Chapter 7
Koumi was franticly pacing back and forth in his office. He just had a report from the finders with Krory and Miranda that on their way back from a mission, they came under heavy attack. They were only a few miles outside of town so he dispatched Lenalee and was tempted to send Catherine but hesitated since she had never gone without her mother.
Reever entered his office "What did you need director?"
"Find Helena and Lavi, I am going to send them out to assist Miranda and Krory. I may send Catherine but I will wait to see if they can wrap it up."
Reever turned on his heel and left to find the couple.
They dressed and started back to their room. They held hands and smiled. Every once in a while Lavi could take it no more and he would stop her and press her into the wall and kiss her.
When they finally got to their room, as he was holding her he said "You have made me the happiest man alive."
Wait til we actually make love, I will rock your world boy. She knew at that moment that she didn't want to live without him. He had finally broken through the ice that had built up around her heart. Before him she was content to raise her daughter and watch her grow but now she knew she needed more. She knew she had found her lion.
There was a knock on the door, "Miss Helena? Lavi? The director needs to see you. Miranda and Krory need back up."
Lavi grabbed Helena's hand. "c'mon let's go get our friends"
They ran to the director's office to get the details and within minutes they were on their way. Lavi took out his Tessai, scooped Helena behind him and off they went on his hammer. Helena shut her eyes leaned her head on Lavi's back. She was not sure about this mode of transportation, so she instead decided to focus on her proximity to the Jr bookman.
She was trying to prepare herself for the scene as the director had described it. The finder said they were attacked by several levels 3's but they honed in on Miranda right away and injured her before the fight even began. Krory was fighting and taking down as many as he could, but everyone had their limits. Koumi already sent his sister out and hinted if she and Lavi couldn't get the situation under control, the director would send out Catherine and Bookman as a third wave. So much for them starting rotation next week...
"Here they are." Lavi said.
Helena looked over his shoulder and saw Krory and Lenalee battling several akumas each. They each had 4 level 3's and several level ones waiting to take them out. Lavi deposited her on the ground and Helena made it to Miranda. The German was weak but still conscious. She had her time record activated and was trying to stop her wounds from bleeding out, but Helena could tell that they need to get her medical attention soon.
Helena activated her innocence and her allies disappeared. Helena watched them was they finally began to gain ground. Lavi's fire stamp took out many of the low level ones right away and he went to help his friends with their immediate foes. Krory finally wiped his all out and came to her and Miranda.
"I'm glad you showed when you did. The director would be furious with me if his 2 favorite women fell on my watch."
"Miranda? Hmm, I never knew. It works though. I can see the 2 of them together." She laid her hand on the injured woman so she could still watch the battle. "You need to keep with us so you can go back home to Koumi." Helena rested Miranda's head on her lap, trying to comfort her.
Krory got up and joined the fray again. Helena watched as one came up behind him and was aiming for his head. Helena tried to focus on recreating what happened with Catherine earlier but she couldn't get it. She couldn't make the bullet ghost through him. Luckily, he sensed the monster behind him and ripped it in two before it could get the shot off.
Lavi looked like he was having the time of his life. He was swinging his hammer and looked like a demented baseball player in the process. Helena loved watching him at work. She loved watching how she could see his muscles work under his tight white pants and black jacket. She was trying hard not to think of what was under those clothes either. She was watching him swing his hammer around spinning it in the air like baton and bringing it back down on an akuma's head.
Lenalee was high in the air taking out as many as she could also. Between the 3 of them, they were able to take care all of the akumas, save 1 leval 3. Helena could hear the finder behind her call into HQ that they were able to dispatch the rest. The finder then approached Helena and Miranda.
"Come Miss Helena, we must get Miss Miranda back to the Order."
There were a couple of finders with a wagon and they loaded Miranda on there. As they were loading her Lavi turned and saw what was going on, he called to Helena, "Go with her. We have this and will join you at home." Helena waved and got in the back of the wagon with the injured German.
Helena continued to stroke Miranda's hair and talk to her. She wasn't really sure what she was even saying to Miranda. She just kept talking.
The finders rushed to the order as quickly as they could and about 10 minutes later they made it home. Koumi, Reever and some from the medical staff met them at the door. Koumi looked pale. He looked at Helena and was trying to form words, but couldn't. He had tears in his eyes as he just looked at her.
"Lenalee is fine. Miranda will be ok too. Just get her in and to the doctors." Koumi nodded, still unable to say anything. Reever stepped in and took charge. Helena stayed behind and took the director's hand.
Koumi finally found his voice, "I thought I was ok sending them into battle. I have been sending them both for years. Both were badly injured, but I was so far away that I didn't see firsthand. By the time I got to Japan they had both been able to recover for a while. Now I know why you look sick every time Catherine takes the field. She could end up like this. She could…." His tears finally won and he began to sob. Helena held him and tried to comfort him.
"Yes, it is hard, but if I never let her do it, she would be ill prepared for what she will have to undertake on her own. If I didn't let her train and get stronger, then she will not survive when I am gone. Miranda and Lenalee are where they are because of you, not injured but alive. Without her experience, Miranda may have died when she was attacked; instead she is alive and going to continue to live."
The 2 went inside and took up vigil outside of the room that Miranda was being treated in. It was getting to be late and Helena was starting to wonder what was taking the others so long. Catherine and Timothy would come to where Koumi and Helena were to see if there was any news on Miranda. Helena would update them and tell them to go play for a while longer. Eventually the 2 children just lay next to Helena on the floor and fell asleep.
After a couple of hours the doctor came out, "She will survive, but I am not sure of her time record. She needs to deactivate it, but if she does I am not sure if she will ever be able to again."
Helena let the words sink in, "But how will I get home?"
Lavi, Lenalee and Krory just walked in and heard the doctor's report, "You and Catherine need to use the portal now."
Helena looked at the man and shook her head, "I don't want to leave you. You and Catherine are all I have."
Lavi grabbed her arms and looked her in the eye. "You cannot stay in this time forever. You must go home. I will be with you always. I will find you."
Helena threw herself into Lavi's arms and began to cry. He held her back, choking on his own tears. He knew this was for the best, but it didn't stop it from hurting like hell. He pulled away and scooped up Catherine. "C'mon, we need to get you home."
Helena caught up to him and watched him cradling her daughter and tried to burn the image in her mind. She had found her lion and here he was protecting her and Catherine. They made it to the portal. Koumi, Lenalee and Krory followed. Helena hugged the 3 tightly, in Koumi's ear she whispered, "please take care of him."
Krory took Catherine and took her through the portal so Helena and Lavi could say good-bye. The others left so it was only the 2 of them.
"I love you my light. You have saved me from the darkness and I can never begin to repay you. I will find you again when you least expect it."
"I love you, my lion." Helena reached up and kissed him. This was unlike any kiss they had; there was no heat, just desperation as they tried to etch this moment into their minds forever. Helena broke away and climbed through the portal, she watched as Lavi faded away. She had been in her time for only a few seconds when the portal closed and Helena began to weep.
