16

                                    

                                          
"You're lying. I don't believe you."
"We're not joking, Eika. It's been nine months"
"Nuh uh"
Frustrated sighs echoed throughout my room. My friends , Sanemi, Uzui, Shinobu, Kyo and even Kanae were surrounding my bed. They're trying to tell me it's been  nine whole months since my fight.
"Eika, bestie, I woke up three months before you. It really has been nine months."
"Fine! Nine months. What do I do now then? Do I just go back to fighting?"
"Absolutely not. For the next three months, at least, you will be in rehabilitation training. You've been lying down for almost a whole year. Your body needs time to readjust." Shinobu said.
"I've got so many scars now. More than Sanemi even." It was true, my whole body was covered in them. Douma sure had left his mark. They were rough, and made the surface of my skin uneven.
"And you're just as beautiful as before. No scars will make us see you any different."
"Thanks, Kanae. I'm just having a tough time processing that it happened. An upper moon is dead. And I killed it. It's hard to believe."
"I don't think it is at all. You worked to get this strong, E. I saw it with my own eyes. You saved lives before you were even a demon slayer. Strength is embedded in you." Kyo said this time. He hadn't left my side since I woke up. I didn't want him to.
"I feel so weak laying here -"
"Quit it! You killed an Upper Moon! You're anything but weak! You survived it as well! I will not hear any more of this sad sappy shit. You are strong! Say it!" Uzui pointed at me, motioning me to say it.
"I'm strong" I said sheepishly
"Louder!"
"I'm strong!"
"Yes you are! So no more whining! Do your rehab, get better, and get back on the field. We'll be waiting"
"Thanks guys"
Kanae had woken up three months before I did. She told me while she had extensive injuries, they weren't nearly as bad as mine. She tried to apologise, and say that she wanted to do more. I told her to keep her apologies to herself. I should be the one that apologised. I was so easily fooled by something so obvious and she had to face the demon by herself. I was supposed to be her back up. We eventually hugged it out, with a few tears and some I'm so glad you're alive's, she left. She told me she had a little date with Sanemi. They were so adorable together. She had him wrapped around her finger and she didn't even realise it.
Kyo stayed after everyone had left. He said he had something to ask me.
"Eika, I want you to know that no matter what your answer is, we will always be friends."
"Kyo, you're worrying me." He really was. What kind of conversation warranted that opening sentence
"There's no need to be. It's just that when I saw you standing in that clearing after winning, I realised there was so much I haven't said and done." He looked down as he said it, tracing the new scars on my hand. He seemed more tense than he was before.
"Kyo. What I said to you before I passed out still remains true. I want to say sorry, that I left you wondering like that. I just didn't want to die without saying it to you." I really had regretted leaving him waiting. Nine whole months, it must've driven him crazy. It was the first thing I remembered when I woke up.
"I'm so glad to hear that. Seeing you laying here for all those months made me fear that you would pass before I could say it back. But before I do, I want to say this. You've done so much for me and my family. You took care of us in our times of hardship, and glued us back together again. Our friends love and appreciate you, and you've bonded them and us together as one big happy family. You saved my mothers life, and subsequently saved mine. I want to take care of you in return, Eika."
"Kyo, what are you saying?" 
"Let me take care of you. Will you allow me to court you, Eika? Will you let me take you out on dates, and spoil you with love?" That smile. My smile. His eyes were mesmerising, and I could tell that he meant it.
"God, yes. Kyo, yes. A thousand times yes!" 
I was unable to move to him, so he got up. I could tell that he was afraid to make my injuries worse, so he was ever so gentle. He cupped my face with his hands and lent down. We shared the softest yet most loving of kisses.
Cheering erupted from outside. We looked through the window to find Kyo's family, Kanae and Sanemi, and Uzui jumping for joy. I blushed violently and covered my face with my hands. Kyo laughed and waved them in. Kanae was the first to attack me with hugs and congratulations. Ruka was next, along with Shinjuro. She kept calling me her daughter in law, and I had to tell her Kyo and I weren't married yet, we hadn't even gone out on a date yet. Yet. It felt so good to say that. Senjuro had grown up so much. He was 11 years old now, and was such a smart and shy boy. He still had a fascination with my hair. Uzui demanded to be able to help plan the dates and our future wedding when the time came. He insisted he would be able to make it flashy. We were forced to agree lest we, lest we be stuck here listening to him rant on about it forever.
So there we were. My chosen family. All sitting around my hospital bed, chattering away with each other. I'm happy to finally have a family to call my own.
———-
I drew Eika again! That's what I imagine she looks like :)