31 I Don't Want to See You, Once Again, Lying On a Hospital Bed

It was a simple and gentle kiss.

He merely pressed his thin lips on her plump ones, nibbling her lower lip for a while before he slowly let her go.

Shouko was hooked in a trance. She was caught off guard with Kyoya's sudden kiss yet the foreign feeling didn't make her feel reprehensible.

Instead, she welcomed it.

It gave her a sense of belonging, something that didn't feel out of place.

Like how the flowers were supposed to bloom in spring and how one person, no matter how lonely he was in this world, would have a home in the end.

Kyoya looked at Shouko who was still in a blissful daze. He smiled as a sense of pride sprouted in his heart when he saw there was no apprehension in her eyes. Her lashes were like fluttering butterfly wings as she looked at him.

Still, he did take advantage of her. His current turbulence of emotions didn't excuse his behavior.

Moreover, before, he did...

Kyoya's eyes dimmed.

"I'm sorry," He muttered the words low, his eyes were directed to the bed behind her as he averted his gaze. "I was being impulsive."

Shouko blinked, her eyes slowly regained focus. His silent fury was no longer expressed on his face but it was still something unpleasant and heart-wrenching to look at. She bit her lip. Shouko stretched out her hands, under Kyoya's surprise gaze, she placed both of her palms on his cheeks, urging him to look at her.

"I've made you worry again," Shouko smiled ruefully. His lone tear that fell on her cheek was still wet. Her fingers traced the brim of his eyes, gently wiped them away. "But, Kyoya, I didn't regret what I did."

Kyoya was stunned. He quickly grasped her hands, securing them on his face. His eyelids trembled slightly as he was struggling to keep his heart calm.

"Why... do you say so?"

Shouko paused for a while, thinking back of the situation back then.

"I don't know how to say it," She smiled in repentance. "It's just... when I saw that child, my body moved on its own. I didn't even realize what had I done until I stepped inside the fire. I just thought that, if something happened to that boy... I would surely blame myself for it."

Kyoya's lips parted, he wanted to say something yet he couldn't even mutter out a word. In the end, he slumped down and rested his forehead against the crook of her neck. He still held her hands that were placed on his face.

"But... if you continued acting like this, I can't help but worry..."

Shouko blinked her eyes a few times, trying to contain her tears. She knew she was acting selfishly.

If she was put in his shoes, watching someone so dear to her rush into danger, how would she have felt?

She had disregarded his feelings by saying that.

While Shouko was lost in her thought, Kyoya suddenly called out her name. Despite sounding hoarse and listless, it was still laced with tenderness to her.

"Shouko?"

"Yes?" Shouko glanced at him. His face was still buried on her neck.

"If... something like this happened again, please include me in it."

"En?"

Kyoya took a deep breath before he lifted his head up. His dark orbs moistened with tears looked directly into her eyes. Their distance was just separated slightly. If he leaned down for a bit, the tips of their noses could touch.

Shouko's heart started beating loudly. She suddenly recalled the kiss from earlier.

"Every time you want to do something and it might put you in harm, tell me first," Kyoya traced circles at the back of her hands, he was still savoring the feeling of her warm touch. Only by doing this, he could convince himself that he didn't lose her. "I don't want to see you, once again, lying in a hospital bed..."

Every time he recalled the view of her weak figure remained motionless in the hospital bed with her face as pale as the white bedsheet, his heart couldn't help but feel like it was being suspended from beating.

Shouko thought for a moment, the unease in his voice ached her heart.

How restless he was whenever he saw her in such a helpless state? She was being totally unfair to him.

"Okay," Shouko nodded, she silently swore to do her best to avoid from making this man worry again.

She wanted to pull him out of his darkness, not to be the one pushing him further down into the abyss.

A twinkle of light returned to his eyes once he heard her firm answer before once again it faded.

"Shouko?"

Even though his voice was low, she still could hear the edge in it. He was fighting with his inner self.

Kyoya lowered down his head and lifted his gaze up repeatedly, he was nervous as he looked at her calm face.

"About earlier... I'm sorry..." Kyoya was full of regret when he thought back of how he had behaved just now. "I didn't mean to scare you..."

At that time, his possessiveness and alertness were intensified when he recalled the countless times she had been in danger. He didn't want her to be harmed even by the smallest thing yet, he was afraid he would be the one who would hurt her.

Shouko wanted to smile but it didn't reach her eyes. The struggle in his eyes was too apparent to her. He was at a loss of how he should react and it was due to her. A pang of guilt struck her heart as the light in his dark eyes gradually faded.

"I wasn't scared, Kyoya," Shouko did her best to avoid herself from spilling her tears. She wanted to do her best to calm him, put him at ease. "You're just worried about me. And, I believe you won't hurt me. Please don't berate yourself, alright?"

Kyoya paused for a moment before he allowed himself to smile faintly.

Yes. He won't hurt her. She was his precious treasure.

He would make sure of it.

A moment later, a bodyguard came sending their dinner. Shouko was utterly famished by this time. She hadn't had her share of lunch and now it was already night time. She smiled in delight seeing the delicious spread in front of her.

"You... did you have lunch?"

She looked at Kyoya who was sitting crossed leg before her in the hospital bed. They were only separated by the portable high table that they used to place all of the food.

"I have a bite," Kyoya took off the lid of the thermos containing chicken soup. He poured some into a bowl for Shouko. "Don't worry about me. Let's eat."

Shouko nodded once. She quickly picked up a spoon and drink the soup.

Kyoya smiled faintly seeing her enjoying her food. He had lied to her. He didn't even think to eat when she was still unconscious. If not for the continuous urging from his bodyguards, encouraging him to at least drink some water, he would just remain motionless beside her bed.

"Kyoya?"

"En?"

Shouko bit her lower lip, she wasn't sure to ask him or not. She was afraid of stirring his emotion again when he had just looked better than before.

Sensing her reluctance, Kyoya had a tacit understanding of what she wanted to ask.

"That boy is fine, apart from suffering from a slight burn on his arm, he is fine," Kyoya picked up a few pieces of shredded chicken and placed them inside her bowl. "I could bring you to see him if you want."

"Really?" Shouko was so delighted. "Okay!"

Kyoya smiled again. He urged her to finish her food first before promising to bring her to visit the boy.

After dinner, Kyoya gently placed his hand on Shouko's waist as he led her to the boy's ward. Shouko walked slowly. She was still feeling lethargic after such a terrifying event.

"That boy, Maeda Haruki, is warded in the pediatric ward," Kyoya pressed the button of the elevator, heading two floors below from their floor. "The doctor said he needs further examination tomorrow but overall he is fine."

"That's good," Shouko breathed in relief. "He looked so small. How old is he?"

"He's five," Once the doors opened, Kyoya ushered Shouko inside the elevator. "Poor little thing."

Shouko nodded in agreement. His frightful little face was still clear in her mind. Once he saw her in the midst of smoke and fire, his fear dissipated a bit from his eyes. When she cradled him in her arms, his grip was so tight as if he was afraid to let go even for a moment.

"Does his family come?" Little Haruki was alone when she found him. He might have been separated from his family due to the chaos.

"His parents are here," The elevator doors opened, they had reached the floor of the pediatric ward. "They wanted to meet you to thank you for saving their son. But, since you're still unconscious, they said they would come tomorrow."

"They didn't have to thank me," Shouko smiled, she was feeling more at ease knowing Little Haruki's parents found him. It would be bad if anything bad happened to him. "I'm glad he's alright."

Kyoya nodded once. He glanced at his little wife, she appeared cheerful than earlier. His heart calmed down a lot seeing her like this.

Even though it was just a little over 8 PM, most of the lights in the hallways were already dimmed. The movement of the hospital staff was quiet as they carried on with their tasks. When they arrived at the door of the pediatric ward was located, they were greeted with a screeching noise of a woman's screaming and muffled sobs of a child.

"Kyoya..." Shouko felt uneasy.

Kyoya frowned. He opened the door, revealing another hallway in front of them.

Inside the pediatric ward, there were separate smaller wards for the children. Not far from them, a woman was seen scolding a child while two nurses were trying to calm her.

"You really loved to act weak to gain pity from outsiders? Do you really want another beating?" The woman shouted, her face contorted in anger looking hideous.

"No... Mom... I'm sorry..." The little boy shrunk in fear, his voice sounded utterly helpless.

"Madam, please calm down. Your son is sick." One of the nurses held the woman's arms, trying to appease her. "We would call security if you continued making such a scene."

"Don't interfere with our affairs!" The woman shook off the nurse's hold onto her. "I'll bring him back now! Such a waste of money staying here! Scram!"

The woman made a movement to grab the boy's hand, startling the nurses with her quick reflexes. Right at the moment she wanted to grip his arm, a sudden force threw her off balance. She had almost fallen on the floor if not for the nurses beside her holding her steady.

"Who dared to mess with me?" The woman shouted angrily, enraged for being interrupted. Her arm that had been slapped suddenly was still trembling in pain.

She looked at the tall figure standing between her and the little boy. Her eyes widened as she was taken aback with the wrathful expression of the man dressed in a black cashmere sweater in front of her. The dark and cold vibe surrounded the man was enough to make her heart stop beating due to fear.

"What do you think you're doing to a child?"

Kyoya's voice was bone-chilling cold, sending shivers down the spines of anyone who heard him. His jaw went taut as he clenched it, trying to contain his fury from being unleashed. Even his eyes narrowed dangerously as he was facing the woman.

"You... what are you doing?" Despite her legs had been weakened due to the unseen pressure coming from the man, the woman was still being blatant in showing her rage. "This is our family's affair! Who are you to interfere in this!"

Kyoya let out a chuckle yet it sounded eerie in the silent ward. "Do you think you could escape after abusing your own child?"

As Kyoya was facing the woman, Shouko could only watch from the side with a conflicted look in her eyes.

While she was still stunned with the woman's action when she was mad earlier, Kyoya dashed to the front and ruthlessly slapped the woman's hand from harming the little boy. Dark storms were brewing underneath his dark eyes, they could easily freeze someone on the spot.

This was the first time she saw such an expression coming from him. It was different from when he was upset with her in the ward before. This time, he appeared akin to a ferocious predator aiming for its prey, waiting to tear it into pieces.

Was it because he saw the little boy being abused by his mother?

A thorn suddenly pricked her heart.