THANK YOU GUARDIAN OF LIGHT LIGHTUS FOR REVIEWING ON THE STORY AGAIN!
enjoy and do review please.
DISCLAIMER: i do not own GBF. the plot and the original characters are mine
note: sei and china use japanese honorifics while arian people use english honorifics. just to emphasize that despite both places speak japanese, that there is a difference.
Last on 'When Innocence Dies':
"No! Don't take him!" China screamed, curling around the unconscious blunet and snarling as if she was a beast. The lack of water and food plus the hysteria had made her delirious and fueled by despair she could only see the people around them as menacing shadows trying to take Sei away into their mangled hands.
A prick in her neck made her jump and look up in alarm. But it was too late. She felt her eyes grow heavier and she finally collapsed on the floor as darkness claimed her.
Chapter 3 - The Usual Shenanigans
When she regained consciousness, her vision was blurry and everything ached. Especially her head. She placed a hand on her forehead to find a cool cloth placed over bandages, but the bump was still noticeable.
The hand fell back on the blanket and she then noticed how the soft the bed was, the softest she had ever slept on – but considering the fact that she was sleeping on metal and wood those past two days she could be biased.
What happened to her? The last thing she can remember was seeing Reiji and Aila. She greeted them and then Sei collapsed…
Sei!
She shot up from the bed and looked around frantically, her heart beating quickly. She was alone in the room. Sei wasn't there! Where is he? She removed the blanket and placed her feet on the carpet, giving a fleeting thought about its softness, and pushed herself upright.
Or at least she intended to. Instead, she fell onto the floor the minute her legs straightened. She hissed in pain and collected her sprawled form and slowly, using the bed and wall, brought herself back on her feet. She then leaned on the wall, using it as leverage for her unsteady legs.
She felt light-headed and her face was burning up, but she still placed one foot after the other and prayed that she has enough strength to find Sei before she collapsed again.
Move, legs, move! Sei is hurt. He is dying because she didn't pay enough attention to his pain. Why didn't he tell her his stitches had popped? Didn't he trust her?
The door was unlocked so it was fairly easy to open it and slip through it to the hall. China at this point couldn't care less about being in Arian or that they had finally reunited with Aila and Reiji. All she could think about was the fact that some strange earthquake and a burst of light had kidnapped them from their world and endangered Sei's life.
Two sets of footsteps around the corner made her stop and ready herself for an escape, not noticing the shadow closing in behind her.
A man in a white robe and a familiar redhead appeared from around the corner. They seemed to be arguing.
"-heal him—China?" Reiji jumped when she saw her. She ignored him, using the surprise to walk backwards. "China, wait—" She spun on her feet and slammed into someone. They both fell on the floor. China looked up to see that it was Aila.
She tried to stop the dizziness, but the silver haired girl recovered faster and restrained the brunette as she tried to wriggle free.
"Let me go! He's hurt- Sei!"
"China calm down!" Aila grabbed the girl's shoulders and forced her to look at her. "Sei is fine. He's stable and the doctor stitched back his wound. Now breathe! I'll bring you to him."
China swallowed down a lump that formed in her throat. Sei is fine. Sei is alive. She can go see him now. Everything that she was suppressing came flooding back and she found herself sobbing like a child in Aila's arms.
Aila let her pour everything out, a sad frown pulling her lips down. She gazed up and saw Reiji's mouth pressed into a thin line, bangs hiding his eyes.
Slowly China's tears slowed down until they completely stopped and she calmed down, feeling empty and exhausted. Aila brought her to her feet, supporting her weak legs. "You want to go see Sei now?"
"Please."
The doctor, named Dr. Chusuke, was a man of average height with light brown hair cut very short and brown kind eyes. He wore the classic white garb of physicians and square glasses perched on his nose.
Currently, he was leading them to a room in the hall next to the one China had woken up in.
While they were walking, Reiji thought back to what had occurred after the brunette passed out.
Flashback:
"China!" Aila rushed over to the girl but was stopped as Dr. Chusuke and his two helpers carried China and Sei to the back corridors, where the infirmary area stood.
He and Aila were escorted to the hall where Sei was being treated at. They sat on a bench, listening as they fought over Sei's life. The blood loss plus dehydration and the spike in anxiety had caused a cardiac arrest.
After they restored his heartbeat, they had to put him on three bags of blood before they could stitch him back and put him on strong antibiotics since the wound was infected.
Reiji had to hold himself from screaming and punching someone. Instead he punched the wall. It hurt.
"What are you doing, you idiot?" Aila snatched his hand and inspected his knuckles for bleeding, sighing in relief when they were only scrapes. Reiji ignored her, his blood still boiling. She noticed how the fists in her hands were shaking and she caressed them gently. He glanced up and she smiled softly. He then felt as if the wind was knocked out of him and his hands fell to his sides. He sighed and laid his head on her shoulder.
"I know it wasn't our fault, but—"
"Since it's your world that harmed China and Sei so badly, you feel responsible."
"I couldn't reach him in time. I couldn't prevent him from getting hurt. He could have—"
"Died if you had lost your cool." Aila sighed. "Reiji… You didn't even know he was here until the guard came to inform us. Stop blaming yourself, okay?"
"I'll try…"
End flashback.
Now, as he followed the girls to the door, he couldn't help but wonder – since he didn't get a good look at Sei before everything happened he wondered how his friend would look. He imagined him like he looked back then when he was sleeping, maybe a bit paler, but nothing out of the ordinary.
That theory was crushed badly when he took a good look at Sei.
Aila and Dr. Chusuke had to restrain him from leaving or punching the wall. China didn't even notice the commotion as she sat by the bed and covered one hand with hers.
The blunet looked far older than sixteen years old with his sickly pale skin, the dark bags under his eyes, the oxygen mask covering half his face, and the red splotches on his cheeks. His blue hair stuck to his sweaty skin and he was breathing heavily. A brown blanket was pulled to his chest, covering his wound, but the fresh bandages peeked from the blanket, soft pink staining them.
Reiji released himself from his captors (after reassuring them that he won't do anything rash) and sat across China. He studied the familiar yet so strange person in front of him and noticed a white cloth on Sei's forehead. He was so pale that Reiji missed the cloth, something that made him shake in anger and Aila eyed him warily.
"Sei-kun…" He heard China inhale shakily and looked up to see her hold Sei's hand close to her heart. A glance into her scared but loving eyes told him everything he needed to know.
He cracked a smile, forcing a teasing tone. "Let me guess, he asked you out first?"
It took the girls a moment to register what he said.
"Wh-what?" China turned beet red and started stammering. Aila, on the other hand, scowled and smacked him across the head so hard he face-planted onto the bed.
"OW!" Reiji sat back up, rubbing his sore bump. He then glared at the Finnish girl. "You bastard… what was that for?"
"You're so inconsiderate!" Aila huffed and crossed her arms angrily. Seriously, that annoying childish… what did she fall for anyways? Oh yeah, his charm. She bristled at the confused and angry redhead, fighting down her blush.
China looked at them, half her focus on the blunet.
"I was just trying to cheer her up," Reiji grumbled. "And I do want to know what was going on with my best friend in the last two and a half years."
"Well, if you had kept your promise you wouldn't be wondering." China couldn't help but mutter bitterly, making Reiji color in protest.
"Promise?" The Finnish narrowed her eyes at the prince in suspicion.
"He promised Sei-kun that they would see each other when he grows stronger." Oh… she meant that. Aila sighed in relief, confusing Reiji even more. But he had more pressing matters, like a very intimidating class rep.
Crap.
"Listen to me, I swear-" He proceeded to try and convince the brunette that he couldn't come to their world since the means to that was gone so he was stuck in Arian. No, he didn't desert Sei — he would never do that and would she let him finish!?
He was saved from a slap when Aila gasped. The arguing duo averted their attention to the wide eyed silverette.
"Aila-san?"
"Sei's hair…" The girl pointed at the blunette on the bed. All she could see of the boy was very familiar particles gathering around his hair. China and Reiji exchanged blank glances but understood what she was fussing about when they looked at the left side hair side-bang of the teen – it was stained with gold.
"Again?" China blinked. "But there isn't any gold paint around here."
"What do you mean?"
"When we where on our way here, Sei had paint like this one on the same area. I brushed it off and I didn't see any leftovers so how did it get back?"
"That's no paint," Aila said, her face darkened.
"Aila?"
"I can see them…" She continued. "Flowing out of his hair."
"You mean those particles?" Reiji immediately caught on to her meaning. Aila had told him about her ability to see the Plavsky Particles, which was how she managed to win so easily in her matches, so he knew what she meant by 'seeing them'.
"Yes. But…"
"But?"
"They're acting strangely…"
"How so?" He didn't like the sound of it.
"They're gathering around his hair, but it's more like he generates them…"
"Like an Arista?" Reiji raised an eyebrow.
"No… they feel wilder. Without a purpose. And they are glowing yellow as if they are active. I don't know… but one thing I'm sure of – I don't like this."
China reached out and tried to brush the color away, but the sweeping made the golden yellow spread further. Sei gave a distressed noise and China's hand backed off as if stung.
"Not good at all."
"Sei-kun…" The brunette's shoulders shook and she bit her lip to prevent herself from screaming in frustration. Why does it seem that the world is out to get him? First the earthquake, finding themselves in the desert, the injury and the Gundam… the light back then!
"That light!" She exclaimed.
"Light?" The other two questioned. She then explained everything that had happened since they had landed here. She also told them about the light particles Sei's hand emitted when he touched the keyboard and how the Gundam came to life from that.
Aila and Reiji had mirroring expressions of horror and curiosity. They had never heard of Gundam existing in this universe. But since Arian was outside of any conflict or war, they couldn't be depended on for that kind of information.
"I think we should go and search through it," Reiji said after a long moment of silence. "If there's a link between the Gundam to the strange behavior of the particles, I want to find it."
Besides, he can't shake off the feeling that if they leave it be, Sei will be in grave danger.
Aila peered at him suspiciously but nodded. China nodded as well but said that they'll have to wait until Sei wakes up since she is not leaving him like that.
They couldn't agree more, Reiji in particular.
It took two more days for Sei to wake up. By then the fever subsided and he was now on fluids alone. The strange color also dissipated, which made the trio relax a tad bit.
They were chatting by Sei's bedside when a groan made them pause and look at him with hopeful eyes. The blunet's eyes fluttered open to three teenagers staring at him with disbelief and happiness.
Where am I? He attempted to blink away the fuzziness in his mind. He remembers seeing Reiji and suddenly feeling all of his strength draining out of him and everything turning black. Did I pass out? China probably found out about the stitches then. I bet that she's furious with me, I would be.
Reiji seems older than I remember, but I guess that it's a given, since it has been more than two years.
Does Reiji know that I had won the world tournament? Perhaps we met again because I had grown stronger?
A ball of blue light caught his attention and his thought process was cut. He trailed it with his eyes as it danced in circles, leaving tails of light behind in many different scribbles. He felt that those drawings were important but his brain was too muddled to understand them. The light seemed to get impatient and vanished, leaving behind a sense of loss.
Then he noticed the mouths of Reiji and China moving, though no sound had come out.
Am I deaf now? Great… first the injury from the Build Strike and now this. At least I left Cosmos in there like China suggested so it's safe. I really wanted to show it to Reiji though. China lost her hold on (model) when I covered her back home so she doesn't have it sadly. Wonder if she was taken care of. She was so exhausted I'm amazed she didn't collapse. Oh, China…
"…ei?" Ah, I can hear something. So I'm not deaf. What a relief. Is it Reiji or China though? Oh, there is Aila, she seems well. Older just like Reiji. Wonder if they had gotten together at the end. She did seem to be closer to him, more likely the exact copy of him but I won't tell them that. They do deserve happiness and they seem good together.
"Sei!" Okay, it's China, and she is angry. I should answer her before she snaps at me. She is really scary sometimes. Aila is like that as well so are girls like this overall?
"Oy!" Oh right, should answer.
"What?" Deja-vu much? My throat hurts so much. I would curse but then mom would hit me. Reiji had really rubbed off on me, even if it's two years later.
"Are you listening?" No, but I just woke up and I can't really focus, give the guy a break.
"No." Oops, did I say that out loud? What is the matter with me? I should know better than to talk like that. Am I becoming a delinquent? I sure hope not.
"I think he's still half-asleep." No, I'm very much aware, but I'm not in the mood to talk to you.
What. Am. I. thinking!? Stop it, Iori Sei, what is the matter with you today? Is that the way to treat your friends you longed to see for such a long time?
"Call the doctor." There are doctors in space kingdom? Cool! I wonder if they have real Gundams like the one we found. If they do, I really want to talk to the manufacturer, maybe even build one myself! I can't wait! Well, step one, apologize for my rudeness.
"Sorry." Now they look sad. Why? What did I do wrong this time?
"It's not your fault." Ah, yes it is. I was rude to your guys. "You just didn't want me to worry. I forgive you."
I'm confused. How am I being rude has to do with worrying you?
"Forgive me for being rude?" And now they are the ones confused. I see we're not communicating here properly.
"Rude?"
"I wasn't listening…"
"Oh." She is laughing at me. Now you are the rude one. "It's okay. Sorry for laughing."
"It's okay…" She is cute all smiley after all.
The ball of light appeared again. He seems frantic. What's wrong with it? The blue light froze on its tracks and it seemed to turn to him, light pulsing golden yellow. Is that a warning? He looked at the light trail it left and felt the blood drain from his face.
It read 'You're hunted'
China didn't like the glazed stare Sei's eyes held. It was like he wasn't even there even though he was physically. When he did communicate with them he didn't make any sense. Then his eyes looked at something behind them and they suddenly refocused and his white face paled even further.
"Sei-kun?" She really starts to feel like a broken record. Sei jumped and finally their eyes met.
"China, did you get any rest?" He said with an edge to his voice. What did he see that made him pale like that? She turned to look at the spot but saw nothing.
Chalking it up to nightmares, she smiled at him. "I slept well. It has been two days since we came here after all."
Now he looked horrified. "You mean that I was sleeping for two whole days?"
"Exactly." The couple turned to a grinning relieved Reiji. "You gave me a heart attack when you suddenly fainted in front of me. I mean, I know I'm handsome and all, but no need to be so dramatic."
"Reiji!" China exclaimed as Sei laughed and Reiji smiled, eyes softening at his best friend.
"It has been a long time," The redhead muttered.
"It has," Sei placed a hand on his arm. "I'm so glad to see you again, Reiji."
"You said it! Man, I have so much to tell you. China had told me you had won the world tournament by yourself. I told you that you have the skill for that!" Reiji ruffled the blue hair.
"Reiji, Reiji, calm down," Sei laughed nervously, fearful for his hair. "I'm not going anywhere."
Yet.
The redhead clasped his mouth shut. Then he raised a hand. Sei's eyes blinked back tears, then he smiled warmly and raised his own.
"Congratulations on winning the world tournament, partner."
"Thank you." They high-fived, grinning brightly at each other. China looked at them and sighed fondly.
"Boys."
After Aila brought the doctor, Sei was subjected to an hour-long of examinations which he grumbled his distaste loudly the entire time. Reiji was in hysterics as Sei had to unravel his bandages but was too embarrassed because the girls were in the room. China pointed out that she was the one who bandaged him the first time, which made the blunet bury his face in his hands and Reiji to laugh harder.
The wound was still gruesome to the sight. Because of the poor treatment (China was offended at that. The doctor had to apologize and clarify that the material was poor, not the treatment) and the ripped stitches, it will leave a nasty scar.
Sei wrinkled his nose at that, but Reiji said that now he has something to woo the ladies with.
A second later, twin red marks of palms throbbed on his face and the satisfied girls high-fived. Sei sighed at his best friend's lack of tact, a smile etched into his face nonetheless.
After the examination, they were served dinner in the room, Aila and Reiji devouring most of the meal while China and Sei were laughing at their blissful expressions.
All was well until the Arian couple touched simultaneously the last piece of dumpling.
"Reiji," Aila said sweetly. "I touched this first so it's mine."
"What are you talking about?" Reiji retorted, not noticing the panicked flailing of Sei and China. "It's mine, I saw it first."
"Didn't you hear of the phrase 'ladies first'?"
"You're not getting away with that lame excuse this time!"
Sparks flew as they glared at each other and to avoid any bloodshed. Sei deadpanned and stole the last dumpling and cut it to two, presenting each with a half. The Arian duo looked at him as if he had murdered someone.
"What? No need to fight if you share." Sei sweatdropped. He was so screwed…
"Hmph, I'll forgive you just because you're injured," Aila grumbled and took her share. Reiji glared at the poor blunette, but ate his share quietly. The earth couple sighed in relief, they had avoided an apocalypse.
After everything settled down and the Arian couple was in speaking terms again, they decided on heading to the Gundam the next day. The blunette was not happy with the decision since he was the one left behind. China simply smiled at him and squeezed his hand in reassurance that they'll come back.
Reiji bit down a smart-aleck response when Aila stepped on his foot and glared at him in warning. Geez, that woman is scary.
At that moment, a servant entered the room and bowed to them. "His majesty says that you should head to bed since it is already late."
The prince smiled and thanked her. After she left he stood up and stretched. "Ah~! That was good. Aila, you and China can go to your room. I'm crashing here for the night."
"You sure?" Aila ignored the order and eyed China, who suddenly seemed very nervous.
"Of course! I need some men talk and you can have your can have your girl talk in peace now that Sei is awake."
Aila rolled her eyes but nodded, knowing that he wasn't implying anything derogatory and dragged away the protesting brunette.
Sei waved them goodnight and slumped into the pillow the moment the door was closed. Reiji looked at him and sighed, sprawling over a second bed. "You know, it won't make China worry any less if you hide it."
"I'm sorry." Sei took a deep breath and hissed in pain.
"Don't be. I get it."
"Thank you… for saving us." Sei held his covered stitches, breath erratic as he tried to reign in the pain. The morphine wore off an hour ago and it felt like he was being stabbed with white-hot iron saws. Sweat ran down his body as he calmed down. Reiji took a wet rag from a basin and wiped his face and neck with it. Sei sighed from the relief it provided.
"I'm just glad that you made it here before it was too late." You'll never understand how terrified I was when I had realized that you might not make it alive. How I was crying like a baby when I was told that you'll live. Even my own father had never seen me cry like that. Perhaps that's why he didn't bug him about his deserted duties.
"That reminds me – want to meet my dad tomorrow?"
Sei blinked at him as if he had completely forgotten that he was there. Reiji pouted but waited for him to answer.
"I never imagined you with a father," He confessed sheepishly. "I always saw you as an independent guy with no family."
"Well, he did give me a free reign over my actions when I was thirteen, a year before I met you. My mom is at her father's house. My parents aren't together anymore."
"I'm sorry."
"Nah, it has been years since then. I guess your mom just reminded me of her."
"She misses you, you know? Goes on rants on how you are the only one who appreciates her cooking." Reiji chuckled. "We miss you at home. It's too quiet."
"Then I promise to find a way back home." Reiji grinned widely.
And with that, they went to sleep with serene smiles.
