4. Lost Moon
Mutsukumo had never paid attention before.
But now, holding Izala tightly in his arms, he realized-
Izala was a full head shorter than him.
And his body...
Too thin. Too light.
His hand tightened instinctively.
As if, if he loosened his grip even a little, Izala would vanish right before his eyes.
He had always thought Izala was the quiet, aloof type-detached from the world.
Always alone. Never needing anyone.
But now, seeing him so fragile in his arms, Mutsukumo finally realized-
Izala was never as strong as he had thought.
Mutsukumo cursed under his breath.
This damn feeling...
He didn't like it.
But he couldn't deny it either.
"You're too light."
He muttered, voice low, like he was talking to himself.
Izala furrowed his brows faintly but didn't have the strength to argue.
"...It's because I'm tall."
Izala whispered, as if trying to come up with some kind of excuse.
Mutsukumo scoffed.
"You're short."
"...You're just too tall."
"Shut up."
He scooped him up without hesitation.
Izala flinched slightly, but he was too weak to resist.
Mutsukumo didn't care.
He only knew one thing-
Izala couldn't walk on his own anymore.
Then he'd carry him.
No matter what it took.
---
Mutsukumo didn't ask for permission.
He carried Izala straight back to base, ignoring the stares from others.
Izala rested against his shoulder without resistance.
Maybe he was just too tired.
Or maybe he knew resisting would be pointless.
The report room door slammed open.
The commander looked up, about to speak-but froze at the sight.
"You two-"
"The mission is complete."
Mutsukumo cut him off, his tone as curt as ever.
The commander frowned, eyes glancing over Izala's bloodied body.
"He-"
"He won't die."
Mutsukumo left no room for interruption.
He placed the mission report on the desk, then turned and walked out immediately.
The commander wanted to say something more, but seeing the way Mutsukumo held Izala...
He could only sigh.
"Go get treated. Both of you are way past your limits."
Mutsukumo didn't reply.
He walked straight to the infirmary.
Every step firm-
As if he'd never let Izala fall.
---
Mutsukumo kicked the infirmary door open.
The doctor jumped, but his eyes turned serious the moment he saw Izala soaked in blood in Mutsukumo's arms.
"Lay him on the bed."
The doctor instructed.
But Mutsukumo didn't comply immediately.
He looked down at Izala.
His eyes were still open, but heavy-lidded, breathing faint.
He didn't like this.
Mutsukumo gently patted his cheek.
"...Hey."
Izala's brow twitched, but no strong reaction.
"Don't fall asleep."
Mutsukumo's voice was low, filled with an undeniable command.
Izala struggled to keep his eyes open-it was clearly difficult.
The doctor lost patience.
"Lay him down. I need to examine-"
"I know."
Mutsukumo interrupted, but still didn't let go.
He leaned in closer, whispering into Izala's ear.
"If you dare close your eyes... I'll skin you alive."
It was a terrifying threat-but his voice...
Lacked its usual coldness.
Izala chuckled softly.
And then, barely audible-
"...That's funny."
Mutsukumo froze.
He just said...
His own words?
He didn't react right away.
But after a few seconds, he scoffed.
"Yeah. Funny, huh."
Finally, he placed him on the bed.
But didn't let go right away.
---
Mutsukumo sat still.
His hand remained on Izala's wrist.
The pulse... far too weak.
The doctor worked quickly, tending to the wounds.
Mutsukumo never took his eyes off him.
Izala was still conscious, but clearly on the verge of fading.
His eyes half-lidded, lips pressed together as if enduring the pain.
Mutsukumo felt irritated.
"You're hurt this badly. Why the hell are you still trying to act tough?"
Izala didn't reply.
The doctor sighed.
"He's lost too much blood. If we don't give him a transfusion soon, he might-"
"No."
Mutsukumo cut him off instantly.
He leaned in, red eyes locked on Izala.
"If you dare die on me..."
His voice was low-not just a threat.
But-
A warning.
Izala's lips moved faintly.
At last, he gave a soft smile.
"Since when... did you start caring this much about me?"
Mutsukumo paused.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three.
He didn't deny it.
Didn't answer either.
He only gritted his teeth, staring into Izala's eyes-
And spoke, word by word:
"You're not allowed to die."
---
The doctor hurriedly began a transfusion for Izala.
Mutsukumo still sat by his side.
He said nothing.
Just watched him in silence.
Izala tilted his head slightly, eyes hazy from blood loss.
Yet he still smiled faintly.
"Are you... worried?"
Mutsukumo didn't deny it.
But he didn't answer either.
The doctor interrupted.
"If he's stable, you can leave."
Mutsukumo replied coldly.
"No."
The doctor wasn't surprised.
He only sighed and continued working.
Izala blinked slowly.
Then whispered:
"You'll stay here... until I wake up?"
Mutsukumo stared at him.
A few seconds later, he murmured,
"As long as you're still breathing."
---
Izala had just passed the critical point.
Mutsukumo was bandaged up as well.
He said nothing.
Without warning-
He picked Izala up again.
"Wait-"
The doctor tried to stop him.
But upon seeing Mutsukumo's icy glare, he could only sigh in resignation.
Izala didn't resist.
But he stared at him intently.
"...What are you doing?"
"Going back to the room."
His voice was curt, as always.
Izala blinked.
Then gave a small smile.
"I haven't recovered yet."
"So?"
"What if I die?"
Mutsukumo paused for a second.
Then tightened his hold.
"You won't die."
He said it like a fact.
Izala let out a soft laugh.
He didn't ask further.
Didn't say another word.
Just rested his head on Mutsukumo's shoulder.
Mutsukumo said nothing.
Only quickened his pace.
They went home.
---
Mutsukumo pushed the door open.
The room was dark, dimly lit by the window.
He didn't turn on the light.
Just carried Izala straight to the bed.
He set him down.
Not exactly gently, but not roughly either.
Izala looked up at him.
His breathing was weak, but his gaze was still sharp.
"...Are you really worried about me?"
Mutsukumo didn't answer right away.
He just sat on the edge of the bed, staring at Izala.
"...Not something you need to worry about."
Izala smiled faintly.
He closed his eyes, voice a whisper:
"What if I disappear?"
Bang!
Mutsukumo slammed his hand down on the bed.
Izala opened his eyes, staring at him.
He clenched his fists.
His red eyes were terrifyingly intense.
But his voice...
Carried an emotion hard to describe.
"You're not allowed to disappear."
He growled, each word clear and firm.
Izala didn't say anything.
He only looked at him for a long moment.
Then softly whispered:
"...Okay."
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: Truyen3h.Co