Chenzhou had been feeling even more tired than normal of late. The days following Eirian first attempt to destroy the miasma and her subsequent starvation, because there's no other word for how she looked that morning, had seen the worst spell of illness since he was a teenager.
So exhausted he could barely lift his own limbs, so little appetite that it felt like an effort to get down a glass of water, and Eirian had ordered him to eat more. He wasn't completely sure why he had taken the order so easily; he'd only just met her, and they hadn't really established she had any certain skill, but he had selected her.
And she wasn't a fool.
He'd felt terribly uncomfortable after the first few meals, unable to carry on with any meetings or training for an hour or so after. Anna had wanted him to stop after she saw how ill he was, but something in him refused to give up.
It was strange to feel that way about something again. It felt like it had been so long since he'd been driven, determined, passionate. Even if Eirian's meal plan didn't work in the end, just doing something felt good.
Maybe it was a sign? He'd struggled for years to maintain his muscle and weight, resorting to horrid potions and pills to make up for the lack of appetite, but he'd never actually forced himself to eat.
Despite being uncomfortable, it was nice to go a couple of days without the pills and potions.
Unfortunately, it all coincided with a flu he hadn't gotten in years and while he managed to eat, he didn't manage to do much else. After the first day he barely made it out of bed and Anna had put off all her plans to nurse him when the fever set in.
Healer Huang had a sent a letter that somehow managed to sound like he was coming at Chenzhou's request, but he'd only stayed a few minutes when it was clear he couldn't offer anything but the usual medications and those had stopped working for Chenzhou years ago.
The only really interesting part of the visit had been the healer that accompanied him. Healer Akari stood out in the Camelia with his dark skin and golden tattoos, a practice his tribe in the Wasteland was famous for.
He was also Yuze's ex-husband and while he'd never actually done anything bad, Chenzhou held his friendship with Yuze in high regard and hadn't spoken to the man since he'd left his best friend.
As one of the senior healers in the hospital, it was surprising he'd even accompanied Healer Huang today. Usually, he was too busy to leave the hospital unless he was off shift.
Healer Huang left after only a few minutes, but Healer Akari lingered long enough that Anna shot Yuze a confused look and offered to step outside.
Chenzhou shook his head. "Stay. Anything Healer Akari would like to say, he can say in front of you."
Anna had been present for everything that had happened when Akari left Yuze. There was little she didn't already know about the situation.
Akari didn't look pleased about the audience, even during the marriage he'd been intensely private, but he gave in without complaint. "I merely wished to enquire about Yuze's health."
Because you know he wouldn't tell you, Chenzhou thought. "Lord Rong is fine."
Akari nodded thoughtfully. "I am glad to hear it. Even if it is from you and not him."
"He hardly has any more reason to speak to you, does he?" Chenzhou barely managed to sound polite. "The dissolution ended some time ago."
A small, mocking smile danced over Akari's lips. "It may be hard to acknowledge, but I did what was best for both of us. That does not mean I stopped caring."
"You changed your mind in the middle of the night and left without warning." Chenzhou sneered. If he had more energy, he'd try yelling. "You made your feelings clear. It's rather cruel to expect Yuze to go through it again."
Akari pursed his lips, frustrated. "I am hardly being cruel, by being concerned over his health."
"You left him. You right to care has been revoked." Chenzhou handed Anna his empty teacup and she brushed by Akari to refill it without offering their guest any.
That was about as rude as Anna got, but it was somehow always effective. Especially when she brushed back by him to give Chenzhou a fresh cup and then started fussing with his pillows while she completely ignored Akari.
"We are not children. I did not stop caring when I left." His expression became sad then. "It was what was best for us. I just wanted to see how he has been doing with all the…changes."
It's been far to long for those changes to be Akari leaving or Chenzhou's failing health, so it must be Eirian's arrival that's finally brought him around.
"He's fine. You're free to ask him yourself. I never forbid contact." And he hadn't. Chenzhou had kept his mouth shut about the entire relationship. Besides, the reminder that he could was always there. Akari may have been born in the Wasteland, but he'd spent his formative years at the Camelia, and he knew exactly how far Chenzhou's reach extended.
Chenzhou hadn't needed to forbid contact after Akari left, because a dozen others had done it for him. Silently shifting into position to block Akari from Yuze's life. Suddenly there was no need for Akari to treat Chenzhou, despite being the healer who had seen the best results, or bring the weekly reports of the patients. Yuze never needed to go to the hospital anymore because someone was always available to run errands for him.
Marian managed any communications that came to the main castle and even Chenzhou didn't know if she'd quietly disposed of some letters in the months that followed Akari decision to leave.
Chenzhou hadn't needed to forbid anything, to make sure that Akari stayed away, and Yuze's heart had time to heal in peace.
~tbc