Original Composition Date: March 01, 2008

TITLE: Messenger
LENGTH: approx. 2,000 words - Oneshot
STATUS: Complete
GENRE: Shounen ai, Fluff
RATING: PG
CHARACTERS: Yanagi/Sanada/Yukimura
SUMMARY: Yanagi visits Yukimura in the hospital. Yukimura gives Yanagi a message for Sanada. Yanagi gives the message to Sanada. Cellphone shenanigans included.

Yukimura wrinkled his nose, picking disdainfully at the food on the tray beside his bed. Or rather, he thought, the stuff that was attempting to masquerade itself as food.

"You need to eat," Yanagi scolded from the foot of the bed, pushing the tray closer to Yukimura.

Yukimura frowned. He did need to eat, Yanagi was right. He had already lost weight during his stay in the hospital, and the doctors were threatening to keep him longer if he lost much more.

"Did you bring me anything?" Yukimura raised an eyebrow and peered at Yanagi with hopeful, pleading eyes.

"Gen'ichiroh will, tomorrow," Yanagi replied, shaking his head. "The bus was running late today, and I did not have time to stop. I'm sorry."

Yukimura gave a small pout and toyed with the pathetic excuse of a lunch that the hospital had provided. Ever since he started losing weight, Sanada and Yanagi had been alternating their free lunch periods to visit him in the hospital and make sure he ate something. Usually, Sanada came on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and Yanagi on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Sometimes one of the others came, but it was not often. Saturdays and Sundays were usually group visits.

Yukimura frowned again, but conceded defeat and popped some rice into his mouth. How rice could possibly be ruined, he did not know, but the hospital kitchen somehow managed to do so. Sometimes his mother came in with homemade food for him, and on those days, he wolfed down everything in sight.

"I don't think I even mind the needles and the poking and the prodding so much anymore," Yukimura sighed. "But I cannot get used to this food." He grimaced at another mouthful of rice that managed to somehow be crunchy. He spit some of it out into his hand and dumped it back on the tray, wiping his fingers on a napkin. He smiled, a little sheepishly.

"Sorry you and Sanada have to take turns babysitting me, now."

Yanagi shook his head and waved Yukimura's apology off. "As long as your health improves, that's what is important."

"Mm..." Yukimura murmured, chewing another mouthful of food. He was beginning to learn what the 'minimum acceptable amount' of eating was at mealtimes, and was scraping by on mostly that. He was always grateful when Sanada or Yanagi brought him something, even if it was just pre-made stuff from the conbini.

When Yukimura was as through with his lunch as he was going to get, he pushed the tray away and prodded Yanagi.

"Renji?"

"Hn?"

"Buy me some juice from the machine in the lobby? There's some money in the front pocket of my schoolbag, over in the corner," Yukimura asked, pointing out the bag in question. "I'd get it myself, but they've gotten really strict about insisting that I take a wheelchair or a walker if I go for even a little walk, and I hate it."

Yanagi nodded, getting up from the foot of Yukimura's bed. "Keep your money, I'll be back in a minute."

Yukimura smiled. "Sorry to be a pain."

Yanagi waved him off dismissively and left the room. Yukimura fidgeted under the hospital blankets. Everything was so boring and plain and sterile, sometimes it drove him a little bit crazy. He was so used to getting up and running around and breathing fresh air that the stuffy, chemical smells of the hospital were utterly depressing. Everyone tried to be accommodating, though, he knew. A huge copy of a pretty, bright Monet painting of water lilies had been hung up on one wall, along with some other smaller pictures on a few of the other walls. The windows were open whenever possible to let the fresh air in, though that had been less and less lately. He could not have plants or flowers in the room, either, anymore, because of the immunosuppressant medications he had to take. At least they had not started making everyone wear special gowns just to visit him for fear of spreading germs to his compromised immune system, though people wearing masks was a pretty common thing, anyway.

Sick of sitting in bed under the covers, Yukimura slid out from underneath them, sitting in the middle of his bed with his legs dangling over the side. His slippers were on the floor, but he did not feel like putting them on. He was wiggling his toes in a certain order, practicing a simple rehabilitation exercise when Yanagi returned with the juice. He smiled up at Yanagi and held his hand out for the can.

Yanagi dropped the can into Yukimura's waiting hands, sitting down beside him on the bed and popping open the can that he had bought for himself. Yukimura sipped his own, drinking a little too fast but unable to help himself. It was cold and sweet and felt good on his tongue.

"What's the weather like today?" Yukimura asked, making smalltalk. Silence was awkward, and Yanagi would have to go soon enough, so he wanted to talk while he had company.

"It snowed yesterday," Yanagi replied, setting his half-full can of juice next to his cellphone on the bedside table. "But it's sunny today."

Yukimura looked down at his hands, tapping the nearly-empty can of juice with his fingertips. "I miss being outside. I hate being trapped in here." He fiddled with the bottom button on his pajama shirt, plucking at it halfheartedly. He finished his juice and tossed the can into the trashcan nearby, successfully making the basket. He grinned to himself, and turned back to Yanagi.

Impulsively, Yukimura scooted closer, resting his cheek against Yanagi's shoulder.

"Sorry for being a bother," he murmured, smiling a little. "And thanks, for taking care of me."

Yanagi's expression softened a little, and he patted Yukimura on the head, gently.

"Concentrate on getting better. We can take care of the rest."

Yukimura laughed softly. "You even make sure I eat, and do my homework."

"Both of which are important," Yanagi insisted.

"Mm," Yukimura replied, rubbing his cheek against Yanagi's shoulder, affectionately. The room was quiet, save for the sounds of bustle outside Yukimura's door. The hallways were always busy. Sometimes he had to close his door tight and bury his face in his pillow, just to sleep. Yukimura's fingers tentatively brushed against Yanagi's wrist, playing with his shirt sleeve, tugging the cuff to get his attention.

"I'm glad you're here," he chirped lightly, smiling. He wriggled a bit, trying to cuddle under Yanagi's arm. Yanagi indulged him, lifting his arm around Yukimura's shoulders.

"It's easy to be brave and smile when everyone's around to support me," Yukimura continued. "But after everyone leaves... it gets really lonely." Granted, Yukimura's days were full of doctors and nurses and tests and other such things, but it simply was not the same as having people he knew there for support.

"I know everyone is working hard, though... so... I have to keep working hard, too. I can't let myself get discouraged."

"We have faith in you."

Yukimura nodded and extricated himself from Yanagi's arms. "Most of the doctors are assuming the worst," Yukimura sighed. "They say I should quit. Mom thinks so, too."

Yanagi paused, and placed his hand gently on Yukimura's knee. "It's perfectly normal for your mother to be concerned."

"I know," Yukimura continued. "It just makes me angry when they tell me, 'It's just a game. Your health is more important.'" Yukimura looked around the room, his eyes resting on his tennis bag in the corner.

"As long as I can pick up a racket, I won't give up."

Yanagi nodded firmly. "Whatever happens, we are here to support you."

Yukimura drew a heavy breath, nodding. "They still don't know exactly what's wrong. It all seems ridiculously complicated when they try to explain everything in detail, but I guess what they think is that... something is blocking the signals that tell my muscles when to work. That's why... sometimes I feel like I'm paralyzed. My brain is saying, 'move, move!' but my body just... doesn't respond."

Yanagi nodded. Everyone on the team, especially he and Sanada, had been reading extensive amounts of information on neuromuscular disorders, and musculo-skeletal disorders. Nothing they had read seemed to match Yukimura's case exactly, though several were close. Hopefully the doctors would be able to narrow in on the problem, soon enough.

"It's terrifying..." Yukimura's voice sounded suddenly tiny and distant. He smiled sadly when he realized Yanagi was looking at him with an expression full of concern. He chuckled softly.

"To lose control of your own body without warning..." Yukimura's voice was quiet and sad, but only for a moment. He seemed to snap out of it, shaking his head and forcing a bigger smile. "Sanada would probably yell at me for thinking these things," he continued, the smile becoming more genuine.

"Only because he cares."

"If he cared any more, I think I'd need earplugs," Yukimura joked, laughing quietly.

"Gen'ichiroh... and I..." Yanagi began, pausing to gather his thoughts. Yukimura looked intently at Yanagi's face,

"We care deeply for you, Seiichi." A faint blush spread over Yukimura's cheeks as Yanagi continued. "It hurts us to see you suffer."

Yukimura fully intended to smile and nod or some such thing, but the feel of something softly brushing against his face surprised him.

"We love you, Seiichi," Yanagi continued, affectionately cupping Yukimura's cheek. "Lean on us, if you need to."

Yukimura smiled faintly. "You know I won't... but... thank you, just the same." He would not burden others unless it was absolutely necessary.

"Of course."

"You should go soon."

"I should," Yanagi agreed, nodding and getting up to gather his bag. Yukimura watched him intently. A few moments later, Yanagi stood directly in front of Yukimura, impulsively leaning down to place a light kiss on his forehead. He immediately turned to leave, but Yukimura reached out to tug at Yanagi's shirtsleeve.

"Renji."

"Seiichi?" Yanagi paused, turning back around.

"Give something... to Sanada for me?"

Yanagi was about to hold out his hand for whatever Yukimura was asking him to deliver, when instead of handing him an object, Yukimura gripped the front of Yanagi's shirt in both hands, pulling him close and kissing him. Yanagi's initial surprise died almost instantly, and he made mental note of the fact that Yukimura's lips were soft, and cool, and that they still tasted sweet from the juice he'd drunk. The kiss continued for a moment, but remained gentle until Yukimura pulled away, licking his lips.

"I'll... pass the message along," Renji promised, though he felt a bit odd saying so. He turned to leave again, but again, Yukimura called him back.

"Yes, Seiichi?"

Yukimura's fingers played with the collar of Yanagi's shirt, and his lips formed a tiny smile.

"You forgot yours."

Yanagi's expression softened as he leaned in to accept Yukimura's 'gift'. Before he could really stop himself, Yanagi was returning the gesture, pressing light kisses to Yukimura's forehead, cheeks, lips, and chin. Yukimura breathed a small, contented sigh as Yanagi's kisses tickled his face, and he clung to Yanagi's chest a bit. Yanagi smoothed Yukimura's hair back gently from his face, finally pulling his hand away to pick up his bag once more.

"I'll give Gen'ichiroh the 'message'," Yanagi confirmed. "Though, you might prefer to give it to him in person when he visits you, tomorrow."

Yukimura smiled. "I will," he nodded. "But pass it along for me, anyway."

Yanagi gave the tiniest hint of a smile back. "Perhaps we'll both come."

Yukimura's face reddened, but his smile remained. "I'll hold you to that."

Yanagi bowed his head in a nod before turning one last time, leaving Yukimura alone in the quiet of his hospital room. Yukimura's heart fluttered in his chest a bit, but it was not an entirely unpleasant feeling. He lay back against the pillows on his bed, tucking himself in under the blankets warmly as his head filled with fuzzy thoughts. He began to doze off happily, and had no idea how long he had been lying there in his blissful, half-asleep state when the cellphone by his bed began to ring.

He flipped it open, revealing a text message from Sanada. He smiled to himself as he read it.

I received the 'gift'.

Yukimura had barely flipped the phone closed when it began to ring, again. He flipped it back open, this time to find a message from Yanagi, with a photo attached. He opened the picture, and began to laugh out loud.

It was a picture of Yanagi and Sanada. It appeared as though Yanagi had told Sanada to close his eyes to receive his 'gift', and then simply planted a kiss right on him while snapping the picture.

We'll be there tomorrow. Sleep well, Seiichi.

Setting the phone back on his table, Yukimura did just that.