Wednesday
Tuesday passes quietly as Takeshi laid in his infirmary room resting.
"Takeshi?" Ren knocks on the door to him room.
"Come in," his voice was quiet and slightly shaky. Ren opens the door and walks in before cracking it behind her. As she looks around the room, she realizes that Takeshi was alone.
"Where's Maiman?" She asks as she studies him. He was sitting on the bed, his back leaned against the wall as he stares out of the window overlooking the kingdom.
"I think she's with Arhiyan," he lets out a small sigh.
"How… how're you feeling?" She tries to hide the awkwardness in her voice.
"Better I guess," Takeshi slightly shrugs before letting out a small groan of pain.
"I mean, that's better than worse," Ren sighs as she walks over to the side of the bed.
"What're you doing in here?" Takeshi moves his head slowly to look at his legs.
"I came to check on you," Ren shrugs before pulling a seat close to the bed and sitting in it.
"When did you care?" His voice becomes slightly hostile as he sits there.
"Takeshi…" Ren starts.
"I only made that deal with Ryland so you'd be able to escape. That way everyone would only lose me, not you too," Takeshi sighs and tries to stand up but starts to fall forward. Ren quickly catches him and pulls him back onto the bed where he sits back down the way he had been.
"Stop it. Please. Takeshi, I'm sorry, ok?" Ren runs a hand through her hair.
"Sorry for what?" He glances at her.
"I'm sorry for everything I said about you. I… I never knew Oliver was like that and, when you showed me what really happened… I just… I'm sorry," a small tear falls down her cheek as she looks at the floor.
"I knew you'd remember at some point. The moment I met you, I recognized you. Every day I lived in fear of you recognizing me. I tried my best to keep you away, so it might hurt less, but I did a terrible job at that huh?" Takeshi lets out a small laugh. "I'm sorry for bringing you so close. For, liking you. It was unfair of me."
"Takeshi…" she starts.
"I was going to let him kill me. That would've been the second time. But, I had to fight so you could get to safety. Once you were gone…" Takeshi sighs.
"Why were you going to let him kill you Takeshi?" Ren quickly looks at him, tears falling down her face.
"I'm tired of hurting people. I'm tired of being a monster. The world would be better off without m…" Takeshi starts.
"Stop it!" Ren suddenly cuts him off.
"What? It's true," he sighs.
"You're not a monster. You really aren't. Though you have abilities and stuff, you're nothing like a monster. You're a kind, sweet guy. You care about others and you do anything and everything to help others who need it. You aren't a monster Takeshi. You're just a bit of a different human," Ren moves and lays a hand on his cheek. Tears fall onto her hand from his eyes.
"Ren… I like you. I like you a lot. I fell in love with you even though I knew our past. I was selfish. You remembering, and how close we were, just hurt you more," a small whimper escapes Takeshi's lips.
"I forgive you Takeshi. I really do. Knowing what really happened that day, I forgive you. With everything in me I forgive you. And, I like you too Takeshi," Ren carefully turns and lifts his head so their eyes lock. "I really do forgive you, ok?"
"Ren…" he practically whimpers, his face red from crying.
"It's ok, just try and calm down. You're safe and with people you love and who love you. Everything's going to be ok. Please just try to rest, you need to," Ren moves to sit on the side of the bed before putting a hand on his shoulder. Takeshi moves and leans his head against her chest with a long sigh as tears are still falling down his face.
"I'm sorry," he whimpers.
"Just relax Takeshi, you're ok," Ren lifts his head and kisses his forehead. He lowers his head and puts it against her chest again before slowly calming down as he stops crying. After a few minutes, Ren gets him to lay down and he starts to fall asleep. He sleeps as Ren sits on the bed beside him for an hour before the door opens.