Funny... it doesn't hurt anymore... I'm not cold either. I don't feel the
rain, or hear the chaos around me... My shoulder doesn't hurt... and the
smell of blood isn't in the air...
Is this death? Am I dead? Have I gone to Heaven? Do I even deserve to be here; if... that is where I am. Mon Dieu... I wonder how Tala and Max are... I hope they're fine... Who were those people on the roof? What happened...?
I squeezed my eyes, trying to open them. It felt as though they were sealed shut. I stopped for a moment, collecting my strength. Let's try this again... I squeezed my eyes. As an extra measure, I tried clenching my fists.
"Oliver?"
huh? Was that...? How can it?
"Oliver?"
Kai? I squeezed my fists again. Someone held my hand. I relaxed a little. I opened my eyes. It was easier this time. If all I had to do was relax, then I would have done so in the first place. The light near blinded me. I squinted. My eyes adjusted. Blue... slate... crimson... A warm, familiar crimson.
"K...kai?"
I coughed a little; my throat was so dry. I never felt so drowsy, either. It felt like someone removed my brain and replaced it with a water balloon. I blinked again, my vision clearing. The colours in my vision cleared and sharpened. I saw... it was... It was Kai!
"Kai? Is that... really you?"
"Yeah. Had us worried for a minute."
"What happened? Wha..." I struggled again to simply stay awake, trying to sit up. A pair of strong hands held me down. I didn't fight back. I felt like I was completely submerged underwater now.
"Don't. You've got to rest now. The painkillers will wear off soon anyway."
Painkillers.... Why didn't I think of that in the first place? Sounds more logical than thinking I was in Heaven, I suppose. Knew I never had the chance anyway... I closed my eyes, feeling tired, but a little less uptight now. Something soft and warm touched my forehead. Call it a hunch... but did Kai just.... kiss me?
"Rest now."
I think I smiled... I was too tired to know.
Rest sounds really good...
******
He estimated it was at least three hours later. Oliver found it a lot easier to wake up this time. The only difference this time, he could tell the painkillers wore off. He winced, a dull ache in his shoulder reminding him of the fight he'd been in. He blinked, staring at the ceiling for a moment. I never realised what a horrible shade of blue hospital ceilings are... Oliver thought. Shifting slightly, Oliver glanced to his side. His bedside cabinet couldn't be seen through all the flora on the top. One particular arrangement caught his eye. A group of red roses with freesia surrounding them... Oliver blinked and focused on the card that came with it.
To Oliver You never crossed the line When you thought it was the wrong time. And now this I owe to you... My answers are due.
Oliver blinked. The card was unsigned, but the handwriting and the poem... They both looked familiar.
"Oliver..."
Oliver shifted again at the voice. It came from the corner of the room. In the shadows, a figure stood up, if a little slow and careful. A blanket fell to the floor from the chair. Oliver guessed he was napping there for a while. Stepping out of the shadows, the phoenix limped over to the unicorn on the bed. Kai looked better than he did when he was unconscious. At least he was walking alright at the moment. His arm was bandaged, and so was his ankle. A pad was taped to his cheek and a band-aid on the side of his forehead. He pulled up another chair and sat by Oliver. He wasn't sure what to make of it when Kai took his hand. The two bladers locked eyes. Kai shifted a little, unsure of what to say next. Oliver smiled and blushed.
"Kai... those flowers and poem... They were from you?"
Kai looked away this time. Oliver couldn't tell too well, but under Kai's bandage on his cheek, he was positive Kai was blushing. Kai took a deep breath and faced Oliver. He opened his mouth to speak. However, it wasn't his voice that spoke.
"Oliver!! You're awake!!!"
Grinning, Enrique bounced onto the foot of the bed, careful not to hurt Oliver anymore. Johnny and Robert were right behind him, only not bouncing onto Oliver's bed. Behind the Majestics, the Bladebreakers minus Max walked in, smiling. Enrique looked from Oliver to Kai to Oliver again, then to Oliver's hand in Kai's. This made the Italian's grin widen. Oliver shook his head, asking Enrique silently not to say anything. Tyson walked up to the bed.
"How you feelin', Oliver?"
"I've felt better... but then again, I've felt worse as well."
"Great!"
"So... you're some sort of secret agent, huh?" Johnny said. "Never thought you had it in you, Dubois."
Oliver shrugged. "Yeah well.... keyword in that title: Secret. How'd you find out anyway?"
"The police told us what they knew, and Tala and Max filled in the gaps." Robert commented. "Seems that we never knew you as well as we thought we ought to."
Oliver looked down, picking at his blanket. "How are Tala and Max?"
"Why don't you ask us yourself?"
Everyone looked up at the door. Max walked in, smiling and wheeling in a wheelchair. Tala was its occupant, looking worse for wear, but better than he had been on the roof. He had a new bandage on his old wound from fighting Oliver in the church and another around his abdomen under his shirt. Oliver's face lit up.
"Max! Tala! You're okay!"
"What do you expect?" Tala said, a slight smirk on his face. "You think a tiny bullet would finish me off?"
Oliver smiled. Parking Tala next to Kai, Max pulled up a chair and sat down next to the red head. Oliver couldn't help but notice with a grin that Tala and Max were holding hands too.
"So how are you feeling, Oliver?" Tala asked.
"Fine. Nothing like have a bullet put in you by your own mother."
"Oh... on that subject, she's been officially arrested. For attempted murder, the application of murder, perverting the course of justice, neglect and theft. They're trying to pin association with BIOVOLT on her as well. That's what was on the microchip you had..."
"And the files I translated part way through for you." Kai added.
Tala nodded. "The proper authorities are going through the evidence now."
"So... Mother was in with BIOVOLT all along, then..." Oliver said.
"Da.... That's part of the reason she trained the both of us."
Oliver frowned, thinking for a moment. "If that's the case, why did she send you to Balkov Abbey, and not me?"
"Who knows? I think it could be some sort of agreement."
"Getting answers is all fine and dandy, but you never asked me or Kenny what happened to us..." Enrique spoke up, pouting a little.
The French boy looked at Enrique and Kenny. "What do you mean?"
Enrique sighed exasperatedly and folded his arms. "We risk life and limb for you, and you don't even care to remember!? Some friend you are!"
"What do you mean; risk life and limb!? I was the one who got you out of the house in the first place!"
"Ah! So you do remember!"
Oliver smiled and shrugged. "Blame it on the morphine. So what did happen to you guys?"
Enrique immediately launched into full story mode. Oliver listened about when they ran to the police station and told their story to the officers. It wasn't until his name was mentioned that they sprung into instant action.
"See. If it was any old Jo off the street, we'd only get about two squad cars investigating. We mentioned you and we got a riot team!" Dizzi commented.
Oliver reddened. Enrique continued, describing how when they got to the manor, they found what resembled a bomb site of a room and some blood which turned out not to be Oliver's. Oliver mentioned it was one of the goons who was shot in the foot. Continuing, the story ended with the BBA sending operatives in to investigate and leading up to the discovery of the headquarters.
"So... how long were we gone?" Oliver asked.
"We held you for three days." Tala answered. "The goons knocked you out pretty bad. You were unconscious for a day and a half."
"What!?"
"Believe me. I've tackled that guy once before; the one who knocked you out. He could break your neck using his little finger, regardless of having the best training."
Before anyone else could speak, a harried looking nurse entered. She shooed and made a sweeping motion with her hands.
"Out out out! The young monsieur needs his rest! He only just came round! Shoo! You, off the bed! And you two should be in bed as well!"
Enrique instantly jumped off Oliver's bed. The Majestics and three Bladebreakers left the room instantly, the nurse's formidable form scaring them a little. Kai looked up at the nurse.
"I want to speak to Oliver a little longer."
"Mais..."
"Non. Let him, Tala and Max stay for a while, s'il vous plait?"
The nurse pursed her lips for a moment, considering. "Ten minutes."
"Fifteen?"
"Ten. I'll come back later."
The nurse left, closing the door behind her. Max stared for a moment before laughing. "I thought she was going to burst a vein!"
Oliver held in a snigger. He paused, looking a little more sombre. "So... have you seen mother, yet?"
Tala shook his head. "And we won't have to see her before the court case."
Oliver nodded, lying back into the pillows. "That's good..."
"And... because of Father's death, you stand to inherit your whole manor..."
"Pardon!?"
Tala smiled a little, seeing Oliver's face. "Well... I did a little freelance mission. When I was at the Headquarters, I did a little digging. I happened to have found Father's will. It was scheduled for destruction. He had left everything to his only birth son, meaning you, and not Mother."
"R...really?"
"From what I gathered, he changed the will sometime after I was sent to Moscow... I managed to save the folder. I'm sure it would make an interesting read..."
Oliver smiled a little and nodded. "Merci, mon frere... I don't know how to thank you."
"Don't mention it. It was the least I could do... call it an apology of sorts..."
"You don't have to..."
"Niet. I wanted to do it, and I have. You don't like it, then tough."
Oliver smiled. Kai shifted in his seat a little. "Tala, Max... if you guys don't mind, I want to speak to Oliver alone?"
Max looked at Kai for a moment then grinned. "Sure, Kai! Tala?"
"Yeah. Well, glad to see you well, Oliver."
"Merci. You too, Tala."
Max got up and took hold of the wheelchair handles. Using one hand to wave at the remaining boys, Max and Tala left the room, shutting the door behind them. Oliver looked from the door to Kai, a little nervous. Kai shifted again.
"Oliver..."
******
I don't think I've ever been so nervous in my life... I watched as Max and Tala left the room. I looked at Kai again. I didn't want to try and guess what he wanted to say. I dare not. I've danced with Fate too much in my life; I wanted to sit this number out at the moment.
"Oliver..."
I bit my lip. "Yeah, Kai?"
"Well... I guess... it started when I woke up... you left really quick."
I nodded slowly. "Yeah... I thought... the doctors should get a look at you first."
"Yeah, well... Once they left, I saw the flowers. And the card. The poem was nice."
Nice... he said it was nice... I couldn't help but feel warm about it.
"Merci..."
"What for?"
"Just... thanks..."
I sincerely hope the morphine had worn off. I don't want to think I only just imagined that smile.
"Well, I got thinking. There's so much in life that I've missed out on. What with BIOVOLT and my grandfather. I've missed out on a proper childhood, fun... Only recently, as you know, I've come to learn to have friends. I decided I never want to miss out on anymore things in life."
Kai took a deep breath. The tension was killing me. Please... get it over with...!
"I don't know how to say this... I've... never had to do anything like this before."
Knowing my luck... this would be the point where he would just say he wanted to be friends.... I held my breath. That's always the case.
"Oliver..."
Oh well... here we go... "Yeah, ka..."
My voice stopped dead. No... scratch that. Kai stole the words. Mon Dieu... his lips are surprisingly soft... My eyes slid shut of their own accord, savouring the moment. I reached out for Kai's hand. He found it. A nice kind of warmth spread through me, filling my soul. I sighed in the kiss. This was exactly as I hoped my first kiss to feel like.... minus the hospital. We broke off. Air was so over rated... I gulped. I'm so glad my hand wasn't sweating... Kai diverted his eyes, looking very interested in our interlocked fingers.
"So I was wondering... should we give it a go?"
Give it a go? What do you think!? Actions always spoke louder than words, anyway. Besides, he wasn't the only one who missed out on life at youth. I pushed myself off the pillows and kissed Kai. He kissed back, harder. I felt happy...
More than happy...
I felt free at last...
******
I know the road ahead would be rough for a while. Shadow always was a survivor. He'll try to resurface; he has to. The court case, the media, the families of the unfortunate victims who met him... They will want answers; he's the only one able to give them.
But... I have the family I need now. Tala and I are reunited and I will never let anything separate us again. Kai and I... we're giving it a chance. I'll give it all I've got to keep it working. And Max, of course, will be an extension to that family. I wish him and Tala all the best. As for me, there isn't enough for me to do to make up for my other self. But I'll try my best. He won't ruin my life anymore.
~He won't.
~I'm not Shadow.
~I'm Oliver Dubois.
~And I'm free.
~Nothing will change that.
Is this death? Am I dead? Have I gone to Heaven? Do I even deserve to be here; if... that is where I am. Mon Dieu... I wonder how Tala and Max are... I hope they're fine... Who were those people on the roof? What happened...?
I squeezed my eyes, trying to open them. It felt as though they were sealed shut. I stopped for a moment, collecting my strength. Let's try this again... I squeezed my eyes. As an extra measure, I tried clenching my fists.
"Oliver?"
huh? Was that...? How can it?
"Oliver?"
Kai? I squeezed my fists again. Someone held my hand. I relaxed a little. I opened my eyes. It was easier this time. If all I had to do was relax, then I would have done so in the first place. The light near blinded me. I squinted. My eyes adjusted. Blue... slate... crimson... A warm, familiar crimson.
"K...kai?"
I coughed a little; my throat was so dry. I never felt so drowsy, either. It felt like someone removed my brain and replaced it with a water balloon. I blinked again, my vision clearing. The colours in my vision cleared and sharpened. I saw... it was... It was Kai!
"Kai? Is that... really you?"
"Yeah. Had us worried for a minute."
"What happened? Wha..." I struggled again to simply stay awake, trying to sit up. A pair of strong hands held me down. I didn't fight back. I felt like I was completely submerged underwater now.
"Don't. You've got to rest now. The painkillers will wear off soon anyway."
Painkillers.... Why didn't I think of that in the first place? Sounds more logical than thinking I was in Heaven, I suppose. Knew I never had the chance anyway... I closed my eyes, feeling tired, but a little less uptight now. Something soft and warm touched my forehead. Call it a hunch... but did Kai just.... kiss me?
"Rest now."
I think I smiled... I was too tired to know.
Rest sounds really good...
******
He estimated it was at least three hours later. Oliver found it a lot easier to wake up this time. The only difference this time, he could tell the painkillers wore off. He winced, a dull ache in his shoulder reminding him of the fight he'd been in. He blinked, staring at the ceiling for a moment. I never realised what a horrible shade of blue hospital ceilings are... Oliver thought. Shifting slightly, Oliver glanced to his side. His bedside cabinet couldn't be seen through all the flora on the top. One particular arrangement caught his eye. A group of red roses with freesia surrounding them... Oliver blinked and focused on the card that came with it.
To Oliver You never crossed the line When you thought it was the wrong time. And now this I owe to you... My answers are due.
Oliver blinked. The card was unsigned, but the handwriting and the poem... They both looked familiar.
"Oliver..."
Oliver shifted again at the voice. It came from the corner of the room. In the shadows, a figure stood up, if a little slow and careful. A blanket fell to the floor from the chair. Oliver guessed he was napping there for a while. Stepping out of the shadows, the phoenix limped over to the unicorn on the bed. Kai looked better than he did when he was unconscious. At least he was walking alright at the moment. His arm was bandaged, and so was his ankle. A pad was taped to his cheek and a band-aid on the side of his forehead. He pulled up another chair and sat by Oliver. He wasn't sure what to make of it when Kai took his hand. The two bladers locked eyes. Kai shifted a little, unsure of what to say next. Oliver smiled and blushed.
"Kai... those flowers and poem... They were from you?"
Kai looked away this time. Oliver couldn't tell too well, but under Kai's bandage on his cheek, he was positive Kai was blushing. Kai took a deep breath and faced Oliver. He opened his mouth to speak. However, it wasn't his voice that spoke.
"Oliver!! You're awake!!!"
Grinning, Enrique bounced onto the foot of the bed, careful not to hurt Oliver anymore. Johnny and Robert were right behind him, only not bouncing onto Oliver's bed. Behind the Majestics, the Bladebreakers minus Max walked in, smiling. Enrique looked from Oliver to Kai to Oliver again, then to Oliver's hand in Kai's. This made the Italian's grin widen. Oliver shook his head, asking Enrique silently not to say anything. Tyson walked up to the bed.
"How you feelin', Oliver?"
"I've felt better... but then again, I've felt worse as well."
"Great!"
"So... you're some sort of secret agent, huh?" Johnny said. "Never thought you had it in you, Dubois."
Oliver shrugged. "Yeah well.... keyword in that title: Secret. How'd you find out anyway?"
"The police told us what they knew, and Tala and Max filled in the gaps." Robert commented. "Seems that we never knew you as well as we thought we ought to."
Oliver looked down, picking at his blanket. "How are Tala and Max?"
"Why don't you ask us yourself?"
Everyone looked up at the door. Max walked in, smiling and wheeling in a wheelchair. Tala was its occupant, looking worse for wear, but better than he had been on the roof. He had a new bandage on his old wound from fighting Oliver in the church and another around his abdomen under his shirt. Oliver's face lit up.
"Max! Tala! You're okay!"
"What do you expect?" Tala said, a slight smirk on his face. "You think a tiny bullet would finish me off?"
Oliver smiled. Parking Tala next to Kai, Max pulled up a chair and sat down next to the red head. Oliver couldn't help but notice with a grin that Tala and Max were holding hands too.
"So how are you feeling, Oliver?" Tala asked.
"Fine. Nothing like have a bullet put in you by your own mother."
"Oh... on that subject, she's been officially arrested. For attempted murder, the application of murder, perverting the course of justice, neglect and theft. They're trying to pin association with BIOVOLT on her as well. That's what was on the microchip you had..."
"And the files I translated part way through for you." Kai added.
Tala nodded. "The proper authorities are going through the evidence now."
"So... Mother was in with BIOVOLT all along, then..." Oliver said.
"Da.... That's part of the reason she trained the both of us."
Oliver frowned, thinking for a moment. "If that's the case, why did she send you to Balkov Abbey, and not me?"
"Who knows? I think it could be some sort of agreement."
"Getting answers is all fine and dandy, but you never asked me or Kenny what happened to us..." Enrique spoke up, pouting a little.
The French boy looked at Enrique and Kenny. "What do you mean?"
Enrique sighed exasperatedly and folded his arms. "We risk life and limb for you, and you don't even care to remember!? Some friend you are!"
"What do you mean; risk life and limb!? I was the one who got you out of the house in the first place!"
"Ah! So you do remember!"
Oliver smiled and shrugged. "Blame it on the morphine. So what did happen to you guys?"
Enrique immediately launched into full story mode. Oliver listened about when they ran to the police station and told their story to the officers. It wasn't until his name was mentioned that they sprung into instant action.
"See. If it was any old Jo off the street, we'd only get about two squad cars investigating. We mentioned you and we got a riot team!" Dizzi commented.
Oliver reddened. Enrique continued, describing how when they got to the manor, they found what resembled a bomb site of a room and some blood which turned out not to be Oliver's. Oliver mentioned it was one of the goons who was shot in the foot. Continuing, the story ended with the BBA sending operatives in to investigate and leading up to the discovery of the headquarters.
"So... how long were we gone?" Oliver asked.
"We held you for three days." Tala answered. "The goons knocked you out pretty bad. You were unconscious for a day and a half."
"What!?"
"Believe me. I've tackled that guy once before; the one who knocked you out. He could break your neck using his little finger, regardless of having the best training."
Before anyone else could speak, a harried looking nurse entered. She shooed and made a sweeping motion with her hands.
"Out out out! The young monsieur needs his rest! He only just came round! Shoo! You, off the bed! And you two should be in bed as well!"
Enrique instantly jumped off Oliver's bed. The Majestics and three Bladebreakers left the room instantly, the nurse's formidable form scaring them a little. Kai looked up at the nurse.
"I want to speak to Oliver a little longer."
"Mais..."
"Non. Let him, Tala and Max stay for a while, s'il vous plait?"
The nurse pursed her lips for a moment, considering. "Ten minutes."
"Fifteen?"
"Ten. I'll come back later."
The nurse left, closing the door behind her. Max stared for a moment before laughing. "I thought she was going to burst a vein!"
Oliver held in a snigger. He paused, looking a little more sombre. "So... have you seen mother, yet?"
Tala shook his head. "And we won't have to see her before the court case."
Oliver nodded, lying back into the pillows. "That's good..."
"And... because of Father's death, you stand to inherit your whole manor..."
"Pardon!?"
Tala smiled a little, seeing Oliver's face. "Well... I did a little freelance mission. When I was at the Headquarters, I did a little digging. I happened to have found Father's will. It was scheduled for destruction. He had left everything to his only birth son, meaning you, and not Mother."
"R...really?"
"From what I gathered, he changed the will sometime after I was sent to Moscow... I managed to save the folder. I'm sure it would make an interesting read..."
Oliver smiled a little and nodded. "Merci, mon frere... I don't know how to thank you."
"Don't mention it. It was the least I could do... call it an apology of sorts..."
"You don't have to..."
"Niet. I wanted to do it, and I have. You don't like it, then tough."
Oliver smiled. Kai shifted in his seat a little. "Tala, Max... if you guys don't mind, I want to speak to Oliver alone?"
Max looked at Kai for a moment then grinned. "Sure, Kai! Tala?"
"Yeah. Well, glad to see you well, Oliver."
"Merci. You too, Tala."
Max got up and took hold of the wheelchair handles. Using one hand to wave at the remaining boys, Max and Tala left the room, shutting the door behind them. Oliver looked from the door to Kai, a little nervous. Kai shifted again.
"Oliver..."
******
I don't think I've ever been so nervous in my life... I watched as Max and Tala left the room. I looked at Kai again. I didn't want to try and guess what he wanted to say. I dare not. I've danced with Fate too much in my life; I wanted to sit this number out at the moment.
"Oliver..."
I bit my lip. "Yeah, Kai?"
"Well... I guess... it started when I woke up... you left really quick."
I nodded slowly. "Yeah... I thought... the doctors should get a look at you first."
"Yeah, well... Once they left, I saw the flowers. And the card. The poem was nice."
Nice... he said it was nice... I couldn't help but feel warm about it.
"Merci..."
"What for?"
"Just... thanks..."
I sincerely hope the morphine had worn off. I don't want to think I only just imagined that smile.
"Well, I got thinking. There's so much in life that I've missed out on. What with BIOVOLT and my grandfather. I've missed out on a proper childhood, fun... Only recently, as you know, I've come to learn to have friends. I decided I never want to miss out on anymore things in life."
Kai took a deep breath. The tension was killing me. Please... get it over with...!
"I don't know how to say this... I've... never had to do anything like this before."
Knowing my luck... this would be the point where he would just say he wanted to be friends.... I held my breath. That's always the case.
"Oliver..."
Oh well... here we go... "Yeah, ka..."
My voice stopped dead. No... scratch that. Kai stole the words. Mon Dieu... his lips are surprisingly soft... My eyes slid shut of their own accord, savouring the moment. I reached out for Kai's hand. He found it. A nice kind of warmth spread through me, filling my soul. I sighed in the kiss. This was exactly as I hoped my first kiss to feel like.... minus the hospital. We broke off. Air was so over rated... I gulped. I'm so glad my hand wasn't sweating... Kai diverted his eyes, looking very interested in our interlocked fingers.
"So I was wondering... should we give it a go?"
Give it a go? What do you think!? Actions always spoke louder than words, anyway. Besides, he wasn't the only one who missed out on life at youth. I pushed myself off the pillows and kissed Kai. He kissed back, harder. I felt happy...
More than happy...
I felt free at last...
******
I know the road ahead would be rough for a while. Shadow always was a survivor. He'll try to resurface; he has to. The court case, the media, the families of the unfortunate victims who met him... They will want answers; he's the only one able to give them.
But... I have the family I need now. Tala and I are reunited and I will never let anything separate us again. Kai and I... we're giving it a chance. I'll give it all I've got to keep it working. And Max, of course, will be an extension to that family. I wish him and Tala all the best. As for me, there isn't enough for me to do to make up for my other self. But I'll try my best. He won't ruin my life anymore.
~He won't.
~I'm not Shadow.
~I'm Oliver Dubois.
~And I'm free.
~Nothing will change that.