Chapter 9

The rain called out to Sannakii, lightly tapping on her windowpane. She was sitting up in her hospital bed; her light-blue hair had been tied back into a messy braid and her eyes were tired. She knew she should see the sun setting on the horizon, but she only saw dark clouds, threatening to open up and destroy the gentle drizzle outside. It had been another full day from when Riku came to visit her. She could only vaguely remember Daisuke visiting her. But after that, nothing. Her nights have been riddled with nightmares, keeping her awake into the late hours of the night.

-Sannakii, are you all right? –Shadow's sudden question made Sannakii jump. The IV jogged in her arm, and she hissed and held her broken shoulder. Sannakii closed her eyes, seeing Shadow look at her from the inside. She said nothing to her other-half. –I'm worried about you. You didn't sleep well last night; even with the drugs they gave you. And you didn't eat today. What's on your mind? – Shadow was actually concerned, and it shone in her electric yellow eyes.

-I'm fine… I just need to get out of this place Shadow. I can't stand anything in here. These nightmares will go away once I'm away from this hospital. All I think about when I'm in or near a hospital is…Mom… Dad… Grandma… - Sannakii shuddered a little, remembering their expressions… Peaceful. Even in their faces that were riddled with cuts, bruises… Her father's face was almost unrecognizable. But she saw the peace in every single one of them. –We're getting out of here tonight Shadow. –

-Sannakii, I do not think that is such a good idea… - Shadow started to interject, but Sannakii glared at her. Shadow was so taken aback by the look in Sannakii's eyes. She couldn't tell if it was hurt, hate, or just nothing-ness. Shadow scratched the back of her head, then shook out her hair and sighed. ­–Fine. I'll get you out of here. –

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Daisuke flipped through the channels on the TV in his room, lying on his bed with his feet off the edge. Wiz was sitting on his head, and Min-Min had found a comfortable spot to lie down on his windowsill. She stared out the window; tail swishing back and forth in a slow, repeating rhythm. The cat seemed to sigh, as Daisuke looked at her. "What's up with you Min-Min? You're so depressed. Sannakii and Shadow are fine. Don't be so down…"

­-Listen to yourself. You're talking to a cat Daisuke. You sure you're not the one who's crazy? – Dark teased, as Daisuke rolled his eyes. He ignored Dark, only acknowledging him being there for a second. He didn't want to think about other half's right now. Not him or Shadow. So much differences from Dark and Shadow, yet they almost seem like the same person.

Suddenly, Min-Min's ears picked up, as she stood up and stretched out her legs. She shook her head and looked at Daisuke, her pale blue eyes locked with his own. She mewed softly, and scratched at the windowpane. Daisuke looked away, wondering why a cat would ever want to go out in the rain. Min-Min sighed and jumped from the window right onto Daisuke's bed, and rubbed her side his face, meowing again. Daisuke looked at the cat, which looked at the window again. Daisuke stood up and stretched his arms out and opened up the window for the cat.

"Is this what you wanted?" He asked, as Min-Min jumped out the window and suddenly turned into Shadow's wings and flew off towards the Hospital. Daisuke did not realize this, and went back to his bed after shutting the window. Dark started to laugh in his head, as Daisuke closed his eyes and saw Dark trying to stifle his laugh by covering his mouth with his hand. –What's so funny Dark? – Daisuke asked, crossing his arms.

­-That cat just went off in the direction of the Hospital Daisuke. You couldn't hear it, but just ask Wiz. Shadow just called for her. – Daisuke looked shocked over at Wiz, who nodded his head. Obviously the two thief's calls for their wings were at such a pitch where normal people could not hear them.

­-You've got to be kidding me Dark. What on Earth is she thinking! She can't leave yet, who says she's well enough? – Daisuke stood up, ready to chase after the cat, as Dark shrugged.

­­-Sannakii says she's well enough. That means Shadow is going to follow her lead. We better go and get her. Leave your mother out of this… It won't get any better if we get her involved. – Daisuke nodded, and jumped down from the window, landing quietly in his back yard. He caught Wiz, who jumped after him, as they ran off in the direction to the Hospital, thunder rolling loudly in the distance.

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The light drizzle had turned into a steady beating on the window of Sannakii's hospital room. She was lying back in her bed, waiting for her nurse to leave her room. Sannakii had "taken" her medication, but instead had spit every pill back out into her hand once she turned away from the nurse and rolled over in her bed. The nurse walked to the door and shut off the lights, before exiting and closing the door quietly behind her. Sannakii waited a minute, then sat back up in bed. She shook slightly because her room was colder then it usually was. She looked at the IV and the supply of blood that was stabilizing her system. She's heard it many times before: head wounds can cause someone to lose a lot of blood. Guess she must have lost a hell of a lot. Sannakii let go of herself, as Shadow appeared in her place. Shadow only slightly had a yellow bruise down her neck and across her shoulder, but nothing was broken like it was for Sannakii. However, it still hurt slightly to move the shoulder that was supposed to be broken.

­-Come on Shadow. We might not have a lot of time. Let's get out of here. – Sannakii urged her to move. Shadow nodded and took the IV out of her arm, wincing only slightly. She then opened the window and removed the screen. She whistled out into the night, through the rain. A flash of lightning in the distance lit up the sky, and Shadow could see her wings coming to her. She turned and had Min-Min attach to her back. She placed the screen back in place and closed the window, before turning off and flying upwards. The wind was so strong, and it was hard to find any place where the air currents would carry her without using much effort. Sannakii was weak, and just being Shadow was making her even weaker…

Suddenly, lightning flashed, blinding Shadow. She had to blink her eyes, and she had to dive away from a building she was about to fly into. A crosswind blew her sideways, where she ran into a telephone pole. She straightened herself out, and shook her head. She was getting clumsy, and just when every second counted. Thunder clapped loudly, seeming right on top of her. The wind grew stronger and made it harder and harder to fly. Shadow could feel her grip slipping away, as Sannakii's eyes started to close, her breathing becoming ragged and uneven.

-Sannakii! – Shadow yelled, causing Sannakii's eyes to snap back open, but they immediately started to droop again. ­–Come on Sannakii! Stay awake! I can't keep a grip if you're going to let go! Stay strong… Stay awake dammit! – Shadow cursed as Sannakii attempted to stay awake, keeping her tired eyes open. However, Sannakii started to cough again, and winced. Shadow knew the inevitable was happening. Sannakii couldn't keep a hold.

Shadow's grip fell away just as Sannakii fainted. Min-Min turned into a regular cat, as the two fell back down into a forest. Shadow braced herself against the tree branches she fell into, and grabbed some to slow down her fall. It helped, and she was able to land on the balls of her feet and reduce a lot of damage. Her cheek started to bleed, and her arms stung. Shadow tried to stand up, but fell to her knees. She looked up at the sky, just as lightning flashed brightly. Her world became blurry and she fell face first even before the thunder came.

Min-Min jumped out of a tree, and landed next to Shadow's motionless body. She pawed her arm, and meowed loudly. Shadow suddenly turned back into Sannakii, whose eyes stared out, almost lifeless. But there was still some life there. But not much time. Min-Min ran out of the forest, and sprinted down streets, looking for someone. Anyone. She spotted someone, covered in a raincoat. She jumped on him, and bit at the hood of his raincoat.

"What on Earth-" The boy cursed as Min-Min pulled his hood down. Blonde hair immediately started to mat the boy's face, as his slightly enraged black eyes fell on Min-Min, who meowed and pulled on his boot. She ran forward, then turned around and looked right at Yui. Her eye's pleaded for him to follow. He did, as Min-Min turned off into the forest. Her ducked underneath the branches and came right to where Min-Min had lead him. He looked at Sannakii, and shook his rain jacket off his shoulders. He wrapped it around Sannakii and picked her up, Min-Min following his footsteps. Yui smiled to himself. "What chances. I decide to follow Hiame and look whom I find. A little Hospital run-away and her pet." He looked at Min-Min, who was just trying to stay as close to Sannakii as possible.

"Put her down." An enraged voice growled from behind Yui. He did not stiffen up, did not turn to see who spoke to him. He knew quite well who was behind him. "Did you not hear me you leech? I said, put her down." Dark growled.

"Right here? On the wet ground? Now I don't believe that would be the best idea…" Yui started to walk back to the hospital, but not before Dark grabbed his shoulder and yanked him around. He faced Dark's enraged purple eyes, but did not waver from his own calm position. "It would be safer for her if we brought her back to the hospital…" Yui stared to suggest, but Dark took Sannakii from his arms as quickly as he possibly could. Yui did not fight to get her back, but instead reached out to touch Sannakii's face. It was freezing, defying the warm summer rainstorm that she had collapsed in. Dark turned so his arm was away from Sannakii.

"You didn't push her out the window this would have never happened to her. Don't try to be compassionate now. Just walk away before I have the urge to break all of your bones into an uncountable amount of pieces." Dark threatened, as Yui finally backed away from the situation and turned around, leaving in silence. Dark watched him go, then turned around and flew off to the Niwa's house. He couldn't leave Sannakii in that place, or Shadow. He knew his own sister never did well inside those places, with the smell of medicine and everything being so overly clean.

And he could bet on his life that Sannakii would never want to be in a Hospital herself because of her own family tragedy. As he flew into to Daisuke's room, he placed Sannakii down on the bed and covered her with blankets. He reached inside a pocket on his pants and pulled out a vial of clear liquid. It could have been water. He dumped the small amount of liquid down into Sannakii's mouth, and watched her reflexes swallow it.

He sighed and pulled the wet rain jacket off the floor where he had left it. He gripped Yui's jacket tightly in his hands, so tightly in fact they began to tremble. He felt Daisuke's hand on his shoulder, and the shaking subsided. Dark hung the jacket over his closet's doorknob, and then sat on the side of his bed, watching Sannakii sleep, and knowing Daisuke was watching with him.