Purgatory
Rated:PG-13 for some language.
Genre(s): Drama, mostly.
Author's Note: Thanks to Luffy V'shile, Wolfgang-woman, puppet monkey, Kayura1, x ri-chan x, jenna, Lily Wong, frogfroggy5, and Requienne. I can't believe I've received so many reviews for one chapter! - You guys are the best! It's really motivated me to write, so without further ado...
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He had sobered considerably since the assault against Kira; hence the pounding hammers against his temples and the diminishing waver in his step. He rubbed the sides of his head in a desperate attempt to subdue the horrible pain, but it did next to nothing to help. Mr. Valiant Hero had broken Yoshioka's nose, and that was almost worse than his headache.
Almost.
He was surprised and unbelievably lucky to not be sitting in the back of a paddy wagon, or to have been beaten to an unidentifiable cadaver.
Well, he thought sourly, not as if anyone would recognize me if I died, anyway. Nor would they care.
Hand clamped tightly over his throbbing nose, he stumbled away from the park, and out into open air. The storm had quieted to a soft whisper of what it once was, and the drizzling rain softly pattered against his blonde mat of hair. Despite the clearing of the weather, though, few people were out. Yoshioka was thankful for that. He didn't want to see anything happy at the moment... hell, he had a hangover, and a face that currently resembled that of a boxer's—certainly, he wouldn't impress any passerby.
Unfortunately, though, the weather hadn't kept everyone inside. There were still people scattered about the streets of Tokyo, and whenever he passed by, they had a tendency to either gasp, or whisper quietly to themselves, trying their hardest to seem inconspicuous.
One brave soul even came up to him to ask if he needed help.
Yoshioka looked at them like they had grown horns, and pretty soon he was left alone once more.
----
"Kira?"
The hospital door swung open with an obnoxious squeak. The room was filled with soft beeping noises along with the quiet hum of the breathing machine Rei Kashino's wife was currently attached to.
Seeing Kira lying so helpless on the bed sheets made Rei's breath catch painfully in his throat. Her chest slowly rose and fell in rhythm with the machine, eyelids covering her beautiful aquamarine irises. He made his way over to her bedside, not noticing the doctor quietly slip into the hallway.
"Oh, Kami-sama, Kira..." Rei took her hand into his; reeling at how delicate it felt against his rough and leather-esque hands. He caressed it gently, bringing it to his lips. "Wake up, Kira. Can you hear me? It's Rei."
Kira didn't stir, though he could have sworn he saw an increase in the furrow of her brow.
"Kira?" He leaned over her, allowing a small smile to pull over his lips, as if that might help her wake up faster. "Don't worry, koibito, I'm right here. I'll stay until you come around, okay?"
Time passed, and to the extent that Rei lost track. It was around one in the morning that he realized he hadn't gotten sleep for roughly thirty-six hours, and was exhausted. Against his will he found himself sinking into his uncomfortable plastic chair until he finally dozed off.
He woke up around six AM, disoriented as to where he was. He recollected himself, and remembered the happenings of the prior day. He ran a hand through his mused hair and sat up slowly.
On the opposite side of Kira's bed hovered a figure garbed in jeans and a white t-shirt, staring down at the comatose girl. Light blonde tresses fell into his large, almost feminine eyes as he bent over Kira, his lips only centimeters from hers.
"Who the hell--!?" Rei instantly clambered to his feet, his anger nearly throwing himself off-balance. When he realized whom it was, his rage increased tenfold. "What are you doing here, you bastard?"
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Tetsuya gripped the wheel until his knuckles turned white, biting down on his lower lip in frustration. The hospital loomed closer and closer with each passing second, and he was anxious to get in and check on Kira's condition. Harumi was uncharacteristically quiet next to him, seat belt strewn aside as she slumped into her seat, staring out the window, allowing her mind to wander.
It seemed like forever before Harumi broke the silence. "Tetsu-kun... do you think she'll be okay?"
Tetsuya glanced over at his long-time girlfriend. She wrung her hands worriedly, concern for her best friend evident. She hadn't slept the past night, not a wink. Obviously, Harumi wanted him to console her, to tell her that Kira would be up, awake, and greet them with open arms when they entered the hospital. However, to tell her that would be a lie, and there was no way he wanted to do that to her, so he just shook his head. "All we can do is hope."
The line was corny and trite, but effective. Harumi wearily nodded, sitting a bit straighter in her chair now. With a small smile, she admitted, "I think she's a lot tougher than we give her credit for."
"Hmm." Tetsuya paid the hefty toll to enter the parking garage, anticipation making him jittery. Here we go. You'd better be all right, Kira-chan.
----
That asshole.Rei could not believe his eyes—here was Masao, that psychopath who had tried to kill him and Kira once apiece, leaning over Kira's bed as if he were ready to kiss her.
Masao glanced up at him and smiled innocently, insinuating that he'd done nothing at all incriminating. "Do you still have the rose I gave you?"
Rei scowled. "No way in hell would I keep that stupid flower. Masao, I may be dumb, but you act as though you remember me."
Masao looked bewildered, yet the coy grin plastered on his face remained. "Whatever could you mean, sir? I was just visiting a fellow patient. Now, if you'd excuse me--" He started towards the partially ajar door, but a hand on Rei's shoulder brought him to a halt.
"Watch it."
That was all he said—those simple yet malevolent two words-- before he released Masao to go about on his way, still feeling the need to beat that smile from his smug expression. Rei shook his head in disgust, and took his seat once more, rubbing his temples in exasperation. The door quietly shut on its own, leaving just Rei to his thoughts... until Tetsuya and Harumi came bursting into the room a mere ten minutes later, nearly startling poor Rei out of his seat.
"Is she okay?" Harumi exclaimed loudly, until a solemn Rei hushed her.
"She'll be alright. Kira's just sleeping... that's all."
"Oh."
Tetsuya arranged the assortment of roses they'd brought along with them in a water-filled vase and stood back to admire his work. At Tetsuya's careful scrutiny of the flowers, Rei managed to crack a smile.
"Little Tetsu, wanna-be florist," he mused quietly, feeling his mood lift a bit.
----
Masao surveyed to the outside proximity of the hospital with a satisfactory air about him, hands placed on his hips. It had been easy enough to get away from that damn nurse Hamazaki. Never turn your back to a person in a mental ward. He smirked. Amazing what a telephone cord around someone's neck can do. Masao may be insane, but he certainly was clever. They most likely wouldn't find her body until the janitors came out at night and opened the broom closet near the east wing. He'd made sure that no one was around at the time of the murder-- a murder in cold-blood.
It was somewhat refreshing, really. While the first time he had murdered had been exhilarating, this made him more proud to know that he hadn't simply done it in self-defense. He wished he had someone to brag to, but that was not going to happen anytime soon, unless he found someone who understood the glee of killing totally, just like he.
He sighed, looking out upon all the pedestrians passing by. You are all missing so much. Nevertheless, he couldn't dawdle here long. The authorities would most likely suspect and come after him, so he had to find a place to hide until they gave up the chase.
But oh, did it feel so good to be free! Free from constraints, free from having to lie to those moronic psychologists who claimed to know the way he ticked completely and absolutely, free from having to deal with that over-sympathetic bitch who followed him day in and day out, like he was incompetent.
He started down the front hospital steps, glancing over his shoulder at the window to Kira's room as he did so. Wait for me, dear Kira. And with that, he melded into the bustling crowd of people below.
A/N: Wow... that was so... emo. XD No, no, I didn't just type that. I didn't. xX; Sorry. Anyway, how was it? Not my favorite chapter, but meh, I always critique my work way too harshly. So I'd really appreciate some constructive critism, please. It was kind of a cliché way to end the chapter, ne? u.u Oh well. Please review!!! PLEASSSSEEE! =D