Contract Marriage: The Lycan Queen's Tempting Fate [GL]

* Slightly Long Chap

[KIYOMI]

"It's okay to miss her, y'know," Elif said as they walked into Kiyomi's office at the hospital. It had been months since Sakura had left and while there had been doctors from Yana Hospital to help them with the surgeries, the doctors eventually had to leave. 

But the blank space that had been left by Sakura was one that they had all felt. 

Elif had watched her best friend revert into someone that she almost didn't know of. 

Kiyomi had sunk into her work, never leaving herself the chance to so much as think about Sakura Watanabe and it wasn't healthy. They both knew that, but then what the fuck was she meant to do?

"She's home where she deserves to be, Elif. Anyway, when is the next surgery scheduled?" Kiyomi asked as she grabbed a blanket off the floor and covered herself up. The room was a mess, but it wouldn't be a match to the mess that was in Kiyomi's heart. 

She missed Sakura like crazy and she wished she could go home to her. But Kiyomi knew that Sakura had people who needed her. The woman had been in Odanera for ten months, that was the months that Doiwa had been without a queen. 

Kiyomi supposed there was a lot of damage then. She was selfish enough to want to keep Sakura for herself, but at the same time, she was always going to be the rogue Lycan who had signed a pet contract only to turn out to be the Lycan Queen's Erasthai. 

It was a hard call and there was no denying it, but even then, a part of Kiyomi wished for better days. She wished that she would see her Sakura again. Maybe in her dreams, but then that would still work, right?

"We have the afternoon off. But there's an anesthesiology patient coming in at seven o'clock in the evening. That is easier than going back into another surgery. 

"My back will break with the way we have been working like homeless bastards," Elif whined as she turned on the television to catch up on cartoons. 

This was the only thing that they loved when they were at the hospital because life was already depressing enough out there. Perhaps this was the greatest test of how much they could hold up, but then what else was supposed to happen then? 

How the fuck were they supposed to be around the chaos that was always in the real life?

"Alright. There is enough food in the fridge. Do not wake me up, unless you are dying… not another patient… There are enough doctors in the hospital. You get that, sister?" Kiyomi asked groggily and Elif let out a soft laugh. 

Of course, it was normal for Kiyomi to treat her like she was the only thing that mattered to the girl and honestly, it made Elif feel safer. She was loved and she loved Kiyomi too, so they didn't have much to worry about.

"Right your majesty. But I'll also let you know that if I'm bored, I will wake you up," Elif said and Kiyomi groaned. Her sister was a magnificent pain in the ass and he was used to it, but just today, Kiyomi needed to sleep.

"If you let me sleep, I will let you into my head and show you how pretty Doiwa is," Kiyomi said and Elif let out a gasp. She had always wanted to see what Kiyomi's home was always like. 

She had heard the rumors and read the books. Hell, she had heard stories about the kingdom of Doiwa and now Kiyomi was offering her an insight into the strongest kingdom out there, run by the wildest of beast queens. 

That was a very tempting offer and even before Kiyomi could cover her head with her blanket and drift off to sleep, Elif was sold.

"You should have started with that, sister. Now go to bed, I'll watch over you and keep you very safe," Elif said as she grabbed her snacks from the fridge and sat down to enjoy her cartoons. 

It didn't take long before she got sleepy and lay on the couch, a sight that made Kiyomi just smile. For someone who had promised to look over Kiyomi, her sister had surely done the reverse, but then that wasn't an issue, right?

Hours later, Kiyomi was unable to let herself sleep. She had been intentional with it alright, and yet the longer she tried to close her eyes, the more she felt uneasy and it wasn't the good kind. 

It was as if something or someone was coming for her and it wasn't the kind that would make her feel any comfort. It was unsettling, so she stayed awake watching over Elif, the human who had been her greatest source of strength. 

However, even with the theme, there was still an unsettling feeling in Kiyomi's gut, so gently she woke Elif, knowing that she could either be touched or hugged.

"Elif… I… I can't sleep," Kiyomi said as she gently shook Elif.

"I am going to kill you if you don't shut the fuck up KiKi. Watch the damn cartoons," Elif said groggily before she went back to sleep. 

But Kiyomi wasn't relenting this time. 

She knew that it was probably not fair given they had been having a long day, but she had to talk to her.

"Elif… I think she's coming for me," Kiyomi said and Elif smacked her with a pillow, shooing her away. She needed to sleep and her sister was being a pain in her ass the one time they could both get sleep.

"Good for the both of you. Don't you dare fuck each other on my bed," Elif warned sleepily before she grabbed Kiyomi's hand and kissed it, while going back to sleep.

Even that… wasn't enough.

"Not Saki, Elif… the woman who's been haunting me," Kiyomi said and that got Elif sitting up so fast that she could have sworn her neck snapped. 

There were days when Elif wished that Kiyomi would never have to feel the threats from home and she wished to be stronger. However, hearing that her tormentor was coming for her was something that Elif hadn't expected. 

Her best friend deserved to be her peace. She deserved to be on the same page with a happy one and yet it seemed like there was never going to be that chance for her. 

Of course, Elif didn't know why the Kimuras had been murdered or even why the Bogdan Lycans were after her, but she knew that the danger was real enough to have Kiyomi insisting on public places.

"Evil Izanami?"

"Yup."

"I should have known when you suddenly insisted on staying at the hospital again," Elif said as she looked at Kiyomi. The realization was not making things any easier for her. She knew Kiyomi and she knew Kiyomi would probably give herself up for her. 

But that was not the right thing to do this time. 

She had to know that too, right?

"I didn't want to worry you," Kiyomi said softly before adding, "If she comes, you must swear that you don't know me, Elif. You must promise to disown me alright?"

"You're tired, that's why you're spouting nonsense. Don't you think she already knows the people in your life if she is truly coming after you? You need to stop worrying about me for once and focus on yourself.

"Here, pop these pills and sleep. I'll wake you when it's time for your next appointment," Elif said, handing Kiyomi sleeping pills and a glass of water. She was determined to make sure that the evening went well, but there was only so much the two best friends could hope.

Of course, Kiyomi knew that Elif wasn't disregarding her feelings or fear. Her best friend was just not ready to lose her and the fact that Kiyomi was trying to push her into a state of denial was something that didn't appeal to Elif, understandably so.

"Elif…" Kiyomi tried, as if that was supposed to make all of this better.

"Now, Kiyomi. I'm not in the mood to have you sacrifice yourself. Now pop these pills or I'll announce to everyone that I'm your best friend," Elif warned and Kiyomi stared at her in horror.

There was something about Elif's blatant warning that got Kiyomi wondering if the fates had been crazy enough to bring a human into her life who was so stubborn and who wouldn't learn to let her go.

It was as if the woman had taken the burden that weighed on Kiyomi's shoulders as hers. It was a beautiful thing, honestly but Kiyomi didn't want that kind of life for Elif. Her best friend deserved better.

"You wouldn't," Kiyomi said and Elif gave her the look that said she could do much worse.

"We're both tired from our shifts. You can't sleep and keep thinking of whatever the fuck that is. Now pop them and sleep. I'll take the first watch and don't even think of complaining. We are in this together," Elif insisted and Kiyomi sighed. 

A part of her was worried for Elif because of the situation, and the other was thankful for the human girl who had gotten brave in the face of all the shit she had been through since she came to Odanera.

"Okay…" Kiyomi said, grabbing the pills and pooping them much to Elif's relief.

"I'll always be here, Kiki… You're never alone," Elif reassured her as she forced Kiyomi back to sleep.

Deep down, Elif was honestly scared.