CHAPTER 3

She clutched Len's head to her chest as she fell. She fell hard on her knees, more blood spraying on her face. Neru cried out, but tried to stifle it by clamping her jaw shut. She tasted blood. But was it Len's, or hers? She didn't know, and didn't have time to figure it out.

"I'm sorrwy," Haku said.

Neru looked to her and could see that her nosebleed had stopped, and her dried blood was mixed with Len's. Neru turned her head as she heard a door opening.

Blue hair sprung out from behind the half open door. Dark blue eyes narrowed in confusion, and a blue scarf trailed through the air after him as he rushed over to them.

"What happened Neru?" he asked softly as he picked up Len, careful not to get blood on his clothes.

Neru stood up with a grimance, then helped up Haku. She followed Kaito through the door way and ushered Haku through as well.

"We don't know," Neru said, her jaw throbbing. "He walked in like this." Neru closed her mouth gingerly and rubbed her jaw. "Is he going to be okay Kaito?"

"Um, no kiddo," Kaito said as he examined Len. "Sadly, he has two head wounds, one to each temple. His arm looks like it's been hacked up, probably defensive wounds. Probably has a concussion, and that's what I can tell from just looking at him right now. He's lost a lot of blood Neru, a lot." Kaito carefully took off Len's shirt, and he shook his head. "Stab wounds in his chest too. Leave him with me and I'll fix him up, kiddo. But without me he's not going to be okay."

"But you can fix him?" Neru asked, "Then he'll be okay?"

Kaito ruffled Neru's hair, which had come out of her ponytail.

"Yup, then he'll be fine," Kaito laughed lightly. "You take Haku and you guys clean yourselves okay?"

Neru looked at Kaito, his white jacket perfectly spotless. She glanced down at her own clothes and wanted to gasp. Her entire outfit was soaked, red with blood. Haku took her hand and started to lead the way out of Kaito's room. Neru followed, silently watching Kaito as he worked on Len.

Once outside Haku stopped and turned to Neru.

"I'm so sorrwy Neoru," Haku said with tears in her eyes. "I tried not to fall, I swear I didn't."

"I know," Neru said as she smiled slightly. She hugged Haku, then grabbed her hand lightly. "Come on," she said towing Haku behind her as she made a beeline for a door down the hall, "Let's go get ourselves cleaned up."

Haku smiled lightly, following Neru.

"Okay."