My Morphine:
Chapter Twenty: The Aftermath.
Meara sat back against the pillows of the infirmary bed, staring at her bruised arm that was in a soft cast. The door swung open to show a very infuriated Reese who stormed in.
"What the hell were you thinking!? I can't leave you alone for even 2 days without you destroying something or nearly getting yourself killed!!" She yelled as Meara waved nervously.
"Welcome back, sweetheart?"
"Don't you welcome back sweetheart, me, Meara! What the hell did you think you were doing? He could have killed you and Mizuno--"
"Well, we won y'know--"
Reese let out a frustrated scream, sitting angrily on the bed. "And to think I told you to be careful and not do anything stupid before I left!!" She sighed angrily as the brunette looked down at the book in her lap.
The cerulean haired woman sighed again, looking crossly at her. "Mea, just promise me that you'll never do something like that again."
Meara wouldn't answer, she just pressed her lips together and crossed her arms in front of her chest in a puerile-manner.
"Mea…come on…." Reese looked at her pleadingly, touching her hand. "Come on….please, promise me…"
And she wouldn't say a word.
Meara sniffled, swiping angrily at her eyes, unable to block out her father's yells and curses. /I hate him. I should have killed him when we had the chance. Isn't it sick, how I would have loved to smell and watch his flesh burn?/ She thought spitefully, looking down at the cerulean haired Zoidian asleep in her arms.
Irvine sat hesitantly at the foot of Van's bed, the handsome pilot flopping onto his stomach and staring up at him, pouting ever-so-slightly.
"Irvine? Why does everyone leave me but you?" He asked as the mercenary blushed and looked away.
"Well…" He paused, for a while, Van gazing at him innocently. "I…I love you, Van. I always have, for however long I've known you." He said, finally, letting out the breath he'd been holding.
"You do?"
Irvine winced at such a question. "Yes."
"Hm. I'm glad, I think."
He hid another wince as Van raised himself and crept closer, snuggling into him.
"I'm glad you love me, Irvine."
The mercenary flushed again and stared down at the teen in his lap. /Oh well, it's better than nothing, right?/
Raven sighed and dressed, looking down at Thomas, sleeping in the space beside him. He pulled on his gloves and stood up. He left the room, Shadow following and found his way outside, continuing into a small field.
//It's about time…// He heard in his head as he looked up to see a falcon circling, silhouetted against the morning sun. He followed it to a small clearing where Reese, Prozen, Hiltz, Karl and Mizuno sat.
He acknowledged them and took a seat on the ground. The falcon hovered and shifted into the form of a young woman.
"So, we're all here." She said as Karl raised his head.
"Where's Thomas?"
"I left him, he was still sleeping."
"Whatever," Meara said, plopping down by Hiltz, Ambient resting his head on her thigh.
"Now," Prozen spoke up. "It seems the populace of Zi is recovering quite well from being under Elise Lynette's control. Emperor Rudolph and the Madame President have both been informed of what went on. We have all received pardons and are citizens, now. We are all free to go wherever we want."
"So, this is it, huh?" Raven said as everyone looked to him. "This is it, it's over." He smiled slightly.
"Yeah." Everyone agreed.
Meara thumped her boot on the dirt. "Look….I've been thinking…I'm….I'm not gonna stay here."
"What?"
"I wanna get out and just…be alone. It's nothin' personal but I just have to have some time to myself." She stared down at her hands in her lap as Reese stared at her sadly.
"I understand, Mea."
"You do?"
"Of course." She smiled and gave her a hug.
"We'll miss you." Prozen and Hiltz told her.
"When will you leave?" Mizuno asked, a slightly worried look on his face.
"A day or two."
"Are you sure?" Raven said as she cast a sidelong glance at him.
"Yeah, I am. I'm not helpless you know."
Raven returned to his bedroom to Thomas sitting on the bed, using his laptop.
"Hey, I was wondering where you'd gone off to." He shrugged and sat beside him. "What's wrong?"
"Sorry I didn't wake you?"
"Huh?"
"We all met, and worked things out."
"Okay, and?"
"Meara's leaving."
"What? Why?"
"She said she needs some time to herself, to be alone."
"Yeah…that makes some sense, after having Fiona in her head for all that time. I think we could all could do with a vacation."
"No…I…I had a vision. Thomas, I have a really bad feeling about her leaving." Raven said, resting his head on Thomas' chest.
"What do you mean? Of course she is--"
"Thomas, I saw--"
"Look, I think you're just tired and stressed out. She'll be fine, liebling."
Mizuno hugged his sister again.
"Are you sure you'll be okay on your own?"
"Yes, Mizu, I'll be fine--"
"Are you sure, you're sure?"
"Yes, Mizu…please….let go…I can't breathe too well." she choked, as he released her from his tight hug.
"If you have any trouble, we'll be staying here, just call--"
"Mizuno! Calm down! I'll be fine." She said, giving him another hug and a peck on the cheek. Reese stared at her with teary eyes.
"I'll miss you." The Zoidian girl said, not moving from her spot.
"Uh-huh." She told her, looking down at the ground. "Well, this is it. Goodbye, everyone. I'll give you a ring if I can." She waved, turned and started to her Geno-Sniper.
"Wait!" Raven said, chasing after her, chewing hard on his bottom lip.
"What?"
"Please, don't go."
"Huh? Why?"
"Just don't, please, don't."
"Rave'….I have to get out of here. I told you, I'll be okay by myself."
"Please…"
She sighed, "I don't know why you're being such a baby, hun. I'll call you when I can."
Then, she left.
A lone figure stood in the Lair of the Dark Kaiser, their hands gently caressing the throne. Gently, almost smugly, they dusted off the seat and carefully sat. A silky mist swirled around the base, rising slightly and slipping through the fingers of the form.
"Hn, pitiful." it snarled, swatting at the vapor. "I shall finish what you began."
[Ende.]
1.] Morphine (môr ¢ feen), noun. A drug made from opium, used to dull pain and cause sleep. [F G morphin Morpheus Morpheus ]
[Thank you for reading, please await the continuation.]
[Title of sequel: Paregoric.]
