Hey again! Yey, I uploaded as promised!
Abyo: But you have bad news...
Me: Shhh! That was meant to be a sad surprise...
Gau: I don't think anyone will be sad.
Abyo: Yeah, they'll be partying because of that surprise.
Me: Oi! No they won't! they will be crying because of this!
Garu: No-
Pucca: Just give her this one Garu. *Looks over at me in the corner rocking frantically*
Garu&Abyo: O_O...
Abyo: Dude, you're harsh.
Garu: WHAT?
Ching: Enjoy this chapter! ^_^
Noodles leaped into the air, twirling so fast they were just a blur suspended about Linguine's head, before falling into his awaiting hands. Uncle Dumpling just besides him threw a rainbow of coloured vegetables, making quick slices in the air causing the vegetables to crumble into the appropriate sizes as if they were cutting themselves. The vegetables fell neatly into a bowl Uncle Dumpling was holding. Both chefs stroll over to a large pan that Ho immediately ignited.
The guardians were happily going about their business, knowing full well that Pucca was gaining strength every hour and whatever she needed to get through her terrors they would supply for her. They were all focusing on preparing the huge banquet they were making for Pucca's party, to make the first thing she's tasted since being in hospital amazing.
"What do you think Pucca would like on her birthday cake?" Ho wondered aloud. They usually put her and Garu's face on the cake but because of her situation they weren't sure.
"What about a princess?" Uncle Dumpling suggested while slicing up more vegetables.
"No... That's too young. What about a picture of Yani? She would love that," Linguine smiled.
"Not detailed enough," Ho answered.
"And not special enough," Uncle Dumpling injected.
Suddenly a light went off over the kitchen. The three chefs grinned at each other.
"It will take sometime to do..." Ho almost warned.
"We may not get the rest of the food ready..." Linguine worried.
"We'll just have to work harder!" Uncle Dumpling finalised and with that the kitchen was filled with the sounds of slicing, sizzling and air whooshing around.
...
Pucca woke to a soft cooing of her name. Pucca blinked her heavy eyes to see her smiling best friend.
"Hi. Feeling better?" Ching asked a little worried.
"Surprisingly, yes," Pucca answered honestly. Her nap really had made her feel better. She didn't feel as groggy and she felt as if she could move her body rather than feeling as if it was just a dead weight attached to her head.
"I'm glad. I suspect that you're almost ready to leave as they've removed most of machinery from you." Pucca gave herself a once over and Ching was right. She now had only one drip attached to her arm and a heart monitor. She also had a few less bandages, revealing small pink lines where Tobe had trailed his weapons teasingly over her pale skin. When Pucca looked back at him friend she was holding up a stunning red dress. The dress Pucca had chosen at the store before this whole mess started. The dress she thought she had lost when running into the forest.
"Where did you find that?"
"Someone brought it into the police station while we were waiting for you to come around. You signed the recite and they had heard that you had been brought here so..." She smiled brightly.
"I can't wear that."
Ching deflated, "What?"
"I can't wear that," Pucca repeated.
"Of cause you can! You looked gorgeous in it," she argued. Pucca just shook her head. "Why not?"
"I just can't!"
Ching stared sadly at her. She waited a moment before sitting on the edge of Pucca's bed. "Why not? You can tell me anything Pucca, you know that." Pucca stared at her almost ashamed.
"I can't. I can't show the... The scars. I can't Ching."
Ching understood immediately. If people saw the scars they would just pity her more and Ching knew how much that would kill Pucca. "What if we could hide them, just for one night?" Pucca tilted her head in question. "You know how I was taught camouflage?" Pucca raised a brow.
"What are you going to do? Blend me into the trees?" Pucca laughed at the idea. An image of Pucca hiding in the background, only the whites of her eyes showing, as she watched Garu train while trying to scare him. Ching began to laugh as well.
"That's one option," she teased.
"And what's the other option?" Pucca giggled slightly.
"The other is make-up."
Silence stretched out as Pucca stared at her friend in disbelief. In all honesty, Pucca would have had an easier tine believing that Ching had sprouted wings rather than her knowing how to use make-up. The most make-up she ever wore was lip gloss, which she kept licking off to Pucca's annoyance, and a smudge of mascara when she went on her first official date with Abyo.
Pucca laughed. For a long time. Ching tired to get a word in to explain but Pucca's laughter drowned her out. Pucca eventually wheezed to a stop. Ching looked at her friend in exhaustion. If Pucca wasn't her closest friend she would have head butted her by now.
"Glad to see you have recovered so quickly."
The girls jumped at the sudden deep voice. A doctor strolled in in a long white coat. The doctor picked up Pucca's chart that hung over the bottom of her bed. He quietly looked it over before grinning up at her. "You have recovered marvellously. I'm pleased to tell you that you're almost free to go. I just have to sign your release papers, prescribe you some anti-inflammatories and painkillers you'll be free to go. I assume you have a place you can go to rest up for the next few weeks?"
Before Pucca could answer Ching interjected, "Actually it's her birthday party tonight. Do you think it's possible that she may e fit enough to go?" The doctor levelled his eyes with Ching.
"Oh, happy birthday miss. Not such great start huh?" The doctor directed at Pucca. She attempted a smile at his humour. He began to address again, "Yes, I believe that she will be able enough to go to her party. But on these conditions. She takes one anti-inflammatory before the party and two painkillers. Also, she must take rests regularly and have someone to constantly monitor her. Other than that she should be fine." He looked over at Pucca again but suddenly Pucca got a weird vibe from him, "A nurse will be in to take your temperature and unplug all of the equipment."
Ching thanks the doctor as he left only to turn around and see a spaced out Pucca. Pucca was positive she recognised that doctors voice, and the weird looks he was giving her. At first gently, like a normal doctor, but they began to grow cold during his speech... Right after Ching had informed him of her birthday party tonight... Before Pucca could over analyse any further Ching snapped her back to reality.
"What?" she asked a little bewildered.
"I said you're gonna come back to mine to get showered and changed," she grinned. Pucca mirrored her expression but a small part of her brain was still wondering how she knew the doctor. Maybe he was a customer at Goh-Rong. It was the most well known and liked restaurant in Sooga Village and they did get some new comers that she hadn't met before.
As the nurse came in Ching folded Pucca's dress and put it back into her bag. She collected Pucca's things, also carefully wrapped up the beautiful glass sculpture that was on her windowsill, which she was going to drill Pucca about later, before helping Pucca sit up. Ching excused herself as she wet to call Abyo over for some help. Pucca sat in the room cradling the glass bird gift wondering what her life was going to be like now. Did anything change between her and Garu? He gave her a handmade gift, so that may mean something... But then again he also began acting cold towards her.
Abyo and Ching walked through the door a couple of minuets later. Abyo carefully picked up Pucca, much to her embarrassment and protest, and carried her out of the hospital with Ching chatting by their side.
"I even have those scarlet ruby necklace and matching earrings that you can wear! They would go perfectly with your dress." She skipped slightly ahead and twirled, " Garu's gonna be eating his heart out at the sight of you!" Abyo and Pucca laughed at Ching's choice of words as we walked towards Ching's house to start the beauty preparations, which Pucca kind of saw as pointless in her position, but it would still be fun to mess around with Ching again.
"You're one metal woman, Ching."
"You can't talk, stripper-boy."
Pucca smiled the whole way back at Abyo and Ching playfully calling each other names.
Hope you liked the chapter! Surprised that I actually kept my deadline? Me too =^_^=
Garu: For the love of- Just tell them the surprise already!
Me: O_O.. Fine. Erm... Well...
*Growls* Garu: Rachel is going on holiday tomorrow and won't be back for at least a week.
Me: Hey!
Ching: Wait, what? When did you plan this?
Ring-ring: Muhahaha, I will rule while she is gone! BOW DOWN TO ME!
Pucca: Ring-ring, what on earth are you doing here?
Ring-ring: I heard that the psycho was gonna be away so here I am!
Ching&Pucca: What? \(O_O)/ \(O_O)/
Me: Hola-hola-hola-hola-hola! -_- You're gonna do what in my absence?
Ring-ring: Rule the story and its characters. First order of business, Pucca, Ching, you're out.
Abyo: Hey, you can't do that to my girl-
Ring-ring: Yes, I can. You're gone too by the way.
Pucca: So... It's just you and Garu?
Garu: O_O oh god...
Me: HEY! I'm still here Ring-ring.
*Everyone begins to fight*
Me: UGH! Right. Listen up, if I come back and anything, ANYTHING, has changed hell will break out. Got me? *Silence* I said; Got me?
All: Yes Ma'am!
Me: *Huff* Now say the line.
All: Thanks for reading! Don't forget to review!
Me: And help to keep Ring-ring in line =[
Ring-ring: X_X
To round up, me? Gone. How long? A week or so. When I get back? I will be brown!... Oh, and Ring-ring shouldn't have changed zip. And maybe a load of reviews to come back to? ;) That would be amazing motivation to write.