Irkens and Irken Stuff copyright J.V.

Chapter One - Every Night's Different

Zia stepped up to the door. "Room 143." She whispered, "This is the place." She raised a hand to the door handle, and carefully pulled it open. She peered inside. It was dark - she'd been warned about that. Nihon's room was always very dark at night. While most of the patients had fairly bright nightlights and such, Nihon had a candle. One single candle which flickered on his nightstand in the dark. Zia knew Nihon was a pyromaniac and he loved candles, but still. It was awfully dark in his room.

The young girl closed the door behind her and peered down at the boy in the bed. His back was turned to her and his antennae twitched slightly. "Nihon.?" Zia whispered, approaching his bed.

Nihon's eyes narrowed as she neared him, pulling his covers up around his chin tightly. Go away. He thought, angrily.

Zia reached the other side of his bed, looking down at him softly. "Hello, Nihon. How are you feeling?"

Nihon paused, glaring at the wall - he refused to make eye contact with her. "Fine." He answered snappily.

"You sure?" She again questioned, "It's a bit hot in here." She reached down to Nihon and took his wrist, pulling his arm out from under the covers. Nihon's eyes narrowed more, he grunted angrily and yanked his arm away, slipping it under the covers again. "Come now. It's very hot. You'll overheat yourself." She tried for his wrist again but he grunted and rolled over so his back was to her.

"Nihon!" Zia reached down to him, taking his face and pulling it toward her. He cried out, pulling away from her. "Now, the least you can do is look at me!" As persistent as Zia was, she took his face in her hand again. But this time, he struck back.

Before she knew what was going on, Nihon's hand was out of the covers and on her wrist. She cried out as his hand began to burn her, trying to yank away, yet he wouldn't release her. "Nihon, let go!" She commanded in vain, and with one last shock of heat, he threw her to the floor. Then Nihon pulled himself back under the covers silently.

Zia was stunned. She clutched her burnt arm in pain and surprise, staring up at Nihon. She had never expected he would (or even could) burn her in such a way. In worry for herself and Nihon, she pulled her radio from her pocket and stood up.

"Hello?" She called into it, "Yes, I need some help in room 143. Nihon's burnt me and I." She paused as she received a response from the other line, "Yes. Yes. I see. Alright. Hurry down." And she flipped it off.

Nihon shuddered, pulling the covers closer to him. He knew who she'd called, and he feared and hated them. They were the doctors that took his arms away. That disabled him and his magic. The sound of his door opening made his eyes shut in trepidation. He wanted them to leave him alone, he wanted them to go away!

"Zia, are you alright?" One of the men queried as turned on the lights and gestured for two of his comrades to approach Nihon. "Are you burnt badly?"

"I don't think, Kad." She whispered, looking her wound over.

Kad nodded, "Alright, then. We'll take care of Nihon and you can go take care of that." He followed his associates to Nihon's bed, and Zia watched from where she stood.

Nihon continued to glare at the wall without moving. He'd fight back if they touched him. He promised himself he would, this time.

"Nihon. You've been using your powers inappropriately again." Kad warned as his two comrades stepped on either side of Nihon's bed. "We're going to have to punish you. I'm sorry, Nihon."

The two men reached down to Nihon - their hands were cased in thick gloved for they knew of Nihon's magic - and took his wrists. In an instant, Nihon threw all his energy into heating his wrists, but it was no match for the thick gloves. He looked helplessly up at them as they pulled from their pockets, with their other hand, two long needles. At this sight, Nihon began to thrash. His only hope to knock them off. But they were strong and held tight, pulling the needles close to his skin.

"No!!!" He cried out in pure unwillingness, as the needles punctured his skin, the liquid in them flooding into his blood. As the needles left him, the men released him and his arms fell limp on the bed at his sides. Paralyzed. Tears streamed down his face and he sobbed quietly.

The two men stepped away and Kad stepped closer to him. "I'm sorry, Nihon. I really am. But you needed punished."

Nihon sniffled quietly, his eyes staring at his paralyzed arms. "I want Anata." He whined softly.

"It's very late, Nihon. You can call her up and we'll hold the phone for you, but she can't come to see you."

Nihon sniffled again and nodded.

"Would you like someone to dry your eyes?" Kad asked, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket. Nihon responded with a slight nod and Kad reached down to him. He dried Nihon's eyes and face with the handkerchief and put it away. "One of you call up Anata, alright?" He said, turning to the two others.

"I will!" Zia piped in, taking the phone, "I have the number, right here!"

"Alright, Zia. Thank you." She nodded to him and dialed the number.

Kad turned back to Nihon, looking him in the eye, "You don't hate us, do you?" He asked.

Nihon didn't answer though, just lower his eyes and watch as Zia called Anata. He didn't know how to respond and he was anxious to talk to Anata anyway.

"She says she'd be pleased to talk to him." Zia told them, "He's the phone." She handed it over to Kad and he held it down to Nihon.

"Anata. Is that you?" Nihon whispered, "It is!" His face brightened immediately as she responded to him. "Anata, they took my arms away again! I didn't even do anything!" There was a pause as she responded, "Alright. I burnt one of the girls." Nihon rolled over in his bed and Kad shifted the phone, "I won't. I promise." Pause, "Alright, Anata. Thanks! Goodnight!" There was a soft click, and a dial tone.

"Better, Nihon?" Kad asked him as he gave the phone back to Zia.

"Yes. She told me she'd come visit tomorrow morning!"

"That's wonderful." Kad said, smiling, "We'll make sure we get you two some ice cream, okay?"

Nihon nodded to him, "Can I go to bed, now?"

"Of course, Nihon. Have a nice sleep." He turned of the lights again, leaving the little candle beside Nihon to flicker. "Goodnight." And with that, he, his two men, and Zia dispersed.

Nihon sighed and rolled over again. And though his useless arms were in the way. He fell asleep.



More, coming soon..