Chapter 38

Well everyone, here's a new chapter for you, just as I said. I go back to school again now, so here's hoping I wake up in time!

On happier notes: I've got a new kitten! :Squeals and coos over said kitten: He's a tabby, about 10 weeks old, and likes to sit on my shoulder. He's just a little sweetie! If you're wondering why I got a kitten – my 18th birthday is the next, so he's an early present. His name's Loki! And believe me when I say he lives up to it!

Okay, now that I'm done being a proud mummy…

SillyLittleNothing: I'm not sure what will happen with the spirit of the god, yet. Hence why Akito may be in a coma for quite a while… Hey, if you've any ideas, hand 'em up!

Dark Inu Fan – I'm a cat and a woman myself – may the world tremble at our feet!

Pagegrrl – Oooh, new fan! Heh, thanks for your compliments. If your not careful, you're going to make my head swell!

Mousewolf - …I want to be able to manipulate olden poems like that. You've made me jealous (that, and upset that even if you did let me use it, there's no where it would fit).

Cheeky Doggie – If I didn't use humor to balance out the drama, the plot would go dry. Its all about finding a balance. Besides, I like making you guys laugh!

Kyo found himself unable to leave his bed for a week and a half, much to his infuriation. His plans to escape from his covers were thwarted by the fact that Shigure had taken it upon himself to keep the cat in bed – numerous lewd jokes included – and that Hatori had taken up what almost seemed to be permanent residence in the house. Akito had still shown no signs of waking up, and so the dragon had focused his energies on healing Kyo most of the time, along with preventing the cat from killing Shigure.

Even after the cat had healed enough to get out of bed, Hatori would not allow him to leave the house. Tohru continued to bring schoolwork home to the recovering cat, who was so bored he found himself completing it as his body continued to heal.

He wasn't even allowed to go outside and train, for goodness sake!

Needless to say, Kyo was restless. Shigure had teased that he acted like a kitten that was hyped with pent-up energy and would randomly dash up and down a corridor for no reason. Granted, Kyo hadn't gone that far; though he'd felt like doing it once or twice, the pain in his ribs reminded him that it would be inadvisable.

For the first few weeks, Kyo seemed to have developed a strange anxiety that Hatori couldn't explain. He'd inexplicitly freeze, sitting up straight, and jerk his head around until his eyes rested on some vacant spot beside him. Then, and only then, would he relax and start to breath again. Hatori could guess that it was caused by trauma, but not knowing all of what happened he couldn't understand the significance of the cat's motions. He was pleased, however, when Kyo's strange behavior began to fade after a few weeks, lapsing back into old habits.

And Eris stayed with Kyo until he could walk again, barely leaving his side for a moment unless the cat was in the bathroom, enduring her friend's building frustrations, and soothing his anxiety that she might inexplicitly leave again.

Kyo sighed, tilting his head back into the wind. He may not have been allowed to leave the house, but he had managed to sneak away and had retreated to his sanctuary of the roof, enjoying the feel of evening sun on his face.

"Hey look, there's Venus!" The ghost pointed in childish excitement at the sight of the so-called Evening Star. "Sparkly."

Kyo glanced at her from the corner of his eye; suspecting that she'd been suffering from cabin fever as much as him.

As if confirming his thoughts, Eris turned to him, grinning, "It's great to be outside again, huh?"

Kyo smiled back and nodded, lying down with his hands behind his head, "Yeah. And about time too. Stupid Hatori."

"Aww, don't be so hard on the Doctor-dragon/seahorse, he's just doing his job."

"You really need to give Hatori a shorter nickname."

"Well, I did call him Spock and Bones a few times, but you didn't get it."

"…Riiiight."

For a moment, everything was silent. Then Eris spoke, her voice quiet, almost meek, "NeKyo? I'm sorry that I got you hurt… And I'm sorry I wasn't there."

A lump suddenly appeared in the cat's throat; he swallowed heavily before answering, "Hey, don't worry about it. It's not like it was your fault, and you did come back in the end…" He paused, hands tightening into fists, before rolling over to face the ghost, "Eris… What happened?"

His friend didn't ask what he meant. Instead, she closed her eyes, as if trying to remember. "It, well, I don't know what happened, one moment I was there, with you, but everything kept going hazy. Then, the next thing I know, I have no idea where I am."

Flashback

It took a moment for Eris to get her bearings. It felt as if the wind had been knocked out of her – except she didn't breathe – and that someone was using a jackhammer against the side of her head.

The ghost moaned, and blinked twice as her eyes began to focus. All she could see was blue. It took her a moment to work out that she was staring at the sky.

Sitting up, the ghost held her head, trying to work out where she was.

Nearby was what was either a school or a public library; Eris didn't stop to guess which, instead her eyes rested on the flag sailing in the wind in front of it.

The flag had red and white stripes. And lots of stars. What in the afterlife was she doing in America!

Getting to her feet, Eris glanced around. Behind her, she could see the deep sparkling blue of an ocean. Eris groaned in frustration, stamping a foot, "Don't tell me I have to cross that thing again?"

A face flashed in her mind. A teen with orange hair. "Ahh! Forget about that – NeKyo's all alone with Akito! Ahh, what do I do? WhatdoIdo!" She pulled at her ponytail, and then blinked to herself, "Okay, I think the head-injury's making me a bit weird. But that's still not important!"

She stared across at the ocean forlornly; even if she rode on a jet, it would still take hours before they got into the same country as Kyo! She clenched her fists tightly at her sides, lowering her head and squeezing her eyes shut. She had to think of something – Kyo needed her! She tried to focus on his face, his aura, in an attempted to keep herself focused. Kyo…

Eris suddenly felt as if the whole world jerked sideways beneath her, and she opened her eyes with a start, swaying as she caught her balance.

A car drove through her. Eris scowled, moving to shake a fist at whoever dared interrupt her at such a desperate time. But then she paused. The scenery had changed. Suddenly, the whole area was much more familiar. Slowly, she turned her head around, eyes resting on a familiar bouquet attached to a road guard behind her. There was a golden apple, the colour faded, in its center.

But the picture in front of her was also a little different to the one she pictured. She stared for a moment, and then her eyes suddenly watered. She spun around, and jumped into the next car that appeared.

Eris glared, eyes a pair of angry slits. Just as soon as she made sure Kyo was okay, she'd teach Akito what she thought of his little exorcising idea.

And if Kyo wasn't okay… Well, then she'd get mad.

End FlashBack
"That's what happened. I think I ended up in America because that's where my body's buried. But Akito's 'friend' didn't do a full exorcism, so there wasn't enough power to send my any further."

Kyo nodded, "And the jump?"

"I've no idea, I've never done it before."

"Hey, you're a ghost. Gravity and physical objects don't apply to you, maybe distance doesn't either."

Eris looked at Kyo was mock-horror, "You mean I didn't have to spent all that time on long flights with bad movies and no snacks!"

"You didn't get snacks? What cheap airline were you with?"

"The stewards were always really rude to me, too – ignoring me and walking through me…"

Kyo didn't say anything, lips twitching into an amused smile.

There was a companionable silence again, and then Eris spoke, "Hey, NeKyo?"

"What now?"

"Thanks – it really meant something to me."

"What are you talking about?"

"The golden apple was a nice touch – and the kitty."

Kyo didn't answer, instead staring at the stars. He knew what she was talking about now, what she'd seen when she'd ended up on the highway – he'd placed a new bouquet next to the one her family had put there. They were almost identical. Except one; the one whose golden apple was still shiny, also had a small, orange figurine of a cat next to the apple.

The silence was broken when Shigure called out from below, "Kyo? There you are! 'Tori's been looking everywhere for you – shame on you, giving him so much trouble. Come down and go back to bed. If you're good, maybe Ayame can get Tohru to wear a nurse's outfit when she comes to see you!"