Chapter Six - Tornado

After a while, I check my phone to see the time. 11:30?! Holy balls I've been here for four hours! I gotta go home! I get up from Monika's disturbingly comfortable couch and make my way to the door.

Me:"Well, I guess I'd better hit the ol' dusty...twenty minute drive..." I say as I grab my coat. Monika stands up and walks shyly over to me.

Monika:"Y-you don't have to go if you don't want to, I mean it's pretty late and the roads are probably iced over..." She tries to mumble a bunch of excuses like that. But I can visibly see the red in her cheeks.

Me:"Why Lady Monika, surely you are not suggesting I, *gasp* stay the night?! So very scandalous! Was it not you whomst ridiculed me so when Lady Natsuki stayed with me?" I do alot of over-exagerted movements the whole time I'm speaking. Monika can't help but laugh.

Monika:"*Laughing* You're a moron ya know that!" She shoves me in the shoulder.

Me:"Nah I probably outta head home. Where would I sleep anyways..."

Monika:"I'm sure I could figure something out..." Monika smiles at me in way that makes me uneasy. In a good way. Kinda.

Me:"Uhhh..." Suddenly my phone dings. Heh, saved by the bell huh? I whip out my phone and see that I got a text from Yuri.

Me:"Oh sh*t!"

Monika:"What is it? What's wrong?" Monika has dropped the seductive act and is now concerned about what I just read.

Me:"Nastsuki's in the emergeny room!" I snatch my coat off it's rack and bolt to my car, Monika follows suit. We both get in and I start to back out of the driveway.

Monika:"What happened?!"

Me:"I don't know, she didn't say. Just that she's not doing well." A thousand things race through my mind. I slam my foot down on the gas and fly to the hospital. Ignoring red lights and stop signs. Hey if an ambulance can do it in an emergency, so can I!

I whip into the nearest parking space and run to the emergeny room door. Monika is right behind me. As soon as we enter we see Yuri pacing back and forth in front of the reception desk.

Me:"Yuri!" I run over to her.

Yuri:"Oh thank god." She hugs me when I get within range.

Monika:"What happened?"

Yuri:"I don't know. The doctor hasn't told me anything yet. I found her in her room unconscious. She wouldn't wake up so I called 911." Just as Yuri finishes saying that, a doctor comes out from behind the doors.

Doctor:"Ms.Saito?" The doctor calls out.

Yuri:"Yes?" Yuri let's go of me and turns to face the doctor.

Doctor:"I have Natsuki's chart with me. When you brought her in, you said she was unconcious and unresponsive, yes?"

Yuri:"Yes, that's correct."

Doctor:"By any chance, would you happen to have pain pills in your home?"

Yuri:"Yes I do. They were prescribed to me by this hospital. For nerve damage."

Me:"Hey, doc? I don't mean to be rude but do you think you could cut to the chase and tell us what the f*ck's wrong with our friend huh?!" I spit at the innocent man.

Doctor:"If you'll calm down sir. I certainly will. *sigh* Ms.Okada appears to have overdosed on pain pills. And due to the ammount we've found in her system, we believe it was intentional..."

Me:"...You mean, she tried to kill herself?"

Doctor:"It looks that way, yes. However, she is stabilizing. We should have her in a private room by midnight."

Yuri:"Thank you Doctor." The doctor nods and walks back behind the doors into the Emergency Room.

Monika notices me standing and staring at the floor. She comes over and puts a hand on my shoulder. I shake her off.

Monika:"Eli?"

Me:"I...just need some air." I quikly walk outside. Leaving Monika and Yuri alone.

- Monika's POV -

I watch Eli walk out the door, I want to go comfort him, but I know he needs to vent. I turn back around to face Yuri.

Yuri:"Poor Eli, I feel so sorry for him. He's been through alot this past week..."

Me:"You don't know the half of it..." I say without thinking.

Yuri:"Eh? What do you mean Monika? Did he say something while he was at your house?" Yuri says in a worried tone.

I hesitated to tell her. I didn't know if Eli would be mad at me for telling Yuri everything without his knowledge. But I decide it's best if we're all on the same page about Eli while he's like this. He's already cut himself. We need to keep eyes on him.

Me:"*Sigh* Well, I might get in trouble for telling you but, Eli blames himself for Sayori's death."

Yuri:"But that's absurd! He didnt have anything to do with it. Not to mention he would light himself on fire before he'd ever hurt Sayori..."

Me:"Yeah that's what I tried to tell him. But as we all know, when Eli sets something in his mind, it's hell to change it."

Yuri:"Well yes, that's correct...But why does he blame himself? Surely he has a reason to believe this nonsense."

Me:"Sit down darlin'. It's a long story." I explain to Yuri everything Eli told me about the day prior to, and the day of the Festival. About how Sayori confessed her love to him and he rejected her, thinking it was the best thing for her, which it was, and how her pained scream haunts him. And how he think he's worthless because he blames himself.

Me:"He literally said, 'I murded Sayori'." I finish.

Yuri is completly shaken. She takes a moment to soak it all in and finds her words.

Yuri:"Did you explain to him that it's not his fault, that Sayori would have taken her own life regardless of what he told her?"

Me:"I did, almost word for word. He nodded but I don't think he believes it. He was doing a little better but obviously this has knocked him right back to square one."

Yuri:"We can't let him be alone during all this, I had hoped Natsuki would just stay with him until he got better. But when she came home upset I knew that was out of the question."

Me:"I tried to get him to stay the night, but that's when he got your text and we came here as fast as we could."

Yuri:"...Tried to get him stay the night huh? For shame Monika, preying on him while he's vulnerable..." She says with a smirk.

I blush bright red. Curse Yuri's ability to see everyone's true motives! It's like actual magic or something! I'll find a way to pay her back for that one.

Me:"I-it's not like that at all! I just didn't want to be alone...Him! I didnt want him to be alone. Hahaha!"

Yuri:"Oh? And where might he have slept Monika? You're couch is far too small to sleep on, and you surely wouldn't have made a guest be uncomfortable. And I suppose I shouldn't forget the fact that you own a king size bed..."

Curse her! Cuuuuuurse heeeeeer!

Me:"Alright fine d*mmit! I wanted to sleep with him okay! I really like him!" I quietly yell. Burying my blood-crimson face in my hands. "*sigh* but it doesn't matter anyhow, I think he likes Natsuki..." I say sadly.

Yuri:"Now was so very hard? I know you're probably unhappy with me for making you admit it, but don't you feel a little better?"

Me:"I'd feel better if he'd stayed the night..."

Yuri:"Haha, yes I imagine you would. However, if you suspect he likes Natsuki, then it would be best to refrain from such, actions, until you can talk to her about her feelings once she recovers."

Me:"Yeah...You're right. Jeez...You're always right. There needs to be a, 'Yuri is Always Right Foundation'. I'd donate."

Yuri:"Well...I don't know about always right..." Yuri rubs her arm shyly.

Me:"*long sigh* Ya think I should go talk to him now?"

Yuri:"No, I'll go. I need appoligize to him for sharing his information without asking."

Me:"Oh, okay...I'll make a run to the vending machine and get some food for us." Yuri nods and walks out into the parking lot.

Why am I suddenly feeling so jealous? She's just going to talk to him. That's all...And now he likes Natsuki?! What's with that?! I mean she's so, short and patheti- Oh God! What am I thinking?! She's my friend! And she almsot died tonight! Holy sh*t I'm an awful person...Maybe Eli belongs with her. He doesn't deserve someone like me...

- Eli's POV -

I'm sitting on a bench outside the emergency room door, my knuckles are bleeding after I pounded on a tree for while to take get my anger out. I cried for awhile when the thought of potenially loosing Natsuki sank in. I've just been sitting her, trying to come up with what I did in some past life to deserve this. Natsuki's just an innocent bystander that got hit by the shrapnel of the universe's firery hatred for me.

I hear Yuri's gentle footsteps come up beside me. I mentally sigh. Not because I don't want to talk to her. I'm just so tired that I don't want to talk to anybody. I steel myself and prepare to have my feelings run through with a fine-toothed comb. That's just Yuri's way. She sits down beside me.

Yuri:"I know this is upsetting Eli, but I don't think it was that tree's fault..." I chuckle lightly and wipe the drying blood off my hands.

Me:"Yeah...probably not."

Yuri:"Eli, I...uh, wanted to apologize for telling Monika about, your problem without asking you if it was alright. I thought our friends n-needed to know. F-for your protection." She says as she plays with her hair. I couldn't be angry with her if I wanted to. These girls have some kind of monopoly over my emotions. It's crazy.

Me:"I'm not upset with you Yuri..." I say without looking at her. I know that if I do, she'll stare into my soul, with those beautiful purple eyes, and she'll make me talk about my feelings for an hour and a half. Monika and Natsuki can do the same thing. Sayori could do it without even looking at me, now that's talent. Like I said, a monopoly.

Yuri:"Eli? W-will you please look at me?"

God-d*mmit!

I look over at her, she stares right into my eyes, with that intense expression she gets when she's reading. She's reading me. Analyzing my current state and planning accordingly.

Yuri:"Eli, this isn't your fault. This isn't some kind of punishment for something you didn't do. It's an unfortunate event, in a series of unfortunate events this past week. Please stop blaming yourself for things that are out of your control." A sudden burst of confidence. Always happens when she gets that look. Shy Yuri coming back in 3...2...1...

Yuri:"I-I didn't mean to be so forceful! I'm sorry I just wanted to help you..." Called it.

Me:"You weren't, I know it's not really my fault, it's just easier that way. you're right Yuri. As usual..."

Yuri:"Yeah, so I've heard..." She says that mostly to herself.

Me:"*sigh* Well, I guess we need to go in, it's colder than a witches tit in a brass bra out here." I hear Yuri stiffle a snort to remain lady-like behind me.

(Temp end)