This story uses characters and locations based on the Gunslinger Girl manga written by Yu Aida and published in the monthly shōnen magazine Dengeki Daioh. The characters of Kara and Michele are original to myself.


Chapter Seven – Viva La Vida

"How is she doing?" Michele asked Priscilla.

"She's sleeping now. We read another chapter of the story to her. Any word from Marco and Giuse?"

"Giuseppe called me from the house. They found Perro and are bringing her back."

"Excellent. Will you stay with her?"

"Of course."

Michele's phone vibrated on the metal tray, creating a metallic ringing. He grabbed it and saw that it was text message from Giuseppe saying they were on their way back with Perro. He heard Angelica rustle in the bed. Her eyes opened and she looked at him and smiled.

"I'm sorry, Angelica. Did I wake you?"

She shook her head. "I was dreaming…of Perro…" Michele reached out and smoothed back her hair.

"Go back to sleep, Ange. Dream sweet dreams." She smiled at him again and closed her eyes. Soon, her breathing became more rhythmic and he the polysomnogram displayed that she was in REM sleep.

The door opened and the night technician, Marianna, came in.

"Buona sera, Il Colonnello," she said. "She is sleeping again?" Michele nodded.

"Perhaps you should do the same, sir," she suggested. "It's almost midnight. I will keep an eye on her."

"Grazie," Michele said and left the room.


Three days later…Dusk…


All the medical staff were in the observation room. It was a Death Watch and they all knew it, yet this was the first time a cyborg was going to die from it's conditioning and while they hated themselves for doing it, they had to record the event in as much detail as possible.

Along with the medical staff were Priscilla, Olga and Michele. While not part of the medical team, nobody on the staff dared forbid them entrance lest they fear Michele would send Kara after them.

"She's waking," Doctor Belisario stated as he saw the electroencephalograph suddenly go active. They all looked out and saw Angelica open her eyes and reach out to Marco.

"How is this possible?" Marianna asked, pouring over the data displayed on the screens.

"It's a miracle," Priscilla said. Doctor Belisario activated the microphones and they heard Angelica's voice over the speakers.

"In that case…I will…tell you a story."


Later…


Kara walked up the steps to the hospital, her telescope cradled in her arms. The other girls had asked her to come watch the meteor shower with her. She'd tried to contact Michele, but his cell phone was off. She knew he was often in the hospital ward, so she thought she would stop by on the way to where the girls were setting up.

As she approached, she saw a group of people come out and head for a van that was idling in the drive. She recognized Priscilla, Marco, Olga, and Michele.

"Michele-san!" she yelled, waving her left arm to grab his attention. She saw him say something to Priscilla, who nodded and went with the other two towards the van.

"Michele-san, Henrietta, Claes, Triela and Rico asked me to join them looking at the stars. Is that okay?" she asked. As he approached, Kara could see he had been crying, his cheeks streaked with tears. He clumsily wiped his eyes with the back of his hand.

"Of course, Kara. Enjoy yourself, but be in bed by eleven."

"Are you okay?" she asked, concern in her voice.

"Yes, I'm fine. We're just going out for a bit."

"I will come with you," she said and set the telescope down on its legs.

"No, go be with your friends. Us adults have something we need to do alone."

"Okay…" she said, her voice making it clear she was unconvinced. Still, her conditioning compelled her to obey. She nodded, grabbed the telescope, and started heading away.

Michele boarded the van, which drove off into the night.


A few days later…


"I'm afraid," Kara admitted to Henrietta, Rico, Triela and Claes as they were in the latter's room sharing tea and cake that Kara had made. She'd just returned from Angelica's funeral service with Michele. He had told her she did not need to go, but while she herself felt nothing about Angelica's death, she had seen how it had affected him and she wanted to be there to support him.

"Marco is so sad now that Angelica is dead. If I die, will Michele be sad, too? I would hate that."

"Then we must continue to live, for their sake if not our own," Triela noted.


The End