Chapter 10
(Kozue's POV)
We ran after Takeda, the male was swerving around people like a drunk driver. We had gotten the call from Retsu twenty minutes ago and Takeda ran from the house. Baki had tossed me on his back, running after Takeda. He put me down at the door of the hospital and I run forwards trying to grab him arm.
"Takeda! Takeda Don't!"
I knew exactly where he was going. Retsu had been standing in the hallway, his arms wrapped in white bandages. His head turned at my voice and I couldn't help but cringe as he runs up to Retsu, fist flying through the air and connecting with his jaw.
Crunch!
Retsu takes two steps to the left but manages to stay on his feet. A bad move as Takeda is on him yet again
"YOU BASTARD!" he throws another punch and I gasp when Retsu doesn't even block it "I TOLD YOU TO KEEP HER SAFE!"
"TAKEDA! TAKEDA STOP!" I watch as he kicks out his feet punching Retsu repeatedly as they both fall to the ground "TAKEDA! TAKEDA!"
I go to grab his arm and feel a gust of wind, my hair blows past my face and I see Baki standing in front of me. My boyfriend had reached under Takeda's arm, ripping Takeda off of Retsu and slammed the angry male against the wall. He steps forwards, pinning him there with his weight.
"Takeda-san, calm down!" He states darkly "I understand you're angry but were at a hospital! You can't do this here!"
Retsu was on the floor blood pouring from his nose but the man didn't seem to be in a lot of pain. Emotionally I wasn't as sure as he looked ready to toss himself off a bridge. A fourth voice speaks and I look up, realizing we were in a larger room. Retsu had been in the doorway so the four of us were standing in the medical wing.
"It's not his fault." I recognized Katsumi on the table. His back was an angry red, large black pieces of cloth with large blisters covered the burnt flesh. He hisses as a nurse removes more of the black material and flesh attached to it before adding a cool wet material "She was put in the crossfire protecting me. She stopped a board aimed for my throat so if you want to punch anyone you can hit me."
"What happened?" I ask
"One of the escaped convicts Dorian showed up looking for my old man. He beat the crap out of me and tried to burn Retsu and Sophia with whiskey and a lighter. I took most of the damage when I jumped between them."
"Where is Sophia?!" Takeda shouts but his struggling and earlier rage had died down. Baki removes his hands but he stays close to him as a silent warning to behave.
"She's in surgery." Retsu sits up. His hands were on his nose, trying to wipe up some blood "The punch was strong enough to do a lot of damage but with her previous injuries; Kureha is trying to save what he can..."
My eyes rise as the nurse moves, her tools banging the side of the tray as she cuts off more material burned into the flesh. I knew Katsumi was numbed but I couldn't help but cringe as she takes off more pieces. The medicine couldn't stop all the pain, the exposed nerves and tender flesh only seemed to add to the pieces of flesh carefully sliced away.
"I believe Miss Jones will be alright." She finally says, adding more medicine with a long needle "Doctor Kureha can work miracles, I know he will do everything he can to help her. We just have to wait."
"Did someone say my name?"
We all turn to see Kureha walking down the hall. He takes his long hair out of a ponytail and removes a bloodied face-mask. He puts it and his protective gown in a yellow trash bin. The gown was also covered in blood and I couldn't help but put a hand on my stomach.
Sophia...
"Kureha. How is she?" Baki asks as he stops at the door so everyone could see him.
"She's seen better days." He sighs "The punch left a lot of damage; she will have to be sedated for a few days and then be put on a liquid diet as her intestines heal. With the swelling, she won't be able to digest solid food for a few weeks. Her kidney, however..." he runs a hand through his hair "I tried my best to save it but it was already weakened from the first tear. With the second hit it ruptured, I couldn't save it and stop the bleeding so I had to remove it." His eyes turn to me "She will be able to do a lot of things but she will have to take extra care of her body. A healthy diet, no strenuous activity for a few weeks but overall she should have a pretty normal life."
I felt a few tears run down my cheeks and I sigh deeply "I swear, when she wakes up I'm going to kill her..." I feel Baki's hand on my arm and I smile "Thank you Kureha."
"It was my pleasure. She's a good friend of yours and a lovely person."
Despite his smile, I couldn't help but shiver just the slightest. I step closer to Baki instinctively and he wraps his arm around my waist.
Takeda steps forwards "Can I see her?"
"She will be in the ICU for a day, after that you're welcome too."
He sighs "I will be back. I have to call Sophia's father."
I couldn't help but feel bad as he turns, walking down the hall quietly.
(Kureha's POV)
I turned, walking down the hallway and stop before the large glass ICU doors.
"Good night Doctor Kureha,"
I turn, flashing one of my nurses a charming smile "Good night darling, sleep well."
She blushes and continues down the hall. I reach down; pulling out my I.D. tag attached to a retractable string and swipes it over the scanner. The door beeps once and hisses open. I step into the room, noting the five beds along the wall. The room was shaped like a light bulb, the bottom narrowed at the doors. The five beds were separated by thin curtains and I glance at the far left, seeing an old man and the other was her. I turn right and walk towards her bed. I glance back at the empty hallway and reach up, pulling the curtain around the end of the bed.
I step closer to the bed, taking note of her heart monitor and wires over her chest. The tubes attached to her arms and the central I.V. feeding her nutrients. I look down at the small woman on the bed and smile softly. Thanks to the drugs she was sleeping peacefully, her supple lips were wrapped around the ventilation tube and I reach up, running my thumb over the smooth flesh. My hands move, brushing her side bang behind her ear. My hands continued down and grasp the silky strands in my fingers, I lean down taking in the soft smells of rose and green apple.
Soon my darling, soon.
(Kaoru's POV)
I tap a locked folder on the far corner of my screen, typing in the code in the extra-large keys and hit the enter button. The folder opened in the middle of the screen and I click on the only photo in the box.
It was me and Sophia, about two weeks ago. We were both sitting in the empty classroom, math books open. Her hand had one pencil, her mouth open in a slight smile as she explains the equation to me for the fourth time. She looked so innocent, so pure. I on the other hand looked like a fool, my face was scrunched up, my left hand scratching my head in confusion. Kozue had taken it, sending it to me a few days later. Neither of us was aware of it and it made me happy to look at it.
But watching it now only made my blood boil.
"Dorian?"
"Yeah." Baki sighs
"How is she?"
"She's in the ICU for a night and under medical sedation for three days. She'll be on a liquid diet for a month and..."
"And?"
"She lost her left kidney. It ruptured in its weakened state and Kureha couldn't save it and her."
I feel my hands clench. My phone busting to pieces in my grip like a rotten peach.
(Kizaki's POV)
I'd walked down the hallway, going to check on Kaoru when his office door opens up. I slam myself against the wall as he goes by. I wasn't sure what was happening but he animalistic growls and murderous eyes told me he was furious.
"Boss?!" I run after him, watching more men slam against the wall in fear. Kaoru was like a thundering rhino when angry, crushing anyone unlucky enough to get in his path "Boss what happened?"
He reached the front door and curls back his fist. The large metal dents badly, braking open before slamming against the wall. But Kaoru wasn't paying attention to that. He growls angrily storming up to the sleek black car in front of him. A few men had followed us outside and I watch in fear as his rage boils over.
The boss stares at the car with murderous intent, pausing for a few moments. If looks could kill... He lets out a ferocious yell and raises his fist, the large arm slams down on the front of the car, denting the hood and shattering the windshield. Glass sprays down around him like snow. He yells again, punching the hood, it dents a second time, curling around his hand. He rips it out, raising both hands and smashed both of them in the center.
The boss was shaking with rage, his eyes were bloodshot and his teeth ground together so hard I was amazed they hadn't shattered. The only other time I'd seen him this angry was when he first met Baki Hanma, the thirteen-year-old boy delivered a swift kick to his neck and brought our leader to his knees. I had no idea what could bring out the same blazing rage but Kaoru was murderous.
He lets out another yell, smashing the trunk again and I watch the thick metal break, the hood separating from the car and crashing on the ground by my feet. My hand slaps on one man's face when he goes to speak. My warning glare was almost as lethal as the bosses.
He lifts his arm, punching the engine and I step back as splashes of oil hit the ground around us. Kaoru rips out his oil-soaked hand and grabs the car, letting out a monstrous growl as he flips the car over, the frame bending as he grabs it again. A second punch was made to the underbelly, then a third, fourth and fifth. He punches the tire, crushing the metal rim twice and he rips off the tire. He pulls both sides and I watch him tear apart the thick rubber wheel, he does the same for the next tire, his hands smashing out the taillights and I duck as he rips off the rear bumper, tossing it across the lawn in anger. It hits a stone fountain and sends pieces all over the lawn. One guy runs to shut it off as I continue to watch.
I came to the striking realization that the boss was angrier then he had been with Baki and that truly scared me. When Kaoru turns away from the house, walking down the driveway I order two men to go after him with a car and turn, walking back into the house. I rip open the door to his office and take in the large leather chair tipped over and pieces of Kaoru's busted phone on the floor. I glanced at the desk, my hands going over the documents there, trying to find some letter or a new thing that set him off.
Had I been ten seconds later I would have missed it, but my eyes glance up at the screen, taking in the blue sticky notes and finally notice the picture filling three-quarters of the screen. I didn't get a perfect look but I saw Kaoru and that meddling foreigner, Sophia, before the screen went black.
When I shake the mouse to wake it up the picture is gone.