Okay, so I'm a little happy I was able to get this chapter out soon, as I had promised, and jeez, you guys… well, I can't say you're heartless, but come on! You really want 2D to die? They might have more babies! Maybe…
*Ahem*
Anyhow, stuff's still goin on, but su'far, I can say that I'm gonna be going through processing… at MEPS… for the Air Force... this Tuesday and Wednesday. So, I ask for prayer and strength. I'm gonna need it really badly :(
Oh boy, MEPS is gonna suck. I know all the crap they make you do, and I am NOT looking forward to it… The only thing that consoles me is that around 10 other chicks will have to do that ridiculous crap with me. If you don't know what goes on at MEPS, Google it :P I'd rather not explain it here… No fun! Anyhow, again, I ask for strength… purely just strength. Only in the Air Force do they do a strength test –how bullshitty is that! T.T I'ma scared!
Anyhow, after MEPS, I should be put into the delayed entry program. I plan on not going into the USAF until around November, since SERE training is only twice a year, so you guys may have me for a bit longer ^.^
Anyhow, back to the story! Thank you to everyone who reviewed! You know I love you! I seriously could NOT stop laughing at some of them! I REALLY hope you guys like this one! Okay? I think that's all I have to say for now!
Enjoy!
"You a'ight, baby-girl," Russel asked yet again. Noodle shook her head. Her complexion was pallid, the blood drained from her face, and her cheeks were sticky and uncomfortable with the tears that had masked her skin, and there was no end to them in sight. 2D hadn't woken since he'd inhaled that chloroform, and that had been two days ago, with no trace of consciousness even hinted at by the singer, but his body had grown hot with sickness. He was as unresponsive as the moment he'd passed out. Worried, Noodle decided to get more work done. She had been giving him water by mouth, but it wasn't enough. She couldn't lose both of the only two things in this world she'd come to love the most. She'd fall apart. She already felt empty inside; lonely and wanting the comfort of her singer, but he couldn't offer any.
Russel had stayed the nights with her in the lighthouse to give her company, and to keep a wary eye on her. He knew how it felt to feel as though all was lost; he'd been in the very same position. He'd seen his closest friends shot and killed. He'd even felt someone he'd loved ripped out from inside of him, taken by death himself. Why did Noodle have to experience the very same hardship he had been forced through? He couldn't rationalize it. Of course, it must have felt worse knowing that the cause of it all had been brought on by someone else she loved. She may not feel it right now, considering all that he'd done, but Russel knew Noodle still loved the bassist, despite his demeanor and hard-headedness. And Russel had the feeling the bassist still cared greatly about Noodle, even if he was too full of pride to admit it. They were family, and that was thicker than blood, but Russel knew this was going to take some time to work through, and Noodle wasn't giving him any clears signs of what she was thinking. It was like she was making actions without even having to consider them and her body was moving without her mind. She must have been extremely distressed, but still, he couldn't see it, and normally he could read anyone. It was like a part of her had died. She seemed so lost and lonely.
"What are you lookin' for, baby-girl," Russel asked her after she'd began going through the first aid kit they'd left out on the beach. She pulled out a disposable BMV Resuscitator, to Russel's surprise. Murdoc had really gone out of his way to make sure he had everything in one stupid, albeit useful, first aid kit. "I don't think 'D needs any help breathin, baby-girl," he told her, placing his hand on her shoulder. She ignored him again, pulling the bag valve mask apart, breaking pieces here and there. It wasn't viable at all anymore, but Noodle only seemed interested in the long, clear plastic tubing. She pulled it away carefully, seemingly measuring it as she studied it carefully, breaking it away from the rest of the useless device. Once she had claimed her prize, she discarded the remains, throwing them to the plastic ground, then she reached into the kit once more, pocketing the medical tape, and she looked up to Russel, her face impassive and emotionless, like when she'd first arrived on the island.
She took a breath, as if she were thinking, and she trained her eyes on Russel's milky whites. "Do you have a marinade injector?" She questioned him. He cocked his eyebrow, wondering why she would be asking about something such as that. Was she planning on cooking? She didn't look like that was her plan, but Russel couldn't imagine why else she would request something so odd.
He grinned shortly, "Of course, baby-girl. Wouldn' wanna be caught wit'out one." He chuckled, and she nodded her head vacantly, making Russel's face drop once more. He sighed, taking the forlorn guitarist by the hand as they made their way to the beach entrance. She was quiet as they entered the lift, her face slack. She seemed so lost. Of course, Russel had known she'd been lost for years, but since the happenings two days ago, she seemed… like she wasn't even alive anymore. It was as though she was just a body again. Her stomach still pained her, but it was dulled to a point where it didn't even register to her anymore, and blood was still flowing, but that had slowed dramatically as well, almost completely stopped now. She knew she had miscarried. There was no question. Only hours after it had happened, Noodle began to feel the prickling burn beneath her skin again. 2D was no longer connected to her, so now the demons could have her again, but they remained at a distance when Noodle was with another person. Of course, though Russel –without him knowing– kept them at bay, only 2D could ever make them disappear. But she was grateful for Russel's presence. She couldn't handle the pain right now.
As soon as the lift allowed them to exit into the study, Russel spoke up once more. "So what d'ya wanna marinade injector for, Noods," he asked her, clearly curious. She sighed, hoping he wasn't fond of the object.
"You do not mind if it is no longer useful when I take it, do you Russel-sama," she questioned him, her tone unexpressive. He furrowed his eyebrows together. So she was planning on tearing it to pieces as she had done to that bag valve mask. He assumed she was being destructive since she was upset, but she seemed too calm while she mauled the device down on the plastic shore. And that piece of tubing she carried with her as though it were a precious artifact only serviced to make him speculate further.
"Uh, no," he answered her after a moment. She nodded, seemingly relieved. Why would he care? He had three of them. They always proved to be useful for some of his meals. Once they had entered the kitchen, Noodle came to the counter, and she reached out for one of Russel's pots hanging from the wall. She filled it with water, then threw it on the stove and started the flame beneath it. She threw the plastic tube in there, moving away as she waited for the water to come to a boil. Russel was digging through one of the drawers, and he seemed satisfied when he pulled out the object Noodle had requested. "Here you go, baby-girl," he placed it on the counter in front of her as she dug through another drawer, pulling out a large plastic ziplock bag. Noodle looked to the injector, almost smiling with relief. She took it in her grasp, bringing it to her face, and she unscrewed the top off. Next, she broke away the compressor, removing it from the injector so that it now had a hole in its lid, just big enough that Noodle would be able to squeeze some of the tube into. Russel's mouth popped open when he heard her snap that piece away, but he was just surprised for a moment, and he didn't really mind it all too much. He just hated how quiet it was between them in that moment. He wanted to talk to her and try to comfort her, but she refused.
Russel sat down at the table as Noodle continued digging through the kitchen. She pulled out salt, sugar, and went to her pot of water once it had been boiling for a few minutes. She drained the pot, removing the tube, and then filled the pot to the brim with more water, again placing it on the stove to boil. She placed the tube to the side as she took the injector again, then removed the needle from the end of it. She placed the lid of the injector back on it tightly. Next she then took the tube, pushing the end of it into the hole in the lid of the marinade injector. She measured the part of the plastic tubing connected to the injector, then cut it cleanly with a knife. She pushed the cut end of the tube connected to the injector into the plastic bag she had retrieved, satisfied with her makeshift object for now. She used duct tape to secure the tube to the bag, and the other end to the injector. So far, it was the plastic bag, with a short piece of tubing that connected the bag to the marinade injector Noodle had disassembled. Now Noodle took the other end of the injector, where the needle had been before she removed it, and pushed the other piece of tubing she had into that end. Lastly, she took the needle, securely attaching it to the very end of the tubing. Once she was finished, almost proud of herself, Russel finally stood again, coming to observe what she'd created. His jaw dropped. She made, what looked like, an IV drip. "What are you gonna do wit' it, baby-girl," he asked her.
She stared at it for a moment, her eyes drifting to the pot of water, boiling once again. She looked back at her device. "2D needs it," she spoke in a hushed tone. "To keep him hydrated…" She took a part of the IV drip, pulling just the injector to her face, glad that is was clear, and had markings on it. She could make sure 2D was getting just enough liquids this way. His infection was draining him, and she hoped this would help him recover, but it was a long stretch.
"How long you gonna attach it to him," the drummer spoke, now turning the flame beneath the pot off, and waiting for it to cool.
"Just a couple of hours… for today… maybe again for tomorrow… if he is still not awake," Noodle told him. Russel nodded, and Noodle stepped around him, her salt and sugar in hand. She measured the salt carefully, knowing how much water was in the pot, and mixed the salt in thoroughly. She did the same with the sugar, now only waiting for the mixture to cool down and settle. She turned, leaning against the counter, as Russel was with his arms crossed over his stomach. He watched her, confused and intrigued. She pulled a ring off of her finger, one that he'd never noticed before. He immediately assumed 2D had gone behind his back and asked Noodle for her hand, but then he realised this ring had been on her right hand, not her left. And it had been placed on her middle finger. She gazed at it reverently, twisting it between her tiny fingers, as if she were mulling something important over in her head.
"Baby-girl," the drummer cut into her quiet thinking.
"Yes," she responded, still staring at her ring as she messed with it between her fingers.
"I know Muds won' let 'D leave the island, but I think he'll be fine," he began, and Noodle sighed, closing her hand around the ring, and her eyes drifted shut, the hollow, guilt-ridden feeling returning to her body. "It's you I'm worried abou', baby-girl," he told her, still looking down at her. "I mean, you need ta get checked ou'… ta make sho' yous don' get sick or sumthin," he continued. "Maybe Muds will let jus' you go fo' a couple o'days, so you can go visit a doctor… an' you could bring back some antibiotics for 'D." Noodle sighed heavily, opening her dull eyes once more, and she placed the ring back on her finger.
She turned to Russel, placing her hands on her legs in front of her as she bowed shallowly. "I appreciate your concern, Russel-sama," she told him slowly, "But I will not leave 2D-kun again… Even if it means risking my health," she vowed, her voice tired. She gave a false grin, but it didn't get past Russel, "Besides… I will be fine," she told him, tears once again trailing down her paled face, "Women have miscarriages all the time," she choked, taking in a breath and trying to hold back her sobs. She bit her lip, fisting her hands as she brought them to her face, rubbing her eyes angrily. Russel's face dropped and he reached his arm out toward her, placing his hand on Noodle's shoulder, then pulled her into him, hugging her close. She began to cry again, rubbing her face with her arms, and then she buried her face against Russel's stomach. "Watashi no akachan ha," she cried, "Doushite yame ta no ka?" Russel took in a deep breath. He was a little rusty with his Japanese, but from what he understood, she was mourning for the lost child. He believed she'd said, My baby, why did you leave, and that tore him apart. He just didn't understand why Noodle felt… well, like she was in love with 2D. It was unfathomable, but the connection was clearly there, and he could see the adoration they shared for one another whenever they exchanged eye contact. He still didn't like it, but as Noodle had said, this was her decision. Even if he didn't like it, Russel did consider the singer part of his family as well, and if Noodle was choosing 2D, then he would let them be. And now that he thought it through, Russel was sort of okay with it, mostly because 2D wasn't some random guy Noodle was smitten with and had decided to bring home. And it had sort of helped that 2D had been so eager for the baby…
After minutes of tears, Noodle seemed to become stone again, and she moved away from Russel to the pot full of water now, dipping her finger into the liquid, satisfied that it was cooled enough. With a sigh, Russel took the plastic bag carefully, without Noodle needing to ask him to do so, and held it opened over the sink. She took the pot, tilting it slowly as she held it over the bag, the water falling into it. Once the bag was full, Noodle flicked the needle with her finger. She took the bag full of water from Russel after he'd closed it, and she watched it carefully, studying as the water began to drip down slowly into the injector, and then run into the tube at a steady pace. Happy with herself, Noodle held the needle above the bag to keep it from leaking, and she cradled her makeshift IV bag tenderly. She gazed up at Russel, and he smiled, "You do a good job, ya know, baby?" She grinned back, and followed after Russel as he began to leave the kitchen.
They made it back to the lighthouse in no time at all, the precious IV still in Noodle's cautious grip. Once in her room, by her bedside, she took one of her pictures down from her wall, hanging the bag of liquid from the two nails that stuck out, confident that it would hold in place. Her movements becoming swift now, she took one of her shirts from her dresser. Russel watched her, almost transfixed by her base of knowledge, as she tied the shirt around 2D's arm tightly like a tourniquet. She began lightly slapping his arm below her shirt, and she looked to Russel. "Could you open and close his hand for me?" she asked, and he nodded, taking the singer's hand in his, then he balled the singer's hand in his palm, quickly releasing it again.
"Like that, baby-girl," he looked to her as she stared intently at 2D's arm.
"Yeah," she breathed, patting 2D's arm again. "Keep doing that," she told him, and he complied, continually opening and closing the unconscious man's hand, and Noodle took the IV needle now, brushing it against 2D's arm, not quite ready to let it breach beneath the surface yet. She studied his veins carefully, sticking her tongue out the side of her mouth as she confirmed to herself she was in the right spot, and she took a deep breath as she shoved the needle under his skin, gasping when he yelped quietly in his slumber. She grimaced, looking to his face, then looked to the needle, a slight bit of blood had entered the tubing, but the solution was entering his bloodstream now, at a slow and steady pace. She removed her shirt from 2D's arm. Now all she could do was watch and wait, making sure none too much nor too little of the liquid was moving into him, but for now, it seemed to be working perfectly, or as close to perfect as it could get. Noodle took the medical tape she'd thought to remember, taping up the place where the needle was. She'd placed it in the perfect spot. Not only was it exactly where it needed to be, but she wouldn't have to worry about anything if 2D decided to bend his arm.
When Noodle seemed to have relaxed again, thanks to the presence of the incapacitated singer, Russel smiled to himself. He reached out, taking her hand in his, and she looked to him questioningly. "I'mma cook us up some lunch, 'k baby-girl?" She nodded with a soft grin, and he leaned forward, kissing the crown of her head lightly. "I'll be back soon, a'ight?"
"Arigato, Russel-sama," she told him as he descended the steps.
The moment she heard the door close, indicating Russel's departure, Noodle felt the burning beneath her skin pulling at her, and she fell to her knees in exhasperation. Sobs broke from between her lips, her already tear-swollen face becoming coated thickly in cold, wet tears yet again. Their presence was just a reminder of her loss. She clutched at her chest, fisting her shirt between her fingers painfully, and taking in deep, choppy breaths. This was it. It was true. Their child had gone, and they could never be replaced. The little heartbeat that had made its home inside of her had ceased, and her body had pushed the child out. She couldn't help but feel responsible for it. What would 2D think? Would he blame her? Would he even care? She could feel them laughing at her, as if they'd never even left her, moving onto their same routine. She was too distressed to fight back. She didn't want to fight another day, but she refused to allow herself to be taken down. She would push through, and they would never break her spirit again. She was free.
But she couldn't help wondering why everything had gone so wrong. She couldn't understand how everything that had seemed so perfect less than a couple of days ago could have just shattered. Her entire world, everything she had needed and wanted, her entire future had been stolen from her, yet again, and she felt so hollow. She felt lost, and so very alone. She looked up to 2D, sleeping on their bed. She only wished he could hold her close, maybe even make love to her... But he wasn't here for her now. Him, her only light, had been hurt… because of her. She had nothing left… just an empty heart. She just wanted to be left alone, but her heart pled out to the unconscious form on her bed. The feeling of the demons only growing more persistent, Noodle took a breath, standing to her feet slowly. She walked around the bedside, and crawled on top of the covers. She stared at 2D as she sat upon the bed, wincing and grasping her chest when she felt the all too familiar pang of her former life. Tentatively, she reached out, hesitantly touching 2D with the tips of her fingers, and she sighed when she still felt his warmth, the touch of his skin bringing to her peace and comfort, but his skin was hot beneath the surface, perspiration had built up on his face. He was growing sicker. She scooted closer to him, curling against his body and resting her arm over him while her other arm was curled into her own body. She swallowed back the mucus that had gathered in her throat, nuzzling her face against 2D's shirt, sighing when the demons left her alone, disappearing as his touch drove them away from her.
After a moment of peace, Noodle felt another familiar presence, and smiled. "Hallo, Kazuno-chan," she whispered, opening her eyes to see the child standing by the bedside, on the opposite side of 2D from where Noodle lay. Kazuno smiled widely, but it quickly disappeared, and she frowned, reaching out to touch Noodle's stomach, the life now gone. "Were you not expecting that?" Noodle asked her, curiosity twinkling within her green irises.
With a stolid face, Kazuno gazed up at Noodle. She bowed shallowly, "I am sorry, Noodle-chan," she breathed, her voice reflecting her grief. Noodle chewed on the inside of her cheek, and she sighed, another tear breaking free, and falling to 2D's shirt where Noodle's head rested. Kazuno smiled sheepishly, smiling an extraordinarily familiar smile at Noodle as she scratched the back of her head goofily. Her actions reminded Noodle of… Once the child opened her eyes, now the exact same shade of blue Noodle had seen once before, it made the guitarist take in a sharp breath in surprise. The child's eyes glowed in the partial darkness of the room –they were beautiful. Everything made sense to the guitarist now, and she smiled, warm tears crawling down her face, and she sat up, looking down at 2D. She gazed at Kazuno again, and the child grinned happily back at her, the both of them resting their eyes on the singer once more. Noodle bent toward him, kissing his lips lightly, and she caressed his face with her fingertips.
Noodle looked to the child once more, smiling emotionally. "You are us," she whispered. Kazuno smiled brightly now, her eyes twinkling as she nodded. Noodle's eyes continually drifted between the singer and Kazuno as she spoke again, "Not… our daughter… you are us –"
"As soul mates," Kazuno finished, her smile only seeming to grow wider. "I was once just you, but as you grew to find your love for 2D, the more characteristics of him I took on… I am your souls," she explained. Noodle giggled, giddy with happiness, though her heart still ached with sadness. She felt overwhelmed by all of these emotions at once. Great joy, and great sadness. It felt like insanity, but it also felt good. Kazuno pointed to her own blue eyes now, "And this almost proves it."
Noodle's smile faded quickly, "What do you mean almost?"
Kazuno took a deep breath, looking to 2D. She reached out with her tiny hand, grasping his hand with hers, and she trained her eyes on Noodle's face again carefully. "Do you want to belong to him?" Kazuno questioned. Noodle nodded. "Share your soul with your lover?" Noodle's mouth popped open, but she closed it a moment later, nodding again. Kazuno smiled, reaching out with her free hand, "Then do it," she encouraged her. Noodle reached out, but froze for a moment, her eyes alight, and questioning. So if this child was them, then why could only she see Kazuno? "Because you are more sensitive to spirits… you're time in Hell did much more for you than just leave scars and painful memories," Kazuno told her, still waiting for Noodle's hand, while the child's other hand held 2D's. "And 2D will see me soon anyhow," she smiled with a giggle. The corner of Noodle's mouth turned up in a grin, and she allowed her arm to stretch fully toward the child, giving her permission. Kazuno grinned tenderly, holding Noodle's hand tightly in her own. Noodle jumped when she heard 2D gasp in his ongoing slumber, and Kazuno smiled widely. Noodle's hand began to burn, but it felt… good. Like when 2D touched her, but so much greater.
Her eyes on Kazuno again, Noodle was awed by the child as she watched her. "Why are you a girl, Kazuno-chan?" She asked one final question.
Kazuno looked at her, grinning gently. "I have no gender. You chose it for me," she answered. Noodle nodded, satisfied, and she breathed heavily as the burning grew, and she pondered whether 2D could feel it too. Kazuno grinned, confirming Noodle's theory, and the child squeezed her hand. Noodle focused on Kazuno again, her eyes growing wide in pure amazement. One of Kazuno's eyes was now green, the same shade as Noodle's. With one more smile, the child faded away, disappearing into the air, but Noodle could still feel the child's presence. She looked down at 2D, smiling down at him reverently. She laid down again, curling into his body once more. She sniffed, cuddling close to his warmth. "2D-kun," she whispered against his chest. "Aitai," she told him sadly, nuzzling against him, "Anata o aishi teiru… Watashi ni modotte kite kudasai…" After a moment of silence, Noodle felt 2D shift against her, letting out a low moan.
*~*2D's POV*~*
Awl I remembah wos when I felt like I couldn' breaff. Ih got real hot like, an' I 'eard someone whisper te me, but now ih's awl dark. 'Et wos scary, te jus' be asleep an' not knowing whot's goin' on around me. I fink maybe Noodle said she was gonna fix me, an' aftah, I remembah wakin' up an' ih wos awl dark like. I figured I wos really still asleep, an' I jus' f'ought I wos awake… but I wosn'. Ih felt like summin wos pullin' at me skin, an' I wos confused cos ih didn' 'urt like 'et had befo'. Buh, den when ih awl stopped, I felt like I wos floatin' away, an' tha' got me scared again, but den I could sorta smell Noodle, an' I felt bettah. Ih got awl soft, and I felt summin brush me face, an' den ih got awl jumbled again. I sorta… I dunno… um… I passed ou' like… I mean, I wos passed out 'afore, buh now I coudn' feel or 'ear anyfink. S'like purgatory or summfink. I 'ated 'et.
'Et felt like ih wos goin' on fo' days. I couldn' see nuffin, an' I could 'ardly even see me hand when I 'eld 'et in fron'a me face. I wos stuck or summfink. I felt awl numb an' I wos startin te feel awl alone, n'I wos. Whot the 'ell 'appened? Why's ih awl dark? Am I dead or summfink? I f'ought I wos supposed te see golden gates, wiff te clouds an' awl tha nonsense. Dis couln' be Hell. Never 'eard ih wos dark. I always 'eard it wos red, like a volcano… So where tha fook am I? I dun see nuffink. I wanna go back. I'd rathah feel the pain den nuffink at awl.
Sometimes, when I got really bored like, I would start te dream. I liked tha –the dreamin. Ih wos nice, an' ih gave me summfink te do. Well, not really, but ih wos a hell of a lot bettah t'en jus' settin in the darkness. Ih wos almos' surreal, jus' seein fings. I didn' 'ave normal dreams, really. But, I had like, um, I dun know whot te call ih. Ih wos like a flashback. Yea, tha' sounds righ. I wos reliving fings I'd awready done before, buh dey felt not righ'. I looked around me. I wos in me room. I felt me forehead scrunch. 'ow'd I get in me room? I looked aroun' an I got confused again, an' me 'ead 'urt. I looked at me dresser, an' I sawr tha pic'tcha. Tha one wiff awl of us; the one I really liked, wiff Russel an' Murdoc, and my love next te me. Buh, whot wos ih doin' in 'ere? I f'ought I gave ih te… Buh, no… I didn'… huh? I looked at tha girl by me side again. Tha' was Noodle. I shook me 'ead. I couldn' believe I almos' forgot 'er name. I've been waitin' for 'er te come home fo' years now. Wait until she sees me baby. She'll love 'em.
Wait? What? I shook me 'ead again. No, tha's not righ'. I dun 'ave a baby… Noodle's 'avin a baby… Tha's righ, she did come 'ome. I smiled, buh I 'ad a headache now. Ugh, even when I'm asleep o' dead o' whotevah me 'ead still gets me awl mixed up. Yeah, Noodle's been 'ome. I remembah now.
I felt meself bein' taken from te blackness again, an' ih got real bright, like. I could see te sky, and te sea. I sawr her again. Not jus' 'er… I sawr us. Like I wos watchin' a movie or summfink. I liked 'et. She wos settin next ta me on te plastic beach. Wait? I wos really there. Didn' dis 'appun awready?I looked ovah, an' I saw te cyborg. I wonted te run te Noodle, buh I wos stuck. Awl I cou' do wos watch while she wos almos' shot, an' t'en I saw me push 'er out o'de way… an' I got shot. S'funny. I don' remembah tha.
I felt me side start ta 'urt, an' I looked down at me side. There wos blood on me shirt. I felt me eyes get awl big, and I lifted me shirt, an' I saw a 'ole in me body. I… I-I did get shot… but t'en? Whot 'appuned? Didn' Noodle say I'd be fine? I looked up again, an' I saw te blackness. I wos in da purgatory again. I wos startin' ta like dis place less an' less. Ih wos godawful 'ere, ih wos. More time I spent 'ere, te more I realised tha' t'is place seemed ta be torturin' me. I kep' seein ih ovah an' ovah. I kep seein' when I died… but… I didn't die, right? I'm jus' asleep.
I felt summfink touch me arm. Wait? No, I really did feel summfink. T'ey were hittin' me now, but not 'ard like. Jus' like a tap, but t'ey did it a lot. Ain't I dead? Whot's goin' on? I felt summfin sharp cut me arm, an' I yelped, looking at my arm now. T'ere wos a hole in 'et. Whot te fook? Whot's bloody goin' on around 'ere? I touched me arm wiff me othah hand, an' ih felt like t'ere wos summink under me skin, buh I couldn' touch ih.
Aftah jus' lookin at me arm fo' a while, I started ta feel awl hot again. I didn' like 'et. I could feel summfin… strange. Ih felt like… like when we lived in Kong, sorta. I 'eard demons laughin' awl de time there. Now, ih felt like te demons were laughin… inside o'me like… An' I'd been down ta tha' 'ellhole befo… 'Et wos really 'ot, but now ih felt like tha' hot wos in me skin… Wait… um… didn' Noodle say t'as 'ow she felt awl de time wiff 'er demons? Wos ih happenin' te me now? Wos she feelin' ih too now, cos I wosn' wiff 'er? …I felt me eyes get hot, like. I didn' mean te leave yeh, Noodle. I wanna go back.
Awl of a sudden, ih felt really… funny… good funny. De demons o' whotevah left. I couldn' 'ear or see anyfink again, buh I felt someone touchin' me. I was hot again, but, a good hot. It was like Noodle's touch.
Now I felt 'et even mo… I could feel wind on me face –on me skin… I could smell 'et, an' 'et made me feel so good. I felt so warm now. I dun know if ih wos real, buh I wosn' abou' ta complain. I could feel Noodle's li'l body against mine. I could feel her breath on me… I could even smell 'er. Gawd, I miss yew, love. Now I felt 'er rubbin' inta me chest. Me eyes got 'ot again. I wanted te cry. I wanna go 'ome te yew, Noodle. Please lemme go 'ome. I only want yew wiff me. I don' like ih here.
I grunted. Me body wos startin' te hurt again, but I felt a little bettah. Like I had been thirsty or summfink, buh now I wosn'… An' now I cou' feel Noodle movin. Wait, dun go! Please, love.
She stopped movin, but now I felt summfink weird, an' I didn' know if 'et wos good or bad. 'Et felt like t'ere wos someone else in de room, buh… I dunno… I'm so confused. I wished me mind would jus' make ih's gawd damn mind up… wait, tha' didn' come ou' right… Um… fock it… I just wanna wake up o' die o' whatevah. I hate t'is place. I don' wanna jus' be stuck 'ere. S'not fair. I wanna jus' go wherevah I'm supposed ta, buh, I don' wanna if I gotta leave Noodle-love. I promised te not leave… An' she wos 'avin a baby… She wos 'avin my baby. I won' leave 'er wiff 'at by 'erself. I wanna come back.
I felt Noodle on me lips now, an' ih felt so good. Me 'eartbeat skipped a bit, buh t'en she wos gone again, an' I felt sad a li'l. I wosn' finished. Gawd, stop torturing me… Now, I could still feel her next te me, so I guess ih wos okay fo' now, but gawd I wonted te feel 'er lips again.
I felt scared when I felt someone touch me hand now. Ih wosn' Noodle, I knew tha… buh… ih did feel like 'er, kinda… buh her hands aren' dis small… buh I still goh tha' same feelin from t'is hand dat I get from Noodle's hands… buh, like, ih felt really… intense, like… I dunno how ta explain ih, buh 'et felt really good.
Now ih felt extremely hot! Not a bad hot, buh it wos really 'ot! Ih wos comin' from tha' tiny 'and. I gasped when I started te feel te heat pulse, an' I could 'ear a heartbeat t'at wosn' me own … An' ih felt like Noodle wos getting' really 'ot next te me. Whot's goin' on? It felt so… amazing. I felt like me chest wos comin' ta life, an' I felt like I wos whole again. It was te mos' crazy fing I fink I've evah felt, an' I felt like Noodle wos gettin' te same feelin, too. I felt completely connected to 'er, but I 'ad no idea why.
I jumped when I sawr a li'l girl. I titled me head te the side, scratching me neck. T'is place jus' goh weirder and weirder. I wos 'appy I could still feel Noodle wiff me, buh I wos confused cos usually I didn't feel nuffink in t'is purgatory when I saw fings. "Hallo, 2D-kun." I 'eard 'er call me name. Me mouff popped open. Who was t'is girl? She seemed awfully familiar… "Noodle is waiting for you, 2D-kun," she told me, in tha cute li'l voice of 'ers. I stared at 'er, studyin' 'er. She had a green eye, jus' one. Ih looked te exact same colour like Noodle's… but 'er othah eye wos blue. My eyes used ta be blue…
I bent down ta her. She seemed really familiar like. She was like Noodle when Noodle wos a li'l girl. I couldn' 'elp but smile at 'er. She was adorable, really. She walked up to me, an' I opened me arms, 'uggin 'er close. I felt t'at burnin' again. Ih wos comin from her… I pulled back, lookin' at 'er again. I wanted te speak, buh… I wos kinda scared. She smiled again, and I couldn' 'elp but grin back. Yep, she wos jus' like Noodle when Noodle wos li'l… but t'ere wos summfink odd abou' her. Besides tha one eye o'hers tha' wos te same blue as mine… when I looked at 'er… ih wos weird, cos I could kinda see me in 'er. I shook me head, and she kissed me cheek, and t'en she pulled back, an' jus' sorta disappeared. I lifted me hand to me face, touchin' where she pecked me… Why'd ih feel like she wos Noodle?
You ever 'ave tha feelin' tha' somethins callin you? Well, I felt like tha' awl of a sudden, so I stood an' I turned around. I wos in a tunnel now… there was a light. How cliché is tha'? I dun know where ih led, buh I felt like ih wos callin' me… so I walked down te tunnel.
When ih started getting brighter, I sheilded me face wiff me 'and, squinting me eyes. Behind me, I turned back to te darkness. I fink I'd 'eard Noodle call me name... I looked back te the light, an' t'en I 'eard 'er talking again, so I looked behind me. I felt te light pullin me again, an' I wanted ta go ta 'et… but… I can't leave Noodle… I turned back te the light. I dun know if t'ere is a Heaven, or if t'ere is a God, buh whoevah wos waitin' fo me… I ain't ready…
I love Noodle so much… She needs me righ' now… I can feel ih… I dun know how, buh I know m'not ready ta die… not yet…
I could feel te light lettin' go now, an' my eyes opened widely as te darkness descended again. I could feel te pain again… an' I could feel summfink in me arm… but, I could also feel a weight on me chest; someone curled inta me body… Me 'ead started ta 'urt like a bitch, an' me side where I got shot didn' exactly feel like a picnic either… but… the pain… it meant I was alive.
I leh out a sigh o' relief, but it 'urt, an' I moaned, openin me eyes te greet te world o'te livin' once more.
I hear the wind call your name
It calls me back home again
It sparks up the fire - a flame that still burns
Oh, it's to you I'll always return
I still feel your breath on my skin
I hear your voice deep within
The sound of my lover, a feeling so strong
Oh, it's to you I'll always belong
Now I know it's true, yeah
My every road leads to you
And in the hour of darkness, darling
Your light gets me through
Wanna swim in your river
Be warmed by your sun
Bathe in your waters
'Cause you are the one
I can't stand the distance
I can't dream alone
I can't wait to see you
Yes, I'm on my way home
I'm on my way…
Oh, I hear the wind call your name
The sound that leads me home again
It sparks up the fire - a flame that still burns
Oh, it's to you I will always return
Wanna swim in your river
Be warmed by your sun
Bathe in your waters
'Cause you are the one
I can't stand the distance
I can't dream alone
I can't wait to see you
Yes, I'm on my way home
Oh, I hear the wind call your name
The sound that leads me home again
It sparks up the fire - a flame that still burns
Yeah, I'm on my way –I will always return
Yes I will always return…
I've seen every sunset
And with all that I've learned…
Oh, it's to you
I will always…
Always… return…
Bryan Adams – I Will Always Return
Oh, I really, really, REALLY love this song! I finally found it on youtube (which surprisingly wasn't easy) and just to warn everyone, the beginning of the video IS NOT the song… It's just an opening the video editor made for it, so yeah. It's not the song. The song starts around ten seconds in. Anyhow, here is the link: youtube . com/watch?v=xcWpHMHTQeY
In case anyone noticed, I changed just a little bit of Noodle's Japanese in the chapter to make it more simple so people didn't confuse what she was saying. :P
So… yeah… I know everyone still hates me about the baby, but again, I promise it's for the best. The next chapter is where the action sorta begins to kick in again. And I promise, though the quality may not be perfect, it will get interesting again with the next chapter. And chapter 40 will be exciting to the characters in the story as well! In case you're lost, yes, 2D did get an infection and now he's sick.
Anyhow, let me know what you all think, pretty please. M'not too sure how this one came out. Especially with 2D's POV. Was that confusing at all, or too illegible? Lemme know!
Next chapppie's comin' around soon!
Loves an hugz!
~Hazel