Thriving... (Open)

[seishounohana]

It was raining that afternoon.

The evening before had her almost killed, and she was there at the hospital for the second time this year. Her neck and wrists were burnt to a dangerous amount, and if anything... she was lucky.

Electrocution was not a funny thing.

Emily was still unconscious, monitors beeping as she thrived within the confines of the room. Why?

Did she deserve this?

...

In a way, maybe she did.

[Ryuu]

Ryuu leaned against the window, sitting slightly on the window sill, his arms folded across his chest, as he watched the rain fall outside. He had come almost immediately after he had received a call from the doctor at the hospital, who sounded relieved when Ryuu had answered his phone. He later found out it was because he had been the only one who had picked up his phone, no one else on Emily's phone had answered. He was at the hospital for the second time, but not as a patient, this time, he was here as a visitor. Although being back here brought up painful memories, this was where he had confessed to Emi his feelings, and she ended up breaking his heart, she went back to Japan without a single word or notice. He continued to stare out the window silently, before glancing over at Emily, who laid unconscious on the bed, monitors beeping, ghostly green waves the only visible sign that she was still here with Ryuu. The doctor had told Ryuu what Emily's condition was as soon as he entered the hospital.

Burns on both her neck and wrists.

She had been lucky, very lucky. But the moment she'd wake up, she'd be in pain. A lot of pain. Electrocution was nothing to laugh at. The questions that Ryuu pondered though was, who did this? Who would... No, who could electrocute Emily? And why? Those questions however, he would ask later. Standing up, Ryuu walked to Emily's bedside, and stretching his right hand out, gently brushed a stray strand of hair away from her face, trying to be as careful as he could. Moving his hand away, he immediately clenched it into a fist, as he looked down at Emily, a calm but sad look in his gray eyes. He then took a seat beside her bed, he would stay beside her, no matter how long it took, he would stay and wait until she woke up. Though when that would happen, even he didn't know. He turned his head slightly, looking behind him out the window as the rain continued to fall.

[seishounohana]

The pace of the machine's beeping jumped a bit before it stabilized, showing that Emily was awake. She groaned, fluttering her eyes open before pain shot through her entire body.

"Ah... dammit." She swore, which was something that was very rare for her. Her body had been cooked to some degree, and that was never good. She didn't even know how this happened.

All she remembered was Gabriel... his text... and then that drink... then...

... Ugh, her head. "I'm at the hospital for the third time this year... that's just great..." She sighed, placing a hand by her forehead. Yes, she talked to herself. Her eyes were quite blurry at this point, and she knew just why. Her body would recover in a week, as were most of the extent of the injuries she had gotten in the previous years since the start of her stay in PHS 259.

Hospitals, if anything, were becoming her happy place now.

Her eyes started focusing on a shadow though and she squinted to try and see who or what it was. "W-who's there...?"

Not that she was blind, but one may assume she was. Her eyes just need to heal and rest.

[Ryuu]

The sound of the rain against the glass was loud enough that Ryuu did not hear Emily groan, and since he was facing away from her, he did not see her eyes flutter open. "Ah... dammit." Now that, he heard. His head snapped forward, facing her, he could see she was in incredible pain, and let's face it, who wouldn't be right? "I'm at the hospital for the third time this year... that's just great..." Ryuu heard Emily sigh as he saw her place a hand by her forehead. Yes, he realized she didn't notice him yet, but he just kept quiet, trying not to disturb her. He looked behind him once more, out the window, his face turned away from Emily. "W-who's there...?" Ryuu slowly turned his head back to face her, as he leaned forward slightly. "It's Ryuu. The doctor asked me to come by and visit you."

Resting his elbows on her bed, his fingers interlocked in front of him, as he rested his face lightly against his hands, hiding part of his face from view. "Quite the ordeal you went through," Ryuu said quietly, his eyes calm but sad, "I thought I was going to lose you." Ryuu then closed his eyes briefly, before opening them once more. "I don't know what I'd do if that happened." Ryuu calmly gazed at Emily, as the sound of the rain pattered against the window. "You should get some rest." Ryuu then stood up, making it seem like he was leaving, but he was actually just moving to the window sill again, as he sat down on it, watching the rain fall. He wanted to ask Emily what happened, but that would come in due time. For now, he would just stay by her side, he wouldn't be leaving any time soon.

[Trizen Takano]

Directions. Trizen wasn't terrible with them, particularly in this hospital, but it seemed everytime he came here, there was always a new room. Some newly renovated something that became available and they would put his friend on another floor. He took the elevator to another part of the hospital and felt anxious about the whole thing. He didn't know what happened; he would find out soon.

DING!

The bell went as the elevator door opened and he would find himself walking to the room in which his friend stayed. Perhaps he was a bit too silent as he opened the door. Maybe he was too quiet as he walked in the first step or two. It was a subconscious trait of his being that his father.... well that was another set of something to tell. Just not now. The thought had already passed through his mind.

"I thought I was going to lose you..."

Ryuu. He was here first. But why? No, it would make sense. Emily would not have been able to use her phone, so he was the one that called. He expected everyone else but him. Did he miss something? Apparently so. The thought of it all passed through his mind, and his ears were sure to pick up what she told her. It made him slightly uncomfortable, him saying these things. But who could blame him, Trizen certainly was not going to stop whatever kind of thing was going on. Besides, why was getting so worked about it? Not that was worked up or anything.

"Hey guys!" he figured he would announce him being here incase the pair of them were saying things he wasn't meant to hear. Trizen closed the door behind him and made it look as though he had just arrived. "Man, I completely missed your call. Was it you that called, Ryuu? And how's Em doing?" She looked like she was still unconscious, or at least very tired, but if Ryuu said what he did before, it meant she was awake. He knew this, but kept it to himself. It wasn't any of his business.

[seishounohana]

"It's Ryuu. The doctor asked me to come by and visit you." Emily squinted her eyes. Her eyesight was still blurry and she could hardly make out Ryuu's silhouette. Ugh, she felt so bad right now. She felt dehydrated, and she was wondering if she had an IV on. After moving her arm a bit, she felt the needle and sighed. Yup, she was on the IV.

"I'm not gonna die that easily." She said, trying to sit up. She winced though. "Sorry I didn't recognize you at all. I honestly can't see well right now. I'm fine though." With the loss of sight, Emily's other senses seemed to become better. "Someone's coming..."

"Hey guys! Man, I completely missed your call. Was it you that called, Ryuu? And how's Em doing?"

Emily laughed. She knew that voice well. "I'm awake, Trizen. Just... can't see. Where are you?"

[Ryuu]

"I'm not gonna die that easily." "I know..." Ryuu replied, but immediately moved to Emily's bedside when he saw her try to sit up. "You shouldn't try to move," He said gently, though he did help her in sitting up by letting her lean on his arm as much as possible, giving her some support, "But I know you're strong, and you'll get through this." He looked down at her with concern as he saw her wince from the effort as she told him she didn't recognize him at all, since she couldn't see very well currently, and told him she was fine. "It's okay, you don't have to see me to know I'm here." He replied, as he sat down in the chair beside her bed. "Someone's coming..." "Hey guys! Man, I completely missed your call. Was it you that called, Ryuu? And how's Em doing?" "Hey Trizen." Ryuu replied, as he nodded at his friend, smiling slightly when he heard Emily laugh.

"I'm awake, Trizen. Just... can't see. Where are you?" "He's by the door," Ryuu answered, as he saw Trizen close the door behind him, "I didn't call you though Trizen, it was the doctor that called you." Ryuu then stood up, and walking over to the table located in front of the window, picked up the water jug, and poured a glass of water for Emily, and then walked back. "Can you lift your arm to drink?" He asked, if she couldn't, which was more than likely, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a straw he had taken from the cafeteria before coming to Emily's room, and pulled the paper covering off, and plopped the straw in the glass. "Here, I placed a straw in the glass of water." He told her as he held the glass in front of her, as he looked over at Trizen, concern clearly visible not just in his eyes, but on his face. "Emily... What happened? Who did this to you?"

[Trizen Takano]

While Ryuu was doing all he could for Emily, Trizen rolled his eyes and huffed a small sigh. It was cute.

Trizen walked around the bed while Ryuu had the straw and such; he made his way to Emily's left side and stood over her. "As much as I hate to ask the same, it would be nice to know what happened... you didn't get shot again, did you?" The boy joked. She had been here quite a bit, and with that he figured a bit of humour might have been needed. Besides, it would've take his mind off of how nice Ryuu was being. It was kind of gross actually.

((Bleh.. short post -_- ))

[seishounohana]

Emily appreciated this a bit, being taken care of like this was new. Kind of a flattering feeling that someone acts like he's caring for you. A little corny, but Emily liked that feeling. She was a particularly independent and self-sufficient woman, but of course -- people do need to be taken care of. "Thanks, but I'll be fine. I've been lying down for a while, I need to get my blood going at least."

Apparently, the doctor had called Trizen too. Probably managed to take her phone and dial a random person from the contacts list. Interestingly enough, Trizen was there almost every time she went into the hospital as a patient. Ryuu then offered her a glass of water - going as far as giving her a straw.

"I don't need water, I think." She said, "I'm in an IV right now, probably treated with dextrose with Sodium Chloride. Could you read it for me to be sure?"

She looked towards her left, where the bag of dextrose was hanging. It said almost exactly as Emily had mentioned, displaying the amount of know how she had with regards to the field of medicine. Emily knew how to take care of herself, and of others. If there came to be a time that a gang war came out, Emily would most likely become a medic or something. Sounds like an interesting sideline as a gang member, though.

"Emily... What happened? Who did this to you?"

"As much as I hate to ask the same, it would be nice to know what happened... you didn't get shot again, did you?"

Emily thought a bit. Yeah, what did happen? Her memories were incomplete and she could only do so much by connecting the dots. Thing is, there weren't enough dots to fill the spaces. The picture made no sense right now.

"I don't know. I was at this bar with Gabriel last night, he was kind of drunk and was kinda venting at me. Bartender passed me some sort of juice. I think it was spiked." She chucked, "I blacked out, I think. And If I got shot again, I swear someone may be trying to get me killed."

She just laughed. The last part was kind of a joke, though that thought passed through her mind just now. The burns on Emily's neck and arms were suspicious though, and they had the shape of hands.

Anyone who could see this may be able to fill out the blanks well, but Emily herself had no idea. "Maybe we should ask the doctor about it."

[Ryuu]

"Thanks, but I'll be fine. I've been lying down for a while, I need to get my blood going at least." "Alright..." Ryuu nodded, then looked up when Trizen came in and closed the door behind him. Ryuu then offered Emily a glass of water, as he saw from the top of his vision roll his eyes and huff, as Ryuu smirked slightly. "I don't need water, I think. I'm in an IV right now, probably treated with dextrose with Sodium Chloride. Could you read it for me to be sure?" Nodding, Ryuu placed the glass of water on her bedside table, and walked over to the right side of Emily's bed, her left, and look at the bag, which said almost exactly what Emily had said. "Yeah, it says dextrose with Sodium Chloride." Ryuu reported, turning his head to face Emily as he stood by her bed on her left side now. He then asked Emily what happened, as he heard Trizen inject as well, asking the same thing he did. "I don't know. I was at this bar with Gabriel last night, he was kind of drunk and was kinda venting at me. Bartender passed me some sort of juice. I think it was spiked. I blacked out, I think. And If I got shot again, I swear someone may be trying to get me killed."

Ryuu smiled slightly when he heard her laugh, a drunk Emily, though his smile faded as he gripped his chin in a thinking manner while Emily said they should ask the doctor. "You weren't shot, that much is obvious," Ryuu began to say slowly, thinking, "Your injuries were, if I recall correctly from what the doctor told me, electrocution burns, hold on..." Ryuu then walked to the front of Emily's bed, and picked up the clipboard hanging at the end, and looked at it. "I was right, electrocution burns. The better question is though, who has the ability to use electricity? You said you were with Gabriel last night? If he was the only person you were with, then it is more than likely him, using what I can only assume to be, a electrical-based Qi, and based on the hand-shaped burns around your neck and on your arms, he probably discharged his Qi through his hands." Ryuu however, wasn't completely sure himself, he was about 97% sure.

"Though it does bring up another question, why would Gabriel attack you in the first place? What possible reason could he have to want to inflict such dire injuries upon you?"

[Trizen Takano]

Trizen shook his head.

"I don't believe Gabriel would want to attack you. Guys, he was the one that called us together in the first place to try and find a solution to 42's problem. Why would he attack someone he trusts? An ally?" The boy didn't really know what to think of the question, or the story.

Things were leading towards Gabriel, but if there were pieces of the story missing, then there was more to it than previously thought. Trizen moved to by the window and leaned against the wall. If they were going to figure out what happened, Emily had to do better than give pieces of a story. He knew it wasn't her fault, but Trizen was not ready to jump to conclusions. Allies weren't to be divided.

[seishounohana]

"Electrocution burns..." Emily trailed off. Did Gabriel do this too her? A part of Emily insisted it was him, but then again - She knew Gabriel, and a part of her wanted to resist considering the said notion. But if Gabriel really did this, why? Why would he hurt her?

Trizen gave his two cents, which were good points. Gabriel didn't have much of any motive to hurt her. She then shook her head, "Trizen is right, Ryuu. Even though I was with him last night, I think we don't have any evidence that it was him."

She shruggged, "These injuries are going to be hard to hide when I get back to school." It sucked that she had so many scars and marks all over her body now. When she entered the public high school system, she was flawless -- and now this. As a girl, she couldn't help but feel a bit sad. Emily wasn't really that vain, but she was -- as with some girls, always trying to make herself look decent.

"The puzzle just doesn't fit."

[Ryuu]

"Electrocution burns..." Ryuu folded his arms, carefully staring into empty space. He wanted to believe Gabriel didn't do this, he really did. He and Gabriel were close friends and allies, and Ryuu had watched Gabriel's back when he could, Gabriel doing the same for him. "I don't believe Gabriel would want to attack you. Guys, he was the one that called us together in the first place to try and find a solution to 42's problem. Why would he attack someone he trusts? An ally?" Ryuu looked up at Trizen, uncertainty prominent in his gray eyes, as he saw Emily shake her head. "Trizen is right, Ryuu. Even though I was with him last night, I think we don't have any evidence that it was him." "I know," Ryuu sighed, shaking his head, "I want to believe Gabriel didn't do this, honest to God I really want to. I just hope I'm wrong..." He trailed off, once more staring into empty space.

"These injuries are going to be hard to hide when I get back to school." "I'm sure we'll figure something out," Ryuu replied absentmindedly, "Scars are just scars, they don't determine who you really are inside." Ryuu shrugged his shoulders, that was his opinion at the very least. "The puzzle just doesn't fit." "They never do..." Ryuu said quietly, noticing Trizen was now leaning against the wall beside the window. "We need all the pieces first, before we can complete the puzzle. Our best course of action is to determine first, who did this to you Emily, and then we can worry about what to do later." Again Ryuu shrugged his shoulders, though he sounded somewhat like a leader, he didn't think of himself as one. "Speculation is good, but it isn't the truth. If you think long and hard, but an answer doesn't come... Then gather all the materials and evidence you can to bring you at least a little closer to confirmation."

[Trizen Takano]

"And Captain Obvious saves the day again..." The boy said shortly after Ryuu said his bit.

Even Trizen felt himself being slightly annoyed by something -- as much as he wouldn't like to admit it. The young one stayed by the wall and had a bit of a concerned look -- or as concerned as he was going to look aside from a mix of emotions he had as soon as he walked in the room.

"We'll have to talk to anyone else that was with you that night and the people who might have seen what happened after you blacked out," Trizen said with back leaned against the wall this time around. "Who else was there that night? Before you blacked out, I mean."

Trizen was not about to ask where, or what or why. When was answered -- well, the obvious when -- and he figured pieces of those questions would come together through story. If she had one. If her memory was still hazy, they didn't have much to work with.

[seishounohana]

Emily thought a bit before answering. Did she have someone with her? Not really, all she had with her was Gabriel, so that probably wasn't such a great idea at at all. "... Unfortunately, I didn't have anyone with me." She said, "It was around midnight when he asked me to come to that bar, I didn't think it'd come to this."

She shrugged and pulled herself forward, straining herself to press a button by the bedside to put herself in a semi-fowler's position, which was to put the upper side of the bed up to a 45 degree angle, more or less so that she could sit more comfortably without straining her back. "On a lighter note, hospital beds are quite fun."

She smiled. There was too much tension in the air, so she decided to disperse it. They didn't have evidence against Gabriel, or anyone else. So they might as well give up on the notion until further notice. "Ah, I want to be discharged soon..." she groaned, "I'm worried about my cat."

Yeah, always worry about your pets!