All right. I've got another chapter for all you loyal readers. Hopefully it will be a little more exciting than the last installment. If after reading this you have any questions, feel free to leave a review and I will answer in the next chapter. Enjoy!
Chapter 8--Who Are You?
Two hours. That was how long she had been waiting. Watching Ryan's body slowly heal, the blue fading away from the once damaged skin. Only the wounds on his neck and near his left shoulder remained. But for all the technology and medical applications, numerous lines of pale ridged flesh could be seen. Scars. A visible testament to the kenshin's assault at Tirith. Ryoko drew close to the chamber and pressed her hand against the glass, her palm resting above Ryan's chest, wishing it was upon his warm skin rather than the cold, unfeeling barrier that separated them.
"How long have you been here Miss Ryoko?" A soft voice asked beside her.
The space pirate turned her head slightly, her eyes meeting those of Doctor Akibi. "I haven't left his side since I arrived doctor." She answered slowly, her gaze returning to the chamber before her.
Doctor Akibi frowned. Walking past Ryoko, she stopped before Ryan's vital chart and studied his stats. "His health is at eighty percent." She said satisfactorily. "And his wounds have healed well." She added, looking away from the chart to Ryan's prone form.
"And his scars?" Ryoko asked, her attention still riveted on the kenshin.
"There is not much I can do about that Miss Ryoko. Nor can I give you an explanation as to why he was unable to heal himself. Perhaps once he awakens he can fill in the missing details of what happened to him."
Ryoko's gaze fell downward, her features troubled as she dropped her hand away from the glass.
Doctor Akibi noticed signs of stress and fatigue in the space pirate's face and body. In a soft tone she asked, "You seem tired Miss Ryoko. When was the last time you rested?"
Ryoko shrugged. "It doesn't matter doctor. I'm fine."
Doctor Akibi frowned. "It does matter Miss Ryoko. You need to leave the stuffy silence of this room, get a breath of fresh air. Perhaps.."
"I will not leave him." Ryoko interrupted heatedly, jerking her head up to face the other woman.
Doctor Akibi took no offense. "Miss Ryoko, I'm not asking you to take a break. I'm telling you." She countered, holding up a hand to silence Ryoko's protest. "I promise you five minutes will not hurt you."
"But what if he wakes up before I return?"
"The kenshin is a good hour away yet from reviving. If on the off chance he wakes before then, I will have you paged. Fair enough?"
Ryoko looked at her uneasily. She didn't want to go, but the doctor was right. She needed a small respite from the depressing atmosphere. After a few seconds of heavy silence, Ryoko sighed in resignation. "You promise you'll page me?"
Doctor Akibi nodded. "I promise."
"All right. I'll go. But I do this under protest." She said, turning around reluctantly before marching towards and out the door.
Doctor Akibi watched her go before turning her attention back on Ryan. "Bet she keeps you on your toes." She said in amusement, a smile on her lips as she studied the kenshin's chart once more.
****
"Get a breath of fresh air." Ryoko muttered in disgust as she walked along level twelve's corridor. "Where in the hell am I supposed to go for that?"
The space pirate stopped in front of a large window, resting her hands along the metallic edge. Closing her eyes, Ryoko rested her forehead against the cool glass, sighing heavily. She just wanted this to be over. She wanted Ryan back. Telling herself everything was going to be all right, Ryoko opened her eyes. Staring downwards her eyes widened slightly. There, below the window, lush green foliage was visible. An living oasis in the center of modern technology. Ryoko turned away from the window and made her way to a turbo lift, her mind filled with a sudden desire to walk among nature's splendors driving her forward. A short time later, Ryoko entered the park and marveled at the variety of foliage present. Wrapped in a blanket of green, she could no longer see the metallic walls that surrounded the park.
The effect was instantaneous. Ryoko felt calm and peaceful. All the stress and burden she had experienced since and after her kidnapping seemed to lift off her weighted shoulders. Giving a grateful sigh, she stepped onto the green slate pathway weaved within the plant life and strolled forward, searching for a place to sit and relax. She passed a few fellow nature travelers who smiled and nodded, acknowledging her presence. Ryoko returned the greeting, moving forward and after a few twists and turns found a wooden bench situated under a beautiful, gigantic tree whose leaf covered boughs seem to stretch out to her, beckoning her come and rest for awhile.
The space pirate obliged, lowering herself slowly onto the bench. Leaning backwards, she let out a long, slow sigh. Ryoko's eyelids became heavy and at first she tried to resist the call to sleep. But each time became harder and harder until at last she gave in, closing her eyes. Just a few minutes rest. That's all I need. A few minutes. She thought lazily, drifting hard into the realm of dreams.
********
Doctor Akibi checked the vital charts of three newly arrived patients, victims of a transport ship crash. So far so good. She thought, adjusting the DNA /solution ratio to the desired levels. She had just finished the procedure for the third patient when a flash of green light caught her eye.
Smiling, Doctor Akibi turned and walked toward the end of the chamber row. Bringing her wrist to her lips, she spoke. "Nurse Okana, page Miss Ryoko to the medi-chamber room."
"Yes doctor." A soft, feminine voice filtered through.
Lowering her hand, the doctor stopped before the kenshin's chamber. The blue solution had drained automatically in response to Ryan's health rate of 100%. But why isn't he awake? She thought with a frown as she double checked the kenshin's vital stats. Everything seemed normal. With a shake of her head, the doctor typed a command into the monitor. The glass in front of the chamber shot downward, disappearing from view. Reaching up, Doctor Akibi removed the young man's oxygen mask. No sooner had she done this when Ryan's eyes shot open. In a lightning quick motion his hand snaked out, gripping the doctor's, pulling her close until their faces were inches from each other.
And in that moment, Doctor Akibi's startled mind wondered desperately just what would happen next.
*********
In the park, far below, Ryoko murmured in her sleep, her mind in the midst of a pleasant dream.
"Mmm. Stay with me a little longer Ryan. Just a few moments more."
She felt a gentle nudge on her shoulder, but did not stir, the vision too good to pass up, the dream too real to leave. The nudge became a shake as a gravely voice asked. "Miss, are you all right?"
Groaning in irritation, Ryoko slowly opened her eyes her disorientated gaze falling on a frail old man who looked at her in concern.
"You seemed to be having a bad dream." The man commented backing away.
Ryoko shook her head, trying to wake up. Bad dream. She thought with a smirk. It was anything but.
Shouts of alarm sounded suddenly from somewhere close by. Streaks of white thundered past, doctors and nurses chasing someone.
Or where they being chased? Ryoko wondered, straightening upright.
At that moment a young man in a white lab coat stopped and rushed towards them. "Have you seen him?" He asked excitedly.
Ryoko frowned. "Seen who?"
"The man who escaped from the medi-chamber room. He fled as soon as he woke up, rambling something about trees and pain. Doctor Akibi fears he's not in his right state of mind. We must find him before he escapes and hurts himself or others."
Ryoko's heart jumped in fear. "What does he look like?" She asked, but her mind she already knew.
The man straightened his frame. Lifting his hand he brought it level with his hair. "Tall guy, short black hair, and really blue eyes " He answered lowering his hand quickly.
"Ryan." Ryoko whispered. Jumping off the bench, she rushed past the startled men and headed quickly back inside, wondering what the hell had happened to the kenshin.
********
He did not know where he was or why he was here. All he knew was he had to get out. He had released the pretty woman who had startled him and quickly freed himself from the black restraints wrapped around his nearly naked body. It was then he had noticed the scars all over his body. Suddenly he remembered. Bringing his hands slowly up to his face , he gazed down in horror as images of an intense light filled his senses, immobilizing him. He remembered pushing off the light, his body flying in the air. A deafening roar erupting around him. The breath leaving his lungs as a unseen force slammed into his body, rocketing him backward into the solid branches of nearby trees. Each blow his body endured brought more memory of pain, the snapping of bones and a final cry of agony as his body slammed into the ground and all became black.
With great effort he tore his eyes away from his hands, and began to walk towards the open doorway. He ignored the woman's plea that he stop. He had to escape this place, escape these memories. Running out the door he turned sharply to his right, knocking down two smaller men who had been in his way. Their indignant shouts fell on deaf ears as he tore onward. He stopped briefly when the sound of shouting erupted behind him. It was the woman telling the men to stop him. They were after him! Racing forward once more he searched desperately for a place to hide. He stopped before a small door marked storage room, slammed his hand against the red button and ducked quickly inside, closing the door behind him. Letting out a slow sigh, he leaned against the cold metallic wall, jumping away when he felt the cold contact against his bare skin.
Searching the room, he found several metal racks with different types of clothing stored neatly each shelf. Foraging through the folded piles of pants, he chose a pair of gray sweats. Ripping off the towel that was wrapped around his waist, he tossed it to the side, quickly sliding on sweats. Further searches yielded a white T-shirt that was a little too tight. Throwing that off, he found another shirt that fit him. Lowering himself on the ground, he found several pairs of shoes which he had to try on one by one until he found the right size. Once dressed, he crept toward the door, placing his ear against it's cold frame, listening intently for any noise out of the usual. When no sounds came, he pushed the small red button on the side and the door slid open, revealing an empty passage way. With one final look to his left then right, he headed out into the corridor searching for an exit out of this strange place. A sign caught his eye and he made his way toward it. It depicted a man walking on a set of steps. Smiling, he pushed the red button and the door beside the sign opened revealing a set of stairs. Without hesitation, he marched forward, descending rapidly down the metallic steps towards his freedom.
********
"Ryan! Ryan where are you?!" Ryoko continued to shout as she dematerialized from one spot to the next, searching desperately for him. Her inability to sense him worried her. What if the doctor was right? What if Ryan wasn't himself? These thoughts unsettled her so instead of dwelling on them she focused on his possible location. Dammit where is he? How hard can it be to find a nearly naked man running around? She thought in exasperation as her eyes combed the area. A sudden thought entered her mind and would not let her be. He wouldn't remain like that for long. He would find clothing and then if what that doctor had said was true, he would bolt to the first exit he found. If I were trying to avoid being seen where would I go? Ryoko wondered. When her eyes fell upon the picture of stairs, she smiled and disappeared, reappearing seconds later high above the roof top of the healing center. She fixed her gaze on the ground several stories below, silently praying her hunch was right. Her prayer was answered within a few breaths as she saw a figure emerge from the stairway exit, casting his eyes about furtively, as if he was expecting to be ambushed any second.
Dematerializing from the roof, Ryoko appeared behind the kenshin, her voice light as she spoke. "Leaving so soon."
Ryan stopped in his tracks, slowly turning around to face her.
Ryoko's breath caught in her throat as his gaze fell upon her. There was no recognition in his eyes, no love light shining.
Rushing forward, Ryoko studied his face, hoping what she had seen was false. Yet Ryan seemed lost to her, confused and afraid. And in the next second, the space pirate's whole world came crumbling down. For the kenshin did not embrace her, but instead backed away and in a wary voice that broke Ryoko's heart asked, "Who are you?"
*********
The darkness sat quietly inside Koba's bed chamber, staring out his window at the streaks of white light as the ship made it's way back to Avinor. A glass of red wine in his hand, the darkness brought it up to his lips, savoring the taste of liquid once more. Setting the glass down on the small black metallic table, he flexed his hands, reveling in the strength and power that pulsed beneath the skin. He was becoming used to this body, used to being on the outside world.
For over five millennia he had lay dormant, left to rot in a never ending abyss of blackness. His purpose forgotten. Until that little fool Koba came along and awoke the darkness, drawn to it's unnatural light. They had understood one another perfectly. And at first the darkness had only wanted to help Koba. But as his time among the living increased, so did his memory until at last his mission, his true reason for being, returned to him. He was a conqueror, a maker of war. Forgotten by the history of his people, punished for crimes too unspeakable to name. His body destroyed and his soul encased in the death jewel, from which none had escaped.
But the ancient knights had underestimated the darkness. He had found a way to return and in doing so he would continue his quest for universal domination, until even the house of Jurai would fall at his feet, bowing down before his power and glory. A wicked smile formed on his thin lips. Soon all will belong to me. And what better way than to use the same power that imprisoned me all those years ago. What delicious irony that will be! He thought, grabbing the wine glass off the table and tossing back the last of the red liquid before crushing it with his hand.
Another chapter done! Bloody hell! Writing a chapter every week is hard! Especially this one. I hope you liked it. Remember reviews make me want to write faster and better. Next chapter we'll return to the Masaki clan and their reuniting with Ryan. What is wrong with Ryan? And just who is the soul in the stone? And why does he want to conquer the universe? And why am I asking these questions? Review and tell me what you think.