him naked right now. I sigh and bury my face in my hands, peeking out when I hear the Doctor chuckling.

"Well, Iwakami...I was hoping to hold you here until the evening, but I see that you are fully capable of moving around on your own." He turns to me, whispering in my ear.

"Just make sure he doesn't get too rowdy. I want that cast intact when he comes back in for a check-up, otherwise I know you can take care of him." He smiles. I look over and see Tatsurou with his legs in the air, trying to pull his shorts over his bandaged leg. A woman screams outside the room. I didn't think he was going to provide a peepshow for 40-something desk nurses.

"I...uh...I'll do the best I can." I clear my throat and help Tatsurou get his leg through the hole, hearing the Doctor shut the door as he laughs. I gather up his things, including his favorite jacket, noticing that it has blood stains on the collar. I hand it to him and smooth out his unruly hair, trying not to sniffle too loudly so he won't notice my eyes watering again.

"I'm sorry." He whispers, rubbing his neck as he lets his shirt settle into place, stretching out enough to curl his fingers around mine.

"For what?"

"...making you worry."

"Like you said, it wasn't on purpose. It's not like you asked the car to hit you." I squeeze his hand, never letting go as he gets off the bed and slides his shoe onto his bare foot.

"You shouldn't have to cry for me." He wraps his arm around me, both for support and affection, making me sag under his weight. I lift him up and head for the exit, holding him around the waist and smiling gently.

"The only reason I do is because I care about you. You'll need to get over it too, because it's something that's included in this whole relationship package."


------------------

He's out like a light once he comes in contact with my bed, not even bothering to take off his shoe, like always. I throw it at my door and fall right next to him, my head hitting the pillow, and only then do I realize how tired I am.


When my eyes open again, it's 2 p.m. I have a knack for looking at the clock at the same times every day. I turn over to discover that he is awake.

"I need my kitty, Yukke." Tatsurou mumbles, opening one eye and nudging my arm.

"You know I can't have cats here, otherwise Chai would be here too. I'll have Miya go check on him... now go back to sleep."

"I'm not sleepy anymore. I'm hungry."

I giggle, playfully slapping his cheek and sitting up. I mess with my hair, and flatten the pieces that are sticking out every which way. "I'll make you something then. I'm going to have to go to the store in a bit if you're staying here for a while. You eat all my food."

"Only because you have good shit."

"...That you can buy yourself, and you've known me long enough to remember what I like."

"It isn't as yummy if I buy it myself." He pouts, pawing at my arm and sliding closer to me so he is pressed against me.

"You're just too lazy to cook it." I twist my body so I can lean down to kiss him, his lips parting.

"Mm, but it's just like if I decided to be with someone that looked like you, sounded like you... and didn't taste like you. It's never the same as the original. You can try to replicate it, but it will never satisfy you." He grabs my ass, making me jolt.

"Y-you basically just compared me to food. Should I be flattered?"

"I'm a genius. So, yes."

You know, it's times like this that I really begin to wonder why in the world I'm in so deep with him. He's a social butterfly, and his circle of friends is endless, but most will tell you that they can only take him in small servings. I'm a very patient man, and I'll never grow out of him.

"I'm going to let you have that one while I go make you some soba."

"You know it's true."

I snort and head for the doorway, out into the hall and into the kitchen. I can hear him singing as I open up the cabinets, rolling my eyes and setting down a package of noodles on the counter. Only minutes later and everything is silent, and I turn around and see Tatsurou standing against the wall. He stares at me like he doesn't know how he ended up out here.

"Get back in there or I'll--" I stop, silenced by the look in his eyes. He wants to fuck me, and all I can do is brandish a wooden fork at him and jab the air a bit.
"I'm horny." He whines.

"I thought you were hungry."

"I'm talented."

"You're retarded."

He advances, dodging all sorts of obstacles with ease, and I'd be in awe of his skill with a cast on his leg if I wasn't scared for my life.

"Tatsurou..." I say this cautiously, afraid that any expression or tone I use will give him the wrong idea. It isn't like I don't want to sleep with him, I've done it a thousand times before, but he needs his rest and--

"You can't resist me. I'll always prosper, even when disabled!" He grins at me, and I'm left trying to recall the last few seconds of my life, and how I ended up pinned to the floor beneath him. He kisses my neck, leaving me completely useless.

"I was beginning to find it rather strange that you haven't been attacking me since I brought you back here. I thought it was just because you were hurt."

"You should know better! Nothing, not even death can keep me from my favorite pastime. Bothering you." There are hands creeping beneath my shirt, and I arch up into his touch out of pure habit. When he tries to pry my legs open with his, he winces and bows his head.

"Tatsurou?!"

"I'm fine. Just moved too fast, don't worr-"

"You've said that a thousand times, and you should know by now that it's pointless. Come on, we're putting you back in bed."

"Buuuutttt." I thought I was the childish one.

"No buts. You'll go back to bed and I'll make you noodles. No more strenuous activities for the night." I move out from underneath him and hook my arms under his carefully, picking him up the best I can and hobbling back to the bedroom with him.

"The lack of sexual climax in the past few days hurts more than the fucking leg, Yukke." He pouts, reluctantly letting me drag him back to the bed and letting him fall onto the mattress. I bend down and lift his leg up with him and pull the blankets up to his neck, tucking him in.

"Your penis will just have to wait. It isn't like it will hate me for neglecting it for a week."

"But I will! What if it forgets how your ass feels, gets really scared and dies of a heart attack." Wide-eyed, he looks up at me in sheer terror. I think he's serious, and I have to try and hold my laughter back.

"If it comes to that, I'll just have to revive it with my mouth and re-introduce it to all it's favorite places." I pat the covers, kissing his forehead and heading for the kitchen once more, hearing him respond with delight. I guess he's willing to adhere for the time being. I snatch the fork from the counter and continue with his food, looking over my shoulder every few minutes to make sure he doesn't ambush me from behind.

"I kept the phone under my pillow because I was waiting for you to call me and say you killed him yourself, Yukke. I'm glad to hear he's doing alright." Miya laughs, and I was so happy to hear him without a trace of sadness in his voice. Tears and Miya do not mix.

"I think I'd end up killing myself before I even got to him. He's been rather well behaved the past week. I'm worried something is going to happen soon." I peer around the room, searching for a tall, awkwardly shaped shadow that may be hiding in a corner for me to look away and attack. I feel like I'm being watched by a really shitty stalker.

" Just be careful and don't let your guard down. If you need anything, just let me know."

"Food. Possibly a weapon."

"Nothing is powerful enough to take him down. You know when the world ends it will be Tatsurou and the cockroaches. I'll call you tomorrow, okay?"

"If I last through the night. Later." I hang up and set my phone on the couch beside me. Where is he?! I stand up straight and slide across the kitchen floor, my back against the wall as I edge around the corner and survey the bedroom door. It's shut, and there isn't even so much as a sound in the entire apartment.

"Who are you looking for?"

I scream at the top of my lungs and fall to the floor, hitting my head on the wall and losing about 95% of my dignity. I've seen enough horror movies by now that I should be used to sudden noises.

"Were you in the fucking fridge?!" For some reason I can't look at him, because either I'm ashamed or I've gone blind. I can't really tell right now since my head is spinning.

"I was sitting in the chair the entire time, but you were just too busy being a loser to notice. I'm beginning to think you don't want to fuck me now that I'm a gimp." He helps me up and kisses my cheek. I taste cherry on his tongue, and I see he has a lollipop.

"I just don't want to keep it and everything else from healing correctly."

"My leg told me my dick needed some relief before it can heal."

I just stare at him, completely speechless.

"Your silence tells me that you agree."

I sigh, laughing and letting my body relax against his. Even if it doesn't make sense, he still knows how to make me give in every damn time.

"Your hard-on tells me I have no choice."

"I've been counting down the days until the end of the week, so you really don't."

I pull the lollipop from his mouth, biting off the rest of it and throwing the stick on the floor, wrapping my arms around him and licking his chin.

"If you don't get too worked up then let's do it."

"Yes, mother." Tatsurou squeaks, grabbing my ass firmly and trying to take my shirt off from the back.

"Sit down." I kick one of the chairs around my kitchen table out, shoving him onto it and straddling his lap. He drops my shirt on the ground, running his fingertips over my nipples. I feel around between the two of us and lean forward, my mouth around his as my hand dips into his pants, stroking his cock and holding the back of the chair as he bucks up violently.

"Fuck, it's been so long I already feel like coming." He throws his head back, his adams apple moving up and down in his throat. I bite it, my eyelashes fluttering against the underside of his chin, making him squirm.

"Do you want me, Tatsurou?"

"You have no idea." He tries to look at me, his eyelids heavy and his chest heaving. I stand up to unzip my jeans, pushing them down to my ankles and stepping out, gasping when he grabs me by my erection and bends his body so he can suck it through my underwear. I pant and feel my muscles clenching in my stomach, knees shaking as he takes them off my waist and leaves me naked.

"Put it in then, and tell me what you need to do." I lower myself down onto him, cock sliding between my ass and rubbing against it, my brow furrowing. He cradles my body as he presses his palm to my mouth, moistening his fingers on my tongue, and I spit into his hand, smearing it over my lips. He coats his dick with my saliva, and I watch him breathe rapidly.

"Let me die inside of you." He hisses, holding the back of my head so our foreheads are pressed together, forcing himself inside of me and making me tense. I moan out, starting to grind my hips in circles on top of him, trying to keep my eyes open long enough to see his face. His bottom lip quivers, and he's shaking so much from the hold my body has around him.

"Tatsu..." I whimper, gripping his arms and digging my nails into his flesh. He thrusts roughly in return, his head thrashing from side to side as he bares his teeth. He picks up speed and starts throwing himself into me, making me grab the chair to keep from falling off, his hands catching me and pressing me right up against him.

"God, Yukke!" He moans into my neck, wrapping his arms around me and slamming into me so fast my mind is blurred. I cry out and blindly take his hair into my hands, pulling on it hard and making his head fall back. His mouth is open, and I take the opportunity to shove my tongue down his throat, our lips and teeth colliding. He groans and his eyes roll back, whole body stiff.

"Come for me." I whisper into the kiss, seeing him nod and start erratically pounding and gasping for breath. I close my eyes and all I can hear is the sounds of his orgasm, his scream almost a roar as his cum sloppily paints itself all over my insides. As he calms down and limply falls back into the chair, I begin to stroke myself weakly, eyes glued to him as I clench around his softening cock.

"Was it worth the wait?" I ask hoarsely, shaking slightly as my dick hardens under my touch.

"That's a stupid question." He laughs, lifting his tired body up and curling his fist over mine. He grazes his fingers over the tip of it, making me jerk and bite my lip, dropping my hand off to the side and letting him take over. He starts to pump it and I'm already feeling like I'm going to blow, back arching when he runs his nails across my belly.

"I-I..." I can't even talk when I start to come, ramming my cock into the rounded hole in his hand, spilling white fluid down his fingers and into our pubic hair.

"That was sexy." Tatsurou's voice drifts into my mind as it begins to clear, prying my eyes open and I grin at him. He licks my cum off his fingers, stopping and offering some to me.

"Does it taste good?" I ask.

"Tastes like mangoes." Tatsurou wipes the rest off on my thigh, kissing my nose and motioning for me to get up. I carefully let him slide out of me and I grip the table to keep myself steady. He smirks at me and holds out a hand for me to help him stand.

"I'm sticky." I inform him, straightening him when he's gotten out of the chair. He braces against me and buries his face in my hair.

"Let's take a bath so I can hang my leg over the side."

"Sounds like a plan." I lick his collarbone, purring.


-----


"I've heard you've been trying to take your cast off the past few months, Mr. Iwakami. I'm glad Mr. Fukuno was around to keep you in check." Dr. Takashi looks at Tatsurou sternly, patting him on the shoulder. Tatsurou shrugs and grins.

"I wanted to see how shriveled and pale it was."

"Well, you'll get to see today." I cross my arms and lean back against the wall. The Doctor nods and gets out his tools to start removing it.

"It's going to smell funny." The Doctor says, Tatsurou pokes the cast as he cuts into it and slices down the side. When he opens it, I snort at how skinny it is compared to his other leg.

Uwahh!! It looks like a chicken leg." Tatsurou is fascinated and runs his fingers down over it, ignoring Dr. Takashi when he starts to talk to him.

"I want you to be very cautious when you're walking, and make sure you use those crutches at all times for the next few weeks until you feel it's strong enough."

I make sure to relay the information to Tatsurou when he isn't amazed by his own shrunken appendage. The Doctor moves next to me and takes in the sight of him prodding at his leg.

"I don't know how you do it." Dr. Takashi whispers to me, shaking his head.

"It's easier than it looks. He just seems like a handful." I beam.