By: Lady Sapphire
Notes: Alright, you people are probably going to yell at me for taking forever to finish this chapter, but it's not my fault!!! I promised myself I would work on this in the summer...but with the summer season...you know...I get lazy...-_-" And then school started and homework is piling again and I lost the inspiration to write! So I apologize, I really do. Thanks for being patient, for all those who were awaiting for this. Let's see, I will dedicate this chapter to my friend, mari: can you see where the inspiration for the name of this chapter came from?
Chapter 15: Reconciliation
It wasn't long after the phone call when help arrived. Within ten minutes, about three to five black limos could be seen approaching from a distance at a sustainable speed. The sound of the roaring engines replaced the unearthly silence that had befallen the pair, and quite frankly this brash and surly noise was the one that Kai desired to hear at the moment.
He let out a sigh of relief, glad that his grandfather could find them, but shook his head in disbelief. Sometimes his grandfather overdid things just a bit. They were only two people, why on earth would they need five separate cars?
One by one, the limos stopped in front of where they rested, and the door to the first vehicle opened and out stepped the old butler with a broad smile of relief.
"Master Kai! Thank goodness we've found you!" he greeted enthusiastically, as he moved forward towards the young master. A weight suddenly disappeared from his heart. "We've all been so worried about you! Even the Master! Oh, but I'm afraid the Master couldn't come with us. He had to take care of something back at the mansion."
For a split second, it appeared that Kai was affected by his Grandfather's worry for him, but in the next, he was the same emotionless person again. "Hn," replied Kai, unfazed. It was typical. He knew his grandfather wouldn't come anyway and wasn't expecting it. He stood up, lifting the unconscious girl in his arms.
"Now Master Kai, what's wrong? Where are you hurt? As you can see, with me are some of the best medical personnel there is," the butler said swinging and arm around to demonstrate his point.
It was the first time Kai had noticed a group of people in white uniforms, hovering about. So that's what the other limos were for.
"Alfred, it's not me, it's Mariah…" he said softly, glancing down at her pale face. Without another word, he walked past the old man to address the medical crew. He observed each on-looking face with a serious and profound stare.
"Four days ago, she twisted her right ankle when we fell off a cliff. Two days later, we encountered a venomous serpent that attacked us. I was bit…but in order to save me, she made the decision to retract the venom through her own mouth, therefore possibly consuming a partial amount in the process. The next day, today, we scaled the cliff to get to where we are, but she passed out, possibly from fatigue, heat, or…the venom," Kai took a breath as he finished explaining the situation. "You will cure her no matter what the costs are," he declared.
The doctors listened carefully to what the young Master had to say. At first no one objected to the order, but then one by one, they started stating their doubts.
"Perhaps it is too late…"
"We need to know the type of poison in order to find the cure for it…"
"What if we can not rescue her?"
"If it's poison, then there's a very slim chance she might still be alive…"
"It'll be quite costly…"
This angered Kai. How could they think of excuses when Mariah was in this state? "I DON'T CARE WHAT THE COSTS ARE! Whatever you need, obtain it. Anything you need to know, find out. I don't care what you do, just save her! Do whatever is necessary to save her life!" he yelled, passionately.
The medical staff was stunned by the sudden outburst. All went silent for a few minutes before Alfred spoke, "But Master Kai, who is she? And why must you go out of her way to save her so? It looks to me you have wounds of your own that needs immediate attention as well."
Kai stopped, and looked at his oldest friend straight in the eye, "Because I love her…", he replied outwardly. He wasn't afraid of his emotions anymore. This was not the time nor place. The fact remained that he truly did care for her, and if stating it out loud would help them, then so be it.
What a shock it was for them all to hear Kai, the cold and hard-hearted young boy they once knew, openly express emotions of love. It was an occurrence that had never happened before, and to hear those words come out off his mouth was unbelievable.
Kai remained impervious to the fact that all eyes were on him. Time was a-wasting and who knows what would happen to Mariah if they kept stalling? Each second could be the difference between life and death. Ignoring the silent murmur of the surrounding crowd, he walked passed them and placed her body in one of the vehicles. If those idiots weren't going to help, then he'd save her by himself. And then deal with them later.
His actions seemed to snap the dazed group back to reality of the situation. A life was on the line and it was their duty as doctors to do what ever was possible. "Mr. Hiwatari, we're sorry. Don't worry. We'll save her no matter what," assured one of the doctors, pulling out a stethoscope and placing it in his ear. The others did the same, and then all at once, they gathered into the single limousine where the girl lay, in order to examine her.
Reassured that Mariah was in good hands, Kai nodded, letting out a heavy sigh. He was tried. This whole expedition had proven to his Grandfather's missions themselves. It made him wonder whether or not it was all planned from the beginning, but then he thought about the absurdity of it. His grandfather wouldn't put his only heir through near death. He stepped into another car. Alfred got in beside him and told the driver to head home. As the cars sped away, Kai took one last glance at the surrounding wilderness: a place of imprisonment and a place of refuge for them both. Now, it was all just a blurred streak of green behind them.
"Master Kai, your wounds are not light either. You must let a doctor take a look at that when we get back," said the butler, eyeing thee cuts and bruises on his skin.
"Hn," replied Kai softly.
"That pink cloth around your arm… Did that girl do that for you?" he asked gently.
Kai's expression seemed to soften, as he nodded yes. A subconscious hand went up to touch where she had wrapped his wound.
"You really do love her…" he murmured. It was still hard to believe. He had watched Kai grow up from a boy and because of how he lived, he didn't think he could love someone with the tenderness he showed today. She must be very special, to be able to influence the young Master so much in that way. Such an unexpected twist of fate for Kai to disappear suddenly and reappear again with someone he cared for more than himself. He prayed for fate to be not unkind as to separate such a strong relationship. "Do not worry, she will be all right," he assured him.
Kai faced the older man and half smiled. "I know."
As soon as they arrived at the Hiwatari manor, Mariah was immediately transported into a spare room in the house. Kai was cleaned up, and after a change of clothes, was treated for his wounds. Kai untied the ribbon from his arm so that they could treat the wound and sent a maid to wash it, saying that it did not belong to him and it would be only appropriate to return it to it's owner. Fortunately for him, there were no serious wounds and most of the poison was gone. He explained that it was Mariah that extracted the venom without his approval and that it was her that needed the most attention. He also told them of the remarkable plant they found and that its healing properties are what sustained them all this time.
The medical crew were quite impressed and decided to send a staff of researchers into the forest to study more of these rare plants. These were not easy to come by, so they had to take this chance. And who knows? This could be he missing ingredient for dozens of medications. Kai was commended for his resourcefulness and thanked for the information he provided.
After his wounds were wrapped, he demanded to hear a report on Mariah's current status. Her ankle was fine, almost completely healed. She just needed a few days off her feet. Regrettably, when she had used her mouth to draw out the venom, tiny amounts were accumulated in her blood system: tiny, yet significant amounts. That was the reason for her lack of energy that day. However, there was an antidote, and now that it was given to her, she would be all right. A few minutes later, and it might have been too late. The cause of her sudden collapse was exhaustion, which was caused by the poison, the excess heat, and the overexertion of energy she put forward to climb. Right now she needed rest. It might be a few days until she awakens, but all in all, she will make a full recovery.
Kai let out a sigh of relief. Now that he knew her condition wasn't critical, he could relax and rest up a bit. But his plans were interrupted for there was a knock on the door. His grandfather wanted to see him. It looked as if his long awaited rest would be delayed even more.
*~*~*
When Kai stepped into his grandfather's office, the old man was waiting for him, his back turned and him facing the window. "I trust that you are all right now?" he asked without turning.
"Yes, grandfather," replied Kai bluntly. He really wasn't in the mood for a lecture.
"Where have you been?" he questioned.
'Like you would really care what happened to me…' thought Kai, but nothing was uttered. "I was lost," he replied.
"Lost? Kai Hiwatari? My, that's shameful," mocked his grandfather, shaking his head.
"…and wounded," added Kai through gritted teeth. Normally, he would never let his grandfather's sadistic remarks get to him, but after all that he'd been through, he was at his limit.
"So I see…how careless of you," he murmured, eyeing his wounds and then scanning through the doctor's report on his desk.
Glaring, as the man before him glanced through some papers he had no interest in, Kai simmered silently in anger. He didn't know what his grandfather's problem was or why he was called here, all that he knew was that he hated him even more now.
Finally, looking up, he said, "It looks like you've brought a burden here along with you…what is her name?"
Kai cracked. That final comment just struck a tightened nerve. "She is *not* a burden! While you were the cause for me being lost and wounded ever since I first stepped foot into this house, she is the solution! She is my solution! You, who has raised me my whole life, you know nothing about me! You don't know what I feel, what I think. You treat me like a tool, an object you use to do your dirty work. Never once did you act like a grandfather to me…" exploded Kai, shouting at first and then calming down. "While she, on the other hand, who barely knew who I was before today, understands me better than you ever will! And that is why I have completed your final mission. Mariah has already given her word, my mission is done and I will not work for you anymore," finished Kai, tightening his closed his fists firmly for strength.
There was an eerie silence between them as Kai stood, heaving slightly, glaring unblinkingly at his grandfather for any change in expression. He received none. His face was completely blank, void of emotion.
Then suddenly, a smile appeared across his face, which came as a surprise to Kai, for he had never, ever in his life seen his grandfather smile like that out of pure joy. It wasn't expected. He, himself, had been waiting for scolding, yelling, and eventually punishment. He didn't know what to do or say next, so he just stared numbly staring at him, waiting for what he had to say about this.
"Kai, I am sorry. I never realized how much I mistreated you until Alfred spoke with me about it. If you didn't like it, you should have said something. By submission, you have made yourself vulnerable to me and a Hiwatari is never vulnerable! I hope you remember this lesson. And as for the missions…you won't have to worry about that anymore. Once you are better, we will make arrangements for you to take over my wealth and my estate. I have decided to retire and leave this country," explained Voltaire.
Kai could not believe any of this was coming from his grandfather. This was not the same grandfather he grew up with. He was changed. For one thing, he was smiling and apologizing, two things he never did. On top of that he was leaving his money, the one thing he really loved, all behind to him. It was all so confusing and strange! Slowly, he replayed his words in his head a few times before it finally sunk in.
"You look tired now. Go back and rest and we'll talk again once you regain your strength. The doctors said you would be fine and if you're worrying about the girl, she'll be all right too. So return to your room and rest," ordered Voltaire.
All Kai could do in response was nod. He turned to leave, but his grandfather spoke up once more, "One more thing, Kai. During your absence, I thought about the whole marriage idea and I understand. I retract my previous order, although it looks as if I don't need to," he said with a slight humour in his tone, "However, you can take things slowly. I will not force you to get married immediately."
Kai turned to face his grandfather with yet another expression of astonishment on his face. Was the man really his grandfather? He had trouble believing so. He nodded to the old man as a sign that he understood what he was being told. Turning once again, he reached for the doorknob and opened the door. Ambling weakly, he left the office and returned to his chambers to think of the scene that had just taken place.
Voltaire went up to the door to shut it, but not before taking one more glance at the retreating figure. "Sleep well, my grandson," he murmured under his breath and closed the door.
*~*~*
AN: Well! Hope you liked this chapter...it took me an eternity to write it -_-" Only two more parts to go, and I'll try ("try" being the operative word) to finish it off soon. Merry Christmas and happy holidays to everyone!