From: makoto_chan83@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: I don't own the El Hazard series or its characters. I am merely writing a fic of the series so please, don't sue me.
El Hazard: Unforeseen consequences
By: -=|+|Makoto_chan|+|=-
-=|+|Chapter 5: Returned|+|=-
Lying on the ground was the one of the greatest heroes of El Hazard, thought to be unparalleled in intelligence and prowess, his death proved that he was human like the rest of them. Makoto Mizuhara was 19 years of age. He was an earthling, yet he died in another world. The world he has now grown accustomed to also call his home. A few moments earlier death struck and delivered him to the land of the dead; here he lies fighting to go back to the land of the living. The lad's friends encircled his body, mourning because of his loss, a loss of somebody that has made so much difference in all of their lives.
Among them, the red haired priestess having wounded in combat was struggling to rush to Makoto's side. Having the injuries take their toll she was unable to hold herself up, stumbling a few feet before her two sisters.
"Shayla!" Afura ran near her friend and caught her by her shoulders.
"Afura. help me up!" She commanded the brunette, grabbing Afura's shoulders then pulling herself up.
"Shayla. Makoto's gone now. I'm sorry."
"No way! He's just sleeping right? Makoto's just a little tired!" Shayla escaped from her sister's grasp and fell down on the ground, unable to bear her weight any longer. "Makoto." Afura averted her gaze somewhere else, feeling the pain as her sister did. Burdened by her injury the fire priestess crawled on her knees, Shayla inched her way until she reached the lad's corpse being set down by her blue haired sister. "Makoto come on wake up! It's over already!" Nothing but silence answered her back. "Hehe I get it! It's a joke right? Hehe." Shayla held on to Makoto's shirt, she shook him as if he was just asleep. Her sisters merely looked away, still with tears present in their eyes. She slapped him softly a few times, trying to ward off his sleep, yet his head simply hung down in a defeated manner.
The fire priestess stopped for a moment in silence, then tears quickly formed in her eyes. "Makoto! You can't do this to me! You promised Makoto! You promised!" Tugging on his shirt, Shayla shouted at the lifeless body, burying herself in his chest. "You promised. How could you. You told me we're going home and.you cheater.you cheater!" Crying on Makoto's chest, her breaths turned in to shallow ones, crying onto him and pounding her fist lightly on his upper body. Her breathing turned to quick gasps as she could no longer control herself. "This isn't happening!" The rain continued its downpour atop the stairway to heaven, falling down on the Mizuhara-gumi, falling down with their tears for a very dear friend. She rocked herself back and forth with Makoto in her arms, still in her sorrowed self. "A world without Makoto, is more like hell for me!" Shayla screamed inside her mind, now with irrational thinking, she felt nothing but her heartache.
A soft humming sound was heard from behind the priestesses; the elevator was moving down then it went up again. A young lady stepped down from the moving platform. A girl out from work, called to this place by one among their friends. a feline friend. "Makoto-chan!" A voice came from behind the trio, running towards them. Nanami rushed from the elevator's platform, taking her apron off and unrolling the sleeves from her work clothes. "Oh my God. What happened here? Why is there blood all over the floor?"
"Nanami hurry up!" A small cat like voice cried from behind following the blonde haired girl. Ura ran with her towards the three priestesses who hung their heads down in sadness, except for Shayla who still has herself senseless.
"Afura! Snap out of it!" Grabbing the lady's shoulders, Nanami tried to talk sense into Afura.
"Wha? What?"
"How long has he been out?" She asked with concern filling her eyes.
"She's gone Nanami. Gomen."
"NO HE'S NOT YET DEAD! NOW HOW LONG HAS HE BEEN OUT?"
"Only about less than a minute Nanami-sama. why?" Qawool spoke in behalf of her sister who was quite startled by Nanami's reaction.
"Because we can still save him!" Shooting her words at them, Makoto's best friend, knelt before Shayla putting her hands on the Priestess' shoulders. "Shayla!"
"Leave me alone. I don't want to live anymore." Swatting the helpful hands away, she shifted where she sat and tuned her back at Nanami, looking across the Horizon.
"You don't get it do you?"
"What do you want? Can't you just leave me alone?" Standing up, the priestess faced Nanami with her teary emerald orbs.
"Baka!" The two other priestesses made a step back when Nanami slapped Shayla on the cheek bringing her back to her senses. "We can still save him Shayla! I want Makoto back too! Now help me get him back!"
Pulling Shayla with her, Nanami knelt down beside Makoto. Visualizing the pain he went through, she shunned her eyes away from the boy for an instant seeing the object's path that went right through him. Returning her gaze at Makoto, she brushed her palm on Makoto's forehead and ran her fingers through his hair. Filled with determination, Nanami started bringing him back. "Good thing I attended med class." She thought to herself. The girl bend her head down and landed her ear above Makoto's chest. "He's not breathing and there's no heartbeat."
"Shayla, what I'm going to do is simulate respiration, all I need you to do is to breathe into his mouth. I don't like the idea of you doing it with him, but in his case I'm willing to let you do it." Nanami explained in a detailed manner, even trying to lighten up the mood with her witty comment. "There is a chance Makoto will come back."
"I'll take that chance!" Shayla replied, focusing her mind on the procedure.
"When I give the signal, you should tilt Makoto-chan's chin up. Clamp down on his nose and forcefully breathe into his mouth." Receiving her instructions, Shayla nodded, readying herself and Makoto, tilting his head back as soon a Nanami started placing her palms across Makoto's chest.
"Thank God for Med class!" She mused and first took a deep breath then Nanami pressed down on the middle of Makoto's upper chest. She was performing CPR, an Earthling feat unfamiliar to the people of El Hazard. Achieving her share of life saving for the first cycle Nanami nodded her head as her signal to Shayla.
"Makoto." Closing her eyes, she pinched Makoto's nose and clamped her mouth unto his, making a pathway for air to travel from Shayla's lungs to the lad's.
"I wish I could do that." Nanami thought jealously as she saw before her; Shayla her rival making out with their man. With his chest expanding because of the air, Nanami was certain that Shayla was doing her part excellently.
"That's good, keep it up." Repeating the cycle thrice more, yet there seems to be no response yet. Nanami was slowly losing hope. "Come on Makoto-chan! Fight it!" She said aloud, pressing her palms down on Makoto's chest vigorously with a steady rhythm.
"Shayla!" Nanami said aloud, signaling Shayla to breathe unto Makoto again.
"Come on Makoto! Return to me." the fire priestess thought, as her mouth covered the entirety of the boy's. The rain finally started to calm, turning into a light shower already. Time has passed and yet, there was still no movement from Makoto.
-=|+|=-
The lad sat up in hasty manner, eyeing his surroundings, which is pitch black in darkness. Out of nowhere a bright light shone on him, illuminating his clothes in a light that gave a tingling sensation upon contact with his skin. "Huh? Where am I? Why am I? Glowing?" Right across from him a familiar person appeared, looking at him with a very happy expression on her face. Suddenly she started walking away, as if her job was already done. The lad gave chase and caught up, calling the white lady by a name, which he favors. "Ifurita? Is that you?" The Angel turned her head to one side and gave a smile then began to walk once more. "Hey Ifurita, I said wait for me!" Makoto ran after the demon Goddess amidst the bright light. Dressed in pure white, she drifted in the light right in front of the boy. Able to catch her hand, the boy embraced her with a very bright smile. Savoring the moment then cocking his head back to look at her, he was able to see that her reaction was not the same, he decided to ask. "What's wrong? I'm dead aren't I?"
"Makoto. Go back." Was her cold reply.
"What? Don't you want to be like this? We'll be together! Ifurita. I missed you so much." Makoto spoke back still with good disposition.
"I would love too. But Makoto, it's still not your time. You have to live Makoto! Live!"
"Why? I'm here so happy just seeing you again, and now you're sending me away?" The lad turned around in confusion, bowing his head.
Embracing him from behind Ifurita pressed a light but firm touch around Makoto's waist.
"I love you Makoto. I do want you to stay. But I'm not selfish to hog you for myself even after death, you taught me how to share. You've given me enough love and attention for me to enjoy for two lifetimes. I'm happy that you never gave up on me. But somebody up there." Ifurita pointing upwards while looking up herself and smiling, "says it's not your time yet. You still have a lot of work to be done. New things to discover, battles to won, a child to take care off."
"What?" He asked her with a very surprised look.
"Oh nothing. Getting back, you still have a lot of good things to be done in this world."
"But Ifurita. Why did you have to die?" Makoto cut her off, asking Ifurita of her demise.
"Makoto, my life force has been leaking for 10,000 years. I was on the brink of death when you walked into my chamber."
"Its not fair! Why do you have to die? Why couldn't they take me too? I want to be with you Ifurita." All fell silent after the response, with the two still locked in each other. Makoto's tears fell and his knees gave way, recalling how he saw Ifurita died. "Do you know how much that hurt?"
She looked away for a while, pausing letting the silence take control of the atmosphere. Then she spoke, "Yes, I know. Just as much as I suppose your friends are hurting inside right now."
"Nani?" Makoto looked up, fixing his eyes at Ifurita's
"Come look." The lady touched a part of the wall of light surrounding them, and a mystical window opened right before them. "Not only Shayla, but your other friends, Afura, Qawool and Nanami." She pointed at the clear picture of them trying to revive the man. Makoto looked away for a few seconds, which were like hours from his point of view. He pondered for the right action, searching his heart for the proper answer. "Makoto. They need you! El Hazard needs you! You better go back. I'm never lonesome where I am right now, and I know we'll meet again." Ifurita said with a tearful smile. "Besides. You don't know how much fun one has when she's got wings!" Smiling gleefully, angelic wings sprouted from Ifurita's back and jumped up into the light. Circling Makoto for a few times, the lad finally lightened up his mood and smiled with his lady. Ifurita flew back down till her foot lightly touches the ground. "See? Nothing to it!" She said, smiling at her Makoto.
"I was just so happy to see you again. I forgot about my other friends." A gentle hand on his shoulder shushed him from thinking out aloud. "Gomen.Are you sure Ifurita?"
"I'm sure." Wrapping her wings around them and embracing him tightly." With a very heavy heart, he gave it his affirmation, deciding it was time for him to go back to his mortal body. "I have to go. Ifurita, forgive me!" Burying his face on her hair, he cried for pardon for failing to be there on time. "Gomen. I wasn't there for you. If only there was another way to go back!"
"The eye of God is destroyed Makoto. It's all right. El Hazard's dark past should never be dug up anymore. I'm part of that you know?" She replied brushing her hand on Makoto's hair. "Seriously? Would you think you'd find me in this place if it hadn't been for you?" Smiling at the lad who pulled himself from the girl's semblance.
"Arigatou."
"Now I want you to move on. I happen to see that every lady you know right now is pinning for you! But I won't further embarrass you Makoto. I want you to be happy now, for yourself and for everybody, including me." She giggled, making the boy's face flush.
"So you've been watching huh? Ehe." He smiled sheepishly, scratching his head. "We people up here can see everything you know?" Covering her mouth in laughter again, she looked below Makoto's belt and giggled some more.
"You don't mean. Hey!" The scientist blurted, covering his pant's crotch area with both his hands. The laughter died down eventually and silence enveloped the two once more.
"Makoto, you better go now. Before its too late."
"Hai."
"I'll see you someday Makoto! But please not any sooner okay?"
"Hai." The lad replied with a smile. "Ifurita. it's so nice to see you again."
"The same here." The demon goddess smiled in reply, "Go back to them Makoto, go!"
"Sayonara. Ifurita." He waved goodbye before stepping back away from the light. Beginning to sink into the warp, the demon Goddess gave one final message. "Oh and Makoto. You don't always deal with women the way you dealt with Kalia!"
"Ach!" Flushing with so much embarrassment again, he slapped his forehead with his open palm.
"Don't worry about it!"
"Arigatou. I won't forget you Ifurita. Not ever. I. I want a stay for a few more minutes." He bowed his head, hoping his deity might allow it.
"Makoto, Onegai, you have to go now." Ifurita whispered softly, taking a step closer, an embrace's length away from each other.
"Come back with me?" He took her in his arms, wrapping his arms around her tightly.
"It's going to be all right Makoto, I can't go, but I'll always be with you. Trust me, I know."
"Ha.Hai." With a heavy heart he let go of his embrace and took a step back.
"I won't forget you too. Sayonara, Makoto." With one bright flash, Makoto, could see himself falling from the clouds and back down to El Hazard.
"Ifurita. Good bye. I'll see you again." He closed his eyes, as he flew across the skies.
The lady smiled at her love, zooming away for home at a mind-blowing speed. "I'll always be with you Makoto. I'll see you again too. But not yet. not yet." She looked back while flying up towards the light where she came from. All that's left was the bright circular light slowly shrinking in size, closing inward and disappearing in a wisp of air.
Makoto's soul traveled above the clouds, flying through El Hazard's skies. He passed by the wrecked Bugrom homeland, the Holy River that divided El Hazard, and finally the Stairway to heaven. He knew at once he was home again. Reaching the tall pillar of white stone, he landed on top setting his spectral feet down on the floor. As a spirit he watched as he clearly saw what was happening at the moment.
"Nanami-chan, Shayla-san, Afura, and Qawool." He watched as the ladies tried to revive him in whatever way they could think off. Makoto would hear the two priestesses in solemn prayer, with Nanami's thoughts being heard as clearly as it can be spoken. "Come on Makoto! Fight it!" The lad would also hear Shayla's voice inside his head, begging him to come back. His soul dropped its head in regret, regretting the time once more, the time when he almost lost a friend. But this time he was back, and aimed at setting things straight, the way it should.
"Shayla. your leg!" Sensing the immediate danger in too much loss of blood, Makoto scrambled back to his body when he saw the Fire priestess' thigh excreting red fluid in a moderate pace. When he felt himself in spectral alignment, he shut his eyes and focused to regain control of his body once again.
-=|+|=-
"Its no good. Its no damn good!" Nanami screamed inside her head, as efforts to revive Makoto, resulted in no meaningful responses yet.
Both women never ceased their efforts, artificially circulating Makoto's much needed blood and oxygen around his body. Nanami, who at first had full confidence, was now starting to cry. Her tears now dropped on to her hands, pressing down on the boy's chest. With loss of hope filling her heart, her pace began to slow down . Shayla on the other hand, kept on breathing into him, never losing hope not knowing if Makoto will even come back and ignoring the fact the she has sustained a light injury but was left untreated therefore blood kept flowing out of her system slowly.
"Shayla. we're doing it for 3 minutes now."
"So what?"
"If the brain has no oxygen for more than that. Makoto's gone."
"How could you?! Giving me hope then taking it away again!"
"What would you want me to do Shayla? Slap him silly to wake him up? I want him back too!"
"Just shut up and do it!" Shayla's tears started to fall again, recalling the way she was finding out that the man she loved was no longer with them. Her sisters were behind them, pacing around like there's no tomorrow.
"It won't." Nanami tried to convince Shayla that it was already too late but the fire priestess angrily insisted that they continue.
"I said do it! Don't you want Makoto to come back? Then lets do what we have to do!" Shayla shouted her order shaking Nanami's shoulders roughly.
Shaking her head and still with tears coming out from her eyes, Nanami forced herself to continue on, knowing no good will result from this. Both of them eyed each other in silence, and after a few more cycles, and then it happened, Nanami just--stopped. "What do you think you're doing?" Shayla screamed at their companion, prompting Afura and Qawool to wipe their tears away and pay attention once more.
"Shhh."
"Don't' you shush me Nanami! Makoto will make it! I'm sure of it!"
"Argh! You sure are dumb as you look. Don't you feel it?"
"Feel what?! I up to here with you! Why don't you just help out?" Shayla spoke out loud shaking her fists at the blonde.
"We don't need to anymore dummy! Look." Pointing at Makoto, Nanami's orbs became watery, focusing at the young man on the floor. They could see his eyelids beginning to move, as if forcing themselves to open. Then it happened, Makoto's eye flashed open, and his chest expanded again, with one deep breath he was back in the world of the living! "Ugh.Where am I?" He sat up, scratching his head as if just waking up from a deep sleep.
All of the women were very surprised at first, staring blankly at him, when out of nowhere Ura ran through them and into Makoto's stomach. "Ura glad Makoto's back!" The cat bounced in front of him, wrapping around him in her armor form, showing her happiness in that manner. His brown eyes surveyed his surroundings while brushing the cat's fur with his fingers. Seeing everybody was crying he asked, "What happened? It looks like you've seen a ghost. Gyah!" All of his friends roughly clamped down on him except Shayla who was simply at the background, breathing heavily with her hand clamped down on her leg, which had a wound that has been left open for most of the time. "Um. Nice to see you guys too. Ehe." Nanami, Qawool and Afura we're crying on him, feeling the need to touch Makoto, a sort of reassurance that he is really back with them.
"Makoto. you almost left us." His best friend spoke in a blubbery voice, locking her gaze unto him.
"Well I'm back aren't I?" He beamed at them, trying to lighten up the mood.
"Makoto-sama! I can't believe you treat it just like that! We were so worried and everything and. and." The water priestess took her turn in scolding him.
"Qawool.Its all right now." He spoke, covering the lady's lips with her finger. "Nobody is ever going to take me or any of us away from each other again, I'm going to make sure of that. I. mph!" In great surprise, sweet lips touched his and the giver just out of nowhere bestowed the kiss. She knew they were friends, but didn't know to which extent was she willing to push through. Two women screaming could be heard from atop the column after the kiss was broke. "I'm just glad you're back" Releasing her kiss, Afura looked away in embarrassment, wiping away her tears of joy.
"Afura. I'm glad to see you too ehe." The lad smiled sheepishly.
"Afura-sama! How could you?" Qawool gave a smart remark at the priestess of wind, making her flush even more.
"What are you talking about Qawool? I'm just glad Makoto's back." Afura hid her face away from the others, flushing even more realizing what she has just done.
"Makoto-chan! Since when have you been doing it with her?" Nanami took hold of the lad, grabbing Makoto by the collar and shaking him forcefully.
"Come on now! Nanami-chan this is the first time! Honest!"
"Ehehehe." Afura laughed in a ditzy manner, looking at her two friends quarrel.
"Ehe. "Great! Good thing Shayla's. Wait. Where is Shayla?" Nanami-chan, where's Shayla-Shayla?" The boy tried to push his head above the other's to spot their other friend.
"I'm right here Makoto. I'm so glad you're all right." Shayla stood up from where she knelt before. Showing herself before Makoto, tearful too, then her eyes started drifting away as all her energy spent with her blood still rushing out of her wound. "I'm so glad." Closing her eyes, darkness took hold of her, and this time, it was her turn to be saved, dropping down on the floor like a log with no branches to stop her from completely crashing down.
"Shayla!" Makoto stood up, but felt extreme pain covering his side. He held on to his side and forced himself to stand up for his friend's sake, Nanami took hold of Makoto's arm and put it across her shoulders, walking with him towards their friend.
Shayla's two sisters rushed to her aide. They first tried waking her up, shaking the priestess by her shoulders and Qawool even resolving to pour water on her sister's face by using her lamp.
Makoto knelt down before Shayla and began examining her condition. "Her pulse is weak, we have to stop the bleeding." The cut was right above her knee, and what it looked like was very unappealing. "Nanami-chan, can you hand me my jacket?" Nanami, followed right away, running to where Kalia's human form lay down before and grabbed the garment running back to them. Tearing the sleeves of his jacket apart, he made an improvised tourniquet, wrapping it around her thigh in a tight manner and slowing down the blood flow from Shayla's right leg. Checking her pulse again, Makoto brushed his hand on Shayla neck. "She's going to be all right now. We just need to seal that wound..She just needs some rest. and I. I.think I need one too." Having knelt down beside the fire priestess, Makoto succumbed to tiredness and he too fell unconscious, resting his head on top of Shayla's mid section.
"What do we do now Afura-sama?" Qawool asked her sister.
"We can't leave them here like that. We have to carry them back." Smiling at the Water priestess and Nanami, she started picking up Shayla from underneath Makoto's head.
"I'll go fly ahead, Qawool, you guys take care of Makoto."
"Hai. You should hurry Afura, so that the princess' people could properly treat that wound of hers." Nanami replied as she and Qawool started picking Makoto up by his shoulders. "See you later." Afura's lamp glowed with a pale light, and with the winds circling her, She placed Shayla behind her and wrapped the fire priestess' arms around her shoulders.
"Hold on sis." She whispered, summoning the winds to increase in its speed, Afura slowly rose up in the air, and quickly darted away with her sister in tow.
Seeing that their friends were already on the way, Qawool surrounded themselves with a bubble and supported Makoto's weight with her other arm, "Nanami-sama, lets go."
"Hai." Upon Nanami's confirmation, they leapt off the platform and fell for a few hundred feet.
"Uh, Qawool I think now would be a good time?" With her stomach churning Nanami urged her companion to start her chant.
"Don't worry!" Beaming at her, Qawool pointed her ring at the fast approaching ground and a jet stream of water shot upwards, halting their descent in a matter of seconds, then another from their side shooting them diagonally towards a nearby river. The bubble serving as a capsule, the threesome landed in the water with a splash bouncing themselves up a few inches off the water's surface.
"Excuse me while I catch my breath. Huff Huff." The lady asked of the priestess, breathing hard and loud, surprised of what they have just done.
"No time for rest Nanami, gomen, Makoto-sama needs immediate attention." The blue-haired priestess quickly pointed her ring downwards and then the bubble started to move. Water from the river was actually hurling the bubble forwards, running like a high-powered boat, they skimmed through the river's water at a very high speed towards Floristica.
-=|+|=-
Up in the sky, Afura could see that Floristica was not saved from the damage, debris from the eye of God crashed down on the city. Some parts of the city were wrecked, but people continued on living their daily lives. The palace was not spared even damaging a few rooms and towers; she flew around the castle surveying the havoc it was dealt with. Metal beams stuck out of the main dome of the castle making Afura's gasp in awe.
While flying around a soft voice spoke behind her, "Makoto." Shayla whispered in her sleep. Afura smiled at the instant then brushed the incident aside, she hovered down from a hole from the main dome and she gently landed on the main hallway unnoticed. Servants were constantly running around and attending their duties. Being in the middle of it, Afura knew she had to get Shayla her meds ASAP. "SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP ME!" She simply shouted in the middle of everybody making them stop in their tracks and look at her. "Err." Afura stood in the hall embarrassed with Shayla still on her back. "All right, break it up! Everybody get back to whatever you were previously doing! I shall attend to this myself!" A female voice behind the crowd commanded the mass to scatter back to their duties. With an aisle forming in front of the priestess, the one that recalled everybody to keep clear walked up to her. "Afura-mann! What happened?" It was Princess Rune Venus. "My lady! I'm so glad you were the one who came!" "Why? Who's that behind you?" The princess swayed her head to the side, trying to take a glance at the person. Afura turned to her side for Rune to see who it was.
"Oh my God. Shayla-Shayla! Afura, I know you're very tired, let me carry her. We're very short handed right now, taking care of everyone inside and outside the castle." Extending her arms she tried taking the responsibility to attend to her.
"It's all right your majesty, just lead the way." The wind priestess replied, hunching her back and pushing Shayla up her posterior for a better hold. The princess nodded and started clearing a path for her friends. They jogged across a few halls and came across Londs; the head Chamberlain of the royal family of Roshtaria.
"Londs, are there still any of the rooms vacant?" She asked, trying to find a makeshift ward in the city's makeshift hospital; the Roshtarian palace.
"Yes milady, the one atop the South East tower."
"Good, find Dr. Schtalubaugh and have him follow there with a few nurses. Now go!" With one command from the princess, Londs sprang up to his feet and ran to follow her orders.
"This way Afura!" Leading the way across pathways inside the castle, some halls were blocked with wreckage, which justifies the difficulty to pass through. Climbing up the seemingly endless flight of stairs, Rune Venus opened the door near the top of the tower and opened the window inside. Wasting no time, Afura followed inside and laid Shayla on the bed. Her leg still covered in blood, she never dared remove the temporary relief Makoto put on her leg instead relayed to their princess what their story was.
"I see. I'm sorry." The princess looked away at the moment upon hearing Afura's words.
"Don't be. She's still alive isn't she?" The Priestess responded with a lopsided smile, prepping her companion to act lightly once more.
"Ano... How about Makoto?"
"He's on his way now." She replied, looking behind her and at her sister. Exhausted, her eyes started to close slowly and almost collapsed to sleep from where she stood. Afura quickly bolted to awareness when she heard the door open loudly when the good doctor entered the fray.
The princess, seeing how tired the priestess was requested of her to leave Shayla's care to her. "Afura, you look so tired, why don't you rest for a while? I'll be staying here to make sure Shayla will get the best of care. I promise."
"Arigatou. I'm counting on you princess." Holding on to her head, she quickly flew outside the window and in to her room on the other side of the castle. Landing inside, she walked with deviations from a straight path, swaying from side to side. Having no energy left to change her clothes, she plopped on her bed and dozed off to sleep.
Back inside Shayla's temporary ward, people were going about figuring out how to permanently stop the bleeding. The good doctor was about to remove the improvised tourniquet when one of his assistants came barging inside the door. "Forgive me Princess Rune, but there's an emergency. Doctor, there's somebody wounded downstairs, he's getting critical we need your help."
"I'll be right down." He grumbled in dismay, handing over the sheets of clean white cloth to the Princess. "Princess, its up to you then, I apologize."
The lady took the pieces of cloth and held it with both arms, "No need to do that, I understand the needs of our people. Now go, I will do whatever it is needed."
"Milady, you just need to cover the wound for the mean time. When Master Makoto comes back, I'm sure he'll no what to do. I must leave now." Rushing for the door, Dr. Schtalubaugh went back downstairs to attend those who are in dire need.
Rune followed the doctor with her eyes, till the door slammed shut. Giving a deep sigh, she took one tarp and pressed it firmly with her hand down on Shayla's leg. Her maids came to her side quickly but she just motioned them to stay back and stay within the room. Blood was still slowly dripping out of the wound, but Rune Venus' was there to help her dear friend. "Shayla. What happened?" She asked the sleeping Priestess, looking at her with pity in her eyes. Soon, fatigue was taking its toll on the princess, almost falling asleep where she stood. One of her maids quickly took her hand and led her away towards a nearby chair, while the other, pressed down on the wound for her, keeping Shayla safe from harm's way. Princess Rune Venus leaned herself onto the chair, taking rest for the time being. She cocked her head back, affixing her eyes on the ceiling above her, and with a deep sigh, she quickly stood up and folded her arms in front of her chest. "I can't wait like this. Where are they?" She began tapping her foot on the marble floor, losing poise and composure slowly at the same time.
Princess Rune paced back and forth, with her patience wearing off, she walked off outside towards the balcony. She scanned the horizon of the river, moving her head from right to left in a slow manner. Everything she saw floating on the water, a piece of wood, a royal cruiser and even otters that were moving in the water seemed to resemble the trio they needed the most at this time. "Should I send a search party for them? Let it be so!" She started walking back inside and ceased when she heard a faint sound of soft splashes of water from afar on the river near below the palace. "Could it be?" She mused, starting to walk quickly out the door.
"Milady?" A servant asked the princess.
"Makoto's here! Don't fret. Keep it up until Makoto arrives."
"Yes your majesty!" Bowing down, the servant girl ran up the stairs and did as she was commanded.
Panting and already weary from fatigue, the princess ran across the hall and out of the palace near the river docks. There she stood looking out at the stretch of water from the landing dock till the other end of the river, she could still hear the faint sound of a low hum with water splashing about. "Everybody Quiet!" She commanded, and all fell silent, wide eyed and puzzled at the sudden outburst from the princess. Barely hearing the sound she identified as the other party of her friends, she waited patiently for a few seconds to detect where that low sound was coming from. Rune Venus quickly took a step back when the water on the back of a small island on her right side shot out water like a cannon, and on it was the bubble that Qawool has conjured up as a transport for the three of them. Soaring for a few hundred feet it landed a few inches from where Rune initially stood, the bubble with its force and momentum sank for a few feet then popped out like a balloon submerged in the water.
"Princess Rune! How did you know?" Nanami queried the noblewoman in front of them.
Still wide-eyed in surprise she took her hand, which covered her lips in awe. "No need to chat right now. We need Makoto up into that room!" Pointing up on the tower. The shrill voice rang through Makoto's ears like a hot knife through butter.
"Wha.? What's wrong?" Waking up from the conversation, he lifted his arms from leaning onto Qawool and Nanami and tried his best to stand on his own.
"I'll tell you on the way."
Nodding his head in agreement, Makoto hopped onto ground and with a gesture as a reply from the Princess, they began to run for Shayla's aide. One question shot out from Makoto's inner self, "What's going on?"
-=|+|End of Chapter 5|+|=-
Disclaimer: I don't own the El Hazard series or its characters. I am merely writing a fic of the series so please, don't sue me.
El Hazard: Unforeseen consequences
By: -=|+|Makoto_chan|+|=-
-=|+|Chapter 5: Returned|+|=-
Lying on the ground was the one of the greatest heroes of El Hazard, thought to be unparalleled in intelligence and prowess, his death proved that he was human like the rest of them. Makoto Mizuhara was 19 years of age. He was an earthling, yet he died in another world. The world he has now grown accustomed to also call his home. A few moments earlier death struck and delivered him to the land of the dead; here he lies fighting to go back to the land of the living. The lad's friends encircled his body, mourning because of his loss, a loss of somebody that has made so much difference in all of their lives.
Among them, the red haired priestess having wounded in combat was struggling to rush to Makoto's side. Having the injuries take their toll she was unable to hold herself up, stumbling a few feet before her two sisters.
"Shayla!" Afura ran near her friend and caught her by her shoulders.
"Afura. help me up!" She commanded the brunette, grabbing Afura's shoulders then pulling herself up.
"Shayla. Makoto's gone now. I'm sorry."
"No way! He's just sleeping right? Makoto's just a little tired!" Shayla escaped from her sister's grasp and fell down on the ground, unable to bear her weight any longer. "Makoto." Afura averted her gaze somewhere else, feeling the pain as her sister did. Burdened by her injury the fire priestess crawled on her knees, Shayla inched her way until she reached the lad's corpse being set down by her blue haired sister. "Makoto come on wake up! It's over already!" Nothing but silence answered her back. "Hehe I get it! It's a joke right? Hehe." Shayla held on to Makoto's shirt, she shook him as if he was just asleep. Her sisters merely looked away, still with tears present in their eyes. She slapped him softly a few times, trying to ward off his sleep, yet his head simply hung down in a defeated manner.
The fire priestess stopped for a moment in silence, then tears quickly formed in her eyes. "Makoto! You can't do this to me! You promised Makoto! You promised!" Tugging on his shirt, Shayla shouted at the lifeless body, burying herself in his chest. "You promised. How could you. You told me we're going home and.you cheater.you cheater!" Crying on Makoto's chest, her breaths turned in to shallow ones, crying onto him and pounding her fist lightly on his upper body. Her breathing turned to quick gasps as she could no longer control herself. "This isn't happening!" The rain continued its downpour atop the stairway to heaven, falling down on the Mizuhara-gumi, falling down with their tears for a very dear friend. She rocked herself back and forth with Makoto in her arms, still in her sorrowed self. "A world without Makoto, is more like hell for me!" Shayla screamed inside her mind, now with irrational thinking, she felt nothing but her heartache.
A soft humming sound was heard from behind the priestesses; the elevator was moving down then it went up again. A young lady stepped down from the moving platform. A girl out from work, called to this place by one among their friends. a feline friend. "Makoto-chan!" A voice came from behind the trio, running towards them. Nanami rushed from the elevator's platform, taking her apron off and unrolling the sleeves from her work clothes. "Oh my God. What happened here? Why is there blood all over the floor?"
"Nanami hurry up!" A small cat like voice cried from behind following the blonde haired girl. Ura ran with her towards the three priestesses who hung their heads down in sadness, except for Shayla who still has herself senseless.
"Afura! Snap out of it!" Grabbing the lady's shoulders, Nanami tried to talk sense into Afura.
"Wha? What?"
"How long has he been out?" She asked with concern filling her eyes.
"She's gone Nanami. Gomen."
"NO HE'S NOT YET DEAD! NOW HOW LONG HAS HE BEEN OUT?"
"Only about less than a minute Nanami-sama. why?" Qawool spoke in behalf of her sister who was quite startled by Nanami's reaction.
"Because we can still save him!" Shooting her words at them, Makoto's best friend, knelt before Shayla putting her hands on the Priestess' shoulders. "Shayla!"
"Leave me alone. I don't want to live anymore." Swatting the helpful hands away, she shifted where she sat and tuned her back at Nanami, looking across the Horizon.
"You don't get it do you?"
"What do you want? Can't you just leave me alone?" Standing up, the priestess faced Nanami with her teary emerald orbs.
"Baka!" The two other priestesses made a step back when Nanami slapped Shayla on the cheek bringing her back to her senses. "We can still save him Shayla! I want Makoto back too! Now help me get him back!"
Pulling Shayla with her, Nanami knelt down beside Makoto. Visualizing the pain he went through, she shunned her eyes away from the boy for an instant seeing the object's path that went right through him. Returning her gaze at Makoto, she brushed her palm on Makoto's forehead and ran her fingers through his hair. Filled with determination, Nanami started bringing him back. "Good thing I attended med class." She thought to herself. The girl bend her head down and landed her ear above Makoto's chest. "He's not breathing and there's no heartbeat."
"Shayla, what I'm going to do is simulate respiration, all I need you to do is to breathe into his mouth. I don't like the idea of you doing it with him, but in his case I'm willing to let you do it." Nanami explained in a detailed manner, even trying to lighten up the mood with her witty comment. "There is a chance Makoto will come back."
"I'll take that chance!" Shayla replied, focusing her mind on the procedure.
"When I give the signal, you should tilt Makoto-chan's chin up. Clamp down on his nose and forcefully breathe into his mouth." Receiving her instructions, Shayla nodded, readying herself and Makoto, tilting his head back as soon a Nanami started placing her palms across Makoto's chest.
"Thank God for Med class!" She mused and first took a deep breath then Nanami pressed down on the middle of Makoto's upper chest. She was performing CPR, an Earthling feat unfamiliar to the people of El Hazard. Achieving her share of life saving for the first cycle Nanami nodded her head as her signal to Shayla.
"Makoto." Closing her eyes, she pinched Makoto's nose and clamped her mouth unto his, making a pathway for air to travel from Shayla's lungs to the lad's.
"I wish I could do that." Nanami thought jealously as she saw before her; Shayla her rival making out with their man. With his chest expanding because of the air, Nanami was certain that Shayla was doing her part excellently.
"That's good, keep it up." Repeating the cycle thrice more, yet there seems to be no response yet. Nanami was slowly losing hope. "Come on Makoto-chan! Fight it!" She said aloud, pressing her palms down on Makoto's chest vigorously with a steady rhythm.
"Shayla!" Nanami said aloud, signaling Shayla to breathe unto Makoto again.
"Come on Makoto! Return to me." the fire priestess thought, as her mouth covered the entirety of the boy's. The rain finally started to calm, turning into a light shower already. Time has passed and yet, there was still no movement from Makoto.
-=|+|=-
The lad sat up in hasty manner, eyeing his surroundings, which is pitch black in darkness. Out of nowhere a bright light shone on him, illuminating his clothes in a light that gave a tingling sensation upon contact with his skin. "Huh? Where am I? Why am I? Glowing?" Right across from him a familiar person appeared, looking at him with a very happy expression on her face. Suddenly she started walking away, as if her job was already done. The lad gave chase and caught up, calling the white lady by a name, which he favors. "Ifurita? Is that you?" The Angel turned her head to one side and gave a smile then began to walk once more. "Hey Ifurita, I said wait for me!" Makoto ran after the demon Goddess amidst the bright light. Dressed in pure white, she drifted in the light right in front of the boy. Able to catch her hand, the boy embraced her with a very bright smile. Savoring the moment then cocking his head back to look at her, he was able to see that her reaction was not the same, he decided to ask. "What's wrong? I'm dead aren't I?"
"Makoto. Go back." Was her cold reply.
"What? Don't you want to be like this? We'll be together! Ifurita. I missed you so much." Makoto spoke back still with good disposition.
"I would love too. But Makoto, it's still not your time. You have to live Makoto! Live!"
"Why? I'm here so happy just seeing you again, and now you're sending me away?" The lad turned around in confusion, bowing his head.
Embracing him from behind Ifurita pressed a light but firm touch around Makoto's waist.
"I love you Makoto. I do want you to stay. But I'm not selfish to hog you for myself even after death, you taught me how to share. You've given me enough love and attention for me to enjoy for two lifetimes. I'm happy that you never gave up on me. But somebody up there." Ifurita pointing upwards while looking up herself and smiling, "says it's not your time yet. You still have a lot of work to be done. New things to discover, battles to won, a child to take care off."
"What?" He asked her with a very surprised look.
"Oh nothing. Getting back, you still have a lot of good things to be done in this world."
"But Ifurita. Why did you have to die?" Makoto cut her off, asking Ifurita of her demise.
"Makoto, my life force has been leaking for 10,000 years. I was on the brink of death when you walked into my chamber."
"Its not fair! Why do you have to die? Why couldn't they take me too? I want to be with you Ifurita." All fell silent after the response, with the two still locked in each other. Makoto's tears fell and his knees gave way, recalling how he saw Ifurita died. "Do you know how much that hurt?"
She looked away for a while, pausing letting the silence take control of the atmosphere. Then she spoke, "Yes, I know. Just as much as I suppose your friends are hurting inside right now."
"Nani?" Makoto looked up, fixing his eyes at Ifurita's
"Come look." The lady touched a part of the wall of light surrounding them, and a mystical window opened right before them. "Not only Shayla, but your other friends, Afura, Qawool and Nanami." She pointed at the clear picture of them trying to revive the man. Makoto looked away for a few seconds, which were like hours from his point of view. He pondered for the right action, searching his heart for the proper answer. "Makoto. They need you! El Hazard needs you! You better go back. I'm never lonesome where I am right now, and I know we'll meet again." Ifurita said with a tearful smile. "Besides. You don't know how much fun one has when she's got wings!" Smiling gleefully, angelic wings sprouted from Ifurita's back and jumped up into the light. Circling Makoto for a few times, the lad finally lightened up his mood and smiled with his lady. Ifurita flew back down till her foot lightly touches the ground. "See? Nothing to it!" She said, smiling at her Makoto.
"I was just so happy to see you again. I forgot about my other friends." A gentle hand on his shoulder shushed him from thinking out aloud. "Gomen.Are you sure Ifurita?"
"I'm sure." Wrapping her wings around them and embracing him tightly." With a very heavy heart, he gave it his affirmation, deciding it was time for him to go back to his mortal body. "I have to go. Ifurita, forgive me!" Burying his face on her hair, he cried for pardon for failing to be there on time. "Gomen. I wasn't there for you. If only there was another way to go back!"
"The eye of God is destroyed Makoto. It's all right. El Hazard's dark past should never be dug up anymore. I'm part of that you know?" She replied brushing her hand on Makoto's hair. "Seriously? Would you think you'd find me in this place if it hadn't been for you?" Smiling at the lad who pulled himself from the girl's semblance.
"Arigatou."
"Now I want you to move on. I happen to see that every lady you know right now is pinning for you! But I won't further embarrass you Makoto. I want you to be happy now, for yourself and for everybody, including me." She giggled, making the boy's face flush.
"So you've been watching huh? Ehe." He smiled sheepishly, scratching his head. "We people up here can see everything you know?" Covering her mouth in laughter again, she looked below Makoto's belt and giggled some more.
"You don't mean. Hey!" The scientist blurted, covering his pant's crotch area with both his hands. The laughter died down eventually and silence enveloped the two once more.
"Makoto, you better go now. Before its too late."
"Hai."
"I'll see you someday Makoto! But please not any sooner okay?"
"Hai." The lad replied with a smile. "Ifurita. it's so nice to see you again."
"The same here." The demon goddess smiled in reply, "Go back to them Makoto, go!"
"Sayonara. Ifurita." He waved goodbye before stepping back away from the light. Beginning to sink into the warp, the demon Goddess gave one final message. "Oh and Makoto. You don't always deal with women the way you dealt with Kalia!"
"Ach!" Flushing with so much embarrassment again, he slapped his forehead with his open palm.
"Don't worry about it!"
"Arigatou. I won't forget you Ifurita. Not ever. I. I want a stay for a few more minutes." He bowed his head, hoping his deity might allow it.
"Makoto, Onegai, you have to go now." Ifurita whispered softly, taking a step closer, an embrace's length away from each other.
"Come back with me?" He took her in his arms, wrapping his arms around her tightly.
"It's going to be all right Makoto, I can't go, but I'll always be with you. Trust me, I know."
"Ha.Hai." With a heavy heart he let go of his embrace and took a step back.
"I won't forget you too. Sayonara, Makoto." With one bright flash, Makoto, could see himself falling from the clouds and back down to El Hazard.
"Ifurita. Good bye. I'll see you again." He closed his eyes, as he flew across the skies.
The lady smiled at her love, zooming away for home at a mind-blowing speed. "I'll always be with you Makoto. I'll see you again too. But not yet. not yet." She looked back while flying up towards the light where she came from. All that's left was the bright circular light slowly shrinking in size, closing inward and disappearing in a wisp of air.
Makoto's soul traveled above the clouds, flying through El Hazard's skies. He passed by the wrecked Bugrom homeland, the Holy River that divided El Hazard, and finally the Stairway to heaven. He knew at once he was home again. Reaching the tall pillar of white stone, he landed on top setting his spectral feet down on the floor. As a spirit he watched as he clearly saw what was happening at the moment.
"Nanami-chan, Shayla-san, Afura, and Qawool." He watched as the ladies tried to revive him in whatever way they could think off. Makoto would hear the two priestesses in solemn prayer, with Nanami's thoughts being heard as clearly as it can be spoken. "Come on Makoto! Fight it!" The lad would also hear Shayla's voice inside his head, begging him to come back. His soul dropped its head in regret, regretting the time once more, the time when he almost lost a friend. But this time he was back, and aimed at setting things straight, the way it should.
"Shayla. your leg!" Sensing the immediate danger in too much loss of blood, Makoto scrambled back to his body when he saw the Fire priestess' thigh excreting red fluid in a moderate pace. When he felt himself in spectral alignment, he shut his eyes and focused to regain control of his body once again.
-=|+|=-
"Its no good. Its no damn good!" Nanami screamed inside her head, as efforts to revive Makoto, resulted in no meaningful responses yet.
Both women never ceased their efforts, artificially circulating Makoto's much needed blood and oxygen around his body. Nanami, who at first had full confidence, was now starting to cry. Her tears now dropped on to her hands, pressing down on the boy's chest. With loss of hope filling her heart, her pace began to slow down . Shayla on the other hand, kept on breathing into him, never losing hope not knowing if Makoto will even come back and ignoring the fact the she has sustained a light injury but was left untreated therefore blood kept flowing out of her system slowly.
"Shayla. we're doing it for 3 minutes now."
"So what?"
"If the brain has no oxygen for more than that. Makoto's gone."
"How could you?! Giving me hope then taking it away again!"
"What would you want me to do Shayla? Slap him silly to wake him up? I want him back too!"
"Just shut up and do it!" Shayla's tears started to fall again, recalling the way she was finding out that the man she loved was no longer with them. Her sisters were behind them, pacing around like there's no tomorrow.
"It won't." Nanami tried to convince Shayla that it was already too late but the fire priestess angrily insisted that they continue.
"I said do it! Don't you want Makoto to come back? Then lets do what we have to do!" Shayla shouted her order shaking Nanami's shoulders roughly.
Shaking her head and still with tears coming out from her eyes, Nanami forced herself to continue on, knowing no good will result from this. Both of them eyed each other in silence, and after a few more cycles, and then it happened, Nanami just--stopped. "What do you think you're doing?" Shayla screamed at their companion, prompting Afura and Qawool to wipe their tears away and pay attention once more.
"Shhh."
"Don't' you shush me Nanami! Makoto will make it! I'm sure of it!"
"Argh! You sure are dumb as you look. Don't you feel it?"
"Feel what?! I up to here with you! Why don't you just help out?" Shayla spoke out loud shaking her fists at the blonde.
"We don't need to anymore dummy! Look." Pointing at Makoto, Nanami's orbs became watery, focusing at the young man on the floor. They could see his eyelids beginning to move, as if forcing themselves to open. Then it happened, Makoto's eye flashed open, and his chest expanded again, with one deep breath he was back in the world of the living! "Ugh.Where am I?" He sat up, scratching his head as if just waking up from a deep sleep.
All of the women were very surprised at first, staring blankly at him, when out of nowhere Ura ran through them and into Makoto's stomach. "Ura glad Makoto's back!" The cat bounced in front of him, wrapping around him in her armor form, showing her happiness in that manner. His brown eyes surveyed his surroundings while brushing the cat's fur with his fingers. Seeing everybody was crying he asked, "What happened? It looks like you've seen a ghost. Gyah!" All of his friends roughly clamped down on him except Shayla who was simply at the background, breathing heavily with her hand clamped down on her leg, which had a wound that has been left open for most of the time. "Um. Nice to see you guys too. Ehe." Nanami, Qawool and Afura we're crying on him, feeling the need to touch Makoto, a sort of reassurance that he is really back with them.
"Makoto. you almost left us." His best friend spoke in a blubbery voice, locking her gaze unto him.
"Well I'm back aren't I?" He beamed at them, trying to lighten up the mood.
"Makoto-sama! I can't believe you treat it just like that! We were so worried and everything and. and." The water priestess took her turn in scolding him.
"Qawool.Its all right now." He spoke, covering the lady's lips with her finger. "Nobody is ever going to take me or any of us away from each other again, I'm going to make sure of that. I. mph!" In great surprise, sweet lips touched his and the giver just out of nowhere bestowed the kiss. She knew they were friends, but didn't know to which extent was she willing to push through. Two women screaming could be heard from atop the column after the kiss was broke. "I'm just glad you're back" Releasing her kiss, Afura looked away in embarrassment, wiping away her tears of joy.
"Afura. I'm glad to see you too ehe." The lad smiled sheepishly.
"Afura-sama! How could you?" Qawool gave a smart remark at the priestess of wind, making her flush even more.
"What are you talking about Qawool? I'm just glad Makoto's back." Afura hid her face away from the others, flushing even more realizing what she has just done.
"Makoto-chan! Since when have you been doing it with her?" Nanami took hold of the lad, grabbing Makoto by the collar and shaking him forcefully.
"Come on now! Nanami-chan this is the first time! Honest!"
"Ehehehe." Afura laughed in a ditzy manner, looking at her two friends quarrel.
"Ehe. "Great! Good thing Shayla's. Wait. Where is Shayla?" Nanami-chan, where's Shayla-Shayla?" The boy tried to push his head above the other's to spot their other friend.
"I'm right here Makoto. I'm so glad you're all right." Shayla stood up from where she knelt before. Showing herself before Makoto, tearful too, then her eyes started drifting away as all her energy spent with her blood still rushing out of her wound. "I'm so glad." Closing her eyes, darkness took hold of her, and this time, it was her turn to be saved, dropping down on the floor like a log with no branches to stop her from completely crashing down.
"Shayla!" Makoto stood up, but felt extreme pain covering his side. He held on to his side and forced himself to stand up for his friend's sake, Nanami took hold of Makoto's arm and put it across her shoulders, walking with him towards their friend.
Shayla's two sisters rushed to her aide. They first tried waking her up, shaking the priestess by her shoulders and Qawool even resolving to pour water on her sister's face by using her lamp.
Makoto knelt down before Shayla and began examining her condition. "Her pulse is weak, we have to stop the bleeding." The cut was right above her knee, and what it looked like was very unappealing. "Nanami-chan, can you hand me my jacket?" Nanami, followed right away, running to where Kalia's human form lay down before and grabbed the garment running back to them. Tearing the sleeves of his jacket apart, he made an improvised tourniquet, wrapping it around her thigh in a tight manner and slowing down the blood flow from Shayla's right leg. Checking her pulse again, Makoto brushed his hand on Shayla neck. "She's going to be all right now. We just need to seal that wound..She just needs some rest. and I. I.think I need one too." Having knelt down beside the fire priestess, Makoto succumbed to tiredness and he too fell unconscious, resting his head on top of Shayla's mid section.
"What do we do now Afura-sama?" Qawool asked her sister.
"We can't leave them here like that. We have to carry them back." Smiling at the Water priestess and Nanami, she started picking up Shayla from underneath Makoto's head.
"I'll go fly ahead, Qawool, you guys take care of Makoto."
"Hai. You should hurry Afura, so that the princess' people could properly treat that wound of hers." Nanami replied as she and Qawool started picking Makoto up by his shoulders. "See you later." Afura's lamp glowed with a pale light, and with the winds circling her, She placed Shayla behind her and wrapped the fire priestess' arms around her shoulders.
"Hold on sis." She whispered, summoning the winds to increase in its speed, Afura slowly rose up in the air, and quickly darted away with her sister in tow.
Seeing that their friends were already on the way, Qawool surrounded themselves with a bubble and supported Makoto's weight with her other arm, "Nanami-sama, lets go."
"Hai." Upon Nanami's confirmation, they leapt off the platform and fell for a few hundred feet.
"Uh, Qawool I think now would be a good time?" With her stomach churning Nanami urged her companion to start her chant.
"Don't worry!" Beaming at her, Qawool pointed her ring at the fast approaching ground and a jet stream of water shot upwards, halting their descent in a matter of seconds, then another from their side shooting them diagonally towards a nearby river. The bubble serving as a capsule, the threesome landed in the water with a splash bouncing themselves up a few inches off the water's surface.
"Excuse me while I catch my breath. Huff Huff." The lady asked of the priestess, breathing hard and loud, surprised of what they have just done.
"No time for rest Nanami, gomen, Makoto-sama needs immediate attention." The blue-haired priestess quickly pointed her ring downwards and then the bubble started to move. Water from the river was actually hurling the bubble forwards, running like a high-powered boat, they skimmed through the river's water at a very high speed towards Floristica.
-=|+|=-
Up in the sky, Afura could see that Floristica was not saved from the damage, debris from the eye of God crashed down on the city. Some parts of the city were wrecked, but people continued on living their daily lives. The palace was not spared even damaging a few rooms and towers; she flew around the castle surveying the havoc it was dealt with. Metal beams stuck out of the main dome of the castle making Afura's gasp in awe.
While flying around a soft voice spoke behind her, "Makoto." Shayla whispered in her sleep. Afura smiled at the instant then brushed the incident aside, she hovered down from a hole from the main dome and she gently landed on the main hallway unnoticed. Servants were constantly running around and attending their duties. Being in the middle of it, Afura knew she had to get Shayla her meds ASAP. "SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP ME!" She simply shouted in the middle of everybody making them stop in their tracks and look at her. "Err." Afura stood in the hall embarrassed with Shayla still on her back. "All right, break it up! Everybody get back to whatever you were previously doing! I shall attend to this myself!" A female voice behind the crowd commanded the mass to scatter back to their duties. With an aisle forming in front of the priestess, the one that recalled everybody to keep clear walked up to her. "Afura-mann! What happened?" It was Princess Rune Venus. "My lady! I'm so glad you were the one who came!" "Why? Who's that behind you?" The princess swayed her head to the side, trying to take a glance at the person. Afura turned to her side for Rune to see who it was.
"Oh my God. Shayla-Shayla! Afura, I know you're very tired, let me carry her. We're very short handed right now, taking care of everyone inside and outside the castle." Extending her arms she tried taking the responsibility to attend to her.
"It's all right your majesty, just lead the way." The wind priestess replied, hunching her back and pushing Shayla up her posterior for a better hold. The princess nodded and started clearing a path for her friends. They jogged across a few halls and came across Londs; the head Chamberlain of the royal family of Roshtaria.
"Londs, are there still any of the rooms vacant?" She asked, trying to find a makeshift ward in the city's makeshift hospital; the Roshtarian palace.
"Yes milady, the one atop the South East tower."
"Good, find Dr. Schtalubaugh and have him follow there with a few nurses. Now go!" With one command from the princess, Londs sprang up to his feet and ran to follow her orders.
"This way Afura!" Leading the way across pathways inside the castle, some halls were blocked with wreckage, which justifies the difficulty to pass through. Climbing up the seemingly endless flight of stairs, Rune Venus opened the door near the top of the tower and opened the window inside. Wasting no time, Afura followed inside and laid Shayla on the bed. Her leg still covered in blood, she never dared remove the temporary relief Makoto put on her leg instead relayed to their princess what their story was.
"I see. I'm sorry." The princess looked away at the moment upon hearing Afura's words.
"Don't be. She's still alive isn't she?" The Priestess responded with a lopsided smile, prepping her companion to act lightly once more.
"Ano... How about Makoto?"
"He's on his way now." She replied, looking behind her and at her sister. Exhausted, her eyes started to close slowly and almost collapsed to sleep from where she stood. Afura quickly bolted to awareness when she heard the door open loudly when the good doctor entered the fray.
The princess, seeing how tired the priestess was requested of her to leave Shayla's care to her. "Afura, you look so tired, why don't you rest for a while? I'll be staying here to make sure Shayla will get the best of care. I promise."
"Arigatou. I'm counting on you princess." Holding on to her head, she quickly flew outside the window and in to her room on the other side of the castle. Landing inside, she walked with deviations from a straight path, swaying from side to side. Having no energy left to change her clothes, she plopped on her bed and dozed off to sleep.
Back inside Shayla's temporary ward, people were going about figuring out how to permanently stop the bleeding. The good doctor was about to remove the improvised tourniquet when one of his assistants came barging inside the door. "Forgive me Princess Rune, but there's an emergency. Doctor, there's somebody wounded downstairs, he's getting critical we need your help."
"I'll be right down." He grumbled in dismay, handing over the sheets of clean white cloth to the Princess. "Princess, its up to you then, I apologize."
The lady took the pieces of cloth and held it with both arms, "No need to do that, I understand the needs of our people. Now go, I will do whatever it is needed."
"Milady, you just need to cover the wound for the mean time. When Master Makoto comes back, I'm sure he'll no what to do. I must leave now." Rushing for the door, Dr. Schtalubaugh went back downstairs to attend those who are in dire need.
Rune followed the doctor with her eyes, till the door slammed shut. Giving a deep sigh, she took one tarp and pressed it firmly with her hand down on Shayla's leg. Her maids came to her side quickly but she just motioned them to stay back and stay within the room. Blood was still slowly dripping out of the wound, but Rune Venus' was there to help her dear friend. "Shayla. What happened?" She asked the sleeping Priestess, looking at her with pity in her eyes. Soon, fatigue was taking its toll on the princess, almost falling asleep where she stood. One of her maids quickly took her hand and led her away towards a nearby chair, while the other, pressed down on the wound for her, keeping Shayla safe from harm's way. Princess Rune Venus leaned herself onto the chair, taking rest for the time being. She cocked her head back, affixing her eyes on the ceiling above her, and with a deep sigh, she quickly stood up and folded her arms in front of her chest. "I can't wait like this. Where are they?" She began tapping her foot on the marble floor, losing poise and composure slowly at the same time.
Princess Rune paced back and forth, with her patience wearing off, she walked off outside towards the balcony. She scanned the horizon of the river, moving her head from right to left in a slow manner. Everything she saw floating on the water, a piece of wood, a royal cruiser and even otters that were moving in the water seemed to resemble the trio they needed the most at this time. "Should I send a search party for them? Let it be so!" She started walking back inside and ceased when she heard a faint sound of soft splashes of water from afar on the river near below the palace. "Could it be?" She mused, starting to walk quickly out the door.
"Milady?" A servant asked the princess.
"Makoto's here! Don't fret. Keep it up until Makoto arrives."
"Yes your majesty!" Bowing down, the servant girl ran up the stairs and did as she was commanded.
Panting and already weary from fatigue, the princess ran across the hall and out of the palace near the river docks. There she stood looking out at the stretch of water from the landing dock till the other end of the river, she could still hear the faint sound of a low hum with water splashing about. "Everybody Quiet!" She commanded, and all fell silent, wide eyed and puzzled at the sudden outburst from the princess. Barely hearing the sound she identified as the other party of her friends, she waited patiently for a few seconds to detect where that low sound was coming from. Rune Venus quickly took a step back when the water on the back of a small island on her right side shot out water like a cannon, and on it was the bubble that Qawool has conjured up as a transport for the three of them. Soaring for a few hundred feet it landed a few inches from where Rune initially stood, the bubble with its force and momentum sank for a few feet then popped out like a balloon submerged in the water.
"Princess Rune! How did you know?" Nanami queried the noblewoman in front of them.
Still wide-eyed in surprise she took her hand, which covered her lips in awe. "No need to chat right now. We need Makoto up into that room!" Pointing up on the tower. The shrill voice rang through Makoto's ears like a hot knife through butter.
"Wha.? What's wrong?" Waking up from the conversation, he lifted his arms from leaning onto Qawool and Nanami and tried his best to stand on his own.
"I'll tell you on the way."
Nodding his head in agreement, Makoto hopped onto ground and with a gesture as a reply from the Princess, they began to run for Shayla's aide. One question shot out from Makoto's inner self, "What's going on?"
-=|+|End of Chapter 5|+|=-
