Chapter 2
Toboe turned at the sound of a thump behind him. He saw Hige laying on the ground, he wasn't moving. He felt a shock wave of worry rush into his head.
"Hige!" Toboe yelled as he ran to his motionless body. The others stopped and turned. They all ran back to Hige. "Hige wake up!" Toboe yelled as he shook Hige's shoulders. He heard Hige let out a small moan, that was almost a yelp. "Hige? Hige what's wrong!" Toboe shouted into his ear. Hige stirred.
"Don't yell, it hurts too much," his whispered hoarsely.
"It hurts?" Toboe asked. But Hige was drifting in and out of consciousness. "Hige . . ." his voice drifted off.
"What's going on?" Tsume asked. Toboe looked up at him with worried eyes.
"Hige is really sick, or something," Toboe said as he looked down at Hige again. "What should we do Kiba?" he asked. Kiba didn't say anything for a moment. He bent down next to Toboe and placed his hand over Hige's forehead. He pulled it back a second later.
"He's burning up," he mumbled to himself. "The next town isn't that much farther, I just don't know what kind of treatment we can get for him. As long as he looks like a human, it should be fine," Kiba said as he stood up.
"How are we going to get him there?" Toboe asked.
"Some one has to carry him, how else?" Kiba said in a flat tone. "I'm going to carry Cheza until we reach the town for water, she's getting weak and we better hurry, so I guess Tsume, you have to carry Hige," Kiba said as he helped Cheza up on his back.
"Why do I have to?" Tsume asked in an angry tone.
"Do you think Toboe would be able to carry him?" Kiba asked.
Tsume glared at him, as Toboe helped lift Hige up. Hige is heavier than he looks, Tsume thought to himself. But according to Kiba, he wouldn't have to carry him that far. Even though Tsume wouldn't let it show, he did feel some worry for Hige. Tsume made sure not to show much emotion. It was just something he did. He stopped thinking about what he did when he heard Hige begin to cough again. His cough was worse.
"Kiba, how long is it going to take to get to this town! The bastard's heavy," Tsume grumbled.
"Look it's right there," Kiba pointed off to the horizon. It would only take another hour at the very most. At the speed they were traveling, it would only take half an hour if that.
They finally reached the town. No one in the town paid much attention to the new comers. Not that they wanted them to. Tsume put Hige down and leaned him against a building. The only way they knew that he was still with them, was by his heavy breathing and occasional cough. Kiba put Cheza down next to Hige. He then left to go find water. Toboe sat down next to Hige. Hige's head was bowed, and it shadowed his face. Toboe reached over and was about to feel Hige's forehead when Kiba returned with two bottled waters.
"Here Cheza," he said as he helped get a drink. Cheza continued drinking the water as Kiba pulled out the other bottle. He opened it and poured some into Hige's mouth. He swallowed it, but then began to cough again. "We have to get him some help soon," Kiba stood up. "I'll go and see if they have any where that will treat him. I want you to stay here Tsume and keep an eye on everyone, I'll be back soon," Kiba said as he walked away. He disappeared into the crowd.
Toboe looked at Hige again. He could see his shoulders moving up and down from his heavy breathing. Lines of worry creased in Toboe's face. Tsume saw his expression. This made him frown a little himself.
"You know if you keep worrying like that you're going to end up like him too," Tsume said.
"I think you're right Tsume," Toboe replied. "But do you think that Hige will be all right? I mean, he doesn't look to good," Toboe said, with a small crack in his voice.
"We'll just have to wait and see what kind of help we can get for him. Though I wouldn't expect much out of this place," Tsume grumbled as he looked around. Toboe nodded his head.
The town wasn't in the best shape. The buildings were worn and some were falling apart. A good amount of the people dressed in old worn out clothes. For those who didn't, the clothes they wore didn't look much better. They just seemed cleaner. Toboe wished the whole town was clean. It let off a horrible stench, which was worse for him and his sensitive nose.
"How long do you think it'll take Kiba to come back?" Toboe asked suddenly.
"Like I said, it all depends on what we find here," Tsume said, as he continued looking around at everyone and everything. Toboe frowned. He wanted a definite answer. He wanted Hige to get better. He wanted so many things. But it seemed like none of them were going to happen. Toboe bent his head down. Why is it all getting so complicated now? He asked himself.
Tsume thought about saying something else to Toboe, so he would stop worrying. Part of it was annoying him and part of it, he agreed with. But apparently the only part that was allowed to show was the annoyed part. (Remember this is Tsume we're talking about here.) He glared at Toboe a few times, but Toboe didn't see it. He barely took his eyes off Hige and Cheza. He was watching Hige mainly though.
"What's taking Kiba so long?" Toboe asked. There was nothing else to ask or say, so he just risked irritating Tsume even more.
"I don't know, but I hope he gets back soon. I think the people here are finally noticing us, and they don't seem to like it," Tsume said as he glared at a group of people that was gawking at them.
"You don't think they'll try anything do you?" Toboe asked. He felt a tad bit of fear creep into his mind to play along with the worry. He let things in his mind too easily sometimes.
"They look like the type that would harass some one," Tsume said as he finally sat down with them. He sighed in anger. "Where the hell is Kiba?"
"You said yourself it all depends on what he finds here," Toboe said.
Tsume grumbled something, but Toboe didn't hear what. His thoughts were interrupted by a motion next to him. He looked at Hige to see that Hige was trying to move around. His eyes were finally open, and he actually looked like he realized what was wrong. All the other times, he just seemed lost in pain or just lost all together.
"Where . . . are we?" Hige asked. His voice was almost inaudible. Toboe smiled brightly to finally hear Hige say something.
"We're in the next town. How do you feel right now?" Toboe asked leaning forward to make sure he could hear his answer. It took a moment for Hige to response. But Toboe was surprised, nor did he care. Hige managed a little chuckle.
"I feel like I've been beaten with a boulder five times," Hige smiled. Toboe noticed how pale his face was. Almost all the color had left it. There was a slight rattling when Hige breathed in and out. Toboe knew it must be difficult for him to do so.
"Don't worry, Kiba should be coming back, and then we'll be able to help," Toboe said. Hige smiled again. It seemed that was all he could do now. His smile was small and weak. Whatever was infecting his body was serious and would only get worse. Toboe knew that Hige must have a good will to live if he was pulling through so far.
No one had noticed the time that went by. Hige was still drifting in and out of consciousness. Toboe was finally letting up some on all of his worries now that he knew Hige had a better chance of pulling through. Tsume had seemingly gone off in his own little world, which no one saw very often. Cheza had been sleeping for a while now. She was tired too. Since everyone was off in their minds, they didn't see Kiba reappear from the jumble of people.
Toboe noticed him when he sat down in front of them. Cheza woke up and smiled at him. He returned a quick smile then looked back at Toboe and Hige. Some how Hige managed to stay awake long enough for Kiba to say all the he needed.
"Well I found a place, but I can't guarantee the best treatment. The only reason they even agreed to help us out for free was because I convinced them we really needed. But the only help they could offer was with the lower class," Kiba frowned. He wanted to help out his friend, he didn't want him being treated like the human slum of this town. But then again, not even the higher class people here got good treatment. If you could call them a higher class that is.
"What are we waiting for, let's get him there!" Toboe urged. "Even if it's not that good, it's better than us just sitting here and not doing anything at all," he stood up. Kiba stood up in front of him.
"You're right, let's get going. Tsume you . . ." Kiba stopped. Tsume was already picking up Hige and had him ready to go. Kiba made sure Cheza was strong enough to walk.
"Don't worry Kiba, this one is fine. It is Hige that we should worry about," Cheza ran her hand through Hige's messy hair. Hige felt like some of his fever went away. But he always felt better when Cheza pet him.
They followed Kiba into the crowd. On the way to the supposed "hospital" Tsume told Kiba how the people had begun acting. Kiba agreed. The definitely didn't want strangers here. But they didn't care, they wanted to help Hige as soon as possible. They just had to be careful now.
Welly well well, that's if for chapter 2! I'm really glad that so many have reviewed already. I didn't think it would work this well!!! Not that I'm complaining, thanks to those who have reviewed!!!! Well I hope you like this chapter as much as the last, and all the future ones to come! Ja ne!
youkaigirl