I'M SO SORRY!!!!! I know I took WAY too long to get this next chapter out, and I know most of you are probably ready to throw those Neko-chan voodoo dolls into the nearest meat grinder, but please believe me when I say I really am truly sorry!!! I'm worthless as an author!!!
NinthFeather:...
Me: Um...Feather-chan? This would be the part where my best friend comes in and denies that last statement with everything she's got.
NinthFeather: Huh? What? I'm sorry, were you talking to me?
Me: Do you see any other Neko-chan best friends around here?
NinthFeather: Well, excuse me. I didn't know it was customary to kidnap and hold your best friends against their will, and then still expect them to come to your defense.
Me: It is for a yakuza!! ^-^
NinthFeather: You're hopless.
Me: Yep! And proud of it, too!
NinthFeather: That last statement scares me far more than I could ever put into words.
Me: Oh well. On with the fic!!
Warning: Well, not much to warn about in this chapter, except for Pandora's overall slimeyness.
NinthFeather: That's not very nice.
Me: I'm the author. I don't have to be nice. In fact, it's my prerogative to be downright nasty! XD
Disclaimer:...In order to avoid being hit by Feather-chan yet again, I guess I'll just come out and say it...I don't own the bishies...
NinthFeather: Wise decision.
Me: TT_TT
********
"Yuda, will he be alright? He hasn't moved at all, and it's been over six hours..."
"Ruka, considering how extensive Rei's injuries were, it wouldn't be surprising if he slept for six days. I may have healed him, but going through that much pain and stress can really tap the body's reserves. And there is still the matter of his wing..."
Rei groaned, trying to shut out the voices around him. He didn't want to wake up just yet. He wanted to keep floating in the calm, painless expanse of dark and black.
Unfortunately, after hearing him stir, the voices only became more insistent. "Rei? Rei, can you here me? Rei?" Rei moaned softly but shifted closer to the source of those words. Much as he wanted to remain asleep, he never could resist that voice.
However, the closer Rei came to consciousness, the more aware he became of the intense pain radiating from his back. So intense was it that, when he finally regained full consciousness, his eyes shot open and he could not suppress the small scream that escaped his lips.
"Rei! Rei, ssshh. It'll be alright, Rei." Ruka said soothingly, while grasping Rei's hand tightly and gently stroking the whimpering angel's hair. He may have already known what was wrong with Rei, but it was still all he could do to fight down his panic at the sight of his fragile angel in such obvious pain.
Rei turned toward the comforting warmth that had encased his hand. "R-Ruka?" he asked, his soft voice laced with pain. "Ruka, w-what is this? W-Why...why does it...h-hurt...so badly...?"
"It...It's your wing, Rei," Ruka said carefully, "It was injured when...when the cliff side collapsed. It will heal on it's own in time, but for a while, the process will be quite...uncomfortable."
Rei looked up at him, confused. "But...if it's just an...injury, why can't...Y-Yuda heal it..." he asked between gasps.
Yuda moved forward to stand next to where Ruka was kneeling. "Rei, I can only heal injuries of the flesh. Your wings, though attached to your body, are not made of flesh, but of angelic energy. So, while I have completely healed all of your other injuries, I do not possess the ability to do the same to your wings."
Yuda paused, seeming to hesitate before continuing. "Also, when you injured your wing, it automatically retracted into your body to heal. If you were to try to bring them out again before the healing process was fully completed, you could lose the use of them...permanently."
Rei's eyes widened. What? He'd never be able to...to fly again? He'd never be able to soar through the sky, with Ruka, his love, by his side. The very thought brought fresh tears to his eyes, none of which were from the pain.
Ruka, realizing how distressed Rei had become, glared over his shoulder at his friend. "Yuda! Was it truly necessary to inform him of this now? More anxiety is the last thing his injury needs!"
Before Yuda had a chance to respond, Rei broke in, "N-No, Ruka. I-I'm glad...Yuda told me. After all, I-I would have...to know eventually."
Ruka sighed. He did not want to discuss this now, not when Rei was still in such an obviously fragile state. "Of course, Rei. You're right. But there is no need to have this conversation now. Please, just try to rest. The pain will decrease the more you rest your injury."
Rei nodded and closed his eyes, sighing softly as a calm feeling of exhaustion overtook him. His body had been out through so much today, and only sleep could bring full healing.
As Rei's breathing evened out, alerting Ruka that the smaller angel had fallen asleep, the silver-haired angel couldn't suppress a smile at the sight of his beautiful lover. Gently brushing his lips against the delicate angel's forehead, Ruka straightened up and turned to Yuda, nodding once to him as they both exited the room.
Once they had made to the other end of the hall, Ruka stopped walking and turned towards his best friend. "Yuda, answer me honestly, how serious do you believe Rei's injury to be?"
Yuda sighed. "You know as well as I do that I cannot answer that, Ruka," Yuda replied sadly, shaking his head. "Even if I had gotten a decent look at his wings before they disappeared inside his back, I wouldn't even know where to begin in treating him. If anything, you know more about his condition than I do, as you have been through something similar before."
Ruka couldn't help but let out a groan. He knew Yuda was right, but he wished he wasn't. It was true, Ruka had injured his wings before, which is how both he and Yuda had known what to expect from Rei's injury. However, in Ruka's case, the damage to his wings had not been nearly as severe to the damage Rei had suffered. If Rei tried to use his wings even once before they were fully healed, he would almost definitely never fly again
Yuda placed a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder. "Ruka, do not worry. You and I both know that flying is the most precious thing in Rei's life," Yuda paused. "Well, maybe the second most precious thing, anyway," Yuda added, giving Ruka a knowing smile, which Ruka couldn't help but mirror. "Rei will not risk losing his ability to fly. This, I can guarantee you."
Ruka nodded. He was still not without worry, but at least Yuda's words had eased his burden, if only a little bit.
It was then that Yuda and Ruka became aware of slightly raised voices coming from the courtyard. Walking quickly in the direction the voices had originated from, Yuda and Rei came across, the other three Saint Beasts, as well as one rather...unwelcome visitor.
Pandora stood confidently in the center of the courtyard, his usual calm and somewhat cold smile seeming at odds with agitated attitudes of the Gou and Shin, who were in the process of trying to hold back an incredibly irate Gai.
As Ruka and Yuda approached the scene, Yuda called out, in a stern voice, "What is happening here?"
All four of the angels turned towards the new arrivals, and Ruka didn't think he'd ever seen Shin or Gou look so relieved. Nor did he think he'd ever seen Gai look so murderous.
Pandora was the first to speak. "Why, nothing is 'happening here', Yuda-dono," he said smoothly, his blade-like smile never leaving his face. "Shin-dono, Gou-dono, Gai-dono and I were merely engaging in friendly conversation, nothing more."
Gai scoffed. "What friendly conversation? There was nothing 'friendly' about what this guy was saying! He was insulting Rei!"
Ruka felt his blood begin to boil at Gai's words, but he kept himself in check. It would not be wise to make an enemy of Pandora. Instead, he kept his temper under control as Yuda turned to Pandora and asked, "Is this true?"
Pandora's smile only grew wider. "Why, of course not, Yuda-dono. I merely stated, after I had been informed of Rei-dono's...accident, that I would have thought that a Saint Beast such as Rei-dono would have possessed the ability to evade a few falling boulders. Then again," Pandora said, turning slightly to shoot Gai a smug look, "I would have also thought that a Saint Beast such as Gai-dono would have had the ability to keep his powers under control. Obviously, my assumptions were flawed on both counts."
Gai looked about ready to pounce on the green-haired angel, so Yuda thought it best to get Pandora away from him as soon as possible. "Be that as it may, Pandora, you still have yet to inform us of your reason for being here."
"Of course, please forgive my thoughtlessness, Yuda-dono," Pandora replied with a small bow. "I have some here on Zeus-sama's expressed orders. The Saint Beasts have a new mission on Earth."
********
Well, there it is! Chapter 8 of "Strength"!!...Wow, I guess I really am addicted to cliffhangers, huh? Oh well! XD
NinthFeather: Normally, I'd make some sarcastic comment about how you need to stop being so cruel to your readers, but you never listen to me anyway, so why bother?
Me: Huh? Did you say something?
NinthFeather:...I rest my case...now just go beg for reviews.
Me: Alright. Readers, I know I was REALLY late this time, but please...REVIEW!!!! Please review!!!! If you want me to update fast, I need motivation, so REVIEW!!! Oh, and I should have the next chapter up by Saturday (hopefully). Just in case anyone cares.
NinthFeather: Don't hold your breath. You know how she is about deadlines.
Me: Hey!! I'm good about them sometimes!
NinthFeather: Good for you is less than three days late.
Me: Your point?
NinthFeather:...You know, I just don't know anymore.
Me: Oh well. Good luck figuring it out!
Ta ta for now, my friends!
~Neko-chan~