Spain Without The S!

Chapter 5: Night Watch

  He couldn't focus on anything. He had tried reading countless books. Even The Complete Suicide couldn't hold his attention for more than a few minutes.
  Dazai kept finding himself studying the monitors and watching Chuuya. He was in a constant state of alertness, worried Chuuya might just stop living...
  Dazai slowly reach his hand out to maybe check Chuuya's pulse but stopped merely centimeters away. He couldn't bring himself to touch Chuuya, fearing he'd be cold to the touch.
  He'd lost the life of a friend in his arms once before, and that was enough. He didn't want to go through that pain again. He realized that it was rather noisy. Not because of the monitors or even anything inside the room.
  Dazai walked over to the window and opened the drapes. The moon shone in, lighting the room up.
  Rain. It was raining.
  Dazai backed away from the window. Of course it was raining...
  He sighed heavily as he sat back down. He held his face in his hands, this was a terrible omen.
  He silently whispered an apology to no one and for no one to hear.

  For the rest of the night Dazai sat for hours with his back to the window trying to ignore the repetitive tapping of raindrops. He didn't hate the rain... but he didn't like it either. It reminded him too much of that day...
  He stared down at Chuuya, watching his body occasionally rise and fall.
  Dazai furrowed his brows, wondering what kind of dream Chuuya might be having. He hoped it wasn't a nightmare. Could Chuuya even dream anyways?
  Dazai was left alone with his thoughts. The monitor beeped quietly. Chuuya took a shuddering breath that sounded like he was sucking for air through a sponge. The breathing mask over his mouth and nose fogged up a little as he breathed back out.
  Dazai wondered if it was cold to Chuuya. Dazai was wearing many layers and all Chuuya had was his gown, a sheet, and a blanket. Dazai walked over to the chest of drawers and pulled out another blanket. He carefully unfolded it and laid it over Chuuya.
  Chuuya's hand seemed to twitch as the blanket was laid over it. Dazai had the urge to place his hands back over the blanket but still couldn't bring himself to touch Chuuya.
  Dazai pinched the bridge of his nose as he sat back down, "how am I supposed to be able to help when something happens if I can't even..."
  He also couldn't finish his thought.
  If something went wrong... Dazai really hoped nothing bad would happen. He wouldn't be able to take it... He knew he couldn't.
  Dazai sighed as he leaned back, letting his arms hang listlessly by his sides.

——

  "Good morning..." Kouyo said quietly as she entered the room.
  Dazai put on a smile as he stood, "morning, Ane-san."
  Kouyo smiled warmly as she looked at Chuuya, "you got him another blanket."
  "He seemed cold," Dazai said a little bashfully.
  Kouyo walked over to the bed and stared down at Chuuya in an almost motherly way. "This is horrible... but I like seeing him so relaxed..." she stroked the side of his face with her knuckles gently. "He's always working so hard... I rarely see him when he's off, either..."
  "Even in sleep, I'm sure he's off fulfilling some sort of work in his dreams," Dazai said.
  Kouyo chuckled, "probably..." she drew out a long sigh, "you know, I tried setting him up with someone once. Such a sweet girl. Chuuya was so oblivious to how much she liked him."
  "Woah, woah, woah," Dazai held his hands out, a shocked smile on his face, "a girl... liked Chuuya?... are we talking  about the same, angry, fiery tempered, short, hat-rack?"
  Kouyo laughed, "yes. She really did like him. It was a good, long while ago... when I told him because I was getting frustrated that he didn't notice her he looked so confused. He had no idea what to say... it was the first time he had stared at me without saying a word for so long."
  Dazai could barely contain his laughter, "and what? Did he have to reject her?"
  Kouyo's lips curled as her smile grew, "he actually didn't do anything about it. He told me, 'if she really does feel that way towards me she'll tell me herself.' Quite wise words from someone who has never dealt with crushes."
  Dazai covered his mouth, "pfff- so he really didn't do anything about it?!"
  Kouyo shook her head, "she went on admiring him from afar, since she couldn't seem to get anywhere. I don't know what she's doing now but... she seemed to have figured out that he was too far from her."
  Kouyo smiled down at Chuuya and raked her fingers through his loose hair.
  Dazai, after having finally calmed down, sighed, "you take really good care of him, Ane-san..."
  Kouyo chuckled lightly, "I hardly do anything for him anymore. Don't see him very often, either..."
  From her face, Dazai could tell that she regretted not visiting him more.
  "Hey," he spoke up, "he'll live. Chuuya wouldn't give up so easy knowing I'm still alive."
  Kouyo's smile returned, "you're right... oh, I brought something for you." She reached into her kimono and produced a roll of bandages, "here."
  He smiled as he took them from her hand, "thank you."

——

  Elise was nodding off while sitting at the table.
  "What's wrong?" Mori asked from his desk, "I thought Strawberry shortcake was your favorite?" He sounded a little sad that he might have gotten it wrong.
  "It's not that..." she sighed, "I couldn't really sleep last night..." she poked at her cake.
  He paused, "you're worried about him aren't you?... He's an executive, Elise-Chan, he'll be fine."
  "I know..." she grumbled, "Kouyo said she'd help me today."
  "With what?" Mori set down a small stack of papers.
  Elise smiled, "we're going to go pick out flowers for Chuuya."
  Mori smiled because she smiled, "that sounds lovely."
  "Annddd look for Prince Charming," she added.
  "That's grea- wait, what?!"
  Elise giggled, "come on, everyone knows that to wake up the sleeping princess, she needs true loves kiss!"
  "Oh..." Mori chuckled, "of course. You're right, Elise."
  Elise shoved a big bite of cake into her gob, "I schone! Goobie!" She ran off. (translation: "I'm done! Goodbye!" XD)
  Mori laughed to himself before directing his attention back to his papers.
  "She may be onto something..." Mori quietly said as a thought came to his mind.