Chapter 14: Ebony, Dead or Alive! The plan or entry!
Then the aliens were all gone, the mews could do nothing, Ebony couldn't move and the wall was inches from her small figure. She took a deep breath in and transformed back to her human self. 'Heh, fancy that…dying on my birthday…while everyone is still at my party…'Then she crouched over the old man, whose chest had started to rise and fall ever so slightly. 'At least if I can save just this man, my death won't be in vain…'
Silence…a silence so eerie it could drive a normal person insane. The mews could only stand in awe; Ichigo falling to her knees, her mouth staying open and her eyes staying wide the whole time. Nobody wanted to speak; as if the sound of one of their voices would crack the sentimental moment, the moment where it felt like the world had shut down and time itself had frozen. Fear, that if the slightest tremor or vibration would force the wall back onto Ebony.
"E…Ebony…" Pudding whispered quietly, almost not believing the scene in front of her, such a scene for one so young.
"Ebony…" And in turn each of the mews could only mutter her name, out of the corner of their eyes they heard a light 'swish' sound and in seconds Zakuro was at their side.
"I heard there was a giant chimera, looks like you defeated it without my help! Where's the birthday girl then? Was she so excited that she wanted to get back to her party quicker?" Zakuro said, noticing one addition to the team was lost, her face crumpled when Pudding started to cry and buried her head in Ichigo's skirt.
"What, did I do something wrong?" Zakuro said looking around, her hand tightening on her weapon.
"Zakuro…Ebony…she's still here…she's just not here,"
"Well how can she be here if she's not actually…here…?" Zakuro slowed down as realisation suddenly hit her.
"You mean she's…? She can't be…how? Are you sure?" Zakuro proclaimed with wide eyes as she transformed back into her human self with the others and passed a tissue to Pudding.
"We were fighting a huge chimera in the museum…the 3 aliens were here, the chimera kept knocking down walls…but we defeated it fine…the walls started crumbling though and we didn't realise before it was too late…the aliens used the old man's soul and Ebony went to put it back into the guy, she must've got a leg caught or something, but she wasn't fast enough and the wall just…fell on her…she protected that museum curator, for her life instead…" Ichigo finished the sentence and hugged Pudding tightly. Mint and Lettuce could only stare at the crumbling mess in front of them and Zakuro placed her hand over her mouth, feeling guilty for saying the wrong thing and making Pudding cry. Sirens could be heard in the distance and all the mews looked at each other…what were they to do now?
Kish; to Pai's discomfort, had gone straight from their ship to the place where he had saved Ebony's life once; she'd almost fallen off a cliff and Kish had caught her at just the right moment. Then they held each other, laughing watching the sunset…never again would Kish be able to experience her warm embrace, a laugh so smooth and calming it sent shivers down his spine, her somehow warm; but icy eyes that could turn any man crazy if they stared at them long enough. He sat down on the edge of the cliff and hugged his knees to his chest; clamping himself to the ground, he was scared if he unfolded his body he would be tempted to teleport straight to the destroyed museum and save Ebony from the clutches of the prison of walls, but he'd promised Pai; one mew was finally out of the way, what was the point in saving one of them? But Kish wondered what was more important; a promise, to be faithful to his entire country, to kill the mews take over Earth and restore their planet and whole civilisation, even though there was a fear they would be killed for their leaders own selfish plans, or love. 'Her eyes…the amount of fear in them, I could see her trying to force it back…and that smile…it was one of reassurance, but to me, it only looked like a silent cry for help'. He'd noticed the stray tear as well, the one on his face and hers, he could tell she was begging for him to save her, and boy he would if he could, but now he'd promised and it was eating him up inside.
"How could you let this happen? She could be dying right now and we have no way of knowing!"
"What were we supposed to do Ryou? The police were coming in fleets, you wanted us to stay and get arrested for being superhuman freaks? The only thing we could do was pretend she was our friend who accidently got caught up in the rubble and then when she was rescued and about to be put into the ambulance you came and we snuck her into your car! Bet you couldn't have thought of anything else!" Ichigo screamed from the back seat of Ryou's car as the other mews were squashed into the back with her, Ebony laid out across their laps with a blanket over her and an oxygen mask, which Pudding had kindly 'borrowed' from the ambulance.
"I'm not a doctor Ichigo, at least…not a very good one, how do you expect me to save her while she's in a condition as critical as this? She was crushed by two museum walls for crying out loud, not to mention she was in her human form andprotecting and old man!" Ryou screamed in frustration as he stuck his head round from the front passenger seat, resting his hand on Ebony's stomach which was rising and falling every so slightly and in jagged breaths.
"Now, now Ryou, I'm sure shouting like this isn't helping anybody, I've done a bit of doctors training and with your intelligence we're sure to find a way to save her, so just stay calm until we get to the café!" Keiichero said from the driver's seat as he looked into his mirror at the six girls squashed into the back.
"Wait…what are we supposed to tell her party guests?" Mint suddenly realised and exclaimed a little in shock.
"And Ebony's pretty dress is all dirty Na no da!" Pudding said adding onto Mint's contribution.
"I shouldn't even be here, I left my photo shoot to fight this chimera that was already defeated when I got there…but I suppose helping a friend is definitely more important…" Zakuro said as she looked out the window, catching the reflection of Ebony as she did so. 'Why can I hear everybody's voices? Maybe I'm in heaven…but man does that noise sound nice…it's like when you fall asleep in the car, if I'm not dead perhaps I'm in an ambulance with the mews, Keiichero and Ryou since I can hear them too, it's weird…it's like I can't move. Oh no…my party guests…my parents…my family…Sakura and Ayame…Anzu and Akito! Oh no, I don't have time to be like this…Anzu and Akito could be at the café right now and Ryou won't be there and…I won't have kept my promise because I won't be there to comfort him…ugh I hate being a mew sometimes!'That was when Ebony attempted to open her eyes, she did it slowly first squinting at first because of the unusually bright light of the day and because she was scared of what she would find and where she was when she opened them.
"Ebony! Girls help her, her eyes are open!" She heard a masculine voice; Ryou's, he sounded more worried than usual. Ebony felt herself being sat up-right, only then did she realise the extent of her injuries and the intense burning pain they were causing her. She flinched, pulling a grief stricken expression and clutched her hands to her ribs.
"Careful, she might've fractured or broken some of her ribs since she was crouched over when the wall landed on her!" She heard Zakuro say as she felt her smooth hands adjusting her, eventually the position she had settled her in made the pain barely noticeable, although that would've seemed strange since she hadn't realised she'd been lifted into the front and she was now sat on Ryou's lap, her head buried in his chest and her legs in between his. She could feel him stroking her head and she felt a blush rise to her face, although when she went to put her hand to her face to cool it down she felt an oxygen mask on her face. She yanked it off and took a few deep breaths as she found it extremely hard to breathe normally once it was removed, she began to enter a coughing fit and Ryou patted her back whilst putting the mask back onto her face.
"Keep that on Ebony, just to be on the safe side, the emergency services rescued you from the rubble and we took you before they put you into the ambula-,"
"Is the old man okay?" Ebony had cut Ryou off and she'd shouted so loud her voice almost came out clear through the enclosed mouth space of the mask and Ryou's eyes widened. 'She's more worried about that old man than herself?'
"Ryou, is he okay? Please tell me he is he was barely breathing when I covered him…" Ryou was knocked out of his stupor and just shook his head.
"Uh yeah, he's fine, he got taken to hospital, he'll be looked after properly," He noticed something in her eyes fade a little, the emotion had been worry but he couldn't calculate why it hadn't completely faded and was still apparent in her eyes.
"Ebony, are you worried about something?" Ryou asked as she buried her head into his chest again avoiding his gaze, then she whispered so quietly it was just audible to Ryou over the roar of the engine.
"What about Anzu? If I'm recovering from these injuries what if she comes and I'm not there to help you?"
"Ebony! Stop worrying about others and be selfish for once won't you? You've just nearly died and everyone here was and is still worried sick about you, don't worry about that old man the reason you're in this state is because of him! Don't worry about me and Anzu that was neveryour problem to begin with! Ebony…please just lay still and think about your self for once!" Ryou hadn't realised but he was shouting and everyone in the car had heard it making them silent. Ebony just lifted her oxygen mask, staring Ryou in the eyes and smiled lightly, kissed him on the cheek, and then she nodded and buried her head in his chest again. She let him protectively wrap his arms around her for the rest of the way and listened to the soft hum of the engine, as she had her head facing Keiichero she would watch him driving, he would occasionally turn to face her and smile, making Ebony feel embarrassed as she'd realise he knew she'd been staring and she'd turn her head to the other side to get a view out the window. Ebony smiled and laughed slightly as she heard Ichigo, Mint and Lettuce try to explain to Pudding that Ebony was not going to get pregnant because she'd kissed Ryou.
"But Ebony kissed Ryou on the cheek, and that's how you make babies right? By kissing a man or a man kissing a woman! Duh, I'm younger than all of you and I know that Na no da!"
"Yes but Pudding, technically that's not how it happens," Lettuce said shyly.
"Then where do they come from Lettuce Na no da?" Pudding said in a truly curious way. It was silent as Ryou and Ebony blushed where they were Ebony then turned her head to face the back row of seats and quickly took her mask off to speak to Pudding.
"So…this conversation's getting boring now right Pudding? Why don't we say you're right and for winning this little game you get to have the most ice-cream when we get back to the party, deal?"
"Deal na no da, but why is it that every time somebody goes to prove me wrong and tell me how babies are actuallymade they never answer me?" Pudding literally jumped in her seat, bashing her head on the roof of the car making it shake, then Ebony put her mask back over her face as she felt herself get a tickle in the back of her throat, then smiled and fell asleep once more as she listened to Ichigo try to explain a whole new subject to Pudding.
"I wonder why the girls went off like that, I hope our little Ebony is okay, perhaps they have a speech or a dance or something planned," Ebony's mother said worried as she'd noticed the absence of the two bosses and the café workers, Ebony's father just wrapped his arms around her mother and began to dance with her.
"Don't worry…I'm sure she's just fine," He said trying to sound reassuring although he was worried himself; he would glance out the window whenever he could.
"Geez, Ebony sets us up with her crazy friends and about 10 minutes later she steals them from us so we're stood her like idiots again!" Ebony's cousin; Sora said to Riku and Yoichi.
"I don't care, Ichigo was hot, and who cares if she has a boyfriend?" Sora rolled his eyes and smacked his twin brother on the arm.
"I think Lettuce was really smart, apparently she thinks she isn't very pretty, I thought she was beautiful," Sora and Riku made gagging actions behind Yoichi and when he gave them a look they stopped, then Sora looked over to his youngest brother Toshio and smirked.
"Looks like Toshio's girls still here, he seems to be having fun too, haha," Then he did a wolf whistle making the two turn around, when Toshio saw Riku he glared daggers; if looks could kill, they've would've done, over and over. Then the boys had run out of things to do and say and just stood still again, quietly thinking of something to do as they listened to the music.
"Ebony and her friends better get back here soon, or I'm going to ask dad if we can leave, we gave the presents and stuff and Ebony has seen us so what's the point being here?"
"Shut up Sora, she's our cousin and we love her, she always comes to our parties and even if she doesn't know any of our friends she still has loads of fun and enjoys herself, so that's what you can do!" Yoichi snapped at Sora with a glare, then he walked off to his Auntie; Ebony's mother who was currently dancing with his Uncle; Ebony's dad, and began to speak with them.
"How do you suppose we get her in the café lab if she's got broken or fractured bones?" Keiichero said; who had gone into full doctor mode.
"Say Pudding, you didn't manage to steal a hospital bed on wheels as well did you?" Ebony said laughing as she was currently still sat on Ryou's lap in the car; they were now around the corner from the café strategising what they were going to do. That was when something very un-expected happened…Pudding nodded, then she dragged Ichigo out of the car as well, went round to the back of Ryou's car opened it and seconds later she had un-folded this bed with the help of Ichigo and was proudly sat on it grinning. Ryou left Ebony on his seat and jumped out the car followed by Keiichero and the other girls except Ebony.
"Pudding, you stolean ambulance bed?" Ryou said slightly astonished and angry at how such a small girl could do that.
"Well, when the people were getting into their ambulance when they saw Ebony was gone, I opened the doors, dragged it out and then while you guys were sneaking Ebony into the car I put it in the back of your car and then quickly sat next to Ichigo and you drove off, quite simple really Na no da," She said with a puppy-dog face, obviously scared she was going to get into trouble, then Ryou's face softened and he sighed.
"Well I guess I should thank you Pudding, that was very clever of you," He said with a hand on the back of his head and he went to the car and asked Keiichero to help him lift Ebony onto the bed without breaking her bones even more, occasionally laughing at Ebony's shouts about her being so heavy she needed two people to lift her and that she'd never been so insulted.
"Ouch, ow, yikes, eek, Blondie!" After many colourful responses had formed on Ebony's lips; as being lifted onto the bed crushed her ribs even more and made her even more uncomfortable, she was finally lying down, but somehow managing to glare straight at Ryou from an angle lower than him.
"How do you do that Eb'? It's creepy," He said all the way in front of her with his arms crossed.
"Practice," She replied an Ryou smirked, however his face turned to a slightly scared one as he noticed Ebony wasn't joking, although she couldn't keep it up for long and ended up smirking slightly; which turned into continuous outbursts of giggling; flinching; grabbing her ribs, giggling, flinching and then lying down.
"Shirogane, how're we going to wheel Ebony in past all the guests?" Lettuce asked with her hand in the air; as if she was at school.
"Already covered, but thanks Lettuce," Keiichero said as he took a white sheet out of his car and put it over Ebony.
"Now Ebony, if anybody asks anything, you're an ice sculpture of yourself okay? So just lay still…" Keiichero said with a smile and Ebony didn't like how he looked like he truly believed it would work.
"And act chill-ay, Na no da!" Pudding said, with a slight American accent, the others guessed she picked it up of her subtitled shows she watched on TV. Then Ebony sighed, rolled her eyes and pulled the sheet up over her head and lay as still as she could.
"Oh that's better, the dirt's out of my sight," She heard Mint snort under her breath, Ebony sat up suddenly pulling the blanket off her face and glared daggers at Mint.
"Oh wait…its back," She said as she surveyed her nails and peered over the top of them at Ebony.
"That's it; I don't care if my ribs are almost broken as long as your face is smashed in!" Ebony then balled her fists and went to scoot off of the bed, only to find two, strong and tanned arms push her gently back down onto the bed, and Ryou was standing at the top, pillow end of the bed and was now bent over looking directly at Ebony's face and smirking.
"Down Panda, I didn't think you were a naturally vicious animal…maybe something in your DNA's changed?" He said with an amused tone in his voice. 'He's enjoying this! Grr, when I'm healed I'm so shoving his face in my birthday cake…after I have a piece…'Ebony then balled her fists at her sides and snarled.
"Yeah…I think maybe it's got something to do with the screeching birds…giving me a bit of a headache…"Ebony corrected, directing it 100% at the blue-haired girl, looking at her reflection in the car mirror, however her insult went un-noticed as Mint was far to engrossed…with herself.Finally giving up she sighed and waited as Ryou pulled the cover back over her, just before he pulled it over her fore-head, he brought his lips to it and kissed it slightly, and Ebony brought her hands up and wiped her fore-head repeatedly.
"Ew gross I don't want you're spiton my fore-head Blondie, haha!" Then he smacked her on the fore-head very lightly and in a joking manner and covered her over.
"Remember, stay still now," Ebony let out a huge sigh and closed her eyes, it was strangely peaceful under there, the sounds were slightly muffled, plus it was warm and very soft, she could relax easily like this.
"…Fine…"Then she felt Ryou's hand over hers but on top of the sheet and she pulled it away, still slightly angry at him for winding her up and since the cover was pretty much see through from her angle she could see everyone, but they couldn't see her, she noticed Ryou's eyes widen slightly and his face dropped slightly. 'Does that idiot think I'm seriously mad at him, geez he can over-react sometimes…?'She smiled to herself and put her hand back again, interlocking their fingers as best she could, which wasn't easy with cloth in-between. Finally Keiichero went to the feet end and Ryou stayed at the top and they pushed it through the park; gaining very odd stares and eventually they were through the flowery arch-way and making their way down the cobbled path, Ebony swallowed hard and began to take deep breaths as she heard herself being wheeled in through the doors and everyone went quiet, it was also a quiet part in the middle of the song which didn't help at all.
"What's that thing?"
CHAPTER END