Chapter 12: We're Goddesses You Know!
Dammit! First Plutia, now Neptune! What the hell!
As soon as I got call from Compa, since Noire could barely utter a sound besides sobbing and moaning. Not that I could blame her, having both your daughter and husband hospitalized and with potentially fatal situations under the span of two days would break someone down that badly. I texted Vert and she took us to the hospital that Noire and Neptune… and Plutia were at. While we were on the way, I messaged Neptune's parents, Noire's mom, Nepgear and my parents. At this rate, Noire's going to need all the support that she could get. Vert parked at the parking lot and we waited for everyone else.
The first ones to arrive were Arfoire and Histoire; the latter in tears and the former in a fit of rage… huh, reminds of the time when Neptune got beat down by metal bats. I was told that his parents arrived in the same fashion. As soon they got to us, Aunty Arfoire demanded to know who did this, claiming that she would ruin whoever hurt her son, socially and emotionally. Meanwhile, Vert was trying to soothe Aunty Histy but she was begging to see her son. I texted Momma Chika to tell them that we're inside already and we went to the emergency room. As we were walking inside, I saw Vert texting someone too. I wanna ask her what she messaged, but Noire and Histoire are the main priorities right now.
As soon as we entered the lobby, we found Noire hunched over a chair with Compa, in her nurse uniform, rubbing Noire's back while holding a box of tissues. Apparently Compa was on break right now, which was really helpful considering Noire's situation.
"Nowa-Nowa, it's okay. Nep-Nep's tough as pudding."
"But… pudding is soft…" ...Not the best comparison Compa…
"Noire!" My best friend's wife stood up upon hearing her mother-in-law and hugged Histoire as the woman rushed over to her, crying in each other's arms.
"What happened!?" Arfoire took the box of tissues as Compa excused herself, claiming that she would check on the girls in the cafeteria. Huh, so that's where they are. After a second, Noire was able to calm herself long enough to tell us what she knew.
"Nep-Nep took the blow for… Tee?" From how she described it, it sounds like Small Ram is Tee. But… it is like Neptune to stake his life like that. Yet… why Neptune? After spending so many years without his parents, without his sister… After sorting his crazy relationship with Noire… and after finally settling down and having a kid… Neptune can't die here. Not after suffering and fighting for so long, he deserves a better ending that dying because of a hit-and-run.
"Whoever did that to my baby boy-!?" I feel you Aunty Arfy, except for the baby boy part. I agree with you.
"Ah! It's Bigsty~!" That annoyingly optimistic voice… Turning around, Small Neptune ran into the room, a bottle of soda in hand. The girl hopped into Aunty Arfy's arms and nuzzled the woman. As if that wou- Wait! That actually calmed her down!? "And Bigfy~!" Hopping off of Aunty, Small Neptune, or should I say, Neptuna spun around, arms spread out. "How's Bigme?" Ah, Aunty's eye are sad again.
"Neptune!" A swipe to the back of Neptuna's head caught all of us off-guard as Noire, or Nowa, crossed her arms like a true tsundere. Hey, she even did the scoff and the head turn. "Read the atmosphere for once!" Neptuna pouted as Nepgear, aka Ge-Ge, patted an anime-esque band aid made for comedies on her sister's head. Small Rom and Just As Small Ram, or Gii and Tee, ran up to Vert and hugged, causing my sister to blush.
"Hi." Huh? Oh, it's Mini-Me or… well they didn't change her name.
"Oh, Bura~." My counterpart flinched as Smallish Vert, or Beru appeared and began tailing the now christened Bura, while she used me as an obstacle to get away. Now they were encircling me like one of those old cartoons that Neptune and I watched as kids.
"G-Go away!" Well… there goes the sad atmosphere, crushed by this carefree attitude. Uni, or Yuni- same pronunciation- came back carrying chips and other snacks. I guess they left her to carry everything except for the drinks… which Compa currently ha- Hey, coffee!
Wait, this isn't the time to indulge in something as delicious… creamy… What am I talking about!? Neptune's a wreck right now! I better ask Compa about Neptune's condition.
"Compa?"
"Yes~?"
"Did you put cream in that coffee?" Dammit!
"Yessy! You want some?" Before I could respond, Compa handed me a cup.
"...Thanks." Some friend I am. "How's Neptune right now?" Compa blinked before taking a small sip from her drink.
"Nep-Nep's got a concussion from the hitting the ground, his kneecap is shattered while his arm was broken, luckily it was a clean break so there won't be a lot of problems putting them together. But…" Ugh, this doesn't sound good already… "Nep-Nep's skull was pierced by the spike from the car, and at the same time another spike broke his rib, causing internal bleeding from the rib puncturing a blood vessel." Oh god, that's terrible!
"How horrifying!" Oh, looks like Beru got to Bura after running around me. Actually, how I didn't drop my coffee or notice them running around is beyond me. The smaller Vert was currently snuggling smaller me with all her might, which was because Mini Me was struggling as much as she could with one hand; her other hand was making sure her book wouldn't fall to the ground.
"You don't look horrified..." Vert, you don't have to retort to your own counterpart. "Hey, Blanc. Do you know where Noire put those clothes that she bought for Plutia?" No, why would I kn-
"Ah! They're over here!" Now is not the time fo- Ugh, nevermind. I have to look after Noire. Whatever you thinking Sis, it better be a good reason. Man, I'll never understand why she cares about clothes so much… Isn't she a gamer? Meh, idol priorities maybe.
Leaving Vert with the girls, I walked over to Noire, who was still crying her eyes out and patted her on the head. Raising her head, Noire let of Aunty Histy and wrapped her arms around me, her tears beginning to soak my shoulder.
"There, there. Neptune's gonna be okay." Noire sniffled before taking a deep breath.
"Bl-Blanc, what should I do…?" I rubbed the back of Noire's head, gently stroking her hair.
"I don't really know," I could feel Noire trembling, not just her hands, nor her whole body…
Her entire existence was shaking.
But…
Am I really the person who can tell her to that everything's going to be fine?
"Are we late?"
No… I'm not.
"Ooooh, Mina! Look, there really are younger versions of our children~!"
Other than Neptune…
"Oh my! Look at them, they're precious!"
"I told you Mom!"
"Ah! The green haired lady's got Rom!"
"Hehe… it's okay Ram… I mean, Tee. Mother is just really excited, that's all."
But at this moment…
"Noire." Huh?
Turning around, I let go of Noire to find her mother, Kei Jinguji, arms crossed. Stepping aside, Kei nodded to Nowa and Yuni,- Was that a smile?- before wrapping her arms around her daughter.
"M-Mother…" Immediately pulling away, Kei wiped Noire's tears, suddenly making the whole room feel smaller.
"Despite how much you've grown, you're still that determined, one-track minded, yet loving daughter that I've come to raise."
"Wh-What?" I felt a tug on my arm as Tee and Gii pulled me aside as Nepgear appear- Wait, is she carrying…?
"I know that you should be grieving and all, but…" Kei stepped aside, revealing to Noire. "Aside from Neptune, there's one more person who would hate to see you cry."
"Ma~!" Aaaaand there goes my heart. No wait… and it's gone.
Plutia, in her brand new clothes that Noire went to buy today, reached out to her mother from her smiling aunt's arms. How did she get dressed so fa- Vert! Snapping my head towards my twin sister, Vert held up Plutia's hospital gown and gave me a peace sign.
Heh, so that's why you were asking for Plutia's clothes. At the same time, you asked Mom and Mother to take Rom and Ram, meet up with Kei and Nepgear, and pick up Plutia.
I guess Noire's not the only one who's got a one track mind.
"Plutia…" Noire weakly reached out to her daughter while Pluta squealed in joy. "Oh, Plutia!" Taking Plutia from her sister-in-law, eliciting a "Goodness!" despite not being surprised or something to that caliber. "You're okay! You're okay!" Noire cuddled with her daughter while Plutia gripped onto her mother's hair and played with it.
Huh, Gii? What is it?
The smaller version of Rom gestured to me to lean closer.
"Um… Big Blanc?"
"Yeah?'
"There is a way for us to help Mr. Neptune." What?
"And how can we do that?" Suddenly, Bura appeared out of nowhere, patting her sister on the head.
"She's talking about magic." Magic? Suddenly, all eyes were on Bura, but the girl just sighed and closed her book. "Listen, Neptune may have bad injuries now, but where we come from, those wounds are normal." Mom gasped and nearly fainted until Mother caught her. Ugh, so embarrassing. Mom's just as dramatic as ever. "Rom specialized in healing magic so if you'll allow us…" Noire stepped forward, her eyes wide with hope.
"But, are you sure?" Beru stepped forward, a hand over her heart.
"Miss Noire, we are ever so grateful for your hospitality and if we can help you after all you've given us…" Ge-Ge now stepped up, hands clasped together.
"Please! Let Rom heal Big Neptune!" Tee put her arms at her hips.
"Yeah! Rom's heals are so good that even zombies are brought back to life!" ...Uh, okay. Nowa crossed her arms and smiled.
"You know we won't back down until you say yes." Just as she always did, Kei sighed.
"But how can we be sure that you can do this?" Neptuna threw an arm up into the air, her face and posture filled with optimism.
"You can count on us! We're Goddesses you know!" That really isn-
"Please…" Noire! "If you can help Neptune, please…" Plutia poked at the tears that were streaming down her mother's face. "Please save Neptune!" I turned to Gii.
"Are you sure that you want to do this?" The girl nodded, eyes determined.
"Mhm!" Heh, alright then. I turned to Compa.
"Can you let us in?" My friend nodded and only allowed me and Gii to go inside, claiming that Noire should catch up with Plutia. The mother didn't even argue as she sat down, cooing at her baby and looking at us with hope.
Don't worry Noire, we'll come back with Neptune.
Compa led us to the operating room where Neptune was in. I was ready to cover Gii's eyes when the girl just walked straight in.
Neptune was lying on the operating bed, unconscious. There was no blood flooding out of Neptune's head, but there was still a big hole there. Compa's grandpa was busy stitching his side together.
"Grandpa~" Wearily, the elderly man looked up to see us, much to his surprise.
"Compa! What are you…" The doctor's granddaughter explained Gii's plan and the old man listened carefully before shaking his head. "I'm sorry, honey. But I cannot accept the idea that this child c-" Ah! My eyes!
A bright flashing light surrounded Gii. When the light faded, a giant staff, resembling a blue pencil with a dice at the end where the eraser would be, was in the girl's hands.
"...I can… do this!" Blinking his eyes, Compa's grandpa took off his glasses and cleaned them before putting them back on. The old man walked up to Gii and kneeled down to her eye level.
"Young lady, do you really believe that you can save Neptune?" Gii nodded and Compa's grandpa sighed, ordering his staff to leave the room and to keep this a secret, or they would be subjected to Compa's practice gauze-wrapping sessions. That's cruel…
Gii stared down at Neptune's body, surveying what damage had been done. Taking a deep breath, the girl rose the staff into the air.
"Hyper Healing!" A green light enveloped the dice, shining over Neptune.
"G-Guh…" Woah! The wounds are shrinking by the second! Gii really can heal people! "Agh…!" Neptune began to toss and turn, forcing Compa and Gramps to hold him down. Neptune's grunts slowly turned into groans… then into cries and screams as the healing process continued. Oh god, this looks worse than just waiting months for a wound to heal.
"...Mission complete." Gii gave me a peace sign as her staff literally vanished. Neptune was completely healed, looking like he was yesterday… except sweaty and on an operating bed.
"..." Slowly opening his eyes, Neptune tried to sit up, only to be helped up Gramps and Compa.
"Nep-Nep!" No way… it actually worked!
"C-Compa? What happened to me?'
"You were run over, smart one." Scratching the back of his head, I helped Neptune to his feet. "You gave Noire quite the breakdown."
"Really!? Where is she?" I pointed to the door.
"Come on, your princess is waiting." Gii nodded, bouncing on her heels.
"Princess~ Waiting~!"
"Oh, and thank Gii while you're at it." Neptune patted the girl on the head, causing the girl to shine… once again, literally.
"Thanks Gii." I guided Neptune to the lobby as he still had trouble moving on his own. "Thanks Blanc."
"For what?"
"For helping me up." I'm just doing what a best friend would do.
"No problem." I can't wait to see what Neptune'll think when he sees Plutia.
"Neptune!?"
"Noir- Plutia!?"
"Da~!" Well, that an obvious one. Disappointing actually.
After being discharged from the hospital, Neptune was questioned by IF and Uni, not being able to give them enough information to find the people who hit him.
"If only we had their license plate…" Looking up from the TV, Yuni turned around.
"What's that?" Uni explained to her counterpart what and where a license plate is. "Oh, that combination thing on the back. I remember it." Apparently, since Yuni's a real life gunner, her perception is sharp, which is supported by her vivid memory… although anyone would remember that grim scene.
"Thanks, Un- Yuni! Come on, Yun- Uni! Let's go!"
"R-Roger!" Hmph, they'll catch them in no time.
"Ban-Ban~" Hmm? Plutia crawled onto my lap, reaching up for my bangs. Plutia looks really cute in her pajama-clothes.
"What is it?" The girl just smiled and continued playing with my hair. Neptune sat down next to me, looking extra healthy. Noire sat down on the other side next to me, giggling at Plutia's antics.
It's like those two days never happened. Although, I'd rather that we forget about it.
This family…
No, my family.
Is precious to me, no matter what people say.
"Ban-Ban~!"
"Yes, yes."
"Haha, Ban."
"Shut up, Neptune."
"Hehe… Ban-Ban."
"Shush, Noire." Yeah, precious. No matter what.