Summary: For Mika, life is a constant struggle for survival. After some very unfortunate situations, she has isolated herself and is dangerously close to losing her sanity. That is, until she meets Kurama who turns her life upside down. But things begin to get out of control when it is discovered that she could have a strange connection to a mysterious legendary force that could be plotting a major takeover of all three worlds! Could her misery be nothing more that a cruel twist of fate or is this all connected to something even bigger?
Disclaimer: Don't own Yu Yu Hakusho. Wish I did. But I don't. Sadly. Boo-hoo.
Note:I edited some of the older chapters. In chapters 2 and 3, I switched around a few words where I notice there were vocabulary and grammar mistakes. I also defined Mika's character a bit more. In chapters 4, 6, and 8, in situations where she was confronted with food, I edited the way the she reacted. You will find understand after you read this chapter. The changes were not major so there is no need to go back and re-read unless you absolutely feel the need to. :)
Also, someone pointed out to me that there may be some readers who are uncomfotable with reading this story because it goes into details of rape. I'm sorry about that. I didn't think of how it may be affecting some people, so I will start putting a warning in each chapter where it gets very detailed so that squirmish people can skip that part.
Thank you to her for the constructive critism. I am not looking for praise (also that's very nice too) but I am really looking for constructive critism (yelling that you hate my story and that is sucks is NOT constructive---it's hating) so that I may improve myself as a writer. Because if no one critises, but only praises, how can we better ourselves? So thank you to her! :)
Angel's Cry
Chapter 9
"Sick"
"Mika, c'mon, wake up."
Mika opened her eyes to see Shizuru standing over her with a sleepy frown. She sat up and rubbed her eyes before she let out a huge yawn.
"What time is it?" Keiko moaned as she stretched in an attempt to wake up her deadened muscles.
"It's around ten o'clock," Yukina chirped happily from the kitchen, the smell of something delicious on stove wafted through the house, "Breakfast will be ready soon."
"Thanks, Yukina!"
I'm so tired, Mika thought as she stood up, and she stretched her arms out before she let out another yawn, maybe I'll take a nap later.
"Gawd!"
She turned to see Shizuru fanning herself as she packed her bag.
"Why is it so hot in here?" Shizuru questioned aloud, and Botan nodded in agreement as she fanned herself.
Keiko walked to the thermometer and her gasp caused Mika to tilt her head in confusion. It wasn't hot at all. It was nice and toasty---perfect!
"The thermometer is on 82 degrees!"
"What the hell?" Shizuru said as she stood up, "No wonder it's so hot! How did that happen?"
Mika felt her face go hot, "I, um, woke up last night. It was really cold so I turned the temperature up."
"To 82 degrees? Mika, that's really high!" Botan said as she tilted her head in confusion. "Next time just turn it up a degree or two."
She nodded and watched as Keiko lowered the temperature. She heard the heater stop and the blast of the AC take its place. She could feel her turn a brighter red when her friends wouldn't stop staring at her. Luckily, Yukina called them all to the kitchen to eat so she excused herself and was able to escape their scrutinizing gazes.
~.~.~.~.~
"See ya, Mika!"
"Bye, you guys," Mika called out.
She was standing in the doorway to the house with Botan beside her, watching as Keiko and Yukina loaded their bags into the back of Shizuru's car. Shizuru leaned against the hood, smoking a cigarette with her duffle bag at her feet. The boys had arrived home a few minutes ago and were inside busy unpacking their things.
"Shizuru," Yukina's chided in her soft voice, "It's early."
"I know," Shizuru muttered around her cigarette, "But I really need a smoke."
Yukina let out a soft sigh, before she turned to wave to Mika. "Goodbye, Mika dear! It was so nice meeting you!'
Mika quickly descended the porch steps to give the ice maiden a hug. She was going to miss Yukina a lot.
"Take care of yourself," Yukina whispered in her ear, "And don't forget to come visit me sometime, okay?"
"I will," she said, "I promise."
Yukina pulled away with a wide smile. She turned away with a wave, and she got into the backseat of Shizuru's beat up car.
"Alright, you guys!" Keiko called out, "We'll see you later!"
Mika waved goodbye to Keiko.
"Later, hun!" Shizuru flashed the peace sign, "If my brother starts acting like a dumbass let me know, and I'll beat him senseless."
Mika felt her face turning red. "Ummm... I don't think that that's necessary, Shizuru."
Shizuru let out her bark of a laugh before she snuffed out her cigarette on the hood of the car. She tossed it into her purse with a small, "I'll save the rest for later," before she got into her car.
Mika stood in the doorway waving goodbye to the three girls and watched until the car disappeared down the street.
"Hey, Botan, you're being very---"
She turned and realized the deity was no longer standing beside her. She tilted her head in confusion before she shut the door, and ventured into the living room. Kuwabara and Yusuke were devouring the extra food that Yukina had set aside for them. Hiei was no where to be found. And Kurama and Botan were standing by the staircase, talking. She approached the pair with a bright smile.
"I'm telling you, Kurama... I'm really worried..."
"It's alright. Don't worry; I will definitely talk to---"
Both stopped in their tracks when Mika came close enough to hear the entire conversation. Both pairs of eyes were widened in panic.
"Am I interrupting something?" Mika questioned as her face turned bright red, "I'm sorry, I'll just go---"
"No," Botan said and latched onto back of Mika's black turtleneck sweater, "No, it's fine. I need to leave anyway."
Mika was slightly confused as the deity pulled her into a bone crushing hug.
"Take care of yourself," Botan whispered, her voice was forced and panicky. She released Mika and looked her straight in the eyes, "Promise me."
Now Mika was really confused. Her eyes took in the frightened expression on her friend's face and the wild look in her eyes. A sharp shiver ran down her spine and she could feel the color draining from her face. Something was happening. Something was wrong. Why was Botan acting so strange?
"Promise me," Botan pleaded.
"I promise," she said, "Botan, what's happening? What's wrong?"
"It's okay," the bluenette said in a rushed voice, "I've got to run! See you later, Mika."
Mika watched as a giant wooden oar appeared out of thin air and into her hand. She hopped on the oar just as a portal opened before her.
She threw Kurama a meaningful look, "Bye, Kurama. Don't forget."
Kurama nodded and said goodbye before Botan disappeared into the swirling depths of the portal.
"Kurama, what's going on?" Mika questioned, her voice rising in panic. "I don't understand."
"It's nothing, Mika," Kurama said in a soothing voice as he gave her a tightlipped smile. "Don't worry."
She watched as he turned on his heel and hurried into the kitchen. She followed, her forehead creased in confusion and she watched him bustle about the kitchen busying himself with tense energy.
She was about to say something to him when suddenly a violent tremor ripped through her. Her first word came out in a sharp gasp, and she wrapped her arms around her as her teeth chattered. She could feel the goose bumps the decorated the length of her arms through her sweater.
"Mika?"Kurama turned his voice panicky and quick. His forehead creased with worry and his eyebrows knitted together. "Are you alright?"
She rubbed her hand quickly against her sweater in an attempt to warm herself with the friction. "C-Cold..."
"You're cold?" He questioned, tilting his head to the side in confusion. "In that thick sweater? You must be getting sick."
"N-No," she shook her head stubbornly, "I've been like this since I was little. It happens a lot. Just wait."
He watched as she walked towards the table and sat down. She curled inward as she shivered violently. He studied her intently, his bright eyes filled with worry and confusion.
She could hear him mutter something like, "Botan was right", and she watched as he hurried to the cabinet and pulled out a coffee mug. He collected the tea kettle and filled it with water before setting in on the stove.
"W-What do you mean?" She questioned in confusion as she rubbed her arms viciously. He didn't answer, and instead he reached into his hair and withdrew a seed. He held it in his open palm and it began to glow brilliantly. She watched in awe as it grew in his palm.
"It's a fire plant," he said as she registered the shock set on her face. "It's a common species found in most deserts in the Makai. I have a whole stock of these."
The plant was one of the strangest things she had ever seen. It resembled a sunflower that had been set on fire. The stem was a brilliant combination of orange and red. The petals themselves looked like fire. They flickered and danced joyously before her like the flame of a candle.
Kurama turned to the drawer beside the sink and rummaged through it before he had a pair on tongs in his hands. He plucked two of the burning petals and held them away from his body to prevent the flames from licking his clothes. In his other hand, much to her surprise, the plant glowed white once more and shrunk back into its seedling state. He brought his hand to his hair once more and when he pulled it away, the seed had vanished.
She watched incredulously as he smiled at her as if what he had done was nothing out of the ordinary.
He turned to the tea kettle that was now screaming for his attention, and with his free hand, poured the water into the cup. He loosened his grip on the tongs and dropped the flaming petals into the steaming water.
Her eyes widened as she listened to the petals hiss like angry snakes while they sizzled and popped in the water, before the flames were extinguished.
Kurama held the mug in his hand as the he waited for the medicinal property of the leaves to infuse into the liquid. He took a seat across from her and slid the cup across the table to her. Mika peered warily into the mug, and she watched as the clear water slowly turned a dark crimson color.
"Let it all turn red. You should drink it while it's still hot."
She frowned at the redhead and waited. A few minutes later, she stirred the liquid before she hesitantly brought the cup to her face and sniffed at it. She wrinkled her nose when the bitter scent stung her nose; the chuckle she received from him was lifeless.
It smells bad. And it's too much, she thought as stared into the dark crimson liquid. She brought the cup to her lips and her frown deepened when the horrible taste spread across her tongue. Taste it and d only taste it, don't actually drink it.
"I know it tastes terrible," he amended, "but it will make you feel better."
She brought the cup back to her lips to discreetly spit it out when Kurama caught her hand. She looked up at him in confusion.
"Don't spit it out, Mika," he said, his voice firm, "You need to drink it."
So he had noticed her little habit. [1] She narrowed her eyes in a glare as she tried to bring the cups to her lips again to spit it out but he kept his grip on her hand restraining.
"You need to drink it," he repeated.
She realized that she wouldn't win, so with a feeling of defeat and a frown, she obliged. She was instantly filled with warmth and her shivering stopped as she took a few more sips. When she was halfway finished with the strange herbal remedy, she placed her mug on the table and slid it back to him.
"I don't want anymore," she said stubbornly, "I feel better now."
"Alright," he said, "But if you start shivering again, you'll need to drink more."
She scrunched her face up in disgust before she added grudgingly, "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
A pregnant silence filled the room. She could feel the tension rolling off of him but she didn't know what to say. She was still a bit angry at him for making her drink. When she finally realized that he wasn't going to say anything, she laid her head on top of her arms and yawned hugely. She hadn't realized how tired she was.
"Sleepy?"
"Yes," she glanced up at him with half-closed eyes, "We didn't go to sleep until late."
"I see."
They fell back into silence. She yawned again. The warmth that spread through her body and played across her skin only increased her drowsiness. She closed her eyes and shifted in her seat in an effort to get comfortable.
"Mika?"
"Hmmm?"
"I think... that I know what's wrong."
She opened her heavy eyes and took in his face. His bright eyes were clouded with emotion, and his lips twisted into a thoughtful frown.
"What do you mean?" She asked with little curiosity. She sat up and lazily propped her head up on her elbow.
"I..." he sighed, "I've wanted to talk to you about this for a while... but I didn't know how to say it."
"Tell me," she said as she yawned again.
"I don't..."
"Kurama, just say it. It's fine."
He was silent for a moment, and she watched as his eyes wandered around the room as he tried to search for words. Finally, he began to speak.
"Mika," he said slowly as he watched her dazed face cautiously, "I think that you're sick...."
"Is that all you wanted to say? I don't think I'm sick. This happens a lot..."
"It's more than the shivering," he let out a huge sigh, "Mika... I think that you may be... anorexic."
They both fell silent, neither looking away from each other. Mika's eyes narrowed dangerously in a clear warning that he should stop in his tracks, but he continued to plow ahead.
"I didn't want to say anything until I was absolutely sure. And now I am," he said in a quiet voice, "Mika, you're sick. You're much too thin. I think you should get some help."
The first thing that came to mind when Kurama said 'help' was doctors and hospitals. She absolutely hated doctors. The thought of someone standing over her and staring down at her with beady eyes, wearing one of those creepy masks with that horrible white suit, and carrying needles and an assortment of scary painful looking tools was enough to induce a bit of nausea. She could feel her heart speeding up in fear and she was quick to convince him otherwise.
"I am not!"
"Mika, look at yourself! You're skin and bones! You need to take better care of yourself!"
Mika's eyes narrowed as she pursed her lips and flared her nostrils. Now she was getting angry. He was being so mean! The way he was talking to her---in such an accusing tone--- made her angry and put her on the defensive.
"Excuse me?"
"Mika, you barely eat. You always look tired. You're intolerant to the cold,"
Who did he think he was?
She opened her mouth to protest but he cut her off, "Botan told me about how high you turned the thermometer up last night. Yukina also said you said something about 'being on a strict diet'? [2] And you're always wearing such thick sweaters even though it's summer!"
He leaned across the table and took a hold of her hand. He ran his thumb along her knuckles. "Your nails are brittle."
Then he moved his hand up her arm. He grabbed the sleeve of her sweater and yanked it up. He tapped a dark bruise on her forearm. "All you did was bump into the table, and look! You bruise too easily!"
And then he released her arm, and his bright emerald eyes scrutinized her face, "You're always so pale. And your eyes are sunken. You're lips are chapped. Those are just a few of the physical symptoms of anorexia. You're sick."
"I am not sick!" She screamed and pushed herself away from the table.
She could feel the anger surging through her. He was so cruel! Why did he have to point out all her flaws? She already knew she was ugly. Honestly, was there really any need to tell her what all was wrong with her? And on top of that, was it necessary to tell her she was sick? And needed 'help'? She pressed her lips together in tight line. There was no way in hell that she was going in for just a little bit of 'help'. There was no way in hell that she was going to see a doctor. She would fight Kurama if he tried to force her to go. There was no way she was going down without a fight.
"Denial is another symptom."
"Ugh, shut up, Kurama! Just shut up!"
"Mika, how can you not see it? Look at yourself!"
"I do look at myself! Kurama, I have to see myself everyday in the mirror! I know what I look like: my hair is always a mess; my eyes are the color of dirt; I'm almost as white as a ghost. I'm the most fucking ugly person on the planet! I know it already so you don't have to remind me!"
"Mika, no that's not what I meant! I'm not trying to be mean! I don't mean it like that! I just want you to realize that you're---"
"Who do you think you are? Although you're helping me out, do I need to remind you that we've only known each other for...what? A week? You barely know me! How dare you point out everything wrong with me and then on top of that try to tell me that I need help? I am not sick, Kurama! I don't see why you and Botan are making such a big deal out of this! I've been this way since I was little! It's not a big deal!"
Kurama was now on his feet and walking around the table toward her. She could hear the curious voices of Kuwabara and Yusuke in the living room, and footsteps heading toward the kitchen.
"It is a big deal, Mika!" Kurama said, "We're talking about your health! You're starving yourself. Can't you see that you're slowly killing yourself?"
Mika glared at the redhead, her eyes narrowed dangerously and her lips pulled back over her lips in a grimace. At that moment she truly hated him. How dare he try to preach to her and tell her all this crap? She didn't understand. What was so bad about not eating? What was so bad about wanting to have just a little control of her life? What was so bad about her trying to be a good person? If she didn't want to eat, she didn't have to. What exactly was the big deal? Couldn't he give it a rest?
"What the hell is going on in here?" Yusuke's voice carried over to her, but she didn't look at him.
Her eyes were locked on Kurama's forest gaze. She felt so angry. She wanted to hit him. She grinded her teeth together before she said in a poisonous voice, "Well maybe I'd be better off dead than here!"
"Mika!"
But it was too late. She had already spun on the heel of her shoe and was running at full speed towards the kitchen doorway. She shoved past Yusuke and Kuwabara who were as confused as ever and, she bolted to the staircase, took the stairs two at a time, and ran into her room.
~.~.~.~.~
Kurama heard a door upstairs slam shut. He sighed as he sat back down at the table. He began to rub his temples before he buried his face in his hands.
"What the hell was that about?" Kuwabara questioned.
"You two have a lover's quarrel?" Yusuke teased as he walked over to the distressed redhead and jabbed him in the ribs.
"Shut up, Yusuke." Kurama muttered.
Hiei marched past the kitchen. His eyes were narrowed and his lips were pressed into a tight line, and he made a beeline for the front door. Kurama could hear him mutter something about "never having any peace and quiet".
"Hiei, quit PMSing!" Yusuke yelled.
The sound of the door slamming violently shut was his answer. He shrugged as he sat down across from Kurama and put his feet up on the table. Kurama gave him a look which Yusuke ignored with a smile.
"Well, exactly what happened?" He questioned with mild curiosity, "We could hear you guys yelling and when we came in she ran out the room."
Kurama dropped his hands from his face. "It's a long story."
"We've got time. Now talk."
He frowned before he began to fill his two friends in.
~.~.~.~.~
"Mika, you've been in there all day. Would you please come out?"
Mika sat on her bed, her lips twisted into a stubborn pout. Her arms were folded across her chest tightly in anger. She could hear Kurama outside of her door trying to coax her into coming out, but she wasn't having any of it.
"Mika," he pleaded, "you know I didn't mean it like that. Please come out."
She didn't respond and instead she shifted her position so that she was facing the window. She glanced up at the sky which was as black as satin and the stars glittered from their positions high in the heavens.
She hadn't left her room since she and Kurama had fought early that morning. He had tried numerous times to apologize to her. Even Yusuke and Kuwabara had tried to get her to talk to them. But each time she refused, only speaking to tell them to "go away," or "get lost".
She kept her lips pressed firmly together and remained stonily silent. A few moments later, she could hear a deep sigh and footsteps echoing down the hall. She felt bad treating him this way. After all, he was letting her stay in his house and he was so kind to her. But the way he had talked to her... the way he tried to force her to believe that she was sick... the way he believed that she needed 'professional' help...
It was enough to make her blood boil---and her heart to stop dead in her chest with fear.
Mika let out a large sigh as she got up from her bed. She opened the window to let the warm night air in. She stared up at the sky with a frown on her face.
God, why do you hate me so much? She wondered. What have I ever done to deserve any of this?
Her frown deepened when there was no answer.
"Fine then. Be that way," she muttered as she plopped behind the desk that was just beside the window. She rummaged through the drawers, in hopes of finding anything that would entertain her. She murmured a small "hmmm," when she found a large legal pad and pen in the top drawer.
What will I do? She thought as she sat the notepad down in front of her, and she stared blankly at the cheap yellow paper. She picked up the pen and began to mindlessly scribble in the margins. A few minutes later she let out a deep sigh before she crumpled the paper and tossed it behind her without so much of a glance.
She closed her eyes and tried to clear her mind. She tried not to think; she tried to do nothing but feel as she began to write her name across the top of the page. She could feel the rough material of the paper beneath her knuckles. She could feel the smooth and cool pen in her hand. She could smell the summer air that wafted through her open window---it was moist and was sweet and earthy.
And soon her mind was empty. Words would pop into her head and she would write them down without a thought. But soon the words turned dark.
Ugly... Fat... Hideous... Monster... Slut... Undesirable... Self-control... Undeserving...
Soon the words turned into phrases.
I hate myself...
I'm a horrible person...
You left me...
Why did you go?
Keep in control... stay in control...
She could only feel the raw emotion that tore at her. And soon the emotion was flowing from her heart through her veins and into the pen that was currently dancing across the page.
She could suddenly see faces. Horrible faces. Faces she wished to forget. They were haunting her. They would never leave her alone. They were there, deep in her mind, impossible to be forgotten. Her mind wasn't a safe place. Nowhere was safe.
Faces brought memories and with memories came pain. She could feel her heart being twisted in her chest. She could feel her lungs freeze. She could feel her eyes sting and then suddenly colors were blending. Colors were swimming before her eyes. Shapes were being distorted. They wiggled, they danced. She could feel something wet fall on her hand. A ripping sound, almost animalistic, filled her ears. Was that horrible noise coming from her?
"You're sorry? We'll see how sorry you are when I'm done with you!"
"I'm sorry..."
"Can't you ever doing anything right? I should've thrown you out on the street! Better yet, I should've had an abortion! You're such a fucking piece of shit!"
"I'm so sorry!"
"I love you so much, Mika."
"Grandmother..."
"I'm leaving you, Mika."
"Not you too... please stay with me..."
"C'mon Mika, I just want to have a little fun with you! It won't hurt this time, I promise!"
"No, don't..."
"I regret to inform you that your child... your child did not make it."
"My baby..."
"You're weak."
"I-I..."
"Pathetic."
"He loves me, not you! Me!"
"P-Please..."
"No one gives a damn about you..."
"Stop it..."
"...and no one ever will give a damn about you..."
"Stop it!"
"...Do want to know why?"
"STOP!"
"...Because you're a worthless piece of shit. You shouldn't even exist."
She couldn't breathe. Her face was burning. Her chest was tight, and she felt like she was choking. She felt light-headed and dizzy. Her mind was spinning out of control, her thoughts going in a million directions at once.
She couldn't think. She couldn't focus. All she wanted to do was escape. She needed to get out of here---and get out of here now. But she couldn't move. She was frozen to her seat.
She could hear someone pounding at her door.
"Mika? Mika, can you hear me? What's happening?"
She couldn't make a sound. She couldn't breathe; her lungs burned for oxygen. She was fading in and out; her vision betraying her.
"What the hell is going on?"
She could hear the door burst open, she could hear yelling, and she felt a pair of arms wrap around her. She twisted in his arms and wrapped her arms around him. She grabbed onto his shirt with all the strength she had, and refused to let go.
"Kurama," she choked out, "Help me!"
"I'm right here," he shushed her as he rubbed her back, his voice was calm but had an edge of hysteria to it, "Somebody call Botan! We need a portal now!"
But, it was too late. The darkness swallowed her and pulled her from consciousness.
~.~.~.~.~
Chaos lurks around every corner...
The seven deadly sins are everywhere; they devour people by the millions...
The world is an evil place.
It's much harsher than people claim it is... it's full of despair and hatred and rage and jealous.
How can you survive it any longer?
It's already eating you alive.
Just give in. Give into me, and I will make you strong.
You won't have to fear ever again.
Let yourself sink into despair, let yourself be eaten by your anger... and you will find me there---waiting in the shadows ready to embrace you and protect you from this world.
Just come to me...
and everything will be fine, my dear Mika.
I promise you...
~.~.~.~.~
"What happened? What happened to Mika?"
Botan's eyes were brimming with tears. She, Keiko, and Shizuru were all gathered around Yukina who was sobbing deeply, tear gems scattering all over the plain commercial tan carpet. It was a little less than an hour ago when they had arrived in time only to watch as their friend was wheeled away on a hospital stretcher.
Kurama was sitting on the sofa in the waiting room of the Spirit World infirmary. He had his head buried in his hands, and he didn't utter a single word.
"Kurama thinks that she may have had a panic attack," Yusuke answered. He collapsed beside Kurama and shook his head. "But what the hell would cause her to panic? She was up in her room all day, anyways..."
"Maybe she's claustrophobic?" Kuwabara suggested. He was on the opposite couch, his arms around a hysterical Yukina. Hiei stood behind them, his expression seething, as he glared murderously at the redhead.
The discussion then faded into silence. The room was filled with such tension that someone could literally be strangled by it. The seconds turned into minutes, the minutes into an hour, and an hour into an eternity, until finally the doctor entered the waiting room. Instantaneously, millions of questions were thrown at him and he had to wait until everyone finally calmed down before he could talk.
"Miss Mika is in a stable condition," the doctor announced.
Everyone sighed in relief.
"But," he added with a dramatic pause, "We think that it is necessary that she remain in our care for a few weeks."
"What?" Yusuke yelled, as he glared at the doctor. "But you just said that---"
"She is in stable condition at the moment, yes. But her health is in serious condition. She is much too thin. Her body can barely support itself. And if all the information that Kurama has given me is true, that she barely eats and refuses to eat, she will not get better on her own. We will need to keep her here so that we can monitor her until her condition improves enough in order for her to return home."
Shizuru stared at the doctor with dangerously narrowed eyes, "What are you going to do to her?"
"If Miss Mika won't eat willingly, we will have to keep her hooked up to a feeding tube in order for her to put on some weight and for her body to absorb the vital nutrients it needs."
"But when she gains the weight and comes back home, what are we going to do when she refuses not to eat?"
"We will also have her speak with a psychiatrist during her stay. It may help for us to understand what is triggering this behavior. This is nothing new. I've treated many patients with disorders like this. I am pretty sure that we can handle anything she throws at us," the doctor smiled smugly at her.
Shizuru didn't like his tone nor did she like the look on his face. Her eyes tightened and her lips pulled back over her teeth in a snarl. She cracked her knuckles loudly before she began, "You better hope so! Because if something happens to her, there will be hell to pay! And the first person to get their face smashed in is you, asshole!"
She lunged forward and the doctor didn't flinch at all. The smug look on his face remained as he watched the woman's friends restrain her.
"Don't kill the doctor, Shizuru!" Keiko yelled as she tugged harder on the back of the brunette's shirt. "He's the one taking care of Mika!"
The doctor didn't spare the feisty Shizuru another look as he turned his back on the group. He opened the door leading to the rooms and said, "You may see her if you would like. She's in room number 349. The second hall on the left, fifth door on the right. Please keep your voices down. We have other patients."
They all watched as the man disappeared behind the wooden doors.
"Well, who stuck a di---" Yusuke started but Keiko was quick to drown out his obscenities.
"YUSUKE!"
"...up his ass?"
~.~.~.~.~
"She's so pale..."
"Hey, Mika! Wake up! C'mon, I'm tired and I want to make sure you're alive before we leave!"
"Yusuke, shut up! You'll wake her!"
"I know."
"You son of a---"
"Yusuke, she needs to rest. Let her mind protect itself."
Voices...
Familiar voices...
"Awww, I'm just playing around with you guys. Lighten up; she's gonna be fine! Besides, she's out cold. I bet she can't even hear me."
Botan...
Yusuke...
Keiko...
Shizuru...
Yukina...
"You dumbass! You just woke her up!"
Kuwabara...
"She just moved! Her eyelids just fluttered."
"Mika, if you can hear me can you nod or something?"
Kurama...
Her head felt so heavy as she attempted to move it. Her thoughts were a giant blur and were unfocused. She was so tired, she wanted to go back to sleep.
"Mika?"
She forced herself to open her eyes. Everything was brilliantly and painfully bright. She squinted and could see several dark silhouettes gathered around her.
"Oh, thank God you're okay," Botan's voice sighed.
After a few moments, her vision focused and she could see clearly. She could see that she was in a room other than her own. The room was a bright white and the wall beside her was covered with long vertical blinds. She could hear a dripping noise and an annoying beeping sound nearby. She was propped up on an uneven bed that had rails---a hospital bed. In a hospital room. In a...
Hospital... was her only thought as she looked around, taking in all the expressions on her friend's faces. She could feel her heart accelerate (as well as the annoying beeping) at the thought. Hospital!
Her hands were twisted up with clear tubes, and something was taped across her face and underneath her nose. She hurriedly reached up to rip it off when someone caught her hand.
"No you don't."
She glared up at Kurama. Her lips were pressed together in tight line and her eyes rebellious. She reached up with her free hand to slap him but stopped when she felt something pulling at her. She looked down to see and IV tugging at her hand.
What the hell? She could feel the panic increasing and soon she was breathing quickly. She didn't understand. Why was she here? What had happened?
"Wait! What's happening to the monitor?" Botan screeched as the beeping began came in quicker and louder frequencies. She glanced at Mika, who was starting to sweat and breathe heavily. "What's wrong, Mika?"
"What's happening to me?" She was screaming as she shook her head from side to side. She began to sit up in an attempt to free herself. "Why have you brought me here?"
"Someone hold her down!"
She could feel several pairs of hands pushing her back down on the bed, but she wasn't going down without a fight. She began to flail her limbs and shake her head from side to side wildly. But she was outnumbered one to seven. Yusuke and Kuwabara pinned her legs, Botan and Keiko at her waist, Kurama held her down by her chest and right arm, Shizuru had a death grip on her other arm, and Yukina held her head firmly yet gently against the pillows. Hiei sat absently by the window watching the chaos with a bored expression.
"STOP! Let go of me!"
"Mika, please calm down!" Kurama yelled.
"NO! LET ME GO!' She screeched as struggled against her friends. She tried to kick her legs, but Yusuke and Kuwabara were restraining her. "I HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE!"
"Mika, cut it out!" Yusuke yelled in irritation as he pressed down on her leg even more.
"Kurama, let me go please!" She pleaded. "I-I can't...I need to get out of here!"
"Someone go get a nurse," Kurama ordered as he squeezed Mika's hand tighter, "She's panicking again."
Keiko nodded and disappeared from the room in a hurry. Mika glared up at Kurama as she tried to pull her hand away. Her teeth were bared and her eyes were wild, almost animalistic, with rage. He held onto her hand tightly, his emerald eyes narrowed in determination as he glared back down at her.
"I can't let you go, Mika. You have to stay here whether you like it or not."
She let out a scream of pure rage as she tried violently to pull her arm away from him so she could get in a good swipe.
"Mika dear, please be still," Yukina's soothing voice rang in her ears and a cool hand brushed her uneven bangs out of her eyes. "You're not well. The doctor will be here soon."
"No!" She gasped, "I'm not sick! I hate doctors! I hate hospitals!"
"You are sick, Mika."
Her eyes pricked and soon hot tears were streaming down her cheeks. She hated hospitals. She saw her Grandmother in her mind. She was lying on a hospital stretcher... laying there---broken beyond repair and bloodied---before her. She remembered the way they threw the sheet over her and wheeled her away, for her to never to see again. She would never see her grandmother's smiling face. She'd never be cradled again in her arms. She'd never smell the peppermint and deep perfume that surrounded her grandmother in an invisible mist. She'd never taste the warm cookies she made. She'd never have someone tuck her in, or tell her "goodnight", or tell her "I love you." She remembered the doctors. The white masks, the plastic gloves that they would snap on, the white suits with crimson blood---her grandmother's blood---soiling the sleeves. She remembered the painful things they did to her after the car crash that took her grandmother's life. Needles. Knives. Strange smelling gas. Strange things. Horrible, horrifying, scary, frightening things. She remembered her baby. How she died in the hospital. The doctors didn't save her baby. They saved her yet they didn't save her child. Why would they save her but not her baby? Doctors were horrible people. They frightened her beyond imagination.
But why wouldn't they let her go? Why were they trying to force her through this horrible situation? Weren't they friends? Weren't they supposed to care about her? Why wouldn't he let go?
"Mika, please just relax..."
She squeezed her eyes shut. It was his entire fault! She wouldn't be here if it weren't for him! Why did he have to say all those things? Why did it have to lead to this? She could feel the rage building up inside her and she couldn't help the irrational words that exploded from her chest.
"I HATE YOU, KURAMA! I HATE YOU!"
She could hear the door slam open and she tore her gaze away from Kurama's narrowed forest gaze to see a nurse entering the room with Keiko hot on her heels. The nurse took one glance at Mika and her friends before she understood exactly what was going on.
"It's okay, dear," she comforted as she squeezed through the crowded room to the IV feed. She offered a fake sympathetic smile to Mika and reached out to stroke her wet cheek. "You should go to sleep."
"NO!" Mika screeched out as she attempted to struggle again. She watched as the woman dug through the tray on the table beside the bed. "I won't take it!"
"I'm sorry, dear, you're not going to swallow anything," the nurse laughed as she glanced at the sack of fluids hanging beside the bed.
Mika's heart accelerated at this new information and she watched as the nurse pulled out a needle. Mika let out a scream as the nurse came closer to her.
"Don't worry, dear, I'm not giving you a shot," the woman comforted as she injected the medicine into Mika's tube, "You'll be asleep in no time."
It didn't take long for Mika to begin to feel the effects of the medication. She could feel the drowsiness trickling through her bloodstream. Her efforts to struggle were quickly letting up as fatigue clouded over her. Soon, her eyes lids were drooping and her vision was blurring.
"Well, that should do it," the nurse said with a sigh as she moved to the door, "I suggest you all say your goodnights and head home. You can come back tomorrow if you'd like."
Everyone nodded and watched as the nurse disappeared through the door. They all released their hold on Mika. She didn't move. Her muscles were frozen from the drugs coursing through her body.
"Thank god," Yusuke sighed as he shook her head, "You wouldn't think someone as small as her would be so strong. But, damn! She's got a kick, man! She got me good in the face!"
Everyone let out a soft and slightly relieved laugh. Footsteps sounded and soft goodbyes and "get well soon"-s floated throughout the room.
"Bye, Mika dear," Yukina whispered as she pressed her lips to her friend's forehead and rubbed her arm, "Get well soon. Goodbye, Kurama. Please take good care of her."
Kurama nodded and watched as Yukina and the other girls disappeared through the door. He let out a loud sigh as he glanced down at Mika. Her eyes were closed, and the stress on her face was finally melting away into a blank expression. He could feel the sinking feeling in his gut, and he the corners of his lips were turning down into a deep frown. He ran his fingers along the smooth skin of her knuckles.
"I'm sorry, Mika," he sighed, "I am so so sorry."
He dropped her hand and shook his head and turned to leave.
"Kurama..."
He turned to see Mika's eyes struggling to stay open. Her eyes were unfocused as she glanced around the room, no doubt looking for him.
"...'M sorry. Stay with me..." her voice was no more than a hoarse whisper, "Please?"
His lips turned up into a wistful half-smile.
"...Please?"
He looked around the room and spotted a chair in the corner. He hurried over to it and began to drag it towards the bed.
"Kurama?"
"I'm here," he said softly as he took a seat beside her. He reached for her hand, and she let out a sigh as her eyes closed fully. "Don't worry; I promise I won't leave."
She was silent for a few moments before she sighed, "...Thanks."
A small smile formed on Kurama's face. He squeezed her hand softly.
"You're welcome."
~.~.~.~.~
Author's Note
[1] - This is another change in the earlier chapters. Just tasting food before spitting it out is one of the traits that some people who suffer anorexia may/may not display. A friend of mine used to do this.
[2] - This was one of the changes I made. When Yukina was pouring the milk for the hot chocolate, Mika told her not too much. When questioned she replied that she was on a 'very strict diet'. It's not a big chance, but if you want you ca go back a re-read that part.