Chapter 3
The next day Rosetta woke up pretty late. At first she tried to jump out of bed thinking that she overslept and was late for practice, but the pain coursing trough her reminded her of all that happened so she lay down again for a rest.
Staring at the ceiling yesterdays events caught up with her again. How her reckless act could have ended much worse, how much she had worried her friends, the frown however lifting remebering what happened to May.
She tilted her head expecting to find her but the room was empty.
Having her by her side was a immense confort and now without her she felt more alone then she could remeber. However seeing the girl absent filled her mind with suspiction and sadness.
"Could she regret having opened to me?"
Fearing that yesterdays events could have just be a spur of the moment filled her with even more sadness. She hoped dearly that May was not going to close herself up again, having known her most inner side she wanted to keep it unlocked.
But the empty room hinted that something had happened whilst she had been asleep. The redhead closed her eyes and resumed resting hoping the next time she opens her eyes she would set eyes on a certain blackhaired girl.
But alone as she was she could feel the pain clearly and it took her an hour to barely start falling asleep. Altough she would have settled being conforted by Sora she knew she was busy because of what happened, but even so she yearned for someone else.
Entering halfdreamy state she was on the verge to fall asleep when a female voice yelled out from the corridor.
'Miss? Miss? Wait!' The commotion annoyed her and if Rosetta had been capable of walking she would have seriously complained about not gettin her sleep.
The footsteps getting closer and closer the redhead was scared when she heard a slight bump in the door. Then followed by another couple of bumps the doorhandle started moving and the door finally opened.
To the Rosetta's surprise and delight it was May who for some reason had opened the door with her foot. Just as the redhead wanted to ask why did the chinese with one mighty pull reveal the what had her hands occupied.
Never before had she seen so many roses in one place. The scent was exquisitly sweet and quickly filled the room. A few petals had been lost when forcing the large bouquet trough the door.
The sight was quite unique, at least it cleared her head of doubt and seeing the a mass of flowers that size for size was bigger then the chinese filled her with joy.
'What are those for?' asked the redhead finally altough suspecting the answer.
May faked a frown. 'Really now, these are for you. I thought it would be a nice change from the smell of the medicine that lingers around here.' 'It makes me nauseous.'
Rosetta was delighted by the act, but she would have settle for the girls presence. However she didn't want to seem ungreatful but just as she wanted to thank did a rather angry nurse disturb them.
'Miss I told you to stop. You have to sign something before you can get anything into the hospital. Also you need to clean the petals you left in the hallway.' May was annoyed having deprived her of the thanks she expected.
'I'll do that as soon as you get me some pots for these.' Resigned the nurse led the chinese out of the room again and had no choice but to help her.
Out in the corridor she could hear the nurse telling her that she needed to sign and clean up first and May response was her usual growl, but she complied. Rosetta smiled to herself at the much trouble the blackhaired girl had went trough for her and seeing May enter the room wanted to express her gratituted.
But May cut her off as she was energeticly sweeping and got out the room quickly saying. 'Be right back.'
Outside after a couple of minutes she heard the her again talking to the nurse.
'Here, take you damn broom and help me with the flowers.'
The nurse ,Rosetta figured, was probably cursing having chosen to work here. 'Miss do be carefull, these are ...'
The nurses voice was cut off by a loud breaking sound. '... ceramic pots.' finished the hospital attendant.
'Now look what you have done.' May didn't stop. 'I'll buy you ten new ones, now could you give me a hand.'
A few minutes later the silence was broken again.
'There, I just hope whoever you have brought those apreciates it.'
This remark widened Rosetta's smile as she expected the triumphant return of her friend. Again a bump was heared from the door but this time it came from a rollingtable the nurse must have given May to carry all the flowers at once.
Altough not having counted there must have been over twenty vases filled to the limit with roses. The victorious expression on the chinese face was no less then what Rosetta expected. She quickly took two pots and placed them closest to the girl and then proceeded to setting other in the room stopping ocasionally, thinking.
The redhead thought that she was considering the feng-shui.
After a few silent minutes she realized that she hadn't said a thing.
'May, you shouldn't have.' she said in a sweet voice interrupting the blackhaired girl leaving her a bit curious.
'Whats the matter? I thought you'd like roses, isn't that where you get your name from?' The redhead didn't want to upset the girl and said.
'Actually it comes from the arabic rashid which means just and righteous, but I meant thank you for the flowers.'
May enjoyed the wide simle on the redheads face. Since joining the stage she has learned just how precious they are but right now there was only one smile she valued. However the chinese was still reluctant about exposing too much of herself and wanted to shake the girl of, maybe slightly tease her.
' I'm sure Sora would have done the same if she hadn't been busy.'
Unlike what May expected Roetta was not at all upset as she saw clearly trough the masquarade.
'I'm sure she would, but that doesn't make it any less special.'
The blackhaired girl only gave slight smile because she was surprised how easily she was read. "Maybe only she truly understands me." She continued setting up pots and looked proudly after she was done. The cold sterile room light up in a red color and the scent was pleasent.
The days that followed where similar. Sora came as often as she could but always was being phoned by Kalos to return for buisness. She cursed having so little time to confort her friend, but she knew that with May had it covered.
Other people also joined as the visits grew more and more frequent. The chinese didn't mind all the people visiting, it was also a good chance to show of her impressive rosegarden. A curious thought was pooping up in her mind.
"Maybe roses are not where she gets her name from, but like them to truly shine they need care, but every rose as beautiful has its thorns. To fully apreciate it one must have
embrace them too."
She wondered where this new peotic sense had come from. She had always considered it to be useless romantism of loveless people, but now she saw that at the very heart there was something that appealed even to her.
Two days prior to her release Rosetta was still under almoast fullhour supervision by May and the replacing of old roses was becoming a daily routine. The nurse who was in charge of this part of the hospital had also gotten used to the daily routine and early in the morning always left a blank form and a broom for May.
'Same old?' asked the attendant seeing the chinese complete the form. It was a ridiculous question considering the mass of flowers next to her. 'Same old.' she replied having completed the form.
It was as always quite early in the morning and Rosetta did not even know of this little habit as she always slept trought the early hours. However this time as May entered the door slammed behind her due to some currents and woke her up.
May at first apologized but the redhead quickly waved it off, but she was surprised the maintanence behind the garden.
'You buy roses every day? You'll be broke by the end of my stay.' The chinese gave a smirk. 'Don't worry, I'll demand a raise, but look at it this way, this is not just from me but everyone back at the stage.' Rosetta smiled.
'How sweet.' May wanted to agree as she thought she was talking about the flowers but the redhead cut her off. 'And I don't mean the roses.'
This awkward little hint erased all of the chineses thoughts as she was dumbstruck by the words. This simple sentence did what other have strived for a long time to do. It made her nervous, she even blushed a tiny bit, but Rosetta was unaware as the blackhaired girl quickly got out of the room.
'I think I'll go get some more rosett ... I mean roses.'
After May had left she could not contain the laughter inside her. The redhaired girl enjoyed fighting with her but this slight game of teasing was also enjoyable. Seeing the normally strong, down to earth May get knocked out of pose that easily made her wonder why she hadn't tried it before, it certainly was fun.
As her laughter stopped she was greeted by a man's voice.
'My, my very mischievous of you.' Rosetta turned to see the spirit.
'Hello Fool. Come to visit me?' The man noded. 'I see you're still always keen on having fun. But what is this?' the spirit studied the surroundings. 'Roses?'
The redhead rested her head on the soft pillow. 'Yes May bought them.'
The spirit was intrigued. 'You know that usually getwell flowers are white and yellow, red roses are always a sign of roman...' he was cut of when Rosetta lighting fast reflexes kicked in.
Even she was astounded to still be this trained, but it was probably the fury that cause it.
'Have you come to annoy me?' she asked slowly squeezing the spirit. 'I'm sorry. I'm very sorry. I'm very incredibly sorry.' The girl relented but still had him in a firm grip. Fool gasped for air after having been mangled like that. He got out of her hand and floated above her looking around for something. 'Hey! Where's the shower?'
Rosetta laughed at his remark. 'Were at the hospital and even if there are showers here, I can't get out of bed.' It made sense to the spirit who floated over the girl when an alternative came trough his mind. 'Soooo, when do you have your spongebaths?'
The spirit thought to be out of reach, but Rosetta could slightly sit up and grabbed him again. She tied him up with a string from a ballon and let him freely float.
'I'll have Sora take you back you pervert.' The spirit didn't answer and how could he, if he was tied up to his mouth.
Some minutes later May returned and altough wondering about the misterious loop floating in the room was still slightly shaken by the previous encounter. Rosetta altough wanting to have toyed some more decided not to push her luck.
Later that day May had to leave to get something to eat. Sora had some time off and switched shifts for an hour. In that time she also picked up Fool and made sure that everything was in order.
May it seemed was more then capable of to take care of somebody, but she couldn't help but wonder if it was just because of Rosetta. Altough strong there always had been that helpless aura about her that made one want to help her.
But this covered a strong will and Sora was sure that May knew it.
After returning from her lunch she wanted to show her friend the traditional japanese cuisine but just as she entered she slightly flinched at the sight. The pale green shirt provided by the hospital was butoned at the back.
On her belly she beheld Rosetta lying with her back exposed whilst Kate with a led weight was checking for any signs of pain.
'So it only hurts there?' asked the doctor then realizing the chinese had come in.
'Hello May, didn't hear you come in.' The chinese could not belive it but there was something strangly enchanting about this sight and for the second time today she blushed, but unlike ealier the reaction was much stronger the before.
This time she clearly felt the blood rush trough her cheeks and quickly turned around to avoid any emerassment and pretended to manage her flowers.
Kate chuckeled slightly at the spectacle, Rosetta on the other hand had her head in the opposite direction and didn't catch anything.
'So thats the area that still hurts.' she continued remebering her other patients. 'I'll perscribe you a cream for today and tomorrow.'
Then getting up she adressed the chinese. 'Come with me May, I'll give it to you right now.'
May had to object still unable to hide her red face but was cut off.
'I need you to apply the cream two times today and three times tomorrow. I can't spare any nurse to do that as we have our hands busy at intensive care.'
May altough reluctant noded and hoped she could manange this somehow. The chinese followed her and after a few minutes returned with the said ointment.
Rosetta wanted to turn as she heard the girl come in but May intervened. 'No! Don't move! You have to stay still.'
The redhead complied and stayed still waiting for the soothing balm.
Not having Rosetta made look at her directly made the task at hand easier, but not by much. She admitted to have been quite a brute and now stroking this fragile body was a all new kind of challenge.
After a few missattempts she however got the hang of it. The solution however was quite odd to the feel and it took a lot of rubbing to fully be absorbed trough the skin. Besides a few bumps that where still because of the accident May was quite intrigued at the sleak and smooth back and after a couple of minutes was again completly at ease.
Altough quite nervous at first if this was going to help her partner recover she was more then willing and there was some unseizeble joy getting to know the girls anatomy.
'All done.' she finally said and walked around to ask if she had done a good job.
Suprisingly Rosetta had fallen asleep and May gave a content smile having induced rest to the girl and covered her. Seeing this smaller girl fisty and competitive was something May enjoyed, but now this sight of the peacefull resting Rosetta was just as aweing.
"How cute." she tought and pulled herself a chiar next to the bed and timed when she would need to reapply the solution.
Six hours later May again was needed but this time all the nervousness was gone as she wanted Rosetta to fully see her as she was gently masaging her back.
The redhead was quite intrigued seeing how the hands that where usually rough and blunt could be the source of such comfort. She thanked May for taking care of her and the chinese was starting to enjoy having someone to look after, it remided her of her early years when she was in charge over her siblings.
The combination of soothing massage and caring May seemed to have a sleepinducing effect as once again Rosetta struggled to stay awake. The rest of the evening the blackhaired girl had kept close watch over the girl taking the moments of silence to study the girl who looked similar to an angel.
The next day proceeded in a similar fashion and the oitment fufilled its purpouse.Rosetta was sent home early in the morning. The solution worked better then anticipated, maybe due to May's intervention.
The chinese was slightly sad having this quality time end and her garden would now be left to rot. The nurse whom she had met along the week however promised to distrbute what was left to the other patients.
But if the role of caretaker for her partner had just ended another role had to be fufilled as May now needed to train with the girl so she would regain her phisical prowess.
Rosetta's Room
A smaller blond rushed in the door and yelled out in distress. 'She's here, they came early.'
The other people in the room quickly rushed their last minute preparations before closing the curtains.They signaled eachother to remain silent.
Outside May and Rosetta could be heard. 'Really now, the cabdriver was just doing his job.' The chinese voice sounded louder then the other girls. 'That doesn't mean that he needs to expect a tip. That was just a waste of good money on your part.'
The handle turned and inside a comotion slightly started as the anticipation grew. 'Huh, its unlocked.' were the blackhaired girls last words when a crowd of people yelled out. 'SURPRISE.'
The response however was not what they expected. May almoast jumped out of the room and almoast fell if Rosetta had not catched her.
'What the hell are you trying to do?' she said holding her hand to her chest. No one ever expected her to be skittish like that and was quick to apologise.
Sora was the first one to summon enough courage. 'We wanted to have a suprise party for Rosetta's return.'
Everybody got in and showered the redhead with gifts, some expensive some downright weird like Sarah harmonica.
'Why would I need a harmonica?' asked Rosetta. 'Now now, its not nice to refuse a gift, and isn't that what they play music on in the hospital?' said the british woman. 'That's the prison.' finished the redhaired girl.
'Really?' asked the woman apologizing for the inadequete gift, but Rosetta liked it.
She had been curious to see if she had any musical skill and after many failed attempts she got down a simple melody from a belgian song she knew. The evening progressed in similar fashion and everybody was surprised to hear about May's acts of kindness. Anna was the most incredulous.
'Are we talking about the same May?' If Sora hadn't confirmed what she had said she would have never belived it, but the chinese didn't want to seem the to upright with them.
'Don't think I'll do the same for any of you. You firstly need to get into the hospital, then we'll see.'
After everyone left and May finally stopped boasting about her flowers and Sora made sure she was alright Rosetta phoned Kalos and asked if the offer for the co-staring was still available. The boss allowed her but only after Sora's contingency stage ended which gave her two weeks to get into shape and create something with May, however that did not seem a problem.
'Welcome back.' Fool said appearing in the middle of Rosetta's bedroom. The redhead greeted him and was in a good mood.
They talked for about an hour and she told the spirit everyting that had happened during her stay. Fool couldn't belive what he was hearing.
'Your kidding.' The girl shook her head. 'No really I know its hard to belive that May could be this caring.'
The spirit continued sounding dissapointed.
'That's not what I can't belive. Its the fact that May gave you a backrub and I wasn't there to see it'. Rosetta laughed softly then resumed her sleep.
The next day Rosetta was cruely awakened by May pounding on her door. Her stay at the hospital had made her somewhat of a late sleeper but her partner wouldn't have any of that.
' I'll count to three. One ... Two ... Three.'
The blackhaired girl charged the door, but Rosetta on the other end opened it so there was nothing left to slow her down.
Thankfully she tripped or she would have flown out the balcony.
'Are you alright?' Rosetta asked helping the girl up. 'Yeah. Just get changed and lets go.' The redhead noded. 'I'll be done in a minute.'
She left leaving the chinese to check if she had any injuries. 'I'm counting to three. ... One. ... Two.' '... Don't hold your breath.' interrupted the redhead from an adjancet room.
Rosetta was surprised how easily they returned to their old fights. It made her a bit sad. "Maybe it was just because of the hospital." she tought. There seemed to be none of that caring May left that she had enjoyed the past days. However having recovered there was no real reason for the chinese to give that kind of care, she knew it, but that still didn't stop her longing for it.
Training Hall
The two performers had the luck to have most of the hall to themselves. With Sora's stage a booming succes, all that where involved practiced directly at the stage.
Mia however having calibrated the script as much as she could left the supervision to another director and was looking at the two, trying to come up with a story for their next play. Without an active role all she did was the usual practice to keep her mediocre skill sharp.
She envied not having Sora's or May's skills, but she enjoyed making a script much more, it was the initial reason she joined the stage as she was the only kid asking the parents to read her the story from the booklets. The last two hours where pretty routine and Mia wasn't not as enticed as she had been. At first she thought that the partners where slowly building up to a climax, but in the last minutes they hadn't progressed at all.
'You're boring me to death here.' she finally said. It was unusual for her to be that harsh but over the years she had earned exprience.
Rosetta and May quickly tried to make ammends but both ended up falling. The chinese got out of the net and excused herself. 'I'll be back in a few hours.'
Mia allowed her even tough she was in no real position. With the blackhaired girl leaving Mia and Rosetta where left alone.
'Mia?' the redhead asked. 'Yes?' answered the strawberryhaired girl knowing the question she was about to be asked.
'You think that May doesn't like me as a partner?' Her intuition was right and Mia was quick to answer.
'I think that now both of you are incapable of performing.' Rosetta got of the net with an incredulous look on her face. 'Whaaaaat?'
This outburst didn't affect the female director as she led her out of the hall explaining.
'You have lost most of your strength with your stay.' Rosetta noded.
'I know that. But..' interrupted Mia. 'With May constantly looking after you she too has neglected her training and fallen behind.' she ended.
Rosetta didn't even realize until now, she always had this image of the strong May in her head.
'That's why I need you to ask her to train with her. She would never admit becoming weaker.'
The redhead was unsure how she sould proceed.
'I don't think she will.' Mia turned and put her hands on Rosetta's shoulders so she could see her directly in the eyes. Over the years the redhead had grown and there was a slight diffrence in height.
'Listen, you as her partner have to ask her.. no .. tell her. Partnership like other relationships have to be build up on trust and respect.'
Rosetta understood and noded in agreement, she needed to be more assertive.
May's Room
The redhead knocked a few times and decided to enter, a bit cautios, but more determined then scared. She looked around and just couldn't find her anywhere.
"Not in bed." "Not in the kitchen." "Not on the balcony." She stopped in front of the last door she hadn't tried.
"One room left."
Other times she would have quickly reconsidered opening the door to anyones bath without knowing what was going on inside. If Fool had been he would probably choked whilst laughing.
Slowly opening the door she wanted to quickly close the door if something emberassing would happen but the sight completly froze her. In the bath there stood May with her back to the door, a short towel along her waste covering her lower body whilst picking up the hairdryer.
The intent gaze lasted only a couple of seconds but it seemed far longer to Rosetta. She had not seen her uncovered like that and altough the stage costumes where often giving away the girls feminine form this sight was by far more bewildering.
This was the first time the redhead could remeber seeing May's hair not tied into her two awkward ponytails. The blush on her face got stronger and as she gulped taken by the whole thing May slightly turned her head.
'Oh its you.' she said smiling but Rosetta who quickly slammed the door fearing the chinese could fully turn to face her.
The blackhaired girl at that response started laughing quite loudly. She catched the flustered expression on Rosetta's face and it was something she would not so quickly forget.
The redhead who was now also redfaced hadn't completly run away and was sitting at the table with her head slapped to the table with her hands covering her head. She could not belive what she had done and altough it was a simple accident it didn't make it any less emberassing.
A few minutes later May came out of the bath freshened up and still horribly amuzed by the whole incident. She sat down on the other end of the table and said holding back her laughter. 'You can look now.'
Rosetta took a while to raise her head and raised it only slightly as if fearing the other girl was still undressed. Thankfully it wasn't but the nervous shaky stare made May laugh wholeheartedly again and she sunk her head in the table again with an audible bump.
To her this hadn't been at all amuzing and it took her quite some time before she could mask some of the blush she had.
The chinese amuzed could not see the reason behind her shy reaction.
She told her that altough having spent her years in the U.S her parents always took her too traditional chinese public baths where it is customary to bathe comunly with everyone. And both where girls so there should be no problem.
Rosetta now having regained some of her composure explained that in Paris where she grew up women altough dressing revealing sometimes to get persistant stares would only reaveal this much to tease and only fully reveal themselves to their lovers or more persistant suitors.
The two views on the subject couldn't be diffrent but May had to admit that she too got flustered seeing the other girls plain back, but she quickly got used to the sight.
'So what is the real reason for your visit?' asked the chinese partially wanting to move on but the other part wanting to remind of the earlier events and maybe get another flustered expression from the redhaired girl.
But Rosetta didn't do any of that as the look in her eyes turned blank, she effectivly froze there because she rather emberassingly forgot why she came in the first place.
It took her a few moments to forget what had happened when she remebered Mia's words. Her vision turned from wondering to serious as she said.
'I know that you will not like to admit this but staying with me at the hospital hasn't helped your condition either.'
May was surprised how easily she had figured out, but knew that someone must have told her.
She kicked her legs trying to avoid the subject only saying.
'I wanted to train in secret at night.' Rosetta looked at her as if May didn't trust her too much.
'Please as your partner tell me such things. You'll die one day choking on pride. If you train at night you'll be tired to practice in the day.You will train, but I will train with you.'
May didn't like being argued similar to how her mother used to tell her off.
'Really its no big deal.' The redhead shot up. 'This is not open for debate! If you can't trust me then we can't be partners.'
The chinese was surprised to see that kind of determination and devotion and did something she rarly did, she gave up, and quitely said. 'Alright.'
Rosetta felt much better having persuaded her and both left for the traininghall eager to start working out. May now saw her actions where quite childish and realized that out of the two she had the least experience in partnerships. Rosetta had a far better understanding what them co-starring would mean as she with Sora created the legendary maneuver which for the sake of survival needed to have at its base a strong partnership.