Akaashi hesitated, not wanting to step into the building in front of him. Ren walked up behind him, setting a hand on his back. "It's alright. It's just some medicine." 

"But the scans…" 

Ren sighed. "Come on." 

Akaashi followed him inside, fiddling. His first chemo treatment was today. Apparently, they had prepared to have him only take half a dose and then the second the next day but jumping into it seemed better. 

He was taken into a room where he took some antinausea medication and some anti-inflammatories just in case. Doctors came into his room and made sure he was comfortable before doing scans, which all lasted about an hour.

The head scans had been to just double check that his brain wasn't bleeding since he was bruising easily. After that, he had to get another bone marrow sample taken for testing. His blood was drawn three different times before he was hooked up to an IV, which was only there to hydrate him. 

All of that took two more hours and Ren hadn't talked to him through any of it. Not even one sympathetic look as needles were driven into his skin and veins. 

Akaashi didn't mind though since the nurses had all been kind and covered him in blankets and reassured him. He felt the need to make a card for these lovely people but was just too tired. At least it was sunny outside. 

"Alright, Akaashi… We're going to start on the chemo medicines. Do you feel okay?" 

"I feel okay." Akaashi shifted. "Will this hurt? I've heard it can hurt." 

"It depends on your pain tolerance. These medicines are pretty harsh but they won't feel like they're burning you or anything." 

Akaashi nodded. "Okay." 

"I just need to check that your name and birthday are right on this bag." She showed him the label and Akaashi nodded. "Good. This will hang up and drip. In about thirty minutes I'll be back with two other medicines." 

"Thank you so much." Akaashi leaned his head back, taking deep breaths. The line of medicine was hooked up to his IV and he tried to will himself to relax all the way. This was oddly nerve-racking just for a drip. 

Ren stood. "I'll be right back." 

"Where are you going…?" 

"To get something from my car." 

Akaashi hummed. He relaxed again and felt himself falling asleep. It wasn't a bad feeling but he needed something to drink. 

The nurse came back, waking him. "Try to stay awake, okay? I know you're likely in pain but you can't sleep quite yet." She had him check another drip bag. Akaashi watched her hook it up and just kind of laid there, worried. "This last medicine is actually the one most patients don't like. It may burn a bit but we can fix that. This is known as the Red Devil and causes hair loss." 

Akaashi nodded. "And how long will it take for my hair to start falling out?" 

"Three or four treatments."

"Thank you." He watched her inject this one and gulped. She was certainly right about the burn. Akaashi took deep breaths, not feeling too well. 

"This one hurts?" 

"M-mhmm." 

"It'll go away in just a moment." She held his hand, waiting. 

Ren returned and sat down, earning some pretty dirty looks from the people around them. He seemed so uninterested and wasn't even paying attention. 

Akaashi had to wait through his treatment before being given another IV. They had to keep him overnight to monitor him in case of a seizure or allergic reaction to anything.

The seizures had finally been explained to him. Apparently, the cancer affected his nervous system and he was prone to seizures this way. The medicines were messing with him too and they were worried he would seize in this state. 

Ren kissed Akaashi's forehead, covering him up. "You good?"

"I could be better. The whole cancer thing sucks," Akaashi joked. 

Ren didn't laugh. He just sighed. 

Bokuto would have laughed at that. He had laughed at that before. Akaashi leaned away from him. He was hungry and hadn't been able to ask for anything for eight hours. God forbid he ask Ren for anything because he would be bothered. 

"Do you mind if I go home for a bit?"

Akaashi turned over. "What? Why?" 

"Just to grab a few things."

Akaashi nodded. He closed his eyes, falling asleep. Ren left the room and when Akaashi was checked on a few hours later he wasn't back. He should've known. 

"Are you feeling okay?" 

"Mhmm. Just a bit hungry." 

"Ah. Would you like something to eat before you go back to bed?" The nurse questioned, fixing his blankets. 

"Please?" 

"Of course. No pain?" 

"No. Just heavy." 

She nodded and walked off. He was brought back a tiny cup with medicine and a container with some sort of ham sandwich. The medicine was another anti-nausea pill and the sandwich didn't taste too bad. 

He was back asleep within the next hour, still heavy. 

****

"Hush, hush. He's asleep." 

Oda squirmed. "Daddy!" 

Akaashi was startled awake. He turned his head, confused. "Oda?" 

"Daddy! Look!" He gestured to the male holding him. "Bo!" 

Bokuto smiled at Akaashi. "Good morning. Sorry about him." 

"It's okay." Akaashi struggled for a moment to sit up. 

Bokuto set Oda down and helped Akaashi sit up. "You feeling okay?" 

"Mhmm. I'm not doing my best right now." 

"That's okay. You don't need to feel okay." Bokuto put a hand on his forehead. "Feels like you don't have a fever."

"Mhmm." 

"Oh! Oda, show Daddy what you got for him." 

Oda grabbed his little bag and took out a stuffed white bear. "For you!" 

Akaashi took it and held it, smiling. "This is lovely." 

Oda climbed on the bed and sat on his lap. 

"What is it?" 

"Snuggle?" 

"Sure thing." Akaashi held him tighter. He turned to Bokuto. "Did you drive the two hours?" 

"I did. Where's Ren?"

"I… Don't know." 

Bokuto worriedly looked over him. "Do you want me to call him? Wasn't he here last night?" 

"He was here." Akaashi coughed, chilly. "Lovebug I need to get up. Can you move?"

Oda moved and Akaashi moved, his hands trembling as he did so. Bokuto got up quickly and held him up, getting the pole with his monitors to go with him. "Do you want help or-"

"I can pee on my own." 

"Good to know." 

Akaashi laughed. He did his business but was confused. "Um… Can you call in a nurse Kotarou?" 

"Everything okay in there?" 

"Yeah. I think. Maybe."

Bokuto poked his head into the bathroom. "What happened?" 

"Kotarou?!" 

"Well?" 

Akaashi sighed. He glanced into the toilet. "It's pink." 

"Woah what?" 

"My pee…" 

Bokuto laughed. "Uh… I'll get a nurse." 

"Thanks." 

Bokuto got a nurse, who just laughed. "Honey, did no one tell you what happens when you do chemo?" 

"Just being weak and things like that. Not about this."

"Your urine is typically the color of the medicines you get. You got Adriamycin, which has a red hue. That turns your urine a pink color."

Akaashi stared at the toilet bowl, brows furrowed. 

"Is something wrong?" 

"How long is it gonna be like that?" 

"Well, not for long. If the medicine turns to… Blue. If it turns to blue your urine will change colors again for a few days." 

Akaashi flushed the toilet, shaking his head. "I need to go back to bed. That's too much for me this early."

Bokuto helped him to bed, laughing as Akaashi grumbled. "Hey, Keiji how about you relax? I'll get you something to eat, okay?" 

"Mhmm. I'll eat in-" Akaashi faltered. He grabbed onto Bokuto's arms. "I-I feel fuzzy. Where's Oda?" 

"I've got it. Oda, go to the hallway and sit down with my phone."

Oda did as he was told and the nurse hurried next to Akaashi. "Are you okay?" 

"He feels fuzzy when he is about to seize."

Akaashi tried to sit down but went slack. Bokuto held him up, trying not to panic as Akaashi's eyes rolled back as he started to seize. 

The nurse hurried to grab others and they got Akaashi onto the bed, setting him onto his side. It got worse and then he stilled, panting heavily. 

"Keiji… Hey, hey, hey. You okay?" Bokuto brushed his fingers across Akaashi's cheek. "Deep breaths." 

Akaashi held his hand, panting. He groaned, grabbing the bowl by the bed and throwing up. Bokuto helped the nurses turn him over and calm him. Akaashi hugged Bokuto as he lay, begging not to let Oda in. 

"Keiji breathe. You're gonna make yourself have an anxiety attack." Bokuto pat his shoulder. "It's okay." 

Akaashi coughed. "I'm sorry." 

"For what? You can't control it. It's okay." Bokuto smiled down at him. "I've got you." 

Akaashi nodded. He got situated again and Ren came in, holding Oda's hand. Oh God if he yelled right now Akaashi might just fight back for once.