A/N: I apologize for the really long wait but I'm pretty sure you guys can understand real life problems. Anyhow, I have updated quite a lot of my long forgotten fics over the weekend including "What the hell?". Go check it out after you're done reading this chapter, k? And I expect reviews, for both. Lots and lots of reviews. ;)
Now without further ado, I give you chapter 24.
Enjoy!
Today was the third day since the mage had teleported us to the hospital. I saw that amber-eyed doctor walk towards the princess's room from the glass pane in the doorway. Casting a glance in the motionless mage's direction, I followed her into the hallway. Some color had returned to Sakura's face, and although her skin was not exactly the usual rosy shade, it was no longer the previous ghostly pale either. The doctor acknowledged my presence with a single nod before returning her attention to the patient, checking the reading on the machines and her charts.
She filled up a syringe with some medicine before injecting it into one of her IV bags. After a few more minutes in which she checked over her injuries and dressings, the doctor finally looked up.
"Her condition is stable," she announced with a somewhat reassuring smile. "And her wounds are healing nicely. There might be some scarring but she will be just fine. I have her on pain medication for now but I expect that she'll wake up in a few hours."
"She'll be just fine," I repeated, "now if only the other doctor would say the same for that idiot."
Slightly amused amber eyes met my gaze before returning to the princess's face.
-0-
Feeling returned to my body as I tried to open my eyes but my lids felt so heavy. Almost as if they had been covered with lead to weigh them down. My limbs ached but the pain was dull and somewhat distant.
Finally, after a lot of effort I managed to succeed in prying my eyes open. The first thing that greeted me when everything finally came into focus was a pair of smoldering, deep, amber orbs.
"Sya-oran?" I croaked weakly, my voice barely audible even to my own ears, yet he heard me anyway.
Oh God. Sakura. I felt a pair of arms envelop me in a tight embrace. My vision blurred once again, almost bordering on complete darkness, but my heart was racing with disbelief and joy.
He was here!
He was still alive!
I could feel his warmth surround me.
Syaoran was still alive!
"Syao-ran?" I repeated in my hoarse voice. I needed to hear his voice again. I needed him to tell me it was alright. That there was nothing to worry about. That I shouldn't be scared.
I reopened my eyes but this time I was met with the stark whiteness of the ceiling above my head.
"Syaoran?" I cried, my heart clenching with fear. I was alone. Where did he go? He was right here with me just a fraction of a second ago but…
W-Why wasn't he there?
He… He promised me he would always be with me.
So why…
Why wasn't he there?
"This isn't funny, Syaoran." I tried to shout but my words were just mumbled past my lips. "Where are you?"
…
"S-Syaoran, please." My voice broke down as tears streamed down the sides of my face, "Come back… Come back…"
But my only companion was the beeping monitor to my right.
Kurogane-san was gone.
Fai-san was not here either.
And Syaoran…
I was alone… alone…
"Liar!" I hissed, clenching my eyes shut as uncontrolled sobs tore through my throat. "You lied to me. You promised you wouldn't leave me. You said you'd come back to me."
No one answered me.
"You broke your promise!"
But no one apologized. And no one… No one came…
The hours drifted by, the passage of time indicated by the continuous beeping sound as I lay there in a trance-like state, hoping, waiting, anticipating the time when he would burst through the door, apologizing profusely for his lateness, reassuring me that he was never going to leave again.
My heart refused to accept the fact that he was gone. He couldn't just leave me like that. It wasn't like Syaoran. He would… He would come back.
Maybe he'll be there when I wake up, I thought sluggishly as sleep claimed me once more.
The next time I opened my eyes, amber-colored orbs peered down at me.
"You came." I sighed happily, thinking that maybe, maybe I had just dreamt him not being there. After all everything was just so confusing and my mind was still too hazy. Yeah. That was it. I had just dreamt of him dying in my arms. He was still with me. Syaoran wouldn't leave me like that.
He couldn't leave me like that.
"How are you feeling, Sakura?" My breath hitched in my throat. No! The voice that asked this question did not belong to him. Where is he? I wanted to scream. Where is Syaoran? Why isn't he here?
"Who are you?" my mouth formed the words by itself.
"I'm your doctor, Masooma Aoi." The woman replied. I felt her warm hand take my wrist, her fingers wresting lightly on the inside of it as she looked at something in her other hand. After some time she let go, only to put something cold and metallic on my chest.
"Take a deep breath Sakura, then hold it in for a couple of second and exhale." She instructed me, moving the cold object all over my upper body.
Numbly, I found myself obeying her as she told me to inhale and then exhale several times.
"Do you feel any pain in shoulder? Or you back?" she asked kindly.
"No." My voice sounded hollow. I felt nothing. Everything was numb. My body was numb, my mind felt numb. There was no feeling anymore. Nothing at all. Except maybe… My heart. It burned with ache. The only thing that told me that I was real. I was still here while he…
He was gone.
Forever.
Dead.
No longer coming back.
Tears began streaming down my cheek as I choked on my sobs, weeping bitterly as the doctor looked at me with what could only be alarm on her face.
"Hey, hey, easy now. It'll be alright." She patted my head in a motherly manner.
No it won't. Nothing will ever be alright any more…
Not with him gone…
"I'll handle it from here," a gruff voice told the doctor who obediently retracted her hand and left the room.
"K-Kurogane-san…" I cried unashamedly as I flung my arms around his neck and sobbed into his broad chest. Why?
Why did it have to be this way?
"Hang on princess," he murmured in a gentle tone, "hang on."
-0-
I held the princess in my ghostly arms that were once again solid enough to touch her.
Her broken sobs and shaking frame made me clench my jaw. So much pain. She was in so much pain. Oh God, why did it have to be the two of them?
That night when Sakura had almost died, I had rushed to her room only to stumble backwards in shock and phase out of the wall I had just phased through.
The kid was there! He was friggin' standing there!
I had phased back inside to see his image flicker and vanish but I could still sense his presence in the room. Sakura's vitals had dropped frighteningly, her heart coming to a halt after a few weak attempts of pumping blood.
The amber-eyed doctor, Masooma, had quickly administered some sort of treatment which involved placing two black pads on her chest are, one a little above the princess's heart and the other somewhere in the middle of the groove where her lowest ribs met.
Her whole body had lurched with shocks, but it wasn't of much use. The heart monitor was still emitting that annoying continuous beep. And then all of a sudden, as if by a miracle, the beep broke down to smaller beeps as the flat line once again changed to indicate the beating of her heart.
The kid's presence had weakened considerably when that had happened but his slightly transparent apparition had appeared by her bedside once more. Masooma had appeared startled by his sudden emergence but she had quickly overcome her astonishment, as she had overseen the rest of the princess's treatment.
Syaoran had not even acknowledged mine or anyone else's presence at that time. His honey-like amber orbs had fixated on the chalky face that belonged to the princess. His hand had been clutching onto Sakura's, so tightly that it had appeared as though he had been crushing it. But I had known he had been just scared of losing her.
I had watched the two for quite some time before returning to the unconscious mage's side, hoping he would show some improvement but that had been just my wishful thinking.
Syaoran had nodded his head in my direction when I had gone to see the princess the next day but he had not uttered a single word.
Even on the third day, which was today, he had still been holding on to her. I had been alarmed and quite worried when he had just flickered out of my senses for irregular intervals of time before once again just appearing by the princess's side. After my heated argument and his surrender, I had learnt that the brat had given her his spiritual energy to keep her alive, or rather keep her from crossing the gate to the next world when her heart had stopped.
But that had cost my student instead. He could only stay in this plane for a limited amount of time. His whole existence had begun to vanish as he had spent more and more time by Sakura's side.
He had been fighting that vanishing spell, magic, thing, whatever for the whole day. And just when the princess had woken up, his resistance had crumbled and he had vanished.
Sakura never saw him by her side. And I could not tell her about the kid or his sacrifice because it wasn't my place to say anything.
-0-
Fai, Masooma looked at me, why are you still here?
Still where? I feigned ignorance despite the fact that I knew perfectly well what she meant.
You should go back, she sighed, averting her gaze as she leaned against the tree trunk, they need you.
I'm a coward Masooma, I admitted quietly, a selfish one at that.
No you're not. She shook her head.
I don't want to lose anyone, I clenched and unclenched my fist, you'll go away once I leave, I opened my palm, catching a falling blossom, and Kurogane and Syaoran will move on too when I go back. I traced the soft petals with my finger, I'm the only one keeping you all here…
Masooma said nothing, waiting patiently for me to continue speaking.
Isn't it selfish of me to want to keep you all with me? Isn't it cowardly of me to not want to go back just so I don't lose you? Isn't it?
No, she answered, running a hand through her hair to push them out of her face, it's perfectly human.
She paused for a bit before giggling softly and looking back at me with a smile. Look at the two of us. Ashura-ou would have been so happy to see this day. She added wistfully, His prodigal mage and the prodigal mage's simply amazing apprentice are being serious for once.
Despite myself, I joined in when she started laughing.
I don't doubt that.
When our laughter died down, her expression grew somber once more.
Neither of us can stay here forever Fai, she laid her hand on the top of mine, you have to go back. The princess needs you. Same as Kurogane and Syaoran.
And what about you?
Well, you know me, she grinned cockily, I'm the best apprentice you ever had, I can handle anything.
More like the only apprentice I ever had. I teased her lightly, just to lighten and ease what was most definitely goodbye for us.
Hey, I was the only one talented enough to pass your stupid tests. She protested with that amused twinkle in her eyes. Everyone else just got cold feet after the first task.
Actually you're the only one stupid enough to stick around for the second task.
Well, I still got the title of a C level before you did. She stuck her tongue out in the same childish manner that she always used when she got annoyed. So there. I could see the tears forming in her eyes as she looked away but she wasn't the only who had salt water ready to stream down her face.
But you were also the only one smart enough to keep up with what I dished out. I blinked twice to clear my watery vision.
You forgot to mention stubborn. She sniffled with a choked laugh.
Nah, I shook my head, trying to keep my voice from quivering as I rubbed my right eye with my forefinger to stop the gathering water from spilling. I'd put you under the category of resilient.
Is that supposed to be a compliment? She giggled as she wiped her face with her sleeves.
You can take it as one.
Masooma grinned at me through her tears. You're crying.
So are you. I countered. She buried her face in my neck as her arms wrapped around me.
Thank you, I heard her whisper as the world around me began to dissolve in a gray haze, for everything.
I could feel that I was beginning to wake. I expect not having to see you for a very, very long time.
The darkness engulfed me as her presence vanished in a burst of bright light.
She was truly gone.
And I…
I was returning to the land of the living.
-0-
I had cried myself to sleep and I didn't really expect anyone to be there when I woke up again. That cool yet warm thing on the top of my hand could be one of the numerous medical equipments used to treat patients.
This time, however, I was too afraid to open my eyes. It would be just like all those other times. Syaoran had left me. A part of me knew that he hadn't had a choice but I didn't listen to it. I wanted to be mad at him. I wanted to be angry at him. Because I didn't know if I could deal with him being gone in any other way. I just… I couldn't imagine a life in which he wasn't there by my side.
"You left me alone," I whispered to nothing but the air.
No I didn't. I could hear him whisper back.
"Liar, you're not really there."
Yes I am. I felt that cool warmth move to my cheek.
"No you're not. I'll open my eyes and you'll be gone, just like every other time."
I was never gone Sakura.
"You're not real." I clenched my eyes shut as the warmth moved to my lids. This was just another hallucination brought about by my desperate mind.
Sakura, I bit my lip, this hallucination… It spoke my name just like him. But I knew it wasn't real. Open your eyes Sakura.
"No." I shook my head.
Why?
"Because you're not going to be there."
Then a different yet similar cold yet warm thing pressed against my cheek. I will be here. He assured me as his lips moved to cover mine. The kiss was tender and sweet, just like him. Yet it was passionate at the same time. Open your eyes. I could feel the desperation that was behind it. Please. I'll be here.
Hesitantly, I cracked my lids apart, a tiny voice in my head telling me that I was fool to trust in those words. No one would be there. But I could ignore those pleas no longer.
I'm still here Sakura. He gave me a crooked smile while I blinked once, twice, three times till I found my voice.
"I-is that really you?" I asked uncertainly, afraid to say his name aloud. I was scared that this perfect mirage would shatter the minute I spoke his name.
It is. His earnest amber-eyes gaze at me intently.
"You're not going to leave me again, are you?" I held my breath as I awaited his answer.
No.
"Swear it on your soul." I ordered instantaneously.
A strange emotion passed through his eyes but he nodded anyways.
I swear I will never leave you Sakura.
Tears streamed down the sides of my face as I started weeping once again. "Oh Syaoran… Why did you have to die? Why?"
His ghostly arms enveloped me in a protective embrace as he whispered soothing words mixed with apologies.
-0-
A/N: So did you guys like it? Cuz I sure did but I'd like to hear your thoughts as well.
What do you think might happen next? Fai might be returning to the land of the living but is he ready to wake up? And what about Syaoran? Will he be able to keep his promise or fade away once again?