Today

Author’s notes: The last chapter, at last! Thank you for your support! Hope this fic doesn’t disappoint too much… Re-uploading due to some issues with the link.

Pairing: FujixEiji

White.

A color of seemingly nothingness, yet it is the fullest color of the spectrum.

Eyelids fluttered and opened, revealing confused orbs that struggled to make sense of the white surroundings. Memories slowly came back, and so did the panic that had temporarily disappeared during the state of unconsciousness.

“Eiji…” Fuji tried to get up, but was stopped by a nurse who happened to be by his bed.

“You can’t get up yet,” the nurse spoke kindly.

“I need to see my friend. How is he?”

“He is still undergoing surgery. Don’t worry, he’ll make it.” The nurse had an expression that was not at all reassuring.

“Please, let me go see him.”

“You can’t see him now. Wait patiently, ok?” The nurse sighed as she tried to make Fuji stop struggling. She didn’t have to try very hard, as Fuji ran out of strength very quickly and slumped back onto the bed. The nurse continued with her checks, said a few more encouraging words, and then left the room.

Fuji stared at the ceiling, and let his mind replay the accident over and over again. Eiji’s words kept ringing in his ears.

Sorry I followed you secretly…but I missed you so much.

It was unfair. Why did Fate win in the end? In spite of all the things they did, both of them still couldn’t avoid the fourth scene. They broke up, and Eiji ended up missing Fuji so much that he appeared at the accident scene. And Fuji knew very well that Fate would win even if they didn’t break up. They would probably be strolling down the same street together, and the same accident would still happen.

And there was nothing he could do. Nothing at all.

Fuji made his way to Eiji’s room as quickly as his injured legs could take him. The doctor told him that Eiji was not out of danger yet, but at least Eiji survived the surgery. Whether he could pull through or not now depended in his willpower. Fuji halted the moment he entered the room. The silence in the room was deafening. Eiji didn’t go well at all with silence. There should be cheer and happiness, not fear and sorrow, whenever the redhead was present.

The brown haired man took a few steps towards the bed, his hands trembling. The sight of the familiar figure lying on the bed, struggling for dear life, was heart wrenching. Tubes and needles were everywhere. Cold machinery surrounded his friend, monitoring his every life sign. His friend was pale, so pale that he looked almost like a lifeless doll, waiting for Death to claim him any moment. The feelings of helplessness and anger welled up in Fuji’s chest and he had to close his eyes to keep all the emotions in. He couldn’t cry, for crying would be admitting defeat. To break down now meant that he has given up.

Fuji clenched his fists and tried to calm down. He pulled the white plastic chair beside the bed and slowly sat down, his eyes never leaving the face he loved. His hand reached out tentatively towards the pale skin of his friend and then he pulled back. He didn’t dare touch his friend. It was a painful dilemma – he wanted to know if Eiji would survive, yet, he was afraid to know. What if he saw something he didn’t want to see? No, his mind told him firmly. Eiji would live, he tried to convince himself. Eiji needed him and Fuji knew he should not let his fears dictate his actions anymore. Closing his eyes momentarily to gather all his courage, the brown haired man reached out towards Eiji’s face. Upon contact, Fuji gasped at the coldness of the touch. And … there was nothing else. Nothing at all; no visions, no images, there was just the feeling of coldness from the redhead’s skin. Confusion and disbelief filled Fuji’s mind. Why did his ability suddenly fail him? But he was perhaps somewhat relieved. It didn’t matter at all if his ability disappeared. It wasn’t something he wanted anyway.

The more important thing was, there was still hope – Eiji was still alive. He had not seen images of Eiji’s death, whether it was previously or now. That was the key, wasn’t it? He had thought about it earlier as well. He had only seen the fourth scene, which was the accident. There was nothing that indicated the result of the accident.

Fuji clasped his hand on top of Eiji’s hand. Eiji was still fighting to keep alive, and Fuji was not going to let him fight alone. If willpower was what Eiji needed, he would be there to provide all the support he could give. He would be there, right beside the redhead, until he wakes up.

Sounds of hurried footsteps roused Fuji from his disturbed sleep. His heart skipped a beat when he saw the face of the nurse the moment he opened his eyes. The nurse was breathing hard, as though she had ran all the way to his room. Fuji sat up immediately, his blood turning cold. Eiji’s condition was unstable for the past two days, could it be … No, it can’t be! He clenched his fist tightly as his mind tried to block off all the unwanted speculations.

“Is it… Did something happen to Eiji?” His voiced was strained.

The nurse took another deep breath and finally recovered from her sprint. She looked into Fuji’s worried eyes for a moment and then, she smiled.

“He’s awake. Go see him,” the nurse patted Fuji’s shoulders as her smile broadened. “He’s out of danger.”

Fuji’s body reacted before his mind fully digested the news. He scrambled out of his room and ran towards Eiji’s room. There, he saw the doctor and Eiji – eyes opened and a small smile on his tired face. The doctor gave him a thumbs-up before leaving the room, leaving the friends alone.

Fuji stayed rooted at his spot, overwhelmed by relief. Eiji was alive.

“Yo,” the redhead was the first to speak, breaking the silence. His voice was weak, but the cheerfulness was unmistakable.

“Are you ok?” When Fuji didn’t answer, Eiji became worried. He became even more concerned when he saw tears streaming down his friend’s face. “Hey, Fuji…”

Fuji walked forward until he reached Eiji’s bed. Still not saying anything, he bent down and gently embraced the redhead.

“Fuji…” Tears welled up in Eiji’s eyes. It was a difficult journey, but he made it somehow. Time and again, he felt like giving up, but he didn’t. He had to live on and see Fuji again. The doctor said it was almost a miracle, and Eiji was grateful.

“Let’s be together again, Eiji. This time, no matter what happens, don’t leave.” Fuji’s voice was soft but determined.

Eiji nodded as warm tears now flowed freely. Nothing would ever make him leave Fuji again.

“Eh?!” The redhead’s loud voice drew a few curious stares.

Fuji chuckled at the faces of those around them. He was glad that the chirpy Eiji was finally back. He had regained his strength and health rapidly and was now as bouncy and talkative as before.

“I don’t get it! Why would your ability just disappear like that?” Eiji frowned and tapped his chin. “Did that impact knock the ability out from you?”

Fuji laughed. “Yeah, just like how you knock a chocolate chip from a cookie.”

“Be serious, Fujiko,” the redhead pouted. “It’s an important matter.”

The genius raised his brows, the amused smile still on his face. “Why would it be an important matter?”

“I was counting on you to tell me which lottery ticket would have the winning prize!” Eiji straightened his face and replied in mock seriousness.

“Which I can’t tell in the very first place, Eiji.” Fuji chuckled again.

Eiji couldn’t pretend anymore and broke out in laughter. “I know, but I’m glad nya.”

“Hm?”

“I’m glad you don’t have to be burdened anymore by what you see.” Eiji replied softly as he reached out to hold his friend’s hand.

Fuji was touched. He leaned forward and captured Eiji’s unsuspecting lips, slowly and gently kissing them, savouring the warmth and sweetness of the redhead. Eiji responded, ignoring the fact that they were sitting in a café and possibly in full view of anyone curious enough to peak at them. But he was safe, as everyone else was occupied with their own conversations, and thus their private moment was uninterrupted. Eiji felt himself melting into Fuji’s deep kiss, his breath slowly taken away by the passionate dances their tongues engaged in.

When the pair broke away for air, Eiji grinned.

“Why are you smiling like that?” The brown haired looked a little confused.

“We actually kissed like that in public. And Fujiko, your kiss is really good, nya.” Eiji teased, enjoying the rare flush Fuji had on his face.

“Anyway, that was to punish you for keeping things from me. I wanted to say this a long time ago, so I guess I’ll say it now. Don’t keep any more secrets from me, nya? Don’t decide everything by yourself and suffer alone. After all the things that we have gone through, one thing I learnt is that we can overcome everything together. So no matter what happens, let me know, ok?” Eiji looked earnestly into Fuji’s surprised blue orbs.

“I understand,” Fuji smiled and nodded his head.

Eiji raised his arms happily as he said a rather loud “Hurray”, earning himself a few more stares. As the redhead started to chat about other things, Fuji nodded in response and let himself drift off a little. There was something he was keeping from Eiji, and Fuji was half afraid that Eiji saw through his lie. Thankfully, his secret was still safe.

His ability to tell the future didn’t disappear. The day Eiji woke up, Fuji had hugged him and upon contact, images of the near future played before his eyes. He had tested again on some of the other people he met after that day, and it was proven that his ability was indeed back. Perhaps it was a trick that the Heavens were playing on him. Fuji didn’t know why he couldn’t see anything before Eiji woke up. But it didn’t matter anymore.

Fuji had decided to push away all the images he saw and will his mind to ignore them. It was more important to concentrate on the present. Knowing what would happen in the future influenced how one would behave in the present, and in extreme cases, made one live in fear and apprehension. Instead of living to the fullest today, one lived in fear of tomorrow. It would take a lot of strength and courage to face tomorrow, but it takes even more to live today. He asked himself if he would love Eiji more if he knew that they wouldn’t be together tomorrow. If he said yes, then it meant that he didn’t love Eiji enough. Thus, it didn’t matter what would happen in the future; the key was living today without regrets.

“Fujiko!”

Fuji was jolted from his thoughts by a pouting redhead.

“Why are you drifting away again? What are you hiding from me?” Eiji narrowed his eyes to study his friend’s face.

Fuji smiled and shook his head. Then he opened his eyes. “I was just thinking about how to love you more.”

Eiji flushed and became redder than a beetroot. He mumbled something incoherent and then quickly switched the topic. Fuji chuckled silently and channeled his full attention to the conversation to appease his friend. There would be many more such days to come and he really should start perfecting the art of how to drift off without appearing to be so.

The end