Tusk (Zyuohger)/Fuuka (Ninninger): You Were There, Saving Me

It seems that I can’t avoid getting hurt and suffering from it. But you were there, saving me over and over again… — Florence Joyce

xxxxxx

“I just wish that it didn’t have to be this hard for me to save you…”

Those were the haunting words that remained in Tusk’s mind as he wandered off once again. Apparently, this was a disturbing change to see about him, according to his friends. It was never easy to deal with someone who looked like his life was about to fall apart.

Of course, that was just a metaphor. The others knew that he was just worried sick about something. But even they couldn’t do anything to make sure that the person he was worrying about would come back safe and sound. It was a gamble at the moment.

A dangerous game where one’s life was hanging by the thread, on the line between life and death.

“I wonder if she’ll wake up today…” Tusk could only mutter as he continued walking. Just heading straight to one certain direction.

The hospital.

He hated that place. Even more so at the moment. But if he was going to be honest, it was the only place that could save…

“...her.”

Before he knew it, he finally reached his intended destination.

It had been three months since he started doing this. For that long, she was unconscious because of that accident.

The one he knew was meant to kill him. And yet in the end, she took that supposed fate from him.

“Good morning, Tusk-kun. You’re early, as usual.”

He only smiled as the doctor greeted him, in which he only returned the gesture with a meek smile and a bow. Even with that curt gesture, the doctor didn’t seem to mind. What mattered to her was that she was acknowledged.

Besides, the doctor also knew that Tusk was there for something far more important to him.

“By the way, sensei, how is she?” he asked before finally deciding to head to the hospital room that he intended to go to.

This time, the cordial smile was replaced with a sigh.

“Well, she’s been stable. Her vitals were okay. But… we really couldn’t tell when she’d be able to wake up.”

Even he ended up sighing as he heard that. But at least… there was still hope.

That was the only thing that he wanted to hold on to. He knew she would need that.

“It looks like that’s not enough to deter you, huh? That’s good. A lot of people would really need that.”

“It’s the only thing I can do for her. At least someone has to keep the hope up. I’m not planning on letting her down.”

“That’s the spirit. Don’t worry. We’ll do whatever we can to make sure she recovers and regain consciousness. Just continue giving her a reason to fight for her life.”

As soon as the doctor left, the small smile that was on Tusk’s face disappeared. The female doctor’s words before leaving continued to ring in his mind.

‘Continue giving her a reason to fight… for her life…’

He’d been doing that so bad, a part of him thought he was about to go crazy. But he knew that it was exactly why he had to stay strong for her, especially at that moment.

Three weeks of excruciating wait for that young woman to regain consciousness. As much as he wanted to do everything he could, his worn out sanity could only do so much.

Even so, it won’t stop him from continuing to wish. He’d continue to be there for her, to be by her side.

One more heavy sigh before Tusk finally moved away from where he was standing and headed to where he was supposed to go.

To the hospital room where Fuuka was currently sleeping.

At this hour, Tusk knew that one of Fuuka’s cousins — most of the time, Nagi — or maybe even her brother or father was the one tending to her. He had been a regular visitor so it wasn’t exactly surprising to them that he would come and visit Fuuka almost every day since the accident happened.

He wasn’t doing it out of guilt, that was for sure. Even when people kept pointing it out, he knew the truth himself. He was doing it because he was the only one who could. He wanted to do it for her.

Just as how she’d been doing similar things to him — all were enough to save him so many times. He didn’t want to fail her.

Not now. Not ever.

“You’re definitely early today, Tusk-kun. Did you even have breakfast before you came here?”

Tusk could only smile at the jokingly scolding tone in Nagi’s voice as soon as he knocked and entered the room.

“Amu wouldn’t even let me leave if I didn’t have any breakfast. So don’t worry. I ate before coming here.”

After that, he looked at the still sleeping Fuuka on her hospital bed — with an oxygen mask, dextrose and all.

He took a deep breath before approaching the bed. Nagi left the room already, possibly to have breakfast, as well, knowing that someone would watch over his cousin. All he could hear was the constant beeping coming from the patient monitor.

Upon sitting on the chair beside the bed, it didn’t take long before he took hold of Fuuka’s hand. It had been a habit that he chose not to correct, anyway. It was just something he could do to convince himself that she would be okay.

That everything would be okay.

He wanted to believe in that. At least, he knew he had to.

“Things were still the same. But you know… it’s starting to get harder that… I can’t help but be scared of what’s to come. I don’t know if I can even stop myself from breaking down.”

With those words, Tusk held Fuuka’s unresponsive hand tight once more. It was slightly warm — but still unmoving. He wanted them to move so bad. The excruciating wait for good progress was about to make him crazy.

And he didn’t want that.

He didn’t want to wait anymore.

He wanted her to wake up already.

He wanted her to tell him that it would be okay. That there was nothing for him to worry about.

Few minutes of silence hovered in that room, even with the patient monitor continuously beeping. And then…

A movement.

One finger… then two… then three…

All subtle. But movement all the same — and had just touched Tusk’s hand that was holding the hand that moved.

Movement once again.

This time, it was Tusk who moved. He raised his head as soon as he felt that touch and looked at the hand that he was holding.

“It can’t be…”

With that, he soon turned to Fuuka’s face to see if there was any more movement. He waited… without letting go of her hand.

And then…

A sigh of relief, followed by a grateful smile… as tears fell from his eyes.

“Thank goodness… Thank goodness… I’m glad…”

He could only repeat those words without letting go of her hand.

xxxxxx

Did I really make their first one-shot as a pair like this? Why did I end up writing it as something almost depressing as this? I mean… seriously. But you know what? I kind of miss writing something like this. I’m pretty sure my first few SS one-shots were almost similar to this. Should I write more? Or maybe some AU stories, as well. Just to explore other areas. So what do you think? Should I write a continuation or a sequel or something?