Come back, come back to Me 9
Ahim was most displeased to wake up to the others dropping down to the Earth silently. If she was a bit ill, they would usaully have pity and make her stay home. Half the time, she didn't even realize they had left, since she'd be asleep. But when she did catch them, she always insisted on going with them. And this time was no different.
"Please wait..." she shakily rose to her knees, wiping the sweat off her forehead and struggling to keep her balance, "I must assist..."
"You must nothing," she felt a pair of strong arms around her and sighed. She wasn't going anywhere now for sure now.
And yet...
"Joe-san...please..." tears pricked her big browns, and she felt herself be pressed closer to his chest.
"Don't you worry," he purred in her ear gently, "it'll be alright. We'll take of it...just relax."
"Demo..." she wouldn't go down quietly. She'd already put the team through enough with her love triangle...she couldn't be crueller.
"Demo nothing," he cut her off, laying her gently onto the couch and draping his jacket on her shoulder, "please, Ahim-sama."
But before she could agree, the captain stepped between the two lovers and held up his hands, "If she wants to fight, she can fight."
"EH?"
Marvelous had had a lot of good idea in his time.
Letting Ahim fight was not one of them.
"You did this to her," Joe had rarely even been so cold towards the man who saved his life, but this was one of those times. He was laying his girlfriend on her bed after she'd been cut across the stomach by a Zangyack...God bless her, she'd tried to fight.
But she just couldn't.
The flu made it hard, and the infection was only worse now.
"If she wants to fight, she should be able to fight," the captain replied simply, striding out without another glance back.
You couldn't tell it if you didn't know him, but he was hurt by her hurting.
"Do not worry, Luka-san," Ahim was holding her older sister's hands, smiling weakly, "I will just fine. You must rest now."
"Ahim-chan..." the brunette shook her head, but she finally got in a chair to sleep.
The small princess frowned at her boyfriend. He was so exhausted, and he was fading fast. Even the strongest man needed sleep after a week of none, after all. Reaching to his hands, she thumbed both of his palms gently and sighed softly.
"You poor thing..." she shook her head a bit, "please, Joe-san. I am begging you to rest. Even Luka-san is peacefully asleep, and I am still fine."
"And I'm going to make sure it stays that way," his eyes were so bloodshot and weary, and she sighed.
"I am begging you," she had tears obscuring her vison now, and he gave her hands a squeeze.
"Alright. But wake me if you need anything, and don't go anywhere," he laid his head on his arms when he folded them on the bed.
He was asleep in record time.
"Where could he could be?" the small ex-princess walked softly against the cold wooden floor of the ship, looking for her beloved captain.
"Ahim-san...should you really be out of bed?" Gai asked nervously from the couch.
"No..." Hakasae shook his head, trying to help her back to her room, as if she couldn't do it alone.
"I do not need assistance," she gently brushed him off, squeezing his hands gently, "where is Marvelous-san?"
The two best friends exchanged glances before Gai softly confessed, "He left."
He told himself he wouldn't ever be stupid enough to run away.
But he was depressed, which was extremley rare. And he had to get away. Sometimes the thought of suicide crossed his mind. But he kept on walking.
He wouldn't go that far.
Not just yet.
Why should she be concerned? Gokai Red wasn't her boyfriend.
But she loved him still.
"Zangyack!" Luka growled as she raced down the steps from the lookout nest, and the remaining Gokaigers exchanged nervous glances. Marvelous was gone, Joe was exhausted, and Ahim...
"Where's Ahm?" they all screamed as one.
She watched him walk. Her mate watched with her. Of course he'd sensed she'd left. So they watched together in the secretness of the shadows.
"What do you suppose will bring him back?" she inquired softly through silent tears.
Looking her dead in the eyes, he spoke in a ragged, almost afraid voice, "You."