Hi everybody! Well, I'm back a little early this time, due to the fact that I won't be able to update when I'm supposed to (-.-' sorry Editor…) because I'll be busy that day. That, and the last chapter like, killed you guys XD! I did warn you…LOL Anyway, thanks for your reviews! Here we go!
Disclaimer: I don't own Chobits or any of the characters. Also, I don't own the story or characters that I lightly based this fic on.
Chapter 9- The Price
It was dark…so very dark…and it was cold. It didn't cause him discomfort, but it did send goose bumps up his arms and legs. He groggily opened his eyes to find that it was as dark as it was when they were closed. It was quiet all around him, but peaceful. Even though he couldn't see, he somehow knew that he was naked, but strangely enough, he didn't really care.
This was all very strange…how did he get here? Where was here? He tried to think back and could only remember blurry images and colors. It made his head feel strange, but this time it was almost uncomfortable. He had to figure out where he was, and kept trying to clear the blurs in his head. Slowly he remembered her, and that she had been screaming. Yes…he remembered that she had been screaming his name, and that he had been looking up at her face. Her face…she had been crying, but that was an understatement. He'd never seen someone with so many tears.
"Chi…" he said aloud, and it echoed all around him. That woke him up and he stirred, moving his arms and legs. He didn't touch anything and seemed to just be floating in space.
'Wait…' he thought back further than her, and remembered running toward her, yelling her name. He had been trying to save her…He gasped loudly. 'Did I get hit by that truck? Am I…' he gulped, 'dead…?
'You mustn't give up yet,' a familiar voice said.
From the corner of his eye he saw a faint blue light and as he turned to face it, the light became brighter and formed a shape. It seemed to be a woman with long blue hair and striking blue yes, wearing a long flowing blue dress and holding a long blue wand. Large blue fairy wings folded behind her that spouted from her back. She looked so familiar…
"Blue!" he exclaimed, almost unable to believe it. He had to be going crazy! She looked like something out of a dream, but he was sure it was her.
He suddenly remembered that he was naked and blushed brightly, attempting to cover himself. She simply smiled and raised a hand to stop him.
"Worry not, Hideki Motosuwa."
He nodded slowly, looking her over again. This was so crazy…
"As you have guessed, I am Blue, the mechanic you met previously. However, I am not truly a mechanic, or even a human. I am the Blue Fairy who grants wishes for those truly worthy. I recently granted the wish of Chi Motosuwa: a Persocom, as they are called on earth, wished to become human.
"You must understand that this was an extreme wish, and could not just be granted like any other. I had to ensure that it was for a good cause, and so I tested the one she wished to turn real for." She smiled down at him and he gulped. "What did you decide?"
"I, uh…" his memory was still blurry, but things had been slowly coming back to him. It didn't help that there was so much to take in- the woman was a fairy for crying out loud- and he was scared. He remembered talking to Yumi all those days ago, but couldn't quite remember what she had said. He focused only on that day, and slowly her words came back to him.
"I-It's a trick question," he stammered. He suddenly felt more confident and continued, but he found that he couldn't look at her while he spoke. "There isn't anything as precious to me as Chi. Nothing at all, not even my life…" He trailed off, hiding his face further from Blue. Hideki realized the intensity of what he had said, but didn't regret it.
She studied him closely. "Is that your answer?"
"Yes," he said quietly. He suddenly looked up and locked his eyes with hers, exclaiming, "Please, if that's not the right answer, leave Chi a human! I'm begging you! It would break her heart, and I…" he looked away, ashamed and unable to finish the sentence. He had been going to say that he couldn't live with himself if he did anything to hurt her, but had remembered that it was a little too late for that.
Blue startled him when she began to laugh. It echoed beautifully around him like the chimes of a bell and spread a welcome warmth throughout his body. He looked up at her to see her eyes sparkling kindly. "It's alright, Mr. Motosuwa. You are correct."
He sighed in relief, then a puzzled look crossed his face. "Why did you ask me a question like that?"
She became stern and he swore that the temperature fell several degrees. "Those who find love as valuable as material possession do not deserve to be in love." She became gentle and smiled down at him once more. "However, you are wrong about one thing : your life is worth something- Chi. If you weren't alive, she would be heartbroken and would cease the desire to live."
He grimaced, "That reminds me….Am I…dead?"
She sighed and nodded. "It was a brave sacrifice. You saved her life, Hideki."
If his heart would have been beating it would have stopped right then and there. His eyes widened and his head began to spin. He felt like he could throw up, but he knew it would be impossible.
"However…"
He looked up hopefully.
"I was not honestly expecting for you to give up something for her, but then you did this. Without even thinking about anything except for her well-being, you selflessly saved her life in exchange for yours. And for that, I will reward you. Not only will Chi remain a human, but…" she paused. He thought that if he would have been breathing he wouldn't have been able to at this moment.
"…I will give you back to her."
He stared at her in disbelief. Then as it sunk in, he started to laugh loudly. It echoed all around he and Blue, and without warning, his sobs began to mix with them.
He collected himself after a few minutes and met Blue's eyes again. "Thank you so much, Blue. I've never been so happy in my life."
"Ah, but you still have so many more years to experience happiness. Don't only appreciate this day."
He nodded.
"There is but one more matter that I must discuss with you. There are limits to what I can do for you and Chi. There will be some humanly things that she will not be able to perform. One of which is the ability to have children."
He felt disappointed at this, but nodded. "That's okay. Her mother couldn't have children anyway, but she and her husband were still happy and loved each other until the end. He even made her Chi and her sister for them." He smiled fondly. "It'll be hard at first, but Chi is strong. We'll get through it together."
Blue nodded. "There a few minor things besides that, but I don't believe that they will affect you too much. I will leave that to you." He bobbed his head up and down vigorously. "That is all I wanted to tell you. Are you ready to leave?"
"Yes," he said, and he was. He wanted to hold Chi in his arms, feel her heartbeat, and know that she was okay.
Blue waved her wand and in his mind he could see himself laying in a hospital bed. "When you return, you will be in this hospital. You have several broken ribs, a broken right arm and leg, and a small concussion. " He winced and nodded. "However, Chi will be there with you. She hasn't left your side since you entered the hospital." He brightened considerably at this.
"Wounds heal over time, whether it be physical, mental, or emotional. Take care of this woman, Hideki, and she will do the same for you."
He exhaled gratefully, bracing himself for the pain that soon awaited him. "I want to see her so badly…"
Blue giggled and waved her wand again. "Then what are you waiting for?"
He suddenly felt as though something was pulling him backwards and the dark world started to give way to light. He could feel the warmth of the other world and hear voices from the people who lived there. Slowly the dark world disappeared, and the last thing he saw was the blue woman standing in front of him with a smile.
A/N: Whoo, that was fun! Hopefully I answered all of your questions, but if not, let me know and I will try my best to answer you. There's one more chapter after this, and then I'm going to edit my other chapters. I hate seeing so many typos on them…LOL I had a very interesting experience while writing this chapter. When I was typing the part where Blue first appeared, the song "Blue" by Utada Hikaru starting playing on my CD. Freaky! Well, that's all for now. Review please!
