-No Dawn! You cannot love me! I said without not knowing what to reply.
-Rick it isn t the same love that you feel for Kikuri, I ensure you so please don t worry! - she replied me with tenderness.
-But Dawn! I tried to raise my head, but she gently held it in the place all that I loved or did it to me got hurt hurt me I don t want you to go through that as well -But Rick so what you might have felt wasn t love, but maybe tenderness or even possession? Sorry; I do not wish to sound rude but mama showed us love and I don t think it is capable of hurting someone! Seeing as when someone loves another all they wish is the happiness of the loved one, it doesn t matter how, when, where and with who it might be.
The usual I would become quite upset with such audacity, however, coming from Dawn that sounded different she didn t seem like the kind of person that would mock such important subject specially on someone that is so sad she really wouldn t do that to take advantage of me I decided then let her explain what she had in mind
-But why was I so disappointed then ?
-As I told you Rick maybe you have misunderstood the feelings and I say that because I compare to my mom she knew our step-father wasn t good at all and that he wouldn t return anything that was given him and when we asked why she endured all that he did all our beloved mama said was: Because I love him , then we would ask how she could love someone that treated her like that do you know what she would reply?
-What she would reply? I replied myself while I looked at her face and saw small tears on her eyes.
-That as long as she could make him happy and he never hurt us that was her biggest objective, just seeing the smile in his face and Rick he could be scum he could be a drug addict he could swear at us but he never raised his hand against us and we could notice in a certain extent he was happy which would make her even more happier therefore why we withstood all that was needed in the name of our dear mama
I tried to say something quickly I noticed that it was useless what I felt for Kikuri wasn t love from what Dawn told me, what she felt was indeed that feeling what should I do? I noticed that my mind wasn t even thinking straight, seeing I didn t even knew if Kikuri would survive more importantly what did I felt for Yumi? Was it love? Did I really worry more about her happiness over anything else? I don t think so in all times, all I saw was myself marrying her, OWNING her Dawn was correct apparently all that I dreamed was owning her? No I just think that I didn t have the right judgment to figure it out as long as Kikuri existed, I would focus on her.
I believe I might have fallen asleep seeing that when I came back to Dawn; using light touches on the back of my head, woke me up and as soon as I directed my gaze at her, I noticed she didn t have tears on her anymore; as soon as she realized she had my attention she pointed towards the door and there was Enmie, with the same serious expression that would make me shiver I excused myself, stood up and looked at the clock, it was past eleven in the morning! Quickly I went to Enmie and just then I noticed she was covered in blood trying to hold in the stubborn shivers I asked:
-E Enmie how K Kikuri is?
-I managed to stabilize her for now, but it is a miracle she being alive yet - said Enmie visibly tired and with a tad weird voice, like an old person -How is her condition right now? I asked, fearing the reply.
-Kikuri had several broken bones, an exposed one on the arm, seven broken ribs and a pulverized one, a punctured left lung I shivered when I heard that, I knew what that meant tons of ruptured veins, sliced tendons -Does she h has any c chance Enmie? I asked with a lot of insecurity on her voice, which was coming from the fear of losing Kikuri. -Can I be sincere or shall I stay silent? it was really weird to hear Enmie in such a manly voice -You can be sincere Enmie, I wouldn t trust you if you weren t I replied with even more fear of the answer.
-In case that girl is as strong as she seems, she might, I repeat MIGHT survive, but in the best scenario, she will have severe health problems, atrocious pains seeing so many nerves were damaged, and in case she overcomes all this, she will probably become paralytic and will need help in almost everything in life, do you need anything else from me Richard?
-No Enmie you seem tired I said while all that guilty feeling washed my insides can I help with something?
-Oh yes you can she replied while she put her paw on her face while turning towards the entrance again take care of Kikuri for the next 48 hours, the critical recovery time if she survives that she will have a chance of surpassing herself I shall have to go to my room for that period otherwise I might die myself as well I used everything I had so long Richard tell me how things fare once I wake up -Sure - I answered when I noticed the small absurdness what you meant with 48 hours of staying in your bedroom?
However it was useless, Enmie was already seemed off air , to the point she headed directly to her quartos, without even looking back I was pondering what I was going to do, when Dawn gently reminded me:
-Rick sorry if it sound like I am rushing you shouldn t you go and check how Kikuri is doing?
-Oh! You are indeed right! Sorry for making you spend so many time sitting and thanks for your sweet and kind words, in which I shall ponder on the next 48, you have my gratitude I replied, curved myself and headed towards were Kikuri was.
-Don t worry Rick I shall always have my arms open wide for you! replied Dawn.
When I arrived I saw a scene I never dreamed; not even on the most advanced centre of noble health treatment, beside the royal castle, there was such tidiness and organization; the bluish light illuminated the environment, however, aside Kikuri under that white sheet, all was untouched, what was totally strange considering how stained with blood Enmie was when she left here; I decided then to check how Kikuri was doing and slowly I took out what was covering her, seeing the room was on a rather pleasant temperature.
What I saw afterwards almost made my jaw drop to the floor, aside the place where the bone pierced her arm, there was almost no scar on her body! Just some marks here and there, nothing else that was impossible and even where the bone had shattered the meat, just the stitches, made with such mastery I hadn t seen in a long time however I verified, even being naked over the procedures table, she had trouble breathing; I tried to touch her chest, I c could swear I heard someone shout No!
My hand stopped midway on that same instant and I felt inside of me that I shouldn t touch her; specially seeing that despite all her broken bones in the chest area, it could hurt her even further on her internal organs I observed her a little bit more and I was really astonished by the work done by Enmie, I would thank her better later then I recalled that I needed to spend two days here; I thought it would be better to get something to make me more comfortable where would Akira be it was then when I remembered what happened and felt ashamed of myself a ten years old girl was more brave than an adult noble I looked around and saw her sleeping on a two seat chair.
I headed there, then gently got her in my arms and sat down, placing her on my lap; she seemed more relaxed than just some moments ago; it was when Dawn s words began taking its effect on me and some of it kept echoing inside my brain: When someone loves another all they wish is the happiness of the loved one, it doesn t matter how, when, where and with who it might be , right after Yumi s image popped up in my head and the mere thought of her happy brought a lot of happiness for me
But at the same time picturing her on another person s arms made me clench my first so fiercely that I almost hurt myself; was it selfishness on my behalf? When someone loves another all they wish is the happiness of the loved one, it doesn t matter how, when, where and with who it might be why couldn t I put that bothering sensation aside? Why that sounded to me like an ideology of a forgotten saint and yet it seemed to true and apparent?
I asked myself, was there a lot of people that could wish just for other s happiness without wishing, however, anything back? Had those people pleasure and joy just upon seeing the loved one smile? Was it possible I want that one! The little nekomimi girl!
For some moments I didn t comprehend why that showed up so suddenly on my mind, what had that to do with this? I began thinking hard on that subject and noticed that when Akira was sad that would make me sad when she was happy and energetic I became happy, with a smile in my face and just when HER life was put in danger I almost threw caution to the wind and acted against L via why I chose her, among so many others that were for sale? I felt that since that time I just wanted to see her happy and I would do anything on my power to achieve that objective
At that exact instant that it occurred to me for the first time if what Dawn said was true if that was the love I always longed that always was absent on my life it might mean that I loved Akira? Would that be the sublime felling that flooded me when I thought of her? That will to look at that smile at all costs?
I quietly kept looking at the little nekomimi purring at my lap, looking at her in peace like that brought to me a spiritual calm that I rarely felt in other occasions I did blush this time however unfortunately at that time I thought I reached that conclusion because I was exhausted and all the mental stress just added up I loved Yumi I was such a fool at that time
Approximately ten minutes later Akira woke up, she seemed very confused as to she rubbed her eyes and looked around and murmured something like: Where am I? moments later, still apparently not noticing me there, saw Kikuri lying on the operations table and let out a cry out of astonishment, I gently held her by the shoulders and asked her to quiet down, it was when that she noticed she was in my lap and jumped startled and stood up, saying right afterwards:
-D Dear? Where am I? Kikuri died? Couldn t we save her? being totally desperate and running to one side to another forgive me I couldn t help
Calmly I stood up and hugged my small and genuine nekomimi; I said that everything was going to be alright and that I was proud of what she did, I explained Kikuri s state and that just a miracle could make her escape and I thanked her for doing what she did.. told her that I was going to spend the following two days there and then asked her to go to Catherine and ask her to bring something more comfortable for us to stay in what Akira departed to do with haste.
After fifteen minutes, Akira hadn t yet come back, I imagined that Catherine were having problems with finding what I asked, I thought about it when Stephan knocked at the door and entered, he had something on his hands that I didn t recognize at first, however after some moments of indecision I saw it was a phone, without an even slight will to answer it I said:
-Oh Stephan, please, ask them to leave a message, I do not patience for it right now.
-Boy, didn t you see which phone I am using?
It was when I noticed and instantly understood who was at the phone my, how news flew around here that was the phone with super advanced technology, created to avoid the tapping of the phone but that model in particular just one person had the number and that person was the King of Verona.