Chapter 4
Could You Peel An orange For Me?
"Why didn't they let you go to the hospital?" Kaito shouted, flinging his arms out angrily.
Len had called them as soon as he entered the house, and they drove back here immediately. The four of them now sat at the dining table, the firelight casting long shadows on the wall beside them. Miku stole a gaze at Len uneasily. His eyes were glazed over, and his pale lips were pursed.
"Kaito, stop yelling." Miku whispered, pointing discreetly at Len. Kaito threw a frustrated glance over to Miku and continued rambling on in utter annoyance. She sighed, rubbing her eyes in an attempt to rid herself of fatigue. All of a sudden, she heard quiet sobbing. Turning so quickly that her neck made a cracking sound, she gaped at the sight before her.
Len was covering his face with his hands and crying. His shoulders shook uncontrollably and he sobbed quietly, biting on his bottom lip. Miku was extremely shaken by this; she had never seen Len cry. At a loss of what to do, she reached out to him, but she was afraid of what might happen. There was a flash of brown before her eyes, and before she knew it, Meiko was hugging Len tightly.
Meiko had a grim expression, but she was not saying anything. She just hugged Len tightly as he sobbed harder. Even Kaito's anger dissipated as he witnessed the sight before him.
After what seemed like hours, Meiko finally said, "Len, don't worry. Rin will be alright."
"W-What…what if she…she doesn't make it..!" Len's reply came out in between short bursts of breaths, his voice breaking.
"She…she will make it, don't worry." Meiko assured, patting his head.
"R-Really..? She will, Meiko-nee?" Len looked up at her, as if pleading her to reassure him again. Meiko nodded, this time with more conviction.
Len hurriedly wiped away any trace of tears on his face and in his eyes. His cheeks and nose were tinged with red, but he returned to his jovial mood, even if it rather obvious that it was forced.
"Sorry for making you guys come all the way here," he began, cracking a terrible smile that looked as though he was about to break into tears any moment. Kaito frowned and smacked him on the head.
"Stop feigning; get your coat and scarf, we're going to see Rin." Kaito snapped, with Miku and Meiko looking on, aghast. Len rubbed his head angrily, and looked as though he was about to retort back when Kaito hoisted him over his shoulder. Flabbergasted; Len started to struggle, but he was no match for the older male's strength.
"Miku, grab his coat and scarf. Meiko, lock the door up after us." Kaito commanded, and the women flocked to their assigned tasks hastily, having no idea as to why they were following his orders without objection. The four of them got into Kaito's car and rumbled back onto the main road once again, if not on a far less jovial mood and destination.
***Y***
"Right…here we are," Kaito huffed after dragging Len mercilessly to the hospital's receptionist. "We're looking for a Kagamine Rin—a blonde, petite girl that has been just admitted to the hospital?" he began using his hands to simulate Rin's height to the astonished receptionist. Miku shoved him out of the way and asked the receptionist in a more comprehensible and polite manner. When they got what they wanted, they took the lift and headed towards the operating room that has a sign that says 4B.
Everyone took their seats at the plastic bench right outside the room with the exception of Kaito, who paced around restlessly, muttering loudly about the superfluous need to operate on Rin and the smell of antiseptics.
"Kaito, take a rest will you? You have been yammering incessantly ever since the car-ride." Miku groaned, putting her arm around Len, who seemed awfully distracted and worried.
Kaito stopped frowning and began rubbing his hands together. "…I can't help it, Miku-chan. I'm actually really nervous."
Meiko snarled, "Just take a damn seat, you blue-headed fool. You're making me jumpy too. Do they sell beers here?"
Kaito sat down and began arguing about Meiko about why there will never be a vending machine that sells beer in a hospital, and Miku took a quick glance at Len to check on him before plugging her eyes with her earpieces and blasting a song to calm her down.
A myriad of emotions were viciously attacking Len right now; despite his blank stare and emotionless face. He tried to think about the white linoleum floors, the plaster ceiling, the humming vending machine a few meters away—and pretty much anything and everything else other than the one thought that nags at his mind no matter what he do. He even tried shaking his head vigorously as though he could "reset" his thoughts, but to no avail. Just when he was about to get up and rush into the operating room, a doctor in sterile white operating clothes came out, removing his gloves and replacing them in his pocket.
Before the others could say "ah", Len dashed to the doctor, his fists clenched.
"D-Doctor, the girl in there—Rin—is she alright?"
The doctor took a good look at Len, as though retrieving a file from his database of patients' relatives. "Ah, you are Kagamine Rin's…eh, brother..? Boyfriend..? Friend..?"
Len stuttered a "boyfriend" and asked him about Rin once more, an edge on his voice this time. The doctor laughed throatily and uttered something about "young love", combing his fingers through his graying hair. Len was about to slug him when he answered with a sigh that Rin was alright. Stunned, Len stared wide-eyed at the doctor. The others heard the good news and starting jumping around the plastic bench like a bunch or fools.
"She's…she's alright..? Rin's alright?" Len repeated, a lump in his throat. The doctor reaffirmed the sentence, giving him a warm smile and a quick squeeze on the shoulder. "The guys brought her in time. Her illness was acting up, and she had to be given treatment immediately to be stabilized." Relief hit Len like a hard smack on the back, and he felt as though he might be suffocated with joy. He hugged the doctor, throwing caution to the winds, a celebratory tear peeking out from the corner of his eye.
"T-Thank you, doctor!" Len shouted; his cheeks flushed with elation. The doctor patted his back and held his shoulders so he could look at the young male.
"We need to keep Rin here for quite a few days, though. She needs to be observed for any signs of deterioration in health or if her sickness will act up anytime soon." The doctor told Len, whose face fell.
"She…she can't come back with me?"
"Not right now. You can't see her in her current state as well; I'm sorry. Perhaps you can come back tomorrow? She won't be awake till tomorrow, seeing as she's under some sedatives. It's late too, so why don't you go home and get some rest? Wouldn't want you getting sick now, would we."
"A-alright…" Len mumbled. The doctor gave his shoulder one last pat before making his way to the west corridor.
"So? What did the doctor say about Rin?" the trio gathered around Len, their inquisitive faces in front of Len's.
"She can't come home with me as of yet; she has to stay here for further observation…stuff. We can't see her yet, too." The three of them stayed quiet for a while, before Kaito wrenched his scarf from his neck and threw it onto the floor.
"Oh..! The sweet pangs of love! Len, don't you feel terrible that you have to be separated from your beloved for so long? I know that if my teal-haired princess isn't anywhere within a ten-foot radius from me, my heart will ache and cry out for her sweet soul—"
"Shut up!" Miku squealed; her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "How cheesy can you get? Anyway, when can we see her, Len?"
"We can visit her tomorrow morning." Len replied shortly.
#$%^%$#
The company of four entered the designated hospital ward the next day, bearing a basket of fruits and flowers. Len looked over to the bed slowly, his heart in his mouth. Lying beneath white, crisp sheets was Rin in what seemed to be a light nap. Her lips parted very slightly, and her chest rose and fell gently beneath the blanket. Her eyes seemed to twitch under the soft light that shone through thin, pink curtains. Her fair, slender hand was resting beside her body. Miku's heart lurched when she saw the drip inserted into Rin's wrist. Grabbing Kaito's arm, they both looked at Len who stood stock still watching the immobile figure on the bed.
Len set a bouquet of daffodils on the table beside the bed and gazed at her. Tenderly, he brushed a stray lock of flaxen hair away from Rin's cheek and smiled sadly. There seemed to be a trace of dark eye circles under her eyes. He hoped with all his heart that she did not stay awake all night dealing with some form of excruciating pain. All of a sudden, Rin's breathing quickened and her eyelids fluttered open. Upon gazing at Len's startled face, a look of amusement spread all over her face.
"It feels lovely to wake up to your face, Len." Rin whispered, giggling. A hot rash climbed all over Len's neck and face as he ruffled her hair gently, frowning playfully.
"Are you feeling alright? Do you feel…you know…uncomfortable in any way…" Len asked, worry creasing his forehead. Rin shook her head gently, and Len sighed in relief. The trio that was observing the scene before them stepped forward. Rin greeted them with a smile on her face as she reached out to them. Kaito grinned lopsidedly as he patted her head.
"Hey there, how are you doing?" he said in a cheery voice. "Len's been in pieces before he saw you. Just thought I'd let you know, hee-hee." Rin giggled at she gazed shyly at Len who suddenly found the ceiling fascinating. Miku held Rin's hand tightly. Rin looked at her, beaming. "Miku~" Miku kept silent for a while before she started wailing and hugged her abruptly. Meiko smiled widely at Rin too, who reciprocated the gesture happily.
"Sorry for making you guys worry…"Rin mumbled; her eyes a little wet. Miku grunted despite it being un-ladylike. "Why are you saying this? If you don't want us to worry, get out of the hospital quick! We don't want our Len to mope around forever."
Len coughed into his fist, his cheeks still as red as ever. Rin chortled at his embarrassment; it was a funny sight.
"Len, I promise that I will do all I can to get out of here as soon as possible," Rin grasped Len's hands, her voice quivering. A pang of pain shot through Len's heart as he glanced at Rin's pallid face. He gave her hands a tight squeeze.
"Yeah, you do that. I have a surprise back at home for you, so hurry back—it feels empty without you."
Rin giggled. "It WILL BE empty without me, because it'll just be you in that house."
Len almost stomped his foot angrily. "Rin..!"
"Alright, alright, I was just kidding. You're adorable, hee-hee."
Len puffed his cheeks in mock anger, something he picked up from Rin. She started laughing, which then turned into a yawn. Meiko looked on worriedly. "Guys," she said. "We should leave Rin alone to have some rest. She needs time to recuperate."
Len broke away from his gazing at Rin and stuttered a reply. "Y-Yeah, yeah…we should. Let's go, guys. Rin, there are some oranges we brought over here for you. If the doctor lets you eat it, you should ask a nurse to help you peel the fruit."
Rin nodded in acknowledgement, her eyelids heavy with exhaustion. Len made to ramble on more about taking care of herself when Kaito grabbed his arm. "Let's go, we should visit her tomorrow. We can come back tomorrow, can't we?"
Biting his lip, Len nodded grudgingly. He really was not that eager to leave yet, but he should let Rin have her rest. He picked up his coat from the armchair nearby and ambled to the door of the private ward. He looked back to see Rin waving a goodbye to them, and bright smile on her face. He beamed at her, blushing happily. Rin's cheeks turned a light pink as well, and she shooed him away jokingly. He went out and gently closed the door behind.
*^Rin^*
I watched as Len and the rest of them went out of the ward. Immediately regretting that I had let them leave, I tilted my head up, resting my weary head on the soft pillows and letting out a sigh I have been holding for the past five minutes. The doctor says that I'm totally fine, but I beg to differ. It's my own body; after all. They were the ones who could not figure out what disease I had in the first place. Truth be told, I feel a slight aching throughout my body. I couldn't really place the source of this discomfort, so I shifted uncomfortably in the sheets, drawing my knees up to my chest.
I looked out of the closed windows; their pink curtains half-drawn. Despite the fact that the hospital was facing a park, the place was covered in snow. There was not much to see except for white, gray and brown. I don't like this place. Well, not to say that our home is exuberantly coloured in the winter season, but it's still better than this.
My gaze shifted to the door as a middle-aged nurse entered the room, bearing a tray of food and medicines. I eyed both items with dread.
"Good morning, Kagamine-san." The jolly nurse called out, a bright smile lightening up the room. I grinned back. It was rather infectious, to say the least! "I'm Riko. We'll be seeing quite a lot of each other, so it's best that we get along, eh?" She winked at me. I observed her hair with morbid fascination. How did she get it to curl like that?
"Y-Yes…I'm Kagamine Rin! Nice to meet you," I extended out my hand, tilting my head as I smiled. She shook it firmly and set the tray on the table that hovered above the bed on rollers.
"Here is the medicine that I have been assigned to give you. I have split the before and after portions into separate labelled saucers, so it's be more convenient. I know," she gave me a stern look as I made a face and hugged a pillow. "Medicines taste terrible, but they'll help you. I expect you to eat it all, Miss."
I frowned as I eyed the different coloured tablets and capsules. At least they brought a splash of colour to the room. Riko gave me an apologetic look as she picked up a syringe filled with suspicious looking liquid. I grimaced as she flicked it get rid of any air bubbles.
"Alright Rin-san; let's get it over and done with—then you can proceed to eat your breakfast."
Tears sprang to my eyes and threatened to fall. I always have been scared of needles. Putting on a brave front, I asked with a forced grin, my voice quivering. "Can you peel an orange for me when we're done?"
Riko smiled ruefully and nodded her head. I took in a deep breath and watched as the slender needle punctured my skin.
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