There was a slow humming and a slow beeping. He looked blankly at the bed before Zach walked in. "How is she?" Zach's question snapped Deion from a trance and he looked up at him, his head still having some bandaging.
"Doctors said she'll wake up soon. How about you?" Zach sighed as Deion asked him the question, and he sat down, "Deion, the damage from that shadow demon." The image of the abilities of that demon flashed in both their minds. "Doctors said, my brain had taken too much trauma and advised I retire."
"So what?" Deion asked not rudely but as if to ask what now for him, "I'm done." Deion rose from his chair fast, "You're done? But your Zach! The same guy I essentially see taking anything."
"The injuries to my brain had far surpassed the regular limit, even for someone like us. I have to retire or risk mental deterioration. So what's going to happen to you? Going to keep fighting?"
Deion gave it a long hard fight and wondered before he gave his answer, "I have nothing left to fight for. It was short and sweet, but this feels right, you know?" Zach nodded before he spun on his heels and walked out but as he did, he smirked, "Don't forget to come visit me in retirement."
...
Months passed and Deion still sat by Yukiko. It had been 6 months since Cam died and 3 months since Yukiko was put here, 2 transfers and a lot of tears. The hospital overlooked the start of a desert, the yellow sun beaming down on the cacti and the orange sand.
"It's done. Yukiko. It's done. I walked away completely. It's been 2 months, and the doctor said any day now. Oh me? I've been counting down the days until you woke up or something happened..."
He swung back on his chair as the low hum and beeping sounded across the room. His face was bland as if this had been a boring ritual for months. An endless cycle. Only her mother and family swung by every once in a while.