No Rest for Exams

Title:
NO REST FOR EXAMS
Author:
Samurai Champloo (c) Geneon.
Summary:
Don't ask where the idea for this came from ^_^U It was partially wrote in an old
notebook, so I decided to resurrect it. Mostly wanted to use the characters in another
setting, until episode #16 aired...and it took on a life of it’s own.
Rating:
R - Yaoi, Lemon, Shonen-ai, Language, Violence.
Pairing(s):
Mugen/Jin, OC/OC/Mugen
Characters:
Usual SC cast, plus a few OC's. AU/OOC.
Author's Notes:
So, prepare for mass AU/OOC after this point, but sweet, sweet Mugen/Jin action...Enjoy!
Disclaimer:
...I think we all know I don't own any of the characters...except the ones I made up, whom
I love dearly. *pets Yana and Shishi, waves to rest of cast*
________________________________________

CHAPTER FIFTEEN - RELAPSE AND REUNITE

“Mr. Arakawa, if you don’t eat we’ll have to take action. You don’t want that.”

“Please go away.” Jin remained on his side, same position.

“I’m going to get Dr. Yoshinori.” The nurse left, tense look on her face.
//Two days and all he does is sulk...//

//Why can I not die now?//
His eyes were too dry for tears anymore.
//If they are all gone I do not want to survive...this is all my fault.//

“Jin? Come on now, what’s wrong with you?” The doctor came in with concerned countenance. “Stop behaving like this right now.”

“...I appreciate your concern, but I do not need it.”

“Where is Mugen? The other two?”

He took a deep breath. “They left...”

“Where did they go? Mugen can at least talk sense into you.”

“...He is not coming back.”

“What?” The mans face clearly showed shock.
//But they all seemed so close...no wonder he’s acting like this.//
“Why? What happened? Maybe you two could work it out...”

“Please, do not make me go through it again. I just wish to sleep...” He closed his eyes. “I am so tired.”

“Jin...look, you’ve been through a lot in a short period of time. I know you’re upset, but you can’t starve yourself in a hospital.”

“Then I shall leave.”

“Not until you’re cleared as okay.”

“...You have helped me more than I can repay. But please, leave me alone?”

“I’ll be back in a few hours, to watch you eat broth at least.”

A small sound of agreement was the pale ones only response, the doctor sighed before exiting.

- - - - -

“I just wanted him to be happy, but now I see he can only be that way with you. He shut down when you left...I mean he was there but...” Yana sighed. “Shigure was jumping the
gun though. He could barely stand, there’s no way I would have done anything with him. Especially in the hospital.”

The three were discussing Yana’s recent ‘betrayal’.

Mugen nudged him. “It’s all right...”

“Don’t thank me, you fuck up one more time and you’re out. I’ll take Jin and you’ll never see us again. I’m serious.”

“I know that.” The tan one nodded.

“Don’t you guys feel bad? We just left him.” Shigure sighed.

“Maybe he needs some alone time too.” Mugen hoped he was right.

“When I left it was the silent treatment. Wouldn’t say a word to me, after someone flipped out on him for no reason.” Yana eyed the redhead.

“I said I was sorry, what else can I do?”

“Don’t say it to us, dumbass.”

“Jin understands you only want what’s best for us.” Mugen was amazed at how reasonable he had become.

Not a year ago he would have been crazy, maybe ever dangerous. Somehow Jin forced him to think, to be careful. “We’ll give him a few days to rest, then we’ll go see about getting him out. He does kinda get worked up when we’re there.”

“...You sure?” Shigure felt uneasy.
//He gets worked up when we’re gone too...//

“Yeah...I think so.”

- - - - -

“Please, one sip and I’ll leave.” Dr. Yoshinori sat calmly, even though his heart was aching.

“Fine then...” Jin sighed, thoroughly annoyed. Lifting the styrofoam cup to his lips, taking the tinniest swig. “Mhere..” He poke mouth full.

“Swallow it?” He raised an eyebrow at the childish behavior.

The pale one did, setting the cup on the tray, and continuing his blank stare.

“Now, was that so bad? Why not drink some more?”

“You said you would leave.”

The doctor stood, a defeated look on his face. “When I first met you I thought of you as just another sick child. The more I knew about you and watched you grow up...knowing what you lived with and through...You’re like my nephew or a dear friend. I honestly love you Jin. Just know by doing this foolish little hunger strike, you’re not only hurting yourself. I’ll see you in the morning.”

The pale one didn’t say anything, but nodded as the man exited.
//I am sorry. It seems I hurt more people than I thought.//
His eyes weakly settled to the steaming cup.

Truthfully it did feel better. His throat was dry and scratchy. The warm liquid was soothing to it’s rawness. He almost reached for it, when his mind stopped him.

“I cannot.” He shook his head dropping his hand. A little suprised, as the simple shake of his head made him dizzy.
//Why would I want to live now?//
His eyes stung a little.
//I cannot go home, Sayoko wants blood...even if I continued to be her slave.//
He took a shaky breath, laying against the way too fluffy pillows.
//I could not make it alone...I do not know the first thing about life. Jobs, driving...a home.
It is as foreign as Mugen’s language.//
The name stung more than his eyes, as a single tear dripped down his face.

“Mugen...” He sighed, breathy. “I am so sorry...Yana, Shishi...”

His hand covered his mouth, not wanting another wandering nurse to try and console him. He wiped his eyes disgusted at himself.
//You do not have the guts to kill yourself, that is why you cut...it is as far as your pathetic self can go.//

“I cannot take this...” He held his stomach, wanting to vomit but unable to get up.

This was his worst nightmare; he was sick, helpless, and in a hospital completely alone. His mind wanted to use whatever he could get his hands on to injure himself. Anything to take the focus off his lost friends. Yet he was too tired to bother.

- - - - -

FOUR DAYS LATER

“Hello?” Mugen answered the cell, not recognizing the number. “Oh, hello doctor...what’s up?”

Yana and Shigure watched him carefully.

“What?!...But he’s okay, right?” His hand ruffled his hair nervously. “Shit...yeah, yeah, we’ll be right there.” He shut the phone.

“What’s wrong?” Yana sat up.

“Jin, he’s been really sick and he’s getting worse.”

“What?”

“I know, he said he hasn’t been eating or talking to anyone. We gotta get down there.”

- - - - -

“I’m so happy you were close by.”

“Where is he?” Mugen and company approached the worried doctor.

“Right now he’s been moved back to ICU. His heart rate is dangerously low. Last night it almost stopped, he fell unconscious and it took us hours to wake him up. His illness, plus lack of nourishment is a bad combination. For well over a week he’s refused to eat.”

“Shit...” Shigure sighed.

“He’s on interveinious things now, but we will be forced to administer a feeding tube if he cannot manage to eat something today. They are already readying the equipment.”

“Can we see him?” Mugen felt in shock.

“I can take you to him, but I can’t guarantee he’ll be responsive. He’s quite out of it as of this morning.”

- - - - -

Mugen pulled the curtain slowly, shutting it behind him. Only one at a time was allowed in. His eyes focused dully on the form before him.

Jin lay sleeping, his shirt off and various monitors placed upon him. They had the tap that went to his main artery closed, the IV’s running to his arms. The machines rhythmic beep
the only noise.

His skin was paler than Mugen had ever seen it. Circles under his eyes and highlighting his cheekbones.
//Jin...//
The tan one stood at the foot of the bed. Hot, silent tears falling steady down his face.
//I’m so sorry I left you like this...//
Meekly he held his hand out, rubbing the thin foot like it would bite.

“Baby?”

Getting no response he rubbed harder, clearing his throat. Voice coming out awkward and choked.

“Jin?”

This time the pale one stirred moving his head slightly with a small groan.

“It’s me. I came back to tell you...I’m sorry...Can you wake up and talk to me?”

The voice registered and he felt his body react. Slowly fluttering his eyes open, Jin stared at the white ceiling.

“Jin!” Mugen’s heart leapt, he didn’t actually expect him to wake up. He walked over to him, leaning down carefully to hug him. Tears now having a voice.

The pale one blinked, trying to grasp what was going on.

“I’m so sorry...” The shivering mass cried over and again.

//What...is wrong?//
Jin had almost forgot the fact Mugen and the others had been missing this whole time. The moment began to make sense. If he could move his arms, he would have clung to the tan one for dear life.
//He...did not abandon me?!//

Mugen sniffed, standing up and attempting to pull himself together.
“Shit...” He wiped his eyes frantically. “You scared the hell out of me.”

//Have I been sick this whole time? Why can I not remember the last few days?//
Jin looked up at him in complete confusion.
“A-am I, still in the hospital?”

“Yeah.”

“Oh...” The pale one closed his eyes, trying to clear his mind.
//None of this makes sense.//

“I’m so sorry I took so long to get here...If I would have known you were getting worse I-”

“Worse?” The cloudy eyes opened again. “Have I?”

“Don’t worry babe; the important thing is I’m here, and I’m never leaving again. God I love you so much.” Mugen leaned down and gave the pale one a chaste kiss.

Despite the overwhelming sense of ‘what the?!’, the soft feel of Mugen’s lips and seeing him soothed him. No matter what was going on, if Mugen was here it would be okay.

“Where, where have you been?” Jin looked up at him as he straightened back up.

The twinge of guilt made his stomach churn. “I was out...don’t worry. All you have to do now is rest and eat.”

“Eat?” Jin blinked.
//That is right...I was not eating, and then...blank.//

“You have to. That’s why you got worse. It’s all my fault, I made you upset.”

“No.” Jin sighed. “I love you, nothing is your fault...I just...I do not understand.” He closed his eyes in a tense way.

“Don’t try to think too much at once. You’re still really sick, you almost died yesterday...”

Jin nodded with a deep sigh. “I do not know what is going on, but I will trust you.”
//I almost died?//

“Heh, that’s okay. You eat for me and everything will be fine.” Long tan fingers brushed back the disheveled bangs. Taking time to feel the soft texture he had missed so much.

“O...kay...” Jin stared at him.
//Did all this happen just because I was not eating?//

“Only one of us can come in at a time...I’m gonna let Yana and Shishi see you, but I’ll be back.”

“All right.”

As Mugen left the pale one lay his head back. Just that little bit of experience made him dizzy.
//I almost died yesterday? How long has it been since they have been gone?//

“Hello beautiful.” Yana walked in happily.

“Yana?” Jin reopened his eyes.

“Yep.”

“What happened?”

“Just a little bit of drama, nothing to worry about.”

The pale one frowned. “That is what Mugen said. But it feels like something big happened...”

“You guys had a fight...Mugen ran off, remember?”

“Yes...and then Shigure was angry.”

“Yeah, everyone said things they didn’t mean.”

“That is right, then you left.” Thought was becoming clearer to the pale one.

“Right. I am so sorry about that. I should have never left you like that. I was just so pissed off because I couldn’t reach you.”

“...I suppose I deserved it. It sounds like I have been making everyone insane.” Jin took another deep breath, wishing he could sit up.

“Stop that. We love you, like I said we’re jerks and whores. Guess I left the jerk part out. Bad combo when it comes to emotions.”

“Mugen seemed so upset.”

“Eh, he’ll be all right now. Drove like 80 getting down here. He was worried you were like irreversible sick.”

“I feel so awful...”

“Capheter still bugging you?”

“No, I mean emotionally. I must be losing my mind.”

“Shh the important thing is to relax.”

“Right...”
//That is what Mugen said.//

“Take care hun.” Yana kissed the pale hand before leaving, trying not to look at the bruises from different IV’s and such.

A brief flashback of the redheads angry gaze came.
//But why did he strike me? What set him off?//
Things were still a little blurry.

“Jin?” Shigure walked in.

“Hi.” The pale one smiled weakly.
//They are all here again...//

“I’m so sorry about the other day. What you do is your business....I had no right to act the way I did.”

“Why? Why were you angry?”

“Because Yana can be a prick. I didn’t want you to hurt Mugen and get hurt yourself.”

//That is right!//
“Yana...h-he wanted me to leave Mugen for him?”

Shigure blinked. “I guess so, that’s what he said.”
//He doesn’t remember?//

“No wonder...” He sighed. “I am having such a difficult time recalling the last few days.”

“Oh well, considering how bad off you look...” The redhead smiled. “Your poor hair...we may have to cut it.”

Jin blinked nervously. “Cut it?”

“Unless someone can get out all those knots without scalping you.”

Weakly he managed to get his hand up, to touch what use to be a ponytail. Now it was like a huge dreadlock, shapeless clump. Rubber band almost swallowed by the tangled hair.

“Shit...” His hand fell back to his side.
//I must look horrible...//

“I think Yana can do something. Just keep him away from the dye this time.”

Jin smiled sleepily. “Thank you all, for coming back...I...” He began to trail off.

“Okay, you need to rest. I love you, I’ll send Mugen back in.”

Jin nodded, keeping his eyes closed.

“See ya later.”

- - - - -

Mugen walked in slowly, smiling at Jin’s sleeping face. It looked a lot less sicker already.

“Jin?”

His eyelashes fluttered, but opening them now was a task. “F-forgive-”

“Shh, you’re tired. Just lay there...I ain’t going no where.”

The pale one smiled slightly. “Promise?”

“With my life.” Mugen leaned down and kissed the soft face.

Jin wanted to say thank you, as well as a million other things, but was well past the point of speaking. Mugen’s hands seemed to have heat flowing from them, as he gently rubbed up and down the thin arm.

“I love you so much, I have never felt like this about anyone else. I...I can’t fucking live without you.”

//Me too...//
Jin tried to nuzzle his face against Mugen’s hand, not sure if he pulled it off.

“When we get out of here, we’re going North. Yana found a little cabin in the middle of nowhere. Post up for a while, hotels are getting too risky.”

//But how long can we run?//
A worried sigh escaped the chapped lips.

“Don’t worry, everything’s gonna be okay. I’m not gonna kill anyone either, heh.”

//Good...//
Jin was just about asleep, when a sudden shock to his system opened his eyelids.

Mugen was leaning over, hungrily claiming his lips. With a strangled sigh, the pale one opened up enough to let Mugen do his thing.

It felt like heaven to Jin. Mugen’s kisses were almost better than sex. He knew every spot, and whether or not to lick, suckle, or rub. A slight moan came as Mugen seemed to be
sucking the pale ones tongue out of his head.

“M-mu-”

“God I want you...I wanna push this machine away and fuck you right here.”

Jin felt his face heat a little as he blinked at him. “But...I do not know if-”

“Heh, I know. Can’t help it though, sorry.” Mugen smirked as he sat upright in a chair he pulled up.

“Heh.”
//Too bad.//
The pale one tried to calm his fluctuating breath.

“You sleep, when you wake up you can eat something.”

“Mmhm...” Came the exhausted reply.

“Sexy thing...”

- - - - -

FIVE DAYS LATER

“You’re free to go...please, take it easy for at least two weeks. I’m only approving it because I know Mugen will take care of you. Really though Jin, be careful.”

“I will.” The pale one took a deep breath. “Thank you so much. I know I am not an easy patient.”
//You have no idea how much I owe you...//

“That’s an understatement. You four take care.”

“Right.”

The three moved on, Yana pushing Jin in a wheelchair. Mugen stopped as Dr. Yoshinori held his shoulder.

“May I speak with you in private?”

“Sure, what’s up?”

“I’ll be blunt, Mugen. Jin came very close to dying. Next time he goes down, he may not bounce back so well...if at all. I checked his blood, his disease has advanced. Right now
his red blood cell count is as low as someone on cancer therapy drugs. Lots of iron, and food. Keep him eating, force it on him if you must. Even missing a few meals could cause him to lose consciousness.”

“...Okay.” Mugen was a little lost for words at the mans serious tone.

“He’ll bruise even easier, not to mention his platelets are low. If he cuts himself badly or even in a seemingly non-life threatening way; his blood will refuse to clot, he could bleed
to death.”

“Gotcha.”

“You have your hands full, ne?”

“...I don’t know where we’d be if we couldn’t trust you.”

“Just remember everything I’ve told you, and watch your back. She is looking everywhere. Here is my cell phone number, in case you need it...good luck Mugen.”

“Thanks...”

The doctor went on to explain a few more things, as well as the medications he had prescribed.

- - - - -

“Eh?” Jin looked up when he felt hands on his shoulders.

“Oi.” Mugen took over wheelchair duty.

“What did the doctor want?”

“Nothin’, just told me to kiss you all over until you scream.”

“Mugen.” The pale one looked away shyly.
//I could only be so lucky...//
“So where is this ‘cabin in the middle of nowhere’ I have heard so much about? I cannot stand these walls any longer.”

“Couple of hours away from here.” Shigure added.

“But we gotta stop and get you something to eat in a little while.” Mugen pushed a little faster.

“I am far too nervous to eat. You have no idea how these places make me feel.” Jin played mindlessly with his hands.

“Nope. You’ll eat it or wear it.”

Yana shot the tan one a look.
//That was a little mean...//

//Damnit, I didn’t mean it to sound like that.//
Mugen bit his tongue.

Jin only stared forward, a little annoyed.
//He is simply worried, that is all.//

“Anyway...what did you do with Fu’s car?” Shigure ended the awkward moment, talking to the blonde.

“I traded it in plus a little dinero to get something different. At least if anyone was watching they wouldn’t recognize it.”

“Good.” Jin sighed.

“More leg room at least...”

- - - - -

“There ya go.” Shigure smiled, shutting Jin’s door. He helped the wobbly one into the older model SUV.

“Thanks.” He breathed as the door shut. Not wanting anyone to know how dizzy standing made him. “Whoo...” He sighed quietly, shutting his eyes.

“Doin’ all right?” Mugen slid in the back seat with him.

“Huh? Y-yes, fine.” Jin responded nervously. Knowing Mugen caught his moment of weakness.

“C’mere.” A long tan arm wrapped securely around Jin’s shoulders. Pulling him toward the firm body.

“What?”

“Nothing, I just wanna hold you.”

“Oh.” The pale one relaxed against him, laying his head on Mugen’s shoulder.

“Ready?” Shigure started the vehicle as Yana got in the passengers seat.

“Yeah.” Mugen smiled kissing the top of Jin’s head.
//I was so scared you’d never get out of this place.//

“You are certainly very affectionate today.”
//I like it.//

The two began a quiet conversation as Yana and Shigure spoke.

“I missed you.”

“But you were there for most of it? You sat right beside me.”

“I missed this.” His arm squeezed carefully.

“Oh, I am not enough for you unless you can touch me?” The playful stormy eyes gazed up.

The tan one felt his heart jump, so happy to see that sparkle of life again. Jin looked forward, closing his eyes. Completely content to be putting distance between himself and the hospital. But his mind was occupied with being self conscious.

His hair was still destroyed, glasses in his bag. A gray pair of Yana’s way too big for him pajama pants; and his black tank. His eyes gazed dully at Shigure’s black furry slippers on his feet, the only other shoes they had; as Mugen was afraid he’d cut his feet wearing his usual zorre.
//I must look disgusting.//
He gazed up at the rear view mirror, seeing the ghostly pale face stare back. Looking away was a good idea. He glanced at his arms, seeing the multitude of bruises from needles and the lot.
//I most likely smell as well...//
He was far too embarrassed to check.

Subconsciously he sat up, pulling away from Mugen. The tan one casually moved his arm. Cracking the window to smoke a cigarette.

//Poor Mugen, all he did and went through...he deserves so much better.//
Sighing, he closed his eyes, sleeping was looking better and better.

- - - - -

END CHAPTER FIFTEEN