Drifting Chapter Part 5 (Ch. 14)

-Len-

I angrily stared up at the ceiling, only one thing on my mind. Rin, Rin, Rin. Where was she? Was she all right? What was the virus doing to her? Was it still forcing her to kill people?

And most importantly, how was I going to help her?

I wasn't sure how long it was going to take for me to fully recover. So far, I'd only been able to get down one hallway, searching for Meiko, before I was tired out. It didn't take long for Kaito to find me and return me back to my room. I couldn't help but wonder if Miku had sent him to find me on purpose. There was no way I could ask him to bring Meiko to me without raising suspicions. Especially, since he was the one who had gone after Rin when she ran. Had he tried to kill her?

I thumped my uninjured arm against the makeshift bed. There were too many things I didn't know. I'd only seen Miku and Kaito since I'd woken up yesterday. Somehow I was going to have to get Meiko in here. She was the only one I could trust right now. As far as I knew, everyone at the lab wanted Rin gone or dead. But I did know Meiko. And I knew she'd feel the same way I did.

I spent a good part of the morning worrying and trying to come up with something. I prayed that Rin, wherever she was, was all right, but I couldn't stop imagining all the things that could've happened to her. The door to my room opening broke through my thoughts. I started, attempting to sit up, but the pain lancing through my chest and arms made me fall back on the pillow.

"You shouldn't try to move so much; you're still healing," Kiyoteru pushed the door open the rest of the way, carrying what looked like my breakfast. Kiyoteru was one of the only adults that had decided to stay with our group when we had rescued him. Thankfully, he was a skilled doctor and didn't mind taking orders from people younger than him.

"I'm restless," I muttered as he gently set down the tray and helped me sit up. Sometimes I really marveled at how smoothly, almost gracefully, Kiyoteru moved. He also treated everything carefully, as if he was afraid of breaking it. I shook my head, wondering why I was even thinking about it. Sure, I was curious, but I had to think of a way to help Rin now!

"Eat your breakfast with energy then. Maybe some of your restlessness will go away," Kiyoteru replied, setting my tray of food on my lap. I eyed Kiyoteru, trying to decide if he was joking or not. I could never really tell.

"So... what's been happening?" I asked cautiously as I started to eat some oatmeal. Kiyoteru turned a piercing gaze at me, adjusting his glasses as if to read me better. I tried not to look nervous while I ate. Did Miku tell him something? Tell him not to tell me something? Did she use excuses? Or did she guess? Or did Kiyoteru guess?

Too many damn questions.

"Well," started Kiyoteru, looking away from me, "Most everyone is distraught. And confused, for that matter. They aren't sure what to think. Miku is planning to speak to everyone today, to explain things."

I distractedly chewed, staring at the bowl. What was Miku going to say to them?

"When is she doing that?" I questioned, trying not to sound as curious as I was.

"Right now," said Kiyoteru, making me jump.

"Wha- now?" I half-yelled. Miku hadn't said anything to me or even hinted about what she was doing. Weren't we leading this group together? I had no idea what she'd say to them and I was terrified. Terrified because I didn't know if she was turning more people against Rin.

"Yes, now," Kiyoteru answered while brushing a hand through his brown hair. When I didn't say anything he continued on, "She didn't say anything to you, did she."

It wasn't a question.

"No, she didn't," I said, taking another couple bites of oatmeal.

"I've been noticing some things," started Kiyoteru. I jerked and looked up at him. He was staring hard at me, watching my expression. I tried to nonchalantly look down, unsure what he saw. "I can guess what Miku is going to say to them," Kiyoteru paused, but I stayed quiet. Why was he telling me this? Did Miku send him to try and figure out what I was going to try and do?

Suddenly, Kiyoteru leaned forward, grabbing my arm, "What are you going to do about Rin?"

I froze, trying to come up with something to say, "Well, she tried to kill us all, didn't she?" I mumbled, my attempt to get out of answering making me cringe inside.

"Are you abandoning her?" Kiyoteru asked harshly, giving my arm a shake. That brought my head around. Now we were both staring each other down.

"Who are you to judge me?" I said, my anger rising. I love Rin! I would never abandon her!

"Then you're not the man I thought you were."

I could feel my frustration snap. My worries and anger boiled over and I didn't bother to stop myself from talking. Let everyone know then! To hell with it!

"I love Rin! How dare you think that I'd ever leave her? I don't care what it takes or how long, I'll get to her and fix her so she won't ever have to be afraid again. And if we can't come back here we'll go someplace else! I will never leave her!" I yelled at Kiyoteru, throwing off his hand and breathing hard once I'd finished. Kiyoteru stood back on his heels, a small smile on his face.

"Well, good. I was hoping you'd feel that way," he said.

I could feel my mouth hanging open.

"What-?"

"I owe Rin. She was the one who found us and she was very kind to Teresa and me. Plus, I really like her," Kiyoteru talked over me. Rin had helped Kiyoteru and Teresa when she was out scouting once. They were running from a hospital that the soldiers found them in, when they ran into Rin. She got them back to the lab, but Teresa died two days after they came. She'd been a patient of Kiyoteru's. All this information ran through my head as I tried to stop being astonished.

"You'll help me?" I asked, still stunned at what I was hearing.

"Of course. We'll have to see who else will help, but after Miku's announcement, I'm not sure how many that will be," Kiyoteru mused, looking toward the door as if he expected Miku to waltz right in bringing the bad news.

"For now I know we can trust Meiko and you two may be all we need to help Rin," I said, feeling lighter all of a sudden.

"Ah, good," Kiyoteru said, though what he was referring to I wasn't sure, "I'll go get Meiko. They'll probably be leaving now and we can find out what Miku said."

"Uh, yeah," I said, still a little out of it.

"Good thing I waited until everyone wasn't prowling around your doorway. I was sure you'd start yelling," Kiyoteru flashed a smile at me, almost making me drop my spoon. Kiyoteru smiling? I'd never seen him like this before, but... I'd never really spent that much time with him. Did Rin know him like this?

"Make sure to eat that oatmeal," Kiyoteru said as he shut the door behind him. I did as I was told and ate the rest of my oatmeal. We couldn't be wasting food, anyway. I didn't have to wait long before Kiyoteru was back. He stayed by the doorway, the door open so that he could barely see through.

"Is it still going on?" I asked, wondering why Meiko wasn't there.

"No, it's over. Meiko's having some difficulty getting here without anyone seeing her. Miku has been suspicious of her, it seems," he replied. Suddenly, he opened up the door letting in a very pale Meiko. My eyes went to her leg briefly. It had healed better than we expected it to, but she still had some trouble with it. At least she was alive. We didn't have Kiyoteru then who actually knew what he was doing.

"What's wrong?" I asked Meiko. I didn't think it was her leg that made her so pale. Meiko shook her head and crossed the floor to my bedside. She heavily sat down on it, jostling me and making my wounds twinge painfully. Meiko grimaced, realizing she hurt me.

"Sorry, Len," Meiko said, carefully putting her arm around my shoulders and her bad leg up on the bed. "It's not good," she sighed, giving my shoulder a light squeeze. I looked up at her. She looked worried.

"What did she say?" I asked, guessing what the "not good" was about. Meiko sighed again before starting.

"Miku explained what happened with Rin, that she got a virus and was... trying to kill us all," Meiko paused as I nodded at her. I expected Miku at least to tell them that, but... what else had she said to make Meiko look so worried? Kiyoteru just watched us, waiting to hear the rest Meiko had to say. "Then... then she told us that there was no hope for Rin. That while she wasn't in the city now it didn't mean she might not come back and try to kill us again. Miku also said that there was no way to stop the virus and... we should just think of her as a robot. And... that the Rin we knew was dead..." Meiko trailed off and looked nervously down at me. She must have seen my hands curl into fists and that my fingernails were drawing blood.

"Was there more?" I asked through gritted teeth.

"Yes... Miku told us that we had to kill Rin, if we saw her again, before she could come back and get the rest of us at the lab and even the whole city," Meiko finished, looking as angry as me. Kiyoteru kept his face blank as he walked over to me and started prying my hands a part.

"That isn't going to help anything or help Rin," Kiyoteru admonished me.

"You're right," I agreed. I felt cold and, even though I was looking straight ahead, all I could see was Rin's face, smiling at me. "But what can I even do? How can I even begin to come up with an anti-virus to help Rin when I know nothing about it?" I asked desperately, knowing fully well that Meiko and Kiyoteru wouldn't be able to help me with that.

"Start with how it affected Rin. What her symptoms were," answered Kiyoteru, "That's how doctors fix their patients, by going by their symptoms."

"And we'll both be here helping, Len. We'll get her back safe and sound," Meiko added, squeezing my shoulder again.

I looked at both of them, a slow smile starting on my face. Maybe this wasn't as hopeless as I first thought. An idea was starting to form in my mind.

"Rin tore off her arm, correct?" I questioned them. They both nodded. "Where is it? Is it still in the lab?"

"I'll look for it," Meiko said, smiling fiercely. "You've got a plan. I can tell by the look on your face," she said as she stood up.

"Better get going in case Miku comes back," I told her, fearing that any moment Miku would come in and put a stop to our plans. Meiko just smiled at me.

"You're a good kid, Len. I know you'll be able to help Rin," she bent down and kissed me on the top of my head before she took off out of the room.

"Try to get some rest while you are forming your plan. I'm going to leave before Miku starts getting suspicious of me as well," he looked me over then picked up my empty bowl. "You're looking better but please stay in bed. I'll come back tonight to hear your plan and I'll try to bring Meiko, but I'm not promising anything."

"Thanks, Kiyoteru. And I will," I told him already feeling sleepy. Kiyoteru nodded, smiling slightly, and then he too disappeared. I tried to stay awake and keep thinking through my plan, but I was exhausted. Slowly I fell asleep, my throbbing wounds reminding me that I could've really died just a few days ago. As I finally fell asleep, I imagined Rin was holding my hand.