Chapter 15:

Paralyzed

Cloud took his old seat near his father, and sat silently, his hands folded.

"How long do you think it will take" Cid's voice was so loud compared to the silence in the room.

"I"Cloud was cut off by his fathers deeper voice, obviously he was mad.

"I don't know." Steve held his head in his hands. Kazaa read the look on Cloud's face and spoke up.

"Fox-san... It was my fault. I was there I could have"

"You couldn't have done anything. Alex sent someone to kill Kyksae to stop her from entering, but Kai threw herself in the way. It wasn't your fault, child." A woman in a white dress with blonde and black hair walked up to them. Cloud felt so happy seeing his mother stand right there, yet questioned why. "I took care of my business. Don't worry." She still stood in her spot the boys looking at her. Her white dress was decorated with strange Egyptian-like symbols, and tattoos over her body. "I thought something was wrong so I came.

Steve had wounded pride now, and was too embarrassed to look up at his wife. He had told her he could handle it, so why couldn't he"Steve" she stepped in front of him, and bent down. "You played your role well. You didn't so anything wrong." Her hands found their place beside his head, and her touch soothed his mind. "Its ok now. I'm here." She kissed his forehead, and folded her hands in his. She turned her head and looked at the twins. "Amazing… You two look so different form what I imagined but so fittingly like your parents." She smiled. Kazaa looked at the woman and sighed,

"We... Can't find our mother." Before Mira could say a word, Jin entered the room and raised his hand to her, as if to say 'Hi'. Mira stood up, and walked over to the twins.

"You'll find her when you think you won't. Don't stop searching for someone you love, ok." She looked at Jin and smiled. "But your father has you two to keep him going to search for her." She walked towards Jin and gave him a sister-like light hug, not ever touching him as if he would push her away. She knew he wasn't really a person to show affection. She pulled back and smiled. "You don't give up either." Cid who was motion less for minutes, stood up and embraced his mother. She rubbed his head, and smiled. "She doesn't choose to be gone...but she has a reason." Cloud didn't want to make the two twins feel bad, so he just left the urge to hug his mother for now.

Jin said not a word, and Kazaa took Jyn's hand in his. The nurse came in and bowed before speaking to Steve who was by now standing.

"You may go and see her now. She's doing just fine." Steve glanced at Mira before saying thanks in a very rushed British manner to the nurse and running off to see his daughter.

"We must go. The tournament starts tomorrow. I'm sure you understand." Jin's deep voice cut through Mira's thoughts.

"I understand, and I'm sorry that you guys were called here." She bowed to him, and turned before saying. "Good luck to you guys."

……………………………………

Mira would have fainted at the sight of her daughter hooked up to all sorts of cables if her body would have let her. She stood beside Steve, and hugged him, his head leaning against her stomach.

"Amazing how strong she got." she smiled, brushing over Steve's hair.

"Mother...Kyksae she"

"I know, Cloud. Don't worry she'll be alright." She smiled. Her smile calmed him a little, but it didn't help keep his heart from hurting.

"Why did this happen to Kai, mother" Cid sat at the head of the bed going through his twin sister's hair.

"The shot was meant for Kyksae, not her. I'm assuming that she saw the person, she stood in front of Kyksae on purpose." Her eyes watered. "She will end up just like me...the same situation." Her tears ran down her face, and landed on Steve's head. "I never wanted this to happen." She clutched onto Steve's head, hugging him. "I'm so sorry if I would have been here this"

"Stop it Mira. It wasn't your fault and you know it." Steve didn't look up from Kai's face. He watched the girl breath in and out.

"I..." she lowered her head, and looked at her daughter. "Steve, you have a fight tomorrow, go home and get some rest I'll stay here, and call you if there is something wrong ok" She bent down, and kissed his cheek. "Go on it will be ok." She looked at Cid and Cloud. "You two must be tired too. Go on, get some rest as well."

"Mum..." Cid looked at Kai then sighed, Cloud putting his hand on his shoulder,

"Come on.. Let's go." He led his brother out of the room and stopped when he saw Kazaa and Jyn standing waiting. Neither said a word. The doctor came in closing the door behind him. He presented himself as Dr. Shimuji

"Mr. and Mrs. Fox, may I speak to you for a second" They headed into a smaller room and the man pulled out some X-rays from Kai. "This right here shows that the bullet went into her spine, but stuck right there, that is probably the reason why she collapsed." Mira looked at it then her mind flickered back to Kai.

"So your telling me my daughter can't walk"

"No" the man in the white robe fixed his glasses. "Right now she is still under the drugs, so it might take a while, even if she is able to. "Steve looked at his wife, and then at the man.

"You told me that she took the bullet for someone else...well that might explain it the person who shot, aimed for the other ones spine, missing and hitting your daughter. If she would not have been in the way it would have been a perfect shot, and the person would have been killed." Mira took Steve's hand in hers, feeling even more pain running through him.

Both headed back to their daughter. Mira brushed the girls hair and Steve took her hand.

"I know you're tired, Steve. Go home and rest, you have a fight tomorrow." She went from her daughter to her husband who seemed like a wreck. "Steve...you can't change what happened, please go." The blonde sighed, hugging her back, not saying a word and left reluctantly. Tomorrow was going to be one hell of a day.