Sins

Sins

Chapter 5

Waking from her drug-induced slumber, Mika saw a sleeping form in the chair next to the hospital bed. The room was fairly dark and it took a half minute or so for her eyes to become accustomed to the lack of illumination. Once her ebony eyes were able to see a bit clearer, she could make out the silhouette of a man. Moving her hand slightly jarred the fingers that gently held onto it and caused the owner of the fingers to waken from his restless sleep. As he straightened in his seat, his fingers tightened around her fragile hand. A soft voice asked, "How are you feeling, Mika?"

The sound of Suguru’s voice was a relief to the still-dazed woman. “I’m a bit sleepy, where am I?”

“The doctor kept you overnight so you could get some decent rest,” was all he could answer before Mika sprang up in bed and searched the room with panicked eyes. He reached for a button on her call-light and turned on the overhead light.

“Overnight! Dear gods above, what time is it?” She looked around trying to find a clock. The heavily lined drapes on the windows shut out all light, so when she woke to a darkened room she assumed it was still the same day, just nighttime.

Quickly rising from his seat, he steadied Mika’s shoulders and helped her lie back down. Suguru spoke softly in an effort to calm the distraught woman. “It’s early morning, not sure exactly what time. You need to relax.”

“I can’t relax! Shin, where’s my Shin?” Panic was overtaking Mika. “Who has my son?”

“K-san stayed at the house when the paramedics brought you to the hospital. He said he’d stay there until you came back. I guess he’s still there.” His voice was trying to squelch the panic that his lover was feeling. “K-san is a great father. He’ll take good care of Kenshin for you.”

Relaxing was still not possible as another thought entered her mind; this one more terrifying than the fact that her son was left behind yesterday. Fear filled her voice as she whispered, “Tohma.”

“He doesn’t know you’re here or anything that happened yesterday. Sakano-san tried to reach him at the office yesterday, but his secretary said he was out of town for a business meeting. He won’t be back till late this evening.” Suguru was worried now. Did Mika want her husband? The answer came when Mika let out a heavy, relaxing sigh and sank back into her bed.

“Do you want me to try and get him now?” The question had to be asked. After all he was her husband.

A very emphatic “NO!” was the response. Mika shook her head slightly and closed her eyes. Several moments later, a much more calm tone was used. “No, I don’t want him here. He can’t know what happened.”

Confusion over how she would handle situation needed clarification. “Mika, how are you going to explain all of this? You can’t make the fact that you had a miscarriage go away by ignoring it.”

Looking deep into her lover’s eyes, she raised an eyebrow and asked, “What miscarriage?”

Suguru’s eyes opened widely and his mouth gaped. He knew his lady-love could be cold and manipulative when it came to dealing with her husband, but this was troubling. She was going to ignore the fact she lost his child and sweep the minute details out the door, like so much dirt on the floor. This cool attitude over the loss of his child wounded his heart. “Mika, how can you be sure word won’t get back to Tohma? I won’t tell him, and none of the guys will, but…” He looked around the room and out into the hallway. “How are you going to keep everyone else from talking?”

“Hospital policy won’t allow anyone to say anything about me being here. As for you and your friends, I know the secret is safe.” A slight frown appeared on her troubled face and her voice hitched in her throat. ”My only concern is the nanny.”

Suguru knew what had to be done. He used this ploy before to be able to spend some time with Mika. Taking his cell phone from his pocket, he dialed Mika’s home phone number. When K answered, he set the plan to quell Mika’s nervousness. ”Are Shuichi and Hiro still there?” After getting a negative response, he told K the plan. “When the nanny gets there, tell her Mika-san took the baby to see her father. She won’t need the nanny for a few days so she can take the time off, with pay. If she asks about Tohma-san, tell her that Mika called him already.”

It wasn’t a complete lie because Suguru knew Mika would need time to recover and going to her father’s home would be the perfect place. Grandfather would have quality time with his grandson and Mika could recuperate in the peaceful surroundings of the shrine. “Have the baby dressed and everything ready to go as soon as the nanny leaves. Mika will need clothes to wear since hers were ruined. You can bring them when you swing by the hospital to pick us up. You’ll drop me off to get her car and take Mika and the baby out to the country.”

Mika was in awe as she listened to her beloved giving orders in true Seguchi family-style. It never ceased to amaze her how much Suguru was like Tohma in that regard. Thank the stars it was the only real comparison. Everyone was expected to do his or her part without question. Her part was to do exactly what Suguru told K she was supposed to be doing. Suguru handed her the cell phone and she called Tohma’s cell phone, leaving a message on his voicemail.

Once all the calls were made, he turned off his cell phone and met her sparkling eyes and smiling face. A bit of surprise was evident when Mika finally spoke. “Are you going with me?”

“I can’t just have K drop you off and leave. Besides, how would you get home in a few days if you don’t have your car there? Tohma would never expect you to call N-G for a ride unless there was something wrong with you, Shin or your car. The car was just serviced last week, so that won’t work.” His mind was working faster than his fingers could fly across his synthesizer keyboard. “I want to be sure you are settled at the shrine and have K drive me back before Tohma knows we were ever gone.”

Every detail was mapped out and the only thing that Mika needed was the doctor’s discharge order and she could leave. When K brought her clothes, he told her of the events at the house after she left; assuring her that no one would be breathing a word of the incident to anyone. Eiri’s absence from the hospital meant he didn’t know what happened or just didn’t care. Whatever reason that kept him away was cause for relief.

Dr. Haiku stopped in briefly to examine Mika before giving her some medication for pain and an antibiotic to stop any infection. After explaining the need to rest for a couple of days, the doctor wrote discharge orders and bid her patient well.
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Mika was greeted by her unsuspecting father with open arms and a big smile. He watched his son-in-law’s young cousin and smiled as Suguru carried the baby’s things and Mika’s suitcase into the house. “Mika, you look drained. Is everything alright with you?”

A weak smile graced the ivory-skinned lady. “I’m fine, just a bit tired, Father. If you don’t mind, I’m going in and rest for a bit, the trip was tiring. You can have some fun with your grandson.” With that said, she gently placed the baby in her father’s willing arms and went to find Suguru.

Suguru’s back was to the door as he unpacked Mika’s suitcase, placing her clothes on one side of the bed. He didn’t hear her walking down the hall or see her standing in the doorway staring lovingly at him as he worked.

A little “ahem” brought his head to the side to see his true love leaning against the door jamb. “Are you tired?”

Graceful as a swan, Mike glided into the room and stopped inches from Suguru. She placed her delicate hand on his shoulder as he stood to face her. In another fluid motion, she brought her hands to his cheeks, leaned in and kissed him with as much passion as her weak body could afford. The kiss was answered with as much passion as Suguru could give, as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to his chest. The kiss lasted only about a minute, but was so intense that Mika almost fainted. Her frail body went limp in Suguru’s arms and he guided her to the bed before she could meet the floor.

Sometime later, she opened her eyes. Suguru was gone from the room and in his place was her father. In his hand was a note that he read intently, a scowl painted on his face. Once he noticed his daughter staring at him, he handed the note to her:

Dearest,
I'm so sorry that I have to leave you now, but know that you're in my thoughts, as well as my heart. Sleep well, my love, and I will talk to you later this evening. Don’t worry about anything.
All my love, Suguru

After she was done reading the note, she crumpled it in her fist and waited for her father’s reaction.

“Care to explain this to me? I’m getting the impression that this isn’t just a social visit.” The voice was low and full of concern. “What is Suguru to you, Mika?”

The older man sat down next to his daughter and placed his arms around her, pulling her close into his warm embrace. Tears rolled off her cheeks as she sat there and into his shoulder. When she finally looked at her father, she whispered, “I love him, Daddy.”

No further words were passed between father and daughter as she continued to cry. Tomorrow would be time for explanations, but for now, all he needed to do was hold his darling daughter and help her make it through the night.

TBC