A Splash Of Color
Cast:
Cure Aqua, Minazuki Karen - age 25
Phantom, Inutama Anji - age 22
February, 2017
As befits a hospital room, the walls are painted white. The ceiling is white. The floor is white. White sheets provide screening between Anji's bed and the rest of the room. Even the window, although it is transparent, although here and there patches of blue show through, the sky is dominated by clouds. Needless to say, the clouds are-
Anji rests in a bed with white sheets and a white blanket. He has been provided a loose white robe to wear. Next to the bed, on a white end table, there is a bouquet of yellow flowers in a white vase. Along with the vase, there is a small bag of hand-wrapped honey candies.
"Mr. Inutama?"
"Present."
The woman who enters his enclosure is a doctor in a white lab coat. Her hair is dark blue and gathered into a bun that conceals its considerable volume. Behind her, an older doctor follows. White coat, white hair.
"I'm pleased to report that the surgery was a success. How are you feeling?"
"Considering that I came here in agonizing pain, I am doing quite well now, thank you."
"That's a rather dire qualifier. May I ask you please to elaborate?"
"My apologies. No physical pain, but I find this bleached white environment profoundly unsettling." Anji smiles. "How are you? I believe you said this was to be your first time cutting open a fleshy sack to root around in the disgusting fluids within."
"That's a rather gruesome way to put it, but this was indeed my first surgery."
"Having once had most of my bones broken, I emerged with an unusual perspective on the human body. If you feel differently about it, that is probably for the best. I do appreciate your saving my life. Thank you."
The woman smiles. "You're very welcome."
Behind her, the other doctor clears his throat.
"Oh!" The blue-haired woman pulls a small jar out of her lab coat. Inside, something fleshy and tube-shaped floats in a yellow-ish liquid. "This is your appendix, preserved as you requested."
"Not much to look at, is it?" Anji smiles as he receives the jar. "Downright disgusting. Last time I survived something that should have killed me, there wasn't anything I could make into a memento. Not to say that was my only regret, but I feel like I'm getting a little better at this 'surviving' business."