One Heartbeat

_^_^_^____ One heartbeat. Two. Three.

“Tetsu? I’m here now. You’ll be okay.”

“Kei... I love you.”

“I love you, too. You’re going to be fine. The doctor is going to do everything he can.”

_^_^_^____ One heartbeat. Two. Three.

“Kei??”

“I’m here, Tetsu. I’m not going to leave you.”

_^_^_____ One heartbeat. Two.

“I don’t... want... to leave you.”

“Don’t say that, Tetsu. You’re going to be okay. Bokuto and Akaashi are here, too. They came up to visit...”

“Not… leave… you…”

“Tetsu?”

_^______ One heartbeat.

“Love… you… forever… Kei...”

“I love you, too. Forever.”

__________

What little grip he had went slack. His body sagged as his last breath left his body. The machine that monitored his heartbeat didn’t beep anymore; there was only one single tone. The doctor rushed in, and nurses swiftly ushered everyone out. Kei fought desperately to get back into the room, but Akaashi and Bokuto both held him back. Just as Ni-san and Mom came running down the hallway to them, the doctor came out slowly. There was no noise coming from the room; they had turned off the monitor. Kei could see the bed from where his friends held him back, and the sheet was covering Tetsu’s face now. A single sob escaped him as he looked frantically at the doctor, who could only shake his head. The fight went out of him. He could barely breathe, much less stand.

“But… but you said…”

“His injuries were too severe. I’m sorry.” The doctor bowed deeply to Kei, and to everyone else. “I’m so sorry.” And he walked away.

“Shit,” he heard Bokuto swear softly.

Akaashi’s hold grew tighter, even as they sank to the floor. The next thing Kei knew, both his mom and brother were there with him. But he felt nothing. He couldn’t even cry. He only saw the bed that still held Tetsu’s body. What were they going to do now? They? No, it was just him now. No ‘we’, no ‘us’; just one when there should be two.

A low moan escaped his lips.

“We need to get him home,” he heard his brother say.

“No,” he whispered.

“But Kei…”

“No! Don’t take me home! I can’t… it’s just…” he couldn’t find the words. Tetsu had always called him the voice of reason, but his reason was clearly gone.

“I’ll take you to our hotel,” Bokuto said gently. He understood what Kei couldn’t say.

“I’ll catch up after I tell them,” it seemed Akaashi did, too, as he helped get Kei standing again. Once Bokuto and Kei were out of earshot, Akaashi looked at Akiteru and his mom. “Right now, Tetsuro is still at the house for him. All his stuff, his scent, his presence… all the memories they made, dreams they shared… It's too much for Kei to handle right now. I’m sorry if I’m explaining things like you don’t already know…”

His mom shook her head. “It’s fine,” she said in a broken voice. “I understand. I almost don’t want to go home, either.” Tears streamed down her face. Akaashi stood awkwardly for a few minutes, but then held out his arms. She went immediately into them and cried.

“Would it be alright if I paid my respects?” Akiteru asked softly. Akaashi nodded and Kei’s older brother went into the room.

Eventually, Kei’s mom went into the room to say goodbye to Tetsuro. Akaashi waited respectfully in the hallway. It took a moment to realize his phone was vibrating in his pocket. Taking it out, he looked down at the message.

“CALL ME NOW!”

He almost ignored it, too used to Bokuto’s touchscreen keyboard being stuck in capital letters. But another message came immediately following that one.

“KEI RAN OFF! I CAN’T FIND HIM!”

“Shit!” he muttered as he quickly unlocked his phone and dialed Bokuto’s number. As soon as he heard Bokuto answer, he spoke. “What do you mean he ran off? He was barely able to stand. How the hell did he manage to run away?”

“I don’t know! We were walking toward the cabs and suddenly he shook me off. Next thing I knew he was already halfway down the street in the other direction. I tried to follow, but I didn’t want to get lost.”

“He could be anywhere by now,” Akaashi said thoughtfully. He looked up at Akiteru, who had come back out after hearing his side of the call. “Can you think of anywhere he could have gone? Any favorite places?”

“No. None that he didn’t go to without Tetsu.”

“Any parks nearby?”

“Two that I can think of. But again, they both went to those parks…”

“I understand, but we need to start somewhere.”

“Right.”

“Bokuto, do you remember which way you saw him go?”

“Yeah. We were going right; he ran straight left.”

“Which way are you facing now?” He was used to Bokuto’s directions.

“I’m facing the hospital.”

“Okay,” he turned to Akiteru. “Do you know which park is in this direction?” He oriented himself as if he were facing the hospital and pointed to the right.

“Yeah, I do.”

“Kei went that way. Will you go down and meet Bokuto? You two can look there. Your mom and I can go to the other park.”

“Sure. She knows where that is.”

“It’s further away, though. We’ll have to take a cab,” she added.

“Fine. Bokuto, Akiteru is heading your way. You heard what I told him?”

“Loud and clear.”

“Right. Keep in touch. If you find him, call me immediately. I’ll do the same.”

“Roger that.”

Akaashi hung up and looked at Kei’s mom. Akiteru had already taken off. “Mind if I take a few minutes?”

“No. I’ll go get us a cab.”

“Thank you.” He watched as she walked away, and then he turned to Tetsu’s room. It was his turn to say goodbye.