Chapter 8- Holding Her

Serena's POV.

I sat frozen not knowing what to do or even what to say as I looked at him. The tension between us could be cut with a knife and would echo throughout the now quiet room. When finally after what seemed like eternity someone broke the tension though between Soryu and I.

"Um...princess, I am really sorry about scaring you earlier, I only meant to help you, and to stop you from getting hurt." I finally looked away from our little staring contest I was having with Soryu to see the guy I had mistaken for the other guys that had tried to kidnap me again. Which is true but... he was not like the other kidnappers who treated me like I am some kind of animal.

"It's okay Mr...ummm" I look at him in an apologetic manner, while trying to move away from Soryu who was crushing me into his side.

"AH! Sorry! I forgot to introduce myself, my name is Inui Ryosuke! Nice to meet you princess,... though we have meet before, ah ha ha..." Ryosuke says in a cheerful manner with an adorable smile on his face, just like a kid awww.

"Hello Ryosuke I'm Serena Sumiko Howl, it's a pleasure to meet you." I say in a polite tone with a genuine smile on my face, that is until he started sniffing and holding back tears. "W-What's wrong? Is it something I said...I'm sorry." I exclaim in surprise and worry as I look at him.

"N-N-No *sniff* i-it's ju-u-st *hiccup* you said my name princess...I AM SO HAPPY!" He cries out so suddenly I jump a little, while the others just start laughing yet again.

I finally got out of Soryu's grip, I think he let me because I don't think I can ever break out of those arms of his. I start to walk to Ryosuke slowly and put a hand on his shoulder with a smile on my face. "You don't have to cry Ryosuke, how about you just call me Serena." I said with a now closed eyed smile (anime and manga people know what that is and otome game people too, if you don't you can Google it just add anime in the description box when you do so *closed eyed smile anime* :D). I said this in order to stop him from crying but, he just starts to cry even more.

"I-I'd hug you Miss. Howl, b-but then boss would kill me." When Ryosuke said that the room erupted a mix of chuckles, sinkers, and more laughter, annoyed with everyone's bullying I turned around with a pissed off look on my face.

"HEY! Can you please give the poor guy a break! Come'on man, he is still just a teen with the need of comfort from someone. I know I am not much of an adult myself but you are all older than both me and him, can't you ease up!?" I exclaimed in a bit of a louder voice than I usually do. Everyone looked at me shocked, like they weren't expecting that to happen, or they have never seen anyone stand up against them before. Well good.

Ignoring everyone I slowly start to make my way to the couch and let my feet rest again. When I did, I heard chuckling from Eisuke, I looked toward him to see him laughing at what looks like everyone. I looked around once more to see everyone's face dumbfounded as they looked toward me. Well besides Soryu who had a smirk his face, clearly enjoying the reaction, but that didn't last long because Ryosuke started to cry again.

"OH THANK YOU MISS HOWL! But you don't have to get worked up for me, I'll be fine on my own." Ryosuke said with a confident smile, while sat there not knowing what to do or even what to say as I looked at him.

"You're a very strong girl you know." I silently looked toward Eisuke as he just smirked at me. I just let out a breath that I seemed to be holding in unconsciously, and with that breath, I started to feel myself weaken and become very tired all suddenly. I sat there on the white L shaped couch as I leaned my back onto a light grey pillow as my strength started to drain from my body. I sat there wondering what else could cause me to lose strength so suddenly, when I felt a somewhat familiar twisting in my stomach yet again.

Except this time it hurt much worse than it did from before, it was like someone was shredding my stomach from the inside yet, it was twisting and clinching at the same time. I held my stomach as my face twisted into an expression of pain. I bent forward as my arms curled around my stomach area, my hands grasping the sides of my body. I squeezed my eyes and waited for the pain to leave me alone, like it always does, like it should. But each attempt was a failure and to add to it, it got worse every time. I don't know how long I sat there holding my stomach, when suddenly someone picked me up and held me in his arms. I looked up and saw Soryu walking toward the elevators with Ryosuke following us. I looked back to see everyone looking at me with a worried expression on their face, before the elevator doors closed.

By the time the doors opened my vision started to grow blurry as we passed through what I assume people. I couldn't tell as my dizziness got worse and I started to see a mix of all types of colors and the voices in the background, made it even worse than it already was. My head was pounding as I slowly grew limp and started to feel hot. Everything in my body started to hurt, and as the voices sounded louder than it was, everything around me was like suffocation to me. The heat didn't help as I started to fall in and out of conscious. Soon I was laid down on something soft but had a leather feel to it, I heard the door shut and reopen two times and shut again. Then it seemed like we were moving, I guess we're inside a car.

"Sir are we taking her to a hospital?" I suddenly heard Ryosuke's voice ask.

"No, it's too dangerous right now." I heard Soryu's voice answer and I stared to go in and out of conscious yet again. Soon after we arrived to our destination I was gently pulled back into Soryu's chest as my head rested heavily on his shoulder.

"Inui, you should go home now, I'll take it from here." Soryu's stern voice vibrated through my left ear as I slowly started to become light headed yet again.

"...Alright sir" Ryosuke's voice seemed to echo in defeat as we grew farther and farther away from him.

After what seemed like forever to me, must have been just a seconds or even a minute, I was shifted on to one arm, as I faintly listened to a door being opened, and closed with a clicks of a few locks. Then yet again taken into both his arms and I started to hear his footsteps once more. I opened my eyes but everything seemed so blurry, I tried to blink the blurriness away, but it was pointless every time I tried. The pain got worse I couldn't stop the small whine escaping my lips as my body was laid down on a very soft bed. I opened my eyes to a blurry figure leaning over me as my eyes closed once again.

Soryu's POV.

I watched as my Serena fell unconscious yet again, she seemed to have a fever. I left her for a few minutes to get a bowl of cool water and a few wet towels, along with some now heated up soup that Samejima brought earlier thinking it will come of use. Just as I was about to leave the kitchen, I saw a bottle of pain killers that I had just in case, though I never really used them. I grabbed added it to the tray I was carrying as I walked back into my room where Serena was resting.

I set the tray on the right side of the bed where there was a small dresser. I dipped the small towel in the bowl and laid it on her forehead. When I took it off I realized that that she hasn't eaten anything in the last few days, which is the reason as to why she was so weak and very faint. At this I remembered the doctors words about Serena getting something to eat when she wakes up. I completely forgot! *Sigh* How can I ever forget to take care of my own girl, I gave out another sigh as I looked at her. I reached over and slowly pulled her into a sitting position as I sat behind her in order to support her weight knowing she can't do so at the moment. Not that she weighted much in the first place, she felt light, far too light if you ask me.

"Serena...Serena wake up...you need to eat...Serena" I whispered into her ear as softly as I could as to not to startle her. She opened her eyes slowly as if it hurt to do so, when she looked toward me, with those tried eyes, she looked like she was about to collapse again. I reached over and grabbed the water bottle on the desk along with the pain killers. I took two tablets and set the bottle back on the dresser. Then with my left hand I pulled her lips apart and opened her mouth just enough to put the pills in. When I did I opened the water bottle and tilted her head upwards toward my chest and slowly poured some water in.

As soon as I did I regretted the decision, because Serena started to cough and gang. I knew I shouldn't try the same thing, because it would be a failure to do so. I grabbed the water bottle and took a few sips but didn't swallow as I lowered my mouth to hers knowing the pills where still in her mouth. I grasped her left cheek with my hand while the other held her small waist. When I placed my mouth on hers I made sure to allow the water to pour from mine to her as slowly as I could. She struggled a little but soon after, she started to accept the water, and she drank the pain killers that will help her reduce the fever also. I pulled away slowly with a small blush on my cheeks, but then it went away because now wasn't the moment to have such thoughts. I need to take care of my girl right now, I placed the water bottle on the side as I brought the now warm soup closer to me as I started to mouth freed her. She only ate about half of it, and I knew I shouldn't force her body too much since it's just has started to recover.

I stayed like this with her now laying on my chest, as I replaced the towel on her forehead every ten minutes for an hour and a half. I woke her up again, and this time she had enough strength to swallow herself. She was able to finish the soup and when she did she was exhausted she fell asleep almost immediately. After another hour her fever was gone and she looked a bit healthier than before. I held her in my arms wondering what's all this going to lead us in the end. How will she react when she finds out who she is and who her father is? Should I tell her about our engagement as well? Or should I tell her later when she grows used to all of this. *Sigh* I don't know and at the moment I don't care, she is in my arms now, warm and safe. I shifted so that she was lying down and soon I with her as I pulled her to me once again and into my arms. I looked down to see her breathing softly and her small hand clutching my shirt in her small hand. I continued looking at her unknowing that there was a smile on my face as I too, drifted into sleep making sure to keep her in my arms.