Perfect Beauty
Chapter 13
In the cold, bleak waiting room, Heero slumped down in his chair and watched the minute hand slowly make its way around the clock. His arm bandaged and in a sling but the arm didn't matter at the moment, nothing but the life of Kanani. 'How could I have let this happen? It should be me in there not her. Damn her, why did she have to go and do that?' Heero cursed to himself. He couldn't believe that this was all happening. It felt so surreal to him, like it was just a dream, more like a nightmare than anything. All he wanted to do now was wake up from it all and for everything to be okay. Luck was on their side that day when the ambulance got there just in time and they were able to get Kanani to the hospital within minutes of the shooting.
Heero and Mr. O'Neal had been waiting for over an hour without a word from the doctor. The eerie silence of the emergency room was not the most comforting thing, but at that point, that was the least of Heero's worries. Sitting next to Heero was Mr. O'Neal, who sat with his face buried in his hands while his fingers slowly massaged his temples. He then brought his face up and ran his hands through his hair. Heero had not said a word since they got there and Mr. O'Neal knew the reason why. "Heero, this isn't your fault," Mr. O'Neal said as he placed his hand on Heero's shoulder.
"You hired me to protect her and I couldn't. I failed," Heero muttered bitterly.
Kanani's dad looked at him and the realization finally hit him. "You love her don't you?"
At that moment, Heero's eyes began to glisten. 'Don't cry Yuy, don't cry,' he told himself as he fought back his tears. "I couldn't protect her," he said in a hushed voice as he choked back the tears.
"She wanted to protect you as well," Kanani's father said and then paused. "Kanani is just like her mother, always putting herself before others, it's just in her nature," her father answered as he looked up at the ceiling.
Those words made it even harder for Heero to hold back the tears. Just then, the sound of footsteps caught both of their ears and they looked up to see a doctor making his way towards them. "Mr. O'Neal?" the doctor asked and both Heero and her father stood up.
"How is she?" was the first question that came out of her father's mouth.
"She lost a lot of blood but we managed to stabilize her. She has just come out of surgery and is resting at the moment, her body is still very weak."
"Thank you doctor," Mr. O'Neal said with a smile of relief. A heavy load had just been lifted off of his shoulders.
"I will keep you posted on her condition," the doctor said as he turned and walked back down the hall.
"Heero, can you stay here while I get everything straightened out at the office?"
Heero nodded and Mr. O'Neal made his way to the exit. Heero then walked over to the nurse's station to see what room Kanani was in and if it was okay to see her. After finding out what he needed to know, Heero wasted no time and went up to her room on the top floor. Heero practically ran to her room only to freeze in his tracks the moment he saw her. He looked through the window and his heart fell in to the pit of his stomach and his knees felt as if they were going to give out. He took a deep breath, slowly opened the door, and quietly walked in. She lied there on the bed, tubes running in and out of her body as the sound of beeping resonated in the room. Heero walked to the side of her bed and sat in the chair beside her. He ran his hand across her face, her skin had grown pale but it still retained its softness. Smoothing the strands of hair from her face, he brought his lips to her brow and gave her a gentle kiss. "You're so stubborn," he joked as he choked back the unrelenting tears. "I was the one who was supposed to protect you!" he cried out, he couldn't contain the pain any longer.
He buried his head in her side and wept, his tears flowing as freely as ever. Sobs wracked his body as he let everything out, he just couldn't hold it back anymore. He had almost lost the one he loved and it was all his fault, at least he thought so. Weariness overcame his body as he fell asleep right where his head laid. Hours later, Heero awoke as he felt a gentle hand on his head. He turned and saw Kanani's eyes partly open. "I thought I was the one who was supposed to cry," she remarked weakly at seeing Heero's red rimmed eyes.
His eyes began to sparkle and a few tears fell down his cheeks. "Now why did you have to go and do this to yourself? Stubborn girl," Heero said sarcastically in an attempt not to break down again.
"I wasn't going to let anyone else die while protecting me," she replied, her voice weak and shaky, she still wasn't fully awake from the anesthesia.
"That was my job," he told her as he placed his hand on the side of her face.
"And it was my job to protect you because I love you. I wasn't going to lose you," she answered softly. Tears started to well in her eyes as well.
"I thought I lost you," those words catching in Heero's throat as more tears streamed down his face. "Just don't do that again all right?"
She smiled and ran her fingers through his hair, "I don't plan on it any time soon. Are you all right?"
"It's just a scratch, I've seen worse."
She chuckled lightly, "I'm sure you have. Where's dad, is he ok?"
"He's fine, just straightening a few things out at the office that's all. He'll be back as soon as he gets everything taken care of," Heero answered.
"Is it really all over Heero?" she said taking a hold of his hand.
He pressed his lips to her palm and then curled her hand back in to a fist. "Let's just say that they won't be bothering you or your father for quite sometime, if at all."
"I'm glad."
"Kanani honey!" Mr. O'Neal chimed as he walked in to her room.
"Daddy!" Kanani cried as her father leaned in and give her a loose hug. "That didn't take long."
"The police got there and took care of most of the things. How are you feeling princess?" her father asked as he kneeled beside her bed.
"A little weak but otherwise fine," she told him with a smile on her face.
Mr. O'Neal then turned to Heero and stood back up. "Heero, I want to thank you for all that you have done for me and my daughter. She's the only thing I have left and without her I would have nothing. I'm eternally grateful."
Heero nodded and gave his hand to Mr. O'Neal for a handshake but was given a brief hug in return. "Thank you Heero. I'm going to go check things out at the office right now, see how everyone's doing. I will be back later dear, get some rest."
"All right dad, love you."
"Love you too," Mr. O'Neal responded just before walking out the door.
"Well Heero, guess I won't be needing a bodyguard anymore," she remarked and Heero gave her a questioning look. "Don't you remember the promise we made? That when this was all over, you and I could live a normal life together as friends, none of that bodyguard business. Well how bout' it?"
"Friends eh?" Heero asked with a smirk on his face.
"Well that was the initial deal remember."
"Yeah," Heero answered with a smile.
"But I think we could bend the rules just a little bit don't ya think?" Kanani told him as he brought his face close to hers.
"Wouldn't have it any other way," Heero told her as he planted a sweet kiss on her lips.
*~Owari~*
