Oks peoples!!! I'm ba-ack!
All: AAAAHHHHH!!!! *run away*
Me: O.o;; riiiiight… anywayy… I'm sorry I've taken an extra week to update, but I was stuck (more like chained up against the cold cell walls…) at 'retreat' *shudders*. Ugh… the most painful of experiences… no mobile phone reception… limited hot water… and more torture…*shudder* oh well… Shadow-of-Hearts and I are getting our revenge, aren't we? *evil grin* eheheheheee… =) anyway… I hope this five-page (*gasp* new record!) chapter will make up partly for the wait. ^^ I'm trying to make my chapters longer and more constructive!!!
ThAnX 4 eMaIlInG mE ShAdOw-Of-HeArTs!!! =)
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It's getting colder…colder…The icy mists…
Falling…
My eyes snap open. I clutch my chest as the pain subsides. My breathing is shallow as tears mingled with cold sweat stream down my face.
"Kari! What's wrong?!" Sora's face swims into view. I blink the tears out of my eyes, and sit up. The pain disappears from my chest, and I begin to shiver. I lean against Sora for warmth and close my eyes. Sora wraps her arms around me. That dream… I cough weakly. I open my eyes, and find Ken peering intently at me.
"Are you ok Kari?" he asks. My breathing calms down, and I move away from Sora. I look around. We're no longer walking through the park. We're back in the hospital. A dull pain in my knee throbs methodically. I look down, and find a neat bandage covering the wound. Was I really out that long?
"W-where's Tai?" I ask, the thought springing into my head.
"He's still in the room, sleeping," Sora answers, brushing some of my damp fringe out of my eyes. "He'll be awake soon, and we can take him home." Home…
"Can…can we see him?" I ask, my voice trembling slightly.
"Yeh, sure," Sora answers warmly, helping me onto my feet. My injured knee trembles under the weight, but I slowly make it to Tai's room. Curtains separate the room into different areas. Sora pushes aside the curtain closest to us, and I hobble into the enclosed area. I stand next to Tai's bed, watching him sleep peacefully. A monitor beside me beeps rhythmically.
I turn to Sora, "Will he be ok?"
Sora pushes a chair behind me. "He'll be fine. Well, physically anyway. The doctor told us something…um…"
"He can't use his arm for seven days," Joe finishes, suddenly appearing from behind a curtain. "No school, no physical activity, no use whatsoever for at least three days, but the pain will take care of that. Minimal use for the rest of the period, then he'll have to see a doctor again." I shiver, turning to face Tai's peaceful face. No physical activity…but the pain will take care of that… no… please not Taichi…
"The doctor will then assess what's going to happen after that," Joe's voice comes again.
But what am I going to do? I can't take care of him, as much as I so desperately want to. I'm breaking down at every turn, and I feel so fatigued… How am I supposed to give Tai the care he so well deserves and needs? I can't ask Sora or Joe to- not after what I've done to them. I've dragged them into it, all because of my ignorance and selfishness. But I can't leave Tai; I can't leave him to look after himself. His stubborn pride may push me away, but he really needs someone to look after him. And I can't. I can't bring myself to hurting him again. Not after all this… If I even attempt it, I'll stuff up and twist a knife further in his heart. I'm useless. A burden on everyone around me. The voice was right…
I begin to feel light-headed. Waves crashing on the shore… The call of the ocean…
"Kari! Snap out of it!" Sora's voice calls. But it sounds so far away…
"Kari…don't go…"
My mind awakens. The ocean disappears. That voice.
"Tai!" I exclaim, throwing my arms around him. "You're awake!"
"Don't leave me…Kari…" Tai weakly whispers, wrapping his uninjured arm around me. All my thoughts are banished.
"I will never leave you Tai," I reply emotionally, wanting to believe every word. I unravel my arms from Tai.
"How's…Matt…" Tai asks breathily, lying back down. A cold rush runs through my body. I don't know. I turn to Sora. She shrugs.
"I…I don't know Tai…" I answer rather quietly. Tai sighs wearily. A surge of fear flares in my chest. How is Matt? How is T.K? I bite my bottom lip. A nurse walks in, and smiles at us merrily.
"Hello," she greets politely, picking up a chart at the end of the bed. I smile weakly. Matt…T.K…Matt…T.K…Matt…T.K… The names repeat themselves in my head.
"Hello Mr. Kamiya," the nurse says to Tai, pressing a few buttons on a machine. "I'm just going to check your blood pressure." Matt…T.K…
But I just saw T.K an hour or so ago. And he woke up! I shouldn't be this worried.
'But he can die. You think he's gonna stay alive for you? Pfft. Not likely. Why would anyone try and escape death only to come back and deal with all your problems and put up with your shit?'
But… the doctor said he's gonna get better… and I love him! He can't die! I couldn't live without him! Not after all this! He can't die after all this! No!
"Kari, do you want to go see Matt while the nurse checks on Tai?" Sora asks, interrupting my thoughts. I quickly wipe the tears out of my rather sore eyes. Yes. Please. I nod, standing up. I'm only in the nurse's way here. I'm only in everyone's way here…
"Back soon Tai," I whisper, squeezing Tai's hand. Sora places my arm across her shoulders and we walk out of the room back into the main reception area. Two people crying catches my attention. The doctor standing in front of them looks sombre. I turn away, hoping not to cry. Death is still dancing among the cold corridors of this place…toying with his next victim.
The Lady of the Shadows will join him…
I shudder, the last sentence replaying in my mind. Where did that come from? Who said that?
The Lady of the Shadows will join him…
I shake my head, trying to rid the sentence. I look ahead of me, focusing on the door which previously held Matt's name on it.
Not anymore.
We stop dead. It's someone else now.
"Isn't this where Matt was?" Sora wonders aloud.
I nod. "Yeh, this was it."
"Musta moved," Ken stated, turning to the receptionist's desk. We follow.
"Excuse me," I ask, gaining the attention of the clerk, "but we're looking for an Ishida Yamato. He was in room four, but he's not anymore. Could you please tell us where he is?" The clerk yawns and types for about five seconds, before answering.
"He's been transferred to ICU," she answers, fatigue evident in her tone. I freeze.
In-intensive care?A wave of ice washes over me. Intensive care? Everyone around me falls silent. My heart beats rapidly. Intensive care? That means…he could die…he's seriously ill…he could…he could…
"Thank you," Sora croaks, fear paralysing her. She tugs on my arm, and we walk away. We fall into seats near Taichi's room.
"Oh God," Sora breaths, trembling. "Intensive care! He could…he's gonna…" Sora buries her face in her hands.
"Shhh…" Joe comforts, wrapping an arm around her. I begin to shiver, fear now quickly overtaking my mind. What if Matt doesn't make it? What will Tai do? What will happen to Matt's already struggling family? What will happen to all of us? What's gonna happen?
Sora's stifled sobs enter my thoughts. Why is everything happening now? Of all times? How many people are going to die? How are we gonna pull through this? I'm no use. I've tried, and failed miserably. Everyone I love is dying around me. I freeze. Oh no…please not my parents… I couldn't live without them…don't think about it…don't think about it…
"Kari, do you want to go see T.K?" Ken's voice interrupts my thoughts. I turn to him, rather stunned at the question.
"Y-yes," I stutter, not realising what I'm saying. Do I want to go see T.K, and most likely his parents, just after discovering his brother's in intensive care? Can I face them, and not break down crying? And on top of it, I can't tell them about Matt. Oh…
Ken helps me to my feet, and helps me walk to the elevator. Sora doesn't notice us leave, but Joe nods in a 'I'll-tell-her-don't-worry' way. The elevator doors close. My stomach swirls unpleasantly as we climb higher and higher. Ken rubs my hand in a comforting way. Should I be doing this? Leaving Tai, and Sora, and Joe, at this time? Oh, I'm so confused…
The doors open, and we step out. The ward is quiet, and only a mild laughter rings out from the coffee room. Ken doesn't know where to go, so I lead. Ken shrinks involuntarily. He must hate hospitals as much as Tai does… Ken keeps his eyes lowered as we pass other people, and arrive at T.K's door. A red ribbon is tied to the handle as a sign of good luck. This family needs all the luck they can get at the moment. Both sons…dying in hospital… I push away the thought, and open the door. The smell of flowers wafts through the room, and out the door. It has been a mere hour and a half since I have last visited this room, yet more get-well presents have been added. Mrs. Takashi and Mr. Ishida are nowhere to be seen. Ken and I walk into the room, and Ken finally lifts his gaze. I limp over to T.K's bed, but Ken stays at the door. I pick up T.K's hand, and kiss it. It's warm. Hope flutters in my heart. He's all right! The voice was wrong! I kiss his forehead, and sit down. I cradle his hand between my hands. Tears silently trickle down my cheeks as I reflect on all the events that have occurred since that fateful drama lesson. All the people who have been hurt…all those who have suffered…
"I miss you so much T.K," I whisper, my throat choking back the cries that have been threatening to escape. I hear the doorhandle turn, and I whisk around to see Mrs. Takashi and Mr. Ishida enter the room. Ken pales slightly from the corner in which he stands. Mrs. Takashi smiles as she spots me.
"Oh, hello Kari," she greets warmly. "I didn't think you'd be here again so soon. But it's so nice of you to visit." She walks over to the window, and rests in the armchair there, sipping her cup of coffee. Mr. Ishida regains his solitary stance near the windowsill. They both look so tired…so worn… The guilty feeling creeps into my throat. I'm dreading the one question.
"Kari," Mr. Ishida asks, turning to me, "do you know where Matt is? He still hasn't contacted me."
And there it is.
A nastily cold feeling seeps into my skin. I turn to Ken, to find his face paler than the walls around him. But I remember what Tai said. I turn back to Mr. Ishida.
"He's at our place," I answer shakily, trying to inject as much honesty into my voice as possible. "He…he left his keys at our place, and…and decided to sleep over. I-I think he's still there." Ken stares at me incredulously, but I shoot him a warning glare, before turning back to Mr. Ishida, hoping he hasn't found out about Matt, or seen through my lie. But he merely shrugs.
"Ok," Mr. Ishida replies, "well at least I know where he is. He's so hard to keep track of… As long as he hasn't gone and got himself killed." Mrs. Takashi stops sipping her coffee, and turns to Mr. Ishida fearfully.
"Please don't joke about that," she asks breathily, her voice trembling with emotion. I swallow hard, desperately trying to restrain the cries that threaten to escape. I can't hold on any longer. I stand up.
"I'm sorry, I-I have t-to go," I say quickly, walking awkwardly to the door, opening it, and running down the corridor. My unhealed knee cries out in protest, but I ignore it. Tears blind my stinging eyes. I hear Ken chasing after me, but I can't stop. I can't. I need to get away…
The Lady of the Shadows will join him…
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Eep… loooong chapter!!! Oh well… next chapter will be up next Monday! In the meantime… *evil grin* who's gonna come help me disembowel the foul creatures who created the 'retreat'? I have war paint, camouflage, chocolate (Shadow-of-Hearts! ^^), EVERY weapon from the entire series of Grand Theft Auto, James Bond, Kingdom Hearts (luv that game^^), Super Smash Brothers Melee and Final Fantasy (the whole series!!!) BRING ON CLOUD'S SWORD!!! *evil grin*. RIGHT! WHO'S WITH ME?!?!?!?!