Heal - Volume 2

"And how are you feeling now that you have stopped taking the medication?" Dr. Kawahara asked at the end of a virtual therapy session. Her patient was comfortably seated in his own home and looked at the laptop screen with a tiny smile tugging at his lips.

She could tell from his appearance that he was looking much better than when she first met him at the psychiatric hospital - his blue eyes glimmered with something she hadn't seen before; a newfound hope and optimism that had been missing the first time they encountered each other.

"I am very happy. I mean... I have been feeling well," he answered with an awkward frown.

Kawahara smiled as she typed her notes, pleased with his recovery. She had grown close to her patient over the course of his treatment and had developed almost a motherly fondness for him. It made her proud to see his progress and delighted to see the positive changes in him.

"I'm glad to hear that. Would you like to schedule another session, perhaps one or two months later?"

"That's fine."

"Do all the dates still work for you?"

"Yeah."

"I'll set it up for you then. Please let me know if anything happens in the meantime."

"Sure. Thank you," the patient answered and slightly bowed in front of his computer as they said goodbye and ended their hour-long conversation.

Just then, a fluffy cat jumped onto his lap, purring contentedly as it settled down. Natsuo smiled and petted the cat's multicolored fur, grateful for its presence since his living partner had been away for the past month.

"I'm sorry, Miso, but I really need to get to the bathroom."

He carefully picked up the cat and set it on the floor, giving it one last pat on the head before heading to the ensuite.

Natsuo flicked on the lights and was startled for a second when he saw a looming figure in the corner of the room - he blinked twice before realizing it was only Jiro's bathrobe draped in the nook.

He tugged off his sweatshirt and noticed how the scars along his stomach had faded to a faint trace. He ran his fingers along the thin lines and a smile returned to his face as he recalled how his mate sometimes gently brushed his lips over his old wounds.

His eyes caught the sight of the scar on his palm that Jiro had cared for the most. He could still feel the feather-light touch of his mouth or the warmth of his hands when he rubbed ointment on them. Instead of dwelling on all the pain that had scarred him, he now focused on what came of it - the unwavering love he shared with his companion.

Natsuo's appreciation was fueled by the memories he spent with his beloved and the healing he found in his arms. Gratitude and happiness filled his heart, knowing he had learned to accept himself and find peace in another person's love.

(One day later)

"Wait!"

Natsuo stopped in his tracks and turned around as he was leaving the building of the adult school. Rei jogged towards him with a smile on her face, her pixie hair bouncing as she ran. Her bright yellow dress and summery outfit stood out against the dull gray background.

"You finished your test so quickly... I was worried I wouldn't catch you..."

He has been mostly studying from home for the past few weeks, coming to school only for exams. Natsuo had been avoiding his classes since he didn't want to run into one particular student since he learned what he had done behind his back, giving him no chance to bump into Rei either.

"Look at that!"

Rei's eyes widened in amazement as she saw the engagement ring on Natsuo's finger, causing the latter to smile shyly out of sudden attention.

"You and Jiro?! I can't believe it! Congratulations!" She exclaimed as she grabbed him tight. Natsuo hugged her back awkwardly, still unused to physical contact from anyone other than his partner.

Rei pulled away and giggled at him, a genuine grin lighting up her face.

"You guys deserve all the love in the world. I'm so happy for you."

"Thanks. How is your relationship with, uh, the person you're seeing?" Natsuo asked, embarrassed by not knowing her girlfriend's name.

"Shizuko? Yeah, we're doing pretty well. But let's celebrate you two!"

Natsuo was uneasy about throwing parties as Jiro was just days away from returning home and turning to alcohol wasn't a wise decision. He knew his loved one was anxious to return from rehab, but he was also still exhausted from the whole experience.

"Come on, it'll be a blast! We can all catch up and have fun. I'm sure everyone in our class would love to hear about your engagement!"

"I don't know..."

"Hide won't be there, he is out of town," Rei whispered, her excitement dwindling from her face.

"He's been away for a while and I'm sure he won't be able to make it back in time. It'll be nice to just relax without drama."

Natsuo looked at her unconvinced, wondering how much she knew about the conflict between Hide and him. Rei kept staring at him with blinking eyes, pleading for his acceptance with a puppyish expression.

"Well, I'll ask him, but I won't promise anything."

Rei's face glowed with joy and she impulsively embraced Natsuo again, before suddenly separating herself and saying she needed to leave.

"Uh, Rei?"

She turned to watch him, flicking black hair strands from her brown eyes. A small smile formed on Natsuo's face as he looked at her nervously.

"Maybe you and Shizuko can come over for a coffee sometime... or we can hang out... if you want."

"It's a date. I'll text you later, okay?" His friend winked and waved goodbye to him.

(A couple of days later)

Natsuo walked through the aisles, grabbing all of Jiro's favorite snacks and drinks. His partner had been missing all the small luxuries of home, so he made sure to get everything that would make Jiro's return home that much more enjoyable. The house had also been meticulously cleaned by Natsuo, who thoroughly scrubbed every corner and window. His spouse's favorite restaurant had also delivered takeout for a special dinner for the two of them, so they could have a romantic reunion.

He checked his list to make sure he remembered everything - there was only one item left, something Jiro had requested plenty of.

The color of his cheeks turned pink as he ventured into the intimate section and was overwhelmed when he saw the variety of lubricants on display.

He tried to think of what they used at home, but couldn't find anything like the black tube he remembered seeing. His eyes scanned through a variety of labels ranging from oils to gels, silicones to water-based products.

"What's with all these..." he mumbled quietly as he pulled his phone out and was about to take a picture when he heard a gentle cough behind him.

He snapped out of his frozen state and spun around, seeing their middle-aged teacher looking at him curiously. His face flushed bright red with embarrassment as he stammered out a greeting.

"Unusual sight to see a student shopping here," the teacher said as she glanced at all the intimate products behind him.

"I, uh, just..."

The teacher shook her head, saying he didn't need to explain anything. She had begun to walk away but turned back and smiled modestly.

"Well done on your exam. Your performance was impressive."

Natsuo's cheeks burst with shame as he stood there, humiliated for being caught in such a place of the store. He quickly dialed Jiro's number, hoping that he would answer. His nerves lightened as soon as he heard his calm and soothing voice.

"Uh, hey... could you help me choose... lubricants? I'm not sure what kind to get."

Jiro chuckled, suggesting that he buy both silicone and water-based formulas.

"Both? Why?"

"Well, silicone is for when I go in, water is for when toys go in. Would you like me to go into more details, sweetheart?" Jiro teased.

Natsuo grabbed the first bottles he saw under those descriptions and stuffed them under the other items in his basket.

"No need... I'll take everything home and drive to the clinic to pick you up. Do you have everything you need to leave?"

"Yeah, I can't wait to meet you. Be careful when driving."

"Sure. I'll see you in the evening."

Natsuo hung up and paused at the flower section, glancing at all the colorful options. Jiro had been the one to surprise him with flowers in the past, but he had never returned the favor. He studied the different displays, before selecting a bouquet of white roses surrounded by leafy ferns and baby's breath.

The sweet scent of roses flowed through his nostrils as he breathed in a soft sniff and thought it was time to bring his man home.

(A while later)

"What the hell...?"

Natsuo raised an eyebrow when he spotted an unfamiliar white car in their driveway. He hurriedly pulled into a spot on the street, cursing under his breath at whoever had the audacity to park in their yard.

A wave of anger washed over him as he grabbed the bag of groceries, his frustration escalating as he approached the mysterious vehicle with tinted windows. Just as he was about to peer inside, a tall figure stepped out of the door and blocked his way...