Chapter 25: A Trip to Japan, Part II

LAST TIME: I really should be celebrating. I really should. But right now I can't seem to feel my legs. The ground is rushing up towards my face really fas-

NOW: It's soft here. It's light and warm, too. The light is like sunlight, as if filtered through cotton. I don't feel any pain. It's so peaceful. There is an odd sound that I can't quite place nearby. It sounds like a waterfall. Not a big one. Rather like a babbling brook or something.

Where am I?

Where is everybody?

Ray?

Ray!?

RAY!?

*AWAKE!*

I open my eyes and *see*! I see that I'm in a hospital room, with an artificial waterfall on the desk. You know, like you'd see in a garden, or something. I can hear somebody flushing the toilet for this hospital room. Ray isn't in sight. *sigh* #I guess Ray is using the bathroom. I'll just rest my eyes for a secon-#

*Awake*

I notice the room is darker now. I see Ray is asleep on the chair beside me. He is holding my hand. I try to smile, but it seems hard, for some reason. Like my face is stiff. Growing concerned I finally look at the rest of me.

My right arm is in a cast. I can see the edge of my left set of toes. I experimentally try to wiggle them.

…

#Please move!#

…

#MOVE!#

…

#No! this can't be happening! I'm only fifteen years old! It's not FAIR!#

"NO!" I shouted without thinking.

Ray *JUMPS AWAKE* !

#My Ray looks at me, with relief! Relief? I CAN'T FEEL MY DAMNED LEGS, AND HE FEELS RELIEF?!#

Ray takes a look at me, and says "Megan! Sweety! You'll be alright. It's OK, now." He *Smiles* at me. If I weren't panicking right now, it would have sent me into orbit! Or made me punch him!

I begin to cry "Ray! I can't f-feel my l-legs, Ray! Help me!" Ray enfolds me in his arms, and holds me. "Megan, it's temporary. After the drugs wear off, you'll be able to move just fine. You're gonna be just fine. Really. I promise."

I cry into his neck and shoulder for...I don't even know how long. Five minutes, or Five hours.

Once I calm down a bit, I hear some at the door. The odd thing is, I can hear what is being said, but can't understand it. #Geez I am DUMB when I first get up, aren't I. I'm still in Japan.# The person enters, and Ray, reluctantly, lets go of me, to shake the man's hand. The guy that Ray is talking to is Japanese. I guess mid-forties, only as a rough guess. He has a Captain Picard hairstyle, but darker. Glasses, and all the doctory stuff I'd expect from a doctor in a hospital. Seeing us, two obvious Americans, he speaks English to us. "Good afternoon. I am Doctor Hiro Fujiyama. I am a specialist in nerve damage. You may have been aware that your movements have been restricted. The Energy Blast that you took, as you defended those children, burned deep into you. It barely missed your uterus, and right side ovary. It did, however graze your spine. The immobilization we have afforded you, is to insure that you do not move the damaged area until the full team of specialists arrive from across Japan. They will then assess the damage, and repair what they can. I will be heading the team." He stopped to collect his thoughts #I guess to turn them into English# and *sighed* lightly.

"What you have done is a great service to our Nation. You, and you X-Men friends, arrived in time to prevent the capture, and/or murder of Japanese children. This is a deep debt, as you have been gravely injured in a fight that you did not need to get involved in. Yet you did so anyway. And so here you are, Miss Megan O'Hare. We will take the best care of you that we are able. You have my solemn word." He *BOWED* to me. I was curious, though, and had to know "Are all the children safe?" Doctor Fujiyama answered with a smile. "Oh, yes. They even got new toys and games to replace that which was damaged in the fighting. The Birthday girl, Hitomi Kaneda, has even sent you one of her presents. It's waiting for you, if you wish it?" I nodded, a bit stunned. Doctor Fujiyama *Bowed* to Ray and left, only to come right back with a plush purple cat, with pretty eyes, and a grin that, if it were real, would promise mischief. I fell in love with it instantly! The doctor was happy to see that I liked my watched me snuggle it, with my good arm. "I name you 'Trouble Catcher'!" I happily said.

"Miss O'Hare? Raymond, Here has been at your side non-stop, except for bathroom breaks, for the last *looks at watch* seventeen hours and twenty three minutes. Please be mindful that I have already given him all the instructions, so please listen to him. I have spoken to your parents on conference call, and your Father has granted Mr. Crisp, here, authority over you until your parents can get here. I will answer any questions you may have."

I was at a loss. Too much, too fast, too soon! "I-I don't know where to begin, Doctor. First, I guess is; What are my chances at being able to run, or even walk, again?"

The Doctor, of course was expecting that one. "I dislike speculation. Too many things are involved. Still, your high rate of recovery in all other aspects, is an excellent indicator. Forced to, as many say, 'Ballpark It'...Eighty Five to Ninety Five percent chance of a full recovery. However! I must caution you to consider that you might NOT recover. You have been gravely injured, in defending those children! I hate to accidentally give false hope, as it is a cruelty that I detest."

"I see. Do you know when my parents will be arriving?"

Doctor Fujiyama answered "I do not. However, Raymond has been coordinating that effort."

I turned to Ray, who said "Your Mom and Dad are still in flight. They should be here in two more hours, plus airport issues, plus ground travel time...I figure that they should be here, in the room by five pm, local time. That's in four hours, Megan. They'll be here. It's OK."

I nodded, feeling really tired. Doctor Fujiyama saw this and asked, anything besides tired? Dizziness? Sparkles in your vision? Odd sounds?" I answered honestly "No, Doctor. I'm just feeling darn tired. And Hungry! Could I get some raw seafood, please?" Ray looked surprised. I simply said "Ray, I eat raw deer and raw cow. Raw fish is just the thing to even out my diet a bit." Doctor Fujiyama *Smiled* and said "Of course. We will have the menu sent up, in English, for you."

Doctor Fujiyama was paged by the intercom, and had to go. Still, he took a moment to *Smile* at me. Now I had just my Ray. "Ray? Where are the others?" Ray looked uncomfortable. "Jean, Amara, and Rahne were nailed by that green capture stuff. Once it hardens, it puts you in stasis. We've had to use interesting means to get them free, sweety. They are all resting up. Especially Amara. I guess that she is just so connected to the Earth, that being in stasis like that made her ill. As in sick to her stomach. Jean and Kurt are OK. Kurt had been busy rescuing a few people that had been trapped in the 'stepped on' houses. Now he is hiding from the hordes of love-sick Japanese schoolgirls, who really, REALLY 'dig ze fuzzy dude'. Seriously, they tried to swarm him with petting and kisses! He is like a superstar, all of a sudden."

I *grinned* at the mental image that gave me! Poor Amanda, the things she puts up with. The grinning also hurt a bit. "Ray? It hurts to smile much. Do I have an injury on my face?" Ray looked at me and said "A bruise on your right side, Megan. It'll go away. I bet the pain is from that. OK?" The menus arrived via an orderly.

I agreed. As I decided what I wanted, Ray said, "Gimme a sec, OK? I gotta make a call." I figure he's calling Scott, or the Professor. Instead I turn my attention to the plasma screen on the wall. I notice the remote control on the side, grab it and realize that the buttons are in Japanese. This actually makes me smile. The placement of the buttons, however, are exactly what I expected. Turning on the screen, I find that it is tuned to the BBC. I can see a fair-haired, and pretty, but professional-looking woman in her middle years talking about International Peace Treaties. I listen for a moment, then she changes topics.

There.

On the screen.

It's...ME! Somebody shot a video of the Sentinel that reached into the high rise, and of She-Rex attacking it!

#Damn! I look scary! Awesome too! Wait! Are my hips really that FAT!? No way! Oh, good. It was just the lighting.#

The commentator was going on in her polished British accent. "The video clearly shows the X-Man, Codenamed: 'She-Rex', an apt Codename if I have ever heard one. The footage shows that she is attempting to stop the out of control machine from reaching the children who were gathered for a combination Birthday Party and Sleepover."

I watch, wincing as I see my face get pounded again by the electrified fist. *sigh*

The British Newsie continued "Clearly, we see her valiantly trying to keep the machines away from the children, even as she is attacked relentlessly. This still image, taken from the video, shows a near miss that leaves a burn mark across her body. On a human body, it would be from the left side ribs, to the left hip. Still, she defends her charges. Here, we can see that she is not alone. Despite the lack of firearms in Japan, the other residents added what they could…"

I watch an elderly couple hurling pots and pans down on the Sentinel, as it had tried get pass me, when I baited it.

There was a quick shot of a teenage boy with a sword, standing in the wrecked room that the Sentinel had reached into. I know that look. The look on the boy's face as he clearly is guarding the other kids with a freaking sword, is one of utter determination! If it had come to it, I am convinced that he'd have been killed trying to defend those other kids.

The Newsie continued "The Tokyo Police Force was on scene, and had great discipline in the face of overwhelming firepower." Shots of a lone Cop. He was unloading a pistol at the Sentinel, with really good control. I know how that looks too. Dad often took us to Gun Safety Classes. I was thinking #This guy has it in spades! I bet his groupings must be as impressive as Hell! Unfortunately, a nine millimeter isn't going to really affect that thing. But I gotta give the man credit for A) Big Bold Brass Ones! B) Dedication to Duty! and C) Skill. Lots of Firearms Skill.#

The British New Anchorwoman kept on going, never noticing my internal monologue. "See how the Officer keeps on trying to fire exclusively into the joints of the mechanical monster. I am told the Officer shown counter-attacking the Sentinel is Police Patrolman Ichi Nowikowa."

Ray was watching it with me, by now. The News Lady continued, going back to the shot of the kid with the sword "This young guardian is the brother of the birthday girl, herself. Because of his age, his name is not being released. All the guests were hiding, so, he stood guard. Obviously, Japan still has it's Samurai." The Co-Anchor raised a mug of coffee or tea and his own rich, deep British accent said "Cheers, to the Samurai of Today. Police, or Civilian!" And then he politely drank the mug's contents!

We just watched it together until Scott and Jean walked in, with Kurt, who is hidden by his Inducer. It figures that NOW is when the BBC gets around to mentioning the "Plushy One, who saved several family members who were trapped in the rubble of their own home, when the Sentinel landed on the corner of their fifty three year old home. The Plushy One is pictured here, in this footage from the next house over. As you can see, this is really the famed X-Man, Codenamed 'Nightcrawler'. Here we see him taking a pair of family members, and, using his amazing Power, he Teleports them to safety. Eventually arriving at the Local Police Station. The X-Man, Nightcrawler, would go on to save the family of eight. Both the grandparents, parents, three daughters, and an infant son. This has caused the X-Man to become an overnight sensation! Celebrated by Japanese schoolgirls, especially teenagers, Nightcrawler was highly sought by his fans for hours. Finally spotted at a Hospital, he was said to be swarmed by a horde of Japanese schoolgirls in their trademark 'Sailor' school uniforms, until he used his Power to Teleport off to parts unknown." The co-anchor put in his two pence "I can only guess that it's a case of too much of a good thing."

Kurt looked embarrassed as I'd expect, given his devotion to Amanda Sefton. Scott and Jean walked over and waited patiently for me to tear my eyes away from the news. Shutting it off, I gave all my visitors my full attention. Jean stepped forward, and offered me a *hug*, which I, of course, returned. Scott sat beside me on the other side. "How are you holding up?" I sobered up. "The Doctor says that I have a very high chance of walking and running again. I'm still freaked out by not being able to feel...I CAN'T FEEL MY LEGS!"

I couldn't help it! It hit me all over again! This is TERRIFYING! Jean got through to me with her Telepathy, preventing me from triggering my change! Good thing. Ray was there, holding me as I cried, and stroking my face. Kurt was saying something encouraging-sounding, and Scott was on the ball, and got on the room's phone and a minute later Doctor Fujiyama and a nurse arrived. They were able to understand my problem. In a minute, the Doctor was handed a needle. He asked me "Miss O'Hare? I need to give you a sedative." I *nodded* as I tried not to sob too much.# Some hero I am.# I thought bitterly. I feel the sedative begin to take hold of me. I look at Ray, and he seems to be growing distant. #No. It's me that is slipping awa-#

LATER

Slowly I awaken. The room is dark and Ray is there. The Room has several bouquets of flowers. My Dad and Ray are sitting next to each other. Dad is watching the screen with the sound just loud enough to hear, as he watches some Japanese Baseball. Looks like Team from Tokyo are ahead by two, in the seventh inning, with two men on, and only one out, one strike and three balls.

Ray is sleeping with his hand covering mine. Dad hasn't noticed me wake up yet. I smile at the back of his head. It doesn't hurt to smile now. #Must be the painkillers…# I think to myself. I don't care. Softly, I try to get my Dad's attention, without waking Ray. "Psst. Dad?" Dad turned around, and he went from worried, to relieved in a heartbeat. "Megan, Baby." He came over to my unoccupied side, and carefully gave me a *Daddy Loves You Hug*. If you you don't know how that feels, then you have my sincere sympathy. "Daddy. I missed you. How's Mom?" Dad sat down in the chair that Scott had sat in before my last 'Emotional Episode'.

Dad looked me in the eyes and said "Megan, I will not sugar coat it. Your Mom took this really hard, and I wasn't feeling much better. She's in a Hotel nearby, with your brother. That Professor Xavier is there too. I don't know what to say, Megan. I have serious issues with you going out to act like part of a swat team. I just had my heart in my throat the whole trip over here."

"Sorry, Daddy. I guess I shoulda ducked, huh?"

Seeing his growing storm of anger, I hastily said "Sorry, Dad. I just need to keep my end of it light until I know if…You know?"

That stopped Dad right there. Mastering himself came easily to a man who spent years doing so as part of his daily job. He *sighed* and looked at me. "You know that I am not happy about this, Megan. I mean about this adventuring sort of nonsense. At least think about your poor Mother. She needed a tranquilizer of her own, when she saw you laying here. Just get better. Then we'll talk, Baby. OK?" I nodded. Ray was stirring. I whisper "Dad help me get him to get some real sleep. Please?" Dad *Nodded*.

An hour later we finally had poor Ray confirmed as arriving at the Hotel, where the X-Men and my family were all staying. My Dad hung up the phone, and told me "All your friends tell me, to tell you 'Hi!' Also, Ray was taken to share a room with Kurt."

I don't remember falling asleep. On the other hand, there isn't much to do, either. The channels were just like back in the US. Lots of channels and nothing worth watching. When I woke up I saw Doctor Fujiyama and several other Doctors, as well as both my Mom and Dad. Ray was in the background, looking me over, as if he could know just how I was from there. Still, at least he is there.

Noticing that I was back in the waking world, all of my visitors smiled at me. Mom came over, and looked to be holding back tears. In return, I gave her my best 'I'm gonna beat the competition!' *GRIN* !

We *HUGGED* and I said "I take it that it's time to get this show started?" Mom *smiled* a weak smile, but she was trying hard, so, no issues for me. Ray gave me a 'Two Thumbs Up' then *Blew* me a *Kiss*. That was when Professor Xavier wheeled in. I was elated! "Hiya, Professor! You're just in time to watch me beat this thing!" Everyone else in the room smiled at my bravado. Professor Xavier said "Megan, I am so sorry that you've been so gravely injured. Any help that I can give, I shall." I *nodded* to that "Thanks, Professor. I guess this means the line is drawn at a pony, huh?" I *grinned* So did the Professor. "Sorry, no ponies, Megan. Just concentrate on getting well" I had a question "Actually, if ALL the X-Men are here, who is back at the Institute watching over Sabretooth?" The Professor just smiled a bit and said "He has already been remanded into the proper Custody."

Doctor Fujiyama cleared his throat *Ahem*. "If I may? Megan, we are, indeed ready to begin. How are you feeling?" I gave him a *GRIN* that Wolverine would have been proud of, and I said "I am the Mighty She-Rex! I am Megan O'Hare! I am a Winner! Let's do this!" I gave everyone there a 'Thumbs Up' of my own, even as I still had Trouble Catcher in the crook of my arm. I was feeling pretty much equally scared, and determined to beat this! I chose to focus on fighting, not on fearing."After all, look up the HUGE successes that Doctor Fujiyama, and his team, here have listed, and know that I am gonna be fine! I may not be a Samurai, but I'm gonna FIGHT like one!" I had *Balled Up* my good fist as a sign of my readiness to fight!

The Doctors all were *Smiling* at my fighting spirit, which I am told is important in such operations. I got *Hugged* by everyone of my friends, my family. I even insisted on one from Doctor Fujiyama, himself! #Why not? It can't hurt, and I'll take all the hugs that I can get!# I rationalized to myself.

The rest of the X-Men were there. All of them. Even Jamie looked genuinely concerned for me. I patted his back as we *hugged*. "Promise me that you'll stop hating Ray, and go for one of these really cute local girls. OK?" The idea of trying for one of them, had obviously NEVER entered his little head before! I somehow hid my desire to laugh, as he made the promise. Jake was much the same way. "So, are you gonna leave Ray alone?" Jake nodded very seriously. "Good. I'll hold you to that promise, Jake O'Hare."

Soon I was on my way to the Major Surgery Unit. Oddly, a one of the staff looked really young. Familiar too...

My last conscious thought was #I HAVE to get better, for my Ray! I need to become healthy to be a good, healthy lover for him! I HAVE to!#