Hey, hey, hey! Here's another chapter in Take My Hand and I must say, I have mixed feelings about this chapter /: Some parts are good, while others are just shit from a baby turtle. But thanks for reading this through with me, and thanks so much for waiting, like, a month for me to finally update. (: Enjoy.
Chapter 9: Walking on Death's Cliff
He came. Thank God he came. But the thing is, he came just a little bit late.
"H-Hyuuga," I stammered, squeezing my upper arm where a bullet drilled itself underneath my skin. The excess blood slipped between my shivering fingers, dropping on the suddenly hot, blazing floor.
In the blink of an eye, right after the shot Julio fired, Hyuuga materialized from thin air and was within my reach in a matter of no time. The sound was still ringing when swooped down in front of me and easily pushed Julio towards the opposite counter where his head met Grau's nose. In one hand, Hyuuga had a deadly Desert Eagle pointed towards the two, unknowing yet of the threat, and his other veiled my self, protecting me. All of it was done in graceful, godlike motions that it made me think: it's going to be okay. Despite I felt like I could have an amputation, maybe it would turn out to be okay...since Hyuuga's here.
"How deep?" he said in a low voice, turning his mouth slightly to whisper in my ear.
I bit my lip to supress the waves of nausea that came nonstop. "T-To the left of my humorous. Barely g-grazed." But truth is, it felt like my arm was going to snap right off from its socket.
"Natsume, how should we get rid of them?"
I slowly looked to my left where the voice had originated from. The feeling of peril dispersed when my hazels met these kind, calm, too-gentle-of-an-indigo color. There, a blonde-haired, blue-eyed boy stood in combat position, also wielding a gun that seemed like he's prepared to fire anytime. He has his lips pursed in a thin line, which was a wrong move on his part because his obvious dimples made him look like a little boy out of place. Like a military professional that promoted too far high up. Right off the bat, I knew this boy was who Hyuuga talked with over the phone; the reason why I have a bullet inside my veins.
I'll feel the bitterness soon, after the unbearable pain subsides.
"I'll do it," Hyuuga replied, scooting more in my lead. "Take her to the Infirmary. She needs to be treated." I ignored the typical tone that weaved into his words, as if I was merely inflicted with so much of a shallow cut. I knew I needed to get out of not for my well-being, but to steer clear of Hyuuga's way so he can do his job perfectly with no distractions.
Both Gray and Julio were balanced upright now. They were in the middle of loading their guns when the blonde-haired boy came striding to my side, helping Hyuuga shield me so that all my sides were secured from harm.
"I'm not a man to hit little kids," growled Julio, resting his machinery atop his shoulder with uncalled comfortability. Grau crossed his arms across his chest, tucking his under his armpits. They both put forth a challenging expression.
From an angled view of his profile, I saw the ends of Hyuuga's lips tug into a playful, conceited smirk. "That's my line."
"Natsume, there's no time for this. I have to get her to the infirmary now. She's bleeding like hell," Blondie added on, already reaching for my wrist. I pulled back unconsciously when our skin met, but it was to no avail because he grasped it again, though with twice force and brutality.
"I know. I'll back you up while you make a run for it."
"Hey," said Grau, loud and drawled out. "We can hear everything you're planning. Come on, man, you really think we're that weak?"
He wouldn't evacuate us this fast, since I thought he'd give us time to plan our safely-routed escape. But this is Hyuuga after all; he wouldn't be without his unpredictability. Rushed, he commanded, "Go, go!"
"No, w-" I began, but the pain immediately took over once Blondie yanked my arm upwards, forcing me to run along with him. We jumped over Hyuuga's shrugged shoulders, and the second I felt a pressure against my foot I knew I'd hear it from him later for kicking his head. I had probably taken two painful leaps when guns were fired, creating an ominous sound that made the hair on my neck stand. Blondie kept pulling me, urging me to hastily pick my pace up. I tried to tell him to stop, to tell him the arm he was yanking was the severely injured arm, but before I can scream it, he does so in my stead.
"Sorry, I have no choice," he told me. "It's either to hurt right now and live, or to hurt for three seconds and die. And I'm the one making that decision, just to be clear."
The sides of my squinted eyelids allowed me to see the giveaway. It was only a straight path to round the kitchen corner and we'll be out of this battlefield. "What about Hyuuga?" I yelled, the comprehension that we're leaving him behind flooding me only now.
"He'll be—"
"Hey!" someone hollered. Julio's scratchy voice was so close. It encouraged me to push my legs than what they're used to even with the heavy pounding of my wound. I tried to dodge the slippery remains of my blood that spilled onto the ground, but after a whizzing bullet barely missed the side of my head, I had a feeling that there should be other things I should try to dodge.
"He'll be fine, worry about yourself!" Blondie finished with a frustrated breathe as he, too, avoided the flying threat.
"Bu—"
"Ruka, duck!"
He quickly turned, eyes wild. "Hurry, ge—!"
He didn't even reach me. He lunged at me agile and speedy, but he didn't reach me. The closest...Ruka...came was when his fingertips were five feet away from my face. Emotions swirled about on his angelic aspect; caution, danger, security, alarm, instinct. All of them dissolved in the blinding white light that came way too quick for anyone's satisfactory. In his last minute reaction, he showed me a face that whatever was going to happen next—whatever it may be—it wouldn't be good.
He showed me horror. And something tells me it's wasn't for himself.
In one half of a millisecond, I remember the sensation of being airborne so suddenly, as if my body was salad being tossed in midair with knives and sharp pins. The other half is when I find myself sprawled on the floor, so much more parts and legiments hurting that I wasn't so sure there was a place that wasn't damaged.
There were suddenly dust everywhere; around me, around the fallen debris which I quickly noticed were pieces to the wall, and around Blondie who was unmoving with a bleeding gash above his right eyebrow. His eyes were open, looking at me so intensely as if he was giving crucial orders, even in his fallacious condition. Near him, I saw a pair of ear devices lying about. Outlaws.
'Go. Run away. Get out of here, hurry.'
I'm trying, I telepathized, though to myself. I'm trying so hard, but it's not as easy to get up after a bomb exploded right next me.
The air grew thick and smoggy. Every time I inhaled to catch my departing breathe, a jerking pang of something pricking my heart traveled in circles in my chest. My eyes were on the verge of tears, not because of the torment, but of the irritating oxygen. I had to force them to stay half-open to watch what else would occur in this dirt-white room of crisis.
Ruka wasn't looking so well either from afar. His breathe came in short and abrupt, and he lay limp for I saw that a few joints in him weren't in their correct place. Still, through the agony that twisted his face, his gaze never left mine; unwavering, ordering, guarding. As if his influence was great, I tried to do my part and tell myself to stop hyperventilating, to stop being overly-dramatic of the fact that I almost died because I didn't. But it proved to be useless the minute the air layered another heavy sheet, and I was no longer able to clearly see Ruka, my only security.
I dug my arms under me, laying them on top of each other. With gritted teeth, I used them to ascend myself as I dragged my knees across the floor to level my entire torso. My hair flittered around the sides of my face, framing it carelessly. I gasped when I saw the hints of auburn that showed the curly tips. I didn't know my original hair color would come back so quick; maybe I need to re-dye it once more.
A sharp pain ran down my arm the same time a trail of blood did. I didn't dare falter, for I knew if I collapsed right now, I would never find the energy to rise back up again. I drew my eyebrows together and bore with it for the being. People get shot everyday. Just because I'm a kid, a girl, an heiress, and a mind-reader doesn't mean I'm an exception.
I turned to look at Ruka. I, at least, was able to barely stand up; he took the full blow. I'm worried that he might've covered me too much despite the risk of his life. And with his infliction, it's no doubt the amount of blood he's losing is a horrifying number.
When I glanced at him, my heart leapt in my throat almost instantly. Upon his back that was blanketed of dust and small debris, a dark, sturdy shadow came over, getting closer and closer to him by the impatient millisecond.
Oh no, no, no.
I pierced daggers in his eyes, encouraging him to get up and fight or else he would suffer more than he would if he stayed down. But he was already drifting out of consciousness, his eyelids half-shut at this point. Even if he recovered in the very last second, it's a given that his broken arms probably won't get him very far. Ruka can't do anything.
Maybe, can I?
I made a spontaneous plan—if he stepped another towards Ruka, I'd spring my back leg right into his kisser, then his groin. I'd regret this later. I really would. But I'd regret not doing anything to save him even more. The man's footsteps stampeded against the wooden floor. Slow and ominous. I knew I'd regret not thinking about my consequences, about what kind of danger I'll in if I go through with this. Oh, how I'd regret all of this later.
But then again, I've been screwing up lately, here and there, to and fro. I can't do anything about it because it's the past, and I should know very well that it isn't something I should try to tamper with. Even if it's possible, I don't think I wish to. A fact shone on me like a heaven light that I have never taken note of before; my mistakes are mine. They are mine alone to burden and sin for. So relatively speaking, i don't regret anything. And from what I've been taught—er, read in the fairytale books like the hopeless romantic I am—saving is a proud act. It's not uselessly dying for you selfish will; it's giving life. That's not sinful, right? I take it back, I won't regret this.
I opened my mouth, shut it, then opened again. I prepared my legs. "Don't come any clo—"
The man darted past me, dropping on his knees besides Ruka. He took his head in his hands an carefully turned him so that the man could take a good look at the gash. Though his raven-black hair veiled down to his eyebrows and covered just the tips of his lids, I still caught the mere sight of a beautiful red. Fierce, yet calm. Loose, yet so, so, so obviously guarded. It was a beautiful, disgusting hue that fit so wonderfully, perfectly in the globe of human eyes.
The sensation of my blood circulating warmly made its way through my limbs. With a small, secondhand smile, I watched the muscles on Hyuuga's back flex and deflate swayingly.
The relief, bare and fruitful, in me was so overwhelming that I didn't care I stumbled gracelessly flat on the floor. It was even great enough to drive my thoughts away from my arm, which throbbed to no end because it was what I fell on first.
I coaxed the energy in my eyes to make them stay ajar. I could already tell that this kind of Hyuuga—helpful, worried, caring—would be someone I would never see for a long time. His hands worked around Ruka as his eyes traveled up and down his injury. Ruka stared at him helplessly, close to lulling into a bottomless slumber.
'Natsume...Mikan..Sakura...she's injured...'
Honestly, Ruka, I'm content. Don't say anything, please, you're far worse.
I didn't know what was wrong with me. I'm in a room with four strangers, armed and trained to kill. I still had no idea what happened to Julio and Grau, or why they suddenly seemed to disappear. A bomb exploded ten feet behind me. I have been shot. I don't trust anyone in a mile radius. I didn't know what was wrong with me, but when I saw Hyuuga come to his friend's aid, something inside my heart warmed up and tell me It's okay. When his mouth twitched at the sight of endless bruises—You'll be fine. When Ruka smiled a half-hearted smile at him—It's all alright. When they both turned to look at me—You're free to go.
So I believed it, and I fell into a deep, deep sleep.
Maybe it's not such a good idea to wake up. Maybe I could continue to sleep until the years catch up to me, eventually triggering my death. I could avoid the stress that keeps building and building with every passing hour. I wouldn't have to deal with Hotaru and her explanation on why she should still be my friend, or White chasing me to my grave, or experiencing guilt for eternity if Ruka ended up dying from his head injury. I could avoid all that bullshit, if I could just continue to sleep.
It was just really too bad that I had ears.
"Grau and Julio?"
When I came to—of course, absorbing my hysteria down to where I wouldn't jolt—I was instinctively aware of many things. Things like a soft bed supported my weight from under my limp body. I was too exhausted to look, but I'm sure, somewhere around me, there was a distinct beeping sound of a monitor. The air was very lucid, and warm, and if I took another second to feel it, there was a serene aura that lulled about, dulling my keen senses. The most obvious one were the tones of humans.
"—you doing? You're in charge if her, which means you're supposed to be with her at all ti—"
"He knows—it's my fault. I called him out because I needed help with something."
Narumi. Ruka.
"Oh? And is that so special that you could risk Mikan's life for it?"
"Uh—No...no sir."
"Relax, Narumi. She's breathing."
..Hyuuga.
"Breathing! Right, 'cause when people are breathing, they're healthy, fine, and completely not broken. You know, people can get in comas?"
An irritated sigh broke. "Look, what's done is done. It's useless making such a big deal out of it."
Shut up, I wanted to curse them, but what came out was a small whine that I guessed erupted from my lips.
Almost shocking me, a whipping slash of air flew in my direction."Oh, Mikan!" A pair of hands clasped together sharply. "You're okay!"
I blinked one, two, three times to pry my eyes open, though I wasn't sure it did it any justice whatsoever. Everything was blurry, way too blurry for my liking. My anxiety rocketed when my hands shot up to rub them only to make matters worse, and when I thought I was completely done for, the words came out of me faster than I could comprehend them: "Am I blind?"
Narumi's cackling laugh boomed. "No, no dear. You're just flash blinded for a short while. Your retinal pigment experienced bleaching. Try to ignore it, and you'll be alright. Here." He locked my wrists in a amiable grip and led them away from my face. "You shouldn't do that."
It didn't take long for the annoyance to creep upon my pursed lips."Where..?" Neither did it take long for me to understand I won't be talking anytime soon. My jaw ached tremendously with just the word and the hoarse whisper that trailed after it.
"You're in the hospital, sweetie. Don't worry, the doctors have treated you already, including that bullet. It's a hairline fraction that miraculously missed your bone by the centimeter...though I'm sure it meant to," Narumi said gently, muttering the last part but I heard it with the utmost effortlessness. "You're going to be hurting for the next few days. We'll try to lessen it as much as we can by giving you painkillers, but it'll be bad if you take them regularly so you're going to have to endure the rest."
"Ngh...What's wrong with me?"
Someone sarcastically scoffed, which was immediately followed by, "Natsume!" and I'm far too used to it now to miss the sound of a punch.
"Don't touch me," came a low growl.
"You have a slight concussion. The doctors had to stitch the rear back of you head since some glasses scraped against it. A few broken bones, a sprained ankle, heavy bruises that'll disappear within the month, possibly a few scars here and there, and this goes without saying, but there's also the bullet."
As if on cue, the early signs of agony blew up where the extracted bullet left an empty space. A high hiss escaped, only making my face hurt even more.
"Don't get up," a husky voice commanded. "You'll have to stay in bed for a week."
The absurdity. The insane absurdity. The person who knows my body best is myself alone, and even I must scowl at the unbelievable truth he spoke. "A week? You sure you didn't subtract forty-five days from that?"
Oh, oh—okay, don't talk as much.
"A week," Hyuuga confirmed.
"Mikan. Don't take our doctors lightly. They saved your life," said Narumi. "You'll be good as new in no time."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course they are."
"You?" I said, making a feeble attempt to point my finger at him since my mouth couldn't form the words.
He paused. "I am."
"...Thank you," I said, sighing. I hid my doubt.
"I'll give them the message." I felt a weak smile pull at my lips because I figured he'd be smiling as well.
The mattress shrunk four inches down around my kneecaps, creating a high-pitched squeaky sound. "So," started Ruka, sitting besides me. He laid his hand softly on mine above the sheets, "how are you feeling?"
"Horrible." I almost wished I didn't hold my scornful snicker in. "Everything hurts. I'm gonna die."
'You have gone past the appearance of corps, Mikan Sakura. You are a zombie.' "You're alright. You look like what an heiress does, just more naturally since you're with no makeup."
I frowned. "You lost your Outlaws when that bombed caved. I'd appreciate it if you need to lie, then at least try," I confided, stretching my jaw.
He jerked in his seat. "Wha—" No later did he begin to shuffle uncomfortably. "Um, sorry, it's my fault. You're obviously angry and I have no right to blame you for it and i shouldn't h-have excuses, but, thing is, I didn't know they were coming, and I-I needed help with s-so..."
He went about few moments with his distressed attitude, stumbling over and over his words each time he got nearer to his point. Every shiver I felt in his hand sent another tremor up my spine; a melancholy tremor. This was a guy who held a gun at another, and was ready to shoot it. This was a guy who was still alive when blood showered every inch of his skin; but then again, I was like that too. Nonetheless, this was a guy who doesn't even know me, but was willing to protect me. It's crazy—they're crazy; these kids that are probably no older than me working here. I know this one accident won't make me give him my trust and it's probably going to take a couple of months before I can even consider him a friend, but I also know he saved me; he was prepared to stain his hands for me, shed blood so mine wouldn't.
"Hey," I said, saving him from making himself seem more idiotic. "I'm kidding. Thanks, for saving me."
He let out a relieved breathe. "But it is my fault."
"I know." The more and more I talked the less I thought about what hurt and what didn't. "But it's mine too. I should've known how to protect myself." The biggest realization pinned my mind the next heartbeat. "By the way, I'm Mikan Sakura."
"Ruka Nogi," he said, playing along. "Nice you meet you."
I smiled. "So? You're not injured?"
"Me? Injured? Natsume's punch hurt more."
"He punched you?"
"Only when I was about to be unconscious. He does that—when we're out on missions together and I'm about to die or something tragic like that—" There was a subtle hint of a playful tone "—he hits me so I'll stay awake and therefore, alive."
"Ah, but he knows his limits," said Narumi, somewhere far now. "Right Natsume?"
I must've missed his answer since the one who spoke next again was Narumi, "Okay, well, now that I'm sure Mikan is fine, Ruka, come with me. I still need to have them finish the check-up on your ribcage. They said to come back within an hour or so. And I have to report this to Hotaru. Oh, dear, Hotaru." The door clicked open as Ruka squeezed my hand tenderly for a goodbye. "Dear, dear Lord, help us."
"Natsume, be careful with her," warned Ruka. "They probably won't be ba—"
"I know."
"I'll talk to Hotaru to make sure she knows exactly what happened, so rest assured. Bye."
When he left the room with Narumi, I swallowed my casual facade and furrowed my eyebrows together when I finally took notice of the torment rupturing my insides. Everything really did hurt, but I didn't want to make it so obvious because Ruk—Nogi strikes me as the type to readily blame himself for all that ends bad if he was involved in it. I don't know him well enough to actually care about his feelings, it's just that I can deal without his paranoia for now.
There were two slow steps to my right as I felt a warm contact touch my cheek.
I flinched at the sudden twinge, then came to relax as I brought my face closer into the hot graze, growing to feel comfort in it. "How is it?" I asked, directing my question to no one, but particularly someone. "Is the bruise purple or green?"
"It's not bad," replied Hyuuga.
"But it's throbbing."
He took his hand away, as well as the pounding pulse. "It's my hand."
"Why? What's wrong?"
It took me a few connections to realize he would never reply back. Hyuuga rarely replies back. And because he's forcing me to hear the unbearable sound of the clock at a time where it's the sole melody I don't want to ring in my ears, I made a decision to never converse with him when we're alone.
I sighed."I think I deserve to know what happened to Grau and Julio."
I was able to go through five rounds of clenching and unclenching my bed sheets when he said, "They're dead."
"You killed them?" I asked, surprised that what he said didn't surprise me first.
"No."
"You didn't kill them?"
"I did."
"But you just said—"
"I lied."
God, he's really starting to annoy me. "Ever heard of being considerate to the ill? Maybe you should try it." When the burning glare of blazing eyes shot in my direction I immediately knew that was a wrong line, for it's the trigger that would easily lead into an arguement I'm sure I won't be able to win against him, at least not in this condition. Even so, I couldn't stop my useless mouth. "Look, it's just you and me right now and whatever you think, it's just us. It's either gonna be me talking or you. I've already done my—" I drew in a sharp breathe as a shock traveled up my arm, which eventually receded. "—I've done my share so it's your turn."
"For an ill person," he exhaled, "you talk a lot."
"They say smiles are the best medicine. Care to entertain me?"
"It's time to take your pills."
I glowered. Well, as much as a temporarily blind person can. "No."
"Open your mouth."
"No."
"Open your damn mouth."
I felt a pressure tug on the outer surface of my lips. "Don't you even think of shoving them—"
"Shut up and take your meds."
I scoffed. "Ha-ha, that's a funny contradiction, Hyuuga."
He drew his hand away once more. "Quit being such a fucking brat and take your medicine. I have to be somewhere."
"And what? Leave me again so I can be attacked again and possibly die? Oh sure, I'd love to pop that thing in my mouth now. What's with you, anyways? Do you just love to ignore whatever people tell you to do?"
He clicked his tongue against his teeth."You're blaming me for this." I wondered why when he said that I expected a string of frustration to come out, but none did. Then I wondered why that annoyed me even more.
My anger piqued."No, I'm blaming myself for being so helpless against military trained goons who know nothing but the art of killing someone. I'm blaming myself for not being prepared for this, and I blame myself for not seeing it coming. Yeah, I'm totally blaming myself." Before he can get in a word, which I'm not so sure was his intention, I continued. "I'm totally blaming myself for not being as strong as my birth parents. I'm totally blaming myself for not killing those bastards with my own hands."
For a while he didn't say anything, which is where the problem lies because it gave me time to think about what I had just blurted out, and how much it has been truly affecting me, and how I changed from this sweet girl who coped with the accident to this total bitch whom I didn't even know was waiting to be released. I tried opening my mouth—hoping nothing stupid or relentless comes out—to distract him, but he, in a steady, secure voice, said, "That's better.
"What?"
"Nothing. I'm not going anywhere."
"...What?"
"I'm not going anywhere."
And it was those words, those four simple words that brought me back to my senses. What was I doing? Getting in a fight with Hyuuga? I wanted to beat myself up for thinking I could release all my angst on him, him who was my savior.
Slash Grim Reaper.
I pushed my head further into my pillow. "Sorry," I murmured. "I'm just…not used to big guys coming after with guns and bombs. I promise the next time this happens, I won't be such a brat."
"It's time for you to take your medicine."
I weakly snorted. "I never got to say this, but thanks. What did you say though, before you said you weren't leaving? I didn't catch it."
His stare couldn't be anymore smoldering, and though his mind was secluded from my powers, I could already tell what he wanted to say.
"Okay, okay." I held out my outstretched palm to him. "I know you'll try choking me, so I'll the painkillers myself."
Yeah, yeah, don't worry, Mikan and Natsume won't be the usual "I hate you so much! Get out of my life!" kind of crap. I'm thinking of making their relationship really refreshing and special. (: Thanks for reading my stuff guys, even if I take like a month to update! -,-
Stay smexy!