Chapter Fifteen: Cornered (Wyvern)
I awoke to the voice of Dr. Kadowaki talking in quietly and I stirred in my chair, before halting and remaining still so I didn't disturb the conversation. So, I'm an eavesdropper – this could be important!
"She doesn't show large enough signs of improvement, Fords and I'm worried," she said in a hushed tone and I slowly opened an eye to show the two standing either side of Kaira's bed, in diagonal angles, with Kaira's unmoving form looking gaunt and pallid skin which worried me; especially the fact that Doctor Kadowaki looked troubled as she leant over Kaira. The angles were all funny 'cause I was slumped in my chair so everything had a slant to it, which after a sleep it kind of disorientated me.
I quickly closed my eye again when Dr. Kadowaki turned and went to a tray with medical equipment on it.
"She will recover though, won't she?" Ryden asked with a critical tone and I heard Dr. Kadowaki move back to where she'd been standing a minute ago next to Kaira with a tired sigh.
"Honestly, Fords, I don't know. She is recovering, but it's so slow that I'm not sure if there's something more going on in there. I'm going to run all the tests I can think of before it's too late – up her painkiller dosage in the meantime, Fords," Kadowaki said sombrely with a hand resting on her hip and I peeked again to see Kadowaki leaning over Kaira again – this time with a needle aimed for her wrist, while Ryden manoeuvred closer to me. Then I heard the rattling of a nearby tray, then the sound of fumbling with the IV by Kaira's right side.
Ugh, I hate needles. I gave an internal shiver and swiftly shut my eye to prevent me becoming squeamish and running out of the Infirmary in disgust, or Ryden catching me out with some sneaky stare.
But Kaira's in trouble? That reflected Firaga spell must have done a hell of a lot of damage – it was so close range and hit her hard.
"I'll get this tested right away," Dr. Kadowaki's voiced became a little more hardened, serious and footsteps left the room. Ryden moved towards where Doctor Kadowaki had headed, but I couldn't tell if he actually left and didn't move again from what I could hear, so he could of stopped and was waiting for me to 'wake up'. So, naturally I remained still until he too apparently left from what I could tell.
I carefully took a look to check the coast was clear. I really didn't want to deal with Ryden on the good Doctor – I don't want any questions – just to be left alone to my thoughts.
I sat up and felt the stiffness in my back and neck with a grimace. Great, just what I need to add to my recent ailments.
I gingerly shuffled my chair forward to keep quiet and looked at Kaira once more. She lay there peacefully and I felt a wash of sadness course through my veins. I want her to be alright, I realised, with all my heart. I don't want her to die – I want her to wake up so I can hug her and tell her I forgive her for all she did to me if she's telling the truth about having changed for good. Yes, hug her – after all this I could bring myself to forgive her and give her a show of comfort.
Tears welled and I slowly at first sobbed and clasped her cool hand.
"Kaira..." I began, but I wasn't sure what to say. I sat and looked at her emotionless face as I thought.
"Kaira," I began again and took a deep breath, "for all those terrible things you did to me, I forgive you. Please, please, come back to us all, alright? There's so much we have to say to one another and the fight – well, that was the wrong way we dealt with our emotions, I think," I paused and bit my lip as the slightly clouded memories of the fight flashed before my eyes. Tears slid down my face and I felt slightly odd pitying my old nemesis as much as this.
"I'm sorry," I whispered solemnly.
I wiped the tears away and watched Kaira once more, but she remained motionless.
I didn't even hear Ryden come in.
"Were you friends?" his voice suddenly came from behind me and I jumped, then got up and faced him with a distinct scowl on my face.
"You shouldn't sneak up on people like that," I scolded him and sat back down again. Ryden sighed as if I was being unreasonable and his expression was that of an observer. I guess it's from the whole learning medicine thing, you need that kind of outlook.
"I'm sorry, Wyvern. Well, were you friends?" he persisted and I shook my head.
"Hardly. We were the worst of enemies, but now... I think we've both changed. Well, I have anyway, I don't know if she really has, but from what I've heard it appears she has," I said and sat back in my chair with a drained sigh. I've had enough emotions today.
At the moment I don't want to think about what I'm now dubbing the 'Seifer Crisis'. If I think about it for too long, I'll start wanting to go out and search for him or something.
Ryden pulled up a chair next to me and watched Kaira.
"Dr. Kadowaki is doing all she can for Gaia," he tried to reassure me, but I waved a hand dismissively.
"I know, I know. Her real name is Kaira, but she changed it you know," I informed him and Ryden frowned.
"Why would she change her name?" he asked and I turned and bored my eyes into his dark browns ones.
"It's far too long a story for me to recount on this occasion, Ryden," I said warningly and he dropped the subject.
"There hasn't been any news on Seifer's whereabouts," he changed the subject unhelpfully and I felt my shoulders tensing under his presence.
I just want to be left alone!
I sighed and continued watching Kaira, wondering if he would get the message without me being rude.
"I'm not surprised. He always seemed like someone who could not be found when he wanted. That, or he's someone who no-one wants to find," I said listlessly and Ryden grunted derisively.
"You could say that both apply to him, but at present more the latter," he said factually and I shrugged.
I was beginning to feel really uncomfortable and conscious when Ryden suddenly stood and gave me an uncharacteristic wry smile which made me feel slightly disconcerted.
"I better go," he said and gave a wave before stepping out of my space and away to I assume where Doctor Kadowaki went.
I breathed a quiet sigh of relief, then turned my mind back to the Kaira Situation.
Her burns were healing – the main severe burns along her left side and arm were bandaged up, but the slight scorching she got on the left side of her face was left open and looked red and slightly inflamed. If I hadn't of approached her...
"This is all my fault!" I hissed and shook my head with self-deprecation, kicking a foot into the other to punish myself.
I got up, feeling angst build up along with pent up energy I'd gained from all that sleep and my hands became fidgety.
"You know Seifer, don't you? He talked about you a bit," I said suddenly and I paced, checking on Kaira every so often.
"Well, he's gone and left before he's even taken his exams! How stupid is he! And he left us! Both of us, on our own after we went thorough that hell together," I paused to take a deep breath, "... Do you ever wonder if he liked you? You know, 'cause he seemed really nice to me, but everyone else thinks he's horrible..."
I settled my eyes on Kaira again, who didn't react to my statements – kind of like I expected.
"What am I talking about – thinking about?! Huh, I've got to get a pastime..." I shook my head a little too violently and sat back down, my energy toned down a little with a bit of dizziness.
I began to feel a little tired and wished with all my heart that Kaira would just wake up and put me out of my misery and niggling worry.
I looked mournfully at her for a moment before stretched my arms so my forearms rested on the edge of Kaira's bed next to her still right arm and watched her.
"Friends?" I offered lamely and to my surprise, Kaira's eyes slowly opened and she stared at me for a moment before drowsily closing and opening her eyes as if she was very slowly blinking.
"Kaira?" I whispered eagerly and she held her eyes open on me, looking extremely tired. She began to inch her hand to mine and gripped it surprisingly tight, her eyes focused intensely on mine.
"I'm sorry," she croaked and I felt tears well once more.
"No, I'm sorry, Kaira. When you're up and about, we're going to have a proper talk, alright?" I said teary eyed and Kaira managed a cool smile.
"I'd like that. Why do I feel so tired?... I feel... drugged," she hazily told me and I got up and examined the IV plugged into her arm while Kaira appeared to struggle to stay awake.
"Hmm... they probably gave you a load of painkillers after the Firaga accident," I theorised as I looked at the fluid filled bag with interest, taking care not to squeeze it or anything – I heard that was bad. I noticed the tray next to her bed and saw that it was littered with needles and bottles. I cautiously picked one up and read the label, before dropping it down with a light clang onto the floor.
"He didn't give you painkillers... it was a load of sedatives..." I gasped in horror as realisation dawned on me what had happened. I went to turn, but froze when someone spoke.
"Well done, Wyvern. I think you know enough," a cold voice cut thorough the stunned silence and before I knew it, something hard and metal struck me in the back of the head and I spiralled into darkness, my last sight of Kaira looking horrified at me and in her eyes, Ryden reflected in her sight with a curled lip which twisted in a cruel grin as I fell unconscious in a heap with the antiseptic clean smelling floor filling my nostrils.