ACT 11

OoOoOoO

ICU room.

The Blond Russian opened her eyes slowly. The whisper of birds and crickets filled the room. It was almost summer and the temperature had been gradually rising.

It was totally different from Russia. The cold barren place of war and blood. . . where there was gunfire, the screams of people and death.

Yes. Death.

Maria winced and looked around. This place looked like a hospital. The white curtains, bedsheets . . . How it awfully reminded her of the white snow in Siberia.

She knew she was still inside the Imperial Theater. . . specifically, inside the Intensive Care Unit.

'Blood?' It was the word that always popped into her head whenever she stared at her bandaged arms. How those red stains remind her of things she wanted to forget.

She tried to sit up but pain was traveling throughout her. Her body stiffened a bit at her attempt before she fell back on the bed. 'Ouch.' Her eyes widened. 'That hurts like hell.'

She clenched her fist and gritted her teeth.

Helplessness, one of the things she hated most.

It was not hard for her to figure out her current situation. She knew she had almost met her end...and it had not been the first time that had happened.

'What a lucky shit you are Maria.' She almost let out an insane chuckle at that thought.

Maria's eyes turned to the direction of the door which was on her right. Ayame had been here a moment ago. She was surprised at first for she knew that the brown-haired lady was supposed to be at Hana-Yashiki. . . 'So she was informed . . . What luck to be seen in this state.'

They talked for a long while. As usual, there were so many things Maria could not hide from Ayame... especially personal matters.

'Mind reader,' the Russian thought. 'How did she know about--'

Maria's green eyes rolled. 'It must be Kanna. She really doesn't know when to shut up.'

She stared out the window as the sun shone through the room. 'But how did I end up here?' asked herself again even though she already knew the answer. Well, not entirely.

/Flashback./

"Maria, you're finally awake. Thank heavens!" Ayame greeted her with a warm smile.

"A-ayame-san? W-what are you doing here? Where am I?" Maria began to ask. She felt stinging pain running down her limbs and torso. 'Ouch! What was that!'

Her green eyes scanned her surroundings and she finally concluded that she was in the ICU. 'How on earth. . .'

"It's going to be fine now. You survived the operation," Ayame said in an assuring voice. Her face was painted with concern.

Maria was a bit warmed by her motherly approach and blushed under her pale cheeks. "Um. . . Ayame-san. What-" The Russian turned away, avoiding Ayame's eyes. "What happened?"

Ayame was silent for a while.

"Did Taichou and the others succeed?" Maria continued. She was still thinking of their last battle.

"Maria, do you remember anything about the fight?" Ayame asked.

"No," she replied in a low voice. "The last thing I remember was an explosion."

Ayame paused again. She took a deep breath before she answered. "Yes, there was an explosion and you had been caught in it. Your Kohbu was heavily damaged and you were hurt badly. Even so, it's a wonder that you've managed to escape more serious injuries. The doctor says that you're healing quickly now. And-"

"So what happened to the rest?" her voice sounded like commanding someone in a battlefield.

Ayame studied Maria for a while. 'Maria, how could you not care for your own life?'

"Ayame-san, what happened?" the Russian repeated.

"They are all fine," she finally replied. "Yes, they succeeded, and Sakura... She..." Ayame was unable to continue. It was a good thing that Maria wasn't looking at her at the moment or she would have seen her sad and disturbed expression.

"Sakura managed to defeat the last Wakiji. Am I correct?" Maria concluded. The Russian knew from the start that Sakura was their ace in the hole. Maria smiled at that. 'I knew that girl could do it. At first, I had doubts, but...'

"Yes, she did it," Ayame said, her tone devoid of emotion. 'How can I tell her that Sakura was responsible for destroying her unit... and for almost killing her?'

Maria closed her eyes. "I'm glad."

'I didn't know she trusted Sakura that much,' Ayame thought. 'But then again, how will she handle the situation between Ohgami and Sakura?'

There was long silence. Ayame was surprised to find herself with nothing to say.

"I'm sorry for worrying everyone," the Russian said suddenly. "This injury is just the result of my disobedience to my superior. It is entirely my fault. I shall accept any punishment wholeheartedly."

Ayame shook her head. "No, Maria. What you've been through is enough."

"But I disobeyed Taichou's orders and left the command room."

"If you hadn't done that, he wouldn't have been here to watch over you for two days," Ayame said.

"For two days?" Maria was shocked at that. 'He did that for two days? What a foolish thing to do, Ichirou.'

"He was very sorry that he couldn't protect you when you needed him the most." Ayame could clearly remember the sight of Ohgami lying beside the Russian. . . crying. Ayame knew what the young man felt for Maria but it was quite a surprise for her when he actually-

"He told me everything."

Maria finally looked at Ayame. The older woman was unsure if the Russian was shocked, afraid, or worried. "I know that this is a personal matter, but. . . do you also love him?"

'Love him?' Ayame's words repeated on Maria's head. 'Did I ever love? Did I ever love after the revolution?'

"I can't answer that question right now, Ayame-san," was her cold reply.

"It's obvious that you're feeling confused over it. Is it because of her?"

' 'Her'? Does that mean that she also knows about Sakura?' Maria looked at the brown-haired lady with a shocked face. "How did- What do you know about Sakura and-?"

"Oh-so it's true." Ayame was stunned to hear Maria say that. "Maria, you are harboring feelings for Sakura. Is it not?"

"What are you talking about?" Maria began to be defensive.

'It is not that hard to figure out,' Ayame told herself. 'Being in an all girls theater group, I should have expected things like this to happen.'

Maria felt defeated again. 'Did I? Did I care for her?' Though she faced so many battles in her life, this war of hearts was one she could not see herself winning, no matter how hard she tried.

Ayame watched Maria's expression and felt slightly guilty. She knew she was just putting pressure on the Russian by talking to her about such matters now. "I'm sorry for bringing that up. I'll go and tell the others about-"

"Wait- Ayame-san," Maria cut in.

"What is it, Maria?"

"Please. Don't tell them that I'm . . . awake. I need to be alone for now," Maria said in a low, weak voice.

"But that would worry them more, don't you think so?"

"Tell them I'm alright. I just need this space for now. Please."

Ayame saw the pleading green eyes of the Russian and felt the emotion behind them as she touched Maria's hand.

She gave Maria a weak smile. "I understand."

"Thank you."

Ayame patted Maria's hand. "The 'Midsummer' play will have to be postponed for the time being. For now, we will put up another play that won't involve you. Just be ready for when it will be rescheduled again."

"I will be."

"I know that." Ayame smiled again before opening the door. "You're a strong woman."

/End of Flashback./

Maria can still feel the warmth of Ayame's touch on her right hand. Again, as she looked at her hand, memories from the past comes back to haunt her.

'How many times in my life has this kind of event happened to me? And yet I still live,' Maria told herself.

There was an old scar left on that right hand of hers that reminded her of so many things. Painful things, to be exact. 'How many times do I have to keep thinking back to that?' Maria scolded herself.

'Because you still love him . . .' she responded to herself. 'He's already dead but you still love him.'

Maria's heart ached.

"Taichou . . ."

Her green eyes glistened with tears. Her right hand was clenched again into a fist. 'Why can't I forget you?'

Tears fell down the side of her face. She closed her eyes, waiting for an answer.

OoOoOoO

"I wanted to tell you something," a voice said.

"Say it," Maria responded.

"I love you."

"W-what?" She was shocked.

"I love you," the voice repeated. "I don't care if you'll love me in return or not. But what I wanted you to know is that I love you."

"Who are you?" Maria asked.

"Then leave it as it is!" the voice exclaimed. "I don't need you to pretend. I just LOVE you for who you are!"

"WHAT!"

"NO! It was you! It was you whom I LOVE! No matter who you are. No matter if you're a girl! I love you, Maria-san! I LOVE YOU!"

Maria quickly opened her eyes.

Sweat covered her face. It was because of the humid weather . . . wasn't it?

It was already dark outside. She must have been dreaming those voices. Unlike her usual dreams, it was not a nightmare. It was still a strange dream, though, because there were no images, only voices.

She was not scared by the dream. . . but she had been woken from sleep by confusion.

Confusion. Yet another of the things she hated most.