Familiar Of Zero: Saving Grace
I do not own Familiar Of Zero
Hello again to everyone reading my story, and thank you to the people that have left me reviews.
*Action*
"Dialogue"
'Inner thoughts'
{Saito's other Inner Voice}
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Chapter Twenty-five
A Friend In Need
Friedrich is standing near the docks looking over some papers.
Saito, Guinevere and Aimee approach and stop when they get within about 5 feet of Friedrich.
"Names?" Friedrich says while still looking at his paperwork.
Saito smiles.
"Saito Hiraga." Saito says.
Friedrich looks through his paperwork.
"You are not . . "
He stops mid-sentence and slowly turns his head to Saito.
"It's a ghost." Friedrich says as he freezes in his stance.
"He is quite alive Friedrich." Aimee says to him.
"I was under the impression that you were dead young lad."
Saito scratches the back of his head.
"I came close to it, but I am better now." He says with a smile.
Friedrich puts a hand to his face.
"First, you are alive and show up without paperwork. Then you die and I take you off of my precious list. Now you are alive again."
Saito and the two musketeers nod.
"Ahhhhhh!" Friedrich hollers out in frustration.
He shakes his clip board at Saito.
"Every time you come through here kid, you disturb the harmonious nature of my lists. All I want is simple peace and order."
Saito hands a letter to him.
"Maybe this will help." Saito says as he hands a letter to him.
Friedrich opens the letter and reads it.
He starts grumbling and goes over to a stand with a quill. He writes Saito's name on his list along with the musketeers.
"Alright. You can go kid."
"Thank you Friedrich. We apologize for the inconvenience that this has caused you." Aimee says.
Friedrich crosses his arms.
As they start to pass him, Friedrich looks over to Saito.
"Hey Saito."
Saito looks over to him.
"Yes?" Saito says in return.
He extends his hand out to Saito.
"Thanks. You saved a lot of people when you took on that army."
Saito smiles and shakes his hand.
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Later, just outside of the academy.
"We are going to have to let you off here. We have business to attend to at the palace, but we will be back for you a little later." Guinevere says to Saito from the top of the carriage.
"Alright. Thank you."
He waves them off.
They both blush as they ride off.
'I can tell that they aren't going to forget about the other night quite so easily.' Saito thinks to himself.
He turns around to enter the academy walls and sees old man Osmond.
"Hello Principal Osmond."
"Hello to you too Saito. We were told that you were dead."
"I have been getting that a lot."
Osmond starts stroking his beard.
"You never cease to amaze me Saito. I am very pleased to see you. What may I ask brings you here though? Tabitha is not here."
Saito hands him a couple letters.
Osmond opens them up and reads them.
"Hmmmmmm. Interesting. Very well then. I will leave you to your business. I will take these to my office and take care of the necessary documentation right away. All of the Valliere sisters are here in case you were wondering."
"Thank you Osmond."
Osmond turns and walks away to his office.
'Now, where am I going to find Siesta?' Saito wonders.
Just after he thinks that, he hears a female voice calling his name.
"Saitoooooo. Saitooooo!"
'That's not Siesta's voice.'
He looks in the direction of the voice.
"Is that Jessica?" He says aloud.
Jessica comes running toward him. She has a panicked look about her.
"Are you okay Jessica?" He asks as he grabs her shoulders.
She shakes her head.
"I am so glad to see you. I need your help. I was going to get someone else, but then I saw you." Jessica says to him through heavy breaths.
"What is wrong?"
"I came to check on Siesta and her room is locked. She's not responding to my calls."
"Couldn't she just be working?"
She shakes her head.
"Mateau said that he told her to take a couple days off. He said that she seemed off from her usual self. She was so upset when she found out you were fighting that army. Please come Saito!"
"Okay. Let's go."
They start rushing for Siesta's room.
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Saito starts to pound on Siesta's door.
After getting no response again Saito takes a deep breath.
'Please tell me that she is okay.'
Saito waves his hand around the door handle and an unlocking sound can be heard.
Saito lets out a deep breath as he opens the door.
As the door opens Jessica and Saito see Siesta's work clothes littered all over the floor.
Then they see Siesta laying in the bad with her back facing them. She seemed very still. She was on top of the covers and it seemed like she was only wearing her underwear and a button down shirt that wasn't buttoned.
Saito takes a big gulp.
'Is she alive? Is she dead? Oh please let her be alive.'
Jessica stands in the doorway with her hands clasped in front of her in a praying fashion.
He slowly approaches.
As he approaches, he looks everywhere for signs of blood, but he doesn't see any.
'Did she really get this way because she thought that I was dead?'
He gets up to her and starts to reach for her.
"Siesta." He says softly.
"Is that you Saito?" He hears her say very faintly.
He tugs on her shoulder to roll her towards him.
When he sees her face, he notices that her eyes seem glazed over.
She looks at him with dead eyes.
"I must be dreaming because I see you Saito."
He cradles her in his arms as tears start to well up in his eyes.
He senses that she must be dehydrated.
He puts a hand on her stomach.
His eyes glow dark blue.
"Hydrate."
His hand starts to glow and life starts to return to her eyes.
Jessica puts her hands to her face as she watches.
'Thank Brimir that she is alive. Thank you Saito.' Jessica thinks.
"You're not dreaming Siesta. I'm here. I'm not dead."
Siesta grips him and buries her head into his chest as she start bawling her eyes out.
Jessica leaves the room and closes the door behind her to give them a little bit of space.
"You left me Saito. You left me alone." Siesta says through sobs.
"I'm sorry Siesta." Saito says as he cradles her.
"I don't know what I'd do without you." She says to him
He lifts her head up and gives her a kiss. He tries to wipe away some of her tears.
"It's okay Siesta. I am back now. Right back here with you."
They sit like this for a couple more minutes before he speaks up again.
"I have something else to take care of while I am here. Jessica is waiting outside for you. Why don't you two get a bite to eat?"
She grips his shirt tightly.
He puts a hand on top of hers.
"It's okay Siesta. I am only going to be here at the academy. When I do leave, you will be accompanying me. Okay?"
She nods and loosens her grip.
"I love you Siesta."
"I love you too Saito."
He puts a hand to her face and kisses her again.
She puts on a smile for him.
He gets up and goes out into the hallway with Jessica.
"Thank you Saito."
He shakes his head.
"You don't need to thank me."
She shakes her head.
"Yes I do. You not only helped out just now, but you saved all of our lives. You really are the sword of the people."
He scratches the back of his head.
"I'm not sure how to respond to that."
She hugs him.
"Just say thank you."
"Thank you."
She lets go.
"You should probably go in there now. You two should get something to eat." He says to Jessica.
She nods and goes inside.
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*Knock, knock, knock*
"Who's there?" Louise says from the other side of the door.
Saito sighs.
"It's Saito."
"Let him in." Cattleya says to Eleonore and Louise."
"But you are not well." Eleonore says to Cattleya.
"I have not seen him in a while, and he did save our little sister.
Louise pouts but then goes to the door.
She opens the door.
"What do you want Saito? We actually don't wish to be bothered today." Louise says to him with a hint of sadness.
"Don't be rude to him. Let him in. It's okay." Cattleya says to her.
Saito gets a puzzled look on his face.
"Is everything okay?" He says as he walks in.
"Cattleya is not feeling well today." Eleonore states to Saito.
As he walks in, he sees Cattleya lying in Louise's bed. She seems a little paler than what she usually does. She is partially covered up with a blanket.
"I will be okay. I am just having one of my rough days." Cattleya says with a soft smile.
She extends her hand out to him.
He grabs a hold of it and sits next to her on the bed.
"It is good to see you Saito."
"It is good to see you too, Cattleya." He says in return to her.
He gives her a soft smile.
'There has to be something I can do for her.' He thinks.
He looks to the other sisters.
"Has nothing worked for her?" He asks Eleonore.
Eleonore shakes her head.
"Nothing has given us any results worth mentioning."
He looks back to Cattleya.
'Serena?'
'Yes my young avatar.'
'Water has the greatest healing powers of all. Isn't there something that we can do for her?'
'Being that I am the embodiment of water. My powers are stronger than any normal magic. It is possible that we may be able to help. I cannot guarantee that we can, but we can try.'
He nods.
He looks back to Louise and Eleonore.
"Would you mind giving us a moment alone?"
Eleonore crosses her arms.
"Why?" Eleonore asks.
"I may be able to help her, but I wish to speak with her alone, first."
Louise looks as if she is about to speak up, but Eleonore puts a hand on her shoulder.
"Because it is you, Saito, I have no problem. Be warned though. If something bad happens to her, I will be very upset." Eleonore tells Saito.
"I understand Eleonore. I don't plan on causing her any harm."
She gives him a smile.
"Thank you Saito." Eleonore says.
Eleonore starts to exit the room.
Louise pauses a moment to give Saito and her sister another glance.
Eleonore grabs her by the ear and pulls her out of the room.
Saito closes the door and then pulls up a chair.
Cattleya smiles at him.
"Even if you can't help me, I still appreciate the effort."
"I have been wanting to speak with you in private for a while now. I wanted to apologize to you."
She gets a puzzled look on her face.
"I know that you had high hopes for me and Louise, but obviously that isn't going to happen. I did keep my word to you though. I have still kept her safe."
"I am touched Saito. You didn't have to apologize. But thank you for keeping her safe. You are too kind Saito."
"You have been very kind to me. You were always kind right from the very beginning. You are very different from almost all of the other nobles I have met."
"Thank you for the compliment Saito. Maybe it's because of my illness, but I have learned to appreciate many things in life and not to worry myself over everything."
'What do I need to do first Serena?'
'An order for us to properly see what is going on with her, you will need to kiss her.'
'What?'
'It is the best way. The fluids in your mucus will communicate with the rest of her body, and you will even be able to see what is wrong with her.'
He puts his hand to his face.
"Is everything okay Saito?" Cattleya asks.
"Well. . . . . . I am going to have to kiss you."
She blushes a little.
"Oh my."
He scratches the back of his head.
"Yeah. I'm sorry."
"It will be okay Saito. If that is what you have to do."
He wipes some sweat from his forehead.
"But I do have a request if you are going to do that though."
"A request?"
"Yes. I just want you to make it a nice one."
He gets a puzzled look on his face.
"You will be steeling my first kiss."
"OH! I am so sorry."
She smiles at him.
"I guess I don't mind if it is you." Cattleya says to him.
"Only if you are okay with it."
'I wish I didn't have to do this but, but I will if it means that it will help her.' He thinks.
She nods.
He sits next to her on the bed again.
His eyes start to glow dark blue, and he starts to lean in to kiss her.
She closes her eyes and wraps her arms around him.
He holds himself up with his arms as he softly starts kissing her.
He instantly starts getting a flood of information as he kisses her. He also starts seeing everything that is going on inside of her. It's as if he is traveling along her nerves and jumping from cell to cell inside of her body.
He starts to pull away after a minute. His eyes stay closed as Serena and he processes all of the information.
He slowly starts to open his eyes after a moment. When he opens his eyes, he sees Cattleya smiling at him.
"That was very nice Saito. Thank you."
He smiles back at her.
"It was very nice."
He starts to make a serious face.
"You have been hiding your pain haven't you?"
She starts to tear up and nods.
"That's why you always have that soft smile about you."
She nods again.
"I am so sorry you have been going through this."
She starts wiping her eyes.
"I have good news and bad news for you."
"What is it Saito." She says to him.
"Here is the bad news. What you have is what is called a degenerative disease. There is no way to actually cure what you have. The reason why you have some good days is because it sometimes goes into a submission and then return. You would eventually die from this if left untreated."
"Even though you said many things I didn't know. I always knew that I would probably eventually die from this." Cattleya says to him.
"The good news is that I can give you treatments to make you better, but there is a catch."
"What is that?"
"I will first need to give you a series of treatments about once a week for four weeks, but then I will also need to keep seeing you every month for the rest of your life to prevent it from taking you back over. I will basically be returning your body to a state that it should be in with each treatment. The disease will never stop deteriorating you between treatments."
She gets a shocked look on her face.
"I don't want you to go through that much trouble just for me." She tells him.
He shakes his head and puts a hand on top of hers.
"Someone as nice as you deserves this. I want to do this for you."
"All right Saito. Thank you so much for this."
'What's next Serena?'
'She will need to drink a cup of water, but it can't just be any water. It must be the pure water that you create.'
He nods.
He grabs a cup of water that was sitting on the table next to the bed.
He dumps out the water that was inside of it and creates his own with the wave of a finger.
"I need you to drink all of this please." He says to Cattleya.
After a few attempts, she manages to drink it all down.
'Now what is next?' He asks Serena.
'You need to expose her.' Serena communicates to him.
'Are you kidding me?'
'You will need skin contact with her. You will need to place your hands on her chest and stomach.'
He looks at Cattleya and blushes.
"Ummmmm. . . . . I need to undo your shirt. I am going to have to place a hand on your chest and stomach."
"Oh my Saito. You are so bold. First you kiss me, and now you are already trying to get me undressed." She says to him teasingly.
He turns bright red.
She chuckles a little bit.
"I trust you Saito. Will you help me though? It might be a little difficult for me to undo it.."
"Okay." He says hesitantly back.
He helps her unbutton and untuck her blouse.
His eyes glow dark blue again.
As he goes to put his hands on her chest and stomach, they start to change. They change into a blue, gelatinous liquid.
Cattleya closes her eyes.
'Now, focus on the water and use it to repair all of the damaged areas.' Serena instructs him.
Saito does as she instructed.
Cattleya feels relief as Saito make repairs. Every so often she feels a jolt of pain, but then it is followed by even greater relief afterward.
Saito starts to strain as time progresses, and he grits his teeth.
'Alright Saito, That is enough for today.' Serena tells him.
'A little more.' He thinks.
'Saito, that is enough!'
After another moment he stops.
Cattleya starts crying.
"Oh no. Are you okay?" He asks out of concern.
"I haven't felt this good in a long time. I can't believe it."
Saito stands up.
He starts to stumble around as a bout of vertigo comes over him from over-exerting himself.
He stumble backwards over a chair and knocks over a table as he falls.
Cattleya sits up and extends her hand out in Saito's direction.
After hearing the thud and crash Eleonore and Louise rush in. Eleonore sees a scared look on her sister's face. Then she notices that her blouse is open.
'He must have been trying to impose on her.' She thinks.
Anger fills her facial features as she starts to walk towards Saito.
Cattleya gets out of the bed and stands between Eleonore and Saito.
Shock comes over Eleonore.
'Did she just get out of the bed, my sister who had just been bed ridden?' Eleonore thinks.
"It's okay sister. We had to do this so that he could help me. He didn't do anything wrong." Cattleya says to Eleonore.
Cattleya then turns around to help Saito up.
"Saito. I can't let you do this if this is how you're going to end up." Cattleya says to him.
"It's okay Cattleya. It's my fault. I over exerted myself a little bit." He says reassuringly to her.
'That was reckless of you Saito. You will be giving her more treatments, so you didn't have to go that far.' Serena scolds him.
'I know Serena, but I want to make her well as soon as I can.'
Eleonore looks over Cattleya for a moment while Louise rushes over and clings to her. Louise cries tears of joy.
Eleonore then grabs Saito's hand and pulls him into the hallway while closing the door behind them.
"How is it that you were able to cure her? We tried so many things and nothing worked." Eleonore asks in earnest.
"I didn't actually cure her. I am going to have to keep doing this for the rest of her life. She might be able to extend the time between treatments by exercising more when she starts to feel better. As far as how, I picked up a couple new tricks since the last time we saw each other." He says in response.
She smiles at him.
"Mother and father will be very pleased. Mother has been distressed over this."
"I am glad that I was able to help her." He says to her.
"Now what is this I heard about you taking on an army of 70,000 and dying?" She says sternly.
He gulps.
"Well, I did take on an army of 70,000, but I didn't die. I only almost died."
She puts her hands on her hips.
"And I heard that you did it in place of that idiot sister of mine."
"I didn't want you and Cattleya to have your youngest sister die. I did it to keep everyone alive."
"You will certainly have to explain this in more detail to me another time. I am very glad to see that my friend is back and alive. "
'Did she just say what I think she said?' He thinks to himself.
Eleonore then starts pulling on his ear.
"Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow." He starts saying from the pain.
"Now don't ever, ever make me worry like that again! I thought you were dead. You are not allowed to die. Do you understand?" She shouts at him.
"Yes. Yes. Yes. I understand."
She lets go and crosses her arms.
"Very good." Eleonore says in a normal tone.
He starts rubbing his ear.
"I have no idea how we are going to repay you for everything that you have done."
"How about you start with just a simple thank you."
"Very well." She says to him.
She looks around the hallway to see if anyone is coming, and doesn't see anyone.
She swiftly gives Saito a hug.
He goes bug-eyed in shock.
"Thank you so Much Saito."
Just then the door opens up and Louise is standing there. She stands there in complete shock as she sees Eleonore hugging Saito. Her jaw drops.
Eleonore lets go of Saito and straightens herself up.
She clears her throat.
"You never did say why you came here Saito."
"Oh yeah." He says.
He pulls out a letter and hands it to Louise.
"This is a summons from the queen. You will be riding back with me to Londinium to see her."
"Really?" All of the sisters say.
He nods.
"We were here to bring her back, but then Cattleya got ill." Eleonore says to him.
"Well, I think that you will at least need to delay that considering that she was summoned by the queen. Besides. . " He starts to say.
He looks at Cattleya.
"I think that you have something better to tell your parents." He finishes.
Cattleya and Saito both smile at each other and then Cattleya gives him a great big hug.
"Thank you so much Saito." Cattleya whispers into his ear.
"We will head off in the morning."
Louise nods.
As Saito walks away, he pauses a moment.
'You know. If I was able to help Cattleya, then maybe I can help Tabitha's mother too.' Saito thinks to himself.
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A/N: Another chapter finished. I hope you liked the new changes in the story line.
I have also updated my Kenichi story to chapter 2