A/N: A special thank to my dear sis A.N-Mellow for proof reading this chapter :D And thank you for everyone who reviewed, followed, or favored this fic, you keep me smiling
Disclaimer: The characters of this fic are owned by Hiro Fujiwara. I do not own any of Maid Sama's characters.
..Sacrifices..
Chapter 4
*..*..*..*..*
The least she could do was to make a hole, despite her tries it was still not big enough for her hand to pass through nevertheless keeping her head above sea level. There must be ways to enlarge it; but she starting to lose her breath by forming bubbles in water, due to amount of air available in this area.
She hated how exertion made her in need of air more than usual. Misaki was bewildered by Usui, who got closer to her, pressing his lips on hers… transferring the last amount of air he had.
Takumi smiled faintly as he pulled apart, eyes closed.
Allowing his self to sink, engulfed by the darkness that was threatening to take his life force for eternity.
The word 'Terrified' was not close enough to describe Misaki's emotions when she saw him sink. A part of her had died. She did think of diving in to smack the reality straight to his face. In this way, he will stay awake as long as he can to stay alive, but she refrained from that thought; if she wanted them both to make it out alive, she will have to widen the hole as soon as she could, while ignoring her panic attacks and fear by striking the ceiling as violently as possible. She tried to turn her storm of fears into strength.
After what seemed like forever, the hole was finally wide enough to get a human body out. She took a deep breath 'til the extent of choking.
Trying to stay as calm as possible, Misaki dived back in search of Usui's body. The only thing that is pulling her back is her 'panic'.
It was nearly impossible for her to keep calm and find Usui. Even her hairs found on her skin were shivering. If it wasn't for the water it would be obvious that she was trembling.
Luckily for her, she has been trained to survive underwater so it shouldn't be a problem for her to open her eyes wide enough while searching for Usui.
The sight of him stopped her heart from beating for that moment. He was at the bottom. There was no sign of him being alive. She snapped out of her frozen state, grabbed hold of his body and tried to swim back up.
However, to a girl's body, he was heavy!
Misaki couldn't swim fast. Those extra weights around her made her movements restricted. She cursed the reality of how weak and slow she is.
There's no way she would lose him!
There was no time to lose. It was horrifying enough to her not to know if he was still alive or not!
Both her mind and heart were in a wreck, and her breathing pattern wasn't making anything better; she was starting to lose it again. She felt like fainting if she didn't get to the surface in time, and fainting wouldn't save him!
Tears overflowed. She had to let go of him in order for her to catch her breath. It seemed that desperation has given up hopes on her as it had no intention to let her go.
Misaki took a deep breath 'till her lung has no room for expansion and dived back to retrieve him, praying that her breath would last longer than expected.
This time round the distance was shorter as Usui only managed to sink two quarter deep before he could reach the bottom. Misaki caught him in time and pulled his limp body up the ceiling.
Once she laid his body on the roof, she started doing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to the pale figure in front of her, holding back any tears that was about to fall. Seeing him in this state was a big blow to her. Things just got worse when the sunlight shone on him, showing how bad his condition is.
Thirty compressions and two breathe each. That's what she had to do. The possibility of him being dead knocked a big amount of sense out of her. What's worse is: she miscounted her compressions and the number of times she did!
'Dammit! 'She cursed on the verge of collapsing. She had to re-do it once more. She ripped off his shirt to find the bone located at the bottom of his ribcage. Misaki moved three fingers up 'till she hit the spot, her left hand over her right as she positioned herself before doing the compression.
Despite countless attempts, the fact that there were still no signs of Usui responding scared the hell of out her, making her tears unstoppable.
"Stay with me, Usui."
"Stay with me, this is not the time to leave me all alone. I'm scared."
Her sight got blurrier due to the amount of tears. Ayuzawa wiped them off quickly, determined to try it once more because she couldn't believe that he's dead yet.
Every passing moment was doing a cruel job in smashing her hopes. She was in a wreck. Her tries didn't work but she didn't dare to give up.
Misaki just couldn't bear the thought of losing him. another try and the water is oozing out of his mouth.
After what she felt like eternity, Misaki smiled in relief, thinking that it's just like in movies: when the drowned person coughs out water, he will be awake and they'll live happily ever after.
"Everything is going to be alright, Misaki."
"You're just being paranoid."
Just as she was about to calm herself down, the reality has gotten in the way. It snatched away her only hope left, her smile disappeared; he was still unconscious. It was as if reality allowed her to get some relief for a split second, only to make her dwell in a much more misery; the water was already out of his lungs so there's no reason for him not to be awake!
"Don't do this to me!"
She whispered in panic. Her hand reached for his neck and she started pressing her fingers to feel for his pulse. Her eyes widened. In denial, she pressed harder on his neck in a try to feel any hope! Her heart has been ripping apart when she could no longer feel his pulse.
No pulse… There was no pulse. Not even a weak one. Was there even a drop of blood in his body for the heart to beat?
Misaki was dumbfounded. She looked at his lifeless features as if they were a nightmare she hopes that it will end soon. She was denying it all in her head.
"You idiot, stop joking" Her voice croak as she found it hard to talk due to her frozen voice cords.
A strong wind came, along with a loud voice that could attract the attention of anyone with the ability to sense, but that wasn't the case for her. She was in a trance.
The whole world won't matter to her at that point. The voice was becoming deafeningly loud.
"What in the world happened to him? His pulse barely exists!" a voice said that could finally capture her attention.
She had no idea where this guy came from, or why he was there. She just asked: "There's... pulse?" As if someone just gave her a new life.
The guy tied a rope around Usui's body, and himself, giving a sign to his partner to lift him up.
He patted on the lost girl's shoulder reassuringly before he was lifted up, saying:"There is a Doctor up there"
Misaki looked at where he was being lift up to, and saw a helicopter that belong to a rescue team that was sent to help whoever may be stuck in that nature disaster.
That explained the existence of that guy. She could care less; her mind and heart were with the blonde guy that was lifted up in the sky.
The rescue guy landed again to where Misaki was, and said:"Come here" He held Misaki and gave a sign to be lifted.
"Do you know his blood type? He needs blood, immediately! The hospital is far! "The man that seemed to be the Doctor asked Misaki as soon as she got into the helicopter.
"I don't know..." Misaki answered in a weak voice, with a feeling that she would lose him again.
"How could you not know such important information?" the Doctor scolded.
"Yelling around won't solve anything." The rescuer said, shutting the Doctor up.
His message reached her. How could she not know? What if he died? Those thoughts occupied her mind and heart with fear, and regret, then it hit her "I'm an 'O' blood type. It works with all, right?" She asked, scared of the answer. If she was wrong, then she had no clue what to do.
"How about your health?" The Doctor asked.
"Healthy with no illnesses."She answered hastily.
"There's no time to do the test. Are you willing to donate blood?" He asked, and the answer reached him right away by the stretched arm in front of him.
'Please be alright' she prayed throughout the transfusion process while trying to keep her sobbing voice down for the Doctor to concentrate.
"Crap! We're almost out of the oxygen he needs. How far away is the hospital?" The Doctor said.
Hell! Despite everything she did, was everything trying to crash her hopes?
"Two minutes"
"Then call them to prepare the surgery room "The Doctor ordered the rescuer.
Misaki cried more at hearing the 'surgery' word, while the rescuer could only give her pity looks.
*..*..*..*..*
Going back and forth, not being able to sit still on a seat, almost breaking the door of the surgery room, was a scene that is always seen in the hospital from dramas although it didn't seem realistic to Misaki.
She always thought: 'why don't they just sit down and pray?!'
The state she is currently in, proved how wrong she was. The worry, fear, and desperation, won't allow her to sit in peace. She waited outside, almost losing her mind.
She looked at the red light above the surgery's room door for the… she lost her counts, not that her mind could function probably to do a simple task as counting.
She was so dizzy, and her head hurt so badly, but not more than her heart. Her worry about him, her fear of losing him, her 'love' for him, the thought of how much he had suffered to protect her, all of that kept colliding within her in a try to compete which pains her the most, but time was the winner; each second could either break her or heal her.
Looking at the red light unconsciously again, she froze, alerted by the green light. Her heart thumped painfully.
It was the time, the time that'd determine everything. She couldn't talk. She just looked at the Doctor that came out of the room with pleading eyes.
He knew what she wanted, and so he talked:" He'll survive" Reassuring her by his gentle voice despite the tiredness that filled his eyes.
A smile of relief reached her face. She could finally breathe normally.
She could finally sense her speeding heart beats that she didn't seem to take notice of before. She placed her fist on her chest to calm her heart beats, and again, she realized she was holding her hands in fists out of stress.
Tears found a way to slip from her eyes, but not because of pain. They were tears of gratitude and joy.
She watched as the nurses dragged him out of the surgery room, and her legs were automatically following wherever that stretcher went, but a hand grabbed her elbow, urging her to stop.
"This is an x-ray of Usui Takumi's arm" The Doctor informed, watched her shocked expression, then said:" Do you care to tell me why there was a bullet in his body and why his bones look like this ?"
"Come with me. I want to show you something "there came the voice of the one who stopped her; the Doctor.
"Can I... see him first?" She pleaded. Any other moment of waiting was going to drive her insane.
"It won't take long. I have another surgery in fifteen minutes, so please come with me "The Doctor demanded, seriousness filling his features.
Misaki followed the Doctor, and they reached a clinic. He showed her an x-ray picture.
"This is an x-ray of Usui Takumi's arm." The Doctor informed, and watched her shocked expression.
"Care to tell me why there was a bullet in his body and how the hell did his bones look like this?"
Misaki was speechless while looking at the x-ray scan and that wasn't the only reason for her to stay silent at the question. Everything popped to her mind at once and she didn't know where to start from; a lot has happened.
"Please tell us what you know. Officers will come investigate later, but if there's something that must be known immediately, it'll be a great help to them," The Doctor said, urging her talk.
He couldn't brush off the feeling that whatever happened to those two, If it was related to 'that' case. For now he was not sure, he'd be missing a very important thing, a trace maybe.
"We… We were kidnapped by two men. A third one joined them later. They wanted to get rid of us because we witnessed their crime. They killed someone. We managed to escape" She answered shortly, amazed at how arranged her words came out.
Alerted, the Doctor asked her how they look like and if she had any clue where they went. She told him she overheard one of them talking on the cell phone, telling that they were heading to France today. He thanked her, and allowed her to leave.
She ran to Usui's room. She stopped midway questioning herself: 'What's the number of his room?!' She laughed at her idiotic behavior and went back to the reception desk to ask.
As soon as she pushed the door open, she saw Usui's pale figure, lying on that white bed with white sheets on. He was attached to many tubes around him, and he was so pale she doubted if he was really alive. She felt the urge to cry seeing him that way. What was she expecting? That he'd walk around and tease her right away?
She took a seat by his side, asking him to wake, but he didn't. With a slight frown, she decided to wait.
He slept for hours, worrying her about the possibilities; did the Doctor make some sort of a mistake? Why isn't Usui opening his eyes?
She wanted to go ask, but she was afraid of the answer, so she didn't. She wanted to clinch into the hope that he'll wake, because without it, she didn't know what to do. She buried her face in the bedside, inhaling Usui's smell, mixed with the hospital, and medicines' smell. She held into the sheets desperately, praying for him to be awake.
"Misaki" A sweet feminine voice called, making Misaki look at the source of voice in response.
"For how long are you intending to hold back your check-up? You look so pale," The nurse said in concern.
"I'm fine" Misaki answered, smiling slightly.
"I understand that you want to stay by your lover's side, but I'm sure he wouldn't want to wake up and see your pale face. It would worry him even more." The nurse stated, watching a slight blush rise on that pale face.
Misaki blushed at the mention of 'lover' word, but it didn't seem wrong one bit, although if it was Usui who said it, she would object violently.
"Let's have some tests on you " The nurse demanded, stretching out her hand for Misaki to get up, but Misaki looked over at Usui and hesitated to take that hand, which made the nurse grab Misaki's hand and pull her from his side.
The nurse walked in front of Misaki in the long corridor, glancing over at her every few steps to make sure she's behind her. She had a feeling that Misaki would run back to Usui any moment. She giggled at the sweetness of how that thought seemed.
*thud * voice interrupted the pink fantasies that the nurse was having. She looked back, and saw a collapsed Misaki on the floor.
*..*..*..*..*
Misaki opened her eyes, looking at the white ceiling above of her. She wondered where she was, but that wonder didn't last long thanks to the voice she heard.
"Oh, you finally woke. That was a long slumber. Did you sle... "The voice was interrupted by the tight embrace that knocked the breath out of him. Misaki had no idea how she jumped out of her bed. All she cared about is that Usui was alive and talking to her! She found no words. She just cried like a child.
"Easy. I'm hurt" Usui managed to utter.
Misaki let go instantly, looking at his body to check if she hurt him anywhere. She cursed her clumsiness, and said in a guilty tune:"I'm… sorry"
"Excuse me, but... Who are you?" Usui asked, looking at her blankly.
Misaki looked at him in daze. "What?"
"I got you there. Just kidding" Usui laughed. He hated how serious she was, and wanted to change the atmosphere in any mean possible. He just wanted to see her smile.
Misaki let out a sigh of relief, then said:"Idiot" She intended to knit her eyebrows in anger or something, but a smile was all that managed to show on her face.
"You're the idiot. Do you realize you got anemia 'cause you refused to stop giving blood to me?" Usui asked, scolding her, but deep within, he was touched despite the worry he felt for her.
"Who told you to lose too much blood? Plus, you are the idiot. There are four breaks in your wrist? How is that even possible in such a small area?" She scolded back, although she knew all he sacrificed was for her.
"My wrist? They're four? They felt like million!" He said in disbelieve.
"You scared me to death!" Misaki said, she couldn't stop her tears from falling at the slightest memory of all that happened.
Usui pulled her as close to him as his condition allowed him, and whispered: "I love this idiot"
She blushed madly, then he added:"But you are still crazy for getting anemia cause of me " He couldn't brush that off his mind for a second. Her health concerned him so much.
"Me? Crazy? You should've looked at yourself proposing while we're dying!" She said, almost pushing herself away from him, but she just didn't want to; somehow her stubbornness seemed to disappear.
"Me? Proposed? When?" Usui teased, playing dumb.
"Don't play games with me." She said, blushing different shades of red.
"Maybe it's your imagination playing tricks on you. Perhaps you really want me to propose "He teased further. Misaki stayed silent. It started to get him scared; did he cross the line? She might hit him any moment now.
"Don't turn the table on me" Was all he heard, reassuring him in a way, and making him think that she must be deadly embarrassed now, not that he wasn't.
"But I still would love to propose to you. Will you marry me?" He asked.
She got away from him in an instance, sensing the movement at the door.
"Why do I feel like I am interrupting something important?" Said the Doctor who came in.
"Never mind" Misaki uttered, trying to control her embarrassment.
"I just want to inform you that thanks to your information, the police closed all exits of the air port in France, and could catch the criminals. Looks like they are involved in many cases and police are still in search for them.
They are really grateful for you and told me to say their thanks to you in advance." The Doctor said, smiling at her.
"I'm glad that I can be of help." She said, feeling a shiver go down her spine just by remembering them.
"Okay. I leave you two. By the way, don't worry; the nurse insisted you'd be placed in intensive care unit room with Usui. She even dragged a bed for you here since there's only one bed here." The Doctor said to Misaki and left.
"Congratulations. You're a hero. My hero" Usui said, softening his voice at the last word, and forcing the blush that started to fade from Misaki's face to get back even darker. He continued:"Looks like the nurse likes us being together"
"SHUT UP!" Misaki shouted.
'When will you ever stop denying?' Usui thought to himself as he felt tiredness take over him.
He stopped talking, and just watched Misaki. His gaze never left her despite her tries to stop him, and his gaze worked even stronger than words. Words were actually more merciful than looks. Silent teasing was a living hell. She couldn't stop blushing, yet she was grateful that those eyes were still able to look at her.
The End…
Or maybe not…
o-0-0-O-ooo-O-0-0-o
A/N: I have a vague idea of how to complete this. It's flying above my head, so shall I grasp it and complete or let it fly?
Writing a lot about Usui made me sharpen my ditched pencil and make a drawing for Usui and Misaki, and then edit it by the easy-to-use fanfiction image editor. It is the drawing you are seeing as an image for this fic. It was cropped due to the size limit. However, In case I ruined Usui's look, I'm not going to forgive my pencil XD
Again, much thanks and love to readers :D
TaigaRAWR: Yup! Thank you for reminding me of their future children! I can't be a reason to kill them before they come to life! Xp
WishingUsuiWasReal: hehe if Usui died, I'll die, you said you will, and I think pretty much everyone in this fandom. I can not do such a crime T.T
Blommie8: Absolutely sorry for making you sad the previous chapter. There's a reason why I don't own Maid Sama characters -_-
A.N-Mellow: Murdering someone the pasta way…. Hmm… one day I'll find out the mystery of how to do that! I'm glad it was touching enough to make you cry throughout editing it. It only proves how much you are loyal to Maid Sama :3
Guest: I hope the update wasn't late
Abby: I hope nothing would be able to kill you mentally, not here, not in life. And so if this story goes on, I'll try to update faster not to make you wait :D
PrincessSkylar: I'm glad you think it is getting more and more interesting to you
Hikari-chan05: Thank you! If this chapter was good, then it must be the bless of your 'good luck' wish
daydreamer21: no worries, I don't like to abandon my fics, especially when I know there are readers interested in them.
Guest:glad you like it. I hope the update wasn't late
Koko Serenade: Waah! I'm flattered by your review. I'm glad you like it although it is angst.
Imma Guest: Welcome guest-san. Guests get a special treat. You get three lollipops. Strawberry, cola, and apple flavored
Guest: Soo good that you passed by.