Midnight Amazement (Tsubaki)

*Beep beep*

‘What happened?’ The white haired teen would think as he lay. He was on something soft, he had a blanket over him, something was sticking in his arm and the strong smell of disinfectant was in the air. That usually meant a hospital, or some mad scientists secret lair. He had difficulty opening his eyes. The action felt like it took a massive amount of effort that he just didn’t have yet. The incessant beeping of a heart monitor that must have been attached to him was ongoing. He decided to trust that he was in a hospital rather than the secret lair. Since the bed was actually soft and not some hard stone surface. He further began to try to think about what had happened, was he injured during the exams somehow? He couldn’t remember fighting anyone. He began trying to sort out his memory, working to remember everything he could from what had happened. He remembered his date with Tsubaki, although he couldn’t remember the ending. He also remembered the night of the storm that brought Alkaid to his home. He did at least vividly remember that night. The storm had been wild and violent, peels of thunder echoing across the village as the rain came down in sheets across the islands that made up the local geography. Alkaid had come to his home, soaked to the bone, with a request. She had been given a suicide mission. But she wanted a night with him before she had to leave. They had gotten close, they had made out frantically, she had even taken off his robe and had her hands on him before he fought down his carnal desires and stopped her.

*Beep beep*

So there he stood, naked, her mostly so, in his bedroom, and all he could think about was his date the week prior with Tsubaki. It must have ended well, even if he couldn’t recall it all at the moment. Because he found himself unsure of what he and Tsubaki had together. Were they a couple? Or no? He found himself between two women, both of which he loved deeply, one of which was being sent to die and wanted nothing more than to have that night with him before leaving. However, he didn’t know where he stood with Tsubaki, he couldn’t risk betraying her like that. Not only because he couldn’t see himself doing that to any woman, messing around with another while he was with someone. But because she was his clan head, his queen, and he was just as in love with her as he was with Alkaid. If she had a claim on him because of their date, he couldn’t risk hurting her by doing this. His hands would go down to hers, explaining this to her, and pulling her tight, no longer kissing her, but just holding her. He held her close that night, for while he couldn’t give her what she wanted. He could at least make sure her last night in the village wasn’t alone. So he held her tight the entire night, after putting on what little clothing was necessary to be decent. If Tsubaki couldn’t accept that, then maybe they simply weren’t meant to be together.

*Beep beep*

He wondered if Alkaid had left for the mission yet? Had she survived? Was he still in Kumo? How did the exams go? How did Tsubaki do? There were just so many damn questions that he had to ask. He stopped himself though, calming himself. He needed to think, if he was in a hospital then certainly there would be nurses and doctors around. He tried to open his eyes again, and found them far easier to now, apparently his walk down memory lane had given him time to gather some energy. The room was stark white, like most hospital rooms, an IV drop was in his arm and the heart monitor nearby was still beeping, a normal, steady heartbeat. More was coming back to him now, a bit about the exams. A confident, bordering on arrogance really, blonde from Konoha. A...cat? Then nothing, it was driving him nuts. He looked around for a remote to call the nurse, found it, and pushed it. That would take a minute or two, hospitals were busy places after all but he knew someone would get to him soon. Until then he’d begin to try to get his thoughts in order.

*Beep beep*

It would appear he was incorrect however, within moment of him pushing the button, the door fly open and a wide eyed nurse looked at him in shock. He returned her shocked look with one of confusion “What?” He’d ask with a raised eyebrow for emphasis. “You’re alive.” She said simply, before getting her composure together and donning the professional guise of a healthcare practitioner with a job to do. She strode in and began to check his vitals swiftly, but carefully, making sure not to hurt him. It was at this moment that he got a look at his arms and saw just how thin they were. He had easily lost a bit of body mass. How long was he out? “We’ve kept your body from atrophying too badly, but there’s only so much we can stop. You’ll need to get some food in you soon. Someone call the Kaguya’s Queen here, now!” She called out to the hall, where Calin could see a few more nurses peaking in out of curiosity, and staring at him in shock. “What the hell is going on?” He’d ask the woman seriously, utterly confused. “I’ll let your Queen explain it to you young man. To begin though, it’s a miracle that you’re alive.” She said simply after checking his vitals. “I’ll have some food sent up, your vitals look good. We’ll probably be able to send you home to be cared for by your family tomorrow. We’ll keep you at least until noon tomorrow. It’s pretty late already, but I doubt Lady Tsubaki will mind being woken up if she isn’t awake already. Don’t be surprised if you’re forced to stay until the day after tomorrow though. They might want to keep you for observation, although they’ve kept close track of your progress so they might not need anymore data after I tell them that you seem to be all clear. Now sit still and follow my finger” She would say as she lit up a small pen flashlight in his eyes and began to move her finger around. He followed it simply enough, “Good, good, do you feel any pain?” She would ask, “No, just tired, weak, and hungry.” He would say to which she would nod “That would make sense, you haven’t moved in awhile, nor have you eaten.” She would say before nodding and turning away. “I’ll send you some food, Tsubaki should be here soon provided she can be awoken and when she leaves you’ll be free to rest. Normally we don’t allow visitors this late, however this is a rather..special circumstance.” She would say, confusing him even more. “I still don’t understand what in the world is going on, special circumstance? Been here awhile? What do you mean?” He’d ask her, keeping his tone polite enough but a mildly desperate look in his eye as he tried to ask for information about what in the hell was going on. “I’ll let Tsubaki tell you, I need to get the information about you to my superiors. Besides, it’ll all be better to hear from family.” She said, shutting the door as she did.

*Beep beep*

This left Calin, alone, with far more questions than he had answers. He looked around, trying to find something that had the date on it, but to no avail. He could see that it was a quarter to midnight, however that was it. All of the confusion was giving him a massive headache and he desperately needed to get some answers, and some food. He’d have to wait for Tsubaki to leave before eating. He wouldn’t eat in front of his queen when she wasn’t doing the same. It would be incredibly rude of him to do so but he could deal with that later. For the moment he’d just lay his head back and wait.

It was late at night, technically in the morning when the news was delivered to the Clan District front gates. Of course this was a process, as the gate guards had to send a messenger out to the palace, where the palace guard then had to ascend the stairs to Tsubaki's room. As one would imagine she was already asleep. She followed a steady routine and bedtime was always around ten o'clock. Two hours into her sleep she was disturbed by the sound of footsteps ascending the stairs. She would awaken when a couple solid knocks struck her door. Her eyes opened, mind frazzled and body heavy. She had swaddled herself in her covers and was still hugged tightly by her blankets. Her eyes started to droop down as she assumed she was woken up by her imagination before another set of knocks shocked her body. A voice spoke through the door. "My Queen, are you in there?" Immediately her eyebrows furrowed in frustration. Why were they disturbing her so late at night? There was no emergency or the guards would have been much more urgent assisting her. She did not reply for a few second before she hollered out. "What."

Tsubaki was quick on her feet and in the shower after the guard told her the news of Calin's revival. It sounded ludicrous at first but she had no reason to believe the guard would lie to her. Oh Calin...how I have forgotten about you... It was several months ago she had taken greater interest in the boy. He had grown significantly in strength to the point where her natural feminine instinct found him greatly attractive. Of course after their date night which ended on great terms he had fallen ill to the notorious plague which has targeted and claimed thousands of lives. Having seen many claimed by the plague she had little expectations for the boy's survival. And given Alkaid's disappearance after leaving the village she had forgotten about the boy. But it seemed as if her luck was beginning to turn as the boy was regaining his strength and it grew to the point where he was conscious again.

From her feet Tsubaki wore a pair of thick rubber and leather combat boots. Embedded in the soles of the boots were iron plates to protect the feet from caltrops and the toes protected by a shell of iron as well doubling as a means to increase kicking power. She wore a pair of black pants which were modified like her boots by having bands of steel woven into them along her shin providing greater protection. These pants also provided a thick plastic-rubber compound at the knees and parts of the thigh and hips granting maximum comfort when crawling and moving about difficult terrain. White bandage wrap secured a navy blue holster against her right thigh containing a single kunai for quick draw purposes. Around her waist she wore a heavy utility belt holding the bulk of her gear. Two navy blue holsters were together on her right side together containing shuriken.

Around her back side she carried her hip pouch which was suspended above her right buttock containing the rest of her ninja gear. The left of that in a slightly canted fashion was a full length Chokuto in a navy blue scabbard. It was not lacquered or polished being bought from the local smith being a functional tool rather than a pretty one. Over her body she wore a light mesh shirt which was covered by a heavy, thick long sleeve top which served as the Kirigakure specialist combat armor. It was an insulated jacket which compound material which served as electricity insulated much like the rest of the advertised gear. Rings of steel where sown into the fabric from the lower rib cage up to the chest and to her upper arm. This provided additional support while still being lightweight to the most vital areas of her body. Of course this aided the main portion of her body armor which was a standard, slate gray flak jacket over her torso provided heavy support from blunt impact and cuts. This model was the common kind with elongated shoulder pads and extensions from either side protecting her lower abdomen and back even more. Across her chest was a brown leather baldric which carried two folded fuuma shuriken held by their rings store mid back.

On both hands she wore a set of black gloves which had a pair of steel plates on the backs of them for maximum protection. Topping off the design Tsubaki wore a heavy black cloak over everything concealing more of what was described fastened securely around her neck by a knot. The hood was down to show off her elegant features and provide maximum visibility. Tsubaki stood 5'9 and weighed approximately one-hundred and forty pounds being at her peak performance. Her skin was very fair to the point of being almost pale. This was coupled by her long, silky white hair extending to her lower back and sapphire blue eyes which anybody within Kirigakure that had knowledge of her clan would know she was certainly Kaguya, and the leader nonetheless. She wore no makeup, yet her natural complexion made her remarkably beautiful.

She trotted down the stairs and took the most direct route to the city hospital. Her legs churned at full speed keeping whatever motions she had to herself. Her stolid, determined gaze was fixated forward at her destination. She'd enter the lobby of the hospital at a full charge before stamping her feet in the ground coming to a screeching halt. She'd slam both hands at the front desk speaking to the clerk with an elevated breath. "What's this about Calin being alive! Where is he!" She questioned in a demanding tone in which the clerk was required to give Calin's information. They were expecting her to arrive after the messenger left. Surprisingly she managed to beat him back. Tsubaki trotted upstairs after receiving the room number heading up five flights before stopping before the door.

She was nervous. As nervous as a young high school aged girl would be around their boyfriend. Topping it off with the fact that he managed to survive the notorious plague and in functional health humbled down the girl's "Queen" aura. She stood outside his door for a moment before reaching for the knob and twisting as she entered through the doorway. Calin laid back with his head against the hospital pillow in a bit of a trance. His eyes were open, which was a sure sign of his consciousness. She'd trot over to his bedside stopping just by his side. It was expected to see her face in shock, mouth open in awe remaining speechless. It was only a moment like this before her consciousness kicked in and her visage deepened into anger with eyebrows furrowed. Both hands shot out and grabbed the boy by his collar before reeling him in. "Why did you leave me like that!?" She said hollering at the boy inches from his face. Her eyes were glassy as if she were fighting back ancient sorrow. It had been a harsh few months for her having lost Alkaid and Calin. She managed to survive by her own will. But now she could rest her head.

Somewhere in his subconscious he felt the presence of someone outside of his door but he wouldn’t react. He was in a hospital, and barely functional at the moment. If it was some kind of dastardly assassin coming to end his life then he wouldn’t have a real shot in hell of stopping them anyway. Especially after they’d gotten part every shinobi in the city. More than likely though, it was Tsubaki, having arrived to see him. Visiting hours had been over after all so it couldn’t be someone with a wrong room trying to visit someone else. Within moment of these thoughts, flicking past his mind the door would open. He’d see her, in his peripheral vision, but his mind was still in a bit of haze from waking up so he didn’t turn toward her or anything. Was that rude? He couldn’t think of the answer at the moment. The woman who was his queen would step toward his bed, stopping at his side, her face twisted into an expression of shock, mouth agape and eyes slightly widened. Without warning however she’d reach for his collar and pull him toward her, reeling him in like a trout. His eyes would snap back into focus, his mind fully aware of what was going on now as he took note of glassy eyed expression and her furrowed brows. His eyes would widen in mild shock as she yelled, still holding him by his collar as she did. Was he out longer than he thought? What in the hell happened?

“Tsubaki..” He said softly, his own body shaking as his heart seemed to stammer. Something that was obviously announced by the heart monitor still attached. He’d slowly raise his hands, arms and body shaking slightly before moving to hug her tightly to him. Wanting nothing more than to hold her again. He’d speak afterwards, whether or not the hug was successful. “I-I don’t know what happened Tsubaki. I don’t know what’s happened. No one has told me anything, they told me it’d be better to hear it from family. Where are we? I vaguely remember the Chuunin Exams in Kumo and my heartbeat getting more and more painful as the test wore on. I thought it was part of the test but then I realized that something was very wrong. Then I coughed up blood and blacked out. I don’t even know if we’re in Kumogakure or Kirigakure. Much less how long I was out, days? Weeks? I need to know. How did the exams go? Did you and Alkaid do well?” He’d ask, keeping just enough distance between them in the hug if it went through to look into her eyes, touching his forehead to hers. He took a moment to really look at her now, her pale, flawlessly beautiful face, blue eyes, and long white hair. She had clearly left ready for combat. Which was never a bad idea when one could constantly be attacked.

He himself was only dressed in a thin hospital gown. Just enough to keep some form of modesty and he felt quite a bit underdressed as he lay on his bed, his queen next to him. “The nurse said I might be able to leave by noon today, but at latest tomorrow morning. So I’ll be able to come home soon. I have a million questions, but right now I need to know, are you okay?” He’d ask, the look in her eyes worrying him greatly as his cobalt blue eyes met hers in concern. It was at this moment that there would be a knock on the door before the portal opened and the nurse from before walked in, carrying a covered tray. She’d set it on the rotating stand that doubled as his table before turning toward Calin and speaking “I’ve spoken with the doctors, they have enough data on you over the course of the time to allow you to head home by noon if you wish. You’ll be expected to take things easy for the first few days. We knew how shinobi can get if they feel like they’ve gotten behind on things, and it always puts them right back in the hospital, or kills them. Take it slow, you’ll be alright young man, but try not to have to come back here for a while.” She would say before nodding toward both Calin and Tsubaki and walking out of the door.

The smell of food almost sent Calin’s stomach into a frenzy, he hadn’t realized how hungry he really was. However Tsubaki was far more important than that right now. She’d looked devastated in that moment when he saw her eyes and he couldn’t stop to eat when someone he cared for so dearly was going through so much pain for some reason. “I’m here now Tsubaki, you should better than almost anyone how stubborn I am. I won’t leave you behind that easily..” He would say gently, trying to goad a smile out of the stunning woman. Had his hospitalization affected her this much? Did she truly feel so strongly for him or was it simply by virtue of them being family? He was suddenly nervous about telling her what happened that stormy night with Alkaid, or rather, what almost happened.

Calin moved in to hug Tsubaki which she allowed. Part of her wanted to fight it as she wasn't the dramatic romance type but it was a miracle to see him alive. To feel his masculine embrace against her body was refreshing. It was a feeling so natural to her she could hold him all night, bare bodied, in bed on a cold autumn night with only their bodies keeping each other warm. The thought was daydreamy as her cheeks flushed a light pink. For now, this would suffice. They held each other close, reunited once again.

Calin spoke in confusion, wanting answers for his sudden disappearance. Tsubaki pulled away from him as the smell of bento caught her attention. Calin was certainly emancipated, or at the very least underweight from the last time she saw him. It was no surprise seeing as he hadn't had solid food for so long. The feed tubes did not leave room for decadence. Calin was given a steady diet of liquid "food" pumped directly into his system. His muscles deteriorated and veins narrowed. He spoke with what little he could remember, but this caused Tsubaki to push her finger against his lips. "Shhhhhh. Don't worry about it. You need to eat." Tsubaki worked the hospital bed to incline Calin's bed to where he was roughly 120 degrees being upright, yet comfortable. She took the bento resting beside his table. It was full of delicious and nutritious items. The bento had karaage, shrimp tempura, salted salmon, fresh and pickled vegetables, macaroni salad, meat and potato stew, and a pile of rice which was paired with a pickled umeboshi. This came with a tall glass with fresh, cold water and a cup of hot miso soup. The meal itself was mouthwatering to the health-conscious Kaguya.

She snapped the pair of wooden chop sticks apart being eager to feed Calin. There was little she could do at the moment to help quicken his recovery, but she had no doubt he wouldn't be thankful for a real meal. She'd pick a small ball of rice and break it apart from the rest of the pile. Picking a piece of cooked potato and beef she'd pinch it all in one mouthful as she cupped her hand beneath it. "Ah!" Tsubaki said with her mouth opened getting Calin to obey. Once he did she'd stuff his mouth with food allowing him to chew. She would speak while he ate. "What you suffered from is a common blight that ravaged the continent, or at least used to. It's a selective plague that puts you in a coma, and most of the time it leads to death. From what I've seen it targets people who live a very sedentary lifestyle. As you would imagine, the Kaguya aren't usually victim to it. Your case would be the first." She'd grab a piece of karaage (Japanese fried chicken) and stuff it in Calin's mouth whether he was done with his first mouthful or not. He needed to eat to build his strength up. She couldn't have him bother himself with conversation.

"With the aid of modern medicine and your strong Kaguya body you were able to make a miracle recovery. They had you in the ward with no sign of recovery as you lied in stasis, but suddenly you regained consciousness. I think those scientist are finally finding a way to combat this illness." She'd dip the chopsticks in the miso soup giving it a stir before raising it to his lips allowing him to get a good sip of the broth and some tofu and seaweed as well. She caught Calin up with his situation, but she was hesitant with her response. Am I okay?

She'd set the cup of soup down giving his words some thought. It was a simple question that was giving her trouble. She'd look down at the bento deciding what to feed Calin next helping her work her mind to find a legitimate answer. She'd grab a piece of the salted salmon fillet with her chopsticks. "Okay? You've been out for six months. I lived life with no purpose. I worked, trained, ran the district, and slept. My life cycled that basic routine as my youth and passion slowly began to age. I guess you could call that 'okay.' But now, I'm happy." She'd smile and stuff Calin's mouth with food before he could say anything else. "Within that time I had lost Alkaid, too. She was like a sister to me. She left Kirigakure on some mission she was super cagey about and never returned. At that point, this clan was the only thing keeping me going. I don't know what I would do without it, and you coming back was the best news I've heard this year." She'd stop barraging Calin with food for a moment allowing his body to process what she fed him and allow him to speak. It would probably be unwise to overload his digestive system after it being stagnant for several months. It needed time to run with light portions before he could eat like he used to.

He’d speak, but be interrupted by her touch soon after. The pale queen’s finger touching his lips lightly as she told him not to worry, that he needed to rest. His cheeks would get a dusting of colour to them as her finger pressed against the surface of his lips and he’d nod simply at her words. He’d remain silent, as she adjusted his bed for him so that he was mostly upright, yet still comfortable before she opened up the food that had been brought in for him. Either normal hospital food portions had increased since he had last been in one, or they decided that they really needed to get a lot of food in him as quickly as possible. The snapping of disposable chopsticks would draw his eyes back to Tsubaki as she held the utensils in her hand, an eager look in her eye that he knew meant that she was determined to do something. Using the fact that she had taken the chopsticks, and that she definitely wasn’t anywhere near rude enough to eat his food, he came to the correct conclusion. He’d began to open his mouth to protest, but shut it swiftly, the look in her eyes earlier had worried him, and if letting her care for him in her way would help her then who was he to argue? He’d smile as she said ‘Ah’ and open his own mouth to let her feed him. He’d chew quickly and swallow the food as she spoke. He’d nod his head in understanding. The plague was fairly well known, but he had somehow survived it? Albeit, not in any sort of amazing shape, but actually survived the disease that killed so many?

He’d open his mouth to let her put the next mouthful of food in, chewing quickly and swallowing that bite as well. He wasn’t entirely sure if she would see if he was ready for another bite or not while she was catching him up on the situation so he’d rather not take chances. She’d explain his survival before giving the miso soup that came with the meal a stir and bringing the cup to his lips, which he would proceed to take a good sip from, the taste of the hot soup washing down the other bites of food he’d already eaten. The taste of tofu and seaweed on his tongue as he sipped. All of a sudden she’d stop, setting the soup down and looking down at the food as she considered. He’d wondered if she was simply deciding what she wanted to feed him next or if she was contemplating her answer to his question of if she was okay herself. He’d swiftly get his answer as she plucked a piece of salmon with the chopsticks as she spoke. Himself, quiet as he listened. The sound of the heart monitor still steadily beeping as she began to speak. The feel of his heart beating within his chest, alive, healthy, still pumping the lifeblood he needed throughout his body. A privilege that countless plague victims before him had been denied.

Then his world froze.

Six months? She had to be joking right? Had he ever known her to outright tell a lie as a joke? He hadn’t. He suddenly felt his blood run cold, out of commission, for six months? His subconscious mind would hear and register the rest of her sentence but the rest of it was caught on those two simple words. It hadn’t taken him long in his combat training to make serious progress, how much had others pulled ahead of him? How strong was Tsubaki now? He wasn’t even she if he could keep up with her before, he certainly wouldn’t be able to now. Was his mother alright? Tsubaki had been forced into what sounded like a emotionless blur of the same routine over and over. Emotionally slowly becoming more and more numb as time wore on. Had he truly been the cause of that? He’d absently open his mouth, letting her put the salmon she had picked up in his mouth as he listened. He would chew and swallow the food, his mind racing in thought as he did so. If his mental functions were sluggish before, he was fully alert now. Then however, he’d get the next shock to his system. Alkaid? Gone? Left on a mission? His mind flashed back once more to that stormy night where the woman had come to his home, wanting to share a night of passion together before she left on what would become a suicide mission. His face flushed red a moment at the memory of that night, they hadn’t done anything damnit. However they had come close enough that he couldn’t just not tell Tsubaki. Was now the best time? Was it later? Did it matter? Either way seemed like a losing choice. She’d finish speaking, telling him that his waking up was the best thing that happened to him all year.

Gulp

“I wonder if you’ll still feel that way after I tell you this, Tsubaki-chan..” He would say, his voice low, filled with shame. “Alkaid came to me one night, shortly before she left if I remember correctly. Telling me she had been given a suicide mission from the Mizukage. She came to me, wanting to spend a night...well..a night of passion with me.” He would say, beginning the revealing of the truth to the woman sitting next to his bed. “I won’t lie to you Tsubaki, it was after our date. We came close, but I stopped us. I couldn’t, I just couldn’t, not after our date ended so well. I did not however kick her out into the storm after denying her what seems to have been her last request of me. I held her close through the night, doing my best to show her that she wasn’t alone. I..don’t know what else to say except I’m sorry, and I’ll understand if you wish to date someone else. However I couldn’t lay here after having just woken up to have you taking care of me, and not tell you. Hell, the very idea of lying to you in general sickens me. I just hope that you can forgive me.” He’d finish, afraid to meet her gaze at first but slowly steeling himself and looking into her eyes as he told her the truth of what happened that night half a year ago. He should’ve told her sooner, although he supposed being in a coma gave him at least some leniency in that regard.

Tsubaki's attention was drawn to Calin when he spoke again. It was never good news when someone doubts the happiness you expressed for them. It felt as if her heart stopped as a numbing chill surged through her body. What did he have to share that could warp her feelings for him? He got right to the point as he explained how Alkaid visited him one night. She was straightforward with her request as she offered her body to him for the night. Tsubaki sat still with no expression on her face as she zoned out at the bento. She was not mad at Alkaid nor Calin. Her closest cousin, Alkaid, knew she was interested in Calin. And Tsubaki knew Alkaid also found interest in the stud. Tsubaki found it hard to illustrate exactly how Alkaid was feeling or what she was thinking the night she approach Calin. Was it fear? Loneliness? Tsubaki never stared death in the face of an impossible task. Though, if she knew she would die tomorrow, she intended to get the best out of Calin for the time she had.

In the end Calin did not sleep with her, but he coddled her for the night. Normally another girl spending the night at a woman's partner's house was a deal breaker. But sharing a bed would be an immediate sentencing. However, Tsubaki felt different.

"Alkaid is my first cousin. We were so close together she felt like a sister. Many people in the clan mistaken us for being twins before she cut her hair, even. I feel like I knew Alkaid better than anyone. What she was feeling that night...well, I can't blame her. Whatever her mission was she was confident she wasn't going to ever return to the village alive.
She sought out comfort for the night. Something to take her mind off her end. I can't blame my desperate cousin to care about anything else." Tsubaki stewed in her own thoughts for a moment unsure of what else to say. Was Calin's vigilance the right answer? She was incredibly grateful he preserved his virginity for her. But what was going through Alkaid's mind? She was unable to secure her final wish before disappearing on her mission. Did it make Tsubaki selfish that she was glad Calin didn't share bodies with Alkaid?

"Thank you. For being honest." She didn't have anything else to say. She'd continue to feed Calin from the bento in silence. Various emotions cycled through her mind from happy, sad, anxiety, and jealousy. She was unsure what to feel. One emotion she was certain about was her gratuity. Tsubaki put her selfishness aside and even buried the thoughts of Alkaid in her mind. What happened in the past was over with. The sure sound of Calin's heart monitor beeping was a constant reminder of his restoring health. She had someone to grow with once again. Tsubaki remained at Calin's bedside for the night dozing off in the chair after they had exhausted all forms of conversation.

[Exit]

[Behold, a shit post coming straight out of fatigueland.]

Her response, was not what he expected. He’d expected anger, resentment, yelling. He’d expected her to tell him never to speak to her unless it involved clan matters again. He’d expected tears, he had not expected her, to thank him. He had just admitted to almost sleeping with her first cousin, and definitely admitted to holding her through a stormy night. But she instead thanked him. He hadn’t realized they were quite that closely related, but they did resemble each other quite strikingly. The fact that she knew her cousin so well, that they might as well have been sisters seemed to play a big part in her forgiving him. He was still in a mild state of shock though but he eventually got himself under control enough to smile at Tsubaki softly “I’ll never lie to you Tsubaki, I care for you too much for such stupid things.” He would say simply, a faint dusting of colour on his cheeks before they lapsed into a comfortable silence and she continued to feed him. He ate, letting her do so and wondering if it had been right of him to deny Alkaid her final wish. Did it make him cruel? Heartless? He didn’t know, and it was something he’d have to analyze himself.

The night would continue on, the meal would be finished and Tsubaki would fall into a doze in the chair next to his bed. He’d smile softly, and reach over, there was just enough space for him to take her hand and both their hands and arms to rest comfortably. He held it loosely and fell asleep himself. Deciding that he could mourn Alkaid, while still being happy to have a chance at a future with Tsubaki.

[Exit]