Chapter 9

Reala lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling. He was so hot. He got out of bed, and rubbed the sweat of his face.

"Throw pillow?"

"Go back to sleep, Adia," Reala said, voice cold.

Adia lit the oil lamp on the bed side table, "aw, baby, you're shaking," she got up and went over to him, "you okay?"

"I'm fine," Reala said irritably, "go back to bed."

"But-"

"I said go back to sleep!"

Adia shrunk away from her furious husband, "throw pillow?"

"Stop calling me that," Reala rubbed sweat from his face again, "it's so hot."

"Reala," Adia touched Reala's shoulder.

"Don't touch me," Reala grabbed Adia's wrist, twisted it, and threw her to the ground.

Adia started to cry.

Reala's rage subsided, "I… I'm so sorry Adia, I…" he rubbed sweat from his face, "I need air," he left Adia crying on the floor.

Adia and Reala didn't talk the next day. Their depressed mood, killing the holiday spirit.

"Reala," Nights stopped his brother in the halls, "I can't help noticing that you and Adia are fighting."

"Fighting?" Reala laughed awkwardly, "We're not fighting, why do you think we're fighting?"

"well," Nights began, "you haven't talked to each other all day, and Adia's eyes are all red like she's been crying, and-"

"Don't worry about it okay," Reala snapped, "and what gives you the right to tell me how to live my life anyways?"

Nights took a step back from his furious brother, "I-I wasn't trying to do anything like that, I just wanted to know if you and Adia are okay."
"What's wrong?" Reala said mockingly, "you scared of me?" he forced Nights into a corner, "you should be."

Reala was taped on the shoulder. He looked around and was socked in the face by Elijah. He collapsed.

"Elijah!" Nights said with distress.

"What? He was asking for it,"

Reala sat on the floor rubbing his head hazily, what hit him?

"Reala? You okay?"

Reala looked up, "Hm? Oh, hey Nights," he squinted at Nights, "has your face always been that color?"

"See what you did to him," Nights said angrily to Elijah.

"You sure he wasn't like that in the first place?"

Nights groaned, "Come on Reala," he helped Reala to his feet.

Reala stumbled slightly and held his head, "I don't feel right."

"No duh," Elijah rolled his eyes.

"Here," Nights supported his brother.

"Where are we going?" Reala asked, as they slowly made their way down the hall.

"The medical wing."

"Hm… where is that exactly?"

"Elijah," Nights looked at Elijah accusingly.

"Okay," Elijah confessed, "I might have used a bit of my aura to back up my punch, but at least he's conscious," Elijah smiled sheepishly.

Nights rolled his eyes, "just open the door."

Elijah opened the door to the medical wing.

Adia was sitting on one of the medical wing's beds, crying, Teara rubbing her back comfortingly.
"Why're you crying, Adia?" Reala asked.

"Why am I crying?" Adia stood up angrily, "why am I crying? Did you forget?"

Reala thought for a moment, and then nodded.

Adia burst into tears, "you're such an awful awful person. You hurt me, and then you pretend it never happened!" she cried into her hands.

"Hey, Adie, calm down," Elijah explained, "it's probably my fault."

"How could it be your fault," Adia sniffed.

"He punched him with his aura."

"Aw crud," Reala exclaimed, "is that what happened?"

"Come here Reala," Teara led him over to a bed and gave him a full checkup.

"How did he hurt you Adia?" Nights asked.

Adia held up her wrist. It was heavily bandaged.

"Is it broken?" Elijah asked anxiously.

Adia nodded.

"Why'd he do that?"

"I don't know," Adia explained, "he woke up last night,. he was sweating and shaking. He said he was okay; his voice was so cold… I went to comfort him, but…" she cried into her hands.

"Oh Adie," Elijah gave Adia a hug.

"Don't you dare touch her, you basterd!" Reala yelled ferociously.

"Stop being so rude to Elijah, Re," Nights pleaded.

"Why should I?" Reala snapped, "He's an arrogant, lying, Pig!"

That was it, Nights had had it with Reala's attitude towards Elijah, "you're the most idiotic, hotheaded, foolhardy, selfish, egotistical, person I have ever come into contact with, Elijah's not the Pig, you are! I wish I would have never called you brother! Come on Elijah," Nights grabbed Elijah's wrist and stormed out of the room.

Reala sat, heart shattered, Nights' harsh words ringing in his head.

"Oh wow," Teara said silently.

Reala slid off the bed, and walked stiffly out into the hall, and to his room.

Elijah held Nights as he sobbed uncontrollably.

"I-I'm s-such a h-horrible p-person," Nights stuttered, "I-I-I." his words were lost in his sobs.

"It's okay Nights," Elijah rubbed Nights' back comfortingly, "its okay,"

"N-no i-it's n-not," Nights sobbed, "I-I s-said s-such t-terrible t-things t-to h-him."

"I know," Elijah said softly, "I know."

Someone knocked on the door.

"Go away," Elijah called out, "we're having a private conversation."

"It's a very loud private conversation," Matsu's voice came though the door.

"We heard what happened," E.C. said.

"And we wanted to know if we could do something to help," Reginald finished.

"You could go get Nights some water," Elijah said.

"I'll get right on that," E.C. left.

Matsu and Reginald came in.

"Hey Nights," Matsu sat down next to Elijah.

Nights sniffed, "h-hey,"

"You need anything besides water?" Reginald asked.

Nights shook his head.

E.C. came in with a glass of water, and some Kleenex.

"Here," Elijah took a Kleenex from E.C. and dried Nights' tears. He took the cup of water and gave it to Nights.

Nights drank the water through shuddering breaths.

"Feel better?" Elijah asked.

"i-I'm tired," Nights sniffed.

"I'm not surprised," Elijah smiled, "you cried yourself out."

Nights slipped into his bed.

Elijah turned to leave, when Nights caught him by the sleeve, "stay."

Elijah smiled, "okay."