AN: Sorry it's so short. Hope you enjoy the next cliffhanger!
Chapter Twenty Five: Normalcy and Illness
Ruri heaves a sigh and smiles, leaning back in her chair her legs propped up on the desk. Karin laughs and Reiko giggles. Ruri takes a deep breath.
"Ah. Things are back to normal." Ruri says breathing out. Reiko nods her head as she leans against the desk, her hands behind her. Karin peeks over her shoulder towards a certain red head.
"And Minamino doesn't seem angry." Karin says grinning. Reiko nods her head.
"I'm glad. If he was, he'd probably torture us." Reiko says. Karin laughs nervously.
"You're right. He'd probably string us up by our toes." She mumbles.
"Or whip us." Reiko whispers. They both burst into giggles drawing the attention of the certain red head. Ruri sighs shaking her head as they babble about the different punishments they would get from Shuichi. Ruri's eyes zero in on movement near Reiko's hand. Ruri's eyes widen as a bug crawl towards Reiko's hand. Ruri squeals and smacks the bug with all her might. Reiko and Karin jump away in shock. Ruri freezes as the bug's body gives under her hand. Ruri goes pale feeling the bug guts.
"AHHH!" She screams flailing her hand around. Shuichi flinches and watches wide eyed as Ruri jumps around the room screaming and waving her hands frantically.
"It bit me! It bit me!" Ruri screeches. Karin grabs Ruri around the waist trying to stop her from jumping around. Shuichi's eyes widen as his mind flashes to the Makai insect he'd just removed from the girl. He pushes up from his chair and quickly walks over to a struggling Ruri. Ruri screams, tears pouring down her face. Reiko quickly grabs Ruri arms and hugs them to Ruri's side.
"Ruri! Calm down!" Reiko yells. Ruri wiggles around the room waving her arms, Reiko and Karin dragging with her. Ruri freezes as her whole body chills. Ruri sways as her head begins to spin. Reiko lets go and looks Ruri in the eye.
"Karin." Reiko says warily. Karin lets go and stands next to Reiko. Ruri shivers as her eyes roll back into her head, revealing the whites of her eyes. Karin and Reiko gasp as Ruri falls back into Shuichi's arms.
"Ruri? Ruri?" Shuichi asks shaking her as he slides her to the ground. "Ruri can you hear me?"
"Butternut squash, apple pie, turkey baste, turnip juice." She mumbles incoherently, her eyelids fluttering. Shuichi frowns as he gently picks her up.
"What?" Karin asks. Reiko blinks her eyes wide. Shuichi strides quickly towards the nurses office. Reiko and Karin jog to keep up with him. The nurse jumps as Shuichi barges in. She stares wide eyed at Shuichi, Ruri hanging limp in his arms mumbling gibberish. Reiko and Karin stumble into the door panting.
"You walk pretty fast. Don't you Minamino?" Karin wheezes glaring at Shuichi's back. The nurse smiles slightly.
"Ruri Nakamichi." The nurse said reaching for a folder. She flips it open. "I guess she saw another bug, huh?" Shuichi frowns as he lays her on the bed.
"Yes, but it bit her. I'm worried it could be harmful." Shuichi says looking towards the nurse. The nurse smiles fondly at Shuichi.
"She's probably just having a panic attack or a slight reaction to being bit." The nurse suggests feeling Ruri's neck and her glands. Ruri moans and turns her head. She blinks her eyes and jumps seeing the nurse staring at her with a smile. Ruri twitches seeing Shuichi watching her with piercing eyes. Ruri blinks.
"Um, hello?" She says. The nurse smiles.
"How are you feeling, Ruri?" Ruri smiles sheepishly and looks away.
"Fine. I just had a little episode. You know how I am." Ruri mumbles. The nurse laughs, smiling fondly.
"I do." She says winking at Ruri. Shuichi takes the place of the nurse and feels Ruri's forehead with his.
"You don't feel warm." He mumbles. Ruri twitches.
"You know I'm fine. I just freaked over a-over that…thing." Ruri stutters out. Shuichi heaves a sigh. He picks up Ruri's hand and exams the bite. A little red bump lays in the exact center of Ruri's palm. Shuichi rubs his thumb over it. Ruri winces.
"That hurt." She whimpers. Shuichi steps away as the nurse gently nudges him out of the way. She quickly wraps the hand in bandages after applying ointment. Ruri flexes her hand. Shuichi frowns.
"I'm not sure." He says uncertainly. Ruri rolls her eyes and waves her hand at him.
"I'm fine. Stop your worrying." Ruri scolds. The nurse smiles.
"You are fine, but sadly I do suggest you go home and get some rest." Ruri grins and punches the air.
"Thank you!" Ruri cheers. Shuichi crosses his arms and scowls. Ruri grins up at him. Shuichi relaxes his tense muscles. The poison of any Makai insect would react quickly in an ordinary human's body. If she's not showing signs now, she probably won't. Shuichi nods his head.
"Alright I'll walk you home." Shuichi says. Ruri frowns.
"I'll be fine walking by myself." She grumbles. "Besides you have that nerd thing tonight with the upperclassman."
"What about us?" Ruri and Shuichi look towards the door. Ruri grins seeing Karin and Reiko.
"See. I have my escorts. Go have fun with the geeks." Ruri says jumping up from the bed. Shuichi grabs her arm as she sways. Ruri grabs Shuichi's arm with both hands as her head spins. Shuichi frowns, his eyes harden.
"I'll walk you home." He says firmly. Ruri shakes her head and narrows her eyes at Shuichi. Pulling her arm away, she glares at Shuichi.
"I'm perfectly fine. I just got up to fast. Go play with the nerds." Ruri says firmly keeping her eyes steady with Shuichi's gaze. Reiko and Karin look between the two friends nervously. When Ruri and Shuichi butted heads it never ended well for one of them. And Shuichi usually got his way.
"Um, Ruri?" Karin asks.
"What?" Ruri says not even blinking, her eyes boring into Shuichi's. Karin laughs nervously.
"I'm worried about you; maybe you can just let Shuichi have what he wants." She mumbles.
"No! Not this time." Ruri flinches as the words leave her mouth and her eyes widen. She blinks as the thought hits her. She gives Shuichi whatever he wants. If he asked her to, she'd to anything for him. Shuichi watches warily as thoughts dance behind Ruri's eyes. Ruri narrows her eyes and crosses her arms.
"You're not getting you're way this time, fox-boy. I want to walk by myself." Ruri says firmly, her voice steely. Shuichi's eyes widen hearing her tone and the flicker of anger in her eyes. Shuichi looks away for a second realizing he was only making the matter worse. If she was going home, she at least had two friends watching her. Ruri raises her chin and walks past Shuichi seeing him break eye contact. Ruri slowly walks through the door and down the hall. Reiko and Karin blink.
"Did Shuichi just-?" Karin says. Reiko nods her head.
"He did. Ruri did what she wanted." Reiko says in slight shock. Reiko and Karin share a look before racing after Ruri. Shuichi flinches hearing Reiko and Karin's comments. The nurse giggles and sits back, sipping tea.
"Seems you've tamed the wild little Ruri. How do you feel about you're pet disobeying, Minamino-san?" The nurse asks. Shuichi forces a smile and cocks his head to the side.
"Good day." Shuichi forces through gritted teeth. He strolls out of the room, his fist clenched. Ruri was not his pet! He did not tame her! She was his equal! He treated her as such! Shuichi freezes as Hiei's words repeat themselves in his head.
"She's spoiled you, fox. When you want something she gives it to you."
Shuichi frowns. Ruri did often drop things she was doing in order to do something for him.
"Yahoo!" Shuichi looks out the window. Ruri jumps up and down punching the air, Karin right by her side jumping also. Reiko walks behind them laughing. Shuichi smiles. Maybe it'd be best if she didn't associate with him for a few days. I am sorry, Ruri. Shuichi thinks turning away from the window and walking down the hall.
Ruri skips down the street laughing happily. Karin screams cheerfully and wraps her arms around Ruri's neck. Ruri laughs and wraps her arms around Reiko's waist.
"Yeah! I get to go home!" Ruri yells. Karin releases Ruri and tackles Reiko.
"And we get to skip!" Karin shouts. Ruri laughs, but stops and sways as the world tilts. Reiko grumbles and Karin giggles. They both look over their shoulders hearing a thud. Reiko's eyes widen seeing Ruri on the ground convulsing, foam spilling out of her mouth. Karin screams and runs.
"Ruri?" Karin yells kneeling by Ruri's body. A piercing scream fills the air as Ruri's body arches.
"Reiko, call someone!" Karin screams. Reiko jumps and fumbles for her phone. Reiko dials the number quickly.
"Ruri, stay with us! Ruri?" Karin questions as she pushes down on Ruri's body. The air goes quiet as Ruri's body slowly stills. Reiko drops the phone as their location slips from her lips.
"Ruri?" Karin questions. Reiko stumbles over and kneels beside Ruri. Ruri stares with unseeing eyes into the sky. Loud sirens fill the air.
"Ruri?" Karin asks leaning forward and placing her ear over Ruri's heart.
There is no heartbeat.
Ruri opens her eyes and hisses as light burn her corneas. She slowly blinks open her eyes and the blurry world comes into view. Ruri looks to the left and her eyes widen seeing Reiko asleep in a chair and Karin lying on the row of plastic chairs snoring. Ruri slowly sits up and looks around. She winces and looks down at her arm. IV's lead away from her arm into bags hanging above her. She blinks in shock and looks around.
"Holy crow! I'm in the hospital!" Ruri yells. Reiko yelps as she wakes up. Karin screams and turns over, falling off the chairs. Karin groans and rubs her head as she sits up.
"Um, sorry." Ruri says.
"Ruri! You're awake!" Reiko shouts happily. Karin grins and jumps up.
"You're alive!" Karin yells jumping up and down. The three girls freeze hearing someone clearing their throat. Ruri looks to her right and blinks. A man in a white coat with glasses smiles at them.
"Hello, I'm Dr. Kamiya."