My Most Painful Memory
Ch. 3
"Kyou… You didn't have to come…" Torhu blushed as she spoke. She carried a basket in front of her as the two of them made their way down the path to town. They were going to get groceries.
"Don't worry about me," Kyou blushed as well.
Torhu smiled, and they both continued walking. The day was cool and a warm breeze kissed their cheeks. Torhu hummed out a sweet tune and even the birds stopped to listen. Kyou walked contently by her side.
Suddenly the humming stopped, but was replaced by: "Oh My God!" followed by the sound of Torhu's basket crushing against the hard ground. Kyou jerked up his head and took in Torhu's horrified stance. His eyes widened and he slowly turned his head forward.
In front of them, on the ground lay a girl. The breeze helpfully brushed the girls hair out of her face.
Her mouth was slightly open, and there was a rather nasty bruise on her cheek. Her skin was pale and dirt stuck onto the places where her tears had ran. Blood stood out brilliantly. Torhu ran to the girl's side and rolled her over onto her back. "Shiori!" she cried when she recognized the girl.
Kyou stayed where he was, too frightened to move. Torhu, however, was taking charge. Throwing Shiori's arm over her shoulder, she stood. Slowly she made her way back down the path toward the house. "Kyou, could you grab the basket, please?" she called back to him.
Kyou bent down and picked up the basket, but did not reply. For some reason he couldn't find his voice. He had just seen Shiori yesterday, and she was smiling then. She had been happy, and full of life. When he had seen her on the ground she looked… Dead.
When they reached the house, Torhu used her foot to open the door. Shigurai and Yuki were sipping tea in the living room, which they dropped when they saw what Torhu was carrying. The dropped the teacups would lay forgotten until much later in the evening.
Torhu laid Shiori onto the floor while Yuki ran to call Hatori. For once, Shigurai was speechless. Torhu instructed him to bring her some towels, and a bowel of hot water. He nodded and obeyed. Kyou stood, forgotten, in the doorway.
Torhu did the best to clean Shiori off before Hatori arrived, but it also revealed more bruises. Hatori could do much for Shiori, but he did all that he could. She was alive, and for that, everyone was grateful.
Kyou looked at Shiori's face as she laid in Torhu's bed. Her eyes flickered lightly, but did not open. Kyou turned to focus on the conversation between the rest of the group.
"How long till she recovers?" A concerned Torhu asked Hatori.
"Can't really tell…" He sighed and gave a short glance at the girl. He turned and faced Shigurai, "have you gotten a hold of her parents yet?"
Shigurai shook his head, "no, but the kids say they walked her home yesterday and offered to go over there in person.
Hatori nodded and silence fell once again. Kyou sighed and looked back at Shiori, except this time she was looking at him as well. Kyou let out a small squeak of surprise and jumped backwards. Everyone turned to see what was wrong and were met with the same surprise.
However, Shiori did not share their expression. Normally if you woke up in a room full of people you didn't know you'd at least be curious to 'WHY?' But Shiori didn't even look curious; in fact, she didn't even seem to notice anyone. Her eyes were empty and her face was blank.
"Shiori?" Torhu ventured closer. Shiori's head fell limply to the side, and her eyes barely seemed to register Torhu. Her lips moved allowing a quiet word to sneak out, "mother?"
Torhu blushed a bit and shook her head, but Shiori didn't see. Shiori's eyes began to drift shut, but she managed to speak once more. "Torn… I was…" Her eyes closed and two teardrops trickled out, and were absorbed by the pillow fabric.
No one said a word, confused by the sleeping girl.