Sosei, Reincarnation's Sequel
Chapter 13-Virus
Alexandria City
Myou:
"Kuja, everyone! Help me get Kirika up!"
The urgency in Musouka's voice told me that something was wrong. Nevertheless, I was the first to arrive in the training room. Kirika was lying on the floor, very still. I could tell by the ragged rise and fall of her chest that something was ailing her horribly. I handed Kajin to Kuja and rushed to her side. Her skin actually burned my hand as I sat her little body up.
"What happened to her?" I asked.
"She just collapsed," Musouka whispered.
Kirei sighed and touched Kirika's forehead.
'She has a fever. There's no way we can keep her here. Neo Lindblum has one of the top hospitals in all of Gaia. Melinda can help us get her in," She said calmly.
I picked Kirika up gently and hugged her close to me.
"Let us go."
Neo Lindblum General Hospital
Myou:
"It seems like my sister has a devastating virus known in mythology as Ebola," Melinda said softly.
Ebola? Mythology? This was something I didn't know about. Kuja ran his fingers through his hair, and for a moment I saw a hint of tears in his eyes.
"What can we do for her?" He asked.
Melinda turned around and pressed her hands against the glass. On the other side of that glass was my love, Kirika Tribal, in a bed unconscious but breathing. On the floor were a couple of her lovely red feathers.
'I don't know, Kuja. The doctors say that she'll last at least a week and then the true effects of the illness will set in," Melinda replied.
What she meant was that after a week, Kirika was as good as dead. And Kajin wouldn't have a mother.
"I…don't believe this. You're not going to just accept Kirika's fate like this. There had to be some other way," I snapped.
Kuja glared at me darkly.
"You have no idea what this signifies, Myou. Maybe you should learn to keep out of things that you don't know about!"
"She had your grandchild, Kuja. She passed on your linage without her, that linage will die!"
"I'm aware of it, Myou! But what the hell can I do? I don't see you helping us!"
"You are a horrible excuse for a father!"
Kuja's eyes flashed crimson for a second and reverted to its normal cerulean color.
"You try something then," He hissed and walked out.
I sighed and rubbed my temples slowly. Kirei touched my shoulder softly and shook her head.
"Don't let Kuja get to you?" Zidane snorted.
'Kuja is upset because what's happening to Kirika should be happening to him. But if you hadn't noticed it, he is going blind."
Kuja wanted to die. It wasn't that hard to believe, but how would that help Kirika? I touched the glass and watched the heart monitor. Kirika was breathing normally again, which was good.
"Is there anyway I can see her?" I asked.
Melinda frowned.
"Probably later. I really think you don't want to see her throw up and be miserable. Seeing as that can and will happen when she wakes up."
"Look…I'll go find Kuja and talk to him," Zidane said softly.
"Me too, Kirei whispered.
I nodded and watched them leave.
Kuja:
Despair filled my heart, engulfing me in a ball of depression. My daughter was dying for something I should have caught. But no…the fates have cursed me! I loved my daughter so much! Why did it have to happen to her? Why? I sat outside on the roof of the hospital, letting the wind blow through my silvery hair. Kirika's feathers were falling out two by two. She was dying. I was…of no use to her. Just when I thought Kirika was happy…
"Kuja?"
I turned around slowly and eyed Kirei and Zidane.
"Oh…I supposed you're here to chastise me about Kirika," I said sulkily.
"No, I don't think we need to. But I think its best that we support Myou for a little while," Kirei said.
"Kuja, I know how you feel. You've raised Kirika from a child to a proud woman. I doubt she'll stay down from this," Zidane muttered.
I pray to the gods above that you are right.
Hours Later
Myou:
Melinda waved me over to the door next to the sheet of glass separating Kirika's room from the rest of the hospital. She handed me a suit and sighed.
"The staff doesn't want to get infect with Ebola so they want you to dress in this until they can give you a purifying potion."
I sighed and got into the suit and zipped it up.
"Be careful," Melinda whispered as she opened the door and ushered me in.
The room was quiet except for the dry hacking and coughing from Kirika. I stepped further into the room and caught sight of a pale Kirika wiping her mouth.
"Oh…Myou. You don't need to see me like this."
I smiled despite myself and walked the rest of the distance to her bed. Kirika learned back against her pillow and attempted to smile. I would have applauded her effort, but I thought the better of it. It would be mocking her and that wouldn't be right.
"How are you feeling?" I asked, touching her exposed arm a little.
Kirika jerked a little in pain, but she covered it up with a smile.
"Horrible, but I guess it could get worse. Thank you for helping me."
"No…it's not helping you. I…"
Kirika frowned and covered her mouth quickly. A moment later, she was throwing up in a nearby trashcan. When she was finished, she covered her face with her hands.
"I-I just don't want to lose you," I whispered.
Kirika touched the suit with her frail fingers.
"Hush now, Myou. I'm ok…I'll always be ok. Love will carry us through this."
Although I was against it, I began to cry. Grief overwhelmed me as Kirika took my head into her lap.
"I love you Myou. Shh…it's ok. Don't cry."
Author's Note: I picked up Ebola for a reason, simply because in my original idea for this chapter, Kirika would cough up blood and have sores all over her body. The point was to also not kill her within twenty-four hours. Heh, heh.