Syaoran didn't verbally react, and Fai didn't pull his eyes away from the spot until abruptly, the presence pulled back. Not dissipating however, but moving. She was leaving.
Fai stumbled forward, catching himself with the cane.
"Come on Syaoran-kun, she's going this way!"
Fai rushed off, and Syaoran followed with alarm. Mokona squeaked and held on to his shoulder. He raced as quickly as he could through the hallways, following the feeling; his heart was pounding, and his chest was tight with emotions not his own, layered with a desperation to help that he wouldn't analyze. Syaoran was easily walking as fast as Fai, and was pulling on one of his sleeves.
"Fai-san, please, you have to slow down! You're going to hurt yourself!" He said..
"Fai, please!" Mokona tugged on his collar.
But Fai didn't listen to them. The presence couldn't speak, but she was leading him somewhere. She wanted him to follow her, and Fai had to. The ghost woman's yearning for help, for absolution was overwhelming, so much so that Fai didn't notice when he'd walked straight into the very people he was trying to avoid.
"Fai!" A new voice startled him, and Fai stumbled, jolting so hard he nearly lost his balance. Directly in front of him, halfway through a dim hallway, was Koroko. The presence had led him straight here. It was so intense that Fai thought he'd choke, but then it abruptly dissipated, as if she suddenly lost all strength. Fai gasped at the release, and stared at Koroko.
Absently, he realized that she looked very angry.
"Fai, what are you doing? I heard you have been terrorizing patients with questions about ghosts?" She had her hands on her hips, eyes narrowed behind her glasses.
Fai gaped at her. He really had no answer. The evidence of her connection was clear, as the presence had led him straight to her, but he didn't know what to do from there. The ghost had vanished…
Wait. The feeling was trickling back in. The feeling of frustration, of longing was pressing on his mind, and he knew that the poor woman was struggling to manifest.
Then, a hand gripped his elbow and wheeled him around, breaking him out of his daze with a painful jerk.
"What the hell have you been doing?" Kurogane growled in his face, and the weak feeling snapped, as if Kurogane had startled her. Fai frowned. Kurogane was angry, holding his arm too tightly and glaring at him. The chill that had been along his body had vanished leaving room for a hot flash of anger. Who was he to yank him around; making moves in their relationship and then to yell at him the same as ever?
Fai ripped his arm away, pasting a bright smile on his face- the utterly fake one that Kurogane hated.
"Why Kuro-tan, I'm just finding out information on the ghost. I felt it again, you know. I think I've got a few good leads, and-"
Kurogane growled, and grabbed Fai's collar, dragging him up into his face.
"I don't give a damn about the stupid ghost! You and I both know why you're doing this!"
Fai pried at Kurogane's fingers, but they wouldn't move. Both natural strength, machinery and anger held him tight in place, locked inches from Kurogane's eyes. He was glaring straight at him, seemingly oblivious to the shocked looks of Syaoran, Koroko, and oh, look the Princess and Mokona were watching as well. Kuro-sama always did have such great timing. Very well, if he wanted to do this here, then so be it.
"Oh? Why don't you enlighten me, Kurogane? Why am I doing this?" Fai snarled, digging his nails into Kurogane's human wrist. Kurogane bared his teeth, shaking Fai's collar.
"If you want to run around after your ghost stories, that's fine by me, but at least admit that you're only doing this to avoid talking to me."
Fai clenched his jaw. Was that the truth? Probably. Fai would do this much and more to avoid uncomfortableness, and/or truth telling. But he wasn't very well going to tell Kurogane that. This was all Kurogane's fault in the first place!
Kurogane's scowl deepened, and then faded into something like disappointment.
"Forget it," He released him, and stepped back. "Forget everything."
Kurogane felt everyone's eyes on him, but he was suddenly too tired, too worn to even react. The kids looked surprised and sad, and Koroko was confused. Fai himself was still staring at him, having not moved since Kurogane had got out of his personal space. His face was a blank stare.
It all reminded him of those awful months after Tokyo. Fai would look at him with nothing in his eyes. Had it hurt this much before? Those times, he'd been able to brush it off, to continue on like it was nothing. How had he stood it?
Kurogane 'tched' and turned away, angry at his hurt. Angry that Fai seemed to feel nothing. He heard Fai's nurse step forward, and began prodding Fai to go back to bed, and good, the idiot needed to lay down anyway.
"I'm fine," Fai said, sounding breathless. Then he made a noise of surprise, whispering. "She's back..."
Kurogane turned back around in time to see Fai lunge towards Koroko, and grip her shoulders. The cane clattered to the ground, and Koroko stepped back in alarm. Fai was looking at her with an almost crazed look on his face.
"Nurse-san," He gasped, and Kurogane moved forward to drag him off of her. What the hell was going on? "You have to have felt that?"
"Hey, let go of her-"
"Fai-san!" The Princess piped, but Fai ignored them both.
Koroko was obviously well trained, and she just raised her hands out to the side, non-threatening and letting Fai hang on her.
"What did I feel?" She asked, nonplussed and calm. Fai shook his head.
"The ghost! She was here, she's appeared every time you show up. There has to be a connection!"
Fai's face grew more frantic at Koroko's lack of understanding, and he gripped her shoulders tighter. Kurogane stepped close, ready to knock the man out and swing him over to shoulder to take him to his room. A look from Koroko stopped him.
"Tell me about the ghost." She said, calmly, and Fai shuddered in frustration.
"The ghost knows you! It follows you around. You can't feel it!?"
Koroko wasn't alarmed, but Kurogane was, as were the kids and Mokona. Kurogane gestured for the others to stay quiet, and put his hands out.
"Fai, you need to calm down," he said. Fai wasn't listening. His eyes were jumping around, but not fixing on anything. He seemed to have completely forgotten their fight, or that they all were even there watching. He released Koroko, stumbling backwards to look behind her. Kurogane could see nothing, but that didn't stop Fai from staring at the spot.
Sakura, who been watching Fai's meltdown with alarm, suddenly shivered, and moved her gaze to where Fai was looking. She could see whatever he was seeing.
"Princess?" Syaoran questioned, noticing her demeanor the same time that Kurogane did. "Can you see it?"
"You mean there is something there?" Kurogane demanded. Sakura nodded, and Kurogane felt a flash of relief that there wasn't something more seriously wrong with Fai than usual.
Koroko was confused, stepping backwards, away from the point that Fai and Sakura were looking at.
"What's happening." She said, alarm in her voice. Fai blinked, and turned towards her, looking desperately sad.
"She's here to talk to you…" He whispered.
Sakura stepped forward. "She is here. She's trying to communicate with us, but she's too weak." Sakura bowed her head. "She's crying."
Kurogane didn't quite know what was going on, but he could feel the sadness emanating from Fai, and Sakura, and perhaps...perhaps from the atmosphere itself. Like he was feeling the spirit too, some of the desperation trickled into his own chest. He was the least spiritually minded person alive, but there was something.
Fai breathed in sharply, as if he'd thought of something, and then raised up two fingers to write runes in the air. As his magic usually did, the shapes glowed purple and spiralled out towards the spot they concentrated on. They flowed and formed a barrier around what was emerging from nothingness: a figure of a woman, with blue eyes and long black hair and wearing hospital clothes like Fai's. Koroko gasped.
Fai sucked in a breath; Kurogane's head swiveled towards him, and then his hands soon followed, catching his elbow as he wobbled. That bit of power seemed to be weakening him, and quickly too. He wasn't healed enough to lend out his magic to a sad looking ghost, but that was Fai for you.
Still, his eyes were focused on the ghost, and Koroko, standing nearest. Her hands covered her mouth, and Kurogane thought he'd missed something.
"You're Midori, aren't you?" Fai asked, short of breath. "You're Koroko's best friend."
Midori nodded, and Koroko sobbed once. Kurogane didn't know the backstory here, but Fai apparently did, because Koroko was staring at the ghost with a lost expression.
"Midori?" Tears were falling down her face. Fai's fingers were shaking as he held the flow of magic that allowed the form in front of them to stand there. She smiled softly, and nodded.
"Hi, Koko." Midori whispered, and her voice had an odd quality, like it was coming from far away.
"Dori!" Koroko sobbed, looking like she wanted to run forward and embrace her friend. She was so insubstantial though. Fai's magic was flickering, and Fai was too. They didn't have much time.
Sakura stepped forward a little, coming up on the other side of Fai, walking towards Koroko. She'd dealt with things like this before. She put a hand on Koroko's arm, and looked towards the spirit.
"Midori," Sakura started, looking more wise than her years would suggest. It was obvious she was a princess in every way. "You're still here. Is there something you wish for? Something you want to say?"
Midori flickered for a moment, and Fai pushed a little harder, breath coming jagged, wavering on his feet. Kurogane moved a little closer to him, ready to catch him the moment he fell.
"Koko," Midori said again, fondly. "I'm sorry to stay like this…"
Koroko stepped forward in distress.
"Why...why did you need to…?"
Midori smiled, and she looked...peaceful.
"I couldn't go on…" She murmured. "Not without telling you… I'll go after that. I won't linger anymore."
Koroko sniffed. "Tell me what?"
"I just want you to know…" Midori trailed off, and Kurogane suppressed a bite of impatience. Get on with it, this power won't last forever.
As if triggered by the thought, Fai's knees picked that moment to buckle. Midori didn't waver though, and Kurogane saw that Fai was still holding his hand up, streaming magic into the ghost. Kurogane caught him, grabbing him around the waist, slinging his other arm over his shoulder. This was too much for him; he was no where near healed enough to be flinging his magic around.
Sakura gave Koroko an encouraging look, and she swallowed, asking again.
"What did you want to tell me?"
Midori smiled gently.
"I love you."
Koroko gave a wet laugh.
"I know that. Dori, you're my best friend."
There was a long pause, and Midori shook her head.
"Not like that."
Koroko gaped, and Kurogane felt a bit of a shock ripple through him. This situation seemed pretty familiar; if only his own confession of the same had been so simple. Midori giggled.
"You were always so dense, Koko." She laughed, looking at ease. Her image was beginning to flicker more. "I do love you. I just wanted you to know."
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"I didn't want to ruin what we had."
"But...Midori…" Koroko was wide eyed.
"It's okay. I'm ready now." Midori looked to Fai, who swallowed and steeled himself, fingers clenching in the cloth at Kurogane's shoulder. He could feel him panting against his side.
Koroko shook her head desperately. "No, please, don't… don't go…"
"It's alright…" Midori said. Koroko sniffed again, and breathed deeply.
"I'm so sorry…" Koroko said. "I'll miss you…"
Midori nodded at Fai, and with a long breath, the magic flowing from Fai's fingers slowed.
"Please be happy, my friend." Midori said, as her image dimmed.
"You too."
Midori faded quickly, until she was only a hint of a image, and then she was gone.
With the disconnection of his magic, Fai shuddered and collapsed completely. Kurogane caught him against his side, but Fai wasn't unconscious, and he struggled forward.
"Koroko," Fai gasped, looking over at the nurse. She'd fallen to her knees, and was crying against Sakura's shoulder. Fai tried to reach out his hand, but it was shaking hard. He was too weak to move much, but he was still trying to escape Kurogane's grasp.
"Stay still, you idiot." Kurogane growled, but Fai didn't listen, only pausing when Syaoran stood in front of him.
"Fai-san, the princess will take care of Koroko. You need to rest." He said quietly. Fai gasped, and went limp, and Kurogane hurried to keep him from slipping completely to the floor.
"I'll take him." Kurogane said, slipping his arm beneath Fai's knees, and scooping up the wizard into a careful carry. Fai stiffened as if the movement or the position pained him, but he relaxed a moment later, barely aware.
"I can walk." Fai murmured.
"Shut up," Kurogane responded.
Sakura looked up as they began to move away, eyes knowing and concerned. Fai stirred, and met her gaze.
"Please, talk to each other. You just seen what happens when you don't." She whispered, causing Koroko to cry hard against the Princesses shoulder. Kurogane felt the heat rise in his cheeks, but he gave her a short nod. Fai looked shamefaced.
"Yes, Princess." He said quietly.
They left the kids taking care of Koroko, and made their way towards Fai's second level hospital room. Kurogane bore Fai's slight weight through the halls, ignoring evening passersby. Fai was tired enough that he made no more protest about being carried, but he was oddly silent even so. He probably didn't want to talk to him. Kurogane thought back to their argument, and the pain and anger he'd felt, and then he thought about the sad story they'd just witnessed. The spirit had only wanted Koroko to know that she loved her. She hadn't asked for more, hadn't even wanted to know if it was reciprocated. She'd been content with the telling.
Kurogane didn't think he was angry anymore, not at Fai. He'd sprung this on him, after all, and when he wasn't feeling well to boot. He'd take a page out of Midori's book. If Fai didn't feel the same, or didn't want anything to change between then, then...Kurogane thought he could live with that.
He'd tell him how he feels, but not ask for more. It was enough.
A/N: I have great news everyone! I have finished this story! I'll be updating the chapters within the next week or so, it'll probably be about ten. Thanks for reading thus far!
