Kohl stopped by the hospital to see Chason, walking down the busy corridor to his room. He turned the corner and ran into one of the nurses. Her notes and things went everywhere, and Kohl found himself stooping down and helping her while apologizing to her for his clumsiness. He then looked up and saw himself staring at Ai Tashikawa. They stared at each other for a minute, then simultaneously said, “Oh my gosh! What are you doing here?”
Ai laughed and said, “Well, I work here if you hadn’t noticed.”
Kohl blushed, replying softly, “I’m here to visit a mutual friend.”
“You mean Chason?”
“You know?”
“I’m one of the nurses in charge of his care.”
“How is he?”
Ai’s face darkened.
“He’s still in a coma. I don’t know what to do.”
“ I actually came down here to see if I could do something.”
“What with your psychic abilities?”
Kohl winced.
“Don’t say that out loud!”
Ai put her hand over her mouth.
“I’m so sorry, Kohl. I don’t think anyone heard.”
“You can’t be too careful in the shinobi world.”
“But we aren’t in…”
Kohl cut her off.
“You may not be, but I’m always in the shinobi world. Have you already forgotten?”
“I’m sorry, I think I have. I’ll let you see Chason now.”
Kohl started to say something, but the words wouldn’t come so he was silent as he followed Ai into Chason’s room. He looked at Chason in his body cast, swallowing the lump that formed in his throat, walked over, and sat next to Chason’s bed. He nodded to Ai, and she closed and locked the door. He then bent over Chason, placing his hand over the young man’s eyes, and closed his eyes in concentration. Almost instantly, he saw Chason’s consciousness, a picture of a boy running in shadow from an unknown horror. Suddenly, Kohl felt another presence and turned to see Tsuyoshi Kurushime standing before him, his pale face eerie and emotionless. Tsuyoshi moved his arms as if he was pushing and Kohl was violently forced out of Chason’s consciousness. His back straightened as he jolted out of his trance, and he cried out as pain lanced through his temples. Ai rushed over.
“What is it?”
“I know why Chason isn’t waking up.”
“Why?”
“Tsuyoshi is holding his consciousness captive.”
“Tsuyoshi.” She breathed his name like a curse. “He’s working for my father!”
“I had a feeling he was.” He then turned his attention back to Chason. “Well, now that we know what the problem is, it’s time for some invasive psychic surgery.”
This time Kohl steeled his mind, sharpening and honing it like a scalpel until its keen edge was razor sharp. He then forced his way into Chason’s mind, slashing through Tsuyoshi’s barrier and breaking through with his sword bared. Tsuyoshi met him right away, sparks flashing from their blades making contact. Out of the corner of his eye, Kohl saw Chason tied up, gagged and unconscious in a corner. He fought to get to him, but Tsuyoshi barred his way, striking viciously over and over again. Their eyes met and Kohl shouted, “Release him!” And struck Tsuyoshi down with one blow. Tsuyoshi’s shade wavered for a moment, then disappeared as Kohl made his way to Chason’s side. He cut his bonds and ungagged him, softly bringing him to wakefulness. Chason’s eyes flickered open and he looked at Kohl. Smiling, Kohl stood up and held his hand out to Chason.
“It’s time to wake up, Chason. You’ve been asleep for too long.”
Chason then smiled and took Kohl’s hand.
Tsuyoshi fell back and cried out, writhing in agony on the floor for a few minutes before going still. Hikaro watched this,
a cat’s eyes do when he is amused. He then walked over to Tsuyoshi and tapped him in the ribs with his boot. Tsuyoshi flinched and sat up with a grunt. Hikaro stared at Tsuyoshi, looking so much like a perturbed cat one could almost see his tail twitching.
“Well?”
“Chason has been freed from his bondage.”
Hikaro grabbed Tsuyoshi by the front of his shirt and slammed him against the wall.
“Why is that, eh? Why? It is because you didn’t listen to me! Because you underestimated Kohl AGAIN!” He snarled before throwing his second-in-command to the ground.
Tsuyoshi hit the ground hard, grunting and lying still. Hikaro snarled and walked over to Amaya. He stopped next to her and keeping his eyes straight ahead, spoke to her.
“Take him away and make sure he knows that I do not tolerate failure! I want my brother to pay for his crimes! Am I clear, Suzume?”
She stared ahead.
“Crystal, sir.”
She then moved over to Tsuyoshi and carried him out, supporting him with her arm about his waist. Hikaro watched them leave and called out, “Tashikawa!”
Takeru came to attention in front of Hikaro.
“Yes, sir!”
Hikaro smirked.
“You never cease to amuse me, Tashikawa. You know what to do.”
Takeru smirked.
“Yes, sir.”
He then disappeared into the shadows, leaving Hikaro alone in the great hall of the palace ruins.
Amaya bent over Tsuyoshi, applying a cold cloth to his burning forehead. She brushed his hair back and sighed.
“I wish you wouldn’t take so many risks.”
“I have to obey Hikaro.” He said, closing his eyes tighter against the pain. He then cried out, straightening then falling back. He then gasped out, “Besides it’s not like it matters anyway. If it will rid me of those Takai’s, then I will give my life in payment. No one will miss me.”
Amaya looked over.
“No one?” She said, giving Tsuyoshi some cold meds and water.
Tsuyoshi took them and washed them down with the water, choking and spluttering as another coughing fit errupted. Amaya wiped his face and helped him lay back. She let her lips brush Tsuyoshi’s cheek, feeling the heat as he blushed and hearing his breath catch. She looked in his eyes and said, “You are not alone, and there are still those who will miss you. Just try to remember me when your thirst for revenge is quenched, and remember that I did not choose to be here for myself.”
Tsuyoshi stared back, emotion showing plainly on his face. Only Amaya could make him show it, and it was only she who held his heart close enough to cause him to let his guard down. He swallowed and closed his eyes. His eyes then snapped open as he felt Amaya’s lips pressed against his own; he blushed furiously, tensed, then melted into it, returning Amaya’s love with his own. Sleep then took him into its familiar embrace, and Amaya pulled away slowly and walked out. She looked back at Tsuyoshi’s sleeping form and said quietly, “Someone has to save you from yourself, and if protecting you kills me then so be it, my love.”
Yoshi and Siiju burst into the hospital room the next morning to see Chason well and eating a more than hearty breakfast. Kohl looked on happily as he watched the boys talk Chason’s ear off as he ate his breakfast. Raiden, Mae, and Kai stopped by and smiled at the scene, the three boys were laughing and joking together like they hadn’t done in a while. Kohl looked back, beaming as if those boys sitting there were his own. Rai put his hand on his steadfast friend’s shoulder, and gave him a knowing look. Kohl’s smile was replaced with a solemn stare as he nodded and let Raiden in to see Chason. Kohl beckoned the twins out of the room and left Raiden alone with a now very solemn Chason.
Raiden sat in a chair next to Chason’s bed and took a deep breath.
“You know why I’m here right?”
Chason glanced down at the foot of his bed and nodded.
“You know what has to happen now that you have disobeyed my direct orders?”
“No active fieldwork until further notice, sir.”
“I didn’t want to have to do this to you, but you know what a precarious position we are in. We cannot afford to blow our cover so soon. I will keep your weapons until you have fully recovered. That should be long enough.”
There was an awkward pause in which neither of the two said anything. Raiden then reached over and hugged Chason, his breath catching in his throat as the youth hugged him back.
“I’m so glad you’re alright.”
“Me, too”
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