Hayden Jonston was doing a final check of his camera's when the makeup artist came running in. "Jill is having an asthma attack, Hayden."
He glanced up and quickly set down the camera. One look at the makeup artist's face had him frowning. "Is it a bad one?" She was now rummaging thru Jill's belongings.
The artist, Claudia, nodded. "They called the ambulance for her. I came in here for her inhaler."
She produced the inhaler and both raced towards the small room where their top model was struggling for breath. Hayden grabbed the inhaler from Claudia and gave it to Jill, who took a hit off of it. After a second one, her breathing eased a bit, but not enough to make Hayden relax any.
The blue haired photographer frowned. The model was starting to panic. "Calm down. We have an ambulance on the way and I'll go with you." The two had become friends during the time Jill had worked for Hayden's company and even gasping for breathe, her eyes reflected the relief she felt at his presence.
The next few minutes were a blur as the paramedics arrived and Hayden and Jill were wisked off in the ambulance as Claudia followed in her own vehicle.
Michael glanced up as the call came in that an asthmatic patient was coming in. He was waiting for her when she was brought in. Her breathing was still erratic and he frowned slightly at her elaborate makeup. When she was strapped to a oxygen mask and the nurses were taking her vitals, he walked out to where her companion was talking to the paramedics.
The girl's inhaler was handed to Michael and he nodded at the prescription she was on. As he turned back to go back to her, he caught a flash of blue out of the corner of his eye and all thoughts stopped momentarily as he looked at Chichiri.
The blue haired photographer glanced up and stopped talking also, shock on his face. Michael was quickly pulled back to reality as a nurse gained his attention. With a quick "I want to talk to you" to Chichiri, he was gone.
Hayden sat in the waiting room, disbelief running thru his head. Claudia came in, saw his shocked, pale face and immediately assumed the worst. Hayden was quick to assure her that Jill was fine as far as he knew and that he had seen someone he knew is all.
With a quiet Claudia beside him, both settled back with their own thoughts. Hayden knew who he was. He was Chichiri. He worshiped the god Suzaku. Beyond that, he didn't recall much of his past life. He had access to some of his powers. However, upon seeing that doctor in the hallway, he had been shocked. He had never seen the man before, but he had known it was Mitsukake, a name he didn't remember till that moment. Mitsukake the healer of the Suzaku Seven. He didn't know who the others were, didn't recall them at all, but he knew he had found another just like him. Even if Mitsukake hadn't asked him to wait, he would have anyways. He had to know. Maybe Mitsukake remembered more.
Both Claudia and Hayden were interrupted from their private thoughts when Michael enterred the waiting room. Both stood as he approached. He smiled reassuringly. "Jill is fine. Her breathing is under control."
Claudia sighed and sank back into her chair. "Oh that's a relief. One moment she is talking to me and the next moment she is gasping for breathe."
Michael nodded. "She told me that she had a mild attack yesterday and that this time of year she has to be extra careful. She should be fine, she will make an appointment with her regular doctor to discuss a change in medication or activities to control her asthma better."
Claudia nodded. "Can I see her?"
Michael gave a nod. "Yes, that shouldn't be a problem." He gestured for them both to follow him. Hayden trailed after Claudia, watching the doctor's back. The more time he spent in his presence, the more he felt he knew him and that his thoughts that the doctor was Mitsukake was correct.
Before he enterred the room, the doctor stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. "Excuse me."
Hayden glanced up. "Hai?"
Michael smiled at that. "I have a feeling I know you from somewhere."
Hayden nodded at this. "I have the same feeling."
Michael nodded and seemed to be considering his words carefully. "Does the name Chichiri mean anything to you?" This was said in a nervous tone of voice and Hayden smiled a bit. "It does. How about Mitsukake?"
The doctor's grin bloomed. "Chichiri! So you do remember?"
Hayden found himself enveloped in the man's embrace and to his great surprise found himself returning it. He reluctantly pulled back a moment later. "Actually, I remember very little from when I was Chichiri."
Mitsukake glanced down at him. "Really?" Surprise was evident and Hayden wondered why this surprised him. Michael pulled back. "Hmmm, I would have thought that of all of us, you would remember the most, or at least be the first to remember."
"Why would I be the first?"
Michael glanced at him. "You were our father figure, Chichiri. You were the wise monk, the one who guided us. You had powers that the rest of us couldn't even dream of."
Hayden was silent for a moment as he contemplated this. Finally, he slowly said. "If I was the one that was the most likely to awaken, maybe my memories are locked for a reason, so I didn't awaken to quickly."
Mitsukake nodded. "You do believe you are Chichiri, though, even without all your memories?" Hayden nodded. "Hai, I believe I am Chichiri, and you are Mitsukake, no da."
Michael smiled at the no da, and his grin grew wider at the confused look on Chichiri's face. "I don't know why I said that."
Mitsukake chuckled. "You always said that, Chichiri."
Their conversation was interrupted by Claudia. "Hey, Hayden. You coming in or not?"
Mitsukake and Chichiri shared a glance and then Hayden nodded. "Yes, sorry."
Jill was seated on the bed, dressed still and breathing easy. She smiled shakily at the photographer when he enterred. "I'm sorry Hayden."
He waved his hand in dismissal. "Don't worry about it, no da. As long as you are better."
Michael came in at this point with release papers. "And you can go now. Just promise me that you will make an appointment to have your asthma monitored more closely during this season."
At Jill's nod, he went over the release paperwork and released her to Claudia and Hayden's care.
As they were ushering her out, Michael handed Chichiri a slip of paper. On it were two names and numbers. "This is my cell phone number. The other belongs to Chiriko."
An image of a boy with pinkish brown hair and a childlike innocence to be counterred by an adult sized intellect, flashed thru his mind. "Chiriko?"
Mitsukake nodded. "Do you remember him?"
"Our youngest seishi brother, right?"
Michael nodded. "Yes, don't call him till you check with me first though, I'll warn him."
Hayden gave a nod and took the paper, slipping the precious numbers into his pocket. "I'll call you." He pulled out a business card and handed it to Michael. "I've always wanted to remember more then I do. We'll talk later, ok?"
Michael nodded and with a shared smile, Hayden walked off to help Claudia get Jill out the door.
Michael smiled and glanced at the clock. Four more hours till Chiriko would be in his room and he could let him know the good news. Chichiri had been found!