[Fanfic] Code Blue - An Extended Epilogue 17
Title: An Extended Epilogue
Fandom: Code Blue
Disclaimer: Code Blue and its characters and whatnot doesn't belong to me.
Author's Note: Technically the end, the last chapter. But really, I have one more *wink* Enjoy!
The loud peals of the church bells made it hard to hear anything. Inside the church the buzzing sound of conversation didn’t make it any easier, but at least nobody will shush you if you shout.
“Is this really going to be alright!?” Despite speaking directly into Mihoko’s ear, Haruka had to speak up really loudly. On Mihoko’s other side Kazuo was busy on his cellphone, oblivious to his two friends’ escalating anxiety, or their discomfort of attending the wedding of two people they barely knew.
Inside a car several miles away, another person whose anxiety was also escalating was pressed up against the door, her thoughts a jumbled mess. If anyone was asked to describe her in one world, the first thing that came to mind would be ‘goldfish’. “… Wh… Why… why are y-you…?”
“It’s time to stop.” He said quietly. Many a times over Megumi wondered just how he could maintain his composure even in the most absurd situations; a train wreck, a mountain cabin, his father’s resurrection… now. ‘Now’ certainly classified as absurd. “Why are you here!?” She finally burst out properly, one hand automatically covering her abdomen. The movement didn’t slip by Kousaku however, and he stared at her stomach. At the swelling that she knew he could see.
“You never told me,” He finally spoke and she was instantly stabbed by guilt. Guilt, because in his eyes she could see how hurt he was.
“… I didn’t think you’d care,” She whispered, feeling her body tremble. Fear? Panic?
“Making decisions on your own without consulting others,” He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “I should have guessed. Should have seen it, considering how long we’ve worked together. That is very ‘you’, Shiraishi. If that lawyer senior of yours didn’t show up, I might have gone on for the rest of my life believing in the lie we unintentionally created.”
“Lawyer… Yuusuke?” Megumi’s eyes widened to two large saucers. “He went to see you?”
“Doctor Aizawa?”
Kousaku looked up to see the smiling man standing before him. It was late afternoon and he was taking a break in the garden, collecting his thoughts. It took only a second for Kousaku to recall who the man was; the lawyer. Megumi’s boyfriend. “Yes. I’m Aizawa.”
“We’ve never met, but I’m a friend of a friend,” Yuusuke beamed. “I know this is a little sudden but…” He took out an envelope and gave it to Kousaku. The doctor stared at the envelope warily. “If this is a malpractice suit, you should go to the department head.”
Yuusuke burst out laughing. “Nothing that bad! Please, do open it.”
The envelope felt stiff. The watermarked satin pattern reminded him of…
…A wedding invitation.
His heart stopped. A wedding invitation. Megumi’s inviting him to her wedding, and he even sent her boyfriend to deliver it. He didn’t know whether to curse or to cry as he extracted the tastefully designed card and stared at it numbly.
“It’s next week. Not much time, but I hope you’ll listen to me,” Yuusuke said kindly. “You see, Megu is an old friend, almost like my little sister. I don’t like to see her get hurt, let alone see her hurt herself for the sake of others - which is what she has been doing for you. She can be a little confusing sometimes and doesn’t explain herself very well… though I believe you’re the same type too,” his eyes twinkled. “I think that’s why you’re both in the same deep well. But there’s time. There’s still time, before the hurt turns to indifference and you both lose what is most precious to you.”
“Most… precious…?” He was only half hearing what Yuusuke was saying.
“Your child. Yours and Megumi’s.”
He stared in shock at Yuusuke, who opened the card and showed it to him. Numbly Kousaku read the names on the card. He didn’t recognize a single name, and theirein lay the significance of it all -
Megumi’s name, whether in short or in full, WAS NOT on it.
“So now, you should retrieve what belongs to you,” Yuusuke winked.
Mine.
He could scarcely believe it, and yet there it was; the proof as clear as day. Megumi swollen with child. And he was sure, because there simply couldn't be any other possibility given the circumstances, given her stubbornness and idiocy and because she was Megumi - he was sure it was his.
Megumi’s gaze flickered down and fiercely snapped; “It’s not yours.”
“… You never did learn how to lie convincingly,” Kousaku’s dry observation made her flinch.
“I know it’s mine.” He reached out and Megumi shrank back until she was really pressed up against the door. If she pushed any harder she might not be able to peel herself off. “Don’t!” She choked, panic rising in her throat and making it hard to breathe. “This child didn’t do anything wrong. I’m keeping it!” Her eyes flashed. “I know it’s selfish, but don’t worry - you don’t have to get involved. He’ll never know you’re his father.”
It was the first time she had ever seen Kosaku’s face twist in anger. “Involved? It’s because I got ‘involved’ that you’re pregnant in the first place!”
“I said I don’t blame you! It was my fault!”
“Whose fault what!?” He was practically growling now but took a deep breath to get himself under control. “You have two options: Be a single parent, or - “
“I said I’m keeping him!” She might have screamed but that’s irrelevant now.
“Be a single parent or,” Kousaku obviously wasn’t listening; “ - Marry me.”
“I sai - “ Her mouth fell open in shock when his words registered. It took a few seconds for her to regain her composure again, but even then she wasn’t sure she was hallucinating. “…Marry you!?”
“You're stressing both words. Is it the idea of marriage or marriage to me that you find strange, I wonder. Why are you keeping the child?” He switched questions and she flustered. “Why? Because it’s mine. It doesn’t deserve to die just because I - “
“I agree. The idea of a child being raised without his parents doesn’t sit well with me,” He passed a hand over his head. “Although I know you’ll make a splendid mother but…” His voice suddenly wavered; “Did you think…" He struggled for words; "...Did you think I’d make a bad father, Shiraishi?”
“No.” She tried to focus on her stomach. On her baby. Their baby. “That wasn’t why I hid it from you. I was scared you’d tell me to give it up. If you did, I can’t say no…” Wet spots appeared on her dress and for a second she wondered what they were…
Until she realized she was crying. “I know it was an accident,” She was speaking in between hitches now. “I know… you’re not ready to start… a family but - this is yours.” She clenched her fists. “Because it’s yours. Because - I don’t want to lose it.”
“Driver, do you have any tissues?”
With a jolt she remembered where they were - in a car! With an audience! Feeling extremely embarrassed now, she accepted the tissues from Kousaku and carefully dabbed at her eyes, thankful she had the good sense to wear waterproof makeup.
“Marry me.” Kousaku said simply and she frowned at him. “That’s really not the issue here, Aizawa.”
“It’s not your issue, but it is mine,” He said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Do you remember what we talked about, the night of the celebration party?”
“…I remembered.” She could feel the blush heating up her face again. “Everything.”
A wry smile quirked the edge of his lips. “You cried for your father. On me. I didn’t think you were so sentimental, but there you are.”
“… You hugged me.” She swallowed. “And stroked my hair. I thought… it was sweet of you.”
He took a deep breath and exhaled. “I knew you were drunk. I knew you weren’t thinking straight. But I would have walked away… if I wanted to.” He kept her gaze. “But I didn’t want to. I didn’t want you to be alone.”
She was sure she’d cry again, so she looked away. “You don’t have to marry me. Things will be fine just as - “
He growled and firmly made her look at him. “For the love of - You’re not listening, are you? Listen carefully! I love you. I love you. It must have been for a long time because I don’t even know when I started like you, but I stayed that night because I love you. I told you it was a mistake because I thought you didn’t like me back, and the last thing I wanted was to be hated by you. But now I know, God I know. So hear me out - I. Love. You. Marry me, Shiraishi Megumi.”
She floundered like a goldfish and burst into tears for the hundredth time that day. And it was natural for him to pull her close, to let her cry. “I didn’t think you are such a crybaby,” He observed and she hiccupped. “I didn’t think you could talk so much in one day.”
“I have a lot more to say, but not in front of an observer.”
Megumi hid her face in his shoulder, unable to hide her mortification. Again! She had forgotten they had an audience! “Driver?” She squeaked.
“Yes miss?” He was as cheerful as before - perhaps more cheerful than she liked. She had a feeling he was enjoying this waaaay too much.
“Shouldn’t we be getting to the church already?”
“Aye-aye miss! And you might be interested to know that the church is available from noon onwards.”
"Drive!" Kousaku said sharply, oddly pleased that Megumi was trembling with suppressed laughter in his arms.
Fandom: Code Blue
Disclaimer: Code Blue and its characters and whatnot doesn't belong to me.
Author's Note: Technically the end, the last chapter. But really, I have one more *wink* Enjoy!
The loud peals of the church bells made it hard to hear anything. Inside the church the buzzing sound of conversation didn’t make it any easier, but at least nobody will shush you if you shout.
“Is this really going to be alright!?” Despite speaking directly into Mihoko’s ear, Haruka had to speak up really loudly. On Mihoko’s other side Kazuo was busy on his cellphone, oblivious to his two friends’ escalating anxiety, or their discomfort of attending the wedding of two people they barely knew.
Inside a car several miles away, another person whose anxiety was also escalating was pressed up against the door, her thoughts a jumbled mess. If anyone was asked to describe her in one world, the first thing that came to mind would be ‘goldfish’. “… Wh… Why… why are y-you…?”
“It’s time to stop.” He said quietly. Many a times over Megumi wondered just how he could maintain his composure even in the most absurd situations; a train wreck, a mountain cabin, his father’s resurrection… now. ‘Now’ certainly classified as absurd. “Why are you here!?” She finally burst out properly, one hand automatically covering her abdomen. The movement didn’t slip by Kousaku however, and he stared at her stomach. At the swelling that she knew he could see.
“You never told me,” He finally spoke and she was instantly stabbed by guilt. Guilt, because in his eyes she could see how hurt he was.
“… I didn’t think you’d care,” She whispered, feeling her body tremble. Fear? Panic?
“Making decisions on your own without consulting others,” He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “I should have guessed. Should have seen it, considering how long we’ve worked together. That is very ‘you’, Shiraishi. If that lawyer senior of yours didn’t show up, I might have gone on for the rest of my life believing in the lie we unintentionally created.”
“Lawyer… Yuusuke?” Megumi’s eyes widened to two large saucers. “He went to see you?”
“Doctor Aizawa?”
Kousaku looked up to see the smiling man standing before him. It was late afternoon and he was taking a break in the garden, collecting his thoughts. It took only a second for Kousaku to recall who the man was; the lawyer. Megumi’s boyfriend. “Yes. I’m Aizawa.”
“We’ve never met, but I’m a friend of a friend,” Yuusuke beamed. “I know this is a little sudden but…” He took out an envelope and gave it to Kousaku. The doctor stared at the envelope warily. “If this is a malpractice suit, you should go to the department head.”
Yuusuke burst out laughing. “Nothing that bad! Please, do open it.”
The envelope felt stiff. The watermarked satin pattern reminded him of…
…A wedding invitation.
His heart stopped. A wedding invitation. Megumi’s inviting him to her wedding, and he even sent her boyfriend to deliver it. He didn’t know whether to curse or to cry as he extracted the tastefully designed card and stared at it numbly.
“It’s next week. Not much time, but I hope you’ll listen to me,” Yuusuke said kindly. “You see, Megu is an old friend, almost like my little sister. I don’t like to see her get hurt, let alone see her hurt herself for the sake of others - which is what she has been doing for you. She can be a little confusing sometimes and doesn’t explain herself very well… though I believe you’re the same type too,” his eyes twinkled. “I think that’s why you’re both in the same deep well. But there’s time. There’s still time, before the hurt turns to indifference and you both lose what is most precious to you.”
“Most… precious…?” He was only half hearing what Yuusuke was saying.
“Your child. Yours and Megumi’s.”
He stared in shock at Yuusuke, who opened the card and showed it to him. Numbly Kousaku read the names on the card. He didn’t recognize a single name, and theirein lay the significance of it all -
Megumi’s name, whether in short or in full, WAS NOT on it.
“So now, you should retrieve what belongs to you,” Yuusuke winked.
Mine.
He could scarcely believe it, and yet there it was; the proof as clear as day. Megumi swollen with child. And he was sure, because there simply couldn't be any other possibility given the circumstances, given her stubbornness and idiocy and because she was Megumi - he was sure it was his.
Megumi’s gaze flickered down and fiercely snapped; “It’s not yours.”
“… You never did learn how to lie convincingly,” Kousaku’s dry observation made her flinch.
“I know it’s mine.” He reached out and Megumi shrank back until she was really pressed up against the door. If she pushed any harder she might not be able to peel herself off. “Don’t!” She choked, panic rising in her throat and making it hard to breathe. “This child didn’t do anything wrong. I’m keeping it!” Her eyes flashed. “I know it’s selfish, but don’t worry - you don’t have to get involved. He’ll never know you’re his father.”
It was the first time she had ever seen Kosaku’s face twist in anger. “Involved? It’s because I got ‘involved’ that you’re pregnant in the first place!”
“I said I don’t blame you! It was my fault!”
“Whose fault what!?” He was practically growling now but took a deep breath to get himself under control. “You have two options: Be a single parent, or - “
“I said I’m keeping him!” She might have screamed but that’s irrelevant now.
“Be a single parent or,” Kousaku obviously wasn’t listening; “ - Marry me.”
“I sai - “ Her mouth fell open in shock when his words registered. It took a few seconds for her to regain her composure again, but even then she wasn’t sure she was hallucinating. “…Marry you!?”
“You're stressing both words. Is it the idea of marriage or marriage to me that you find strange, I wonder. Why are you keeping the child?” He switched questions and she flustered. “Why? Because it’s mine. It doesn’t deserve to die just because I - “
“I agree. The idea of a child being raised without his parents doesn’t sit well with me,” He passed a hand over his head. “Although I know you’ll make a splendid mother but…” His voice suddenly wavered; “Did you think…" He struggled for words; "...Did you think I’d make a bad father, Shiraishi?”
“No.” She tried to focus on her stomach. On her baby. Their baby. “That wasn’t why I hid it from you. I was scared you’d tell me to give it up. If you did, I can’t say no…” Wet spots appeared on her dress and for a second she wondered what they were…
Until she realized she was crying. “I know it was an accident,” She was speaking in between hitches now. “I know… you’re not ready to start… a family but - this is yours.” She clenched her fists. “Because it’s yours. Because - I don’t want to lose it.”
“Driver, do you have any tissues?”
With a jolt she remembered where they were - in a car! With an audience! Feeling extremely embarrassed now, she accepted the tissues from Kousaku and carefully dabbed at her eyes, thankful she had the good sense to wear waterproof makeup.
“Marry me.” Kousaku said simply and she frowned at him. “That’s really not the issue here, Aizawa.”
“It’s not your issue, but it is mine,” He said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Do you remember what we talked about, the night of the celebration party?”
“…I remembered.” She could feel the blush heating up her face again. “Everything.”
A wry smile quirked the edge of his lips. “You cried for your father. On me. I didn’t think you were so sentimental, but there you are.”
“… You hugged me.” She swallowed. “And stroked my hair. I thought… it was sweet of you.”
He took a deep breath and exhaled. “I knew you were drunk. I knew you weren’t thinking straight. But I would have walked away… if I wanted to.” He kept her gaze. “But I didn’t want to. I didn’t want you to be alone.”
She was sure she’d cry again, so she looked away. “You don’t have to marry me. Things will be fine just as - “
He growled and firmly made her look at him. “For the love of - You’re not listening, are you? Listen carefully! I love you. I love you. It must have been for a long time because I don’t even know when I started like you, but I stayed that night because I love you. I told you it was a mistake because I thought you didn’t like me back, and the last thing I wanted was to be hated by you. But now I know, God I know. So hear me out - I. Love. You. Marry me, Shiraishi Megumi.”
She floundered like a goldfish and burst into tears for the hundredth time that day. And it was natural for him to pull her close, to let her cry. “I didn’t think you are such a crybaby,” He observed and she hiccupped. “I didn’t think you could talk so much in one day.”
“I have a lot more to say, but not in front of an observer.”
Megumi hid her face in his shoulder, unable to hide her mortification. Again! She had forgotten they had an audience! “Driver?” She squeaked.
“Yes miss?” He was as cheerful as before - perhaps more cheerful than she liked. She had a feeling he was enjoying this waaaay too much.
“Shouldn’t we be getting to the church already?”
“Aye-aye miss! And you might be interested to know that the church is available from noon onwards.”
"Drive!" Kousaku said sharply, oddly pleased that Megumi was trembling with suppressed laughter in his arms.