"It's all your fault!" she said monotonously, yet in a tone dripping with
displeasure, causing her low voice to pierce through the quiet corridors of
the nighttime emergency room.
"It's all your fault! You're the one who's in the wrong!"
As if to emphasize her point, Aisaka Taiga, sitting alone on the rightmost
edge of the sofa, muttered under her breath again.
though the two were not alone as they were thinking because there was some one else who was there with them simply
having some what of a tierd expresion as he looked at the duo who were not really in a good mood at the moment
because of what had happen a few hours prior to this incident that had caused all this problem in the first place .
On the same sofa, sitting as far left as possible, Takasu Ryūji looked down
at his own fingernails with his vicious, upturned, razor-sharp eyes. He had
arrived early on the conclusion that no matter what he said, he would be
wasting his time. Moreover, he didn't have the strength to argue anymore,
nor was this the time to do so anyway.
An ambulance drove past the window, the sudden, piercing siren causing
Ryūji to jump. The deafening siren cut off abruptly, as if stifled. Only the
revolving red light remained; its flashes dragging Ryūji's Taiga's and Naruto's
silhouettes across the linoleum floor. It seemed like the attached
emergency department of the University Hospital was busier than ever,
even on weeknights.
"...What time is it?"
Tacking on "I forgot my watch," as if talking to herself, Taiga turned
towards Ryūji, her face pale white even in the dark. However, she refused
to meet his gaze. Not letting it bother him, Ryūji flipped open his cell
phone,
"Just before ten."
He replied curtly. That is to say, it had been nearly an hour already since
they had rushed here by taxi. Feeling depressed and unbearably weary,
Ryūji subconsciously sighed to himself. Next to him, Taiga sighed as well,
and started to twirl her waist-long hair.
Seeing her like this, Ryūji told her, "You should go home first."
He had said this out of concern, as she looked tired, but...
''don't worry we will go home just after everything will be over after all you don't have to be alone right now especially after what had happen at your house with Inko besides what kind of friends we would be if we would leave you at the moment when you need help the most isn't that right Taiga ?''
Naruto had said this since he was considerate of his friend who was in need of help he did not had to try doing something
like this for things would try to be fixed or solved some how but he was not some one who wanted to simply let some one
who was a good friend to him to simply go through something that was problematic at the moment this was why he wished
to try being there for Ryuuji even if he himself did not need some one else trying to be there so that he could have his
own problems be solved or have his own waight be lighted in some way wanting to carry the weight of his own fate on his
own along with deciding to walk alone even if he had to reach in to places that no person or even a human would ever dare since this was his own choice and also decision as he decided to take on a burden that should had not been chosen though he decided to try doing this because he wanted to find
an answere on his own regurding if there was a posible way for peace to be find in his home world deciding to simply walk
further away from everyone that he knew and cared about so he could try finding this answere for those that he care about
this being also why he was here at the moment instead of standing alone as he did for the past month or so after the trio
had meet Ami and the shadows of the ancient past had resurface for Naruto who was now thrusted in the path that
was going to lead him to almost nothing but an never ending darkness that he had chose to walk from an ancient time so
he could reach the only person that he meant more than anything to him even if the two were now mortal enemies
instead of the brothers that they have been since before this had started and their souls had been thrusted in their never
ending cycle of war and rebirth that had happen time and time till now .
Taiga simply made a tsk sound showing a displeasing annoyed expresion as she heard what Naruto had said
wanting to simply deny that they or more like him should try doing something like this to some one like Ryuuji after what
she had seen even if the incident was not much of a big deal since she was not even liking Ryuuji more than the two of
them being friends but still she did not liked seeing her rival who was annoying in her opinion simply trying to take her
friend away acting like she was not even doing this intentionally to try geting to her in the first place .
''what ever i have to say that you are way to nice when it comes to other people whiskers but this is something that it
might not ever chainge so i should not be surprise especially when it comes to this dog over here since this is really sad to
have ended in such a way really like "...needing a dog to be
worried about me, I've really fallen far, haven't I?
What I want to do is my business, not yours! If you try to order me around
again..."
...as her low growl crept along the ground, their surroundings instantly
transformed into a jungle that reeked of blood. In the center of this world
that she ruled, Taiga cracked her right knuckles noisily. Her eyes that had
avoided Ryūji's for nearly an hour now looked straight at him, filled with
terrible killing intent and overflowing contempt.
In terms of appearance, Ryūji was her equal - mostly black eyes with a
hint of blue, his eyes gave off a knife-like glint as he met Taiga's stare
head on... or so it seemed. In truth, they were nothing more than a
physical hereditary trait.
"What's with that...? Fine, do whatever you want."
''really ! guys can't you like stop trying to fight for more than five if not even less than two minutes since this is geting some what old and annoying all ready that it is simply silly if nothing else .''
Ryūji replied in a small voice. Unable to bear sitting on the same sofa with
the wild beast any longer, Ryūji quickly stood up while pretending to
remain indifferent while Naruto simply felt that they might have a long night ahead of them if the two meaning Taiga and
Ryuuji were not going to stop from trying to not argue all the time like they were unable to really stand the other for some
reason as this was really wierd not wanting to stand around two kids or at the very least two people that were behaving
like a bunch of kids who could not or wished to get along in any sort of way this simply being annoying and tiering if he
were to be honest about how the situation was developing .
"...Fuh."
Taiga arrogantly snorted then slid with her bottom towards the center of
the monopolized sofa. And then, puffing out her small chest like a king,
she coldly thrust her chin upwards.
Even at a time like this, she was the king of the carnivores, the atrocious
wild tiger.
With a small, temptingly beautiful face and a delicate body that was so
small she didn't seem like a second-year high schooler, she was wearing
a flower-patterned one-piece dress that was puffed up with lace and frills,
over which her light chestnut brown hair spilled gently down her back.
Every aspect of Taiga's being looked so delicate that it was almost too
much; her loveliness that resembled a French doll had the elegance of arose bud.
It was unfortunate, but that rose bud was concealing a lethal
dose of poison. No, not concealing, but scattering into all
directions.
So, this cruel, brutal, and ferocious girl was called the Palmtop Tiger.
After a bunch of stuff happened, the one who had by some miracle been
living peacefully with that Palmtop Tiger would be Ryūji, however...
"Haa..."
Stooping down, he rubbed his eyes with both hands. Things had taken a
serious turn for the worse.
Ryūji, who normally was calm, was horribly tense right now. After rushing
to the hospital in the middle of the night, he could do nothing as he stood
around, only able to watch the closed door to the examination room.
Keeping them waiting in the dark hallway, the doctor hadn't shown up yet.
While not being informed of what sort of treatment was being carried out
inside the examination room or how serious the situation was, nor really,
anything at all, they waited as time passed. In the still atmosphere that
was only disturbed by the two of them breathing, the anxiety filling Ryūji's
gut continued to get worse.
"...I...I wonder what's going on..."
''who knows but i think anything might happen but maybe things might not be so bad at the very least i think they might not be bad for if they are well this would not be good in any sort of way if i were to be honest about this so maybe i might be wrong about what might or could happen at the very least i might think so instead of trying to actually find out and worry when it is not needed .''
Naruto replied now being some what puzzelled by what could happen in the room were Inko had been admited as the trio
did not knew what was going on at the moment now even the duo who were quaraling were glancing at him being worried
not wanting for something bad to happen towards Inko just because of the two of them fighting for no reason as the
entier thing was just silly on their part making all this happening when it should not be in any sort of way or at all .
Even Taiga's voice that finally broke the silence quickly fell silent again.
Making no move to leave despite her displeasure, maybe Taiga felt some
of the same anxiety that Ryūji did. Perhaps contrary to her saying "It's all
your fault" earlier, she might have felt that she was partly responsible.
I wonder what's going on. Seriously.
If worse comes to worst ... No. He didn't even want to think about it. He
subconsciously closed his eyes, and started shaking his head, as if trying
to chase out the worst scenarios from his thoughts when,
"Takasu-san, please come in."
The door to the examination room opened up, and the beckoning voice
made him look up hurriedly.
now as this was happening also Naruto and Taiga were wandering what was going on bought not really feeling well as
anxiety were flowing through them as they were hoping that nothing bad was going to happen or more like something that
could actually be worst can be said even if one of the duo was ready for something like this his expresion shifting in to
an understanding one even if he was worried about what could happen and be said by the doctor who had taken a look
at Inko being ready for the eventual sad news if they were to happen for this was something that he was used to there not
being a thing that he could do if the worst were to come even if he might not wish for this at the very least despite being
worried for his friend he was going to offer his suport if something were to happen that could be very bad and not
really a good thing that could be walked through in a easier way since he was familiar with such situation but not knowing
what was happening him along with his friends went inside hoping that things would not be as bad as the trio were
thinking at the moment and that all would be fine instead of the worst being something that could happen when there was no
reason in the first place this not being something that they wished to actually see at the moment or tried to be dealing
with right now as it was enough stress for the moment there being no reason to have trying dealing with more stress and
unease than what was necesary or needed for their night at the very moment being fine with things ending some what in a
more better note than having to expect the worst that could be bad and not trully needed if it were to happen hoping to avoid
this if it was posible instead of having to simply not accept the situation that could end being for the worst at the very
moment this being what was bothering the group instead of anything else .
"D-Doctor! How is he, what's his condition?!"
"At any rate, come in."
Stepping quickly into the examination room as he was told, he was blinded
for a moment by the strong lights. When his vision that had been blurred
white by the brightness could finally distinguish color again, he saw the
figure of his feeble family member lying in front of him.
"N...No way...!"
as the words were let out from Ryuuji who was simply standing still looking at an almost dead looking Inko he froze
looking like he had no ounce of warmth that had been present as this had left him at the moment seeing this Naruto was
surprised in a very great and disturbed way as he winced for he saw that poor Inko was in fact looking very creepily dead if
he was not all ready now his expresion simply shifting in to a very understanding one as he had a sad gaze that went
towards the poor parrot but he was also strong not wanting to simply crumble at the moment trying to take this in a more
better way than Ryuuji who looked like he was paler than he usually looked now being very worried if not scared that his
small friend who was now passed out had actually died for real instead of her trying to actually play a cruel morbide kind
of joke on the poor guy who simply did not knew how to take this for it was to hard to try accepting what he was seeing
even if he was familiar with how Inko was looking when she was sleeping that being very disturbing and creepy .
even Taiga at the moment when she saw Inko gasped being very shocked despite being creeped out some what while
looking at Inko now feeling a bit ashamed for what had happen glancing towards Ryuuji who felt like he could crumble
at any given moment if not second while they were looking at Inko not blaming his way of behavior since she realised that
she had some what accidently had caused this even if she did not meant to try taking things this far and end up nearly killing
Inko because of a silly misunderstanding this not being right in any sort of way if she were to be honest for she realised that
Inko was innocent in what had happen betwin herself and Ryuuji so she did not had to end up being dead or looking like
she was dead because of the two of them who were acting silly for no good reason .
Laying a hand on the trembling Ryūji, the doctor pointed at the figure lying
down peacefully.
"...It's making quite an ugly face, don't you think?"
He poked at the darkened beak with his fingertip.
The tongue that stuck out was a hideous gray tinted with blue that was
unbecoming for a parakeet.
"It's still alive."
There was a moment of silence between the two.
"...E, eh?!"
''hm are you sure Taiga ? well if you are then this could mean that Inko is trying to play a prank on us wow what a naughty
parrot don't you think so i mean trying to pull a prank like this on us trying to scare us thinking she is dead i guess she
might need to be tought a bit of a lesson don't you think so ? Taiga cause i sure do think she needs something like this but
what can be a good punishmeant for Inko who decided to scare us like this oh i know how about we might decided to i
don't know prepare a very nice good meal with her as the main course i m very sure if not i very much bet that Inko
would so love being i don't know being placed in a frying pan of course after being taken apart that is then placed in the
oven or maybe a pot of soupe how dose this sound to you Taiga i never tried parrot soupe before so it could be some
what good or worst but if not then how about fried parrot made on the oven with seasoning on the side along with a
nice looking salad that would go nicely wouldn't you think so ?''
Naruto said as hearing the words he was looking at his neighborn and friend not really seeing how Inko was alive
even if this was some what making Ryuuji feel like his friend might be alive this of course chainged when Naruto began to
shift his expresions now simply going for a not so very nice prank looking creepy and scary in a way that made Ryuuji be
shocked as he did not belived that his friend wanted to cook his best friend wanting to do something and save Inko from
his friend that was looking like a creepy person wanting to eat her for no reason as she did nothing glancing towards Taiga
did nothing since she too was showing a grin and expresion that was malevelent acting like she had just came from the
depths of the very dark corners from the underworld at the moment while she nod vigourously agreeing creepily with
Naruto as the two acted like wierd creepy duo that were up to no good scarying Ryuuji and the poor vet that could not belive
what was happening at the moment though the most scared out of this was actually Inko who much to the shock of the
group she showed signes that she was in fact alive but was scard out of her mind as she did not wished to be turned in to
food so because of fear she just simply passed out shocking and making Ryuuji start to fret and panick over his friend
wandering if she might be alive or dead after what had just happen .
''uh did you had to do something like that and try to be this scary for almost no reason ?''
''what ? it's not our fault that this is happening and Inko decided to play a prank on us at the moment even if she is not dead isn't that right or do you want to be taking a nice hot bath in a pot that will be placed over the stove and then have carrots and other vegies placed around cause i doubt that would be fun or good for you isn't that right Inko ?''
''whiskers ! please we would most likely and probably lose good seasonings and ingreediants if we try to do something like that and besides why should we cook that ugly burdy if she wants to play the part of being dead then why not try to put her out of her misery all ready isn't that right you flugy bird ?''
the duo said not really seeing the problem that they were trying to make as they talked with the man who was not geting
the duo as he stared at the two while they were talking acting like this was some what funny to them scarying Ryuuji who
wanted to stop the duo from trying to actually kill his parrot for no good reason this not being funny in any sort of way since
he wanted his friend to live instead of trying to die for no good reason as this was not going to happen but the duo sure tried
to act like it should happen for no good reason this not being funny as he wished the two would try to stop before trying to
take his friend away as she simply hearing the words that were scary reacted being afraid of the duo thinking that they
would try to finish her off for good wanting to live instead of having to die for no good reason all because she had decided
to try playing a prank on the trio so she could try stoping what had happen at the house of her familly since Taiga was
scarying her as she acted gloomy angry and creepy taking her annoynace on her besides Ryuuji this not being good in any sort of way .
Timidly and with disbelief, Ryūji slowly approached the Takasu residence's
most important pet Inko-chan. Inko-chan had been laid down on the table
face up, his twig-like legs were entangled sloppily, and he was completely
out of it. His mouth, as previously described, probably warranted a mosaic
as it hung open, and both of his opened eyes were completely white. His
wings had been somewhat ruffled and, because it was partially open,
some unknown juice was oozing out from the tip of his beak. And even
though he had been shedding feathers like crazy when they had brought
him in, his feathers were still thick, although the odd patch here and there
gave him an ugly spotted pattern .
"In...Inko-chan...? It's me. Can you hear me?"
"..."
"Inko-chan! If you're alive, please say something! Answer me, please!"
"..."
''please like she would respond when she is acting you should just try to let it go Ryuuji since she is fine as she is acting that she is faking for Taiga had said so and i do tend to agree with her words since she had felt that she is alive and she showed this before faking being passed out if nothing else .''
Inko-chan, who only looked like a grotesque corpse, was nevertheless
rolling around strangely and not replying. The tension in the air seemed to
indicate it might be rigor mortis.
"Doctor! He's not responding!"
"...parakeets don't really respond all that much, usually."
"Our Inko-chan does though!"
When Ryūji desperately looked to him with dangerous-looking eyes, the
veterinarian silently averted his gaze. He then took three big steps back,
to distance himself... Why is he like this? Moreover, he had actually gone
and called his house pet ugly.
Just as the usually gentle Ryūji was about to lose it,
"Wait a minute, move aside."
Pushing aside Ryūji's shoulder, Taiga briskly stepped up to the medical
treatment table.
"If there's no problem with his body then...in other words, it was a
feigned sickness?"
Leaning over the sleeping Inko-chan and looking down at his
grotesqueness, Taiga silently looked for confirmation. He
couldn't see her
face as it was hidden by her drooping hair, but,
"T-Taiga? Wait a minute. What are you trying to do?"
"A feigned illness. It's a feigned illness. Making us worry like this, making
us spend two-thousand yen on a taxi, and we find out he's faking it...how
funny. Hey, Ryūji...It's funny, isn't it?"
Except there wasn't a shred of joviality on her face.
"Fuh...If you plan on insisting that you're sick, why don't you just act the
part properly? Eh? You ugly bird."
Just then Ryūji saw it.
Inko-chan, who had definitely been motionless before, suddenly batted an
eyelid, seemingly out of fear...Taiga should also have seen it.
"...Birds, do they have spines?"
It seemed Inko-chan planned to play dead till the end. As her overly
ominous words dissipated,
"Well, even if I say there's no physical problem, it's not necessarily a
feigned illness. It could be a problem of the mental nature."
"It came from the top. Or else it came from the bottom."
Taking to heart the veterinarian's words, it meant that this had been
continuing for a while. Stopping, Ryūji's eyes saw drops of water,
perspiring faintly from Inko-chan's beak.
This bird species actually perspired.
"Inko-chan! Open your eyes right now!"
"Ryūji back off! It's because you're always spoiling this little parrot's
willpower, that he's like this."
The owner's frantic voice cut through Taiga's hands vainly trying to stop
the extreme noise, when suddenly,
"I caaan flyyy!"
"Ah, it flew."
...That said, 'jumped' was more like it. Anyway, it was a mystery of life.
Expecting Inko-chan's death, the small voice was startling.
PAAN! Inko
had also jumped up quite high. Oh! The owner, upon seeing the opened
eyes, witnessed the energy that almost hit the ceiling,
"Yaaay! I-Inko-chaaan!"
Inko came clumsily crashing back to the sick bed.
"Oh no!"
Hastily, the veterinarian rushed over, almost squishing Inko-chan, and
picked him up to check him for any injuries.
"Stupid...!"
He again saw the immature face turn his away. Ryūji's gaze reached a
blaming mood; the veterinarian's face quickly returned back to Inko-chan's
body to check him over to make sure nothing was wrong.
"It's alright, there doesn't appear to be any special injury...
However... he
does seem to have an ugly form, this Inko... Just where did you buy him?
Such a thing was sold? ... Inko, just what is he?"
When he had finally finished,
"Wait! Is it alright if I take a picture? My daughter at home would love it
very much... This incident... She's still six years old so she's gathering up
grotesque images."
"...Uhh, wouldn't it be dangerous?"
The dear pet was snatched away from the veterinarian's hands; Ryūji
softly embraced Inko to his chest. Certainly he was pretty homely. Even
so, it wasn't very nice to talk about him that way. But treating him as a
gross image was too much. He wasn't going to bring Inko-chan back to
this veterinarian again.
The Advanced Emergency Center was part of the university's hospital.
Actually, it was next to it.
Ryūji had frantically searched the yellow-pages, made a great deal of
phone calls, and finally found a place with nightly medical treatment, which
happened to be one of the very few large-scale animal hospitals.
"Well, anyway... It's good that it's not a bad illness. ... Hey, Inko-chan."
Ryūji was, similar to how one would treat a "trophy", softly stroking the top
of Inko-chan's head. It didn't seem possible to stomach holding the ugly
bird so close. But he was precious.
"Nko-cha nko-cha nko-cha nko...n...u...nko"
"Mm, mm, that's right."
He whispered into Inko-chan's ear, treating him like a spoiled child.
Without realizing it, his lips were touching the side of Inko-chan's head,
cooing.
"That was close. In the end you weren't hurt from when Taiga almost killed
you. ...Geez, she really likes to yell out in anger."
"Whaaat?"
She hadn't heard clearly because the words to the bird were said in a
small voice.
"...You heard?"
"I heard. Whose outburst of anger?"
The insane sense of hearing Taiga possessed was very irritating! She
then struck the examining table with her fist,
"...Wh-Wh-Wh, Wha, What's with this."
With her aberrant blunder of clumsiness, as usual, the force of the strike
turned over the tray of medical examination utensils, causing any and
everything to spread out over the sick bed.
"Aah, aah! I just disinfected those... You three, just how long are you going
to stand there now that Inko doesn't have an illness? You're starting to
really stress me out."
Taiga started to collect and organize the spilled utensils. The appearance
of the tired veterinarian on duty was comparable with Ryūji and Taiga's
own countenances.
"You guys must quarrel like this a lot, huh? Pets are surprisingly receptive,
so that's why when the owners become cranky, the pet will pick up on it
and suffer as well."
From beside Ryūji, who acknowledged those words and was turning
himself around,
"What do you mean, quarreling?"
With a "Hah!" Taiga shrugged her shoulders, spread both her hands out
like a foreigner, and laughed from the tip of her nose at the veterinarian's
words.
"It's just that this perverted dog's brain is controlled by his body's lower
half, so he goes around making trouble based on his impossible
delusions, thus needing 'correction' on what is okay to think about. Most
people would pretend to not know, but I myself cannot stand someone
constantly making an idiot of themselves. Hohoho."
Being insulted to that extent, Ryūji was unable to remain silent.
"...Huh? Don't say whatever suits you. Geez, it's because of your
screaming and yelling that this weak guy is unable to take it."
But, Ryūji's actions were exactly what people would call "impulsive", or
maybe "foolhardy". Although to put it more bluntly, perhaps he had "said
too much".
"Ehhh, so you aren't listening to my kind 'correction' at all! Ohhh... in that
case, why don't we say everything clearly? Explain why you think I am
venting my anger on Inko! Just what am I so angry with? I have no idea at
all! If it's convenient, would you mind telling me!?"
The Palmtop Tiger's advancing inner eyes, which held a strong killing
intent, continued to creep forward bit by bit. Ryūji fearfully held his breath,
but only for a moment; if he was going to die anyway, he might as well let
it all out.
"You too, if you have something to say, then say it! To have that kind of
bad expression is irritating and really odious!"
There was a moment of silence.
Within the stillness, Taiga slowly lifted her right hand to her right ear,
leaned her body in towards Ryūji's mouth, tilted her chin and placed her
left hand on her waist.
"~Well?"
The response was a single word.
I couldn't hear, I didn't understand, and moreover I have no interest in
anything you want to say... In this wide, wide world, who else could be so
incredible as to be able to express so many thoughts with just a tilt of the
chin?
"L-look here..."
Unable to respond properly, Ryūji slumped his shoulders. Even in this
situation, Taiga wouldn't let him off easy, and with a snort Taiga lifted her
jaw, completely ignoring the thirty centimeter height difference as she
looked down on Ryūji. She then opened her mouth with the air of a king,
"You know Ryūji, I'll take this chance to tell you clearly, I'm just clearly
stating the circumstances but, I don't have the time to keep company with
an idling dog like you. From now on, when you're going to open your
mouth to me, think carefully about these three things. One, is it necessary
information? Two, is it good news? Three, is it something worth hearing?
...do you understand?"
"U—understand stupid! What's with that wild idea!? Speaking of your cruel
words, it's a fact that you're the one who pouts and blows up!"
"...Is that so."
Taiga's voice hid her feelings. The two pupils that were suspended in the
corner of her eyes were giving off a bizarre glare, and having lost all
circular reason, the pupils narrowed swiftly. Dangerous, with the typical
instinct of fear, Ryūji's stomach twisted in knots. To the spirits of small,
righteous men and women, the eyes of Taiga could send them on to
Ascension. However, the dreadful thing was that her voice remained as
calm as a ripple on a pond.
"You've said way too much. You've done nothing but make me upset."
And the like.
Like a dead person coming forth from the house's door
striking their fairy's
hands, Taiga's hands were dancing about. 'Gakki!' With unbelievable
force, Ryūji's lower lip gripped a finger.
"N, nnngu."
"But you know, the reason why I don't see this as funny... There's just one.
You always have stupid ideas. I am sick of you constantly making these
indecipherable reckless remarks."
"Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! GET OFF!"
"JUST GET OFF!"
Identifying with Ryūji, who was being swung all about while held by his
lower lip, Inko-chan began to shed feathers again. Speaking with a tired
moan, the veterinarian told them both,
"Just go home".