Author Note: I changed the cover of the story just for the scene at the end. Is it okay? Or should I change the cover back?~CWA

Chapter 4- Recovery:

Cara:

When I woke up, I was in a hospital. I felt a bit…out of it. I felt…stiff, like I couldn't move. I did know I was defiantly in a hospital- judging by the IV in my arm, but my vision itself was…blurred.
"Cara," I heard Ritsu's voice (see, I can say his first name, but it doesn't exactly roll of the tongue), "You're awake!"

I winced and my vision cleared. I saw Kasanoda's face. He was sitting beside me. His eyes looked red like he had been crying. He looked so worried…why was he so worried? I looked at myself, but it was hard.

"Don't move, so soon," I heard a voice say.

I saw a man. He was older looking, Japanese, and had gentle, soft gray eyes with matching gray hair. He had a white coat and a name tag that read Dr. Acula, don't laugh. Don't laugh. Don't laugh. I guessed he was my doctor.

"You took quite the fall," he said as he got closer, "Luckily your boyfriend here was quick. He ran you into the E.R. carried in his arms, practically shouting for help," he said with a soft smile.

I noticed that Ritsu didn't correct him on the boyfriend part, and neither did I. Then again, we might have been too tired to correct the doctor. The doctor looked at me sadly, but still smiling,
"Your records listed your cousin as a contact, but we are unable to reach her-"
"-She went to the Ooturi private beach for a week…If she didn't answer it's because there's no service."

The doctor sighed,
"Either way, you must stay here for at least a day or two. You were in critical condition. The fall…you broke a few things- including two ribs, your ankle, and bruised a few other ribs."
I winced,
"That explains the knives-"

"Pardon?"
"It feels like knives are being stabbed into my sides."
"…That's relatively normal. Either way, you nearly broke your neck- it's going to be a bit stiff. The nurse will here in a minute to help explain your medications."

The doctor nodded and left muttering,
"I still don't see how that fall caused to much damage."

"Ristu," I asked, "are you okay?"
Kasanoda looked at me with a sad smile,
"I should be asking you that, you never call me by my first name."

I chuckled, but it turned into a hard cough. Kasanoda's smile faded,
"Are you okay? Do you need anything? I…I'm sorry."
"Sorry, for what?"

He looked at me with teary eyes,
"I couldn't save you! I'm sorry…If I could have caught you, you wouldn't be so hurt…"

"It's not your fault…I get hurt easily."
He looked at me curiously and I sighed.

"It's hard to explain."
"Try," he said sternly. I shifted, but I winced- not such a good idea.

"I…I get hurt so easily- despite being a boxing champ and martial arts champ, nationally, back in America."
He looked concerned,
"Why?"
"It's…I can't explain...I'm sorry."

Kasanoda looked at me sadly.
"I…I thought…I thought you were dead…you weren't moving, hardly breathing. In the operation room, they said you flat-lined."

I sighed and he looked at me,

"I…I thought I was going to lose you."
He blushed furiously. I blushed too.
"I…I really like you, Cara."

"I really like you too, Ritsu."

"Will," he blushed madly, "will you do me the honor of being your boyfriend?"
I chuckled,

"No need to be so formal…but Ritsu, I will gladly be your girlfriend."

We both smiled, and it felt a bit awkward until I gently leaned over and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

Third Person:

Crystal sighed while talking to Mori. She was wearing a swimsuit- a blue one piece- but it was covered by a long, light blue baggy shirt that covered her collar bone and most of her neck, and was short-sleeved. Kyoya was nice enough to let them stay at his one of his family's resorts and private beach- which was originally a relaxation trip, but it was cut short…by Crystal.
"I know something is wrong," Crystal argued, "I can feel it."

Mori almost smiled. The instincts she had reminded him of his own with Hunny.

"Of course," Kyoya agreed pushing up his glasses, "Though it will take a few days to get back."

Crystal groaned. Kyoya sighed. Normally, he wouldn't stop such a trip for a 'gut feeling.' But with Crystal, he felt that he needed to. She was something else. Mori had similar thinking- Crystal was indeed something else. The bond she must have with her cousin, similar to the one he has with his own, must be something else indeed.

Meanwhile, Crystal felt terrible. She knew something was wrong- she knew it. But she couldn't even call or text Cara- her phone had fallen in the water due to the twins. She couldn't text or call from another phone- Cara never answered something if she didn't know the number. She was going to go nuts worrying about Cara. But she won't even be there until a few days.

Cara:

Two days later, I was still getting used to Kasanoda- I mean, Ritsu being my boyfriend. It was…different. Past boyfriends I had, they weren't so good. They were all men my father chose that would be good for relations. Luckily, he hasn't tried to do an arranged marriage yet. I was glad he hasn't because now, now I had Ristu (still getting used to that).

"You're free to go," the doctor said, "but if you have a fall like that again- it might cost you your life. I advice you to be very careful. You need to be watched 24-7, for the next few days. Remember to take that medication, and to change the bandages every four hours."

After Ritsu left the room for me to change, I put the medications in my purse and Ritsu helped me out of the hospital. I didn't want anything that would help me walk because most of those things hurt my back (like a wheelchair), under my arms or my sides. Ritsu helped though- all the way to a limo out front.

We discussed things yesterday- I was to stay with him until Crystal got back. Mostly because he wanted to help me get better and because my maids and guards would be no help since they are always so busy. So, I called my head maid and left her and the main guard in control while I was on 'medical leave.'

Ritsu had called his father and guard (a guy I knew named Tetsuya) and they gave the 'okay.' In fact, I think his father was excited to meet me.

I wasn't that surprised that the Kasanoda home was similar to mine- with all the body guards and mean-looking men. He helped me through the gates. Some of his men gave me odd looks, but they stopped as soon as Kasanoda glared at them. He was, after all, the human blizzard- but I still think he was so warm.

I smiled as he brought me up to the man who I assumed was his father. He had dark black hair that was graying, but he had Ritsu's yellow eyes.
"Father," Kasanoda said as he bowed. I bowed as much as I could, but it apparently wasn't respectful enough.
"Your girlfriend doesn't show enough respect- shameful."
I smiled at him coldly,
"I would've yet my ribs are broken and bruised- you are lucky I bow to you at all."

We glared at each other until he laughed.

"She has spunk! I like her!"
I saw the guard, and friend, Tetsuya smile slightly. Kasanoda flushed. The men mumbled to themselves,
"How did Boss Nova get a gal like that?"

I turned and glared at them to shut up- it worked. His father came to me and shook my head,
"Pleasure to meet you, I am the head of the Kasanoda syndicate, as you know."
"Pleasure to meet you as well, and I do know of you. I believe you met my father?"

He nodded,

"Indeed, on my trip to America….you are the daughter of the Snaked Mob?"

I nodded and he smirked,
"A good feat indeed."

Kasanoda (the Father) turned and left. Soon, the men left too, leaving Kasanoda, Tetsuya, and myself.
"I don't believe we met," Tetsuya said as he bowed, instead of bowing, I shook his hand,
"I do know of you, Tetsuya- friend of Ritsu."

He smiled slightly,
"I am glad he considers me a friend."
Ritsu looked between Tetsuya and me jealously and I chuckled.

A day or two at the Kasanoda family wasn't that bad. His father was polite for mob leaders (Ritsu's mother had died in childbirth). Tetsuya was nice. Ritsu was sweet. Heck, his father though trusted the both of us enough that our rooms were close together (not the same room though because it would be shameful). Crystal should be home next week (after all, the day she left, she texted me saying she would be gone two weeks not one- after that, I didn't hear from her). The Kasanoda maids were nice though. They helped me change my bandages (though I finally got it through their heads that I could do it myself).

That night though, I couldn't sleep. I kept having bad nightmares- flashbacks.

I squirmed as my father's tattoo artist held me down, forcing the tattoo on my back as I cried. I was eleven years old. I knew it would be coming, but I couldn't do it. It was dangerous to have the snaked tattoo that marked me as part of the Snaked Mob. Crystal though…she gladly got the tattoo. She got it on her collar bone. There was a deal though. If she got it in a noticeable place, then I could get mine in a more hidden spot- like my back.

I tried to get loose from the bonds on my hands and legs. I couldn't get free. The mad man…he was an enemy of the Snaked Mob- he wasn't a good guy though. He was a man that used to work for my father. He forced the serum into me. He wanted me to become as weak as he felt- I think. So…he made a serum that would give me a disease- a condition- similar to brittle bone disease.

There was so much pain as I felt my bones break and mend, again and again. I felt them lose their firmness. But, the doors flew open and in came Crystal with guns blazing. She shot at every man she saw and she shot at the mad man. As soon as she saw me, she ripped the vile out of my arm. It was stopped…the disease was out. But…I wasn't in full health yet. I wasn't...as strong as I was but I wasn't entirely useless…I knew then that I would never be the same again- given a condition….when I was only twelve.

I screamed in my sleep and woke up. I went to the bathroom connected to my room to take a cold shower. It was only eleven at night after all. But I needed a clear mind. I always thought it was odd though. The restroom was connected to the bedroom, but it didn't have a door. My bedroom did though- and it had a lock. Though, I never locked it because I didn't feel a need to.

I took off my clothes and set them on the bed and then got into the restroom. I had the clean bandages that were rolled up set out so when I get out. I carefully took off my old, somewhat bloody bandages. Then, I got into the shower.

Ritsu Kasanoda:
I awoke to a lot of racket coming from Cara's room. I was a bit concerned- what if she fell. I ran to her room and opened the door. I felt the color drain from my face as I saw the restroom. I noticed she still had a large bruise on her side, but I also saw a large snake tattoo. It was two green snakes that wrapped around each other going from the very bottom of the curve of her back to just below her rib cage. Then…then it register…Cara was standing there…naked, fresh out of the shower…with her holding a towel in front of her….
"M-M-MA!"