LIII
Song
When I woke up, I was in pain, but very much alive.
And I was grateful for that.
It felt like I'd slept for eons. When I lifted my arm I noticed that the blankets had left their marks, red criss-crosses that looked almost like wounds. Okay, I'd been here a while. I tried to sit up, biting my bottom lip to stop from crying out. My leg hurt and it was unresponsive, making my other one push twice as hard. Still, I managed, but the effort left me short of breath.
A second later Sakuya walked in. She must have heard my struggling. She looked wary, and in her hand was a giant needle.
I paled at the sight of it. No way. There was no way in hell I was letting her poke me with that.
"Song?" She asked, taking a gentle step towards me. I wanted to back away, but sitting up made moving impossible. Instead, I just made a face.
Sakuya seemed a little reassured, for whatever reason. "You're not going to freak out on me again, will you?"
-Again?-
At that, she smiled, putting the needle down on a table full of equally-disturbing instruments. "Welcome back."
I was confused. Sakuya approached, cautiously wrapping her arms around me. I was glad for that — I didn't think I could handle a solid hug at the moment. My leg hurt too much. When she pulled back, she gave me my answers.
Apparently I'd been asleep for four days — although I should have woken up much sooner. I actually had. The problem was that I'd only been semi-conscious and still in panic mode. They had to resort to anesthesia before I hurt somebody.
I winced at that. I didn't remember any of it, but it sounded horrible.
"I'll go get you some food." She said, and it was only then that I noticed how hungry I was. "Once you're done eating I'll go get the others — after you eat you might not even be able to stay awake, so there's no point in getting them all excited." She smiled and left.
I was about to doze off when the door opened.
The curtains around my bed were drawn, so I couldn't see who the visitor was. At least, until Soma pushed his way in, glancing around somewhat suspiciously.
"I have something to tell you." He said quickly.
My good mood disappeared instantly. What, no "glad you're awake?" Or at least "hey you almost died but you're fine now. That's pretty awesome."
He paused. It looked like he was listening for something. Then, reassured, he turned back to me.
"Sakuya didn't want me to tell you this, but I have to. It's safer."
I refuse to be curious. I refuse to listen to him. I'm mad at him.
"She didn't tell Alisa or Kota either, and I agree with that, but you have to know." There were footsteps outside and Soma stopped talking, looking very much like he was about to run and hide. But he relaxed the moment they passed.
I'm not curious at all.
-You can tell me later. I'm tired.-
Standoffish and cool. Yeah.
Soma looked agitated. "I might not get another chance. Listen, Song." He stepped closer, but not before sliding the curtain closed behind him. "This is really important. Something's not right here, and I'm afraid you're in danger."
That was enough to make my anger disappear. It was replaced by a knot in my stomach. I was in danger?
Now that he had my attention, the words just tumbled out of Soma. "I don't think that Vajra was there by accident. It was too perfect, wasn't it? A large Aragami, spotted days before, and storm clouds that threatened rain for days. And then all of a sudden you get a day off for free?"
-What are you implying?- I demanded, but he ignored me.
"That Vajra should never have gotten into the Ghetto. The Defense Team didn't even notice it! And that was because their equipment was having trouble with the weather — at least, that's what he told them. But their equipment had never done that before. Our radar and satellites are too advanced to be bothered by a little rain.
"And then there was that scent he gave you. A little bit of extra insurance, just to say that you tried everything. But it didn't work, did it? You must have used it, but the Vajra found you anyway. It was the rain."
-Are you saying that someone's trying to kill me?!- I frowned at him. This wasn't funny at all. Why would anyone want to assassinate me? I hadn't wronged anyone that badly!
"I'm saying that my father's trying to kill you." He snapped. "You know too much. Damn that Sakaki! He should have never told you about me!"
-What does that have to do with anything?!-
"It means that you hate him now." Soma turned away angrily. "He must have seen it on your face, somehow. And he probably knows that we're setting something up behind his back. Any word or hint of mutiny and he'll find it. He thinks you're causing it, so he's gonna take you out of the picture. He tried — no, he did it — with Lindow, too."
I felt sick to my stomach all of sudden.
"Sakuya and I have been watching you. Sakuya's taken all the hospital shifts, and I've been keeping my eyes and ears open to try and find his next move. And now that you're awake it will probably just get worse. He's been trying to send us all at once on missions, but Sakuya and I have always found an excuse to stay behind to watch you."
-Slow down!- I demanded.
Soma stopped instantly. It was just so out of character for him. He was never this flustered. And he usually didn't listen to me so quickly and so easily.
-So you're trying to say that your father is trying to kill me?-
He nodded. He was starting to return to his sullen self, that crazy outburst forgotten.
-But at the same time, he's assigning me special missions.-
"He wants to get full use of you before he kills you." Soma said dryly.
-I honestly don't think—
I was interrupted by the door opening. A moment later Sakuya pushed her way into my little curtained room, a tray of food in her hands. She gave Soma a look as she put the tray on the night table beside me.
Soup. I realized sadly, looking at the bowl on the tray. Broth, no less. I guess they couldn't expect someone who'd been asleep for long to be able to digest real food.
"So what were you two talking about?" Sakuya asked frostily. From the tone of her voice she knew exactly what we'd been discussing.
"She deserves to know, Sakuya." Soma answered just as coldly. "Lindow knew the danger he was in."
"Because he figured it out himself." This icy, hard Sakuya was so foreign to me. But, just as suddenly as it had come, her façade broke. Something akin to pain flickered in her eyes. "He didn't even tell us. We could have helped him."
"And he's gone now." Soma said, almost gently. "And we're all going to have to work together to make sure Song doesn't end up that way."
Gee, that's pleasant.
Sakuya was cowed for the moment, mulling it over. She recovered quickly. "Don't worry, we won't let him put another finger on you, Song."
With that she took the bowl of broth and handed it to me, blocking off any further comments I could have made. When I'd taken my first sip, she ushered Soma out of the hospital. They stood in the hall for a few moments, discussing something.
You know, considering it's my life at risk, I should probably be in on this discussion.
I sighed, taking another sip. I'd hoped the joke would reassure me, but it couldn't stop my hands from trembling.
I wasn't afraid of death. I knew that one day an Aragami might land a good hit on me, or I might take a hit for someone else.
What scared me was having to fear death where I felt safest. It was the invisible threat lingering over every step I took.
I was afraid.
And she's ok. Hooray! XD
As always, thanks for reading, everyone! :3
