The wheels of a stretcher collided onto tiles as loud voices shouted inaudible words. Takane held onto Kanaho’s non responsive hands as she tried to catch up to the rolling stretcher with a few nurses.
“Kanaho! Kanaho! Please! Wake up!”
No matter how much her name was called, there was no response.
Takane suddenly opened her eyes to darkness. Slightly panicked and a sense of urgency building up her chest, she silently patted around the space next to her.
Kanaho, Kanaho…
She felt a hint of relief inside her chest as she felt the warmth next her, followed by steady breathing.
I want to see you…
Takane turned around to turn on her side of the night lamp, her clock showing 3:27 AM. With the small reading light on, she returned to bed and felt a huge sigh of relief as she saw Kanaho’s sleeping face.
“…Kanaho…” Takane wanted to hug her, engulf her into a tight embrace, but for now she only settled to watch her.
It has been a few months since the battle at the capital, the special type Huge ‘Evolve’… A few months since she saw Kanaho wheeled into the treatment room, not regaining consciousness.
Please… Open your eyes.
Takane blinked as she swallowed dryly trying to shove her fears behind her brain. She inhaled and exhaled steadily as she was finally able to calm her building panic.
It will be fine, I just saw her a few hours ago. She’ll wake up. She’s only sleeping.
Not to interrupt Kanaho’s sleep, Takane once again turned to turn off her night lamp. She shifted back to face Kanaho’s sleeping face, only able to lightly make sense of her jaw amidst the darkness… together with her calm and steady breathing as she slept.
The panic washed away in her heart, but every time Takane closed her eyes, the same image always repeated itself. Kanaho not waking up, getting wheeled into treatment.
It was as if the darkness embraced her. A life without Kanaho on her side, is not life, but a fate far worse than death.
Takane opened her eyes once again as she listened to her rising heart rate. Unable to stop herself, she reached to touch Kanaho’s face with a shaky hand breathing a sigh of relief as she felt how warm her cheeks were.
“Mm… Takane…chan?” Kanaho mumbled as she slowly opened her eyes. Her hand’s cold…
“Ka… Kana… Kanaho…” Takane managed to croak back a response as her hands shook while she touched Kanaho’s cheeks. “Kanaho…”
Kanaho blinked a few times before she took in Takane’s hand from her cheek into her own hand. “Takane-chan, I’m here.”
“Kanaho…!” Takane shifted under the sheets as she pulled Kanaho’s body towards her into a tight embrace, placing her arm under Kanaho’s body. “Kanaho…”
“Takane-chan…? What’s wrong?” Kanaho returned the embrace as she rubbed a hand up and down Takane’s back. “Takane-chan. It’ll be okay.”
Takane closed her eyes as she leaned her face onto Kanaho’s shoulder. She inhaled in her relaxing scent, as she started to feel her body be engulfed in warmth… together with the calm and quiet sound of Kanaho’s breathing together with her slow and steady heartbeat.
“Have you calmed down?” Kanaho continued to rub Takane’s back up and down as they embraced. She felt a nod on her shoulder and they lightly parted from the hug. “Takane-chan.”
They rested both of their heads onto a pillow as they stared into each other’s faces in the darkness. Their noses touched each other’s, their breaths tickling on each other’s mouth as they breathed.
“…I’ve been having these dreams… Nightmares… of losing you.” Takane confessed as the hand on her back suddenly stopped… before it continued again slowly.
“How often?”
“…Almost every night.”
“Takane-cha–“
“Most days I calm down just by seeing your face… but I suppose tonight was a bit different.”
“…Why haven’t you told me?”
“I didn’t want you to worry.”
“…I want you to tell me, Takane-chan.” Kanaho moved forward as their foreheads touched. Their eyes gazing into each other’s. “I don’t mind if you have to wake me. I want to be with you.”
“Kanaho…”
“And then just like this…” Kanaho leaned forward as she planted a soft kiss into Takane’s lips. “I will do my best to make you feel at ease.”
Takane moved her hand that was stretched out under Kanaho’s head to her back as she pulled her closer. “…More.”
Kanaho laughed as she rested a hand onto Takane’s cheek. “Of course.” She leaned in on those quivering lips as she gave her a longer and more reassuring kiss.
Takane closed her eyes until she felt her part. “Kanaho… Promise me, that we’ll always be together.”
“Do I have to promise it even if it was what I had meant to do all along?” Kanaho brushed a thumb over Takane’s cheek who only nodded at her. “Then you have to promise me the same thing.”
“Of course.” Takane smiled as she leaned in for another kiss. “…Is there an option to not go back to sleep?”
Kanaho closed her eyes as she already felt that hand on her back gently gliding downwards to her hips. “…It’s fine, if you don’t want to–mm…”
“I love you, Kanaho.” Thank you for going back to my side that day.
(Thoughts of You/END)
