Matthew looked up and slowly nodded. He wiped the tears off his face as the aura-created fox laid still on his lap.
”Guess I’m stuck here for a while” he ruefully giggled.
(Correct me if I’m wrong… but is that Profile who I think it is…?)
Shinrin twitched a bit at the word ‘friend’, a faint smile appearing which quickly faded.
The coated figure took a closer look at Shinrin and took the Nature Fox into his grasp.
From the humanoid figure in the doctor’s coat, several clear ribbons came from their back and covered Shinrin’s wounds, somehow stopping the bleeding almost immediately.
”I’ll need to get a closer look before any further actions should be made” the bespectacled doctor stated, heading towards the door with Shin’s body.
(At this point I don't even know who it is. I originally set it to make myself with the app, but I got… Distracted by shiny things XD)
"Okay," Hinata said. She was only slightly relieved when she saw Shinrin respond to her words, finding her wings in. She stayed close, still very much concerned.
(I don’t know, I just kinda thought the picture looked like this guy)
As they enter the Hospital, the same old scent filled the building.
The figurine wearing the doctor’s coat took Shinrin into an operation room. He went inside first, laying Shin down on the bed.
”You can enter if you don’t completely trust me, but please wear these—“ he handed Hinata a medical mask, one-use plastic gloves, and plastic covers for her body ”—contaminations can be quite scary” he mentioned, slipping some on himself as well.
(oh dang you're right XD)
Hinata took the covers, slipping them on.
"I know," she said, thinking for a moment of what she had seen her sister deal with before quickly shutting the memories down.
"And it is not that I distrust you." She didn't elaborate further, making it clear she wouldn't.
The unnamed doctor nodded and walked to stand beside Shinrin’s body.
He reached out to touch the fox’s body, a silvery caduceus appearing in his right eye.
”Breathing is slow, heart rate is slow increasing to normal, vessels are shrinking slowly, a bullet stuck in left cerebral cortex… alright” the doctor said, grabbing a surgical knife from behind him.
Several clear ribbons emerged from his back. The doctor started to treat Shinrin from the wound on his head first.
Roughly twenty minutes have passed…
Slowly, a bloody bullet came out.
”There we go—“ the doctor placed the bullet on a tray beside him as the ribbons rushed in and covered the wound. A layer of skin replaced the hole as Shinrin’s eyes started to open.
”E-Eh…?” Shinrin was a bit confused as he looked around.
”Eisuke?!” the Nature Fox nearly jumped when he saw the doctor. He eventually calmed down when he saw Hinata.
He sighed then smiled.
”Thank you”
The woman stopped, slightly opening her mouth. She turned to Kye slowly. Giving Kye a warm smile, she was about to say something… something a mother was wishing to say to her child before the winds blew harshly, causing her to disappear. That moment, a whisper can be heard in the winds of the Gardens.
”You came back… you really did…” the voice of a middle-aged woman said with warmth and much happiness.
Kye stood like a statue for a moment. Not sure of what had happened, just then. After what seemed like forever he understood, and a wave of bitter sadness hit him. He bit his lip in an effort to not let out an anguished cry, and closed his eyes. His hands in fists at his sides. Taking in the moment he stood in silence before finally taking in a slow breath and looking around. "I love you mom, if you can hear me. But you were only the first person I wanted to find. And I can't stay here, I have to find her and get us both home," he whispered. Then he turned and started walking back towards the entrance of the garden.
Hinata was fidgeting the entire time, watching but not saying anything. She'd been yelled at enough by her sister for stuff like that to do it now. She was extremely relieved when Shinrin woke up, smiling softly.
"Welcome," she said. She stepped forward. She winced a bit but refused to say anything about it. "You terrified me."
She blinked in confusion. "Are you sure you're okay? A moment ago you were bleeding, seemingly half dead, and shouting something about your shin. What was up with that?"
As Kye approached the entrance, a figure of green stood near. They had jet black hair which covered parts of his neck. Though long, their hair was straight and was tied neatly. The clothes they wear were long and beautiful designed.
They turned to Kye and revealed their brightly lit eyes and a soft beautiful smile.
”Good afternoon” they said, smiling with their eyes closed and a slight friendly grin. They seemed peaceful.
Shinrin laughed nervously and he sat up straight.
”Since when were you here?” Shin asked the doctor.
”Well… I’ve arrive in the Labyrinth yesterday…” the doctor took off their glasses and wiped them clean before putting them on again.
”Oh, right—“ the doctor brought up ”—I’m Eisuke Okita, assistant Doctor at the Aurora Hospital, and a member of the ‘Jewelry Hunters’, hunter name ‘Diamond’” the doctor introduced himself to Hinata.
Matthew breathed heavily before slowing down.
”Yeah… yeah… I’m fine” the Nature Messenger smiled softly. He slowly stood up, leaning against the wall as he did.
”One of my… life shards was harmed but he’s fine now…” Matthew answered.
"Because I know what that is," Adara muttered, sounding slightly irritated. She had asked a lot of questions, and was no closer to finding out anything about this place, except for the fact that it would take a lot of time to get out of here.
Matthew giggled slightly.
”Sorry, let me explain” he leaned against the wall fully.
”I am a host to six creatures which are called ‘Life Shards’. This host and ‘Shard’ connection lets me communicate with them through my mind as well as allow me to use some of their abilities. Four of these ‘Shards’ are elemental foxes, one is the cat you met before, and the last is a parrot. Thing is, when they are harmed, I will be harmed as well which is why they tend to stay away from danger as much as possible. Though… I think one of them, the fox named ‘Shinrin’, was harmed quicker than he could reflect on, which was why I was acting like that” the man tried to explain the connection he has with the animals he takes care of, though it might’ve made it more confusing.
"I… see," she said, only half getting it. "And so… can't you protect them or something?" She shrugged. It didn't matter, anyways. Now that it didn't look like he was dying, she was less interested. "Wait… you said a parrot, right? Why a parrot? Of all creatures?"
"Nice to meet you. I'm Hinata Hayashi, Balance Keeper." Hinata nodded to Eisuke, thinking for a moment before putting her hands in her pockets.
"Thank you," she said.
As Kye approached the entrance, a figure of green stood near. They had jet black hair which covered parts of his neck. Though long, their hair was straight and was tied neatly. The clothes they wear were long and beautiful designed.
They turned to Kye and revealed their brightly lit eyes and a soft beautiful smile.
”Good afternoon” they said, smiling with their eyes closed and a slight friendly grin. They seemed peaceful.
Kye gave a smile to the figure. "Afternoon," he gave a nod. "Can I do something for you?" By this point he wasn't sure where to go, but he had one other person to find. He was determined to bring her home. He just didn't know where to start.
Well I can tell you where not to look for her.
And where is that?
Any cave that may be here. You know how much she hates caves.
Noted. Back when I met her.
Just being a reminder.
”Well, for two reasons. One, he’s quite a quiet parrot which is surprising and two, he has an ability which is rare for mythical beasts. He’s basically able to transform into a human form and several vehicle forms. He’s a great method of transport is what I’m trying to say” Matthew explained. He wasn’t really minding the questions thrown at him.
(ship alert…)
Eisuke nodded with small, warm grin.
He was about to walk out the door when it swung open and knocked the doctor down on the floor.
”Oi, what the he—“
Ichika was the one who came and slipped forward almost immediately as he came in, falling on top of Eisuke.
”E-E-uhm…” the doctor froze, his face a fresh red.
”Sorry, sorry” the draconian stood up and helped the doctor up.
”Hey Hinata, I’ve got some… not so great news”
”That should be my question. You’re looking for someone, right?” the figure in green asked, skipping closer to Kye and standing around two inches away in front him.
”If you need a companion to explore with you, I’m more than willing to go” they claimed with a genuine grin.
Hinata watched with mild amusement, but became serious again when Ichika spoke to her.
"What is it?" She asked, not liking this.
"…….." None of this made sense. Parrots that could turn into vehicles? Weird life shard things? Other people with fire? Two people she would rather not see? This was all so confusing, and she wasn't sure what to make of it.
”The Viscount I kinda… wrecked earlier. He wasn’t the real one. That was decoy” the draconian sighed after he finished.
”Which one are you talking about?” Eisuke asked, tilting his head slightly.
”Julian”
The doctor froze a bit.
”Let me guess, you want me to help with taking care of him?” Eisuke asked.
The draconian nodded.
With a moment of thought, the doctor sighed and shook his head.
”I’ll have to say no due to personal reasons”
Matthew noticed the confusion he had placed upon Adara, slightly amused by her expression. He headed towards the door, about to open it when a fiery figure came in; the same one as earlier.
”Guys, we’ve got a problem!” the fiery figure claimed, looking outside into the hall.
A faint laughter can be heard coming from the semi-lit hallway.
"Ah, shit," Hinata mumbled to herself. Now the Viscount, if he hadn't before, knew they wanted him dead, so that aspect was gone. And they're time just went from three days to any moment, not to mention that he would be much harder to take in now.
"Understandable," she said to Eisuke's words, mostly to keep herself from blowing her top.
Great. Now what? She wondered, going over to stand beside Matthew. She tensed at the noises from outside of the room, glancing at him, then at the fire guy. "What kind of trouble?" She asked carefully.
Shinrin grew a bit frustrated at those words.
”G-Give me a moment to comprehend this…” the Nature Fox gestured to the door, wanting the others to leave the room.
Eisuke and Ichika nodded, opening the door and were about to leave when they waited for Hinata.
”You won’t get in trouble but—“ the fiery figure said to Adara then turned to face Matthew ”—we have some Phantom Hunters in here” the figure said as bullet that barely missed him came from the hall.
The man of Nature cursed under his breath, making his way to the hall and rushing straight in without listening to warnings coming from the doctor.
Some bullets came from the hallway then stopped…
"Some what?" She glanced back and forth between the two of them. Based on Matthew's reaction, he gathered that they were bad, but what were they?
When the bullets stopped, she moved over to inspect them, wondering why they had stopped. She reached out to touch one, curious.
Hinata hesitated, getting a bad feeling about leaving Shinrin alone, but she left with Eisuke and Ichika as he had asked. She stood in the hallway, hands in pocket with a grim expression.
"I dont like this," she stated plainly.
The bullets were all golden with a white, shiny tip. It seemed like some sort of liquid was painted on the bullet to give it its white tip. There were three around Adara, none of which were damaging her in the slightest. There wasn’t anything particularly interesting about the bullets themselves.
”No one does” Ichika spoke up, closing the door.
”Look, Naoki’s going on vacation, I can’t get in contact with Sora, and I have no idea where the hell Kazumi might be so we’re at a disadvantage unless the five of us can meet up” Eisuke brought up to the draconian.
”Hm… true. Sora might be the easiest to find though—“ Ichika turned to Hinata ”—‘cause she’s here” the man mentioned with a small smile.
”Oh! Right!” Eisuke scooted over to Hinata.
”You might not know him well but Sora works at the bar which stands in the center of the Multiverse. Perhaps you might be able to contact someone you know to go there and tell him to come back ‘home’”
As Jade left the hallway scattered with corpses, she would come across a purple hallway. It looked quite beautiful as it was decorated with golden furniture and dark violet carpets.
As for now, this hallway seemed safe.
Jade shuddered as she remembered the corpses then continued on into the purple and gold hall her confusion was wearing off as frustration took over and the urge to let out a scream came over her but she kept quiet and walked on.
