"Hello Mister, What's your blood group? Do you have any idea what her blood group might be?" asked the doctor with her right hand on Ryo's left shoulder; she was standing behind him. Ryo was as if in another world. He was still dazed and as such, he was unable to answer her. The doctor understood his situation, "Don't worry, we're gonna bring her back. Don't panic. It'll be just fine. Just give it some time." She said with an assuring smile on her face. After this long, Ryo's brain grasped the present situation, "Her blood is O-negative" he answered with a flickering voice. It was uncharacteristic of him to react like this, even he knew this, but the fear lurking deep inside himself, made him feel so vulnerable. The doctor just asked another question "That's pretty uncommon, and yours?" Ryo had no answer. How in the world could he know about his blood group? Never in his life did he ever go through such a situation where his blood group was mentioned before him. Ryo was about to say something, just then he felt a gentle tug on his overcoat, and looked down to the prostrate figure of Kaori, the doctor's eyes following his; what they saw was a surprise for both, Kaori was awake, she had sleepy eyes, it was as if she had difficulty in staying awake. She again pulled his overcoat, Ryo bent down understanding her gesture. "O…nega…tive." She whispered in his ears in a tired voice, "you…needed …. quite a lot!" she added with a pale smile. The doctor was observing all this very closely, but from the look on her face, it was evident that she couldn't understand even a bit of what's going on. After hearing her words, Ryo clearly understood what Kaori was talking about. Kaori's eyes met his'; and as they did, her face lit was lit up as if by the glow of a thousand heavenly lanterns, but all of that was momentary. The next moment, she was sleeping again. Ryo fondled her forehead, all the while calling out her name "Kaori, can you hear me? I'll be right here. This time I'm not gonna leave you alone!" The doctor had suspicion in her eyes, "Hey Mister, listen to me!" she called out violently shaking Ryo by his shoulders, "Did she wake up just like before?" she asked, eyes full of the fear of unknown. Ryo nodded in approval with a surprised look, "Just before we got down from the ambulance inside the hospital compound, she was awake just like this" then a thought flashed by his mind "Why do you ask? Is this bad?" The doctor didn't say anything, instead searched on Kaori for something, and moments later she held up her wrists of both her hands which bore needle marks. Tension in her eyes was evident, "Do you know what these are Mister? They're needle marks. She was drugged, and if I'm not too wrong, which I know I am not, then I can pretty well guess the drug she was injected with. Her vitals are falling" she looked at the still sleeping Kaori and said "She is gonna collapse. I'm afraid it's just like the case of the previous four girls where each of them died due to over usage of this particular drug" Ryo's eyes widened, "You mean to say that you actually know about this drug? How?" The doctor answered in a concerned voice, "It all started some six years ago…" she was about to tell something more too, but just then the nurse broke in who had rushed with Kaori's blood sample to run some tests. She seemed horrified, and tensed. No sooner had she entered than she burst out "Doctor, you're not gonna believe what I found in the blood sample. First of all the blood is one of the rarest group: O-negative. And then about the content….." The doctor cut her short with just one word "TEMAZEPAM….. right?" The doctor's face held sullen expression, and her jaw was tight. The nurse could say nothing more she just nodded. The doctor gestured to open the door and let Saeko in, for Ryo could now see that Saeko was standing outside. Her face couldn't be made out through the smoke glass, but her dress was enough to confirm her identity. As soon as the nurse opened the door, Ryo could see Miki and Umibozu standing there beside her too. Saeko gestured them to wait there and she came in. "What's the matter? Is she ok?" She asked. Although she said it pretty straight, Ryo could sense a tinge of tension buffed in it. The doctor said nothing, just nodded in refusal, "The same drug again! And this time too I'm afraid I won't be able to help. The usage had been too much for her. Her symptoms show the side effects already. She is presently suffering from 'Difficulty in staying awake' or 'Somnolence' in medical term. It's the first stage side-effect. I still don't have the slightest clue regarding the amount of damage it has already caused her. I am sorry to say that perhaps I won't be of must help this time too!" Saeko took turns looking at Kaori, then at Ryo! Never had she seen Ryo to be so vulnerable, it seemed that he might collapse any moment. Saeko neared the doctor and drew her to a side by her arm, "DO anything doctor, just save her! If you don't, you can't even imagine the outcome!" The doctor's voice grew tough "Are you threatening me Miss? I am a doctor by profession, and all that a doctor can do, is save a life which I do. But know this much that it's not always in the hands of man, that which is determined by god himself. If you think she'll be saved by your threats, you're vaguely mistaken." Saeko had a soft grin at the corner of her lips "Have you heard the legend of Shinjuku: The one that involves a holy spirit who comes through the message XYZ?" she asked….
