C13
Tai felt a great sense of peace as he woke up. He was warm and happy. His eyes opened slowly. He recognized the surroundings… he was still in the plain hospital room. He was lying on the hospital bed with Sora curled in his arms. She was finally at peace. Tai didn't move for fear he would wake her.
Tai wiped the golden strands of her hair off her face. Her hair was like pure silk, he stroked her hair gently. She nuzzled closer to him. Her head as leaning on his chest.
"That's were you were!" Kari walked into the room. "I told mom that you'd be at the hospital." She looked at the funny sight. "I never knew two people could fit in one of those small beds." She winked at Tai.
"Cut it out Kari." Tai said. "This isn't the time to be laughing."
"Tai you gotta stop being so grim." Kari came closer. "Everyone is more worried about you than Sora. Because she is getting better and you're not."
Sora sighed lightly and her eyes fluttered open. "Where am I?" She asked sleepily. "Oh Tai, you're here." She said as her eyes finally focused and found him there with her.
"Did you sleep well?" Tai asked.
"I didn't have nightmares. That's the first time since I came out of the coma."
"That's good." He slid his finger down her cheek.
"Thank you." Sora said. Her eyes began to sparkle once more. They were almost back to their normal shine.
"For what?"
"everything." Sora sat up, "Oh hi Kari."
"Hi Sora, you look back to normal."
"I do?"
"Ya, except the scars, but you look like the same old Sora again."
"You don't know how glad that makes me." Sora began to cry as she pulled Tai close.
"What's wrong?" Kari asked.
"She was worried we'd see her as not the same." Tai explained.
"Sora, no one thinks of you any differently." Kari was patting her back as Tai once again began to rock Sora in his arms. She soon stopped crying.
"I want to go home." Sora said quietly.
"Don't worry. The doctors say that you can go home soon." Tai comforted her. "But first we have a long day today. The nurse said you have physical therapy at one, and then some more tests."
"Have you guys eaten yet?" Kari asked. They shook their heads. "Well let's get some breakfast."
Tai slowly let Sora out of his arms. He got out of the bed. Kari rolled a wheelchair over to Sora.
"I don't need that." Sora replied. She stepped out of her bed and almost fell to the ground. Tai grabbed her before she did. He picked her up. She put her arms around Tai's neck. She was embarrassed.
"Your leg is still injured." Tai said softly.
"I hate wheelchairs." Her voice wavered a little.
"well then, I'll carry you." And before she could say anything Tai and Kari began to walk to the elevators.
After they had eaten they returned to Sora's room. They all were laughing hysterically.
"It's not funny!" Kari said. "I'd like to see how you feel when milk comes out your nose!" Tai had been tickling her while she drank her milk and it come spurting out Kari's nose. A nurse was waiting as they came in the room.
"Physical therapy time." She said.
"Tai, I'm going to go home. See you later Sora." Kari left.
"Can Tai come too?" Sora questioned, still in his arms.
"If he wants to." The nurse looked at Tai, as he held her.
"Sure, I can be your cheerleader!" He joked.
The nurse showed them to the therapy room. Tai set Sora on a mat. The nurse put a brace on above her right knee. The bullet whole wound was still very red and swollen.
"Ok," the nurse said. "The therapist will be here in a little while." Sora began to flex her right knee. Her face cringed as she extended it.
"Does it hurt much?" Tai asked worriedly.
"Not to bad, I guess." She sighed. "There goes Tennis and soccer."
"Oh you'll be back on the playing field in no time."
"Do you think I'll get to go to graduation?" She asked.
"Yes. You'll be able to walk up there and get your diploma with me." He put his arm around her.
"Alright- you must be Sora." A man in a white coat came over. "I'm doctor Kyatamo."
"Hello." Sora shook his hand.
"And you are?" he said to Tai.
"I'm Sora's cheerleader!" Tai got up and started to goof off. This made Sora laugh.
"His name is Tai."
"Nice to meet you Tai." The doctor said. "Well Sora, today is going to be hard. We will need at least a good week of therapy to get leg in better shape. I'm not going to lie to you. This is going to hurt."
"I know." She said bravely.
"well with that, let's get started." For the next two hours Sora fought back tears from the pain. She was determined to do this." Ok, last thing for today is I want to see how far you walk on your leg." He picked her up and brought her to a path with handrails. He set her down. She supported herself with her arms on the railing. "Ok, now walk towards Tai and me."
Slowly she forced herself to walk. Every time she extended her leg a sharp pain came.
"Come on Sora!" Tai cheered. "You can do it!" He was acting weird. Jumping up and down and making a huge commotion. She forgot about the pain as she focused on Tai acting like a monkey. And before she knew it, she was in Tai's arms. He twirled her around. "You did it!"
"Very good!" The doctor praised her. "You are one of the only patients that made it the full way on the first try." Tai was beaming. His smile was huge.
"Way to go Sora!"
"Maybe we won't need a full week, well we'll have to see." The doctor wrote on his papers. "Well that's it for today! See you tomorrow." He smiled and patted Sora on the back. "Bye."
Sora was sweating form all that work. She was tired. Tai knew she was and so he lifted her into his arms.
"Looks like someone needs a bath." Sora smiled and nodded her head. Tai walked her back to her room and set her on the bed. "I'll go draw your bath madam." He said and ran in to her bathroom that was connected to her room. Sora heard the water run. "Do you want bubbles?" Tai called from the bathroom
"Sure." Sora replied. The bath was soon ready. Tai set Sora on the chair near the bathtub.
"I'll call a nurse to help you." Tai said.
"No, it's ok." She motioned for him to turn around. He did. She started to take off her hospital gown and undergarments. She wrapped herself in a towel. Tai heard her getting up- and fumble a little.
"Do you…um… need any help?"
"actually can you help me here a sec?" Sora asked. Tai turned around to face her. He blushed as he saw her trying to lift her right leg up into the tub. The white towel was wrapped tightly around her slender body.
"Here." Tai picked her up and gently set her down in the bath. "Is the temp ok?" he questioned.
"Yes, it's heavenly." She sunk into the tub. Her head was the only part of her above the bubbles. She threw a hand full of bubbles at Tai to break the awkward silence.
"So you want play that game?" he said coyly. He took a hand full of bubbles and flung them at her, she ducked and submerged her head. She splashed up and got Tai wet. She started to giggle. Tai smiled, as he wiped the water off his face.
"Well two can play at this game." He plunged his hands in the bath and began to tickle Sora's feet. She wriggled in the water, splashing it everywhere.
"I surrender." She wailed in between laughs.
Tai stopped tickling her and moved to kiss her. She kissed him back. They had only locked lips for a few moments when there was a knock at the door.
"Is everything ok in there?" A familiar voice questioned.
"Mimi?" Sora cried. "Is that you Mimi?"
The door opened slowly and the pink haired girl peeked in. She saw the room. It was a mess. Tai was sopping wet and there were bubbles all over the floor.
"You two!" She had her hands on her hips now. "When are you going to stop acting like children?" She looked serious and then began to laugh. "Oh it's so good to see you guys!" She ran over and hugged Tai and then Sora.
"Mimi, what are you doing here?" Tai asked.
"What do you mean 'what am I doing here'? I came as soon as I could to see Sora, and then you guy's graduation!"
"that's so sweet of you Mimi!" Sora said. She was fumbling to get out of the tub. Clutching her towel still neatly wrapped around her. She splashed back into the tub. "Damn it!"
"Here let me help." Tai held her waist and lifter her back to the chair.
"Ok, Tai. I can take over from here." Mimi shoved him out of the room. Throwing him a towel as she shut the door.
He could hear the girls giggling from inside the bathroom. He tried to listen in on them while drying himself off. Kari had left a clean pair of cloths for him, it was a good thing too- he was soaked. He ran to the bathroom in the hall and changed.
"So has be been at your side the whole time?" Mimi questioned Sora as she help her into the plain hospital garment.
"I think so."
"How romantic!" She sighed.
"It's Tai remember." Sora giggled.
"Girl! You have that boy hooked! I'd watch out you might be walking down that aisle soon." Mimi was excited at the thought of a wedding.
With Mimi's help Sora walked out of the bathroom. Tai was looking out the window, but when her saw them he went straight for her side to help support her. He lifted her back onto her bed and pulled the sheet to cover her bare legs.
Tai felt a great sense of peace as he woke up. He was warm and happy. His eyes opened slowly. He recognized the surroundings… he was still in the plain hospital room. He was lying on the hospital bed with Sora curled in his arms. She was finally at peace. Tai didn't move for fear he would wake her.
Tai wiped the golden strands of her hair off her face. Her hair was like pure silk, he stroked her hair gently. She nuzzled closer to him. Her head as leaning on his chest.
"That's were you were!" Kari walked into the room. "I told mom that you'd be at the hospital." She looked at the funny sight. "I never knew two people could fit in one of those small beds." She winked at Tai.
"Cut it out Kari." Tai said. "This isn't the time to be laughing."
"Tai you gotta stop being so grim." Kari came closer. "Everyone is more worried about you than Sora. Because she is getting better and you're not."
Sora sighed lightly and her eyes fluttered open. "Where am I?" She asked sleepily. "Oh Tai, you're here." She said as her eyes finally focused and found him there with her.
"Did you sleep well?" Tai asked.
"I didn't have nightmares. That's the first time since I came out of the coma."
"That's good." He slid his finger down her cheek.
"Thank you." Sora said. Her eyes began to sparkle once more. They were almost back to their normal shine.
"For what?"
"everything." Sora sat up, "Oh hi Kari."
"Hi Sora, you look back to normal."
"I do?"
"Ya, except the scars, but you look like the same old Sora again."
"You don't know how glad that makes me." Sora began to cry as she pulled Tai close.
"What's wrong?" Kari asked.
"She was worried we'd see her as not the same." Tai explained.
"Sora, no one thinks of you any differently." Kari was patting her back as Tai once again began to rock Sora in his arms. She soon stopped crying.
"I want to go home." Sora said quietly.
"Don't worry. The doctors say that you can go home soon." Tai comforted her. "But first we have a long day today. The nurse said you have physical therapy at one, and then some more tests."
"Have you guys eaten yet?" Kari asked. They shook their heads. "Well let's get some breakfast."
Tai slowly let Sora out of his arms. He got out of the bed. Kari rolled a wheelchair over to Sora.
"I don't need that." Sora replied. She stepped out of her bed and almost fell to the ground. Tai grabbed her before she did. He picked her up. She put her arms around Tai's neck. She was embarrassed.
"Your leg is still injured." Tai said softly.
"I hate wheelchairs." Her voice wavered a little.
"well then, I'll carry you." And before she could say anything Tai and Kari began to walk to the elevators.
After they had eaten they returned to Sora's room. They all were laughing hysterically.
"It's not funny!" Kari said. "I'd like to see how you feel when milk comes out your nose!" Tai had been tickling her while she drank her milk and it come spurting out Kari's nose. A nurse was waiting as they came in the room.
"Physical therapy time." She said.
"Tai, I'm going to go home. See you later Sora." Kari left.
"Can Tai come too?" Sora questioned, still in his arms.
"If he wants to." The nurse looked at Tai, as he held her.
"Sure, I can be your cheerleader!" He joked.
The nurse showed them to the therapy room. Tai set Sora on a mat. The nurse put a brace on above her right knee. The bullet whole wound was still very red and swollen.
"Ok," the nurse said. "The therapist will be here in a little while." Sora began to flex her right knee. Her face cringed as she extended it.
"Does it hurt much?" Tai asked worriedly.
"Not to bad, I guess." She sighed. "There goes Tennis and soccer."
"Oh you'll be back on the playing field in no time."
"Do you think I'll get to go to graduation?" She asked.
"Yes. You'll be able to walk up there and get your diploma with me." He put his arm around her.
"Alright- you must be Sora." A man in a white coat came over. "I'm doctor Kyatamo."
"Hello." Sora shook his hand.
"And you are?" he said to Tai.
"I'm Sora's cheerleader!" Tai got up and started to goof off. This made Sora laugh.
"His name is Tai."
"Nice to meet you Tai." The doctor said. "Well Sora, today is going to be hard. We will need at least a good week of therapy to get leg in better shape. I'm not going to lie to you. This is going to hurt."
"I know." She said bravely.
"well with that, let's get started." For the next two hours Sora fought back tears from the pain. She was determined to do this." Ok, last thing for today is I want to see how far you walk on your leg." He picked her up and brought her to a path with handrails. He set her down. She supported herself with her arms on the railing. "Ok, now walk towards Tai and me."
Slowly she forced herself to walk. Every time she extended her leg a sharp pain came.
"Come on Sora!" Tai cheered. "You can do it!" He was acting weird. Jumping up and down and making a huge commotion. She forgot about the pain as she focused on Tai acting like a monkey. And before she knew it, she was in Tai's arms. He twirled her around. "You did it!"
"Very good!" The doctor praised her. "You are one of the only patients that made it the full way on the first try." Tai was beaming. His smile was huge.
"Way to go Sora!"
"Maybe we won't need a full week, well we'll have to see." The doctor wrote on his papers. "Well that's it for today! See you tomorrow." He smiled and patted Sora on the back. "Bye."
Sora was sweating form all that work. She was tired. Tai knew she was and so he lifted her into his arms.
"Looks like someone needs a bath." Sora smiled and nodded her head. Tai walked her back to her room and set her on the bed. "I'll go draw your bath madam." He said and ran in to her bathroom that was connected to her room. Sora heard the water run. "Do you want bubbles?" Tai called from the bathroom
"Sure." Sora replied. The bath was soon ready. Tai set Sora on the chair near the bathtub.
"I'll call a nurse to help you." Tai said.
"No, it's ok." She motioned for him to turn around. He did. She started to take off her hospital gown and undergarments. She wrapped herself in a towel. Tai heard her getting up- and fumble a little.
"Do you…um… need any help?"
"actually can you help me here a sec?" Sora asked. Tai turned around to face her. He blushed as he saw her trying to lift her right leg up into the tub. The white towel was wrapped tightly around her slender body.
"Here." Tai picked her up and gently set her down in the bath. "Is the temp ok?" he questioned.
"Yes, it's heavenly." She sunk into the tub. Her head was the only part of her above the bubbles. She threw a hand full of bubbles at Tai to break the awkward silence.
"So you want play that game?" he said coyly. He took a hand full of bubbles and flung them at her, she ducked and submerged her head. She splashed up and got Tai wet. She started to giggle. Tai smiled, as he wiped the water off his face.
"Well two can play at this game." He plunged his hands in the bath and began to tickle Sora's feet. She wriggled in the water, splashing it everywhere.
"I surrender." She wailed in between laughs.
Tai stopped tickling her and moved to kiss her. She kissed him back. They had only locked lips for a few moments when there was a knock at the door.
"Is everything ok in there?" A familiar voice questioned.
"Mimi?" Sora cried. "Is that you Mimi?"
The door opened slowly and the pink haired girl peeked in. She saw the room. It was a mess. Tai was sopping wet and there were bubbles all over the floor.
"You two!" She had her hands on her hips now. "When are you going to stop acting like children?" She looked serious and then began to laugh. "Oh it's so good to see you guys!" She ran over and hugged Tai and then Sora.
"Mimi, what are you doing here?" Tai asked.
"What do you mean 'what am I doing here'? I came as soon as I could to see Sora, and then you guy's graduation!"
"that's so sweet of you Mimi!" Sora said. She was fumbling to get out of the tub. Clutching her towel still neatly wrapped around her. She splashed back into the tub. "Damn it!"
"Here let me help." Tai held her waist and lifter her back to the chair.
"Ok, Tai. I can take over from here." Mimi shoved him out of the room. Throwing him a towel as she shut the door.
He could hear the girls giggling from inside the bathroom. He tried to listen in on them while drying himself off. Kari had left a clean pair of cloths for him, it was a good thing too- he was soaked. He ran to the bathroom in the hall and changed.
"So has be been at your side the whole time?" Mimi questioned Sora as she help her into the plain hospital garment.
"I think so."
"How romantic!" She sighed.
"It's Tai remember." Sora giggled.
"Girl! You have that boy hooked! I'd watch out you might be walking down that aisle soon." Mimi was excited at the thought of a wedding.
With Mimi's help Sora walked out of the bathroom. Tai was looking out the window, but when her saw them he went straight for her side to help support her. He lifted her back onto her bed and pulled the sheet to cover her bare legs.