It's been a while since I've updated, so I hope you like it!
PLEASE R&R!
Disclaimer: Lux-Pain (c) Killaware
Claimer: everything else (c) me
Chapter Twelve: Guilt
When Atsuki arrived at the hospital, arriving at the front of her room. Knocking gently, he peeked open the door before stepping in, closing the door behind him.
Fumiko lay sleeping in her bed, seeming peacefully asleep, and Liu Yee sat by her side, holding her hand in his as he brushed away a few bangs from her face.
"Fumiko," Atsuki breathed quietly, and Liu Yee glared hard at him, his hand tightening in Fumiko's.
Very slowly, Atsuki walked over to sit on Fumiko's other side, and took her other hand in his own. Fumiko's hand was so cold, and he knew that she was weak... and it was all his fault.
"Dammit, Atsuki, why weren't you there to protect her?" Liu Yee scowled angrily. "That was the other mission FORT assigned you!"
Atsuki squeezed his eyes shut, but he knew that it was true. He was the cause of this, and he knew that she wouldn't survive if she were to be attacked again.
"I-I never imagined that she would get hurt," he said. "I-I thought…"
"You let her down, Atsuki!" the Sweeper growled angrily, his voice rising, and Fumiko stirred gently. Both noticed that her hands squeezed theirs gently, and they could tell that she was weak. Liu Yee looked at her worriedly, afraid that she might awaken, then sighed heavily. "We will continue this discussion later. I do not want to disturb her rest. She will need it in order to recover quicker. Are you even aware that Fumiko has not have a decent night's sleep ever since she's arrived in Kisaragi City?"
He shook his head, aghast at the news. "I-I didn't know that…" he stammered, his voice barely a whisper. "A-All this time… she's been suffering… and she's never said a word to me about it…"
"She didn't want you to worry," Liu said, his gaze darkening. "And she didn't want to worry me either… but I figured it out and reported back to FORT… that's one of the reasons why I believe she should be pulled out of the field for this one. It doesn't look like she can take much more of this. Much more of this, and she'll die."
Atsuki tensed, as he never wanted this to happen. He loved her, and he wasn't about to let her fall to the likes of Silent infectees. Bowing his head, he closed his eyes, trying to send her his support.
"Don't fail again," Liu Yee threatened, "if you should fail again, Atsuki, Fumiko will be the one to pay the price… possibly even with her life."
The silver-haired student nodded in bitter but true understanding.
Suddenly, Fumiko's hands twitched in theirs, and they looked to see her slowly half-opening her eyes, watching them with darkened azure orbs.
"A-Atsuki…" she whispered, her voice barely audible, "L-Liu…"
"Fumiko, you're awake," Liu said softly, all traces of his previous anger vanishing.
"How are you feeling?" Atsuki asked.
She sighed quietly, "been better. I feel like I've been working myself overtime for seven days straight. Hmm… even worse than when I was with the CIA."
"That would probably be because you've haven't had a decent night's sleep since you arrived in Kisaragi precisely seven days ago," Liu answered. "You've been getting involved in these people's lives more than you should be. Whatever happened to rule number one, don't get attached?"
She slowly blinked, the corners of her mouth twitching up into a weak smile. "Flew out the window, I suppose," she said softly. "That, along with all the other rules. But I'm surprised the chief still puts up with me."
Atsuki touched her cheek, caressing it softly with his hand. "I should apologize to you, Fumiko. I should have been there to help you," he apologized sincerely. "I'm so sorry."
Her eyes met his, azure eyes that laid no blame. "It's okay, Atsuki," she told him, "I never blamed you for what happened to me. It was my choice to protect Hibiki. Things in Kisaragi are turning out to be more serious than I thought."
Liu Yee exchanged a brief glance with Atsuki before informing her, "Fumiko, Chief Ray has been worried about your health and safety lately… he's considering pulling you off this case and out of Kisaragi."
She smiled softly. "Can't let him do that," she said. "'Never abandon your mission if your heart is set on it': that's what I learned from the CIA. I can't give up now. I've only been here for a week!"
"But look how many times you've been sent to the hospital already," Atsuki argued, fear showing in his Shinen. "You've been getting worse and worse every day here in Kisaragi. You've already nearly died. Aren't you worried? Scared, even?"
She weakly shook her head. "The only thing I'd be scared of is letting the people I love and care about down," she admitted. "That includes you two as well. You're both important to me."
"As you're important to us," Liu replied affectionately. "Now you should sleep. You've lost far too much sleep than is for your own good."
Slowly, her azure eyes slipped close before her heads relaxed in theirs.
"This could have all been prevented," Atsuki breathed, his voice filled with guilt, "this is all my fault."
Liu Yee glared at the younger FORT agent. "You're lucky that Fumiko's forgiven you," he informed acidly. "You're lucky that Fumiko is so forgiving. If it were me… that would be an entirely differently story."
The silver-haired teen squeezed Fumiko's hand, holding it in both of his, cradling it gently before pressing it to his lips. Stray tears fell from his eyes and onto her hand.
"Fumiko…" he whispered, bowing his head before standing up, moving closer to kiss her softly on the forehead. "I'm so sorry."
Liu Yee looked at him. "Allow her to rest," he advised. "Her main weakness is because of this force trying to penetrate her mind, not to mention her lack of sleep. Once she regains her energy through much-deserved rest, she'll hopefully be a lot better."
"Still…" he responded depressingly. "I only hope things will return back to normal after this incident. Things have been too hard on her already, and she's only been here for about a week." He paused for a moment, then sighed. "I'm gonna head out now," he said. "Take good care of Fumiko, will you? Call me if anything happens."
xXx
After Atsuki left the hospital, he decided to head home to get some rest. Sighing, he lay down on his bed, closing his eyes. He had had a long day, seeing Hibiki kiss Fumiko and allowing the girl he loved to get injured, it had hurt him a lot, and he felt an incredible amount of guilt because of it.
"Hopefully Fumiko will be alright," he sighed to himself before allowing himself to drift off into what began as a peaceful sleep.
xXx
"Fumiko, Fumiko, where are you?" Atsuki called out, his voice filled with worry, finding himself standing in front of Triple Step.
"Atsuki, I'm right here," her soft voice replied, and he whirled around to see her smiling at him right behind her.
She chuckled. "Really, Atsuki, you worry too much," she teased, her hand reaching to touch his face."Come on, I love you."
He blinked, incredulous. "Y-You do?" he breathed, his voice a mere whisper.
"Of course, silly," she laughed, kissing him softly on the lips, "what's wrong with you today, Atsuki?"
He sighed. "I'm sorry, I'm just not myself right now," he told her gently, wrapping his arms around her. "I love you, Fumiko. I love you so much."
Fumiko chuckled, throwing her arms around his neck as she kissed him once more. "You're so weird today, Atsuki. Relax, okay?"she told him. "I love you too." She snuggled against his chest as he held her tight, his arms wrapped around her waist.
"Don't leave me," he murmured into her soft hair.
Suddenly, a gaping black hole opened in front of them, and a huge Silent came out from it.
Immediately, Atsuki pulled Fumiko behind him protectively, activating his Lux-Pain.
"Atsuki, wait-" Fumiko was cut off as he looked back at her with a smile.
"I'll protect you," he promised her. "I swear to you I'll protect you."
Before she could respond, Atsuki swiftly erased the Silent and it vanished, the black hole closing underneath it. Immediately after the Silent vanished, pain radiated through Fumiko's body as she dropped straight to the ground.
"Ah, Fumiko!" he gasped, whirling around to kneel down and pull her into his arms. "Are you alright?"
She shook her head. "Atsuki… I-I tried to tell you…" she breathed, her breath hard and painful. "T-That Silent… w-was the Silent… t-tied to my… my life…"
"NO!" Atsuki cried out, realizing what he had just done. "No, Fumiko! You can't die!"
Weakly, Fumiko smiled at him as her eyes began to close. "I-I love you, Atsuki," she told him softly. "I always will. Stay strong, okay? Do it for me. Farewell… Atsuki Saijo…"
As her eyes closed completely, a scream of unimaginable loss ripped across the air as Atsuki clutched her lifeless body tight against him. Liu Yee's words echoed through his head.
If you should fail again, Atsuki, Fumiko will be the one to pay the price… possible with her life…
"Fumiko, dammit," Atsuki wept, "I'm so sorry. I-I didn't mean to… you know I wouldn't…" But it was already too late. By his own hand, Atsuki had killed Fumiko… Now he had lost the only girl he would ever love… forever…
xXx
"FUMIKO!" Atsuki gasped, shooting upright in bed. His heart was pounding hard in his ribcage, and he placed a hand on his forehead, recalling the terrifying nightmare he had.
Looking up at the clock, he found that it was 5:54 in the afternoon, and he sighed deeply. He had been sleeping for about an hour and a half, and he laid back, glancing at his cell phone for any missed calls. Finding none, he put his cell down and stared up at the ceiling.
"It's gonna be a long night…" he muttered to himself.
Poor Atsuki. Hope you guys liked it!
PLEASE REVIEW!
