Chapter 13

Toki's POV

When Tsukiko finally arrived, her escorts included Akina Mikuri and Arisa Uotani. I had no idea how this had happened, but I knew it was her choice for them to be there. "I see you have your attack force ready?" She rolled her eyes a bit at me, giving me a goofy laugh at the same time. The childish Tsukiko had been allowed to play for five minutes. I led her in her hospital room, where she would be in at least a week. I handed her the right hospital gown and waited for her to finish dressing into it.

Tohru's POV

I tried to figure it out as I waited with Hana-chan. Yuki-kun and Kyo-kun had also waited, even though the student council needed him greatly at the moment. "Uo-chan hasn't even come into school today. Could she be sick?" My mind ran through all the things that could have happened as I began to worry profusely. It was just a cold, or could it be the flu, or could she be in the hospital! In my panic, I felt Kyo-kun's rather awkward comfort as a few minutes had past. Soon, the moment was over and class had to start. My worries seemed to only glide to my friend missing...

Toki's POV

Upon arriving back in the room, it seemed the three were having quite the girl chat. I waited until I heard the moving of chairs to come into the room, as if to surprise them. The minute I opened the door, the two were prepared to leave as it was. I nodded to both of them as they left the room and hoped that it would stay this way for now. "Tsukiko-san, I'm going to need you to relax while I check on your body status. Have you had any attacks lately?"

"No, I've been close, but I haven't actually had an attack." I put a check on the hard brown clipboard.

"Any other symptoms?"

"None." I gave a sigh of relief, sitting down as I began to explain the prep work.

Akina's POV

Sitting in a hospital waiting room is the hardest thing someone is probably ever required to do in any type of case. I found it almost stifling, and Uotani seemed to be well into another magazine she probably had no real interest in. The rebellious female had refused any offer of food and drink I offered. Eventually she relented to a bottle of water that was now only half full to appease me and get me off her back. I could see nature pictures all over the cover, and her brow began to contract in confusion on something in the seemingly thick book. Her toss of it showed the tension in her mind and she promptly picked up the book again.

"So, do you work now ?" The now in tune female turned from the magazine to look at me.

"I always work, more in the summer than during school."

"Has everything been okay at home?"

"The usual."

Tsukiko's POV

That night did not comfort me, since I could not see anyone else in the room yet. I had fallen asleep during the prep talk, which seemed almost like reading egyptian in a math text book. I tried to locate things, but it looked as if it had become at least ten and I was in complete darkness. I wanted to cry out, but my voice would not respond. I sat up and moved my foot out of the covers and felt a cold, tiled floor. I moved down, slowly moving towards where I believed the curtains to be. I felt cloth and opened it. Moon light to guid me to the light switch, that was good. I found the white enameled switch and slowly pulled it up. The room contained someone I had not expected at this time of night. Uotani was in a chair, seemingly on guard duty in my room. I went to her, touching her as I tripped over the chair. "Tsukiko-chan!"

"Uotani-san, how long have you been here?"

"Why did you get up?" She pulled me to my feet and managed to get under the covers once again.

"I don't know, I just needed to do something."

"Well, you don't want to get sick before your surgery." The female placed the chair closer to my bed and held my hand as she began to tell me a story, but I could barely remember it as sleep took over my body and mind.

TBC...