Chapter 4: Good-bye and Hospital Scare
The next morning at breakfast I'm watching the kids eat. I stand up and the everyone looks at me, "As of today we are saying goodbye to a friend here at the orphanage, Rictor will be leaving us but until he finds a place to stay will have lodgings here...On a happier note I want all of you to pack and get ready to leave for summer camp, the buses will be here to get you after lunch and no Kyle you can't skip out you will get on the bus with the others...Blair, Freddy you two aren't going due to some legal issues we have to resolve. I want you to remain here." They all nod and a majority of the kids go to pack and a few stay to finish their breakfast or have another helping.
I turn to my clansman, "can you guys help the kids pack. I have to take Rictor over to HOMRA this morning and then get Blair and Freddy to sign some papers." They nod and Taylor leaves with Jade to help with packing while Tory looks at me in all seriousness. "Remember what I said. It may be time for us to come out of the shadows, now would be a good time too with the kids at camp for the next couple of months." I look at her and smile. "You may be right after all. Go help with packing and make Taylor do all of the heavy lifting. We'll call it a good excuse to get him shirtless." We laugh so I grab my purse and put it on so I'm wearing it crossbody. My shoes are still in my room so I go and grab them while dodging screaming kids.
I get to my room that I decked out in black and put another desk there for my personal projects. I grab my black sneakers and put them on along with putting some guns in my holsters. Going back to the first floor I see Rictor waiting for me so we can leave. "C'mon we need to leave before I'm dragged into some problem...and don't be so nervous they'll love you." he nods but doesn't say anything until we're within a block of the place.
"What if I don't get in or worse they don't even give me a chance!" I sigh and pull him into a hug. "Relax and breathe." He does that and I pull back and look at him square in the face, "You'll do fine. Remember all it takes is thirty seconds of courage to achieve your dreams...and if they don't accept you you'll always have a home with the black clan." We continue walking until I see it and point it out to him. "That's it. Now I want you to come visit as much as you can or at least call me so I know you're ok. I'm still listed as your emergency contact so if you're in the hospital I'll know...good luck!" He looks at me for a brief second before hugging me. "Thanks mum. For everything." I hear so much sincerity in his voice I smile softly and return the hug. " If you ever need anything I'm only a phone call away." He smiles and disappears into the bar so I leave to go help Tory with corralling the kids.
A rather quiet day in the bar when the door opens and a guy with brown hair opens the door and steps in. He stops to look around noticing the guys from the beach at the bar. The one with sunglasses and another who was drawing in a notebook.
Kusanagi was wiping down his bar when he heard the door open and looked up. "Sorry we don't serve minors." The guy just smiles nervously, "I wanted to join HOMRA actually."
Kusanagi raises an eyebrow and Tatara looks up, "Ok. Why do you want to join?" it's a question they ask anyone who comes to join.
"I want to help protect the city. And my family." He looks at them in determination and they nod. "We'll need to know your name." Without breaking eye contact he says, "My name is Rictor."
It's been a few months since Rictor left and the kids are still at camp for another month so we decide to go to the beach until I get a call on the phone. Tori looks at me, gesturing for me to get it since she's packing lunch and the others are loading the van. I pick up the phone, "Hello. Graceful black orphanage Ava speaking."
What I hear next makes my heart stop. "This is shizume general hospital. I'm calling about Rictor, he was admitted with several cuts and a broken rib earlier today." I cut the poor nurse off. "I'll be right over." I put the phone on the receiver and turn to Tori and she looks at me curiously. "Beach trip is canceled. Rictor is in the hospital."
Tori nods and tells the others while I put shoes on and use the shadows to get to the hospital. I run inside and go to the nurses station. "I'm here for Rictor Flint." The nurse nods and directs me to room 210. I press the elevator button and go in pressing the number 2. I wish the elevator would go faster. When I finally get off on the second floor rushing to Rictors room and opening the door seeing him lying on the bed unconscious.
I walk in and just stare at him for a few minutes assessing his condition. Then he starts to wake up. He groans a bit but then notices I'm in the room. "Mum. Why are you here?" I smile at him softly and brush his bangs away from his face. "I'm still your emergency contact remember, now how did this happen?" He looks at me a little sheepishly and rubs the back of his neck. "I got ambushed by some blues while I was walking with Anna…" He trails off and suddenly gets wide eyed and panicky, "Crap I lost Anna. King's going to kill me!" I watch him panic and feel someone pulling at my sleeve.
I look down and see said little girl who's perfectly fine. "Well you are certainly well loved, and it's good to see you again Anna. How have you been." She smiles at me. "Good. I missed you." I just smile and help her onto the bed and when Rictor sees her he breaks into happy tears. Then from what I can tell the nurse is saying visitor hours are over and they want to keep Rictor here for the night and observe him. "I'll come back tomorrow and sign your discharge papers. For now I'll take this little girl home." He nods and I look at Anna who's falling asleep on my lap. "Anna it's time to get you home, you can't stay in the hospital all night and I'm sure your family's worried about you." She latches onto me as I pick her up and carry her out of the hospital headed towards HOMRA. I wonder how the red clan will react to this?
