Scars

[EvilAngel]

Flashing and fading lights. The echoing voices of distant people. That’s all she was experiencing. It was a strange experience. Almost like waking up from a vague dream. The sound was fuzzy and the lights were all dim. And for some reason her neck was extremely uncomfortable. Soon they all died out, and I was left in darkness. This was even worse.

I tried calling out, but my voice would not sound out, no matter how hard I shouted. I tried moving, escaping from where ever I had fallen. It was so dark, I couldn’t even tell if I was moving. Was the darkness robbing out my sense of touch? Sound too? I let go of my struggling. To my horror I feel the plunge. That awful feeling of falling was never a favourite. I couldn’t see anything. How was I falling when I wasn’t before? Where am I falling to??

It was then I could see it. Feel it. Light. Warmth. As I fall head first, down I am greeted with more and more. Just as it becomes overwhelming bright I shield my eyes.

As I pry them open, I no longer find myself in the darkness. It was a room. I squint and even use an arm to protect my eyes from the light. It’s so bright

“Wh-where am I?” I manage to stammer out, though barely louder than a whisper.

[blaxican]

"You're in Heaven, my dear. Jesus loves you!"

Helios leaned against the wall that was at the head of the girl's bed, and watched her. He'd been watching her for awhile, since she'd arrived. Before that even. The boy had the fortune to be in Soul Society when she was brought back, and he also had the fortune to hear through word of mouth what had happened. From there he managed to drop everything and intercept the group of medics carrying her to the hospital, and thus here he was. Though concerned for his team mate, Helios made an effort to keep a somewhat lopsided smirk on his face, and when she finally awoke, it broadened.

"Kidding. You're in the Hospital, 'cause YOU GOT FUCKIN' STOMPED, LITTLE GIRL!"

He sighed, and uttered a tsk tsk noise.

"Didn't I always tell you, that a Woman belongs in the kitchen, not on the battlefield?"

[EvilAngel]

“Heav- whaa?” I continued to whisper. I rubbed my closed eyes, my brow turning into a soft frown. My voice felt like someone had dropped splintered wood down there. It was rough as coarse. As an effect my voice came out much different that my normal voice. It was as rough as my throat felt. It sounded strained, deeper and in a sense darker too. I gulped. Struggling to sit up as I brought up my hand to my neck. After feeling around I could feel my skin rough and bumpy across the front of my throat.

“What happened?” I asked, forcing my voice louder. Doing so caused the strange new sound that was my voice to become more apparent. It was beyond strange to hear that sound as my own voice. She noticed in its new loudness there was a tiny hint of almost a gurgling. I cleared my throat, and tried shifting around with my spiritual energy. I coughed, relieved to hear my voice return to normal.

I looked up, embracing the at first blinding like to see him. I paused, just looking at him with a look of mild confusion.

[blaxican]

Helios leaned forward and twisted a flickering look of concern on his face into a frown.

"Geeze, you musta got hit harder than I thought... or, apparently, you thought." He paused for a few heartbeats. "Maybe you shouldn't talk so much? Your voice don't sound too hot." He looked at her neck, it was scarred, by the looks of it almost torn completely. She'd gotten pretty lucky, if the cut had been just an inch deeper...

That close to being gone. What kind of obstacle would you be then?

"Yeah, someone tagged you in the throat, that's why you sound like a cat that just got run over. It ain't that bad though you'll live, you know?"

He paused to look at the clock on the wall, then reverted his attention back to her, then he walked over to the sole chair in the room and sat down.

[EvilAngel]

I scowled at his remark.

“Still doing better than you, who looks like he’s wearing the cat that got ran over as a wig” I snapped with in air of humour into it. I folded my arms and looked away. My mind on my voice.

“Atleast I can control it.” I thought relieved at that “Just a bit of control down there and it sounds just like normal…. Still” my hand returned to my neck. The idea of being scarred wasn’t fun. I turned back to look at him, my hands moving to hold each other in front of me.

“So it was that close, huh?” I said. He knew what I meant. We only ever would visit one another in the hospital if it was.

[blaxican]

Helios grinned broadly at her initial statement. That was the Akimoto Ayumu he knew.

"So it was that close, huh?”

Helios shrugged and folded his legs, trying to get comfortable. Why were hospital chairs always so damn uncomfortable? It was almost as if it was deliberate, like the pain in your ass and lower back reminded you that you're not in a happy place.

"Well... I was exaggerating. It's really not all that bad, you know? Though, considering it's you, I'm surprised you're not crying or something right now... you've always been a little too sensitive for this gig, you know? " He shifted in the chair some more, trying to wiggle his way toward that sweet spot that all chairs, even the shitty ones, have.

"But uh, yeah. Someone did a number on you. What happened? "

[EvilAngel]

I continued to give him an unimpressed look.

“Well, at least I don’t talk about ever little nick I get for two weeks and act like I nearly had an arm severed off. Unlike…. Umm… oh yeah, you” I retorted. The squeaking of his contantly shuffling around in his chair caused me to just look at him, eyes half open, looking at him with the “… what are you doing?” look.

“You know if you dropped a few pounds maybe it wouldn’t be such a tight fit” I offered with a hand gesture. I looked back forward and leaned back against the head of the bed.

“You know what” I began “I don’t even know” I finished with a lazy tone to mask my confusion and frustration “One moment I had her, the next…. I’m light headed and my body stops working” she said, focusing on the bumps on the bed that were her feet.

I swallowed again, and couldn’t help but note the funny feeling. It was unlike anything I have experienced, it just feels like there’s a bunch of tiny knots all in my throat. Like littler splinters. It was anything but comfortable.

[blaxican]

Taken out so fast she couldn't even understand what happened. Helios wandered what his chances were against such a creature. Akimoto wasn't necessarily on his level, at least in his mind. But he admitted that she was at least close. How long would he have lasted if put in a similar situation? For now he would push it to the back of his mind. There was no point in worrying about the future, each day brings its own anxieties.

"That comment about my weight wasn't necessary", he said stingily. "Especially come from you, chubby. I've kicked the asses of Gillian that are smaller than you!" He continued to shift relentlessly in his chair, though at this point part of it was intentional, as it clearly bothered her.

"And another thing, once you're done here we gotta go find the guy who did this to you and make 'em apologize, you know? Since, obviously, you're not capable of doing it yourself. "

[EvilAngel]

I raised an eye brow. I leant over and patted him roughly on the head

“I think you’re confused, sweetie” I said sickly sweetly “I think you mean; you’ve had your ass kicked by hollow smaller than me.” I leant back and away from him. I looked at the hand that patted him and wiped it on the sheets, before smirking at him.

My smile faded as he spoke about the hollow. I shook my head closing my eyes.

“Tracking down one mindless beast in the sea of the infinite” I said dully. “I don’t think so. Let’s be realistic.” I said, looking at him sternly. I don’t need protecting I told him through my eyes.

“If an opportunity comes to take revenge I will have it. But I will not waste my time seeking it out.” I finished definitely.

[blaxican]

Helios rolled his eyes. She was getting back to her old self quick enough.

If you say so Ben Stein... in any case it was a joke." Helios yawned and stood up to his full height.

"I'm going to go get a drink. You want anything? Some ice cream for the throat or something?"

[EvilAngel]

I didn’t respond to his reaction. Joke. I kind of doubted it, but either way It had one response. And I had given it. He stood stretching and yawning as though he’d been there hours. Typical Helios.

“Just water please” I said “Got to watch the weight you know” I added with a tease and grin.

[blaxican]

He nodded.

"Water it is the." And without another word he left, turning a tight right and walking briskly down the hallway toward the cafeteria. As he moved he walked past Haki, as well as several of the other members of the squad who were waiting outside. As he left one of them would go into the now nearly vacant room, perhaps to give their own regards. He moved past them all silently, prompting Haki to follow him.

"So what's up?" the younger boy said. Helios glanced at him as they walked.

"She's fine."

"Oh? Nothing extensive then."

"No, she'll be fine."

"Hm. Is that..., relief, I hear in your voice?"

"Absolutely. It's stuffy as hell in there."

"That's not what I meant."

"The chair's really uncomfortable too."

"Don't be an ass."

"Stupid ass is... stupid... does... no. That's not. Right... something like that."

"Whatever, where are we going?"

"Thirsty."

"Alright."

[EvilAngel]

I sighed as he left the room. He was a troublesome person. I closed my eyes and tried to relax, wasn’t that what the medics would always tell you to do?

He’d only be gone a few seconds when someone entered. I sighed, wondering if he’d come back already. It would be just typical if he’d forgotten what I had asked for. I peeked an eye open to see a 4th division Shinigami

“Oh thank god” I murmured. He smiled at me.

“Expecting someone else?” he said with a smile as he fumbled around.

“Yes… Well no, not yet, hopefully”

“Ahh” he nodded knowingly. “Well I’m just here to check up on you. You are go be fine now, that damaged flesh will heal up without a mark before we’re done with you” he said in a friendly manner

“Without any marks?” I asked, rather impressed and surprised

“Yep that’s right. No scars” he nodded

“No visible ones” I immediately retorted, though at a volume so low I might as well of thought it.

“Sorry?” he replied

“Oh… nothing…. Hey, um, thanks” I said shyly. Unsure of what to tell the people who had just saved my life.

“Hey, it’s fine, I’m just relieved we could save you. When you came to us you were in really bad shape. I kind of…. Well I doubted you were going to make it.” He said sadly “But you’re a fighter alright!” he said picking up. I mustered a smile at him

“Yeah…. I’m a fighter alright, despite my looks” I joked. He chuckled

“Well I have other people to tend to. Keep resting and you’ll be right as rain in no time” he said, before slipping out. The room was quiet once more.

“Right as rain?” I questioned aloud “How is rain right?”

[blaxican]

"So, what's the scoop man?" The duo stopped upon the reaching the entrance to the cafeteria.

"Scoop on what?"

"Come on, don't play dumb. You're one of the highest ranking members of the squad and our investigator... don't act like you don't know everything about everything, you know?" Helios said, scanning the contents of the large room. Upon seeing the object of his desire, a stand-up freezer full of chilled water bottles, he made a Bee-line for it, Haki following close behind. "What's the scoop on the fight? She fought a Hollow right?"

"Uh- yeah. From what I heard it was a Hollow."

Helios grabbed a bottle off of the rack filled with identical bottles, and closed the freezer's door behind as he began to walk toward the line in front of the cashier, grabbing a styrofoam cup as he went.

"So what type? Special powers and stuff you know?" He reached the line, and they waited.

"Well, I heard from a couple nurses that her spirit energy was pretty low, almost lethally. No confirmed reports or anything, but the consensus is that it's possible that the Hollow has some kind of spiritual power draining ability, like a parasite or something."

Helios finally reached the cashier and, upon seeing her, flashed his brightest grin. "You are by far the prettiest woman I have ever seen in my life." It wasn't true, of course, and the woman had probably heard it a thousand times before, but regardless she blushed and thanked him, he smiled, and they went about their way.

"So when are we gonna go get this guy?" Helios asked. They exited the cafeteria and began their walk back to their comrades room.

"Who? The Hollow? You're talking about a needle in a hay stack man. Chances of you or I or her running into him again is slim to none."

"That's something that's always kind of bothered me. There's so many Hollows down there, you'd think that by now we wouldn't be assigned to be down there or be on patrol... why not just live in the human world?"

Haki snorted. "Why would you want to live in that pig pen? Humans are disgusting creatures, and violent too. They're like animals. Why would you want to live in a cage with disgusting animals."

"You don't speak very highly of the people you're supposed to be protecting."

"Yeah. Well, I just work here. It's about duty. I wouldn't contaminate my lungs breathing the same air as those savages otherwise."

They'd reached the hallway that her room was on once again. "See ya Hach'." Helios said, and walked briskly down the hall, clutching the water bottle and the cup in his hands. As he neared the door a doctor walked out. Another member of the squad got up from the bench lining the wall with the intent to go into the room, bu Helios bumped him out of the way and slid through the automatically closing door just before it closed.

"Miss me? Got your water," the Boy said, and screwed off the cap of the bottle before pouring some of its contents into the cup. "It's still pretty cold so I dunno how it's going to affect your throat..." he finished pouring the water, then screwed the cap back on the bottle and put it on the floor. He lowered the cup so that it was level with her and held it out.

"You want me to spoon feed you like a baby, or can you handle the immense responsibility that is drinking from a cup of water?"

[EvilAngel]

I had been lying back eyes closed when he re-entered. I looked at him with a bore and unimpressed look, before snatching the water off his hands consequently spilling some on the sheets.

There was a silence

“Not a word” I said, as I rose the cup to my lips and took a sip. The cold water both a shocked yet refreshing. I coughed, leaning up, I managed to control it before relaxing again.

[blaxican]

Helios looked at the dark spot of spilled water and then at the girl, then back again. If there was ever a time to make a snarky comment, it would have been then. But there was a look in her eye that convinced him otherwise, so Helios sufficed to shrug and turn away, heading back to the uncomfortable chair. He didn't allow himself to snicker until his back was to her.

He sat down in the chair and resumed his quest to find it's comfort spot.

"I kind of wish I'd brought a book or something," he said absent mindfully. "You know?"

[EvilAngel]

“A book? What for? You can’t read” I said, eyes closed, taking the occasional sip from my cup. I knew what kind of reaction I’d get. But I didn’t mind. I enjoyed making tongue-in-cheek comments about him. He was always fun to knock down a peg or ten.

“Besides. If you’re here to visit me you’re not supposed to be focusing on something else…” I pointed out. Clearly he didn’t know what he was even doing here.