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-Chapter 9- Healing
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Rei asked.
His desired answer came a few moments later. If he answered before, Rei couldn't have heard them from all the noise down the hallway. The whole setting was louder than firecrackers in a hospital zone, except they were in a hospital.
Kira was already standing outside the door when they arrived. Instead of the sober face Rei had expected, he was surprised to see her smiling.
"Rei, she's ok!" Kira said embracing her lover unexpectedly. "Keiji's alive!"
"Alive? But I thought-?" Rei watched as the companion he lead looked into the window.
"So this is the woman who saved my son's life?" Mr. Kashino talked to himself.
A nurse stepped out of the room followed by a tall man in a white jacket.
"She's ready to see you now." The nurse announced with a cheerful smile. Kira and Rei entered, leaving Mr. Kashino outside of the room to talk with the doctor.
The room smelled of fresh roses. Rei eyed a vase full of beautiful flowers on the night stand.
"Keiji." Kira said with delight. The young woman sat up slowly with a slow coming smile.
"What are you doing here, Kira?"
"I've been visiting you lately. Today was supposed to be your last day. When I checked with the nurse, she said you had gotten better." Tears swelled in her eyes. "I'm so glad. How do you feel?"
"It beats being dead." Keiji said truthfully. "The doctor expects a full recovery within a week." She looked up at Rei who was looking at the machines floating around her room.
"So this is how they kept you alive?" He asked.
"Man, they could keep robots alive with all this crap. I'm glad to be off of it. It all smells bad. What brings you here?"
"Kira dragged me along." He said with a grin. "I thought I'd pay my respects to the dead."
"I appreciate it." Keiji said with a laugh. "I'm sorry to disappoint you but I'm far from a corpse."
"There's always the funeral."
"I'll keep you on the list."
Kira shook her head at the two. She looked to Rei and when he wouldn't say anything she nudged his arm.
"What?" Rei demanded.
"You know what! You need to tell her."
"Oh that. Listen, I owe you for what you did. I might be in your place if it wasn't for you."
Keiji shrugged.
"It's over. I did it because I wanted too. I'm actually the one who owes you Kira. I'm sorry but I guess you won't get that painting after all."
Kira smiled weakly and she shook her head. Her hand rubbed her cheek.
"You already gave it to me."
Keiji looked at her with puzzled eyes. Kira continued.
"The world depicts Venus as the goddess of love and seduction, the lover of Mars. You gave me another view of the goddess, a new emotion."
"And what's that, Kira?" Keiji asked.
"You'll have to wait till it's finished." Kira said with a wink.
The door opened suddenly and Rei got the feeling it was time to go. He and Kira said their goodbyes and left. The nurse approached Keiji with that sickening, cheerful smile.
"You have one more visitor miss."
"Oh? Who is it?"
A tall, middle aged man stepped infront of her and offered a hand. Keiji shook it. When nothing was spoken, Keiji opened her mouth.
"I'm sorry but do I know you?"
"No. I am Mr. Kashino. On behalf of the life of my son, I wanted to personally thank you."
"I don't need thanks."
"Oh? It could've been anyone else but you took the fall. I think that deserves a lot of thanks." He removed a thin booklet from his jacket pocket and opened a pen. "I have taken the liberty of your hospital bill. I will also give you this." The pen made a swishing as he tore a paper from the book and handed it to the girl.
Keiji's eyes widened and she quickly returned it.
"I can't accept it."
"I think you can." Mr. Kashino stepped back towards the door.
"B-but…" Keiji looked from the paper and then back to the man leaving. "Wait!"
The man held the knob and remained still.
"Your parents would've been proud of you." His voice held a smile.
Keiji's arm dropped, still holding the check.