Screw titling. Here's chapter 5. You know, this story is starting to bother me. I really missed some crucial development points -_-;This was originally a small little self-satisfaction project and look what it became, not very gracfully either I might add.
Oh well, I'll finish it for everyone who's loyal and kind and piting and then, rewrite! Revamped version coming as soon as I finish FF VII and play CC again! ^.~
Btw, here's a little thank you comic for everyone who's taking the time to read this: CC,gag,Slash and Miki. Seasickness
Serge and Kid headed back down the stone pathways to where the rock group's tour boat was docked only to find any entrance being made impossible by throngs of people filling the seaside town's docks.
"Guess everyone knows…" Kid whispered to Serge before a tapping a short redheaded girl on the shoulder, "Oi, what's going on?" She feigned ignorance for the sake of gaining information.
"It' s Slash! Slash has been poisoned!"
"Ya don't say…" Kid glanced at Serge, "Any word on who did it?"
The girl pursed her small lips, "There's rumors that it was someone on the boat, you know, part of the crew. But then I heard someone else say that the manager mentioned something about Slash traveling with some suspicious characters and in might've been their fault."
Serge frowned and Kid tapped her foot, "How'd you hear all this?"
Another girl turned and folded her arms, "As the fan club president I knew right away. Then shared the knowledge with these others."
The redhead raised her fist, "You didn't know until the doctor ran by! And then everyone knew something was wrong!"
"Doctor?" Serge was shaken from his silence.
"Yeah. He came by about…" The fan club president tugged on a loose strand of her blond hair, "Twenty minutes ago?"
Serge pushed past the two girls and shoved his way towards the staircase onto the boat.
"Oi!" Kid pushed after him, "Wait!"
The red-head watched in awe, "Those are two really dedicated fans...Even I wouldn't try to get up front."
"Ah!" The president pointed, "Look they're going up the stairs! Why do they get to go on board!?"
"Do you think they're Slash's new friends?" A girl no older then six turned to the older girls.
After a moment of stunned realization, the three gasped in disbelief, "No way!"
"Slash!" Serge burst through the door to the singer's room and found the doctor sitting beside his bed.
"Shhh," the doctor cautioned, "I gave him something to make him sleep. He's ok now."
Kid came up behind Serge, "What happened, doc? I thought you said it was a mild poison."
"It is, but only in small doses. You didn't tell me what a high volume of it this boy had consumed!"
Serge approached the doctor, "He didn't get that much. I was talking to him about a half hour ago and he was in much better condition."
The doctor looked at Slash's pale, sweat-covered form, "How long has he been sick?"
"He was poisoned this mornin'."
"Odd. The affects of this particular poison are always worse in the first twenty minutes or so. If you take a lot sometimes the symptoms can linger for about a week. It really depends on the person."
"So yer sayin'…" Kid began slowly, "Ya take a little and it's like you have a mild fever. You overdose and it's like a bad case of the flu and it grounds ya for a little while?"
"Yes. But the amount in his system now can be dangerous. It's subdued, but an overdose can be lethal. That's why it was made illegal three years ago."
"Amount in his system now?" Serge blinked in bewilderment.
The doctor rubbed his tanned temples, "I don't wish to cause alarm, but if you're telling the truth and he was poisoned this morning, then in the window of time when you were gone, someone gave him more."
Kid stamped her foot, "Bugger! Someone got 'em again! Is Miki around?"
"The dancer girl? I believe she's calming the fans down outside."
Kid grabbed Serge's shoulder, "C'mon, let's go see if she knows anything. The doc can watch Slash 'til we get back. Right, doc?"
The doctor wiped Slash's forehead with a damp cloth, "I'll probably be here for another half hour or so actually, just until he wakes up and I can see how he's doing."
"Glad ta here it." Kid nodded and Serge and left the room. Serge began to follow but heard a small moan and turned in time to see Slash's thin form shiver with unfelt chills. He bit his lower lip and ran from the room to catch up with Kid.
Miki saw the pair approaching and stepped away from the boat railing, "Am I glad to see you guys! I enjoy our popularity but these fans are too much!"
"What happened while we were gone?" Kid demanded.
Miki clasped her hands and motioned the two out of sight of the fans on the dock, "I don't know!" She half whispered, "I went in about ten minutes after you two left and Slash was curled on his side gasping for air. I panicked and yelled for someone to call a doctor."
"We've were gone for about a half hour…" Kid tapped her foot, "Who could get at 'em in that short a period of time!"
"Hey…do you really think it's someone on the boat?" Miki's sky blue eyes widened with fear.
Serge grimaced, I told the manager I would protect him…and look what I let happen!
Kid misread the pained expression on her friend's face and patted Serge on the shoulder, "the doc said he'd be fine. I'm sure you'll be talkin' ta him sooner than ya think."
"Yeah…" Serge shook his head to clear the mental haze from it, "Hey, it's closing in on seven now. Do you think we should go find a place to stay for the night?"
"If ya want…but I thought…well…" Kid stammered.
Miki glanced from Serge's solemn face and back to Kid's slightly perplexed one and spoke up, "You can just stay here tonight. With things as bad as they are we could use some extra protection. Besides, you're Slash's friends and I'm sure he wants you around."
Friends? Friends don't let this happen to each other…Serge gave Miki an empty smile, "If you're ok with it then staying would be great. It'll save us some gil."
"Always a plus," Miki winked and patted Serge on the shoulder, "I'll go find a place for you." Miki turned to face Kid and tapped her index finger against her ruby red lips, "Kid, do you mind sharing a room with Serge? We're a bit pressed for space."
"Not really. We've done it before; just make sure there's a separate sleeping area. And besides, if he tries anything, I'll kick his arse so hard he'll kiss the moons!" Kid let out a peal of laughter and Miki smiled slightly before striding away and back into the main cabin.
When Miki was out of sight, Kid walked up to Serge and put her hands on her small hips, "'It'll save us some gil?' 'Do you think we should find a place to stay for the night?'" A cold wind picked up as the sun set and Kid's blonde braid snapped out behind her head like a war flag, "Ya got to be kidding me! You of all people should've asked to stay! I thought you loved Slash!"
Serge's eyes widened as this girl who he knew so little about and seemed to know so much about him screamed his own heart's confession in his face on the silent deck of a darkened tour boat.
"I…do…" He mumbled.
"Then act like it for crying out loud! If yer worried about his well-being then say so!"
Serge felt a small burst of anger rising within him, "So easy for you to say that! You've never loved anyone! I'm leaving tonight, for his sake."
Kid's hand connected with his cheek with a crack like a tree snapping in half, "Asshole!" She spat, "How dare ya say I never loved anyone! I loved Lucca! And now, I love you! Love ya so much I want ya to be happy and free to make your own decisions in life! Slash loves you like that too, and I thought ya could return the feelings. But then, to even think of abandoning him now…that's being a selfish bastard!" She turned her back on the blue-haired boy, "Sorry mate, but I think ya really need to rethink your priorities. Don't hold back! Because, when this adventure is over, Serge, we all have ta return to our home worlds. Meaning you two won't be together anymore!" She stalked off the way Miki had gone before she could receive a reply.
Serge did not feel the throb of pain on his cheek where a red hand mark was left, we won't be together anymore? That's right, this is his world. Not mine. Does that mean…my life is with Rena? Even after all this?
A light tap on his shoulder shook Serge from his thoughts, he turned and saw the doctor standing behind him.
"Serge, right?" Serge nodded and the doctor continued, "Slash is awake now and asked to see you. I'm going to speak with the manager of this ship and then leave, watch after him. I'll be back tomorrow to make sure he's recovering."
Serge nodded quickly before running down the dock.
"There you are," Slash smiled as Serge pushed opened the door to his room, "How are you holding up?"
Serge dropped to his knees beside Slash's large bed and grabbed the singer's hand, "I should be asking you that question! What happened?"
"Don't know," Slash noted the concern on Serge's face and leaned to kiss him on the cheek, "I should have been more careful."
"I shouldn't have left!"
Slash pulled on a loosed string coming from his maroon blanket, "Why do I hear guilt in your voice? You didn't do anything."
"Exactly! I just left and didn't make sure you were safe."
Slash locked his fever-bright violet eyes with Serge's pained cerulean, "I never knew you to worry this much before, Sergie. I can take care of myself."
Serge sat on the indigo rug beside Slash bed, "I always feel responsible for my teammates' condition. I have to watch out for everyone."
Slash reached for his water and took a small sip, "We travel with you well aware of the danger. We know that any day we may not come back from our exploits alive. But everyone genuinely believes in your cause and wants to help."
"Is that really how you all feel about it?"
"Ask anyone in your party, the answer won't change."
Serge allowed a faint grin to touch his lips but it faded just as quickly, "Even if I don't have that to worry about, there's something else…"
"Oh yeah?"
"Slash, when this is all over, what's going to happened between you and me?"
Slash blinked, "What do you mean?"
"Kid told me something that made me think. We're from different worlds."
"We are?" Slash paused, "We are! Damn, I'd completely forgotten about that!"
"Minor complication?" Serge allowed a small sarcastic smirk to jump across his features.
Slash bit his full lower lip, "I…don't know what's going to happen…"
"Another problem," Serge hugged his knees to his chest and leaned his head down, "Hell, I don't even exist in this world! I'm already dead!" Serge felt a soft hand on his hair.
"Don't worry, Sergie. We'll figure something out. Why don't you get some rest?"
Serge didn't bring his head up, "I'm fine. I'll just stay here a little longer and make sure you're ok." Hi s mind flashed back to Serge from earlier, pale and covered in sweat, "That poison must produce some pretty nasty side-affects."
Slash let out a small chuckle, "Actually, it feels like a bad case of the flu but without throwing up and contagious germs. I can't get anyone else sick with this. Hey, I have an idea!" He moved his long fingers down the side of Serge's face and cupped the boy's chin in order to lift his face, since I know that you plan on not sleeping tonight and just sitting on my floor…"
Serge looked sheepish, "So you figured out my plan…"
"Not very hard to, I assure you. Anyway, why don't you just sleep with me? I can't get you sick after all."
Serge raised his eyebrows in surprise, "W-what? Um, I don't think you, uh, we should do that while you're sick. Besides," Serge pulled on his bandanna ties, "I-I don't really know what to do…. "
Slash's eyes widened and he turned a few shades darker red, he winced while trying not to laugh, "Sergie! I'm surprised! I wasn't thinking of that. You're right, I don't feel well enough. I meant since you're not leaving share my bed so you're not on the floor!"
Serge jumped to his feet and slapped his face, "Ah! I'm sorry!" he looked at Slash through his fingers. you know though, if you don't want me to take everything you say the wrong way, you better lose that damn seductive edge your voice has."
Slash could not contain himself any longer and burst out laughing, "Ow! crap," He snickered, "ow! So I sound seductive?" He smirked and licked his lips, "Hey baby, come slide between the sheets with me. You want to be top or bottom?"
"Stop it!" Serge turned bright red, "I'm going to look like a tomato permanently!"
Slash grinned, good. that sad, guilty look left his eyes…."Fine, I'll stop, but only if you get some sleep tonight." Slash pulled his blankets back and scooted against the wall.
Serge smiled and kicked his shoes off before joining Slash, "I promise not to let anything else happen to you."
"Ummmmmm," Slash mumbled and fell asleep, his head resting on Serge's shoulder and an arm thrown across his chest. Serge brushed deep red hair from Slash's face to get a better view of his profile and traced a finger along the ill boy's jawbone. He felt his eyes growing heavy, and his breath falling into synch with Slash's breathing. Before he could stop himself, Serge was fast asleep.