Lilly: I give you all full permission to kill me... Yes it has been over 10 months since I last updated...(Hides behind swivel chair)
Laurry: But on the plus side here's an update and another one coming soon...
Lilly: Don't hurt me please...
Chapter 7: Struggle
Whatever the struggle, continue the climb. It may be only one step to the summit."-- Diane Westlake
Concentrating on putting one foot in front of the other she gripped the railing hard. Her breathing was coming in gasps, her blood pounding in her ears. She tripped over her own feet but held on to the side of the railing, balancing herself with exertion she moved off again.
Finally Cheza reached her bed side and kneeling down she extracted from a drawer a red rain coat and pair of boots. Putting her hand on the window glass she felt the warm shimmering rays of the sun as it began peeking out of the clouds.
Her breathing eased. Quietly Cheza made her way out of the ward. Somehow unnoticed, she was outside the hospital and following a path her feet remembered well.
The tinkling of a fountain, the wind in the trees, the drip of water in the leaves. She was here after such a long time. Cheza was back in her little garden a place that made her heart truly happy. She smiled serenely and sat on the stone bench by the fountain taking in the joy of the garden. She was only good for sitting at the moment, may be sing, no running around to see how the garden was doing. She felt exhausted but the being in the garden gave her so much joy that she could bear the pain now.
Yet it seemed that this wasn't the same happiness she had always felt. Now there was something missing. Something not right, she wanted, no, she needed more?
Then she heard the sound of footsteps behind her.
Yuki spotted the familiar wild brown hair and with a surprised cry ran after him. Freeton college was so vast that trying to find someone was like looking for a needle in a haystack full of so many other needles, how many other guys had she thought were Kiba and then turned out to be... not Kiba? So perhaps she shouldn't have screamed his name as she ran through the courtyard after him, clutching her books.
"Kiba!! Hey you? Dreamer boy wait up!?"
He was just leaving by the east gate when she caught up to him. He turned a corner and Yuki came to a dead stop, her arms hanging loosely about her books, a most indescribable expression upon her face. Kiba was not alone.
Walking parallel to him was someone, someone who caused an unconscious blush to spread across her cheeks. Feeling the blush her surprise turned to anger. She shook her head and breathed out again calmly.
"Kiba! Hi!" she called catching up to him.
He turned and noticing her smiled slightly in acknowledgement. "Yuki."
She smiled back and then looked straight ahead. She was on Kiba right side while Tsume walked n his left side a hand in his pocket (a wonder to all witnesses) and one holding his motorcycle jacket over his shoulder. He glanced at Yuki and stiffened. He glared at her and then looked pointedly away.
There was an awkward silence. That neither wanted to break. That was until bother turned simultaneously to Kiba. Yuki began to talk and Tsume had only opened his mouth when noticing the other they scowled and looked away, arms crossed.
Kiba looked at Yuki who was frowning and quite pink to Tsume whose expression was turning more and more grim.
"Uh..." Kiba said uncertainly.
Yuki stuck out her tongue at Tsume who snorted. "Very mature Yuki."
"Jerk." was her reply.
"Do you two know each other?"
"Yes." She said.
"No." He said.
Kiba raised an eyebrow.
"No!" she exclaimed.
"Yes." He amended.
They glared at each other. Yuki huffed muttering under her breath as Kiba gave Tsume a quizzical look.
The two didn't seem to be ready to say anything else so Kiba split the silence.
"Yuki? Are you working at the hospital today?"
She looked up and smiled. "Actually I wanted to talk to you about that!"
Tsume cleared his throat loudly. "I think it's clear I'm not wanted here."
The trio had been walking on the footpath, a boundary of the college towards the parking lot. Tsume stepped away onto the road, crossing it to reach his motorcycle which he had parked a little way away. With a look at Yuki and Kiba he revved up the bike before riding away.
Yuki glared after him, for a moment and then turning to Kiba said "Cheza." He felt surprise jolt through him. Somehow she had flit in and out of his thoughts all day.
"She's been wondering where you went? You kinda disappeared?" Yuki questioned.
Kiba began to explain but halfway into the conversation he shut up and clenched his fist. Looking at him confusedly Yuki opened her mouth "Wha-" but was cut off as they both came to a dead stop.
Leaning against the wall, a smirk on his face was Russell McFaul.
"Well Hello there...Kiba" He stood up straight, "Oh and look you brought a little friend..."
Yuki glowered at him.
"What do you want?" Asked Kiba, a few of Russell's thug friends had appeared and Kiba felt on edge.
'Too many...' he though counting the boys. 'Why did Tsume have to leave?'
As if echoing his thoughts Yuki burst out, "You're such a coward McFaul! Sneaking up on us and only showing your face when Tsume left!"
Russell stopped smirking and stared at Yuki who stepped back.
His smirk reappeared on his face and recognition flashed in his eyes.
"Kiba you really are something, always with your friends' girlfriends? Can't you get your own?"
Kiba's eyes widened and he looked at Yuki who was shaking in anger.
"Shut up! Shut you're filthy mouth you-"
"Yuki." Kiba tried to calm her keeping his voice low.
"How can you- how can you say that to Kiba?" she burst out again but the girl wasn't angry on her own behalf, she was enraged over Russell's comments to Kiba. "He does so have a girlfriend! You're just a jerk and a bully! You-"
"Shut your face you little bitch!" Russell moved forward to grab Yuki's shirt at that moment Kiba's fist connected with Russell's stomach. Russell recoiled and his thugs moved forward uttering angry noises.
"Run Yuki!" Kiba yelled.
For a moment she just stood there, shocked by the events progressing faster then she could comprehend., then she blinked and Kiba was pulling her along in the opposite direction.
They ran. Russell's outraged cries echoing behind, not even daring to look back in case they were followed.
Feet numb, head pounding, soon their gasps had turned into laughter as they stopped in front of an apartment building.
"Kiba could you wait for me? I just need to get a few things from my apartment then we can go to the hospital together?"
He nodded.
Yuki was gone and back in a flash and they set of to the hospital. Pretty soon they were approaching the white washed walls of Freeton Hospital.
At the double glass door Kiba stopped.
Leaning her head out of the door Yuki asked "You coming in or what? Cheza is waiting..."
"No..." he shook his head.
"Suit yourself..." she shrugged and rushed in already late for her shift.
Kiba stood there and heard it.
Singing.
And his heart soared.
There was a little path to the side of the hospital. Kiba walked into it. His feet moving of their own accord. After about five minutes he emerged to a familiar setting. A little green area and some trees were set in an alcove, with a bigger park further on. The sickly sweet smell of freshly cut grass wafted from an expanse of lawn. A fountain bubbled away in the background, flowers of yellow and pink danced in the breeze and birds chattered in the trees.
On a small stone bench in front of the fountain, she sat. Eyes closed, hair gently swishing in the breeze.
"Cheza." He breathed.
She stood up, turned around and opened her eyes.
"Kiba."
Lilly: OMG! There you have it!! It's done it's there...finished.( falls over and begins to snore)
Laurry: And the next chapter, a highly anticipated chapter is on it's way...yes there is fluff people so throw a party or what ever it is you fan girls do...=.=
Lilly: (snores)
Laurry: (sweat drop) Right... so yeah...Lilly would say something highly random now and solicit you to review...please do... with superior amounts of constructive critique, might I add.
Lilly: (drools) heehee...Kiiiba....
Laurry: Well do review...TTFN