Chapter 29 – Purple Haze

Sai Summers

My hopes were quickly dashed.

The door to the hall burst open.

"Sai!"

I turned to see the energetic face of Black Star, which while not unexpected, was a little loud for just this moment. He must have impeccable timing. It seemed that most of the group had tagged along behind him. Tsubaki gave him a light smack to the back of his head for his noise level.

There was a rustle at me left, and I instinctively turned. I found Kid sitting up right watching me intently. It took the widening of his eyes for me to realize he could see the bizarre markings in my left eye, at which point I automatically tried to shield it from view. His golden eyes narrowed; and I put my right index finger to my mouth, hoping he'd remain silent on the issue.

Kid gave a slight nod, stood, and turned towards the group filtering into the room. He then assisted me in sitting up as straight as I could in the bed, despite the anger roar of pain from my abdomen. I continued to cover my left eye, as if it was hurting me.

Stein shuffled back into the room, looking alarmed. "What is all of this? This is a patient's room!"

Soul approached the right side of the bed. He wasted no time with formalities. "Let's hear it, Sai. Is Kid the one who shot you?"

Kid still had his arm around my shoulders from assisting me, and I felt his hand squeeze the right one.

I stared at Soul, but continued to guard my eye. "Were you accusing Kid of shooting me?"

"Actually…" He started, but Stein interceded. He directed Kid towards the foot of the bed, while he took his place on he left side. He had returned with a simple white pad eye patch, which he fixed on the left side of my head. He then helped me sit up straighter, which allowed me to sit up without assistance.

"I think it's best we leave this discussion for later." Stein stated flatly. It seemed to be an issue he didn't feel like discussing at the moment.

I adjusted my hair through the bands of the eye patch, and then turned to Soul. "It's okay. If something needs to be asked, then so be it. I just want to know what this is about." I picked at the lower band again. "And no, he didn't, so don't accuse Kid of stuff."

Soul looked sheepish, and scratched the back of his head with his right hand. It looked like his argument has been deflated in a matter of moments. "I was starting to wonder considering how adamant he was about helping you." He glanced at Kid, who was adjusting his coat and tie in the reflection of a glass-faced cabinet of medications.

I scowled at Soul. "I'm seriously ashamed of you; accusing Kid like that." I sighed. "I'm the one who ran off and got in trouble. So…"

Stein cut me off, still standing at my left. "So what did shoot you?"

It wasn't something I wanted to bring up. "Actually…it…was Kid…"

A gasp went up in the room, and all eyes were fixated on me. There was silence and no one moved for a long moment. I could see Kid watching me from in the reflection, his right hand grasping his no-longer starched white tie.

It was my turn to be hangdog. I grinned and waved my hands in front of me. "Oh, don't misunderstand me. It only looked like him. I knew it wasn't Kid."

There was a communal sigh, and people went back to moving again. Kid started to organize the bottles in the medicine cabinet with Liz and Patty's assistance. Black Star took a seat on the floor, while Maka and Tsubaki straightened up the room. Stein pulled a wooden stool from under my bed. I assumed it to be what Kid had been sitting on while he had been sleeping on the bed. Soul remained at my right.

Despite my mind being fuzzy from the pain medications, my mind was still awake and functioning. Actually…what was Kid doing sleeping there? And why am I like this? I would really like to get the chance to ask Stein. Maybe I can get him to get rid of everyone if I fake not feeling well suddenly.

Stein wasn't letting the subject go. "So what do you mean?" He asked, the look in the eyes behind his glasses was intense.

"Umm…it looked like Kid, but he was just an image of him. It didn't act anything like him. And it didn't…" I left my voice drift off, knowing what I was about to say may cause Kid embarrassment.

He looked mildly confused. "What is it, Sai?"

It a stroke of bad timing, Kid returned to the foot of the bed, straightened up and resting his hands in his pant's pockets.

I was hesitant still. "It didn't smell like him. Kid…he has a particular smell to him."

Soul snorted a laugh at my right, and in a flash he was walloped with an oversized book from Maka, who was now at his right. Kid's cheeks and ears tinted pink, but he didn't seem surprised at the observation.

Stein bent his head, and the light reflected off of his glasses. "It's not surprising you mention that, actually. The Shinigami do have a different chemical makeup, and it's only…natural to notice differences like that."

That doesn't sound in anyway normal to me, I realized. Is he being condescending? Oh, who cares…

Stein stood and pushed the stool back under the bed. "I need to write up your chart, Sai. I'll give you kids a few minutes alone."

I tried to smile, but I felt uneasy. "Thanks Professor."

Stein pushed aside the curtain, and stepped back into the room next door.

I looked at my right at Soul. He had recovered from the Maka Chop to the head, but was still scowling at her. "Soul, do you think you guys could give me and Kid a few minutes to talk? I need to ask him a few things."

Soul gave a slight nod. "Uh, yeah, sure."

Maka started to usher out Black Star, Tsubaki, and the Thompson sisters. Soul started to follow them out, but turned around and returned to my right. "Oh wait. Hey, Kid?"

Kid looked up at Soul, breaking his gaze from me. "Hmm?"

Soul offered his hand in a handshake. "Forgive me, man. I should have asked you first."

Kid took his hand and returned the gesture. "It's fine. Anyone in your position would have acted similarly."

Soul still seemed ashamed from the situation, "Thanks." He paused. "I'll be back in a while, Sai."

I tried to smile at him, but it came out weakly. "Alright."

Soul gave a final nod and walked to the door. He shut it behind him without looking back.

"Ah, I'm glad the chaos is over." Kid muttered. "A moment of peace."

Kid sat down on the edge of the bed where he had been previously sleeping. His gaze was intense, but he didn't appear to actually be looking at me. My eyes narrowed on him. "Kid, what is it? I don't like that look."

He continued to stare. He then hung his head abruptly. "Your eyes aren't symmetrical now. And now the eye patch…"

I sank in place. "That's what's bothering you? I get shot in the chest by something that looks like you and you're worried about me not being symmetrical?"

He continued to hang his head, and his eyes fell to the right. "That's why they call it a mental illness, Sai."

I scooted forward on the bed. I put my arms under his and around his torso, and rested my head against his left shoulder. Kid put his left arm around my back, and rested his head against my own. I could still feel a chill on his face, but his core was warm.

There was sudden darkness again.

Despite not being able to see anything around me, I had conscious thoughts. What happened? Did I pass out?

I could feel a tinge of fear in my stomach, and I held it instinctively. "Hello? Kid? What happened? Where are you?"

I looked down It took me a moment to conceptualize that I could see myself, and that my skin was tinted purple.

In the next moment, I realized I was naked. It was then that I panicked.

"What happened?! Where are my clothes?!" I shrieked.

"Sai! Relax!" I could hear Kid yelling.

I tried to stop moving but I was shaking now. There was then a flash of white light in front of me. I could see out from the darkness in a fuzzy portal, but my vision was tinted purple as well. I could see both Stein and Kid looking at me. "Well, isn't that interesting." Mused Stein.

I tried to cover myself with my hands. "Ah! Don't look at me!"

Kid's voice was dark and relaxed. "We can't see you, so you can relax, Sai."

"You can't…?" Fear started to creep in. "How do I get out of here? I don't want to be in here anymore." I whined.

I watched Stein adjust his glasses through the portal. "Consider your human form, Sai. You should be able to shift back."

I pictured my human form, and the darkness disappeared. I was sitting again on the bed, but on top of the blankets. It was pleasing to find that my clothes at reappeared as well. But the t-shirt and shorts from the clinic I was wearing were thin, and couldn't possibly keep me warm.

I felt a chill and nearly fell over from my sitting position. Kid caught me before my head hit the bed. His hands were cold on my bare arms, but I was too tired to complain. He held me up and against himself.

"She needs sleep." I heard Stein say. "That was more activity than she should be doing so shortly after surgery. I felt the blankets shift on the bed, and felt myself grow warmer as I was cover back up. Kid never let go of me though, so I never ran the risk of falling over again, it seemed.

My mind was fuzzy. "Kid…"

"Hmm?" His voice was close to my ear.

Despite my condition, I worried about him. "You're cold…why are you cold?"

He smoothed the hair on the back of my head. "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine." His voice was smooth and relaxing to me.

And it allowed me to sleep.