Ritsu was floating in water. At first, everything was dark, and he was scared. He tried to speak, but as soon as he tried to inhale, he coughed up water. Eyes felt painful, legs felt like noodles. Then, he felt jolts into his body. Fearful, he tried to call out a name, but he couldn't think of one. Thinking about what was going on, and where he was just made him feel pain.
Every time he woke, it was the same thing. He would see darkness, tried to think but feel pain, and then the painful jolts into his body. Today, however, he heard muffled noises, and he tried to speak, but the still felt water. However, he was able to breathe through it. His eyes stayed firmly shut, but he was able to move one hand. The muffled voices semed to stop, and he heard a slight tap against glass. An painful jolt rendered him unconcious.
A legato of beeps could be heard. His body no longer floated, and he began to breathe softly. He could move his fingers, but he felt sore. A pair of foosteps came walking one, one of which clacked against the floor. "We need more time."
"And this will help him?"
"Unitl everything's repaired, this is the best option, and with the cost of health insurace these days-"
"I undersand. It's just hard seeing him just lying here."
"Just remember-"
"Wait, is he moving?"
Ristu had tried to move, but his limbs felt heavy and sore. Opening his mouth, he tried to speak, but his voice box was painful. Mouth parched, he opened his eyes. There were flashes in his vision at first, lists of numbers, and then he came into view. Misaki looked down at him, teary-eyed and face unshaven. The doctor typed a few things in her tablet before tapping her visor. She licked her lips and the tabled clicked into lock mode. "We weren't expecting you awake so soon. Mr. Ito, can you hear us?"
Ristsu blinked, then nodded, his neck feeling stiff. "Good, now I'm sure your voice is probably sore, so I want you to only work on nodding for now. Are we in focus?"
Ritsu noddd again, noticing his husband giving a sigh of relief. "Good. Now, I need to run a few tests so I need you to lie back and stay perfectly still."
He heard a slight hiss and then a hum as he lied back down. Glancing over to Misaki, he watched as he bit his thumb. Something that resembled a half-moon emerged from the wall and created an indigo light that began to scan him. Ritsu wanted to move his aching limbs, trying to create circulation, but he did as the doctor instructed him. "Well, everything seems stable except..."
"Except what?" asked Misaki
"His memory. Something seems to be a bit off. We should probably run some more tests before releasing."
"No."
"Mr. Ito, when you agreed to the process-"
"I've been separated from Ritsu long enough. Besides, maybe some things shouldn't be remembered, such as what happened last month."
'Last month?' thought Ritsu
His head winced in pain as he remembered the last month. He remembered some time of stinigng pain in his chest and he sat up quickl, head spinning. Eyes rolling back in his head, he heard foosteps thumping. "Ritsu!" his husband exclaimed
He touched his chest, pulling at his shirt. When he reached down, he noticed that his skin was the pure white it had always been. He then remembered the sound of gunshot, and the pain he felt. Taking deep breaths, he began to hear the pounding in his ears. He didn't regiser that someone was talking to him, until Misaki's face was close to his. The warm calloused hands touching his face. "Ritsu, honey?"
"I..." whispered Ritsu
His voice box croaked and he winced at the pain. "Don't speak for a bit honey. I'll get you somehting to eat."
The doctor sighed and locked the tablet. "He can't drink anything right now. We already have him hooked up."
Ritsu glanced over to the blue liquid that was currently being fed through his hand. He curled his hand a bit, wondering why he felt no pain. The last surgery, he could feel the needle in his hand, but this was nothing. "Don't pull that out." said the doctor, "You're being fed the nutrition needed to stay alive. You'll be taking that for a while. Mr. Ito, can I speak with you outside?"
The brunette watched him leave, and he looked around to see if he could have something to support his aching back. He fiddled aorund the bed, trying to find something to make the bed rise. He tried using his throat but it just ached more. Finally, he heard something make slight ring and he felt he back of the bed rise. Sighing, he laid back into the gel-like mattress. He could hear muffled voices, and silhouettes flinging arms. Evendually the taller person, which he knew was Misaki, placed a hand through his head. Ritsu knew that his husband was giving up, the man always tussled his hair in frustration. He could remember back in Japan when- "Ow!" he hoarsed
The doctor quickly walked in as a buch of monitors tried to beep. She typed a few things on her tablet and then pursed her lips. "You two are going to make my job harder than it needs to be. Mr. Ito, your husband needs to stay overnight."
Misaki was going to argue, but the doctor put her hand up. "It'll make the syncing process easier instead of being accross down. I promise you, there shouldn't be anymore problems."
Ritsu looked at her bewildered as she walked over to is IV drip and pressed a few buttons. "Try not to think of too many things at once. When you try to, it interupts the syncing process and your body will go back into a comatose state."
The male looked up at the doctor fearfully, but Misaki was there to lightly touch his face, giving a gentle smile. He then looked over at the doctor. "You can't expect someone not to think."
"I mean his memories. Try not to think too much about so your brain can sync as much as it can. In order for that muscle to grow, you have to let it rest as much as possible. But I can see you're a bit wired so, maybe a book? Yes, let me get you a book."
The doctor's heels clakced as she walked quickly out the room. Both males looked at each other in awkard silence for a moment. Misaki pulled up a chair and then kissed Riku's head lightly. "It's going to be alright honey. You'll come home tomorrow and you can rest."
"M-misaki..." hoarsed Ritsu
His husband shushed him a bit, lightly touching his lips. "Don't talk. Dr. Kaya said you need at least a day's worth of nuturition before your throat is healed."
Ritsu blinked and then nodded, eyes going down the white knitted sheets. He clenched them a bit, forcing himself not to cry. Misaki kissed him again and gently stroked his fingers. "I know, it's scary. You always hated hospitals, but it's only for one day."
The doctor returned quickly, revealing an e-tablet, an old one to the two of them. "I have A Tale of Two Cities and To Kill a Mockingbird on there."
The brunette bit his lip, then Dr. Kaya chuckled. "I'm kidding, there's some magazines on there, but it's only limited light reading. I mean it, not too much thinking tonight. I made sure the orderlies knew that only music and light reading should be the only activity right now. With everything on the news, you're better off worrying tomorrow."
--------------------------------------------------------
Everything afterwards seemed to turn into a blur, as both Dr. Kaya and Misaki talked about after care. He was going to be drinking nothing but the blue liquid for months, and heavy phyical activity such as weight lifting was out. Ritsu snorted at that statement, considering lifting weights and runnign on treadmills was Misaki's thing. Visiting hours had come and gone, with Ritsu being left alone in the cold roomm. His body shuddered and he cried. Strangely enough, blue tears stained the sheets. He didn't want to tell Misaki, but the caresses, the kisses, he felt nothing. He was numb from the bottom of his feet. When Dr. Kaya asked if he was cold, but he merely shook his head. The doctor said nothing, but merely tapped notes before uping his dosage and bidding him good night.
Drifting off to sleep was easy, as he seemed to sink intot he gelatnous mattress. Reading was boring, and staring off into space with soft music playing was even more boring. The music seemed to drift off as he fell into a deeper sleep.
His eyes snapped open to an apartment with a seaside view. He could smell the sea and taste the sea salt from the air. Ritsu's eyes lit up in elation as he walked over to the balcony. Down below was the whitest beach he had ever saw with the bluest water. He chuckled, looking down at the gold band on his left finger. 'Yes.' he thought, 'Our honeymoon at a resort.'
When the door opened, he smiled at his loving husband as he took his tie off. He could remember now, as he had left his father's side to be with him. Memories came flooding back, crashing as hard as the waves below. The sadness in Misaki's eyes made him walk over to his face and thumb away the burgeoning tears. "I'm sorry. One day, your father will come around."
Misaki looked away defiantly, kissing one of his hands "He won't. But, I'm glad, because I get to spend the rest of my life happy with you."
Ritsu felt his face growing warm. Misaki leaned in, touching his cheeks gently, the warmth he never felt awake, and he almost got a kissed before he was yanked away. The younger man felt his world spin until he looked up at the man kissing his husband. His entire world slowed down as sensations went away. The other man turned, looking at him with venom as Misaki stood in place. His eyes widened as he looked at his hateful reflection. Taking a few steps backward, he tried to get away from his clone's grip, but it was firmly around his throat. "I won't let you take him away! Get out!"
He could hear beeping, and felt his windpipe being crushed. Gasping, he clawed at his clone, trying to get him off. A jolt in his spine snapped his eyes open, with orderlies pulling his hands away, while an electrical shock seemed to loosen his body. Coughing, he gasped for air as a different doctor came running in. A male that had bedhead and a stethescope around his neck. "Memory surge." said one of the orderlies, "He was trying to strangle himself."
Ritsu tried to say something, but his voice just squeaked. "Dammit." growled the doctor, "Restrain his arms and I'll run a diagnostic."
"Wh-what?" hoarsed Ritsu
Another jolt to his body made him float again in the darkness. Terrified, tried to see if the clone was there, the angry version of himself. His body shook, curlinginto himself. Softly crying, he slipped into unconsciousness.
--------------------------------------------------------
Gasping for air the next morning, he blinked as he looked over at the IV monitor. His arms were free, and he saw Misaki in the corner, softly asleep. He gave small smlile, and then he remembered his nightmare. He opened and closed his mouth again, debating if he should wake his husband. He didn't wait long, since Misaki's phone diged. Waking up ungracefully, his husband smacked his lips. When he saw Ritsu, he squared his shoudlers, but Ritsu snorted. "Good morning sunshine."
Misaki looked at him in shock. He stood up quickly, running over to his husband. "Ritsu! You can talk."
He nodded softly, being embraced by the taller male. He then was kissed all over his face and he playfully pushed him away. "I can't wait to take you home."
"I can finally sleep in my bed."
Face looking down, his smile diminished as he kissed Ritsu's wrists. "I don't know what those people are thinking, tying you up like that. Your precious skin."
"I'll be fine. A few days, with relaxation and good blood flow ill make these bruises go away."
Misaki cleared his throat and sat fully on the bed. "You-you're right. Blood flow."
"Remember when I...I..."
"Ritsu?"
He winced, trying to remember where he knew about good fblood flow. It seemed like someone was shutting a door in his mind. "Nevermind." smiling smally, "I'll be fine. That's the most important thing."
Misaki licked his lips, sighed, and stood up. He got up kissing his head again. "I'll go find Dr. Kaya."
Looking his husbad leave, he leaned back and nestled himself into the covers. Feeling unusually tired, he drifted asleep, this time, falling. Screaming, no sound came out and he found himself thudding against the ground. Sitting up, he found hismelf staring at a large oak door. Below his feet were checkered tiled foor. When he reached for the door, he found it locked. Feeling a jolt in his spine and a throbbing headache, he let go. "GO AWAY!" yelled the voice
"What do you want from me?" asked Ritsu
"DON'T YOU GET IT?! GO AWAY!"
Ritsu shook from his own booming voice, feeling gravity press him into the tile. "Why? What did I do?"
"YOU TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME!"
"I don't even know who you are!"
The oak doors slammed open and he looked at that clone, that perfect clone, who sneered down at him. "You. Know. Who. I. Am."
"No I'm...I'm you. I think."
"No. I told him I didn't want this, but he didn't listen."
Ritsu looked up at his clone, tears streaking his face. He wanted to to touch him, but hesitated. It oculd be a trap, it could be real, it was just plain confusing.
--------------------------------------------------------
Leaving the hospital, he got a bracelet, Dr. Kaya telling him that it would reflect his health status to them. Misaki kept darting around, not letting him really look aroudn the hospital. "Did Rejuvination take over the hospital?"
His husband's eyes darted around for a moment, wringing his hands. "Uh, yeah. Let's go."
Dr. Kaya looked strangely and shook her head. "Call us if there are any problems."
Misaki only nodded his head as he ushered his husband out the door. Ritsu winced for a moment feeling the pain from actual sunlight before he adjusted his eyes, giving a blue, green, and then finally red tint. He thought it was strange for a moment, but shrugged it off as nothing. If anything, he felt an excitement growing in him with the thought of going home.
The glass elevator doors opened and his excitement droppe.d Despite being in one of the most populated cities, everything seemed dead. Misaki had ushered him the car and he sat, looking uneasy. His husband touched his hand gently, conforting him before driving. The tall glass skyscrapers, the artistry sitting in the center of the city behind a once white marble fountain just seemed to look like a tombstone. The water was shut off, the marble now looking brown and decaying. "What happened?"
"The economy is drying up and people are moving off the grid. Morons, every last one of them."
Ritsu pursed his lips and looked over at his husband's serious face. He was usually sympathetic, but here he sat, shoulders squared, hands gripping the steering wheel. The light turned green and the car jerked. "I never really understand how people can just try to upset progress."
"We're rationing food and medicine. There's these talks of colonies outside the grid."
"You mean those territories with those genetic freaks? What stops them from getting all of humanity sick?"
"But, I've heard that-"
The car jerked to a stop and Ritsu was glad he was wearing his seat belt. He nearly hit his head on the dashboard and he went to complain about the sudden stop, but then he snapped his mouth shut. Misaki looked at him with venom in his eyes. He was taking deep breaths, and he felt nervous. It was only a few times, and he could remember the fights he had. Surprisingly enough, he was allowed to have these memories. "This is what I hate Ritsu." he seethed, "You thinking and questioning. I love you, but I really hate when you bring up all these things. Can we please, just drive in peace without talking about current events."
Ritsu merely nodded his head. Misaki shook his head and let out a steady breath. The two of them said nothing as they kept driving. As they passed a park, Ritsu could only look in sadness as the playground, once full of children, were completely abandoned. When they didn't go down the usualy street towards home, Ritsu looked puzzled at his husband, but said nothing. A larger building stood before them, an expensive high-rise with palm trees. Misaki pressed a button on the roof of the car and the large garage door opened. "After incident happened, I moved us to a larger building, with better security. Don't worry, I made sure it was bigger, with a greenhouse for all the vegetables."
Licking his lips, Ritsu said nothing, but got out the car. Misaki, being a gentleman, let him out the car, and held his hand as the walked to the elevator. The wristband scanned and told them welcome as the elevator door opened. There was nothing but flashing lights as the elevator ascended, and then the doors opened. A large patio was in front of them. Wristband scanned again, and the front door opened. "Home sweet home." he said
Ritsu looked around at the spacious place. A larger living room, adjoining dining room. Then, there was the immaculate kitchen with a large stove island. He then ran up to his husband. "It's so big!" he chuckled, "How are we able to afford this?"
Misaki kissed his head and then led him down the hall. Openeing it, he found himself in a very large greenhouse. Ritsu nearly squealed in delight, and then kissed his husband. "This is beautiful! I love it!"
"I paid al ot of peopel to get the garden ready for you to get home, people really needed jobs."
"Ok, I concened, this is a nice place. I can't wait to go shopping and really fill this place up."
His husband untangled himself and began walking away. "Misaki?" he asked
"I really didn't want to bring this up since you got home, but, honey, I need you to stay inside for a couple of weeks."
"A couple of weeks? But...but..."
"I know you like being out in the sun, which is why I got the greenhouse here. I got it discounted from a prominent gardener who just moved into a new zone. Ritsu, you're so important to me and I still need to get your new bracelet. You can't leave without this and there's not that many places open. Listen, you can buy online for now and get everything sent up. You can't go sneaking off. Not now."
Ritsu looked up at him surprise. "You knew? You knew that I was sneaking out the whole time."
Misaki snorted and folded his arms. "Give me some credit. I think you've forgotten that we can track each other through our bracelets. I know you're good at fishing and trying to make sure I eat healthy after the heart murmur but, after the incident and you nearly dying. I don't want to take any chances. Please Ritsu? Just for me?"
He looked up into his husband's pleading eyes. Misaki had no other family but him, but he hated being locked in like this. Still, it was only for few weeks. He gave nod and small smile. "Ok. Just for now."
Misaki smiled brightly and kissed his head. Holding him, Ritsu still couldn't feel his warmth, but could hear his heartbeat. In his own heart, he felt that he had given his freedom away.