Part 21

I heard loud voices, even before I opened my eyes.

"We have to tell her–"

"But if there's a possibility of reversing this–"

"There isn't. We all know what we saw."

My eyes opened fully. I was laying on a bed in a sterile white room. I slowly sat up in bed, realizing I was wearing a flimsy hospital gown.

This was their idea of taking me somewhere to relax? I wondered, feeling mildly disappointed. Taking me to a hospital?

I realized that something might have happened in that van after I spoke. Not that I felt sick. I felt rather good.

But who was arguing?

I slowly made my way to the door to the room. The loud voices grew louder with each step I took. And with each step, my fear grew. What if there was something wrong with me?

Why was I even alone in the room? Where was Kyo and the others?

I reached the door. The voices were so loud now it hurt to listen to them.

"She's an adult. She can handle it–"

"You don't know that. She's very fragile. The shock might kill her–"

"So we leave her in the dark?"

I slid open the door. The voices went quiet.

The room was full of men in suits and medical coats. Of them, I only recognized Hatori.

He immediately came over to me. "Kagura, you should be resting–"

"Where's Kyo-kun and the others?" I interrupted, feeling uncomfortable by the searching looks I was getting from the other men. "Didn't they come here with me?"

"Kagura–"

"And what about Akito? Is he here too? Is he going to be all right?"

Hatori forcefully grabbed my shoulders. "That doesn't matter, Kagura! Just listen to me!"

His grip was hurting me. I tried to pull out of his grasp, but he his hold on me only tightened. This wasn't like Hatori at all! Was he angry about what I did to Akito?

Maybe that's what this was all about. I didn't care, I wanted Kyo. I didn't want to be near Hatori if he was going to hurt me.

"Kagura, I have bad news for you," said Hatori. "You might want to sit down."

"I'm fine standing," I snapped. "But I would much appreciate it if you called my mom and Kyo-kun."

"No, they can't know about this. Believe me, this is hard as it is."

I froze. "What's wrong."

Hatori closed his eye, then opened it.

"Kagura, the cancer has returned."

I jerked violently, the shock overwhelming me. My motion somehow got me out of Hatori's grip and I started backing away from him.

"That's not possible," I said, my voice breaking. "It's too soon. It's just been removed!! And there's no kidney there anymore!! How the hell can it just come back?!"

"That's not the problem," said Hatori. He looked me right in the eyes. "It's the same cancer as before. But it's growing at catastrophic rates. It's taking over your major organs and even entered your blood stream."

My jaw dropped. Its growing that fast? Even with Hatori here, there's no way to save me...

"You don't believe me?" asked Hatori for one reason or another. He pointed behind me. "Look for yourself."

I turned around, realizing that a mirror was on the wall. I looked at myself and screamed.

My entire back had swelled three or four times its regular size. The skin was covered with huge lumps. Much like the one I had originally, but much bigger. And the lumps and my back were growing and bubbling as the seconds passed by.

"Get it out of me!!!!"I shrieked, unable to turn my gaze away from the mirror. "Help me!! Get it–"

POOOOOF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The overall shock made me change forms. But even as I lay on the floor as the Boar, my back was still bubbling and growing.

"Gods, help me!!!!"I cried. "Get it out of me!!!"

Hatori stared down at me, looking like he was at a loss at what to do. The other men stood around me, observing me and taking notes like I was a bad science project.

Why aren't they helping me?!?! Someone please help me!!!! Kyo-kun!!!

"Kagura?"

I came awake with a loud gasp. Never in my life had I ever been so frightened.

Isuzu stared down at me, looking worried. "You okay?"

I looked around me, noting that this room wasn't my room. It looked a lot fancier. "I just had the worst nightmare in existence..."

My hands sought out my back to see if there was a difference. To my immense relief my back was still flat and smooth. And my stitches were intact.

I sat up in the futon, looking around the room again. "Where is this?"

"The Sohma Family hot springs," said Isuzu, shaking her head. "It was Momiji's idea. Not very logical considering it belongs to the family. But a huge blizzard hit while Haru was driving so we had no choice but to come here. I guess as a benefit Akito won't send anyone after us with the amount of snow outside."

"How's your face?" I asked, reaching out and touching the bandage on her temple.

"I'll live," she said solemnly. "Ritsu's mother bandaged me up once we arrived, all the while going on a rampage. How are you feeling?"

"I've been better. But I think I'll be all right."

Isuzu nodded and stretched. "Man, you were out like a clock. It's damn near evening now."

I blinked. "I've been asleep all day?"

"Yeah. Everyone's doing their own thing. Except Kyo there, he's out much like you were."

I quickly turned, realizing for the first time that we were alone in the room. Kyo was fast asleep in a futon.

A futon right next to mine.

Isuzu looked at her watch. "Momiji might be in here to wake him up, though. He wants us all to go into the hot springs together, despite the fact its fucking freezing outside and there's like at least six feet of snow."

I laughed. "Well, Hatori did tell us all to relax. A nice hot spring in the middle of a cold winter won't hurt. Although..." I remembered that Hatori had forbidden me from taking baths while my stitches healed. "With my stitches, I don't think I'll be able to go in."

"Haru's been trying to get in contact with Hatori all day," said Isuzu. "No success as far as I know. But I'll tell him to ask about your stitches once he gets through."

I nodded and stood up. "Well, I can't lie down for the remainder of the day. You wanna take a walk around?"

"Sure. I've been sitting here a while. Last I checked, everyone was in the game room."

"Great, let's go there." Before leaving, I gave Kyo a quick kiss goodbye. He stirred a little, but otherwise stayed asleep.

I laughed a little as we walked down the hall. "I can smell ice and snow."

"It was bad earlier," said Isuzu. "It started snowing in a bunch of the rooms. And...well, you know how the management handles crises."

I sighed. "Are they on a rampage now?"

"No. But Ritsu's here and he's been a shaking mess all day."

"LET ME GO!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Both of us stopped in our tracks. Hiro.

"Shit," cursed Isuzu, taking off at a run. I followed her as much as I could, almost fearing the most. We reached the game room in record time. "What–"

"Put me down!!" shrieked Hiro and I couldn't help but burst out laughing. Haru, who seemed to be between Black and White, had lifted the younger Juunishi up over his head and was making a march towards the humongous snow pile just outside.

"Oh c'mon Hatsuharu-san, put Hiro-chan down," said Tohru, while giggling like crazy.

"Please," said Kisa in her quiet voice, looking to be the only person who didn't find this funny.

Haru sighed heavily, setting Hiro down. "All right, all right."

Hiro cursed, and kicked Haru hard in the knee. But Haru had returned to normal and just nursed his knee passively.

Momiji was the one who noticed Isuzu and me. "Hey!! You're awake!!"

Tohru jumped up and rushed over to us. "Are you feeling better, Kagura-chan?"

"Yes," I responded, smiling a little. "How about you, Tohru?"

"Since we got here, all these memories have popped into my head. It's so clear; like I'm reliving White Day all over again!"

Yuki came over to us, wearing a sheepish smile. "Being here is certainly nostalgic. I have some of my better memories here."

"Hey, where's Kyo?" asked Momiji, looking around as if he was scouting Kyo.

"He's still asleep," I said. "He looked exhausted when I woke, even while asleep. I think–"

"Great, let's go get him up!! Everyone's been patient, wanting to try out the hot springs!!"

"Momiji wanted us all to go in together," explained Yuki.

"The idiot bunny even went so far to rope off the hot spring," muttered Hiro.

"I'll go get Kyo up!!" announced Momiji, running down the hall towards the room Kyo and I seemed to be sharing.

"I better go with him," said Haru, though the combination of Momiji and Haru waking Kyo up might prove disastrous. As he passed us, he tossed his cell phone to Isuzu. "Hang on to this in case Hatori calls. This might take a while."

It was no sooner that he departed that the phone rang. Isuzu quickly answered it. "Rin here."

"Who is it?" asked Tohru, but Isuzu put up a hand as if to say 'be quiet'.

"Yeah. Is he–"she suddenly looked disappointed. "Shit. All right. Why should I tell you that?"

Yuki took the phone from her. "We're at the hot springs, Hatori. But it seems logical that no one can get through with the weather like this. Six feet already and another two by tomorrow morning. Uh huh. Yeah. Okay, bye." He hung up.

"What's the matter?" asked Hiro, eyeing Isuzu's hardened face.

"Akito's alive," she said. "They managed to get him breathing again and conscious. But he's asleep now."

A mixture of relief and fear washed over me. Even if it was Akito, I was more than pleased that I didn't kill.

But that also meant I had to face him in the aftermath of my nearly beating him to death.

"Why'd you tell him where we were?!" Isuzu demanded.

"There's no use hiding from Hatori. And with the weather this bad, it'll take days before we can even leave this place."

"But Akito might..." said Kisa quietly, looking at me. I knew what Akito was capable of doing to me for this.

"We won't let that happen."

"That's right!" said Tohru. "Akito has to understand that we all have a tight bond!"

It was then that a slur of swear words and wails reached us and the walls shook.

"Looks like Kyo's awake," said Yuki. "Might as well go ahead into the hot springs. And don't worry Kagura; Hatori told me to give the 'okay' about it."

Being someone who'd been without a proper bath for months, I had to say it felt like heaven being in the hot springs. Though it technically wasn't a bath, it was certainly refreshing.

"Oh, I'm remembering something!!" cried Tohru, sounding very excited. We were all huddled together because despite the heat from the hot spring, the chill in the air was affecting us. And the mountain of snow surrounding the springs didn't help much. "I remember going into the springs on that White Day...and Momiji-kun and me sang a cute song before I passed out!!"

"Wow, Nee-chan," said Kisa, looking at Tohru with awe. "Did you get hurt?"

"No, I think I made it out all right!"

"Whoopee," muttered Isuzu sarcastically.

Tohru's face then became sad. "I brought Mom with me on the last trip, but this time I had to leave her at home. I would've like to bring her again."

We didn't need to ask about her mom. Despite her mom was dead, Tohru carried her photo around with her and spoke to it as if her mom was still around. Since Mom is still around, I can't say I understand her pain. But I knew if my mom died I wouldn't know how to handle it.

"Toohru!!!" yelled Momiji on the other side of the spring. "Try holding some of the snow!! It feels weird!!"

Tohru obliged Momiji and grabbed a huge helping of snow. Kisa did so as well.

"How's it feel?" I asked, admiring the crystalized snow surrounding us.

Tohru shivered uncontrollably, but she was smiling. "It does feel strange. The combination of the icy snow and the hot spring."

"It'll just make your hands numb," said Isuzu.

Kisa dropped her handful of snow. "Oops. Well it did feel weird."

"Tohru!!! Are you remembering anything?" called Momiji.

"Yes, little by little!!" Tohru called back.

There was some rustling on the other side of the divider.

"What the hell are you doing?!" yelled Kyo, and there more rustles, along with Momiji complaining.

"Looks like Momiji wanted to get over the wall," I laughed. "Kyo-kun! Don't rough him up too much!!" As if by magic the rustling stopped.

"I'd feel the least threatened if Momiji came over here out of all of them," said Isuzu, brushing loose strands of hair out of her face.

"Toohru!!!" called Momiji again. "Do you remember the song we sang here last time?"

"No, not that!!" yelled Kyo, sounding annoyed.

"What song?" came Hiro's voice.

"Tohru-san and Momiji engaged in a song Momiji made up the last time we were here," came Yuki's reply. I felt a warm feeling spread through me as he said 'Tohru-san'. Having only called her 'Honda-san' before, even when they started going out, it showed that Yuki was becoming a more open person.

Now only if he'd drop the 'san' and maybe use 'chan'.

"I...I remember we sang a song, but I can't remember how it went," said Tohru.

"I remember it!! You wanna sing it? It should help bring up more memories!!"

"You just made up that song off the top of your head," snapped Kyo. "How would you remember it?! And why would you want to remember something so stupid?!"

"Here, let's sing it!!" Momiji then started singing. "Yuhi no you yamani, Teru, teru Momiji, Kaeru ya tokage ga, Konnichiwa."

It was by far the silliest song I'd ever heard. But seeing that Momiji created it, I guess it was suppose to be silly.

"I think I remember it," said Tohru slowly. "Let me try...Yuhi no you yamani, Teru, teru Momiji, Kaeru ya tokage ga, Konnichiwa. Wait, I do remember it!! It's coming back to me!!"

"Yay!!! Can you remember the rest of the lyrics? Sing 'em for me!!!"

Isuzu rolled her eyes. "I'm getting out. Yell if something happens."

"Um, ah," said Tohru, closing her eyes. "Koi no arai mo, Tabu no ko umani, Yuhi no you yamani, Teru, teru Momiji, Kaeru ya tokage ga, Konnichiwa."

"You got it!!" cried Momiji. "Let's sing it together!!"

"Nee-chan, can you teach me?" Kisa asked shyly.

"Of course!!" said Tohru. Five minutes later, there seemed to be a chorus singing Momiji's song. Momiji sang it in a loud voice while Tohru and Kisa were a little subdued.

"That's it, shut the hell up!!!!" yelled Hiro. "If I recall, we were all sent here to relax, not to be annoyed to death!!"

I laughed loudly. "Aw, Hiro-chan!!! Are you telling Kisa here to shut up too?"

Kisa stopped singing and looked uncomfortable. "Do I...really sound that bad?"

Hiro quickly changed tactics. "W-Wait!! What I meant was, you guys really sound good!! Keep it up!!"

And they did. For about fifteen more minutes, driving Kyo and Hiro crazy (though took it quietly). Yuki remained silent, so I didn't know what he thought.

Finally, we all got out. Once we were dressed, Isuzu came over to me.

"How's your stitches?" she asked, looking a little worried.

"The pain I felt before we came here is gone, but I can't clearly see them," I responded. I lifted my shirt a little. "How do they look?"

Isuzu checked for me. "I'm no doctor, but they look fine to me."

I sighed. "That's good."

Tohru laughed. "All that singing's made me hungry!!"

"Well, they brought the food out," said Isuzu. "I wouldn't be surprised if it's cold, considering how long you guys sat in there singing."

Dinner was a fun experience for me. Considering all I'd been through, I was pleased to see just how much food I was able to eat.

Everyone was really happy too. Tohru's memories were becoming clearer and clearer; it's like someone opened a floodgate.

It was nice to see Ritsu too. After all, it had been his offhanded comment about Tohru that had given me the inspiration to help her with her memories. But his panic attacks were a bit over the top; especially when he dropped a hot cup of tea on Kyo.

"OWWW!!!!!!!! SHIT THIS HURTS!!!!!!"

"I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY–"

"OWWW, IT'S IN MY EYES!!!!!!!!!"

"OH, I'M A FAILURE!!!!!!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW STUPID I AM!!!!"

Finally, Ritsu was able to calm down. I helped Kyo clean up, though he was still irritated.

"Idiot, why the hell can't he look where he's going?!" he fumed.

"Ritsu is Ritsu," I said. "At least the tea didn't burn you too badly."

Kyo scoffed, starting to stand. "Yeah, I know. I think I'll go to bed early." he gave me a peck on the cheek before leaving.

Isuzu smiled behind her cup. "Maybe I should've made the sleeping arrangements a little more innocent?"

I turned to her. "What?"

"I thought you might want to know that you're sharing a room with Kyo, though you probably gathered as much. Yuki, Tohru, Haru and I are all sharing a room, and Momiji, Hiro, and Kisa are sharing a room."

The sleeping arrangements were odd. "Why would you not consider them innocent?"

Isuzu finished her tea and got up to go. Before she left she told me, "Because, Kyo and you are sharing a room alone. And it's a bit further away from our rooms."

I blushed. I knew what she was implying. That Kyo and I might...

"Another blizzard is striking tonight. There are a few ways to keep yourself warm."

Then she left. Leaving me feeling awkward.

I don't understand Isuzu!! Why would she think Kyo-kun and I would do that? I don't even think I'm fit to do it!! That thought only deepened my blush. Dammit. I'd better not think about it. I got other things to worry about. Like if I'm going to survive once I leave this place.

The lyrics used in this chapter are from Chiisana Inori Fruits Basket site (sorry, can't put down the link).