Page 81 of Mercy Written in Blood

Renji froze. The contact was not deliberate. Haruki remained asleep. His grip was weak. Warm. Human. Renji could have withdrawn immediately. He did not. For one breath, he allowed the hand to remain around his. Then another.

The room seemed too quiet. He remembered Haruki looking up from the trauma bed, bleeding badly enough that speech should have been difficult, and asking whether Renji undressed patients that quickly. Remembered the smile when Renji said his name changed nothing. Remembered the certainty in Haruki's voice. I'll be seeing you again, Doctor.

Renji removed his hand. Haruki's fingers fell back against the sheet. The monitor settled.

Renji turned towards the door.

"Leaving already?"

He stopped. Haruki's eyes were still closed.

"You should be asleep," Renji said.

"I was."

"You require rest."

"People keep telling me that."

"There may be a reason."

Haruki opened his eyes. Sedation still softened his focus, but the amusement was immediate.

"Were you holding my hand?"

"No."

"You were."

"I was checking your pulse."

Haruki glanced at the monitor beside him.

"Machine broken?"

"No."

"So you wanted to hold my hand."

Renji looked at him. Satisfaction spread openly across Haruki's face. He appeared far too pleased with himself for someone recovering from major surgery.

"Jun survived," Renji said.

The humour vanished. Haruki stared at him.

"The leg?"

"At risk. The next day will be important."

"But he's alive."

"Yes."

Haruki closed his eyes. Relief moved through him visibly — a breath released, tension leaving his jaw, his shoulders, the hand resting against the blanket.

"Thank you."

"I did not operate on him."