Fumei no Musubi
Chapter Two 
by Ina-chan
First Posted Online: December 17, 2002
History: Sequel to Jyuunishi no Enkei Monogatari

The sound of humming brought a smile on his lips. She sat with her back to the door so she didn’t see him as she hummed a sweet lullaby while stroking her husband’s sleeping face. He stepped back and hid by the doorway to give her a little more privacy. He closed his eyes, allowing the sweet sound to calm his senses.  It never ceased to amaze him. How her mere presence had the ability to dissolve all traces of depression and anxiety.  Soon, her soft melody slowed to a halt as the song ended. He took this opportunity to let out a loud pained moan as he made a show of stretching out his arms as he stepped into the room to make his presence known. 

“Shigure-san? Are you all right?” She turned on her seat to focus her attention to the newcomer, her voice filled with concern 

“Ahh, it’s nothing. It’s just the inevitable signs of getting old, I’m afraid,” The older man replied mournfully as he bent backwards to give his back a stretch, “The sound of your lovely voice just joggled this old man’s memories. It only seemed yesterday that Tooru-kun was moving in to our house for the first time…” 

She let out an amused laugh, “Stop joking, Shigure-san. You’re not old at all! And it hasn’t even been ten years since we first met each other!” 

Shigure gave the young woman an affectionate, almost paternal smile, before turning his attention to the young man she was holding her vigil, “Any changes?” Not that he was actually expecting any. 

The young woman shook her head as she turned back to face her husband beside her, “Though… Hatori-san taught me how to clean his tracheal tube earlier,” She made an involuntary flinch as she referred to the piece of plastic equipment embedded in her husband’s throat, connecting to the respirator. 

The older man couldn’t help but make an involuntary wince of disgust himself, “Not exactly how I would want to spend the morning.” 

“I wanted to help exercise his arms and legs instead, but Hatori-san was against it. After all, it won’t be much help if I slipped and accidentally cause Yuki-kun to transform,” Tooru replied 

“That’s true,” Shigure agreed. It would be disastrous if Yuki transformed now. “What about you? How are you doing?” 

The young woman gave the writer an embarrassed smile, “I’m fine. Though I think I may have worried Hatori-san earlier. I was just so excited when Hatori-san told me the news this morning. I couldn’t wait to come and let Yuki-kun know and meet the baby.” 

His eyes peered from over her shoulder. It was only then that the writer noticed how the young woman had carefully placed one of her husband’s hands on her still flat belly. Her own hand over his, unconsciously making small circles over his wrist. He gave the young woman an affectionate pat on the head before taking his own seat opposite her. 

“It seems hard to believe that there’s a baby in there, ne, Shigure-san?” Tooru commented softly in wonder, “Hatori-san said it’d be a few more weeks before I start to show. I’ll be due five months after Kagura-san. But Kagura-san and Ayame-san are already excited about it.  Ayame-san even said he’s going to start making clothes for the baby right away.” 

A bead of sweat hung on the writer’s forehead as he let out a forced laugh, “Isn’t A-ya getting a bit ahead of himself. We don’t even know if it’s a boy or a girl yet.” 

Tooru smiled, “It doesn’t really matter. I’m sure the clothes will still be lovely either way. What’s most important now is that Ayame-san has something else to worry about other than this.” 

Shigure stopped at the young woman’s words of wisdom. It was true. As much as it pained Tooru-kun the most with what happened to his younger cousin, it was actually Ayame who had the worst time coping with what happened, “I suppose, you’re right. Have you told your friends and your family yet?” 

The woman shook her head, “I was going to telephone them later.” 

“Why don’t you call Saki-chan and Arisa-chan and go over to your grandfather’s place to tell him in person? I’m sure your grandfather will be delighted with the news. You haven’t spent much time with your family for quite some time. Specially after you got married,” Shigure suggested

The young woman looked at the writer in horror, “I couldn’t possibly do that Shigure-san! Yuki-kun…” 

“Yuki-kun will be fine. You’re not the only one watching over him,” Shigure interrupted reassuringly 

“But…” 

 “TOORU-KUN,” The older man stressed firmly, “You need to think of yourself more than ever now.  Yuki-kun would have never wanted you to ignore your friends and your family just for his sake. And now you have a baby to worry about.” 

“I guess, you’re right,” Tooru admitted reluctantly 

“Of course, I’m right,” Shigure replied triumphantly as he rubbed his chin 

She couldn’t help but let out hearty laugh at that, “Thank you, Shigure-san.” 

“Yes, yes. Leave everything to us. Now go and have fun,” Shigure stated as he motioned for her to rise from her seat 

“Thank you, not just about this afternoon…” Tooru began, “…but for everything.” 

The man couldn’t help but look at the younger woman in surprise, “What brought this up, all of the sudden?”

 “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking while sitting here,” Tooru replied as she reached out to brush a stray strand of hair on her husband’s face, “Ever since high school… you’ve taken upon yourself to watch over Yuki-kun, Kyou-kun, and myself. I don’t think I’ve ever thanked you enough for that.”

 “Tooru-kun…” Shigure began

 “No, please, let me finish,” Tooru interrupted, giving the older man a pleading look, “I have to admit. Back at that time before Yuki-kun and I got married. I was a bit hurt when Yuki-kun made it clear that he wanted you to be his power of attorney if something ever happened to him.”

 The novelist bit his lip as he remembered that time. It was the mouse zodiac’s nature to cover all its bases and escape routes before it undertakes a plan. Yuki was no exception from this personality trait. Of course, at that time, he did it for an entirely different reason. Yuki was trying to protect the people he loved from Akito’s wrath.

  Tooru was quiet about it, but Ayame was very vocal about the younger Souma’s decision. In full honestly, back then… he didn’t understand why Yuki decided that in the first place. Before the marriage took place, he made it clear to the point of arranging the legal paperwork that if something ever happened to him, he wanted Shigure to make his decisions in his behalf.

 Now, it was crystal clear, the genius behind Yuki’s logic. Ayame and Tooru would be too distraught, while Hatori would be too ethical.  As hard as it was to believe, Yuki did trust Shigure a lot more than he would care to admit. Shigure’s cunning nature would be the most successful in fighting to uphold Yuki’s wishes. Shigure was also one of the few people who can influence Akito’s decision if Akito chose to overturn the legalities and intervene with anything. 

Whether it be good or bad fortune, depending on one’s point of view… the head of the Souma family seemed to have washed his hands from anything that had to do with Yuki since the younger man’s marriage. Then further isolated himself from the rest of the family when the cat followed the mouse’s suit.

“I don’t know if its good or bad to feel this way,” Tooru continued, “I can’t bear the thought that keeping Yuki-kun like this would be just prolonging his suffering… but I can’t bear the thought of loosing him much more. That’s why I’m actually glad that it wasn’t up to me to decide. So forgive me as well, Shigure-san. That is… for forcing you to make the decision for me. I’m sorry for being so selfish.”

“You don’t need to apologize,” Shigure reassured her quietly, “This wasn’t my decision either.”

“Eh?” Tooru looked at the older man in surprise

Shigure folded his hands and gazed at the sleeping younger man, “This was what Yuki wanted.”

/‘…for as long as possible. Even if it just saves one Souma child from suffering the same fate, do it for as long as possible.’/ The younger man’s words echoed in the older Souma’s head loudly from that say when they were sitting together with a lawyer at that time.

Shigure suddenly turned to the younger woman in surprise when he felt her take his hand and put it on top of Yuki’s. 

“Can you feel Yuki-kun’s hand, Shigure-san?” Tooru asked, looking up at him with those big round hopeful eyes of hers

“Of course,” Shigure replied with a small frown, a little puzzled at her sudden action 

“It’s warm, isn’t it?” She continued 

“Ye-es…” Shigure replied slowly, now feeling a little unnerved by the situation 

“Yuki-kun’s hand is warm,” Tooru stated as she let go of Shigure’s hand, to the older man’s relief, “That’s how I know that he hasn’t given up. I understand what Hatori-san and the doctors at the hospital said. But Yuki-kun’s hand is still warm, so I know that he can still wake up.” 

“I see…” The novelist stated, though the truth was… he had no idea what she was babbling about 

“I don’t remember much about my father. I was too young… but I do remember clearly when Mom took me to see him for the last time at the hospital,” The young woman said as she twined her fingers with her husband’s, “His hands… his fingers were ice cold. The last moments before Mom passed on, her hands were cold as well. But Yuki-kun’s hands are warm. And all this time, ever since it happened… he didn’t transform. He didn’t transform even once. So I know that he’s going to wake up any time now.” 

The older man’s features softened upon hearing the younger woman’s hopeful words. Once again, amazement struck him at how she can continue to look at life with such optimism despite all the hardships life continued to throw at her. 

“You do understand, don’t you Shigure-san?” Tooru continued pleadingly, “He could wake up at any time now, and I want to be here when he does. So that’s why, I can’t go too far away from him. Thank you, and I’m sorry.” 

Shigure stared at the younger woman in disbelief. He never thought the day would come that Tooru would actually use his tactics against him. Their innocent flower could be just as sneaky with this emotional blackmail once she put her mind in it. He let out a long sigh of defeat and gave the younger woman a gentle smile, “Ah, I must be loosing my touch. You, young fry, know exactly what strings to pull in order to influence this old man’s fragile heart.” 

“Shigure-san, you’re being too silly,” Tooru let out another peal of laughter at that, “But I do need to ask a favour from you…” 

“Of course, anything you wish, Tooru-kun.” 

“Do you mind staying with Yuki-kun for a while?” She whispered as a slight blush hinted on her cheeks, “I need to… go…” 

Shigure raised an eyebrow and let out an amused grin. Only Tooru-kun would still get embarrassed about saying trivial things like that, “Now, look who’s being silly. You’re old enough to not ask permission for that.” 

“Ah… sou,” Tooru stammered with a sheepish look as she stood up to give her husband a soft peck on the lips before straightening to leave. Then she stopped, as if suddenly remembering something, and faced the older man once again, “Ano… Shigure-san?”

“Hmmm…” 

“I also just wanted you to know that…” Tooru took the older man’s hands into her own before continuing, “No matter what everyone else thinks… I trust you. I completely trust on whatever you decide.” 

The writer could only stare at the young woman, speechless. 

“I’ll be back as soon as I can,” Tooru let out a small smile before making her way out of the room 

“Ittarashai!” Shigure managed to call out playfully after her. As soon as she was gone, he turned to his younger cousin and gave him a more serious expression. He studied his sleeping cousin’s features for a few moments before letting out a long sigh and sinking back into his chair. 

“Ne, Yuki-kun,” He began in a quiet voice, as he reached out for his younger cousin’s hand, “I don’t know what you did to deserve a girl like Tooru-kun. She’s investing a lot of hope in you, so you better not disappoint her.” 

As expected, the sleeping figure didn’t give any reply, save for the warmth that seemed to radiate from his hand. Shigure bit his lip and covered his eyes with his other hand, desperately trying to swallow back a sob that was making its way up his throat. The fingers of his other hand tightened its grip on the younger man’s, afraid to let go.

To be continued…
Return to Chapter One  
Continued on Chapter Three 
 

AUTHOR’S SQUAWK:

 I don’t know how I did it… but I actually pulled off chapter 2! Now, I really don’t know what to do next. ^_^. So I’ll be surprised with everyone else, ne?

I’m getting a lot of reaction to why I did that to Yuki. <sweatdrops> Well… I have my reasons. I just don’t know how to explain it yet. And yes, I chose the brain aneurysm specifically.

Anywayz… some side medical knowledge notes… tracheal tubes… a lovely, disgusting devices. ^_^. In comatose people who can’t breathe on their own, they normally start out with an airway tube inserted through the mouth right down to the lungs. But that’s only temporary. Depending on what caused the coma, patients usually end up breathing on their own so they don’t need an airway tube (or in the more morbid sense… like in Yuki’s case, the family agrees to pull the plug and let their suffering member to rest in peace). But if they become long term like in Yuki’s case, the surgically implant a tracheal tube via the throat. Remember that “anti-smoking” commercial with the lady smoking via a hole in her throat? That’s a trach!

Normally, that hole is connected to a respirator. Cleaning it is NASTY! It’s actually one of the things that convinced me that psychiatric nursing is my field when I was a student. I remember when my preceptor was teaching me how to clean one for the first time. Anywayz, I thought I had everything perfect and by the book, when my preceptor suddenly pulled me to the side and told me I was standing on the wrong spot. Right on cue, the patient started coughing and the mother of all phlegm balls flew out of the trach and hit the wall via the spot where I used to be standing. My preceptor looked at me and said in a matter-of-fact voice as she pointed at the wall, “That could have been your face.”

Like I said… trachs… lovely and disgusting devices…

Ja!
Ina-chan