Yuki: Sorry it's been awhile since my last update, I will try to update more often. RR please.
Chapter thirteen: Choices, Choices
"You weren't kidding when you said she was in bad shape were you?" Jaguar's voice echoed in Kage's head.
"No, I wasn't, she needs medical attention." Shadow sighed, "It was suppose to end with her alive not in this kind of shape."
"I didn't want her like this either," Jaguar closed his eyes.
"I know that, but she has to make her choice now," Shadow touched a cut on Kage's head from the window.
Kage whimpered as her eyes fluttered open, "I'm I dead?" She blinked a few times.
"No, how do you feel?" Jaguar bent over her.
"Like shit," She closed her eyes again, "I'm going to be sick," She rolled over as much as she could on the couch and puked until all she was doing was dry heaving.
Shadow rubbed her back, Jaguar sat back, "She isn't in good enough health to choose. Let's get her help first and then she can make her choice."
"What... what choice?" Kage looked up at him, her eyes saying help me.
"What to do when I proclaim you free blood," he pulled her hair out of her face.
She nodded slightly. Shadow looked at him, "Should we take her to Midnight, or a human hospital?"
"There is a human hospital in Midnight's grounds, take her there, they won't ask questions. I will come see her soon, I have to find yours and her paper work so you can become free blood." Jaguar stood up.
Kage reached for him, "Don't, don't leave me!"
Jaguar looked to Shadow then to Kage, "I'll be by to visit you." Shadow met Jaguar's gaze then looked at Kage, he had an idea of what was wrong with Kage at the moment, but she had to say one thing in order to confirm his suspicions.
"Master, please, don't leave me like this..." Shadow pulled Kage gently to his body before speaking, "You are no longer a pet Kage, you have no master." Kage's eyes went to Jaguar who nodded to her.
Shadow rocked Kage slightly, "You're alright, we're going to get you help, I promise."
Jaguar sighed, "Get her to the hospital as soon as you can." He disappeared.
About an hour later Kage was laying in a white hospital room sleeping calmly. Shadow had bandages on his few wounds and sat in a chair next to her bed.
"How is she?" Jaguar appeared.
"She has a concussion, a couple of splintered bones, and she seems to be starved." He shook his head, "She's lucky, but her mind, psychologically, is a mess."
"Meaning what, Akari?" Jaguar sat down on the bed.
"Meaning, she is convinced she is a pet, and will be until she finds a way to die. She'll be a hard case to fix."
Jaguar cut him off, "That is if she chooses to go with you."
Akari, or Shadow (his pet name), nodded, "Yes, if she decides to come with me."
"If she was to come with me Audra and I would take her in as a daughter, and try to give her back her humanity." Jaguar brushed a piece of Kage's hair out of her face, "How is she sleeping with out music?"
"If she comes with me I will teach her to be independent and probably to hunt again, not necessarily to actually hunt, but to protect herself." Akari closed his eyes, "She's on meds, she was in so much pain the doctor wanted to put her on more, but I insisted that putting her on any more would cause her nightmares to get worse."
"How bad have the nightmares been?" Jaguar stood again too worried to stay still.
"The doctor wanted to strap her to the bed." Akari leaned his head in his hands, "She's going to be alright though."
Jaguar nodded and was about to speak as a small sound brought their attention to Kage.
"What is it?" Akari looked at her.
"Water, please." She blinked a few times as if clearing her vision, "Master?" She looked, no, stared at Jaguar.
"I am no longer you master Kage, you are free blood." He sat down again, "How do you feel?"
The next few days followed similarly until Kage was well enough to make her choice.
"I want to be in the room," Jaguar stated plainly when Akari asked him to leave.
Akari sighed, "I don't want her intimidated by you." Kage sat on a stool silently.
"I won't, and I don't want you influencing her." Jaguar sat on the floor, "I'm staying Akari."
"Fine," He turned to Kage, "Will you please come here Kage?" His voice was soft and gentle. She nodded, stood and walked over to him.
"You have two choices," He looked her in the eyes.
"What are they?" She looked down.
"You can come with me, and I can teach you to lead a human life again, with precautions to help you protect yourself, or you can leave with Jaguar and Audra as if you were their daughter." He saw her move her eyes to Jaguar, he put a hand on either side of her face, "No Kage, no help with this one. You have to make your decision, it is your life." It sounded harsh but it got the point through.
Kage looked down at the ground then collapsed to her knees, "I don't want to be with vampires, please, I'm sorry Jaguar, I'm sorry, I want my humanity back."
Jaguar stood and walked over to them and knelt by her, "And I want you to have it back. You can come visit me when Akari thinks you are ready,"
