Magix Hospital - Still 2nd October 2005
"I have to thank you again for this, Rupert."
"Geez, Faragonda, enough. After all, you've done for me, this is nothing. Although I must admit you've gotten in quite a pickle. Only you could bring me a patient from a species long since extinct. And just when I finished my night shift."
"I thought you like it when I keep you on your toes," Faragonda counters, almost teasingly.
"Yeah, when they're on the ground, not 5 feet in the air," Dr Rupert comments dryly before his lips curl into a small frown. "You gave me quite the scare, you know. When that nurse told me that you needed me and that it was an emergency, I assumed the worst had finally happened."
"You don't need to worry, I still have a lot of time left," Faragonda assures softly.
Rupert sighs at the blasé attitude she has for her own life but goes back to his job which is now examining the x-ray of his current patient. "Yep, he won't heal at all."
"That I know. But why?" Faragonda who sat by the bed stopped stroking Kaneki's hair to look up at her friend.
"I'm guessing with his stay at Alfea and his scan, he's consuming Rc Mediator daily?" Faragonda nods, wondering what was wrong with that. It's the best medicine for ghouls. "Despite it being in the name, your boy hasn't received any new Rc cells. That fruit changes the structure of the tongue and stomach so they can digest food ergo the body won't starve to death. However, ghouls need a constant cycle of Rc cells to support their superior abilities like strength, speed, regeneration etcetera."
"So Ken hasn't been eating well? Is that what you're saying?"
"Essentially, yes. But according to past research, his regeneration shouldn't be affected until another month or two. His scans show broken fractures on his back skeleton," he points to the hairline thin cracks on the boy's backbones such as ribs, arms, legs and vertebrate. "They've long since healed but I'm guessing they came from a fall that could've killed a normal human being."
"Ken did mention a fall but I didn't believe it to be that bad," Faragonda mumbles. Stella and Brandon had fallen as well yet they were physically fine.
"At this level of damage, he should've felt the effects weeks ago so why didn't he?" Dr Rupert mutters to himself.
"I don't think he can feel pain," Faragonda remembers all the times Kaneki didn't show a reaction to physical harm. "At least not completely."
"Well the remedy is simple; he needs Rc cells. Luckily he'll get a fresh supply today," Rupert assures with full confidence as he rummages through the drawers for his equipment.
"Will you be using blood from bank supply?"
"No, those packets for transfusions and, while your boy is my patient and deserves treatment, there's never enough blood." Forget stealing blood being against the law, Rupert could never in good conscience pilfer a blood packet knowing that it could potentially harm another in response. Every action has its consequences.
"So use mine," Faragonda offers up her arm for him to draw blood. "I have Rc cells."
"No need." Rupert gently pushes Faragonda arm down.
"But he needs it," she stresses.
"And he'll get, just not from you," the doctor picks up a syringe and searches for a vein. "We don't why but magic actually causes an already low Rc cell count to dwindle so you don't have enough to satiate him anyway." (1)
Once the syringe was filled, he puts a small plaster on his arm before remembering about Faragonda. "While I'm treating him, why don't you get your own injuries looked over? You initially refused because you didn't want to leave your student but he's fine now," Dr Rupert leads Faragonda out the room and gestures for a nurse to come, informing him to treat the headmistress. "I'm just gonna do a couple more tests then head on home."
Faragonda stammers as she tries to argue but Rupert closes the door before letting his head fall against the wood. Looking back at his patient, he heads over to a tray of medical equipment before picking up a scalpel.
"This is gonna bloody hurt," Rupert mutters.
Shadow Haunt
The castle shakes and trembles. Shadow monsters, both on land and in air, tear each other down as rubble came raining onto their heads. The Trix share one look before fleeing the heck outta there.
Lord Darkar is in one of his furores. In cases like this, it best to keep your head down and stay away lest you want to be zapped into ash.
Darkar roars as he hurls a pillar into the wall, smashing into a pile of scree. He clutches at his head, his claws digging into his helmet as Argulus fights for control once more.
"How could you?! How could you hurt my Ri?!" Argulus demands.
"Silence, you vexatious fool! There is no Ri only the King! My King!" Darkar assumes control again by shoving Argulus into the back of his mind and sending him to sleep. Darkar pants, the strain of fighting for control against his counterpart has exhausted his strength and stamina.
"You choose to live in the past... what's the use of chasing after a ghost? Was it a mistake? Was bringing you into this world, my King?" Darkar collapses onto his throne and holds his head in his hand as he accepts the memories of his puppet hidden in Alfea into his own mind.
His King who he barely knew. Darkar saw the way his King tends to his two pixies, his early morning training, cooking in the kitchen and numerous other memories. The final memory was Darkar's own where his King had almost accepted him.
He gingerly touches his lips before looking straight up at the ceiling. "Never."
Magix Hospital - 3rd October 2005
"Thank you for allowing us to accompany you, Faragonda," Aisha says with Faith and Glim perched on her shoulders.
"There's no need to thank me. I figured it would be good for him to have some friends around but take note that he hasn't woken up yet so don't be disappointed when he doesn't respond."
"Can you talk to the doctor about us staying?" Faith requests.
"Unfortunately not. If the Trix find out you're here then everyone in this building will be in danger. It'd be safer for you to stay at Alfea." Faith and Glim deflate at this but do not argue.
"It'll be fine. Kaneki's strong," Aisha comforts.
"Afternoon, Faragonda," Dr Rupert greets after opening the door and coming out of the room. "Are you here to see Kaneki?"
"Yes. Is there a problem?" Aisha really didn't want to be turned away when she just got here.
"No. His vitals are stable and he should be waking up sometime today. I just ask that you wait a few minutes before going in. I have to talk to Faragonda first," Rupert requests.
"Alright, I'll be back soon," Rupert hastily pulls Faragonda in the next room which was empty and closes the blinds. "What's wrong, Rupert?" Faragonda questions his abnormal behaviour.
"It's your boy's injuries," Rupert runs a hand through his hair. "The damage is far arduous then I thought before. Because he's a ghoul I thought feeding him flesh would rejuvenate his regeneration and he'd be healthy in a day-"
"Wait, flesh?" Faragonda interjects in confusion and Rupert smacks his forehead at his blunder. "You said he needed blood, not flesh. Where on Magix did you get human flesh?"
"Um," Rupert stammers trying to come up with a legitimate excuse while unknowingly tugging his sleeve down. Faragonda notices and seizes his arm, pushing up his sleeve to reveal the bandages.
"Rupert!" Faragonda chastises with her brows furrowed in disappointment.
"I had to!" Rupert yanks back his arm and winces as pain shot up his nerves; looks like the painkillers are wearing off. "His injuries wouldn't have healed at all since his regeneration was enervated. Blood wouldn't have been enough to save him."
Faragonda opens her mouth to contend but, as the experienced medical expert, Rupert knew better than she ever would.
"You said Ken's injuries are worse than we thought before. Explain," Faragonda demands.
"He woke up yesterday in the evening and freaked out. Luckily, I had the foresight to inject Rc suppressants into his kakuhou while he was under but he still knocked out 3 security, 2 doctors and some nurses. We managed to subdue him and strapped to the bed for questioning but his mind and memories were in disarray. Quite frankly, I don't think it safe for him to return to Alfea not until he can form any coherent thought."
"He can't stay in the hospital, someone dangerous is after him. Alfea is the only place that can protect him."
"Fine but only staff. Keep your students away from him. Any little thing could set him off." At that moment, there was a crash from Kaneki's room. Faragonda and Rupert stare at each other in horror before scrambling next door, ready for a fight.
Faragonda summoned a sphere of energy while Rupert held a clipboard up ready to thwack any assailants in the face.
"What happened?" They find Aisha flat on her back on the floor with blood streaming from her nose and Kaneki behind the fallen bed desperately tugging at the restraint on his hand while kicking at the bed whimpering and begging to be released.
"You tend to Aisha, I'll calm Ken," Faragonda didn't even give the doctor time to respond before she was by Kaneki's side. She smoothes the back of her skirt as she kneels a few feet in front of him.
Faragonda's heart cracks when Kaneki flinches before curling up into a ball, his whimpering becomes more pronounced. He begins to mutter in a mixture of Japanese, Italian and even a bit of English but it was clear to Faragonda what he pleading for.
I'm sorry. Please don't hurt me. No more pain. Let me go.
"Ken, no one here will hurt you. There's no need to worry anymore."
Kaneki gave no indication he heard her as he continues his murmuring. Then Faragonda made the mistake of reaching out to him.
"Don't touch me!" Kaneki snaps as he clutches at his hair, tearing strands by the handfuls. "Don't touch me. Don't touch me. Don't touch me!" His free hand dragging downwards until he was clawing at his face while repeating the mantra.
Eyes widening, Faragonda places her hands on his head and sends Kaneki to deep sleep to prevent him from harming himself any longer. "Oh, Ken," is what left her lips as she catches Kaneki before he could fall flat on his face and hugs him while petting his hair. "Just what happened to you? Will I ever know?"
"We're sorry," Faith sobs failing to keep his tears at bay while Glim clung to him. "We heard him wake up and went to see him despite being told not to. He was begging us to let him go and Aisha tried to calm him down but that made him worse and he broke free and shoved her away."
"It's not your fault," Faragonda assures holding her palms out so she could hold the pixies close. She kept on comforting them while Rupert checked Aisha out. She had gained consciousness but was still in a daze, he used a small flashlight to check her pupils and confirms that she has a head injury though a scan would prove better. Either way, she was required to stay in the hospital for a day or two.
Magix Public Square - 4th October
Haley fiddles with the strap of her bag as she glances to the nearby street clock and bites her lip. 2 pm. He's late.
Gray clouds loomed in the sky and people began to rush by hoping they would escape the first drops of rain. Haley stayed glued to her spot nonetheless.
Still chewing on her lower lip, she glances at the clock once again. He did say he wasn't going to come and they barely know each other yet still, she can't help but hope he would show up.
It's strange. Haley barely knows the guy and despite their first meeting being less than stellar, she finds herself wanting to know him better. Why did he stick up for her? Why'd he end up at Alfea of all places?
What goes through the mind of that man who saw Haley as Haley? Not normie, not trash, just Haley.
'I know that I'm not the easiest person to deal with, you probably know that by now, but please don't leave me here,' Haley pleads desperately trying to keep the tears at bay.
Antor's Antique Store
Antor tucks the money into the register before closing the lid with a soft click. He catches himself glancing out the window for the umpteenth time today and shakes his head at his unwarranted worry.
Kaneki didn't show up yesterday nor today. Missing a day without telling him isn't unusual for the boy, especially considering that he still refuses to buy a phone, but when he says he's gonna show up the next day, he always does.
Antor couldn't help but let his mind wander. Kaneki is the exact opposite of his Zephyrine yet at times it's like they're one and the same. Antor couldn't stop himself from constantly comparing the two, even confusing Kaneki a couple of times for his daughter.
It's getting dangerous.
Zephyrine's dead, hopelessly believing that she's reincarnated or possessing the boy is dangerous and will simply cause him more pain. Truth be told, it already has, but Antor will never chase Kaneki away. Despite knowing it to be false, he's far too selfish to lose the only link to his daughter.
Hospital
Aisha paced outside in the hallway occasionally stopping in front of the door and reaching out for the door handle only to retract her hand and continue her pacing.
It's been like this for the past 15 minutes. Doctor Rupert had informed her that she would be discharged today and Faragonda would arrive to take her and Kaneki back to Alfea. But he didn't leave after giving the good news rather the doctor stood about awkwardly as if contemplating something. Aisha pointed this out which led to Rupert revealing that the severity of Kaneki's injury and the recent trauma resulted in akinetic catatonia.
He has not responded to anyone when he woke up yesterday. Just stared up at the ceiling the whole day. The reveal is what led to Aisha pacing back and forth outside his room.
"Aren't you going to enter?" Faragonda inquires hand already on the handle.
"Headmistress," Aisha gasps at the appearance of the woman before noticing that Faith and Glim weren't with her which Aisha pointed out.
"I thought it'd be best if they stay behind at Alfea," Faragonda answers before reminding the teen of her previous question.
"I want to but I..." Aisha trails off.
"I'm guessing you heard about Ken," Faragonda guesses and Aisha nods in response. "Please know that you are blameless in this, Aisha. What Ken is going through, I believe it was only a matter of time till he reached that stage. The actions of Tecna, Musa and Stella only served to speed up the process."
Faragonda placed a hand on Aisha's shoulder and gave a light squeeze before leading the teen into the room. Kaneki, who sat in a wheelchair by the bed, did not acknowledge their arrival still staring at his hands that rested on his lap.
So this catatonia. Those warm yet guarded grey eyes now left as a vacant, cloudy stare. His peach lips that would quirk into the kindest smile lies stiff and sullen. The wedding-white locks remain bedraggled having lost its life and lustre.
Aisha covers her mouth with both hands, her knees shake yet she doesn't collapse. How could she?
Faragonda kneels by the wheelchair and gingerly calls out his name. "Ken, I'm here to take you and Aisha back to Alfea."
Not even a twitch.
Knowing how unlikely it would be to get a reaction, Faragonda walks to the back of the wheelchair and begins wheeling Kaneki out the room to the elevator and down to the car.
The drive back to Alfea was painstakingly silent. Aisha caught herself glancing at Kaneki through the drivers rear-view mirror numerous times. He laid his head against the window and stared at the passing scenery alienated to the rest of reality.
"Faragonda, where did Kaneki come from?" Aisha questions halfway into the drive. Faragonda spares a glance at Aisha before focusing back on the road. "After we returned from Downland, Flora and I spoke to Knut who told us that Kaneki arrived at Alfea kinda like I did."
It would appear that Faragonda needs to have a little chat with Knut, the ogre means well but he doesn't always make the best decisions.
"Kaneki's past is something I cannot reveal though I'm as much in the dark as you are." Ken's life before Alfea, it's clearly something he never wanted to truly touch upon. He would speak little of it and what he would reveal consisted only of his friends yet it was his steadfast determination to return to them that drove his research.
Aisha realised how much she owed Kaneki. He's always been there for her since the beginning but there's an awful lot she doesn't know not because he refuses to share, it's that she never really thought to ask. Even Bloom made an effort to get to know him better.
Now she may be too late.
Red Fountain
Helia sat at his desk fervently typing on his laptop in order to finish his assignment that is due in a couple of days when a knock on his door snaps his attention away. "Come in." The door opens to reveal a sodden and sullen Haley who just stood there out in the hall.
"Haley?" Helia quickly grabs a towel from his drawer and throws it atop her head before pulling her into the room and closing the door. Helia begins to fuss over while drying her hair with the towel. "Did you get caught in the rain? Why aren't you at the academy? Why aren't you answering me?" Helia stops and pushes the towel so it rests on her shoulders, this allowed him to properly regard Haley's face.
Her bloodshot eyes focused on a single spot on the ground. Helia gently tilts her chin up so they could see eye to eye and as if a spell had been broken, Haley bites her trembling lip before leaning into Helia's chest. He hugs her tight but she doesn't copy his action.
Haley keeps her arms by her side while her face is buried in his chest, soaking his shirt but neither cared at the moment. Her shoulders shake yet she remains as quiet as a mouse.
A quiet Haley is dangerous. Not the city levelling or mass murdering type of dangerous but the self-destructive version. Haley never once conformed to society's view of high ranking females, not before the revelation of her lack of magic and especially not after.
Haley wanted to be Haley. Unlike everyone else, she saw no problem with that. Most of the time.
There were times where Haley could no longer bear the burden of being different. The aversion from family, former friends and strangers lead to her questioning why her life is the way it is. Did she anger someone in a previous life? Was she dealt a bad hand? Or is it just a chance of simple genetics?
These clandestine thoughts are privy to only Helia, not even Celia nor Saladin have the privilege of seeing Haley at her most vulnerable.
Time passed for the two, how much they would not know but now they are able to communicate.
Sitting on Helia's bed, Haley squeezed the remaining water droplets out of her hair. Her previous soaking clothes replaced with a baggy outfit that consisted of an oversized shirt and trouser that belonged to Helia.
"So," Helia drags his chair in front of Haley and sits backwards, "what happened?"
"Got my hopes up. Bastard didn't show up," Haley mutters.
That's it? Helia raises a brow at that. If it were any other meet up then Haley would pummel the jerk into the ground for the audacity which can only mean one thing.
"Was it Kaneki you were waiting for?" The flinch confirmed his guess. Ever since the Red Fountain opening ceremony, Haley developed a small infatuation for Kaneki. Helia immediately pitied the guy knowing first hand how forceful Haley could be in getting her feelings across.
However, like all others, he didn't know much about the mysterious white-haired fairy. The guy's an enigma and from what he's heard, keeps to himself.
Honestly, he doesn't know what to think. On one hand, he gave Haley the respect she so deserves but on the other hand, there's something dangerous about him and it's the way he carries himself.
The way his eyes darted to the slightest bit of movement, how he remained prudent within a crowd whether big or small, the twitching of his fingers when touched unexpectedly. Almost like a soldier who returned home yet never left the war.
Although the kindness and patience he exhibits to his pixies must mean he's not all bad. Plus, he heard about Downland and while Kaneki may have unleashed his inner hulk on the guards, not one of them lost their lives.
Helia gets to the matter at hand. "You think he's like everyone else, don't you?"
"Stop playing therapist," Haley kisses her teeth and looks away.
"Doesn't seem to stop you from coming to me," Helia counters with a shrug. "Haley, I'm here to help you. That's the way it's been ever since we were little so please let me."
Haley stayed quiet before falling back onto the bed and hugging a pillow close to her chest. "Truth be told, I don't know what I was expecting. He told me he wasn't coming and yet I..." Haley turns to the side and buries the lower half of her face into the pillow.
"You still hoped he would show up."
"Yeah. I don't get it. It's not like I like-like the guy, I barely know him-"
"But he was the first to treat you with respect and he saved you from falling to your potential death. These small yet significant actions are what sparked your admiration for him. It's not love but it's not friendship either. You just wanted a chance to be apart of his life."
Haley nods. "Is that bad?" She croaks.
"Not at all," Helia gets up from the chair and sits on the bed. Haley peeks at him by moving the pillow down a few inches and keeps it there.
"Helia?"
"Yeah?"
"You still look like a girl."
"You're welcome." Helia snorts but takes no offence. Classic Haley show of gratitude. "Are you going to head back to Eraklyon? Celia must be worried by now."
At that instant, a knock came from the door. The pair look at one another before Helia opens the door revealing Celia on a single crutch with an umbrella hooked around her elbow and a backpack on her front. Her cast covered in a plastic bag.
As soon as she saw her best friend, Celia barges right past Helia, taking a seat besides Haley and begins to fuss over her. "Do you know how worried I've been? I've been calling you for the past 2 hours; why didn't you pick up your phone?"
"Sorry," Haley winces when she checks her phone and realises that it's been on silent for the whole day before pointing to Celia's backpack. "What d'ya got there?"
"Something to lift your spirits," Celia unzipped the bag to reveal bolt cutters and numerous other tools befitting a common criminal. Haley and Helia face each other before turning back to Celia who blinked innocently.
"Celia, did you come here all by yourself?" Helia inquires incredulous and at her nod continues. "You took a ship from Eraklyon to Magix then 2 different buses carrying a bag as heavy as this with a broken leg while in this rain?"
"3 buses," Celia corrects twiddling her thumbs, "a little boy vomited in the first bus."
The duo crinkles their nose in disgust. Gross.
"How'd you know I'd be here?"
"When you didn't answer your phone, I thought you got stood up and when you're upset you usually go to Helia," Celia answers.
"And the weapons?"
"Not weapons. I brought those tools because it always cheers Haley up when we sabotage your upper-class man's wind rider."
"You mean-"
"Ah-bup-bah," Haley interrupts. "I don't respect him in the slightest thus we shall never learn his name."
Helia shakes his head and resists the urge to facepalm. This is getting to be too much for him. "Shouldn't you head back to Eraklyon?"
"Probably," Haley replies swinging her legs but makes no other move to get up.
"What would it take you to leave?" Helia takes out his wallet prepared to lose his recent savings just to rid himself of the headache that came when dealing with anything concerning Haley.
"Fork it over," Haley doesn't hesitate in snatching away with his wallet and stealing a thin wad of cash. She chucks the wallet over her shoulder before flicking through the stash all while sniggering. "Hey, C, what do you say to some lobster and caviar?"
Celia didn't answer as she was engrossed in apologising to Helia who waved it off.
"C, we should go before uncle finds out what we're doing," Haley urges slinging the backpack onto her arm.
"He technically knows," Celia admits. "I bumped into him earlier and kinda hugged the bag protectively which sorta tipped him off. Plus, he told me to tell you not to get arrested again. He really doesn't want to deal with the paperwork."
"No promises," Haley crosses her arms as an x and makes a buzzing noise.
"Thought so," Celia sighs but gets up nonetheless and follows her deranged bestie out the door, saying goodbye to Helia who was more than happy to rid of them.
I'm still not fond of my work. I feel like I'm not writing it to its full potential and the plot could do better. I wanna redo it but as soon as I come up with an improvement, it leaves my mind just as fast.
P.s. I just realised that Helia and Celia rhyme.
(1) Any being that can use magic would have a low Rc cell count. Kaneki is unaffected because he has a large concentration as do other ghouls. If a ghoul eats the flesh of a fairy or witch then they receive little to no nutrients making them a useless source of energy.