Eric's Alan: Okay so I want to say one thing. I'm sorry that this is going slower than I planned. As I said at the end of my last chapter there is a lot going on. I hope this will make up for the last chapter. Also, I want to say that I'm making up stuff now. I thought of a great plot twist so...
Kazuki: Eric's Alan does not own Gakuen Heaven.
Eric's Alan: Again thank you Ikiru for the review. The one-shot is nearly finished. It is a HatorixChiaki and I have another that is a TakanoxOnodera pairing.
~X~X~X~X~
Kazuki gripped Keita's hand tighter. Jin had finally voiced his worries about what was making Keita so sick. If he was right then it would mean they could lose Keita. He looked up when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Have you tried calling her?" Jin asked. He felt there was no need to use a name when Kazuki knew exactly who he was talking about. The one person who could save Keita, well Jin had the knowledge to save him, but he didn't have access to the medicine.
Kazuki froze. He hadn't thought about her. "No. I haven't contacted her since the incident in the lab."
"Well maybe it would be a good idea. Is there anything left at all from your father's research?" Jin asked.
Kazuki shook his head "No. Everything was destroyed, however, I think father had finally duplicated the test sample they used on Keita. I'm not sure if he still has it." Kazuki replied. He doubted his father would still have the sample, but it was worth a try.
"Kazuki, I know this is a sensitive topic for you, but what happened? I know Keita was infected, but how did it happen?" Jin questioned as he seated himself in his chair.
Kazuki closed his eyes and sighed "Well, you know the power outage and all that. I was told that she was supposed to be monitoring the growth of the virus and was told to put the lab on lock down if anything happened. She wasn't even in the lab when it happened. I remember her telling my father that she didn't expect anything to happen while she was getting coffee."
"If what exactly happened?" Jin asked. He couldn't hide his curiosity.
"Things like equipment failure, growth rate increasing to quickly, any mutation, etc. I will admit that she had been working on this for over twelve hours straight, but it isn't an excuse to just leave." Kazuki glared down. He hated her for what she did, even if was an accident.
"Everyone who was supposed to be in the lab had already had a vaccination and were taking the necessary precautions, right? Why was she the only one there?"
"Yes, however, while she was in the break room there was a short in the main circuit and both back up generators had been turned off for maintenance. She wasn't the only one there, but the other scientist who was supposed to be helping were with my father."
"Kazuki, she has the connections to help Keita, not to mention the fact she hasn't seen the two of you since you were kids."
"He doesn't even know who she is and by now doesn't even remember she exists."
"Are you willing to risk Keita's life simply because you are angry with her?" Jin countered.
"Of course not." Kazuki pulled out his cell phone and scrolled through the contacts until he found the number he was looking for. Ito Mizuki. With each ring Kazuki's heart pounded faster.
"Hello?" came the calm voice.
"Zuki-chan, it's me. I need your help." Kazuki used her nickname without thinking about it.
"Why should I help you?" her gentle voice instantly filled with venom.
"Not for me, but for Keita." Kazuki knew that she would do anything for Keita.
"What's wrong?" the venom changed to worry.
"He's sick. Jin-san thinks it is X7 virus. He started showing some of the symptoms last night."
"That's not possible. The virus was destroyed along with the research. There is no way he could have contracted it again. Besides, the virus is highly contagious so there would be others showing the same symptoms."
"I'm telling you there is a possibility."
"Fine. If you are so insistent that I drop my work and come out there, then I will. Just know I'm doing it for Keita."
"Thank you." Kazuki sighed in relief when Mizuki hung up.
"So?"
"She will come out here. She doesn't think it is possible, but is willing to do it for Keita." Kazuki answered.
"Kazuki we need to limit the contact we have with others until we are sure it isn't the X7 virus. We shouldn't have to worry about the people coming in here." with a small smiled he added "I'm never busy anyway."
"We are the only two who have had any physical contact with Keita." Kazuki nodded. "If either one of us starts showing symptoms then we can assume that is what it is. Though, there is one problem."
"What?"
"Dorm rules. I have to be in my room. If I'm not then I could get in trouble."
"Are you forgetting you are also the chairman?"
"And a student. Besides, I can't use that as an excuse because only a few people know that I am the chairman." Kazuki pointed out.
"I'm sure you won't be in trouble if I say you weren't feeling well and I kept you here." Jin winked "No one will question it."
"That works." Kazuki jumped when he felt Keita's hand tighten around his.
"Kazuki?" Keita mumbled as he slowly opened his eyes.
"I'm right here." Kazuki said as he held Keita's cheek in his hand "How are you feeling?"
"Really tired..."
"Go back to sleep." Jin said softly "It's late and we were just about to go to bed."
Kazuki pulled the sheets up higher and whispered "I will sit here until you fall asleep, okay?"
Keita nodded. He was glad Kazuki was staying here with him, but at the same time felt guilty. He knew Kazuki had skipped class today for him.
Kazuki stroked Keita's head lovingly. "Sleep well." he murmured. He wanted to do something more to help ease Keita's suffering, but in reality there was nothing he could do. It didn't take long for Keita to go back to sleep, but Kazuki remained by his side even after Keita's breathing evened out.
~X~
Kazuki stirred in his sleep when he felt someone shake his shoulder. He opened his eyes, the morning sun blinding him. Looking up he found Jin and Mizuki standing there, Jin looked slightly amused, but Mizuki looked irritated. "Hello Mizuki-san." Kazuki said, sitting up he realized he had fallen asleep next to Keita's bed.
"Kazuki." she nodded her reply. She made it clear that she wasn't pleased to be here. She had her long red hair tied up and her bangs clipped out of the way. She was wearing navy cotton stretch pants and a pink top with her lab coat unbuttoned.
"She just arrived." Jin broke in.
"I see." Kazuki replied as he looked her over. It had been so long since they were kids and Mizuki had changed so much. One thing that hadn't changed was her eyes. Her icy blue eyes were cold. How could Keita and Mizuki look so much alike but be so different?
"I want this over with as soon as possible." Mizuki sighed and pulled out a needle to draw a blood sample. "If he is infected with the virus this will be the fastest way to tell." she muttered as she swabbed Keita's arm and injected the needle.
Kazuki watched Mizuki's face carefully. He knew she didn't want to be here, but the way she was looking at her little brother told him that she missed him. He couldn't imagine what it was like having a younger sibling you never see and doesn't even know you exist. He remembered how the three of them would play when they were kids. "You can't tell him, you know." Kazuki hated saying it aloud, but it was something that needed to be addressed now. "He doesn't remember you."
"I know." Mizuki whispered.
Kazuki's heart ached, despite his anger toward her, as Mizuki brushed away a stray tear. "I'm sorry, Mizuki-san."
"No. It is for the best. Besides, even if he knew I'm sure he would hate me. I wouldn't blame him if he did. After all, what kind of sister am I? I almost killed my baby brother..."she trailed off and started setting up her equipment to test the sample.
"I wasn't really your fault." Jin commented.
Kazuki wanted to comfort his old friend, but he just couldn't. They both knew it was her fault for not being there. "But you saved him." was all Kazuki could manage. The words tasted bitter, but at the same time he was grateful to her for saving Keita.
Lifting her head away from her microscope she said bitterly "If it weren't for me he wouldn't have needed to be saved."
~X~ A FEW HOURS LATER ~X~
Mizuki scribbled yet another note in her notebook. She didn't know what to make of this. Keita was showing symptoms of the X7 virus, but the blood sample was what made this so confusing. The virus was there, but there had been a mutation. The mutation was most likely the cause of this relapse. The medicine she made last time had been specifically for that mutation. She would have to alter the previous medication and hope it worked. The problem would be the virus itself. If it keeps mutating like this then Keita would continue to relapse and they would have to keep making a new medication to match the virus. If only she could find a way to kill the virus completely. Of course, she thought she had done that the last time. She sighed and stood up stretching.
"Any progress?" Kazuki asked as he looked away from his book.
"Yes and no. There has been another mutation, and this is why I think you and Jin haven't been infected, so I will have to make a new medication. If I am right it will only be temporary. The virus will keep mutating and Keita will relapse each time. I will try to find a permanent solution, but we won't know if it will work or not." Mizuki replied. She knew she would have to talk to Kazuki's father before she could proceed with this. She just hoped she wouldn't be too late to save her brother.
~X~X~X~X~
Eric's Alan: Well? Whatcha think? Good? Bad? Eh? What about Keita's sister? Yes or no?
Keita: Please review!
