Chapter 24
Wow. It's hard to believe it's been two months since I've updated this. I apologize for the delay. Tsuruko Aoyama, Shippu, and Noriyesu Seta appear courtesy of Love Hina by Ken Akamatsu. Please read and review.
Progress
oOo
Ryo ran down the hallway of the hospital, tears blurring her vision. She could hear her friends calling for her to stop, but she couldn't. The sight of Mao, unconscious with that mask over her face, had wrenched her heart. They were wrong. She was responsible for this. That woman had confirmed it. She wasn't normal. She was a freak, and she had set in motion the chain of events that had put an innocent girl in the hospital. With a new pang of guilt driving her, she quickly entered the stairwell, and barely slowing, headed down. Bursting out onto the ground floor, she ran down the hallway and across the lobby. Her grief was so intense, that she failed to notice the elder Aoyama sister standing by the window, talking on her cell phone.
The samurai watched the girl's distress with great interest, following her progress until she left the building. Turning her attention back to the person on the other end she said. "Mother, I apologize. I must end this call. A situation has arisen, with the person I was telling you about, that requires my attention. I will contact you again when it is resolved. Please give my regards to the elders." Ending the call, she quickly made her way to the doorway. When she was outside, a raucous call greeted her as a large yellow bird alighted on her shoulder and began rubbing against the side of her head. "Hello Shippu." She said, giving the bird an affectionate pat. "I've missed you as well. Has Motoko treated you kindly?" The bird bobbed its head in affirmation. Then it looked back at the door and trilled mournfully. "She's past her time isn't she? Do you meet her every day like this after she finishes her work? I'm afraid she won't be coming home today. However, fear not dear friend, for your mistress will recover soon and you two will be reunited…It is fortunate you're here. I'm in need of your assistance. Will you help me find someone?" When the bird chirped happily, Tsuruko smiled and began jogging in the direction Ryo had taken.
oOo
Yuki awoke to a gentle hand shaking her shoulder. She opened her eyes to see Shinobu, Dr. Nakamura, Kimiko and Emma standing beside her bed. "What's the matter?" She asked groggily.
"Congratulations!" Her nurse said happily. "Look at what you did in your sleep!" She added, pointing at the end of the bed.
The girl craned her neck, and saw her leg wasn't bent anymore. "I did that?" She asked in disbelief. "I tried moving them earlier, but they wouldn't budge."
"That's why I'm here Miss Azuma." The doctor said as Shinobu straightened her other leg and rolled her onto her back. "I want to perform another evaluation of your condition."
"Ok." She said as he approached the bed. "I was expecting Dr. Kanazaki to do this again tonight when he came back on duty."
"Then you know what to expect." He said with a grin. Picking up her foot, and running his finger across the sole, he was rewarded with a reflexive jerk. "Wonderful!" He exclaimed setting her leg down. He achieved similar results with the other. "This is marvelous Miss Azuma. You've regained some of your reactive functions." He said as he recorded the information on her chart. Looking up with a smile, he continued. "Let's test your voluntary motor skills now. I want you to close your eyes and relax." When she had complied, he continued in a soothing voice. "Remember what it felt like to wiggle your toes...Now, duplicate that feeling." Seeing her tense, he admonished her. "You're trying too hard Miss Azuma. Just relax and let it happen. When you strain like that, your entire spinal cord is involved, firing electrical impulses like crazy, confusing the muscles. If you still the rest of your body, you stand a better chance of stimulating the one you want. That's why you could move in your sleep. Your subconscious mind sent a signal to your leg, and your body was relaxed enough to respond."
"Yes Doctor, I understand. I'll try to relax." She took a deep breath, and concentrated on moving just the toes on her right foot. She remembered lying in Izumi's bath, sticking her toes out of the water and wiggling them at Koharu. The girl from Tosa, grinning, had imitated her, and it had become a contest to see who could wiggle them the longest. Smiling at the memory, she was surprised to hear a cry from Shinobu. Opening her eyes, she saw everyone beaming at her.
"You did it Yuki!" Her friend cried, taking her hand. "You moved them!"
"Well done Miss Azuma." Nakamura added happily. "You're well on your way to recovering from this, so now we'll address the other matter. These two women are strongly opposed to you having surgery, and asked me to let you try on a different brace. Nurse, please remove the one she's currently wearing."
"Yes, Doctor." Shinobu replied, pulling up the girl's gown. Loosening the straps, she spread the brace flat on the bed. "Yuki, we need you to lie still and let us move you, ok?
"Right, lie still." She said with a nod.
"Where would you like me, Doctor?" The young woman in white inquired.
"Please take the shoulders." He said, before walking up and putting his hand under Yuki's hip. "It would be nice to have a third pair of hands to roll her legs."
"I can help." Kimiko said stepping up to the bed. "I've done this for my friend when she needed to be bathed, so don't worry."
"Thank you." He replied with a grateful smile. "I feel better knowing you've done this before."
"We'll roll to her right on three. Ok?" Shinobu asked as she took hold of Yuki's shoulders.
"Roll to her right on three. I got it." The woman replied as she placed her hands on the girl's legs.
"What can I do?" Emma asked, eager to help.
"When we get her rolled over, remove the old brace from under her." Nakamura said with a serious expression. "Then tuck that piece of cloth under her and wrap it up over her backside, making sure there are no wrinkles. When you have finished that, take the rear plate of the new brace and hold it against her spine, with the wider end towards her shoulders. We will then roll her back, strapping the front on after she's lying flat."
"No problem." She said moving to the opposite side of the bed and grabbing hold of the brace. "Ready when you are."
"I'm really glad I'm wearing shorts." Yuki said quietly, glancing at Shinobu and then at Nakamura.
He chuckled, saying. "Fear not, Miss Azuma. I've been married thirty years and delivered both of my daughters and two granddaughters. You don't have anything I haven't seen before."
"That's not the point." She replied blushing. "It's not whether you've seen one or not, but that I'm not ready to be seen."
He frowned at that. "You're sixteen. Haven't you ever been to a gynecologist?"
"She's a woman." The girl mumbled, blushing even deeper at the thought of a man giving her that exam.
His frown changed to a look of chagrin, and then he said. "Oh…Well, enough of that. Ready ladies? One… two…three."
After they rolled her onto her side, Emma gently pulled the elastic band from under her, and tossed it to the floor. She then quickly threaded the piece of thick fabric under Yuki's side and up across her back, smoothing out any areas that were bunched up. Finally, she took the piece of molded plastic and held it firmly to Yuki's injury, maintaining gentle pressure until they'd finished returning her to her original position.
"Well done, ladies." Nakamura said warmly. "Now let's get her strapped in and see how she feels."
Emma picked up the other half of the brace and held it out to Shinobu, who, after she finished overlapping the ends of the cloth, took it and laid it across Yuki's stomach. Then they fed the straps through the slots in the back half and pulled them snug, fastening the Velcro.
"Is that too uncomfortable Yuki?" Kimiko asked from the end of the bed.
"It is a little more uncomfortable than the other one." She said making a face. Then she tried reaching for the table, only to be stopped well short of her goal. Her face brightened as she exclaimed. "It limits how much I can move, but my break didn't shift! This is great! I won't need the surgery now!"
"So you're content with that? You're positive you don't want the operation?" Nakamura asked, looking at her intently. When she nodded, he added. "Very well, I'll cancel your surgery." Looking to Kimiko and Emma, he added. "Ladies, you have proven to be correct on this. If you'll excuse me, I have a schedule to update. Have a good evening." Then he turned and headed for the door
"Good bye Doctor." Kimiko called. "Thank you again for your willingness to cooperate with us."
He silently responded with a nonchalant wave as he stepped through the door.
"Well, it's already after five o'clock." Shinobu said, also moving towards the door. "I'm sure you're hungry Yuki, so I'll order your dinner."
"Thank you Shinobu." She called back. "Oh! Don't forget to bring back my cookies!" Then looking at Kimiko and Emma, she said with a grateful smile. "Thank you Mrs. Watson, Ms. Carter. I wasn't looking forward to that surgery."
"You're welcome, dear." Kimiko said raising the head of her bed. "But enough with the formality. I'm Kimiko and she's Emma. Ok?"
"Ok!" She responded happily. "I promise!"
"Look at her." Emma said grinning. "If she was smiling any wider, I think her face would break."
"I just can't believe how nice you both are being to me." The girl said, glowing. "My mother would never let one of my teammates call her by her given name. I was surprised and thrilled to hear her say that. I'm being treated like I'm an adult."
"Well, you should be." The blonde said, sitting on the edge of the bed. "You've behaved like one. You'd suffered a serious injury; had your parents abandon you, and had major surgery looming over you. Those misfortunes would have overcome a child, but you've endured, and now you're ready to come out on the other side. Be proud of yourself, Yuki."
"I know I am." Kimiko said sitting next to her on the other side. "Yuki, I have something to say to you." Taking the girl's hand in both of hers, she smiled warmly as she continued. "Thank you again for saving my daughter's life. I know I told you that when I visited with you earlier, but it bears repeating. My entire family greatly appreciated your selfless act… It really bothered me when you told us your folks had abandoned you. So, young lady, I feel compelled to tell you this." She looked the girl in the eyes and said tenderly. "From this day on, please consider yourself part of my family. I hope you'll call on us if you ever need help."
"Kimiko…I…" Yuki whispered as tears began welling.
She leaned forward, taking the girl into a gentle embrace. Her eyes were misting as she said softly. "We won't ever let you feel abandoned again Yuki."
Emma, her emotions getting the better of her, dabbed her eyes with a tissue as she said. "Look at you two, crying over the littlest thing."
oOo
Seira, Corey, Hikaru, and Koharu walked back into Mao's hospital room. Their expressions spoke volumes.
"You were unable to find her?" Ms. Himuro inquired worriedly.
"She had too big of a jump on us." Hikaru said gloomily, shaking her head. "We know she left the hospital…"
"But you don't know which way she went from there." The Chairperson said finishing the thought. "This is just like last year. Why must she run from us when she's troubled?"
"She doesn't want to burden us with her problems." Izumi said tersely, a scowl on her face. "I told her I wouldn't tolerate her acting like a loser, and she does this again."
"Wasn't she the one who said we had to be there to support Amy?" Yoko said angrily. "Why won't she let us be there for her?"
"People who are used to giving of themselves are rarely comfortable receiving help from others." Motoko said in a calm voice. "Often they feel they don't deserve it. They end up struggling with their problems while those closest to them are kept at arm's length."
"I'm worried." Kanako said quietly. "The last time she did this she nearly died."
"What?" The swordswoman exclaimed. Then she quietly pondered before adding. "Interesting… I must share that information with my sister when she returns this evening."
"Why would she want to know?" Seira inquired, crossing her arms. "I thought she was hung up on you coming to teach at Kisuragi."
"A young woman with such a strong natural ki is rare. I'm sure Tsuruko's told our mother about her. The God's Cry School will undoubtedly pursue her as a student."
"Isn't she kind of old to start training now?" Corey asked, intrigued. "I mean, don't serious kendo students start like at five or six?"
"That's not what I meant." She replied, shaking her head. "I don't think she'd be well suited for swordsmanship per se. She's too kindhearted. An opponent would take advantage of that. I was thinking more for helping her control her emotions and learning to focus her ki."
"You mean like you were doing in that fight?" Seira asked, becoming excited. "I'd like to be able to do that someday."
"You have a strong will Seira, so it may be possible for you to learn it." Motoko said with a sad smile. "You will, however, need to first find peace within yourself. If you don't mind, in appreciation of your saving me today, I would like to coach you in some meditation techniques. If you sincerely work at it, I believe you can put your demons to rest and with them the anger inside of you."
"You noticed that?" She replied, her cheeks going a little red. "I thought I was doing pretty good keeping my cool."
"Seira, you were screaming at her in the stair well." Izumi reminded her. "Not that I blame you. I was pretty anxious for Amy myself."
"What happened with Amy?" Hikaru asked worriedly. "And what's this about a fight? Was that why you three were so late?"
Corey spoke up. "Those jerks showed up in the parking garage under the hospital and jumped Amy, my mom, and my grandpa. We managed to take them down, but not before they beat up Amy and my grandpa."
"Oh no!" Kanako cried mournfully as tears appeared in her eyes. "Those creeps had no right to do that to her. She'd already been hurt enough."
"I just hope you gave them a bashing." Koharu said angrily. "It would've served those animals right. I wish I could have been there to help."
"How is she?" Yoko asked in a subdued voice, staring at the floor. "They didn't…y'know her again did they?"
"No. Thank god." Seira said angrily, thinking how close it had been. "We got there just before they were going to."
"Miss Aoyama is to thank for that." Izumi added, smiling at the samurai. "If she hadn't been there to get that door open, who knows how it would have turned out?"
"Don't forget her taking down Akira." Corey added. "I don't think I'd be standing here if it had been just me fighting him."
"Thank you for your kind words." Motoko said humbly. "I'm glad I was able to help. I apologize that you all needed to rescue me from him. I underestimated his resilience and paid the price with my ribs."
At that time, the nurse entered carrying Motoko's dinner. "Everyone, I'm afraid you'll need to leave for a while. It's time for her meal, and I'm sure she'll need some rest after she's done."
"Of course Nurse." Ms. Himuro said graciously. "Come girls. Let's leave her in peace. Go home and try not to worry about Ryo too much. She most likely just went home herself. Rest well, Instructor Aoyama. Watch over Miss Daidoji for us, would you?"
"I will defend her with my life." The woman deadpanned. "That is as long as I am not required to get out of bed."
oOo
Ryo had run towards the university, hoping to lose any pursuit by her teammates in the crowds of milling college students. Unfortunately, most of the classes were finished for the day, so there were very few people to witness the distraught girl's dash across campus. Winded, she dared glancing over her shoulder. Seeing no one she recognized, she slowed, pausing by a large fountain. Sitting on the wall, with her back to the splashing water, she took in deep breaths of air, cooling her burning lungs. She stared morosely at the ground, loathing herself for what she'd done. When a shadow fell into view, her head snapped up as her body tensed to flee. She relaxed when she saw the shadow belonged to a smiling man in a lab coat. He was disheveled, with unkempt hair and a cigarette hanging from his mouth.
"Are you ok?" He asked, holding out a bottle of water. "I saw you running and thought you could use this. I didn't know the track club was using the grounds for practice. Well, I suppose there's plenty of room this time of day."
"Oh, I'm not a college student!" She replied, quickly standing and bowing. "I'm still in high school. I'm sorry if I shouldn't be here. I just started running and ended up by this fountain. I'll leave."
"Now hold on." He said with a fatherly smile. "I didn't say you had to leave." Looking at the fountain, he took a drag off his smoke before continuing. "I had a part-time assistant who used to come here a lot. He said it was a good place to think." Scratching his chin, he continued. "As I recall, he used to sit under that tree right there." He added, pointing to a maple across the path, where a large yellow bird was sitting on the lowest branch, watching them. "You looked like you were thinking about something pretty hard. Would you like to join me over there and talk about it?"
"Excuse me," she said in a wary voice, "but who are you?"
"His name is Noriyesu Seta." A woman's voice said behind her.
Startled, Ryo turned and saw the swordswoman from the hospital standing two meters away. "How did you find me?" She cried in a panic. "Leave me alone!" Turning to flee, she was stopped when Seta grabbed her. "Let me go!"
"Calm down Miss." He said struggling to contain the thrashing girl. "I don't know what this is about, but I know this woman, and I assure you she means you no harm."
"She's a monster like me, only worse!" The girl replied, and then screamed. "Help me somebody, I'm being…" The silence was abrupt after Tsuruko jabbed her on the back of her neck, and the girl sagged in the man's arms.
Having seen the terror in Ryo's eyes as she's collapsed, Seta turned to the samurai. "A pressure point strike?" He asked derisively, frowning. "Was that really necessary?"
"Do you want a crowd to gather?" The woman replied sourly as she cast furtive glances around her, checking to see if anyone had heard Ryo's screams. "She is unharmed. I merely disrupted the flow of her ki to subdue her. Let's get her someplace comfortable and away from prying eyes."
"Technically this is kidnapping, Tsuruko." He said as he scooped Ryo up into his arms, cradling her head against his chest. "I hope you have a good reason for doing this."
"My dear Seta, I don't do anything without a good reason." She responded, smiling disarmingly. Then laying a hand lightly on the side of Ryo's face, she added. "She's very special. The God's Cry School has great interest in her abilities. This promises to be a most extraordinary evening."
oOo
Masako looked up from holding a sleeping Kenji's hand at the sound of someone knocking. She saw a man and a woman standing at the threshold. "Come in, please." She said warmly, rising to meet them away from the beds. "Are you here to see Amy?"
"Yes ma'am." The man said quietly, stepping in. "I'm Shinsaku Kido, Amy's coach. This is Shino Hayakawa, her teammate's mother."
"How are you?" Shino greeted her with a polite bow. "This is just horrible what those young men did to her. How is she?"
"Both she and my husband are sleeping at the moment." The woman replied. "Hayakawa? Then it was your daughter who called the other night."
"That's right. Ryo is the captain of the team, so the rest of the girls thought it appropriate that she extend the invitation for the party. Please accept my deepest sympathies for everything that has happened."
"Thank you so much." Masako responded with a bow of her own. "I'm afraid I won't be able to stay much longer. I need to get home to prepare dinner for my daughter and myself. The nurse was kind enough to bring me a fruit cup earlier, but I'm becoming hungry. Please feel free to stay and keep them company."
"You won't have to worry about dinner Mom." Kimiko said as she and Emma stepped into the room. "The Chairperson of the school has invited us to her home. Hello Mr. Kido, we meet again."
"Mrs. Watson." He said with a nod. "Who's your stunning friend?" He added, looking Emma over with an appreciative grin.
"I'm Emily Carter, from back in her pro tennis days." She said grinning back. "I'd be careful with what you say, Mr. Kido. Your girlfriend's standing right there."
"Oops!" He said cringing, looking at the woman beside him guiltily. "Sorry Shino…Say; how did you know she was my girlfriend?" He asked after clearing his throat.
"They came to my restaurant for lunch." Shino said evenly, looking at him through narrowed eyes. "Do I need to dye my hair blonde now to keep your attention?"
"You could never lose my attention." He said warmly, putting his arm around her waist. "I've waited too long to find a woman like you to be swayed by a pretty face and a tanned body."
"Smooth." Emma quipped. "It was a good recovery, but I can see why Seira thinks you're a sleaseball."
"Oh…Uh…Yeah." He stammered, blushing. "Well, I think we should be heading out. I need to take the equipment back to the school, and Shino needs to get back to her restaurant."
"He's right." She replied with a bow. "It was nice meeting you all. If you have chance, come visit me again. I enjoyed this afternoon."
Kimiko stepped up and took a surprised Shino into her arms. "I'm glad I was able to meet you. Thank you for giving me your shoulder to cry on earlier."
"You're welcome. If I don't see you again before you leave, have a safe flight back to America." She replied, returning the embrace.
"I know. Why don't the two of you come by my shop tomorrow?" Emma said grinning. "One item will be on me, and anything else, I'll sell to you at cost, just like I do for Seira."
"I'd like that, but I need to do the prep work for the restaurant in the morning." Shino replied apologetically. "I can't afford to close down three times in a week."
"What do you need done, dear?" Masako said stepping up. "I could help for a few hours. It'll be nice to cook for a large group again."
"Have you ever made oden Mom?" Kimiko asked, surprised at her mother's offer.
She gave her daughter a hurt look as she said. "I worked in a restaurant for eight years while your father was in college. I think I can handle chopping up vegetables and frying fish cakes."
"Are you sure?" Shino asked the woman. "I won't be able to pay you very much."
"You reached out to my daughter when she needed you. I'm just doing the same. My name is Masako Suzuki. I hope you will accept my offer." She responded with another bow.
"If that's how you feel, I would be my pleasure to accept your help." She acquiesced, returning the bow. "I usually begin around nine. Is that too early?"
"I'll be there." The older woman said with a wide smile. "Kenji will still be here, and shouldn't need me until the afternoon. Kimiko will need to drive them home anyway. I never earned my license."
"I need to drop off Amy for her tests first." She said looking over at her sleeping daughter. "How does ten o'clock sound?"
"Great." Emma replied. "I'll give you directions to the store." Pulling a pen and a pad of paper out of her purse, she began writing.
Someone clearing his throat interrupted the conversation. They turned to see Mr. Mita standing in the hallway, holding a bouquet of flowers. "Good evening Masako. May I come in?"
"Yasunori! Welcome! Please come in!" She said warmly, stepping out to greet him. "He's sleeping now, but he should be waking up soon. Take the chair by the bed. He'll be thrilled to see you."
"Big brother Yasunori!" Kimiko said embracing him. "It's so good to see you! I haven't seen you since I first left for the States."
"It's good to see you again as well, Kimiko." He said with a sad smile. "I'm a little upset with you, though. You should have told me Amy was your daughter."
"Yasunori?" Kido said with a grin. "I've never heard anyone use your given name Principal, not even Ms. Himuro."
"I've known the Suzuki family since I was a boy and Kimiko was a baby." He said coldly. "They are some of my dearest friends, while Ms. Himuro and I have a relationship that is strictly professional. Do not assume rise above that level of familiarity either, Mr. Kido."
"I wouldn't dream of it." He replied with a smirk. "We need to go. See you all later."
Waving as they walked away, they moved to the elevator. "Please let nothing else go wrong tonight." Shino said softly as she linked elbows with the coach, laying her head on his shoulder. He patted her arm affectionately as the doors opened, and they stepped on.
oOo
Tsuruko held the door as Seta carried the still motionless Ryo into his office and set her down on the couch. "This is nice." She said looking around her. "When did you earn such a grand office?"
"I inherited it when I became Director of the Department of Historical Studies." He replied, unfolding the blanket resting on the back and covering the girl with it. "I'm trying to keep it less cluttered than my other office was. I maintain a separate room for cataloguing artifacts and grading papers. This is strictly for meetings with members of the department and such. Haruka bought me the couch for when I pull those all-nighters and need somewhere to sleep."
"How is your indomitable wife?" She asked as she sat down by his desk. "I haven't seen her since you two returned from your last dig."
"She's good." He replied, sitting down in his office chair. "She's with Sarah in America right now."
"Ah yes, Sarah, your loveable, irascible, adopted daughter. She wants to go to high school there next autumn doesn't she?" The swordswoman continued. "I can't believe she's that old already."
Looking over at Ryo, he replied. "That's right. She's only a couple of years younger than that girl is. They could be going to school together." He sighed, and then said despondently. "Why are we doing this Tsuruko?"
"It wasn't my intention to abduct her Seta." She said with a slight frown. "I only wished to speak with her, but she was making such a commotion out there she left me no choice. I initially encountered her in the hospital while visiting Motoko."
"Is she still working there?" He said rising. Moving to a small kitchen area, he filled an electric kettle and turned it on.
"Yes, although I believe it is employment beneath her." She responded as she watched him open a jar of instant tea. "Unfortunately, tonight she is there as a patient."
He paused, turning and giving her a concerned look. "What happened to her?"
She proceeded to tell him what Shinobu had relayed over the phone, and then told him that that her sister would recover from her injuries. "I was leaving the room, when I noticed this girl's ki. It's remarkably strong for someone untrained in the arts."
"No training at all?" He said above the whistling of the kettle. Taking out two ceramic mugs, he prepared tea, his mind going over what she'd said. "Did you learn anything else about her?" He added, crossing the room and holding a mug out to her.
"Only her name." She said receiving the tea from him with a bow. "Ryo Hayakawa. I'm not familiar with any notable family in history with that name, but I'm not a historian by trade, so I could be wrong."
"Hayakawa." He said sitting back down. "I've heard that name recently." Moving to his computer, he accessed the library's database, pulling up newspaper records and doing a general search. Thirty seconds later, the screen filled with a list of related articles.
"There are over one hundred articles here." Tsuruko said looking over his shoulder. "Try to narrow it down by cross referencing with Kisuragi Girls' High School."
Typing quickly, the list shortened to only thirty-three. "Well, well, our young friend has had quite a bit of media exposure over the last year. Let's see what we can find." He muttered, grabbing the mouse and clicking on the first one.
They scanned articles about the team, and Ryo's progression from nearly losing to Meyo Junior, to her throwing the lightning ball to beat Rinkai High. "She manifested her ki for the first time." Tsuruko said softly, turning to look at the resting girl. "Without any training, she visibly manifested her ki. Amazing."
"It mentions her father as well." He continued, skimming over the rest of the article. "It would seem he could also throw a pitch like that."
Intrigued, Tsuruko quickly scanned it. "Hidehiko Hayakawa… My goodness, what an impressive record he had. He won Koshien and the Japan Series." Her expression became grave as she read on. "But then he was expelled from the league under suspicion of game fixing." She finished, shaking her head. Stepping back, she sat on the edge of the desk to think, taking a sip of tea.
"Wait. Here's something you'll find interesting Tsuruko." Seta said, looking at an article with a photo showing Ryo in a hospital bed.
"She almost died?" The swordswoman exclaimed loudly. Scanning the details anxiously, her face softened until she was grinning widely. "And here I thought she was a timid little thing. Only one with the heart of a warrior would perform such an act of selfless heroism. What a special girl you are, Ryo Hayakawa."
"She'd gone to her father's home town when she got hurt." The archeologist said lighting a fresh cigarette. "It might be worth your time to go there yourself. Maybe you can find out something about her ancestry."
"I think I must." She replied softly. "I'm sure there is some connection with that orphanage. Why else would a successful professional athlete go back like that?" Crossing the room, she knelt next to the couch. Pulling back the blanket, she rolled Ryo onto her stomach and with softly glowing fingertips, massaged the back of her neck. "There, I've restored the flow of her ki. She should awaken shortly."
oOo
Shinobu entered the room next to Yuki's, humming happily. She checked the readings of the machines monitoring the life functions of the unconscious young man lying in bed. He had come through his surgery well, and his vitals signs were stable. She looked down at the bandages around his head, and wondered what he looked like. His eyes, mouth, and chin were the only parts of his face visible, strips of cloth covering his fractured nose, and jaw. She sighed, sobered from her good mood by the thought of what he'd gone through to arrive at the hospital in such a state. She watched his chest rise and fall as the heart monitor beeped a steady rhythm. The doctors were amazed at how well he'd come back, calling him a fighter. "Keep fighting, Mr. Mugen. You're going to make it." She said softly as she prepared to continue her rounds. She touched his shoulder in a gesture of sympathy, and was startled as his eyes slowly opened and his gaze met hers. "Ahhh, you're awake!" She replied warmly. "Welcome back! Let me go tell your doctor." Then she moved quickly to the door, her mood buoyed even higher than it had been before.
oOo
The girls approached the door with trepidation, their shoulders hunched. Hearing Amy had been beaten up, made them fear for her condition. Hikaru took the lead and peered around the corner. She saw Mr. Mita sitting in a chair, looking depressed. "Hey, Kanako…" She whispered. "Why's your dad here?"
With a gasp, the bespectacled girl abruptly stood up. Concern showing on her face, she left the group and went in. "Hey Dad." She said softly as she approached and saw who was in the bed. "Is Mr. Suzuki going to be ok?"
"Oh, Kanako, it's you." He replied, looking towards her. "I'm glad you're here. I think he'll appreciate it too when he wakes up. You missed seeing Mrs. Suzuki. Ms. Himuro is making her and her daughter dinner, so they needed to go home and clean up. Have you eaten?"
"Yes sir." She said quietly as the rest of the girls filed in. "We decided to get something before coming to check on Amy." Looking sadly over at the other bed, she added. "She looks pretty banged up." She took a shuddering breath, and then hugging herself, began shaking her head. "Why, Dad! It doesn't make sense!" She cried, despair making her voice crack. "All these people got hurt because of one man's ego. That arrogant creep couldn't be satisfied with breaking Yuki's back. He had to serve his petty pride by hurting the others. I hate him, Dad! I hate him with everything that's in me." With a hiccupping sob, her strength left her, and she fell to her knees with her head resting on her father's lap.
"Kanako!" He exclaimed in surprise. Putting his hand on the despondent girl's shoulder, he rubbed it tenderly as she wept into his leg. His expression was pained as he thought. When her lamenting diminished to a few sniffles, he answered. "He isn't the first man to use violence in this way, and I'm sure he won't be the last. They say power corrupts, I would venture he's proof of that. He was king of his little group, and I'm sure he thought he was invincible. He felt his dominion slipping away and tried anything he could to hang on to it. However, all his aggressive actions did him little good. His house of cards tumbled down today with him being arrested."
"That's not enough!" She spat looking up at him angrily. "Yuki, Amy, Mr. Suzuki, Miss Aoyama, even Kosuke Mugen, the guy who was at school this morning, none of them would be in the hospital if it wasn't for that man."
Taking a deep sigh, Mr. Mita looked with concern at his daughter. "Kanako, come sit here." He said quietly, patting his leg. The girl got up and sat down. Wrapping his arms around her, he gave her a reassuring hug as he continued. "I want you to remember something. A ruthless man will use fear and intimidation to control others. Only after someone is brave enough to stand against such tactics, can that ruthless man can be stopped. It's terrible that all these people were hurt, but they were hurt while doing something to protect others. They made the choice to fight against that man's wickedness. So instead of being angry that they got hurt, be proud that they got hurt doing something honorable."
"I'm glad someone's proud of me." Kenji said with a chuckle. "It's good to see you, Yasunori. It's been a while." Turning his gaze to the younger Mita, he added, "Hello again, Kanako. We meet twice in one day. It's been a long time since I've seen you sit in your father's lap. I'm glad you can still find comfort there."
"I'm surprised she could find a lap to sit on." Yoko said softly to Koharu, eliciting a chuckle from the center fielder.
"I heard that." Mita said as he glanced over his shoulder, causing the two girls to blush and stare at the floor, mortified. Looking back to Kenji, he continued. "You've looked better, old friend. How are you feeling?"
"I'll be fine." He reassured them. "I got off fairly easy compared to Amy. They brutalized her, Yasunori. Seven young men using her like a punching bag. I tried to protect her, but they hit me so hard, I was knocked out for a time. I was so relieved when Corey showed up with Seira and Izumi."
"I'm glad Miss Morimura's fighting skills were useful for a change." Mita replied with a grin. "Do you need anything? You only have to ask, and I will get it for you."
"I don't know about him, but I need to use the restroom." Amy called. "Could I get an assist from one of my teammates?"
"Sure." Hikaru said approaching the bed. "What do I need to do?"
"Help me swing my legs off the bed." She replied, embarrassed. "It hurts to use my stomach muscles."
"You should have let them catheterize you Amy." Kenji admonished. "You wouldn't have to do this if you had."
"I'm not letting anyone stick something up there!" She replied sharply as she sat up on the side of the bed. "I can deal with this! My legs still work. I can make it to the toilet."
"Don't soil your bandages." He responded back, raising the head of his bed. "You don't need an infection on top of everything else."
"I understand why you feel that way, Amy. I'll stay with you." Hikaru said softly as she helped the taller girl to her feet. "You don't have your knee brace on, so I'll need to support you. Right?"
"Yeah, thanks Hikaru." She replied as she leaned on the first baseman and they made their way slowly across the room. "God, I feel like shit."
"Hang on, we're almost there." Hikaru encouraged as they approached the doorway to the toilet. "You just need to go a little farther."
The room was silent as everyone watched until they heard the door close. Then Kenji looked at Koharu and Yoko and said. "Sooo…How did your game go girls? Did you show those college boys who's boss?
"We did. We were winning two to nothing when we quit." Koharu said quietly. "They were threatening to score when we called the game."
"You don't sound very excited about it." Mita said looking at the girls' long faces. "What happened?" He asked, giving Kanako a knowing look.
"Mao got hit by a foul ball in the throat." She said looking down. "They admitted her until tomorrow."
"I wondered where Miss Daidoji was." He replied somberly. "It's unusual for her not to be with one of you. Will she be all right?"
"The doctor seemed to think so." Koharu answered. "She was sleeping when we went to see her."
"That's good." He sighed. "She's a well-mannered girl, and a gifted student. Not to mention she'd be difficult to replace on the team if it was a debilitating injury."
"Amy... Amy!" They heard Hikaru's muffled cry from the restroom. She burst back into the room, her face pale. "Something's wrong! She's passed out, and there's blood in the toilet!"
oOo
Mao stirred, the pain from her injury intruding into her sleep. Groaning, she opened her eyes. Looking around the room, she noticed her roommate. Pulling away the oxygen mask, she smiled weakly, and in a raspy voice said. "Did my snoring keep you awake?"
Motoko looked over, offering a smile of her own. "I've heard nothing from you but quiet breathing. Perhaps the oxygen mask muffled the sound. Good evening, I am Motoko Aoyama. How are you feeling, Miss Daidoji?"
"I've been better." She admitted. "Getting hit in the throat by a baseball isn't very fun. Why are you here, Ma'am?"
"I had my ribs broken in a battle. Are you hungry? I'll contact the nurse for you. I believe you should refrain from speaking and keep your mask on until your injury is able to heal more."
"You're probably right." Mao replied. "I don't normally sound like this. Thank you for your kindness." Then she replaced the mask, finding the cool, moist air soothing to her throat. Closing her eyes, she listened as her roommate notified the nurse. 'What a crazy week this has been.' She thought. 'I hope no one else will end up in here.'
oOo
Seira stood nervously in front of her house. Her father's car was parked on the street, meaning he was back from picking up her mother. She looked impatiently down the street, wishing Corey would hurry. He'd gone home to his grandparent's house to get some clean clothes. Now she wished she'd gone with him. She saw him round the corner walking briskly. He had changed into a light blue dress shirt with a tie and khaki slacks. He smiled at her expression when he approached. "I clean up pretty good, don't I?" He said giving her a quick kiss.
"Well you certainly look more like a future doctor. Now I'm sorry I didn't buy that dress." She said wrapping her arms around him. "I'm scared to go in there Corey. I'm afraid it'll just become another shouting match, and everyone will go away angry."
"Nothing will come out of this if you don't try, Seira." He replied, stepping back and then liking elbows with her. "Let's not keep them waiting any longer."
"I guess." She said as she was led through the gate and up the walk. "How are you feeling?" She asked as they stepped up to the door.
"I'm nervous as hell." He replied, straightening his tie. "I'm formally meeting the parents of the woman I love. This could be huge."
"I'd be a lot less nervous if Izumi wouldn't have mentioned about last night." She said blushing again at the memory. "Well, let's get this over with and hope they don't bring it up." She added as she turned the knob and opened the door.
oOo
Kimiko piloted her father's Toyota through the gate of the Himuro estate and stopped. "Oh my god…" She murmured, seeing the expansiveness of the compound. "I should have washed the car, or better yet, rented a Mercedes."
"It's too late to turn back now, Kimiko" Her mother said. "The chairperson knows our financial situation. She's not expecting us to arrive in a luxury car."
"I'm not ashamed to be seen in this." Emma spoke from the back seat, running her hand over the leather upholstery. "In the States, this is a luxury car. Well, an entry level luxury car, but still…"
"You're right. Why am I worrying?" Resuming her driving, Kimiko added. "Amy's already gotten in, so nothing we do tonight, short of getting stupid drunk, will make a difference." Pulling up to the front of the house, the three women got out and climbed the steps. Ringing the bell, they waited for only a short while before Mr. Yamagida answered.
"Good evening ladies." He said with a polite bow. "My name is Yamagida, Ms. Himuro's assistant. Madam and Miss Izumi will be pleased that you have arrived safely. Please follow me." He led them to a seating area adjacent to the dining room. "Please make yourselves comfortable. Dinner should be ready within fifteen minutes."
"Thank you, Mr. Yamagida." Masako said with a bow. "We look forward to enjoying what is sure to be a wonderful meal."
oOo
Ryo stirred, warm under the thick blanket. Confused, she opened her eyes and looked around the room. "How did I get here?" Then she remembered struggling in Seta's arms and quickly sat up. She saw the man sitting at his desk, smiling at her.
"Take it easy Miss Hayakawa." He said, leaning back in his chair. "No one's going to hurt you."
"What do you mean?" She spat back angrily. "I've been knocked out and kidnapped!"
"That was regrettable." He said, looking ashamed. "I wasn't very happy she did that either. You're not a prisoner. Feel free to leave at any time." Standing, he moved to his kitchen area and turned on the kettle. "I'm making some tea. Would you like some?"
"Where is she?" She answered looking around nervously.
"Tsuruko's gone." He said as he measured tea into the mugs. "She went to visit her sister again. She said she needed to discuss something with her about you."
"About me?" She replied, standing and walking over to him. "Am I that special?"
"Very special." He said as the kettle began singing. "I can think of only one person I've met with your energy levels that had no martial arts training. I tutored her a while back. She's getting married this summer, to my former assistant to be exact. They've even asked me to preside over the ceremony."
"Could she throw a lightning ball too?" She queried, sitting in the chair Tsuruko had occupied not long before.
"No, she can't visibly manifest her ki." He answered, pouring the water. He picked up the mugs, crossing the room and handing one to her, before finding his own chair. "But she has a devastating right hook. Naru has sent poor Keitaro sailing across the room more than once."
"Who's Keitaro?" She asked, intrigued. "Did he ever wind up in the hospital because of her?"
"He's my former assistant." The man replied, taking a sip of tea. "He's an odd one too. He's proven very durable in respect to physical injury. Both Naru and Motoko have 'punished' Keitaro's indiscretions, and he's survived relatively unharmed. Why do you ask that?"
She looked down in her lap. "I put someone in the hospital today." She said softly. "I could have killed her."
"By your reaction, I can tell you didn't mean to." He offered. "Accidents happen to everyone, Miss Hayakawa, not just those with high ki energy levels. Misfortune is part of life. Be glad you live in a modern country that your friend could get help in a hospital. My travels have taken me to some very bleak areas of the world where such help is unavailable. I've seen a lot of suffering first hand."
"I suppose." She said, put a little more at ease by this insight. "I've been really upset about this, Mr. Seta. Thank you for being so understanding."
"You're welcome." He said with a smile. "I think Tsuruko's right about you having a lot of potential. You have a good and caring heart, Miss Hayakawa. I feel confident that you'll never abuse your gift. Trust in her. She only wants to help you grow."
"I don't know." She said nervously. Standing, she carried her mug to the counter. "I think I'll be going now. I'm sure my friends are worried about me. Thank you for the tea." She finished with a polite bow before crossing the room to the door. Opening it, she looked back at him one last time, and then stepped through, closing it gently behind her.
oOo
A/N: I promise to get the next chapter done sooner. I have some ideas forming already. It should be a fun chapter.