Double Chapter! And I should have posted this about two weeks ago. hehehe don't hurt me!
Beyond the Darkness
Chapter Twelve: Lesson One: Don't Mess with Romiko.
Aiska yawned and rubbed her eyes, fighting away the stinging that her lack of sleep had caused. As she found herself passing the Sohma estate, she glanced through the gate towards Akito's window to find the man leaning on the windowsill, his eyes on her. She bowed her head in acknowledgement, and even though he didn't move, she knew there was a small smile on his lips. It had been that way for a few days now. She would pass, bow her head and he wouldn't move a muscle to acknowledge her. But she knew that was just him. What the man lacked in social skills, he made up for in condescension. She shook her head, removing Akito Sohma from her thoughts as she neared the teahouse.
She greeted everyone and hurried to get changed for the daily opening. Many businessmen preferred to hold their conferences and meetings there over lunch and tea instead of in their buildings. Today was no different, with three of the private rooms booked, and one girl working each of the rooms. Aiska smirked to her friends as they led their guests to their respective rooms and recorded their orders. She did the same, smiling as warmly as possible as she excused herself to fetch their drinks. As she entered the kitchen, her world spun slightly, the lack of sleep making her light headed. As she brushed past a bench, she felt her fingertips brush metal and before she could do anything a sharp pain shot through her foot. She cried out in agony as she ripped the carving knife from her shoe, blood dripping from the tip as she dropped it. Her knees weakened as the darkness swam around her, pulling her down.
Aiska blinked, surprised to find herself surrounded by people, as she lay on the ground, unable to feel anything.
"Aiska? Aiska are you all right?"
"Someone call an ambulance!"
"They're on their way." The voices seemed foreign as she tried to sit, only to have a hand push her down again.
"Stay still, you'll be fine." The words were whispered in her ear as she slipped from consciousness once more.
All Aiska was able to recall of her ride in the ambulance was the shrill siren blaring and the anxious faces peering down at her. This was the last thing she wanted, yet she found herself unable to do anything about it as what ever drugs they have forced upon her made their rounds in her system, numbing her body and mind.
"Well, Miss Tokari, the knife was embedded in your foot pretty badly. It managed to skim the bone, but didn't break anything. You also managed to miss any major arteries, so we were able to keep the bleeding to a minimum."
"You make it sound as though I did this on purpose." Aiska remarked sarcastically as the two doctors glance to one another.
"Well, you could have, considering…"
"What are you getting at?"
"Perhaps you don't know?"
"Know what?" Her voice quavered at this.
"You are not a healthy person, Miss Tokari. We're worried about you. You know, there are operations that may…"
"You have no idea what you're talking about." She snapped.
"We are doctors, Miss Tokari." Their condescending attitudes were beginning to eat away at Aiska's patience as she eyed the two of them.
"If I wanted your help I would ask for it. Now when can I go?"
"We think it best if you stay here. Indefinitely."
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"Ah Ha'ri! To what do we owe the pleasure?" Shigure smiled as Hatori slid the door open breathlessly.
"Romiko, I had a call from Aiska's work a little while ago. It seems she had an accident."
"What? What kind of accident? Is she all right? Where is she?" Romiko was quickly approaching hysteria as she jumped from her seat.
"Calm down. I don't know the details, but they called an ambulance for her and she's been taken to hospital. They tried to ring you, but you weren't home, so they called me." Romiko seemed to falter, falling against the wall. Shigure leapt to catch her only to transform as he wrapped his arms around her. He sat at her feet, looking up at her earnestly.
"I'm alright." Her hand rested on her chest as she glanced from Shigure to Hatori.
"Come, I'll take you to her."
"Thanks." She dropped to her knees and gazed into Shigure's eyes for a moment. "And than you, Shigure." She ran her fingers through his fur before jumping to her feet and following Hatori down the stairs.
The journey was made in solemn silence; both minds too busy worrying not only about Aiska and her condition, but also about the consequences of a trip to the hospital.
"What happened, exactly?" Romiko finally broke the silence.
"I was told they found her in the kitchen, a knife beside her and blood dripping from her foot. She was unconscious for most of it. It seems as though they believe she could have done it on purpose."
"What? That's ridiculous!"
"Is it?" Hatori glanced to her, eyebrow raised.
"Of course it is! She's going to die anyway! Why would she make it sooner rather than later?"
"You know her best, and from what I gather, I would agree. But that doesn't mean the doctors at the hospital will."
The two ran down the hall once they reached the hospital, dodging nurses and patients until they finally rounded on the wing Aiska was being kept in. It did not take long for them to find Aiska, for all they had to do was follow the screaming.
"I am not staying in this wretched place and there is nothing you can do to make me!"
"But Miss Tokari…"
"How dare you attempt to take control of my life? I am going to die! It's as simple as that! And I will not spend the last moments of my life locked up in here!"
Romiko and Hatori threw the door open and quickly ducked as Aiska hurled a jug of water at one of the doctors. He had moved just in time as the glass smashed against the wall, splashing them all with water.
"Aiska!" Romiko cried, racing to her side with Hatori doing the same. Aiska's eyes darted between the two of them just as she grasped a glass and aimed it at another doctor. Before she could throw the second, Hatori grabbed onto her wrist and shoulder and pushed her back down onto the bed. She struggled; anxious to knock Hatori away and get out of that sterile, cold world they had forced her into.
"Could you excuse us for a moment?" Romiko smiled sweetly as she pulled the curtain around the bed. She spun to face a still struggling Aiska.
"Right woman! Shut up!"
"Why? So I can let those bastards win?" She hissed, elbowing Hatori in the stomach.
"Shut up or else I'll tell everyone in this hospital about that time by the lake when you were ten." Aiska instantly froze. She scowled but said nothing as Romiko glanced to Hatori. "Don't worry, it's not as bad as it sounds. It's worse." She smiled as he slowly released Aiska, who refused to meet either of their eyes.
"Now," Romiko announced, throwing the curtain open again. "We can get down to business. What seems to be the problem?"
The three doctors stared at the now silent Aiska before glancing to one another.
"Well, she came in with a wound to her foot, which we addressed. But upon conducting a physical discovered something a little more serious."
"Yes, yes Aiska has aortic stenosis, what's your point?" The one speaking blinked and stuttered slightly, surprised by Romiko's frankness.
"Well, we can't rightly allow her to leave. There are treatments available…" He hesitated as he glanced to Aiska. She was trembling in rage and opened her mouth to comment, only to have Romiko shoot her a glare. Instantly she shut her mouth again and looked away.
"Doctors, I would like to introduce Dr. Hatori Sohma." Romiko remarked, motioning to Hatori. "He has been seeing to Aiska's needs and he and I will be happy to sit down tomorrow and discuss this properly. It is getting late after all and I'm sure you all have patients and duties that need attending. I shall stay with Aiska overnight to see to her."
"I'm sorry but visiting hours are almost over."
"I said I shall stay overnight with Aiska." Romiko's eyes narrowed dangerously as the two glanced from Aiska, to Romiko, to each other and then to Aiska again, clearly under the belief that a woman able of silencing Aiska was not meant to be messed with. They sighed and agreed to move the two to a spare room in another wing. The doctor who had done all the talking shot Hatori a glare before swiftly leaving.
"Very well handled, Romiko." He smiled.
"Why thank you doctor."
"I don't want to be here." Aiska interjected.
"Oh shush! We'll deal with this in the morning when we're all a little more prepared for it. That will be all right, won't it Hatori."
"Of course. I'll be here first thing." He nodded and made for the door.
"Hatori?" Aiska called, "I'm sorry about that… you know… elbowing you."
"I'm used to it." He smiled before vanishing out the door.
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"You know what I just realised?" Romiko turned to Aiska once they had been settled into a new room with a bed each.
"That I'm about to be locked into a psychotic ward for the emotionally insecure?"
"Apart from that."
"Then what?"
"That we don't have anything for a sleepover!"
"What's the matter? Hospital gowns not your thing?" Aiska remarked sardonically.
"I think I'll ring Tohru, see if she's able to drop anything off this afternoon."
Aiska only shrugged, "Not like I'm going anywhere."
Romiko rolled off her bed and reached for the phone.
"Hello, Shigure. Is Tohru home?"
"Yes she's here. How is Aiska?
"Well I'm staying overnight at the hospital with Aiska. She's slightly more cynical than usual, but otherwise she's fine. Now can I talk to Tohru please?"
"I'm cut!"
"Well we need some things from home so we can stay here overnight, and I'd like Tohru to fetch them for us. I'd ask you, but that'd be kind of weird."
"How is that weird? I don't see how that's weird at all." Romiko could hear voices in the background. "Hey Yuki? Kyo? Would it be weird if I fetched some things for the girls so they could stay overnight at the hospital?" Romiko's eyes widened as there was an audible crash.
"Shigure? Are you all right?"
"Umm, hi Romiko, this is Tohru."
"Tohru! What's happening?"
"Oh, nothing…" She replied evasively. Aiska only laughed at the look on Romiko's face. She listened as Romiko explained the situation once more and watched Romiko smile as she said her goodbyes.
"Great! Now all we have to do is wait. Pity I didn't think of this before we left, but I was so worried, I guess it just didn't occur to me."
"Romiko? Do you realise what I must look like to those doctors?"
"What do you mean?"
"I arrive here, delirious from all the drugs they had pumped into me, screaming abuse at anyone who tried to touch me. Eventually they X-rayed and bandaged my foot, before turning their attention to my wrist. Now what does this look like?" She held up her arm, motioning to the bandage. "Next they discover my little 'condition', well instantly I'm asked stupid questions about how 'happy' I am in life." Romiko groaned. "Yes exactly."
"Your cynicism does nothing to help the situation."
"Oh forgive me."
"See what I mean?"
"But I know they're just dying to throw me into a padded cell. That way they won't feel guilty when they find out I kicked the bucket."
"That was a terrible pun." Romiko scowled.
"I know. But wait until they accuse me of self-harm and all that crap. Come on Romiko! I'm going to die! They know it! And they know I know it. That's all they need to think that I want to kill myself. Which, by the way, is far too much effort for my liking. I'm already going to die, why bother speeding the process along?"
Romiko took Aiska's hand, "What did happen today, with the knife?"
"I don't really know myself. I was going through the kitchen with an order, when I started getting dizzy. I went to grab onto the bench to stop myself collapsing when I remember touching metal. I must have knocked the knife off the bench and it pierced my foot. I was already dizzy, so the pain and shock didn't help me any. I just slipped in and out of consciousness for the next hour or so until the drugs eventually wore off slightly, which, might I just add was the best sleep I've had in weeks. Of course then I started to abuse the doctors, and they didn't exactly appreciate that. The whole scene probably looks very shady, so I suppose I can't exactly blame them. Not that it's going to stop me, mind you."
A knock on the door interrupted them as Shigure popped his head in. Romiko jumped up to greet him.
"Shigure? What are you doing here?"
"Well the children have an assignment due tomorrow, so I insisted I bring these things to you. I assure you Tohru packed them." Romiko opened the door all the way so Shigure could enter.
"Forgive me for not standing to greet you, Shigure."
"And hello to you too, Aiska. How is everything?"
"Just dandy, thank you."
"I brought flowers!" He smiled presenting two bunches of flowers. He went to give them to Romiko but quickly corrected himself and gave them to Aiska.
"Why two?"
"I just couldn't decide between them." He laughed nervously.
"Thank you, Shigure." Aiska smiled knowingly.
"Well I better head off, visiting hours are over, you know." He winked as he headed for the door.
"I'll walk you out." Romiko added as the two left Aiska to herself. He heard Romiko's laugh echo down the hallway and couldn't help but sigh.
"This is getting serious. I'm going to need to have a talk with this Shigure Sohma pretty soon." She grinned malevolently.
See why I postedthis and the next chaptertogether?