Chapter 16:
Chinatsu POV:
It took two days for me to be cleared from the hospital. I had collapsed due to stress and dehydration. But I was fine now. Everyone had been waiting for me when I got out and I was beginning to forget ever having been mad at the twins. "Chinatsu you're okay!" Amy wrapped her arms around me so tight I couldn't breath. "You're not going anywhere by yourself ever again!"
"But-"
"No buts! I'm not letting you go!"
"But-"
"I said no buts!" She yelled.
"Amy you don't have to let her go but you may want to loosen your grip." Hikaru said.
"You're making my sister change colors!" Kouru pointed out.
"I am?" Amy asked looking at me. "Oops sorry!" She put me down and I laughed at her as I caught my breath.
"I'm so glad you're better!" Chouko said from her place a few steps away from Kai.
"Yes. It's good to see you've recovered Chinatsu." Kyoya said.
"Aw thanks guys." I said. I turned to Dai. "How's your head."
"Feels like it had a hole in the side of it but I'm not passing out on everybody." He said grinning.
I glared at him and he smirked.
"So Chinatsu." Tamaki asked. "I've been meaning to ask you a question."
"Oh? What is it?" I asked him.
"I was wondering. Do you have any embarrassing stories about the Twins from when you were younger?"
"Embarrassing stories? ARE YOU KIDDING ME! OF COURSE I DO! This one time we were- mph."
I was stopped as two hands found their way to my mouth. "That's enough of that!" Hikaru said. "Come on let's get you home wouldn't want you to catch a cold!" HE grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the car.
"Yeah come on Amy." Kouru grabbed her hand pulled her along after him.
"Uh… O- okay!" She followed him.
"Bye Guys!" I called over my shoulder. The boys pulled us into the back seat of the car.
"Drive!" Hikaru yelled.
"Yes young sir!" The driver started the engine. It wasn't until we were on the main road that we realized we were four people in the three back seats of the car. One of us should have gotten in Shotgun.
"Oops." Amy said. "Looks like we'll have to squeeze two in a seat."
"You can sit with me if you want." Kouru said.
Amy turned bright red. "Eh?"
Kouru blushed too. "I mean normally it would make sense for the two smallest people to share a seat and that's you and China but she just got out of the hospital so she should get her own and I'm a little bit smaller than Hikaru so-"
Amy put a hand on his lips to silence him before sliding onto his lap. "It's alright I get it."
I exchanged a knowing glance with Hikaru before we started talking and I was repeatedly scolded for not drinking more water.
"Young masters, We are here." Amy and Kouru slid out of the seat and Hikaru and I followed.
"I've got to work on some homework." Amy said when she got to her door. "I'll talk to you guys later."
I waved to her as she disappeared behind her door. I stepped into my own room "Hebi! Where are you beautiful boy?" I asked stepping into my room. He was curled up in his tank. I'd given one of the maids his feeding schedule and how to clean out his tank and care for him. But something was wrong. His dinner from the night before was untouched and he didn't move when I reached down to pet him.
"HEBI!" I shrieked. "Come on wake up! WAKE UP! WAKE UP!"
"Chinatsu are you alright?" Hikaru asked coming in.
"No! It's Hebi!" I said.
They both flinched at the mention of my snake but he and Kouru inched forwards.
"What's wrong with him?" Amy asked running in.
"I don't know he isn't waking up!"
"Is that his dinner from last night?" Amy asked.
"I think so. Why hasn't he eaten it!?"
"I- I don't know…" She said.
"let's call a veterinarian." Hikaru said.
"I'll run and tell the staff." Amy said.
I reached into the cage and picked up my precious baby. I put my fingers on his pulse point and barely felt it. "No…"
Kouru gingerly held out a hand to Hebi and put it on top of mine. Hikaru wrapped his arms around my shoulders. "Lets get into the car." He pulled me along. And I held onto Hebi keeping him warm.
It felt like forever to get to the animal hospital. Once we were there I ran in and the doctor took Hebi into an examination room.
I watched anxiously as he looked over my precious snake.
Hebi had been with me ever since I was little, even when amy couldn't be there I had him to play with, he slept with me when I was sick making me know someone was there. I'd rescued him from the shelter but he rescued me from my loneliness. "Please is he going to be alright?"
The doctor frowned at me. "Miss I'm very sorry. This snake is very old… His organs are starting to fail him…"
"Can't you fix him! Give him a transplant feed him a pill! SOMETHING!?"
"I'm sorry ma'am there isn't anything I can do… there isn't a way to transplant organs in snakes. There isn't anything I can do for him. The best I could do is… put him out of his misery."
My eyes widened as what he said sunk in. "B- but he… he can't… I need him."
"Miss. I know it's hard to accept, but he'll suffer for about a month before his heart gives out on it's own."
I fell to my knees and looked at my beautiful albino treasure. He blinked his eyes and looked at me sadly, pleading. My baby was in pain. "Do it." I said.
The doctor nodded and left to prep the medication. I stood and walked over to Hebi. He flicked his tongue across my knuckles and I started to cry. "Good bye Hebi." I sat with him until his heart rate stopped and he left me forever.
I stood up and left the room with the boys.
"I'm sorry China." Hikaru mumbled.
"It was bound to happen eventually." I said.
That night I couldn't sleep. Around midnight I got fed up and slipped out of bed and into the hall. I walked down the hall to the twins room and hesitated outside the door. Should I go see Amy instead? Before I could decide the door opened.
"China are you okay?" Kouru asked.
"I can't sleep…" I muttered.
"Come on." He put a hand on my shoulder and lead me into the room. Hikaru sat up in the bed.
"You feelin okay?"
"I- I miss Hebi…" Hikaru held out his arms and I crawled onto the bed to sit next to him. Kouru sat down next to me and they let me cry a little and held me as I drifted off to sleep. This is what I missed in America. This is why I was a twin.
Rest in peace Hebi. You served your character purpose well. I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. Please Review.
The Poll is still open and I have a seven way tie. I need a winner so if you haven't voted please do.
~PtbK
