Me: Welcome to Chapter Eleven!

Antauri: My poor son…

Me: (Sighs.) How long has he been saying that Gibson?

Gibson: All day.

Me: Alright… OMG! I came up with a power for my new character in The Alchemist is Back. (Whispers in Gibson ear.)

Gibson: Excellent. Antauri would benefit from that.

Antauri: Is he alright?

Gibson: Give me a moment.

Me: If you want to know let's get started!

Antauri: Aunna doesn't own SRMTHFG!

Gibson: Read and Review!

Chapter Eleven: Hurts

I moaned as I felt myself return to the awake world. My head throbbed with the pain medication Gibson gave me before the surgery.

The surgery!

I lifted the covers off my leg and looked. I gasped.

My whole ankle was in a HUGE cast. It looked like I had a giants ankle instead of a fourteen-year-old humans ankle.

I sighed and laid back down. My brain was in a fog. Antauri nor Gibson were anywhere to be seen. That scared me. Being by myself anytime scared me.

I heard the door open and Gibson. He looked at me. "Oh," he said. "You're awake,"

"You don't sound happy," I said. "It's like you didn't want me to wake up,"

"No!" Gibson said loudly. "I wanted you to wake up! I really did! But you choose the worst time to do it,"

"What the…" I began to say. Then there was an explosion and Gibson muffled my scream. My eyes were wide and I knew my heartbeat had probably sped up to a dangerous level but I couldn't do anything. Gibson was keeping me silent and immobilized.

We heard Antauri screech and the clang of his claws meeting metal. "Foolishness," I heard a voice that belonged to Mandarin say. "Complete foolishness. You shouldn't have interfered with my plan to rid of the boy Antauri. Now you get to meet his fate,"

Tears sprung from my eyes and fell onto my face and Gibson's hand. He wasn't taking this situation very well either but he was at least not showing it. "No!" I heard Antauri yell. "You will not touch me, nor Chiro, nor anyone else I love and protect. Get that smirk off your face Mandarin! I do not love myself! I only saw anyone else because there are too many at risk from you Mandarin! Monkey Mind Scream!"

"Monkey Mind Scream!" Mandarin shouted back. The loud noise hurt my ears but I didn't care. Antauri was in trouble and I was the reason he was. A stupid boy who can't protect himself, much less a city of people.

Gibson looked at me with a questioning look. I nodded. I rather Gibson was helping Antauri then worrying about me. Mandarin would be easier to stop with two instead of one.

Gibson ran out the room and soon more explosions came. Mandarin's pain filled screams filled the air. I knew Gibson had probably hurt him bad but I was worried about Antauri. Had the explosions Gibson had caused hurt him too?

I heard Antauri moments later and my worry lessened. He wasn't hurt to badly, none of his injuries were Gibson fault I hoped. Mandarin screeched again and I cringed. How long was this going to be?

I felt a dark presence in the room and the moment I heard footsteps I tried to scream. But I couldn't. Valina's hand cut off the scream. (I felt like bringing her back from the dead.) I felt another presence but paid no attention to it. Valina was my only concern.

"Foolish boy," Valina hissed. "You sent away your only protection. You have sealed your fate. It is time to die!"

She lifted her hand to perform the curse and I shut my eyes. I had no way to protect myself. I was going to die.

"Not today Valina!" I heard a voice shout. "Knuckle Duster!" A yellow fist met Valina's face and I smiled. Nova had arrived.

"Foolish monkey!" Valina screeched. She raised her hands to perform a curse.

"Double Monkey Attack!" I heard Gibson and Antauri yell. Valina fell to floor. I was going to thank them. I wanted to. But I couldn't. Valina's nails had cut my cheek and jaw when she covered my mouth and talking only made the pain worse.

Gibson was the first to notice. "Chiro!" he shouted. "Your face!"

Antauri and Nova came rushing over to try to stop the bleeding while Gibson got out some medical supplies.

My face felt like someone had tried to carve it like a turkey. Valina definitely needed to invest in some nail clippers. If her nails did this unintentionally then I don't want to know what happens when she really means it.

Gibson began to stitch up the gashes and I whimpered in pain. Antauri and Nova held my hand tight while Gibson did it. The pain lessened and I looked at Gibson. I opened my mouth to speak but Gibson cut me off. I shut my mouth and I knew Gibson knew what I wanted to say.

Gibson left the room a minute later to rid of Valina. Mandarin had escaped the battle while Antauri was down. I had seen the gash on his leg and I gave him an apologetic look.

Antauri knew what I meant and we started to talk through our thoughts. It's not your fault, Antauri said.

Yes it is, I said. If I hadn't been hurt Mandarin nor Valina would have attacked. You wouldn't have been injured. None of this would have happened. I'm suppose to protect, but how can I do that when I have to be protected all the time? How am I Antauri?

Even protectors need protection, Antauri said. You have protected everyone many times. You have gained your injuries because you love everyone here and we gained ours because we love you. You don't have to protect all the time. I'm supposed to protect you but you have protected me. You protect me from external enemies but you protect me from internal demons too. You have done so much for everyone and we have only just begun to repay you. We love you and would gladly die for you. You do know that right Chiro?

Yes Antauri, I said. I yawned as Antauri ended the conversation. He motioned for me to sleep and I obliged. They would be here in the morning and hopefully would be there for many more to come.

My eyes shut as Antauri ran his fingers through my hair. I fell asleep when Nova began to sing a song call 'Warriors Lullaby."