Sack Of Potatoes?

Part 1

Hitomi marched down the stone corridors of Gummadoon as fast as her new form would allow her. Striding it out with a look of determination on her face she made it to Kotori's door. She had vanished inside her room about two weeks after their transformation and had not been seen since and that was a week ago and Hitomi decided enough was enough Kotori was coming out of that room even if she had to break down the door and drag her out. Stood outside the door breathing deeply to catch her breath she raised her fist then,

BANG! BANG! BANG!

"Kotori you open this door and come out this minute you hear me!" bellowed Hitomi.

Waiting for a moment for a reply she then sighed heavily receiving no answer like so many times before, now looking up she said, "Alright Kotori, I'm coming in"

Backing up Hitomi looked at the door before running head on and kicking the center hard. Upon impact with Hitomi's foot the door flew open bashing against the wall, which echoed in the dark room.

Glancing round the room Hitomi squinted in the darkness, the drapes were shut and in this form she still hadn't got perfect vision at night or in darkness. Crossing across the room quickly to where she knew the drapes were she flung them back letting the early morning sunrise shine in. Turning round about to lecture Kotori she stopped suddenly her mouth hanging open in slight confusion and worry. Her eyes grew large as she flew to her friend's side who was shaking violently in her bed. Leaning over Hitomi removed Kotori's hands from her face that were weakly attempting to shield her face. Placing her hand on Kotori's forehead she felt how cold she was, shivering slightly herself she suddenly realized how cold it was in the room and that her friend was in a thin nightshirt in her bed with the bed sheets thrown back. Pulling them up in her hands Hitomi threw them over Kotori who shivered and immediately began to try throw them off.

"Don't" said Hitomi running to Kotori's side again.

"There hot and they hurt" Kotori replied weakly looking up at Hitomi with watery somewhat glassy eyes.

"But your so cold" said Hitomi in disbelief.

Kotori shook her head to try and protest and raised her hand to her face to try and block out the sunlight but a sudden wave of nausea hit her and she lent over her bed towards Hitomi and emptied her stomach in a bucket by her bed. Hitomi looked down rather disgustedly at the sight and smell of the bucket, which was nearly full with Kotori's vomit. Sitting beside her friend Hitomi rubbed her back but Kotori began to whimper in pain at the contact so she removed her hand. She waited patiently for Kotori to cease throwing up but she seemed to be getting worse. Leaning over Hitomi looked confused as to what to do until Kotori who had been throwing up violently collapsed on the bed unconscious. Jumping up in panic and worry Hitomi dashed out of the door in search of a medic, Kotori needed help. Running fast but not fast enough for Hitomi she ran as fast as she could in search in of help. Skidding along the corridor and sliding down the banister of the stairs to the bottom she ran to the door, which lead out of the chamber. Reaching the big wooden door she grabbed the handle and pulled hard so the door flew open on its hinges, which it barely stayed on to reveal the gummi captain.

Sir Plucki had been on his way to ask the girls if they wanted to train as they usually did but now he stood confused and stunned at the sight of Hitomi who was obviously distraught which in itself was a surprise because she was never like this.

"What's the matter?" he asked.

"Kotori…s…sh…she's ill" replied a distraught Hitomi.

"I'll get a medic" he said as he left.

Hitomi meanwhile leapt up the stairs making a mad dash back to Kotori's room where she found Kotori curled up in a fetal position. Taking her place by her friend's side once more she held her hand to comfort her although she thought she seemed to only cause Kotori more pain. Watching her friend suffer in agony she prayed Sir Plucki and the medic would come swiftly and waited for them to come, she did not have to wait long. Minutes later Sir Plucki stood by Hitomi's side while two medics checked Kotori over. Hitomi grew anxious and looked down at Kotori's now still form as the medics talking quietly but quickly. Glancing out the window Hitomi could see all the other knights training in the training grounds going about their usual duties and guessed they probably didn't know about Kotori yet. Looking back at the medics she noticed they seemed to be arguing about something but she couldn't tell what and didn't have the chance to listen in as she felt herself pulled to her feet and someone trying to drag her out of the room. Looking round Hitomi saw it was Sir Plucki he had obviously heard what the medics were staying and was now trying to get her out of the room. Looking over her shoulder Hitomi saw the medics looking at her obviously wanting her to leave.

"What's wrong with Kotori?" she shouted as she was dragged out of the door into the corridor.

The medics only looked sympathically at her as she left the room against her will and tried to struggle to get back in. Eventually the door shut behind the two and they began their work although they could still hear Hitomi's protests and struggling.

After getting into the corridor Hitomi had been near enough impossible to drag down the corridor so Sir Plucki threw her over his shoulder and carried her the rest of the way to her room which was at the other side of the tower. All the way there Hitomi beat his back with her fists, which didn't hurt as since their transformation her and Kotori had become a lot weaker and protested. Reaching her room he opened the door and then placed her gently down on her bed although immediately she jumped up and started heading for the door only to have it blocked off.

"What are you doing I have to get back to Kotori" said Hitomi trying without much success to get past him.

"Kotori will be fine, she's in the hands of the medics" he replied.

"But Kotori…" she started before she felt his finger over her lips to silence her.

"Will be fine" he said sitting her down on her bed.

"You saw how she looked, that's not fine. Now what's wrong with her?" she asked folding her arms over her chest and looking him in the eye. 

"Listen Hitomi..." he started before being cut by Hitomi.

"No, you listen. Kotori is in there," she pointed in the direction of Kotori's room. "And she's sick then you drag me out the room without explaining anything" she paused to breathe then started up again before he could intervene. "And then you chuck me over your shoulder and carry me round like a sack of potatoes so what is going on?"

"Hitomi, I understand you're worried, but..." he paused to look at her and saw her looking right at him expectantly.

"Hmmm...." she said encouraging him to go on.

Sighing loudly he turned away then told her what was wrong with Kotori, she had contracted some fatal if not treated quickly disease only known by their kind. After finishing he took a deep breath then looked at Hitomi who looked at him devastated.

"So, your saying Kotori could die?" she asked in a whisper.

"Yes" he replied.

Hitomi for a moment just looked lost and gazed about the room before jumping off the bed and slamming into the door. Flinging it open she ran down the corridor with Sir Plucki close behind her, she could not see Kotori now otherwise she to may catch the disease. Half way across the tower he tackled her and brought her to the ground, but still she continued to struggle.

"KOTORI!...KOTORI!" she shouted.

"Hitomi"

"No, I gotta see Kotori"

"HITOMI"

Ceasing her struggle she looked up at the knight who held onto her. Her hands were bound by his own and his other hand had come round her waist to hold her to him so she couldn't run. She heard him gasp and release his grip a little but not completely and only realised why a moment later. Tears slid down her face, she was crying, but she never cried. Placing her head on his shoulder so he wouldn't see her she felt the tears come, slowly but surely they came in a steady flow down her cheeks. She felt him release her and wrap his arms around her to comfort her as she cried, after all Hitomi rarely ever cried so to see her openly cry and especially in front of him she really must be upset, which would mean she needed all the comfort she could get. Wrapping her own arms around his neck she felt herself lifted from the ground in his arms, was he taking her back to her room? No, they couldn't be they were descending stairs now, which meant they were heading out of the tower. She wanted to speak to ask where they were going but the tears wouldn't stop and the lump in her throat prevented her from speaking. Reaching the bottom of the stairs he turned and instead of walking out of the tower which to Hitomi's knowledge was the only way out he instead headed over to a tapestry hanging on the wall. Drawing it back she saw through watery eyes that there was the faintest outline of a door, which then opened up, and she saw it lead to strange, but yet quite large tower. He stepped into the corridor and then started walking down, but as he did Hitomi faintly heard the stone door scraping closed. Moving her head so it rested against his chest so noticed how bright the corridor was. It was fairly long and wide enough for three or four gummies to walk side by side. It was the natural stone but much brighter due to the large windows along it allowing the sunlight to shine through. Hitomi's thoughts momentarily strayed as to how this corridor could exist because she had never seen it while out in the grounds. Quickly summing it up she worked out that no one could see it unless they knew about it or it was magically hidden. They reached the end of the corridor and Sir Plucki walked through still with Hitomi in his arms who was still crying although it had slowed down and instead of screaming out her pain she was just whimpering every now and then. Looking up Hitomi vaguely took in her surroundings and noticed quickly that she had never been here. The tower they now stood in was tall and had a massive stone staircase winding up all the way to the top. The staircase, windows and archways had all been cut out of stone with a fancy design that Hitomi thought resembled something like a Celtic design. Walking up the spiraling staircase they pasted about three levels before he turned and walked through an archway. The corridor they now were in was quite long with a small window at the end. Hitomi also noticed that although this corridor was quite long it only had two doors one on each side facing each other. Walking along Hitomi's crying had subsided and now she felt sleepy and rubbed her sore red eyes and yawned. They approached the door and Sir Plucki leaned forward to open it but Hitomi beat him to it and opened it for him, as it was difficult since he had her in his arms. Walking in Hitomi's mouth fell open at the sight this room was huge. It had a massive double bed with white sheets with a set of wooden draws at one side and a chair on the other.  Looking round she also saw a small table in the corner and a wardrobe. A door, which was slightly open she caught a glimpse at a large and spacious bathroom. She turned her head when she felt a cool wind blowing in her face and saw what she had originally thought was a large window was in fact a small archway with long white drapes leading onto a small balcony. Turning round to face him she saw he was smiling at her reaction before he set her down on her feet and closed the door. She looked at him not sure what to do as she was pretty sure she was in his private chamber. He sensed her unease and walked over to her, she stood still not really sure what to do.

"Where am I?" she asked although she already knew the answer.

"Your in my private rooms" he answered.

"Why?" she replied.

"Because, Kotori is very ill and you have never had the disease and stand a higher chance of getting it if you're near her"

"What do you mean?"

"It means I am moving you to this tower until Kotori's illness has passed"

"Where will I stay?"

"There is another room like this across from mine I will have it made up for you"

Hitomi looked down at the floor unsure of what to do now, until she felt her chin lifted up and come face to face with Sir Plucki.

"Will Kotori recover?" she asked tears springing to her eyes once more.

"I don't know, Hitomi," he said pulling her to him.

She embraced him and laid her head on his shoulder a few tears sliding down her cheeks onto his breastplate. She sniffed and inhaled a shaky breath and felt him rub her back.

"Hitomi"

"Yes" she croaked out through her tears.

"You are tired, you should sleep"

"Okay" she said pulling out of his embrace and backing away.  

"I must go now, but I will return after my duty" he said before walking over to the door.

"See you later" she said giving him a weak smile.

He nodded and smiled before leaving the room.

Hitomi listened to him go then walked over to the balcony. Pushing aside the drapes that slightly blocked her way she walked straight out. From here she had a wonderful view of the city, it was still early morning so the air was still cool and the not many gummi's were up. A gust of wind blew by dancing with her long golden hair as she looked over the balcony. Turning slowly to her right she saw the tower she had come from and where Kotori still lay ill maybe even dying. Another tear slipped down her cheek but she quickly brushed away, she did not cry. She'd done to much of that already she had to be strong after all Kotori was ill not dead right? Head bowed low she walked back into the room over to the bed. Sitting down on the bed she gazed about the room, it was big and beautiful but she quickly came to the conclusion that it could make you feel very lonely. Kicking off her shoes she pulled her feet up onto the bed then lay down. Her head lay on the soft pillow and she smiled slightly and curled up in the cosy yet strangely warm sheets and fell asleep.

HOURS LATER

Sir Plucki walked into the dining hall and glanced round for Hitomi. He knew that she had not had breakfast that morning and had not been present at dinner and now in was evening and she was not here again. He knew she was upset and had been tired but she still had to eat so walking out of the hall he made his way to his private chambers where he knew she'd be. Taking a few shortcuts he was soon climbing the staircase up to his room. Passing a few knights he finally turned off and walked down the corridor to his room. Opening the door slowly he looked in to see Hitomi curled up sleeping peacefully on his bed. Walking in he closed the door behind him quietly not to wake her then walked to the bedside and lit a candle that lay on the top to give more light as it was starting to go dark. Smiling at Hitomi's peacefully sleeping form he sat down on the bed on the other side as Hitomi continued to sleep on. He'd never seen Hitomi asleep she seemed so peaceful and gentle looking, pity it was only in sleep when awake she was completely opposite, but seeing her like this did prove to him that Hitomi could be like this if she wanted. Silence reigned for a while the only sound their slow breathing until the cold night air blew in reminding him why he came. Leaning forward he brushed a few strands of her golden hair out of her face before gently shaking her awake.

"Hmm…" said Hitomi looking round half awake.

"Hitomi" he said and her eyes snapped open.

"What time is it?" she said her voice thick with sleep as she tried to stifle a yawn.

"Evening, Hitomi about seven"

"SEVEN" she asked disbelieving then looked out the window to see the sky had gone dark.

Looking back she saw he was looking down at her smiling, he looked different in the candlelight and when he wasn't on duty, he looked younger and relaxed.  

"Hitomi, its time to eat"

"I don't want to" she said while stretching.

"Hitomi, you haven't eaten today"

"I'm not" she started but stopped at the sound of her stomach rumbling loudly. "Hungry" she finished.

This earned her a chuckle before he turned serious and said, "Hitomi, you have to eat"

"Yeah, okay" she said getting into a sitting position on the edge of the bed.

Leaning over she slipped on her shoes and stood up and turned round to see he had stood from the bed and had walked round to her side.

"May I escort you to dinner, M'lady" he asked.

"You may" she said taking his arm.

The two left happily and using the shortcuts he had used to there they were soon stood outside the hall.

Now stood outside Hitomi felt a nervous feeling growing in her stomach, she felt hot and suddenly didn't feel very hungry anymore. The doors opened revealing the citizens of Gummadoon ready to eat, the meal hadn't started yet and gummies were talking. Walking over to the other knights she let go of his arm and her cheeks flushed, everyone was staring at her.

Although their attention was soon taken away with the smell of hot food, and gummies began sitting down. Taking her own seat across from Sir Plucki she glanced at the empty seat beside her, where Kotori should have been. Looking at her hands to distract her, and stop the memories coming she sighed and tried to stop unwanted tears. She succeeded for now and blinked back the tears but the sight of her food in front of her did not improve things, it made her feel sick. Picking at her food and moving it round the plate to look like she'd eaten her mind wondered, how was Kotori?. Her stomach gurgled and demanded food, putting down her folk she placed her hand on her stomach and then took a drink of water.  Looking round she noticed most had nearly finished eating so picking her folk back up started to eat small mouthful of her meal. With everyone now finished and Hitomi barely started she felt a pair of eyes on her and didn't need to look to know who it was. She knew she'd eaten little and the last thing she wanted was to be told off for not eating properly, but she still felt tired and drained of energy and felt that she didn't really care what happened. Placing her folk down then politely excusing herself she left the hall quickly but not quick enough to attract attention. Instead of heading back to her room which she knew was now ready she headed to the library, only a few people were in there and she would be left alone. Striding it out walking at a brisk pace she reached there sooner than she thought she would and found she was the only one there. Walking in she sat at a desk in a corner nearest the entrance and placed her head in her hands. Here was a place Kotori had spent very little time and memories wouldn't haunt her here. Leaning back in her chair she stared at the ceiling chewing the end of a pencil in her mouth that she'd found on the desk when she heard footsteps and familiar voices. Tipping the chair further back so she could hear she found out it was Bessi the healer that had been looking after Kotori and the other voice that was...that was Sir Plucki. Listening intently and quietly she heard them walk down the corridor towards the library unaware that she was on the other side of the wall.

"It isn't good" Hitomi heard Bessi say and only assumed they were talking about Kotori.

"She has progressed into the third stage and there's nothing we do can slow it down," Bessi continued.

They seemed to walk by a moment in silence before Bessi asked, "Are you going to tell Hitomi?"

"Not tonight" he said knowing if he told her she would not sleep tonight because of worry.

Bessi nodded seemingly to know why he would not tell her till tomorrow when then sound of a chair on the other side of the wall crashing to the floor caught their attention. Running into the library where they heard the disturbance they ran over to the chair that now lay on the floor and looked for who had knocked it over. Bessi began a quick search of the library but found nothing while Sir Plucki picked up a broken pencil that lay in two halves on the floor. Picking up one half he noticed the end was chewed; only one person he knew did that.

"There's no one here" said Bessi walking to his side.

"I know who was here" he said with the pencil end in his hand.

End Of Part One

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