Chapter Four:

Emotionless Observation

The bed was the same. The sheets were the same. The over-fluffed goose-down pillows were the same. The woman...She had changed.

Her face was pale and wane, her hair neatly combed and pulled away from her forehead. Yuffie brushed at a stray bang, placing a damp cloth over the invalid's fevered brow. The blankets were tugged up to the woman's chin, but I could tell that she was too thin.

Tutu carefully climbed up on the bed, getting as close to the woman as he could without forcing the bed to shift. He laid his head on her middle, watching her face with huge, hopeful eyes.

I could have told him it was hopeless. But then, I can't remember hope.

"Mommy," Erin also climbed up on the bed, struggling because of the parcel in her hands. Yuffie made as to help, but Erin snapped, "N-no!" and finished clamoring up on her own, settling next to the woman's shoulder. "W-wook Mommy," Erin displayed her parcel proudly. It was a small play dough figurine. "I m-made a w-wittle you. A-all bet-t-ter." Every time the child stuttered, I felt a pang where my heart should have been. And the need in her eyes was unbearable. Poor kid. All alone in the world. Daddy gone first, Mommy slowly leaving…At least she had Tutu. And it was obvious that there were people taking care of her.

I should have felt sorrow. I berated myself. I should be crying. This sight should wrench my guts left and right and make me want to sob. But I was just watching, detached, a silent and unfeeling shadow.

It was good that I was a shadow.

It was fitting.

But it didn't make me feel better.

Erin leaned over, setting the play dough figure on the nightstand. She didn't appear overly upset that her mommy hadn't responded. Tough kid. Was I feeling pride now? I could remember that emotion, easily. Erin kissed her mommy's cheek and then pulled Tutu's ear.

"T-toot-toot," She told him, authoritatively. "W-wet's go. Weew b-be back, m-mommy. D-don't be s-sad." She promised, brushing her small, chubby hand across her mommy's cheek. Yuffie picked her up, and she allowed herself to be carried from the room, sucking on her hand. She laid her head quietly on Yuffie's shoulder, closing her eyes without a murmur. Tutu followed. He was obviously dejected, his massive head hanging and his tail dragging behind him as he padded out the door, Yuffie closing it behind her. I heard the key turn in the lock.

I counted to five-hundred before I moved. I slipped to the bedside, looking down at the woman.

"Tera…I'm sorry…" I adjusted the cloth on her head, my gloved hand stark against her too-pale skin. "I should have paid more attention. I should have been here to protect you. I had no idea he'd do something this drastic…" Now I was crying. Perhaps I wasn't inhuman after all.

"HEY!" My hood protected my face, but such salvation would be my undoing. The uniform of the Organization is very recognizable. I turned to see who had discovered me. Cloud.

"What are you doing here?" He asked, reaching for his sword.

"Not in here," I told him. "You'll break something, and that would make her sad." I held my hands up, "Besides, I'm leaving. Guard her well, Cloud. Tell Leon, or whoever's in charge. She's in a very delicate state right now, and needs lots of care. She won't get better if you just leave her here and tend to the fever. Someone has to put back her missing piece."

"Who are you?" He squinted, trying to peer past the shadows of my hood. "What are you doing here?"

"That's a secret," My voice sounded cocky, too-sure of myself. Well, there were benefits to having no fear glands, I supposed. I wasn't certain of how things were going, but then again, I wasn't uncertain either. He stepped forward, perhaps to grab me and make me tell him everything I knew.

I couldn't let that happen. I opened a darkness portal in the wood beneath my feet, falling instantly through.