Chapter 12: The Healing
When I came to again, the battle was over. Next to me, stood Kanta-kun. He looked absolutely spooked and it frightened me. His face went pale and his eyes were wide in shock. Slowly, I felt my body go numb… and I closed my eyes once again.
When I awoke, I found myself in a hospital with Kiyo, Kanta-kun, and Zatch. My parents were also standing around me worriedly and I smiled weakly. "Morning…?"
"When we heard the crash through the window, we were sure you were dead!" my mom said. "Luckily, you avoided it. I'm happy you tried to lead those gang members away, but not when you were hurt so badly!"
I glanced at Kiyo. 'So that was the story…'
"I'm sorry, but we have to go now, alright?" my dad asked me. He nodded towards Kiyo. "I'm sure he'll take care of you. If he does anything, you just—"
"DAD!" I screeched, my face turning red. Hurriedly, they left and left me alone with Kiyo, Kanta-kun, and Zatch. Kiyo sighed as my dad left and slumped onto my bedside.
"That was a tiring battle. You had us worried for a second," Kiyo said, sighing again. I looked at him sadly.
"I'm sorry…" I said. "I didn't know who else to call. I promise I won't bother you with this anymore."
"Oh, no, no!" Kiyo replied quickly, waving his arms in the air. "I'm fine with that. It's just that you scared the heck out of me and Zatch! I've never felt so worried—well, maybe I have, but re-feeling that way is not pretty."
'Yeah, it took me forever to wake Kiyo up, but… tell us what happened,' Zatch commented. He took a large bit out of what I saw as a large fish. I laughed, remembering his favorite food being fish Popsicles.
I quickly explained all I could remember and Kiyo and Zatch listened carefully. Feeling like I had forgotten something, I paused. Zatch was leaning in, seeming very excited about what had happened.
"Oh, and Kanta-kun's element is fear, isn't that neat?" I asked, hugging my Mamodo. Kiyo laughed and nodded.
"Sure!" he answered with a slight nod. "As you know, Zatch's power is lightning."
'It's not as cool as fear,' Kanta-kun added sheepishly, pushing me away with a slight tint of pink on his face. I patted his head and laughed a little more. Only then did I realize that my gut hurt. I doubled and coughed violently. Kanta-kun quickly patted my back.
'Oh, c'mon, Kanta!' Zatch said, sounding somewhat upset. He dragged Kanta-kun out of the room. I overheard Zatch's loud voice. 'Let's be best friends!'
Kiyo and I stared at each other. We both laughed and then everything became eerily silent. He gripped the blanket covering me slightly. "What is it that drives you to protect your Mamodo so dearly?"
"I love him."
Kiyo looked at me, awestruck. I looked at my cut arms that had been bandaged up. "Kanta-kun was someone… who came in my life when I didn't have anything here. I just came here a few months ago and no one seemed to want to be my friend—until Kyohei-kun."
I stopped myself before saying anymore. Shaking my head, I tugged on Kiyo's shirt. "I'd die before I would fail him—he's that special to me."
We stayed in that single moment for, what seemed like, forever. Kiyo looked me straight in the eyes. "Zatch's bond with me… probably can't compare."
"I know," I replied. I saw the ticked expression on his face. Quickly, I added, "I didn't mean it like that—it's just… your bond is so much stronger, you couldn't compare it to Kanta-kun and mine. Ours—it's so minuscule compared to yours."
Kiyo stared at me again. It was as if he was trying to figure out what kind of person I was. I could tell him that I was a loud annoying little brat who cared for herself and was a total crybaby, but he wouldn't believe me. Not after he's seen what I've done. He'd think I was a good person. "I'm not sure if you'd believe me, but I'm actually a cruel horrible person back at home. Although I had a lot of friends, I'm sure it was out of pity for this ugly girl with super thick glasses who spends all of her time on the computer and is horrible at sports. Not to mention, is a total nerd that doesn't know anything about the world around her and cries when she feels helpless or pathetic. I'm just… a selfish person."
I'd never been able to say that before. I probably said it to Kiyo because when I went back home, we'd never speak again. There would be no one else to know how I felt. Looking away, I could feel my cheeks getting warm from finally having to admit it.
"That's not true," Kiyo replied. I knew this was coming. Sighing, I continued to look away from Kiyo. "Natsuki, you really are a different person. Maybe, it was because of Kanta… maybe it was because you put yourself down too much. But, I know at least half of that stuff isn't true. You just don't give yourself enough credit."
Sniff… sniff…
Tears ran down my cheeks and I tried my best to wipe away the tears. Kiyo noticed my tears and handed me a tissue. I blew my nose and continued to cry. "Why is it… you know the way I feel? How come you just know what to say, Kiyo?"
"I've actually felt like you a lot too," Kiyo replied with a smile. I looked to him and nodded slightly.
"Thank you… Kiyo."
End of Chapter 13: The Healing
Author's Note: Have I told you why I've named these chapters the way I've named them? Well, I'm going to tell you--whether I've said it or not. I was sitting one day when this hilarious movie comes up with this fat guy cosplaying as Sakura from Cardcaptor Sakura--that jogged my memory of how much I loved Carcaptors and then I named the chapters like how the cards are. No, they're not actually the cards, but simliar to the name.
ANYWAY, there is going to be no KiyoxOC. Just to let you know again...
Mamodo-loving ichigo-eater,
Sammy
