##Author's Note:
Hello, readers! For the next 24 hours, I'll be uploading one additional chapter for every 10 power stones or 50 collections received, up to a maximum of 10 chapters (excluding this one).
I will check every hour and upload additional chapters as per the progress.
Happy reading!
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A warm glow cast across Ryu's pale face as sunlight dappled through the thin hospital curtains. He blinked away the remnants of sleep as his eyelids fluttered open. The unfamiliar machine humming softly next to him, the hospital scent, and the heart monitor's rhythmic beeping all combined to send a wave of disorientation over him.
A weak groan escaped Ryu's lips, pulling him from the swirling vortex of unconsciousness. "Grandpa?" Ryu croaked, his voice hoarse and barely audible.
Dan's head snapped up, worry etched into every line of his face. He looked ten years older, the weight of the past week etched onto his features. Relief flooded his eyes as he saw Ryu awake. "Ryu!" he boomed, his voice thick with emotion. "Thank goodness! You had us all terrified."
The old man's eyes glistened with unshed tears, a rare display of vulnerability from the usually stoic Dan. His calloused hands trembled slightly as he reached out to grasp Ryu's frail fingers.
Ryu felt a wave of guilt wash over him. He remembered the frantic scramble, the terror in Hana and Isao's eyes, and the weight of his own voice dictating his survival. "I'm sorry, Grandpa," he croaked, tears welling in his eyes. "I didn't mean to scare you."
Dan pulled him into a tight hug, too tight for someone who was in a coma a second before.
Ryu said, "its too tight, grandpa. I am having trouble breathing."
"Don't you ever do that to me again, young man," Dan mumbled gruffly, his voice thick with relief. "We thought we were going to lose you too."
The embrace was fierce, almost desperate, as if Dan feared Ryu might slip away if he let go. Ryu could feel the rapid beating of his grandfather's heart, a testament to the fear and worry that had consumed him.
"Just rest now, okay?" Dan said softly, gently easing Ryu back onto the pillows. "We can talk later."
The door creaked open, the sound unnaturally loud in the quiet room. Dr. Yuki entered, her pristine white coat a stark contrast to the worry lines etched around her eyes. Her gaze softened as she saw Ryu awake, a gentle smile tugging at her lips.
"Ah, Ryu," she said, her voice laced with humour. "I see our young warrior is finally back from his grand adventure."
Ryu, his voice hoarse from disuse, croaked out, "Good morning, Mother Yuki."
Dr. Yuki let out a soft chuckle, a warm, comforting sound that soothed the edges of his anxiety. "Good morning, Ryu? It's actually well past noon. You've been out for a whole week, my dear."
Ryu's eyelids fluttered open wider, revealing a flicker of surprise. "A week?" he rasped, the word barely a whisper.
Dr. Yuki nodded gravely, pulling a weathered wooden chair closer to his bedside. The legs scraped against the linoleum floor; the sound was harsh in the quiet room. She sat down, her shoulders sagging slightly with fatigue.
"Yes, a whole week," she confirmed, her voice soft but serious. "You had us all on edge, Ryu. Your vitals were... alarming, to say the least. Your body's internal systems were under immense stress."
A playful glint returned to her eyes, a telltale sign of the mischievous spirit beneath her gentle exterior. "Though considering the stunt you pulled, 'warrior' might be a bit of an overstatement, wouldn't you say, my little schemer?"
Dan, who had been holding Ryu's hand with a white-knuckled grip, finally released him, muttering under his breath, "More like a near-death experience."
Dr. Yuki, whom Ryu considered a second mother since his days as a scrawny orphan at her orphanage before Dan adopted him, fixed him with a steady gaze. "Indeed, Dan. It was a close call, Ryu. You were very ill, and your body had a hard time fighting back."
Ryu could see the toll his illness had taken on both Dan and Dr. Yuki. Dark circles shadowed their eyes, and worry lines seemed to have deepened overnight. The weight of their concern hung heavy in the air.
Mustering all his strength, Ryu offered a weak smile. Dr. Yuki, ever the disciplinarian with a heart of gold, had been a constant source of love and stability in his life ever since he could barely remember. "But everything turned out alright, Mother Yuki," he mumbled, his voice raw.
"Yes, it did," she agreed, her eyes softening further. "Now, about the prescription you gave Isao."
Ryu's heart skipped a beat, his mind racing. He knew this moment would come, but he hadn't expected it so soon. He swallowed hard, his throat dry and scratchy.
He cleared his throat, his mind racing for a plausible explanation, and said, "It was a natural diuretic. My body was filled with excess fluid, my lungs, especially. Yukimira was to fight the bacteria in my system, but other things needed to be managed and stabilised, like excess fluids, blood pressure, and oxygen levels."
Dr. Yuki leaned forward, her eyes narrowing slightly as she absorbed his explanation. Her fingers tapped thoughtfully against the arm of her chair, a habit Ryu recognised from his childhood when she was deep in thought.
"Interesting," she murmured, her gaze fixed on him. "The combination you suggested seems to have demonstrably positive effects. Perhaps we can use it as a foundation to develop a safe and effective commercial diuretic."
"That's a great idea, Mother Yuki," Ryu said, relieved that she hadn't pressed further.
Dan, who had been listening intently, his brow furrowed in concentration, suddenly spoke up. With a sharp, worried-yet-inquisitive tone, he questioned, "But Ryu, where in the world did you even learn about these herbs? They're not exactly common knowledge."
Ryu felt a bead of sweat form on his brow. He stared at his hands, guilt gnawing at him. The urge to explain the logic behind his actions was strong, but he knew he couldn't reveal the truth about his past life.
"I guess something just clicked," he said carefully, choosing his words with caution. "It was like remembering something I read and combining different things that had the same effects with all those different herbs," he added vaguely, hoping it would suffice.
Dr. Yuki's eyes sparkled with interest, a familiar gleam that Ryu recognised from his childhood days at the orphanage. It was the look she got when she sensed a mystery to be solved.
"Interesting," she repeated, leaning forward slightly.
Dr. Yuki studied him for a long moment, her eyes searching his face. Eventually, she offered a small smile. "Well, whatever the source of your knowledge, Ryu, you've certainly surprised us all. Get some rest now, my dear. You still have a long road to recovery ahead of you. We'll need to run some tests once you're fully recovered, of course. But for now, you need your rest."
Just as the tension in the room began to ease, the door creaked open again. Hana peeked in, her face beaming like the sun breaking through storm clouds. Her eyes lit up as she saw Ryu awake.
"Ryu-sensei! You're awake! Thank god. It's incredible! The medicine worked."
Isao followed close behind, nearly bumping into Hana in his eagerness to enter the room. A grin split his face, relief evident in every line of his body.
With a tone full of praise, Isao remarked, "Yeah, Ryu-kun. We knew you would pull through."
Ryu chuckled weakly and said, "Thanks, guys. I couldn't have done it without all of you."
Dr. Yuki watched the exchange with a knowing smile. She clapped her hands gently, drawing everyone's attention, and said, "Alright, that's enough excitement for one day. Let Ryu get some proper rest. We'll have a proper victory celebration once he's back on his feet."
Hana and Isao exchanged a conspiratorial glance, a silent conversation passing between them. Hana turned to Dr. Yuki, her voice sweet as honey.
"Of course, Dr. Yuki," Hana said. "Come on, Mr. Isao, let's give Ryu-sensei some peace and quiet to recover."
Isao nodded but couldn't resist one last encouraging word. He placed a gentle hand on Ryu's shoulder, his touch conveying more than words could express.
"Get well soon, Ryu-kun," Isao said, a warm smile on his face. "Rest for the moment; it is getting late. We'll be back to check on you tomorrow."
With a flurry of goodbyes and hushed whispers, Hana and Isao left the room. Their departure left a strange emptiness, the room suddenly feeling too large and too quiet.
Ryu sank back into his pillows, exhaustion washing over him. He closed his eyes, letting out a deep breath. He had survived, yes, but he knew that this was just the beginning. The road ahead would be challenging, filled with questions he wasn't sure he could answer and secrets he wasn't sure he could keep. But for now, he allowed himself to relax, to bask in the warmth of the love and concern that surrounded him. Tomorrow would bring its own challenges. For now, he would rest and recover, gathering strength for the journey ahead.
## Author's Note##
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##PoWeR StOnEs##