It was certainly late notice to be asking a person the day before an event to accompany you. And a little rude to ask them to meet you there instead of escorting them yourself. Yet, this was the only way she could think to get Kisume at the hospital without telling her exactly what was going on and sending her into a fit of worry and possibly tears.

Zuko settled back into the starched linens of the hospital bed and reread the email that glared back from her laptop screen.

I know I seemed to disappear for the last couple of days, but all is well. I've had some business to take care of at home. I know it's a long trek, especially to do by yourself, but could you meet me at the hospital tomorrow around four? Don't worry. Everything is alright. Just meet me, if you can. Ask the receptionist if they can point you to room 204. I'll be waiting. Love, Zuko'

It was short and to the point, just like Zuko always was. It didn't give details that could cause panic, but there weren't any lies either. She gave a nod and hit the send button before closing the computer to drown the room in darkness. The silence that had surrounded her her entire life would be broken tomorrow and she hoped Kissy would be the first to break it. To hear her voice.. Zuko pressed a hand over her chest, willing her raging heartbest to calm. After a moment she sunk back into the pillows and tried to find a comfortable spot on the stiff-as-a-board bed. Tomorrow everything would change for the better. If nothing went wrong that is. After all this was an early trial surgery. The first of its kind. So they had no idea what sort of things could go wrong. This time her heart raced for completely different reasons. And for the first time, Zuko felt fear, fear for herself. It brought a few tears to her eyes as she turned onto her side and curled up. She wanted to do this. Need to. But now that it was so close.. it was all so scary.

Finally after a few hours, the girl drifted off into a fitful sleep. Tomorrow would bring all new fears and a start to something new. If Kissy was at her side, she would face them all with her head held high.

---

The next day started with more tests, same as the days before. Zuko sat through them without a word of protest. She could do this. Her steely resolve was much different from the night before. When it was time for the surgery, she remained calm and watched as they administered the anesthesia. Her last thought put a smile on her lips as she drifted into sleep.

I can't wait to hear her laugh.

She'd gotten the email on her phone and fought the immediate urge to go to the hospital that very moment, but for one, she was int eh middle of class, and two, who knew if it was actually Zuko in the hospital? Maybe a family member was having a baby or something? A pit of worry grew in her belly, she couldn't sleep that night and couldn't pay attention at all during class the next day. When it was time to leave, she felt like the taxi couldn't go fast enough. Still in her school uniform, she didn't bother to change in her hurry.

She entered the hospital flushed pink with her anticipation, and stared at the receptionist a moment dumbstruck.

"Can I help you?" She asked politely.

The shaken pinkette shook her head to snap herself back into reality. "R-room 204?"

"Oh sure, second floor, you can't miss it."

"T-Thank you!"

She ran off to the elevator, which didn't open fast enough, so she stood there, antsy, only to shoot off to the stairs and run. Her track training made their ascension easy. Up a few flights and she ran to the main hall following the room numbers.

She paused when she found the right door and suddenly felt silly, pink cheeked and flustered. She couldn't just go in, what if there was a bunch of people in there? But what if Zuko was hurt? She straightened her crop jacket and dress, touched her hair to try and not look so messed up, but she still would look flustered anyway.

She gingerly pushed the door open.

"Uh-e-excuse me," she peeped, head bowed. When she looked up, there was Zuko, resting peacefully on the bed, light shining in through the windows as the afternoon sun spread vibrant colors across the pale sea-green walls.

"Zuko-kun! Daijoubu desu ka? (are you alright?)" She asked, rushing ot the bed, ah but wait, she felt silly, if she was sleeping....

But she was already at her bedside, eyes shining as she gripped her senpai's hand. She couldn't help the crying, "What happened? tell me you're okay...watashi(I)....watashi (I..)...gomenasai(sorry)" as if it was her fault. She was being silly. But why would Zuko be in a place like this?

(OOC: Kissy is so much cuter speaking japanese, sorry xD)

Her eyelids felt so heavy and her body even heavier. Neither would move so she remained still, straining to hear anything as she pulled out of the anesthesia enduced sleep. It was hard to focus, but a voice threw alerts raging in her brain. She could hear! And someone was calling to her. Zuko tried to open her eyes again, but finding them still heavy she continued to listen.

Finally, her fingers twitched in Kissy's hold then tightened. Without opening her eyes, her soft murmur was slurred.

"Silly.. Kisume. Why are you sorry?"

With a slight struggle, the girl opened her eyes. At first they were unfocused and narrowed against the light streaming through the window. Then her head turned slightly toward the keeper of her heart and a smile pulled at her lips.

"You came."

The movement was slow, but she drew Kissy's hand toward her lips to press a chaste kiss to her knuckles. This movement allowed the girl to see the gauze that was tapped to her skull just behind her ears. She practically fell back against the bed as exhaustion washed over her and sapped her of the little energy she had. She had been asleep for hours on end now and she was still so sleepy. This was annoying. Kissy was here. She needed to be over this already. Maybe she should have given it another hour so she could come out of this silly half comatose state.. but she wanted Kissy's voice to be the first she heard.

Zuko's movement and speech starled her and she watched with teary eyed awe ash her hand was kissed. Wait, Zuko was speaking...those bandages, could it be? She wasn't sure if she was reading her lips or if...she could really..hear?

"Z-Zuko?" she stuttered, forgetting to use an honorific, too stunned. She blinked the tears away, "Are you...hurt?" She asked, looking at the bandages. She was careful to see if Zuko was looking at her mouth. Should she just ask? "What happened?"

It made her warm that Zuko had called her here, wanted her here, cared enough to kiss her hand, hold her hand. Maybe....did this mean they could be an item? No, no, don't be silly, it's not like that....

Still, her racing heart didn't slow, those beautiful blue hues looked at her. Now she was flushed for another reason. The person before her was her biggest crush, and they were alone in a hospital room, tear stains fresh on the sheets, she let out a breath as a smile rose over her features. "Could it be Zuko-senpai? Can...can you... hear me?"

She was now very conscious of what her voice sounded like, was it too low? Too high? Too breathy? Was it annoying or nasal? She swallowed, looking at her hand around Zukos and wanted to let go and be more proper about things, but Zuko didn't seem to mind the touch. She watched the other, lavender orbs slowly rising to meet the other's again expectantly. Could it really be?

"I am fine, Kisume. Relax."

Each time the other girl had spoken, Zuko had focused on her eyes. Smiling more and more with each passing moment. Her grip on Kissy's hand tightened then shifted to slide her fingers between the girl's. Even if she didn't remember this in her loopy state, she wouldn't regret it. She drew their arms across her body, effectively tugging Kissy onto the bed and into her lap. Her free arm looped around her ribs in a loose hug. Her head dipped forward to rest against her shoulder.

"I can hear you.. I can."

This was all she had dreamed and more. This girl's voice was like music to her soul, filling a void she never knew she had. The feeling over flowed from her eyes as tears traced down her cheeks. The normally stoic Prince let out a weak sob as tears began to trail from the corners of her eyes as she listened to the rapid thrum of Kissy's heartbeat. Even as the tears continued to fall she murmured thank you over and over.

Her heart early stopped, Zuko's already beautiful voice seemed to become more unearthly and wonderful by the moment, she could hear! But she didn't have time to react as she was scooped up onto her crush's lap. This made her body burn all over moreso as she felt Zuko's head on ehr shoulder, holding her like this, she wanted to freak out and struggle away...and yet, Zuko's sob made her do the opposite, in fact, she started to cry again as well. Holding onto her too,

"Yata.."(I'm glad) she said, hugging the other back as tightly as she could. Her breathing was a little heavier than it should be, but she was nervous being so close like this. She felt extra vulnerable and yet safe at the same time. "I'm so happy," She said, sniffing back more tears. She was happy, now there was so much Zuko could experience, and they could do it together...if she wanted. She wondered how to make her feelings clear, more than clear, of course the other knew but...she wanted her to know. The thought of confessing for real made her stiffen with a new surge of nerves. Was it too soon? Maybe she was just being emotional. But Zuko would certainly have felt something about her change just then. They were so close, this moment was so happy, she didn't want to ruin it with something like that.

Zuko gently squeezed Kissy's hand as her arm tightened around her waist. She had let her emotions get the better of her. Wanting the girl close, she had done so without asking. Zuko lifted her head and loosened her grip as she murmured her apologies. If Kissy wanted to remove herself from her lap, she could easily do so now.

"I.." Could she really say what was toying with her tongue? Playing over in her mind, the words pressed against her chest, trying to break free. Her electric blue hues lifted to stare into the set of lilac ones before her.

"I love you, Kissume.. I have for a long time now. You've been on my mind since we first met. Even in my dreams, you were there. I wanted your voice to be the first I heard.. Thank you. Thank you so much for being here."

Toward the end of her little speech her voice grew raspy from disuse. Of course, her words were still a little on the mumbled side as she hadn't realized her lack of pronunciation before. It now weighed a bit heavily on her and she blushed at the dull sound of her own voice.

The and around her loosened causing a moment of panic, was it a mistake? Irrational thoughts plagued her, but not for long. The very weird she had just wanted to say came from the mouth of her Zuko. She realized just how momentous this moment was, being able to hear for the first time, and the first thing being the voice of your beloved? If she were Zuko, she'd have been a sobbing mess!

Actually, she was anyway, she pulled her hands back to herself to cover her mouth, overwhelmed, as tears spilled out over red cheeks. Surely this reaction would cause worry, and she struggled to speak, hurry and explain herself, but she could not for a moment, she could only cry, and she felt like such a loser for it.

"I love you too," she eventually managed, the hands at her mouth slipped down to hold her sides, "I-I want to be with you Zuko-kun." She couldn't look up, even though Zuko had confessed her love, she still had doubts, "Ever since you protected me, I've been yours. No one else has stood up for me like that, not even me." She couldn't move, so full of nerves all over again. Was this really happening?

A bubble of panic began to form in her chest. Kisumi wasn't saying anything! Had she taken this to far and pushed the only girl she had eyes for out of reach? Her tears began to fall more quickly at the thought as she looked up to the girl. The arm that was still on her waist shifted so that her hand could grasp her shirt. Kissy's uniform was going to be a wrinkled mess after this that was for sure. The material crumpled under her hold as her fingers curled, gripping the fabric tightly.

Relief visibly washed over her features as Kissy finally found the words to speak. When the girl's hands dropped away from her face, Zuko released her, but only so her own hands could raise to cup her cheeks. Her thumbs gently brushed over her cheekbones, wiping away her tears with a tenderness she didn't even realize she had. Then she used her hold to turn the pinkette's head toward her. While trying to keep from sniffling the Prince smiled. A slow, but beautiful little smile.

"Then be mine, Kisumi. I could wish for nothing better than to have you at my side. Let me protect you. Let me.. love you."

Her normally hardened gaze was now soft, filled with the adoration she held in her heart for this girl. The girl she would gladly give her life for.

"I want to be with you, my little Dreamwalker."

Touching her like this, saying this things she dreamed about for so long was too much. Red faced Kisumi felt herself leaning forward, as if surrendering something, her lips parted slightly, eyes squinting with tears and joy she wanted to be kissed. Her mind whirled, if she could have anything in the world, let it be Zuko. She looked at Zukos mouth, the source of such sweet words and wondered if her lips would be as soft and gentle as her hands. They were already so close.

Somewhere deep down she was leaping for joy, that poor girl staring up that the strong back of her savior was now in her arms. It was so perfect. She felt like she'd be protected forever, safe and sound. Not even Haruka could get to her as long as Zuko was by her side.

One hand gently slid back through Kissy's locks and curled around the back of her head. Her own chin tipped up slightly. Bright hues glanced up from where they had locked on to her lips.

This was a dream come true. Better than that, actually. Her prayers had been answered in the form of this girl. She leaned up a bit more and ghosted her lips over the tip of Kissy's nose then across her cheek. Kissing away the trails the tears had left before finally bringing their lips together.

The shock that rocked through her body caused her to jerk slightly and her throat to tighten. Her hand, which still cupped the pinkette's cheek slowly slid down before dropping away so her arm could wrap around her middle and draw her closer.

True, it was just a kiss, but it meant so much more. Kissy was hers and she, Kissy's. After all this time she had found the girl, or rather she had found her, that captured her thoughts and heart. Now they could share this new adventure together. Side by side, hand in hand.

As she slowly drew back, she realized how breathless she was just from the simple touch of lips. Her hand raised and touched to her lower lip as a vivid blush bloomed across her cheeks. She looked up through her bangs at Kissy and smiled coyly.

The hands that cradled her sent tingles rushing down through her body and a rising heart that grew the nearer Zuko came. She felt herself melt, leaning into her touch unable to resist the want that came with her nearness. She felt her breath and almost shuttered with anticipation and then it happened. The soft warm touch of Zuko's lips on her own set her body on fire, it took everything she had not to moan, she failed as a cute whimper escaped. She felt her heart rate speeding, her breathing becoming heavier, she felt so hot and an odd tightness was forming very low in her belly.

Aside from the physical reaction, her mind exploded in a pink joy, her heart swelled happily and she felt happy tears stinging and threatening to fall all over again. This was the best moment of her life! But it wasn't over, Zuko pulled her forward, Kissy felt her chest press against the other and another cute sound came from her, her hands were like fire, burning new sensations through her uniform and into her skin beneath. Just like that it was over.

The expression Kisumi wore immediately following the kiss was one that would make a certain predatory spican go wild. Blushing, dilated pupils, hot with heavy breath and her lips parted with desire. She struggled to make her body feel cool, and forced a smile that allowed a shy, breathless laugh. Then she saw Zuko was looking at her, smiling, she felt embarrassed for being so worked up. And the coy expression made her feel more so. She squirmed at the feelings in her belly, trying to pretend she wasnt so worked up. But it was too much. She couldn't help it, her shyness drove her to lean forward and his her face in her neck, trying to calm the flames Zuko had unexpectedly ignited.