The Calm Before the Storm 21

Eiji entered the medical building after a long day of preparations. He had just changed into his Anbu uniform, his mind still sharp from the mission at hand, but it quickly softened when he saw the scene in front of him.

Tetsuma lay unconscious in the bed, bruised and battered from his ordeal. The room was dimly lit, the soft hum of the medical equipment filling the air. Senju Toka, his wife, sat beside their son, her hand gently stroking Tetsuma's face. She didn't seem to notice Eiji's presence at first.

Eiji paused in the doorway, watching her for a moment. Toka, a woman known for her composure, rarely showed vulnerability. But now, her face was a mixture of exhaustion and worry. Her hand trembled slightly as it brushed his son's face, a soft sigh escaping her lips.

She blinked, finally noticing her husband's presence. Her eyes were red-rimmed, tears having already fallen, and she didn't try to hide it.

"Eiji…" Her voice cracked slightly as she spoke his name. It was almost like she'd been holding herself together just to avoid breaking in front of Tetsuma, but now, in the privacy of the moment, she could no longer keep her emotions restrained. "I didn't think I'd see him like this... Not my son. Not after everything we've done to protect him."

Her hand, still resting on Tetsuma's cheek, seemed to tremble more. Her shoulders shook as she tried to suppress the full weight of her emotions. It was clear that the shock of seeing their son in such a vulnerable state had taken its toll on her. She leaned forward, her forehead resting against the side of Tetsuma's bed, allowing her tears to fall freely.

Eiji walked over, kneeling beside her. He didn't need to say much. He placed a hand on her shoulder, his presence steady and solid. "Toka," he began softly, "he's strong. He'll pull through this, like he always does."

Toka nodded, but her tears didn't stop. "I know, but I can't help it. I—" She let out a shaky breath, her emotions finally breaking free. "I never wanted this for him. This life... it's too dangerous. I just want him to be safe, to have a normal life."

Eiji held her gaze, his voice firm yet gentle. "We knew this would be the life he'd choose, Toka. We trained him for this. He has your strength. Our strength." He reached out, pulling her gently into an embrace, his other hand brushing through her hair. "He's a fighter, just like you. He'll recover."

Toka leaned into him, her sobs soft but steady. "I just—I don't want to lose him," she whispered between shaky breaths.

He tightened his grip around her, letting her lean on him, offering what little comfort he could. "You won't lose him. Not now, not ever. We'll get through this, together."

The weight of the situation still hung heavily between them, but for now, in each other's arms, they allowed themselves a brief moment of solace.