Whew! Ok, here's the next chapter; I suppose I'll need to tell all of you that I can really only post on the weekends so that's why it seems to take me a while to update; however, I have no reason to doddle since I finished this story this week! Yippee! I'm so happy!! It's 26 chapters total, so be sure to watch on the weekends when it's my posting time ; ).
16. The Doctor~
Kinou awoke a few hours later when she was half-blinded from the sun shining into her eyes through the windows. Thankfully, she hadn't dreamt anything while she slept, and she didn't feel a need to sleep anymore, so she got up. Sitting in front of the mirror, she was happy to discover that her hair was still up in a ponytail and it looked the same as it had when she had gone to sleep; she always hated having to redo her hair in the morning. She noticed that there were small drawers in the desk, so she sat down in a chair and opened each one. Almost all of them had makeup in them, so Kinou entertained herself by trying some on and seeing how girly she could make herself. Makeup was never something that Kinou liked, and she hadn't put any on in a very long time, but she still remembered how to properly apply everything. Smirking, she used a little shortcut she had learned from her mother by trying some different colours on her hand to see which looked the best. She ended up putting on some light pink blush, some smoky eye shadow, and some dark pink lipstick. She laughed, thinking how ironic it was that her least favourite colour was the colour that looked the best on her skin.
Someone knocked on the door and she turned around and called, "Come in!" Kaiba walked through the door and laughed when he saw her.
"You're releasing your inner girly self; how cute."
Kinou turned around and stared at herself. "So? I was....... bored. Why are you here so early?"
"I would like you to meet someone who will be studying you for the next few days."
"Studying me?" she asked, turning around and sniggering.
"That was the whole reason why I brought you here," he replied.
"Ok, fine, I'll meet this friend of yours, but first let me get this horrible stuff off," said Kinou, starting to look through the drawers for some remover.
"I'll be waiting for you outside; don't take too long," he said, turning and walking out.
Kinou searched around and finally found some moist towlettes to take the makeup off, and after removing everything but the blush, she met Kaiba out in the hallway and they began walking in the direction of the hospital wing.
"So, who is this person, exactly?" Kinou asked. "Is he a doctor or a psychoanalyst or what?"
"He is a very experienced doctor I had the fortune to run into on one of my more recent trips. You'll find out more when you actually meet him," said Kaiba in a tone that said the conversation was over.
They went into the hospital wing and Kaiba stood leaning against a wall while Kinou sat down to wait for the doctor. He came in after about five minutes and Kinou stood up.
"This is Doctor Tanurah, the man who will be studying your power," said Kaiba.
"Nice to meet you," said Kinou, holding out her hand.
Doctor Tanurah shook her hand with both of his own, smiling. He was very tall, nearly as tall as Kaiba, with flyaway black hair, and gentle grey eyes. "I'm so glad I finally get to meet the famous Kinou," he said. His voice was soft and deep, and Kinou found it comforting.
Kaiba walked over to the sign-in desk and sat down at a computer. "I'll wait here and continue working until you have finished, Dr. Tanurah."
"Thank you, Mr. Kaiba," said the doctor. He turned to Kinou. "Well, I just have a few simple, easy tests to administer to kick this off, so follow me if you will." He walked down a hallway and into a room to the right. Kinou went in after him and sat down on a bed attached to the wall. He basically administered a simple checkup: he shined a couple of lights in each of her eyes, took her blood pressure, listened to her breathing, and tested her reflexes. As he was putting away his stethoscope, he said, "Now, we just have one more and you'll be done for today, all right?"
"Okay," said Kinou. He rummaged around in his cabinet and turned around with a tray that had tools for taking a blood sample. Kinou brought her knees up to her chest and flattened herself against the wall behind her. "Oh no, no way are you coming near me with all of that stuff! I'll just come in here the next time I prick myself when I'm sewing up my cat, I promise! Just don't prick me with a needle and take my blood, please?"
Dr. Tanurah chuckled. "I'm afraid I have to take this now, Kinou. Were you by any chance talking about the cat that's hanging out of your pocket?" he asked, gesturing towards Emily.
Kinou pulled her out of her pocket and looked at her. "Yes, I have to redo her stitches every once in a while."
"May I see her?" he asked, holding out his hand.
Kinou hesitated; she always felt uncomfortable giving Emily to other people. "I promise I'll be careful," he said gently. Kinou reluctantly put Emily into his hand. He held her up, smiling. "This is adorable; where did you get her?"
Kinou sat up. "I made her," she said proudly.
"Well, I love her; I've never seen a cuter doll," he said, handing her back to Kinou.
"Thank you," said Kinou, grasping Emily tightly in her hand. See? she thought to her cat. I told you Seto was just being a jerk.
"Well, if there were a way to take a blood sample without using needles, I'd do it. Can't you just trust me when I tell you I'll be as gentle as I can?"
Kinou sat, looking at the floor. She took a deep breath and held out her arm.
"Good, good," said Dr. Tanurah. He began to sterilize her arm and she pulled back again.
"Wait, you're not going to take it from my finger?" she asked.
"Of course not," he said, laughing. "You're much to old for that."
"But—" she put her hand on her arm—"I've never had a blood sample taken that way before. The last time I got one they pricked my finger."
"Well then, your doctors treated you like you were 10."
"I was 10 the last time they took a blood sample."
Dr. Tanurah blinked. "Well, again, I just need you to trust me. I will make this as quick and painless as possible, I promise." He held out his hand, and Kinou swallowed hard and put her arm out again.
He held her arm and swabbed the inside of her elbow with alcohol. When he picked up the needle, Kinou suppressed a sob and looked away. Dr. Tanurah paused and squeezed her arm gently. She felt the tip of the needle touch her skin and she squeezed Emily in her other hand and kissed her, tears welling up in her eyes. As the needle went in, her breathing became quicker; she could feel Dr. Tanurah pulling the back of the needle, taking her blood with it. She began to shake violently, and Dr. Tanurah quickly pulled the needle out. "All finished! Excellent job, Kinou," he said, putting a band-aid on her.
Kinou finally turned around and spotted the needle, which was now a dark red. She looked at her arm and noticed that it was red around the band-aid. Dr. Tanurah turned to her and handed her a tissue, making her realise that she had tears running down her face. As she dabbed at her cheeks, he put his hand on her shoulder and smiled at her. "You did very well, Kinou. I'm proud of you."
Managing a weak smile, she stood up and put a hand on the wall to steady herself: her knees were trembling. The doctor put his arm around her waist and helped her out of the room and into the waiting room, where Kaiba was still sitting in a chair, typing something. He looked up, turned off the computer, and stood up. "You look like you just had your leg amputated," he said, smirking.
"She had to face one of her greatest fears just now, Mr. Kaiba," said Dr. Tanurah, looking at Kinou.
Kaiba laughed. "Let me guess. Needles? Little thin pieces of metal that can be snapped in half with two fingers? I don't understand people like you."
Kinou looked at the floor. She wanted to just tell him to shut up and leave her alone. Dr.Tanurah tightened his grip on her. "Mr. Kaiba, she is not in the mood to be mocked right now."
Kaiba turned and began to walk towards the door. "Watch your tone, doctor. Remember, I'm the one who hired you and I can easily change my mind whenever I want. Come on, Kinou, we're going."
As he walked out, Kinou looked up at Dr. Tanurah. "You didn't need to do that."
He took his hand off her waist and put his hands on her shoulders. "Maybe so, but I felt the need to. I'm sure that if he had seen your body language in there, he'd have a little more sympathy."
"Well, thank you," she said, managing a full smile.
"You're welcome. Well, better not keep him waiting." He took his hands off of her shoulders. "I'll be seeing you twice a week after this, and I'll try not to give you too many shots." He winked.
Kinou nodded and walked out. As they began walking back to her room, she asked, "So, if you're too busy to hear about a nightmare of mine, then how come you have so much time to walk me from place to place?"
Kaiba did not answer her, so she shrugged her shoulders and kept walking, rubbing her hand over the band-aid. When they reached her room, Kaiba paused just long enough to say in an oddly strained voice, "That should be the only blood sample he has to take; he'll have enough information from this one." He then walked away without a backward glance. Kinou watched him, confused. A guard next to her doorway cleared his throat. "You need to go inside your room now," he said, sounding as though it was the only thing he ever practised. Kinou looked at him.
"Actually I want to go to the piano hall, if that's all right," she said hopefully.
The guard pursed his lips. "Ok, I shall accompany you down there. Follow me." He turned and walked down the hallway. He sounds like a robot, Kinou thought to herself, following him and suppressing a few giggles.
* * *
Now Kinou has a guy friend! Now altogether everyone *raises a cue card* Awwwwwww! So, I have two more pictures for you all: Anyone who wants to see Terry or Dr. Tanurah email me at catgurl_mew@yahoo.com and I'll send them to you. A little hint of warning though: everyone who's seen Dr. Tanurah has gone absolutely goo goo over him, so just be careful ^^.