In the Hinata dorms, Naru slept on her desk with her face nuzzled in her arms. This was done to studying and waiting for Keitaro to show up. The had agreed to meet in her room at six for a stud session the day before. However, the Urashima never showed up. She was disappointed, but never gave up on him not showing. Her slumber was suddenly disturbed by a small scratching noise at her door. Naru lifted her head and wipe the drool away before answering her door.
At first she saw no one, that was until she felt something tugging at her pajama pants. The Narusegawa looked down to see Skinny staring back at her.
"Naru, I need you're help. How steady are your hands?"
"Huh", Naru squeaked in confusion.
"Your hands, how steady are they?"
"I don't know", Naru said as she held her hands out for the small mammal to view.
"Skinny looked up to them before saying, "Good enough. Here put these on and follow me, quickly."
Naru had no time to question as he tossed her two blue rubber gloves for cleaning the floor.
Naru followed Skinny into the bathroom where the light was on. When she entered she was in for the shock of her life. Sitting on a stool, Keitaro faced the opposing direction from them. His back was uncovered, revealing a thick green object lodged in Keitaro's back. Blood ran down his back onto a towel placed on the floor. Naru held her hands over her mouth to avoid screaming.
"Keitaro, what happened to you?!"
"Nevermind that", Keitaro told her. "I need you to remove this from my back. I can't get it out."
The tone of his voice let her know he was in deep pain. She hesitated to touch him, or the lodging.
"What do I do?"
"Just get it out of there", said Keitaro.
Naru slowly held the green spike. It felt similar to a bone. As she gave a small tug on the item, Keitaro grunted and winced in pain.
"Keitaro I can't do this", Naru said.
"Yes you can Naru."
"No I can't we need a doctor for this."
"Naru, I need you."
Naru calmed when she heard this. She felt as if he was calling out to her like his life depended on it.
"I'm counting on you Naru. You can do this, I'm trusting you."
Naru gathered some of her determination. This was a chance Naru had been waiting for, to show that she could be a friend he could count on. The brunette inspected the damage more closely. It was in there at an angle, and looked almost serrated.
"Keitaro what is this exactly?"
Keitaro couldn't tell her what it was for classification reasons. He mad up a lie and told her it was a piece of shrapnel.
"Naru, that object has a curve to it", Keitaro said remembering the shape of Draconian's spike. "In order for you to get it out, I need you to push it in deeper, and pull it out at a curving angle."
"But Keitaro, its jagged. If I push it in, it will cut you deeper."
I know Naru, but if you tug on it too much, you might fracture the vertebrae and paralyze me for life."
"What!?" Naru hysterically yelled. "I thought you said I could do this!"
"You can do this Naru. I'm trusting you with this."
There was that word again, "Trust." While he had been back at the dorms and she felt there was no more tension between them; Naru personally felt that she still needed to get his original trust back. Naru inhaled, then exhaled.
"Okay, for you...Keitaro", Naru bravely said.
Naru began on the procedure. Doing as she was told, Naru pressed the object deeper into Keitaro's back. The Urashima bit into a towel as he grunted in pain. He could feel the intense pressure in his back, and in his chest. When Naru thought the object was clear of the spine, she started pulling it out at a curve. The dragon spike emerged from Keitaro's back, showing just how big it really was. As the bloody object was slowly removed from Keitaro's body, the pain intensified. The serrated edges continued to cut into Keitaro, and he was starting to lose his steady focus.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I've almost got it, Stay with me Keitaro."
The spine was soon removed from Keitaro in a final pull. Keitaro dropped the towel in his mouth as he fully leaned against the sink. The blood gushed out of the gaping wound, and now it was Skinny who would tend to this. Naru inspected the green object, before tossing it into the garbage.
"Thank you...Naru", Keitaro said weakly.
"Sure", Naru said.
It was all she could say. This was one of the most frightening time she had ever experienced in her life. She was afraid that she was going to lose Keitaro if she did something wrong, or he was going to be crippled if she screwed up. What could have put him in such a situation? She wanted to know...no, she had to know.
"Keitaro, who did this to you?"
Keitaro shook his head before saying, "Sorry Naru, that's classified."
"Classified? Keitaro you were almost paralyzed, what happened?"
"I can't tell you."
Naru became more upset that he wasn't speaking to her.
"Was it Neon?"
"That's classified?"
"Keitaro you almost ruined yourself for life! Why would you willingly get yourself into something like this?!"
"That's personal?"
"Keitaro I know you can't tell me about your job, but at least tell me what's going through your head!"
"Naru...that's also classified."
Keitaro met Naru's gaze in the mirror. She didn't look angry, she looked upset and concerned. Keeping the secrets about his work was one thing, but keeping the secrets of your emotions was another; and Naru knew this. Normally, Naru would press a matter like this until she got an answer, but she was tired, and Keitaro had already been through too much tonight. Naru turned away for the exit, but not before stopping in the entrance.
"Okay, Keitaro, I'll let you off the hook on this one...but remember, you can't bottle your emotions in. It will eventually catch up to you. I know it's too early to say this, but I need you to trust me again. If you don't, we can't be friends again. I'll keep trying, and I'll give you time...but you're going to eventually have to trust again. If not me, then someone else."
Without looking back, Naru left the room. Keitaro looked into the sink drain, as if he could find the answer in there. He wanted to say something to make her feel better, or maybe it was to make himself feel better. Whatever it was, Keitaro felt like water running down the drain. The pine martin finished cleaning up, and covering the wound as Keitaro looked up to Skinny. The brown, furry animal didn't say anything, but he motioned with his paws for Keitaro to follow her.
In the hallway, Naru took small steps through the hallway. She stopped when she heard Keitaro's voice say, "I can't sleep at night." Naru turned around to question what the significance of this was.
"I can't sleep at night. I can't sleep because my body hurts from all the missions and training I do. A lot of times I don't get a wink of sleep because I'm either trying to study, or work keeps me awake."
Naru began to inch closer and closer to Keitaro as he leaned against the wall for support.
"I was trained to wake up to the slightest hint of danger. I once shot a fly with my gun when I was taking a nap. When I do get a night's sleep, I dream a lot.
By now, Naru was inches from Keitaro's face. He was still taller than her, but it took no notice to her Keitaro continued on.
"I would dream about my promise girl sometimes. Sometimes I would have nightmares, or night terrors. I would wake up in a cold sweat not remembering where I am. I worry a lot Naru. I worry I'm not gonna live up to what's expected of me. I worry that I'll never get into Tokyo University. I worry that I'm gonna go to work and never come back. I worry someone's gonna show up and hurt the people closest to me...and I worry, someone's gonna hurt you...Naru..."
Naru felt touched by Keitaro's words. He shied his eyes away from her as he spoke.
"...and I worry...that...I'm gonna hurt you."
Naru gently grabbed his cheeks so he could focus on her.
"Keitaro, don't worry, I trust you enough that you won't hurt me. You're still my friend Keitaro, you always will be. I am so, sorry for pushing you away. I won't ever do that again, I promise. You don't have to make me any promises, just don't leave me behind Keitaro. Okay?"
Keitaro nodded in agreement. She smiled at him while looking through his tired, worn eyes. They were tired, but very comforting. She had no idea how comforting her own eyes seemed to Keitaro. Slowly, Naru wrapped her arms around the back of Keitaro's neck. Almost naturally, Keitaro rested his own hands at her waist. Their bodies moved independently of their minds, relying only on instinct and harmony. Naru stood on her tip toes as she inched for Keitaro's face. Her eyes slowly shut as Keitaro tried to meet her the same way. As he closed his eyes, he felt a tightening in his leg.
Keitaro grunted in pain as his hand clasped the now wrapped bullet wound. The both turned their attention to Keitaro wound. She asked if he was alright, but he only masked the pain with a cheap smile.
"It's okay, I'll be fine", Keitaro tried to reassure her.
She didn't buy it, but at the same time she didn't want to ruin the good mood.
"Here, I'll help you to your room."
Naru threw one of his arms around her to ease the tension on the leg. Keitaro didn't really need the extra help. He was hurt, but still strong enough to make it to his room. In any how, Keitaro didn't complain, and enjoyed being this close to a caring Naru.
In his room, Naru covered Keitaro with a soft fresh blanket. It smelled kinda nice, like it just came from the dryer. Naru tucked him in like a child being put to bed by their mother. It was completely unnecessary, but why would anyone argue with someone as beautiful as Naru.
"Thanks Naru", Keitaro gratefully said to her.
"No problem."
Once he was all set, she caught sight of the small set of keys on his desk. It was the same pair that he left to Motoko and the others.
"I almost forgot', thanks for letting us into the exercise room, and into your room."
"Hey no problem", Keitaro said. "It's really no big deal."
"But you trusted us all with your room. That's something big Keitaro."
Both realized how big Keitaro's handing over keys really was.
"Huh, I guess I really am starting to trust all of you", Keitaro chuckled.
"Yeah, I guess so."
Naru decided it was time to leave back to her room.
"Good night Keitaro."
"Good night Naru", Keitaro answered her.
The Narusegawa girl reached up for the hole in Keitaro's ceiling. However, the brunette was simply too short to reach it. Keeping on her more persistent nature, Naru took a chair to reach the hole better. Why she didn't just leave the room and use the stairs was something they would never know. This compromise would almost cost her neck as the chair became unsteady. She would have crashed to the floor, if Keitaro hadn't caught her by the legs. Naru looked down in surprise as smiled back up at her by the bottom of her feet, and the back of her legs, Keitaro gently lifted her towards the entrance.
"Keitaro what are you doing?!"
"You looked like you were having some trouble there."
"But your injuries, I don't want them to open because of me."
"Don't worry, I trust her", Keitaro reassured her.
This was the second time tonight that the simple word, "Trust", had calmed her down. Naru pushed the wooden piece off the hole before climbing through it. They exchanged good nights before she closed the hole again. Keitaro laid back on the sleeping mat after shutting the lights off. At last, he could rest at ease, at least until tomorrow.
Wow, two chapters in a day! This is the result of Keitaro's battle with Draconian. From the moment when Naru removed the spike from Keitaro's back, till the end, the song "It's Been A While", by Staind was goin through my head. Hope you all read and review.