The Sohma Litters *a Traditions Sequel*

Chapter Twenty-three: Hatori and Ayame; and the surgery

Kyo\'s POV

Unlike our little ceremony, Ayame would only do something if he could overdo it. And he wanted to make sure that his little brother was there for it, so it was pushed forward and the preparations rushed through. All in all it was a success, but I had a difficult time believing it.
Ayame wore an elaborite Chinese gown similar to his normal wear, but done in white silk with gold embroidery all over it. His hair was down and shining and it looked like it was made of almost the same fabric as the robe. Hatori was in a cream colored satin jacket over black pants and a warm yellow shirt. Mizuki and Taki wore matching chinese style shirts similar to what Yuki had always worn in his teens. I wasn\'t sure how Hatori had convinced Tanoko to let the boy stay the away from her for five whole days, or even be involved in something like this. Yuki had agreed to let Ayame dress both of us and our boys also, though I don\'t know how he had convinced me to do it. Yuki wore a dazzling Gold over tunic with black trim and black pants, and I was in a cream jacket like Hatori\'s, only my shirt was white. Our boys matched theirs with the exception of ours had on white shirts with gold trim and Zuki and Taki had cream shirts with black trim. We were a sight, and the pictures promised to be interesting. The ceremony was short but filled with emotion, and even the ever cynical Hiro was not completely dry eyed by the end.
After, the two love birds took off for four days and nights in America and we took the boys home with us. It was Yuki\'s idea, I think he wanted to get some time with Taki and Zuki in before his surgery. It was okay, they are good boys and had a wonderful few days with us.
The lovebirds returned and in no time the day of Yuki\'s surgery was on us.


Yuki had been in intensive care for an hour, the surgery had lasted 6 hours. I had paced the floor of the waiting room, the hall to the coffee machine, and the halls to the elevator. People, family, kept trying to get me to go home, telling me I needed rest. I couldn\'t. I had to be here. The doctor had told me the procedure had gone well, and he expected a good recovery, but the issue of my lovers sight was still up in the air. I had to be there, when he opened those beautiful violet orbs and found out for sure if they would be able to see or not.
Shigure arrived with Tohru and Haru. They were concerned about me, and I tried to explain that I was fine. I was just waiting for some word. The Nurse had tired of my constantly asking her of his condition and had taken to sending one of the orderlies over at 15 minute intervals to keep me updated. I guess I was becoming a pest.
As I allowed myself to be coaxed into sitting down, while Haru went and got me some more coffee, the orderly made one of these little stops.
\"The nurse says that he is starting to come out of it, they have called the doctor, and she will let you know when you can go in.\" the man seemed as relieved as I was by this news. I wondered if he had become interested in Yuki\'s condition, or just tired of bringing me messages. \"I sure hope he is okay. You seem to really care about him.\" I guess that answered that question.
\"Thank you. I do.\" I leaned back as the coffee was placed in my hand, and a very concerned looking Haru sat next to me.
\"Kyo? It\'s gonna be okay, don\'t worry. We are all pulling for him, you know.\" I patted the hand he had laid on my arm. Haru was okay, and he meant well but I was unconsolable right now.

\"Sohma-san?\" The three of us looked up. \"Eh, I mean him.\" She pointed at me. \"The doctor is with him, and wants you to come.\" I rose and followed the nurse, she led me to an antichamber to clean up and gave me a pair of scrubs to wear over my clothes. Then, I followed her into the ICU to see Doctor Carter, the specialist from America who had done the surgery, sitting next to the bed and checking Yuki\'s pulse. I crossed to the other side of the bed, and took the free hand of my love as the doctor looked up.
\"Ah, Kyo. He is doing well, vitals are good. Now, let\'s just have a look at those eyes. Yuki? Yuki, I need you to open your eyes. Come on.\" the doctor held the small penlight and waited for Yuki to open his eyes. I knew Yuki, and this was never going to wake him up.
\"Yukito, the boys have dug up all the new seedlings you just planted and we are all out of laundry soap.\" Yuki\'s eyes flew open. I held my breath, a moment before stammering. \"Just kidding, Love.\"
\"Kyo? What time is it?\" the doctor flashed the light across his eyes once, twice, three times.
\"It\'s about five, why?\" I asked as the doctor did the same to the other eye.
\"Cause it\'s so dark, I thought it was later.\" I felt as if the whole world had stopped and my stomach was trying to catch up with me. The doctor looked up at me, and I could see it in his eyes, also. The total lack of hope, the one sight I was happy that Yuki would not be able to see.
\"Yuki, this is Doctor Carter. It looks like you are going to be okay, but I\'m afraid our fears have been justified. It isn\'t night, and it isn\'t dark in here. Your eyes just can\'t see it. The damage to your brain cells and nerve endings was too extensive. I\'m very sorry.\" He sounded it, too. Yuki\'s hand that I had been holding was suddenly constricting mine, and I could see that this was the only reaction my love would show to this news.
\"I understand, Doctor. You did your best. How soon can I go home?\" Yuki hated hospitals, and the shorter his stay the better.
\"A few days, and then there will be therapy, of course. Don\'t rush yourself, okay?\" Yuki nodded, and the blank look of those amethyst eyes almost made me cry.
\"Thank you again, Doctor. Kyo?\"
\"I\'m here.\"
\"I guess you are going to have to do the shopping now, huh?\"
\"I just went yesterday. You\'ll do anything to get out of work these days. . . . . . I love you, you know.\" He nodded, and a small smile tried to manifest on his lips. \"Rodent.\"
\"Baka Neko. I love you, too.\"