Chapter 9

Time seemed to slow down for Sana. Her thoughts,normally loud and all over the place,had gone completely silent. She felt her fingertips go numb. One word escaped her lips. One word was all she could muster,which came out as a soft whisper. "No."

She broke into a sudden run. Chasing the horses,Sana ignored the sound of Naozumi yelling for her. She followed to horses to where she thought they were going,the town's medic. Her side ached and her lungs burned as she ran as fast as she could.

Not stopping once, Sana ran all the way to the medical building,where she saw the two horses tied up in front. The white horse seemed perfectly calm as it drank water from the water tank. The brown horse on the other hand was rearing back and freaking out all over the place. Sana jogged up it and she began trying to soothe him.

Once the horse was calm,Sana went inside the medical building. She was in too big a hurry to notice any of the details of the building's interior. She saw Akito sitting on a chair outside one of the rooms. She walked over to him.

"Akito." Sana said.

Akito looked up at her. Sana was taken aback. She had grown used to the serious look he always wore on his face. But this was completely different. The look on his face at that moment showed emotion. Pain and worry.

"W-w-what happened?" She asked,panting from her run.

"Tsuyoshi's been shot." Akito said plainly,despite the emotion on his face.

"Oh my god." Sana said,bringing her hands to her mouth and nose.

"Twice." Akito continued. "Once in the shoulder. Then again through the arm. A couple doctors are seeing him now. I don't know if he'll make it."

"Of-of course he'll make it,Akito." Sana said,trying with everything she had to stop herself form crying. "He'll be j-just fine."

The front door opened and Aya ran up to Akito and Sana. "What happened?" she almost yelled. "Where's Tsuyoshi?"

"Aya." Sana said.

"He's in there,being treated." Akito said,pointing at the door next to him.

"T-treated?" Aya repeated. "Treated for what?"

"Gunshot." Akito said,his voice as calm as ever.

At Akito's answer,Aya broke down. Tears began streaming down her cheeks and her knees gave out. Sana caught her as she fell. Aya crying was too much for Sana,as she began to cry too. The two girls sat holding each other crying,while Akito sat staring at the floor.

The front door opened again to reveal Naozumi rushing in. "Sana! What's wrong? What happened!"

"Nao." Sana said. She got up and walked over to him. "Come here." Naozumi and Sana walked to the other side of the room so Aya wouldn't hear them.

"Shot?" Naozumi said. "By who?"

"I don't know." Sana said. "You'd have to ask Akito. But I don't think you should right now."

"Why not?"

"Because his best friend is behind that door getting treated for two gunshot wounds." Sana said. "Just leave him alone for right now."

"'Best friend.'?" Naozumi repeated. He looked over at Akito. "He doesn't seem that broken up about it."

"He is. I know he is."

"Alright."

"Alright. Come on. Let's go back to Aya."

The two of them walked back to Akito and Aya. Sana sat back down next to Aya with Naozumi sitting between Sana and Akito.

Sana and Aya continued to cry,but not as loud as before. Akito stared at the floor while Naozumi patted Sana's back.

"It's okay." Naozumi said. "He'll be fine."

"Didn't know you cared so much,sheriff." Akito said,still looking at the floor.

Naozumi shot Akito a filthy look. "I'm only here because he's Sana's friend."

"That so?"

"Yes. Do you have a problem with that?" Naozumi said.

"No. No problem at all." Akito went back to staring at the floor.

Naozumi suddenly stood up and grabbed Akito by the shirt collar. "You know what? I have a problem with you."

"Really?" Akito said. "What for?"

"'What for?' Can't you see Sana and Aya are crying their eyes out. Your so called 'best friend' is dying in there,and you have the only dry eye. I have a problem with careless people."

"YOU THINK I DON'T CARE!" Akito shouted. Aya and Sana jumped up in shock. The had never heard Akito so loud. Naozumi,just as shocked by the unusual volume,let go of Akito's shirt.

"Excuse me." said a voice. The four of them turned to see one of the doctors standing there.

"Doctor! Is he alright?" Aya quickly asked.

"How is he?" Akito asked,looking th doctor in the eye.

The doctor took a breath. "Your friend has suffered two gunshot wounds to the right upper arm. It seems the first bullet entered his shoulder and nicked his axillary artery. Then it got lodged in his upper humerus. We were able to remove it.

"The second bullet went through his arm,barely missing the brachial artery. We have cleaned and stitched the second bullet wound closed. He's going to be fine. But I'm sorry to say that that arm of his will cause him a lot of discomfort for possibly the rest of his life.

"He needs to stay here for the time being. He can't have any visitors yet,but if you all would wait a while,then you can see him."

The doctor bid the four of them good day,and walked off to treat another patient. After waiting around a bit longer, Naozumi said that he had to leave. Giving Sana one last hug,and Aya another comforting word,he left.

A bit while later,a nurse told them they could see Tsuyoshi. Aya rushed in first,followed by Akito,then Sana. Tsuyoshi laid on a soft looking bed,covered from the waist down with a white sheet. His glasses were lying on the table next to his bed. The doctors had cut his shirt off,so he was laying with his chest exposed. His right shoulder and upper arm were bandaged with a reddened gauze.

Aya was kneeling over him,sobbing at the sight of him injured. Tsuyoshi grabbed his glasses,and after putting them on,greeted everyone.

"Hello,everyone." Tsuyoshi smiled.

"How are you doing?" Sana asked.

"Fine." Tsuyoshi said. "Perfect. The doctors say I shouldn't move my arm very much for a while,but other than that."

"Glad to see to you safe." Akito said.

"Thank you,Akito." Tsuyoshi said warmly. Aya continued to sit right next to him. Sana sat down at the foot of his bed,while Akito stood in the corner. A moment later,Aya suddenly realized Tsuyoshi wasn't wearing a shirt,and she began to blush feverishly.

"What about the festival tomorrow night?" Sana asked,to change the subject from Aya. "With you here,you're going to miss it."

"Oh,you're right." Tsuyoshi's face looked depressed when told that. "But Akito can still go. Will you go and tell me how it went for me?"

The room got quiet while Akito said nothing. Then he replied, "Sure."

"Great. Thanks Akito."

After hours of conversation, Sana said she had to leave. Akito copied her and said that he was going to turn in. The sun had set hours ago and everyone had gone home. Aya said she would stay with Tsuyoshi through the night. Akito and Sana bid the other two good night,and walked down the street.

As they walked,Sana said "Akito, Naozumi's going to ask you about what happened to Tsuyoshi."

"It's not his business." Akito said.

"Well,it kind of is. His is the sheriff,after all."

"So?"

The two walked in silence until they reached Akito's hotel,where Sana said "Are you at least going to tell me what happened?"

Akito stared at her in silence,then said "I don't want to talk about it." He then turned a walked inside. Sighing,Sana continued to walk home.