An Eye for an Eye

The sky was gloomy and the damp air kept Ayano stuck deep in her soft bed, she couldn't find the motivation to pick herself up. Not until her stomach started growling that she turned over and glanced at the alarm clock. It was half past 12 pm, Ayano was too tired to freak out and she decided to take a break from school that day. The young miss finished washing up and headed to the dining hall where she spotted her father speaking to miss Kirika, the female police officer that Kazuma was acquainted with.

"Good afternoon, Ayano-san. Are you feeling better after your break?", Kirika greeted politely.

"Afternoon! What brings you here, miss Kirika?", Ayano greeted back with curiosity.

"Oh, I came to report some updates about the youma's case to the family head; Mr. Jugo seems to be very pleased about your achievement, Ayano-san.", Kirika complimented.

"Oh, it was nothing much. The entire team was with me so it's not like I fought alone.", Ayano slightly blushed as she glanced at her father.

"Well, it's time I have to leave so I will have to excuse myself. On behalf of the police department, I would like to express my greatest gratitude to you and your team, Ayano-san.", Kirika stood up and bowed towards Ayano and Mr. Jugo.

"Ayano-san, may I have a word with you?", Kirika suddenly requested.

"Sure, I'll see you off then.", Ayano put on her shoes as Kirika was already moving slowly towards the entrance.

"Ayano, if you are free this afternoon, would you like to pay a visit to Kazuma?", Kirika's request was surprising that Ayano flinched a bit.

"Did something happen to Kazuma? I was completely blacked out after the fight so I-", Ayano anxiously asked.

"Kazuma is okay, he's just exhausted from the fight and has been resting till now. I visited him this morning and he seemed to have not eaten anything since yesterday. Unfortunately, I still have duties to attend to, so if it's fine with you, would you like to visit him?", Kirika suggested as she took a glance at her wrist watch.

"Uhm, sure, thank you for telling me, Kirika-san. You should get going or you'll be late for work.", Ayano urged as Kirika's cell phone chimed.

"Thank you, Ayano. I'll see you around then.", Kirika got in the car as she drove off into the crowded street.

Thank God her phone chimed, if it was any later, Kirika would surely see my face...Ayano walked back to the dining hall with a happy grin on her face. The thought of visiting Kazuma made her really excited as she gulped down the food and hummed her favourite tune. Ayano's sudden mood change didn't get past her father's eyes, as he smiled satisfyingly while walking back to his chamber. Mr. Jugo hoped that Ayano and Kazuma would get along with each other, he considered Kazuma to be very important and necessary for the growth of the Kannagi clan. Thanks to Kazuma's advice, Ayano significantly improved her use of power; since she had met him, Kazuma opened her eyes to many possibilities that she never experienced before. That's why, Ayano held Kazuma close to her heart and she wanted to be his strength whether it was on the battlefield or in life. Hence, the maiden in love started packing the most delicious food to bring to Kazuma's place.

-UwU-

Meanwhile, the Shimizu siblings were waiting for Rei to recover; he was sleeping still, his breathing was slow and weak. Sitting next to Rei's hospital bed, Kaori peeled some apples for him despite her bandaged burned hands. Her face was anxious and slightly regretful. Maybe I should have stopped Rei from using his power...The thought went through her head as she shook it off, no, I shouldn't think this way, I should be glad that he's still alive; Rei, you will come back with us, right? Kaori nurtured her hope as she gazed upon the boy's pale skin, his eyes still closed shut. The door was opened and Hideki came in with two lunch boxes:

"Kaori, mom made us some lunches, care to help me set it out?", Hideki asked as he landed the bags on the table nearby.

"Coming~, thanks for the food, Hideki.", Kaori stood up and helped her brother.

"Why so quiet today? Still tired after all those fighting?", Hideki commented.

"Not really, I feel fine. But I just hope Rei will wake up soon.", Kaori spoke as she slowly sat down and ate.

"Well, I worry for him, too. He has been sleeping since we got here. Maybe he'll wake up to all this delicious food mom sent us.", Hideki joked as he took a bite.

"Oh right, have you seen Mrs. Hamada? The nurse told me she was with Rei all the time, she was worried sick about him.", Hideki asked curiously.

"She's resting in the waiting room. She said that Mr. Hamada would come later to visit Rei as well. It would be great if he could wake up and meet his parents.", Kaori answered.

It seemed the warmth and noises coming from Hideki and Kaori warmed up the air in the room, and Kaori's wish managed to reach Rei's heart, as he slowly opened his eyes after a while later. He was asking for some water and the twin rushed towards him.

"Rei, can you hear me? Here's some water, can you sit up to drink it?", Kaori asked worriedly as she glanced at the glass of water in Hideki's hand.

"Yeah,...I can sit up, could you guys help me up?", Rei spoke as he grabbed onto his friends' shoulders. He took a deep breath and drank the water Hideki gave him, his lips were dry but his eyes came clear. As Hideki ran out to find Rei's mother, Kaori stayed to look after him:

"Thanks for visiting me, Kaori. We made it, we defeated that youma. And,...your hands!?", Rei asked as he reached for Kaori's bandaged hands.

"Yeah, it's no biggie, just a little burn won't hurt me. I'm more worried about you, you slept for so long.", Kaori wriggled her fingers which were gently held in Rei's palms.

"Yeah, I think I fainted due to overusing my power. I've never focused that much power before, so I guess this is the aftermath. Don't worry, only my muscles ache, nothing is broken though.", Rei reassured his friend as he tried to move his arms and bend his head.

Rei's mother arrived with his father a few minutes later, she rushed towards her son and embraced him tightly. It was a touching moment, Kaori almost cried and she felt like seeing her mother so much. Hideki probably shared the same thought as he already sniffed his nose, his eyes got all misty.

"I'm okay, mother. My friends are looking so it's a bit embarrassing.", Rei's face turned red as his friends laughed it off.

"This little brat, you really made me and your mother worried. She was with you all this time.", Mr. Hamada gently stroked Rei's head.

"I'm sorry to make you worry about me like this. I'll get even stronger next time.", Rei made his promise.

"But you already became stronger, son. That alone, is a great achievement you attained, we are very proud of you, Rei.", Rei's father complemented with a warm smile on his face.

"I heard that Mr. Shimizu gave you a protection charm, Rei. We must thank him directly after Rei got discharged from the hospital.", Mrs. Hamada reminded Rei and her husband, both of whom agreed with no objection.

"Both of you, thank you so much for fighting alongside my son. You have our greatest gratitude.", Mr. Hamada expressed his thanks as he, along with Mrs. Hamada, slightly bowed towards the twin.

"Oh, we didn't do anything much, Rei kept up a really good fight himself. We wouldn't succeed without his help.", Hideki replied humbly.

The talk went on and till later, Kaori and Mr. Hamada left while Hideki and Mrs. Hamada stayed back to look after Rei at the hospital. Mr. Hamada offered to take Kaori home since he also wanted to give his gratitude personally to her father, which Kaori couldn't refuse out of politeness. Kaori was a little nervous since she rarely visited Rei's place, and it was her first time meeting Rei's father, who was mostly busy with his work. There was a brief moment of silence, and Mr. Hamada struck up the conversation:

"I would like to thank you, Kaori, for looking after my son even after his transfer to the new school. He's a quiet one and maybe clumsy in making new friends, but he's a hard worker.", Mr. Hamada spoke while keeping his focus on the road.

"It was nothing much, Mr. Hamada, and I have seen that Rei has gotten stronger than before. I was afraid before the battle that he might not be able to withstand his own power, but he managed to overcome everything. I was ashamed that I did not completely believe in him.", Kaori lowered her voice as if she was confessing her mistakes.

"It's okay, Kaori; because you worry about him, he will strive to do better, you cannot win the fight if you let your guard down too much.", Mr. Hamada expressed his thoughts as Kaori looked up in relief. However, her mind was somewhat uneasy as memories of her mother's expression flashed by, did I really worry for nothing then, mother?

-UwU-

The car slowly stopped upon its arrival at the Shimizu's residence, the head mistress was feeding the fish when Kaori and Mr. Hamada entered. Kaori's mother, as graceful and polite as always, slightly bowed towards Mr. Hamada to greet him.

"Mother, I'm home. This mister here is Rei's father, he gave me a ride home from the hospital, he would like to see you and father.", Kaori informed as she took over her mother to feed the fish.

"I see, nice to meet you, Mr. Hamada. Thank you very much for giving my daughter a lift home. Please come in and have some tea.", Mrs. Shimizu invited.

"Oh, thank you very much, but I would have to refuse your kind offer since I have to get back to work. I just want to send my gratitude directly to you and Mr. Shimizu for protecting my son during the fight with the youma. Although this is quite sudden, but is it possible that I pay my respect to him now?", Mr. Hamada politely asked.

"I see, it is unfortunate but my husband is currently on a business trip, if you are okay with it, I shall accept your gratitude on his behalf.", the head mistress replied kindly with a warm smile.

"Well, it can't be helped since it was me who came so suddenly. Then, I would like to express my greatest gratitude to you and Mr. Shimizu for supporting my son and the children during the fight. After Rei gets discharged from the hospital, we will pay a visit again.", Mr. Hamada spoke earnestly as he slightly bowed towards the head mistress. Then he bid farewell and left for his busy schedule awaiting him.

Looking at the fish swimming in the pond, Mrs. Shimizu let out a quiet sigh which worried her daughter. Kaori felt hesitant but finally raised the question:

"Mother, I haven't heard that father went on a business trip before, when will he come back?", Kaori asked curiously, her mother's expression made her feel anxious.

"Kaori dear,...will you go with me for a bit? I have something to tell you.", the head mistress replied with a weak voice, her face was sad and uneasy, her skin looked paler under the sunlight.

Then, Mrs. Shimizu lifted her hands up as the pond's water got divided into half and shifted to the edge, exposing a staircase leading to a secret chamber at the bottom of the pond. Kaori was in awe as she followed her mother down the stairs, and the water curtain closed with the fish swimming normally, Kaori could see the fish floating above her head. Under the magical pond was a spacious stone cave, the air was cool and a little damp. The surroundings suddenly jogged her memories as Kaori felt as if she had been there before, the sensation still lingered in the damp smell from the ground. And sleeping soundly in a water pole at the center of the cave, was a slender silver dragon, his scales sparkled in the gentle light. And that was when her memories came back flowing:

"Shiro?!..., he was here all this time?", Kaori uttered in astonishment while moving slowly towards the pole.

"You remembered him, Kaori?", asked Kaori's mother.

"He used to fly around in the garden, and watched you practise your water dance, mother. But I haven't seen him since then. It was quite a long time ago, he even showed me this cave once.", Kaori recollected her memories, the moments were blurry but she couldn't help smiling a little, since those were her precious childhood memories with a special friend.

Unfortunately, her happiness didn't last for long. The moment her mother raised her hands a second time, a bed of ice rose up from the ground, and lying in there was the head of the Shimizu clan. Kaori's eyes widened in horror as she looked back at her mother, whose eyes were even more lifeless than hers. The mistress kneeled down next to her husband's resting place, with her forehead gently pressed against his, as tears ran down her cheeks.

"Mo - Mother, what happened to father? He's still alive,...right?", Kaori stuttered, her body shivered as her chest tightened.

"Sniff…, your father is alive dear,...but,...I don't know when he will wake up.", Mrs. Shimizu struggled to let out the harsh truth while trying to hold back her tears.

"..."

Kaori fell silent as her mother's crying seeped through her, nothing else could be heard but the wife's grief and her daughter's weak breathing. The cave was not that cold, though it felt like winter in their souls, as they could feel nothing but helplessness. Only the fellow dragon was still sunk deep in his sleep.