Chapter 3

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One Week later…

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"Ugh"

Renton's head felt like it was being split in half. Even worse, his entire left shoulder stung as if someone had used a hammer and smashed it. "Renton, you're awake!" Eureka said while hugging him. Renton blushed slightly as Eureka's body pressed against his. He liked the feeling; softness, warmth, and a faint smell of perfume entranced him. The moment was cut short as jolts of intense pain shot up his left arm.

"OW! OW!"

"Sor-Sorry!"

"I-it's Ok" Renton said as he rubbed his left shoulder.

"Where are we?" He asked.

"At a hospital"

Renton glanced around the room. The room was a bit bigger than his room in the Gekko-Go, about a 15 by 15 feet room. To his left was the exit door. On the white walls were paintings of skyfish and green hills. Across the room was the restroom. To his right was an open window with light streaming through the cloth blinds. Eureka was to his right also, sitting in a wooden chair with blue pads. The light illuminated her wings, making them sparkle. Renton gazed at her for a moment, he thought she look more beautiful than before. "How did I get here?" asked Renton.

"You were shot remember?"

"Oh… how did you get away?"

Tears started forming in Eureka's eyes.

"I'm sorry, Renton. I didn't mean to shoot the man and kill him. It was just that…" At this point, Eureka clasped her hand over her face, unable to hold in her tears any longer.

"Eureka… Don't worry. It's alright."

"No it's not! The man may have loved ones or children who depended on him! Be-because of me, the man's life is ruined!"

Renton reached over and embraced her, despite the pain signals coming from his left shoulder. Eureka gazed up, her eyes meeting his eyes. "Eureka," Renton firmly said as he wiped her tears away, "Under such circumstances, people dying are nearly unpreventable. If you had not stopped him, both you and I would be dead. Others may be hurt because of him too."

"But…"

Eureka gasped slightly as Renton's hug became firmer.

"Eureka, everything's fine, I'm here for you."

"Renton—"

He kissed her. Eureka was surprised at first but then kissed him too. Time appeared to slow down to a stop. The doorknob rattled and they quickly broke apart, each slightly blushing at the fact that they kissed in public. A doctor walked, wearing traditional doctor clothes, and in his hands was a clipboard. "Oh you're awake. Let me do a quick checkup then."

The doctor lifted up the covers, Renton was dressed in the typical hospital gown. Pulling up Renton's left sleeve, the doctor took off the slightly bloodied bandage wrappings around Renton's shoulder. Renton winced slightly as he applied rubbing alcohol and new bandages.

"There all good. By the way, you're being discharged today. The bullet smashed a few bones so try not to move your arm a lot."

"Thank you, but what about the bill?"

"Don't worry, it's on me."

"Oh Eureka, you'll have to change his bandage every day to prevent infections." Eureka nodded in reply.

"You guys will need new clothes too; no way can you go walking around like that." The doctor snapped his fingers; two nurses came in, one carrying new clothes for Renton and the other carrying Eureka's. "How come you're doing this for us?" Renton asked the doctor. "Well, it's a long story but your father, Adrock Thurston, was a friend of mine. He helped me become what I am now. So now I'm repaying him, for all he has done for me. Anyways, I'll leave you two here by yourselves so you can dress up." The doctor and nurses left the room, leaving the clothes on the side of the bed and Eureka and Renton by themselves. Eureka went into the restroom to changed, leaving Renton to change by himself. He took off the one-piece gown and managed to get his jeans on, which was a typical dark blue. Eureka emerged from the restroom. She was wearing a black dress, similar to the one she always wore with the exception that it exposed more of her back, allowing her wings to move freely. "Here, let me help you dress." She said as she picked up the black T-Shirt. They finished dressing and walked out to the lobby, just then they hear the doctor call their names. "Eureka! Renton!"The doctor said as he ran up to them with a backpack in his hands. "Here these are the bandages and a week's worth of dehydrated food." He said while handing them to Eureka. "They are not very tasty but they will provide enough nutrition and keep you alive." Turning to Renton, he whispered, "You got a good person with you. She was by your side for the whole week you were recovering. So protect her with all you might."

"Well, good bye then." He said aloud.

"Thank you very much!" Eureka and Renton said while bowing.

With a few handshakes, Eureka and Renton left the hospital.