"Asuna? What's wrong?"
Raizo asked from front.
"Huh?"
Only when Raizo asked what's wrong had I noticed I stopped in my tracks.
"Oh, uh, nothing!"
I tried to give a decent smile so he wouldn't be suspicious. Raizo had turned back from the reaper a long time ago and now he looked like the Raizo I know well.
I continued walking towards the whirl hole which was still pretty scary for me. I took one last deep breath as we dived in with Raizo holding my arm.
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A few minutes later...
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"Mmm... Hmm?"
I slowly opened my drowsy eyelids to be greeted by an unusual scenery.
(What...? Green leaves...?)
As soon as I tried getting up, I suddenly lost balance from the slim ground, or so I thought, until I was dangling from a tree branch.
"H-How did I end up here?!"
I held the branch with my life as I tried wrapping my mind around this weird situation. The tree was pretty tall, I mean REALLY, REALLY tall! If I were to fall from it, I would be squashed like a pancake flat!
"Asuna!"
I heard a voice from above. I looked to see Raizo holding out his hand in front of me.
"Raizo! What happened?!" I asked frantically.
"I will tell you later! Just give me your hand!"
I tried reaching out for his hand, but it was too far away.
"I... I can't!"
Just as I carefully tried coming closer, the branch made a cracking noise and snapped.
(Ahhh! I am going to fall!)
Thankfully, Raizo was quick enough to grab my arm, gripping it tight though it still wasn't enough. Raizo, too, almost lost his balance and slowly drew closer to me.
"No, Raizo you are going to fall as well! Let me go!"
Even though I told Raizo to do that, he shook his head as he finally fell with me. It really felt like we were falling from a 12 story building or something. In an instant, he hugged me tightly in his arms, trying to protect me. I closed my eyes in fear.
"It's okay. I won't let you get hurt! No matter what!"
(Raizo... You really shouldn't be doing this...!)
"You didn't have to..." I whispered, but he smiled in return.
"It's okay, I am older than you, so, I want to."
(Is... that the only reason...? Or...)
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It felt like forever that we were falling in slow motion. Just then, we collided and hit the ground hard, or rather, Raizo's back did. I only felt a slight pain in my arms.
"Ugnh!"
Raizo coughed a mouthful of blood as his grip loosened on me.
"Raizo!"
His eyes were slowly closing as he coughed some more. His whole body wasn't moving, not even a muscle. Large cracks could be seen under him. It looked so painful.
I got up and called out his name over and over, but he didn't respond. Unwillingly, tears welled up in my eyes as they gushed out like running water.
"Raizo, why? Please, wake up....! *sob* *sob*"
We had only just become a proper family, and Raizo is already doing THIS much for me. And I just made him be....!
I didn't want to think more negative thoughts. I had to take action right now! The rest can come later.
The first thing I knew was to get help. I looked around me. It looked really familiar.
(Are we in... the academy?!)
Now it all made sense. We got teleported to a tree in one of the places in the academy from that portal in the forest. But this felt really secluded from usual, and I had never seen a tree this big anywhere before.
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It felt like some sort of sorcery. Call it a hunch or whatever, but I felt ill from this current situation. Seemed like someone or something was behind all this...
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(Never mind that! I have got to tell the others!)
I lightly grabbed Raizo from his arm and dragged him towards the clinic.
"Hang in there Raizo...! I will save you just like you saved me."
(Yes. There's still hope!)
One thing I learned right now is that crying won't solve anything. I should be the first to take action to make things right. With full determination, I headed inside the main building.
I was tired like anything from dragging Raizo, but my legs kept pushing forward without stopping. I just had to save him! I finally reached the clinic, all hot and sweaty. I opened the door and carefully placed Raizo on one of the beds.
He was breathing with short breaths, and kept grunting in pain. I dashed out of the room for help. I was not good in medicine so I was practically useless again...
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I spotted Mizore in the hallway looking worried.
"Mizore!" I shouted as I waved my hand in the air.
"Asuna?! Where were you? We all got so worried after you disappeared in the portal and didn't appear on the designated spot. You aren't hurt are you?"
I shook my head sideways as I grabbed her hand and spoke, "Raizo is hurt! Come quickly!"
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Moments later...
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Mizore had already called the nurse after looking at Raizo's state. The others heard the news and joined us outside the room. I talked over the whole incident that occurred: about us falling from a suspiciously tall tree and how I felt something felt ill.
Everyone wore agitated expressions on their faces as they restlessly waited for the news. Natsuno was holding Nikki who was the most worried. Of course I was as well.
Yuichi was pacing back and forth in front of the door while I clutched my hands to my chest in worry. Mizore was the only one in the room with the nurse.
"...What I don't get is... why didn't Raizo turn into a reaper or at least tried to prevent this...?"
"Come to think of it, that's true! Rai-nii isn't the type to make a dumb mistake like this, let alone risk his own life..." Natsuno pondered over Yuichi's words.
That had us all wondering, including Nikki, who seemed to have calmed down.
(Is it THAT weird for Raizo to do this...? Ooooh... I really wish to know what's going on inside...)
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....
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I couldn't take it anymore. I have to go in, I just have to! Just when I was going to turn the doorknob, someone's hand dropped on my shoulder.
"...Just wait a bit more."
"B-But! I can't wait anymore Yuichi!"
Yuichi just stared back at me with a serious expression.
"Please tell me he'll be alright, please!"
Once again, my eyes moistened with tears as I clutched onto Yuichi's arm, slightly wrinkling his sleeve.
"...You are thinking that this is all your fault, right?"
(!!!)
"...If so, you should know that Raizo isn't even human. ...It will take more than THIS to kill him. ...He will make it, just see." Yuichi answered as he hesitantly patted my back.
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*Swoosh*
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The door swung open. Mizore was the first to speak as she came out.
"Asuna, I think you should come in." I looked at her in surprise.
(What does she mean by that?! Is Raizo awake? Is he still unconscious? What?!)
Nikki ran towards Mizore as she mumbled, "Why can't I come too? I want to see Rai-nii!"
"No, you must stay here, please Nikki."
"But I want to go!!!" Nikki was about to go in, but Natsuno grabbed her arm and kept her from going any further.
"Yuichi, please keep an eye on them." Mizore continued.
Yuichi nodded as I went in the room only to be greeted by the unconscious Raizo and the concerned looking nurse.
"Huh...?"
The door closed behind me.
"Umm... Asuna..." Mizore stopped mid sentence.
"I am afraid that your brother here might not wake up for a while. His back and spinal cord is terribly injured... It is rare for a person to still be alive after making that horrific fall, but I'll do what I can in my ability."
"...W... What?"
I couldn't believe my ears.
(Is he really going to...?)
No, I didn't want to believe that.
"Even I don't believe this because Raizo isn't even human, but... after what the nurse said, it might take a long time -- maybe even a week, until Raizo will wake up..."
"Oh... Okay, I see..."
I muttered as I hurried over to Raizo's side and put my hand on his forehead. It was cold.
(It was my mistake after all...)
"Asuna... maybe we should go, you know, so that the nurse can run some more tests on him and stuff..."
I vigorously shook my head. "I will stay here until he heals..."
"But, miss, you can't just--"
"I said I will stay here and that's final." I replied in a serious tone.
I had never been this serious in my entire life.
(It is the least I can do to repay his kindness until now...)
Mizore gave a small sigh with a 'very well' before escorting the nurse outside and breaking the news.
I sat down on the chair as I spoke, "Raizo... Why did you do all this just for me...? Is there some sort of a reason...? I just hope you will come back to us soon... I will be here until you open your eyes so stay assured."
I gently caressed his silky hair before falling on the soft side of the bed and being sucked into the world of dreams and darkness...
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Meanwhile...
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Mizore and Yuichi were outside class 3-1 where they all decided to wait until Asuna brings any news. With Nikki and Natsuno sleeping inside, the two finally had time to go over Asuna's information regarding Raizo's injury.
"Well? What do you think Yuichi?"
"...It definitely seems like Raizo's powers got sealed... ...If you said you sensed faint magic... lingering around him..."
"Hmm... That does seem probable."
Mizore gazed at Yuichi who was about to open his mouth, but paused on letting anything out. She urged him to speak whatever was coming to mind. After all, they had to get to the bottom of this as soon as possible, but of course without letting their young ones know.
Yuichi inhaled quietly, continuing even lower than a whisper, "...I think... it was some sort of warning is all. ...Perhaps--"
"You think so? I do too. It must be him. Although, this is way too early for him to return... But I can't think of anyone else we know of who would target them in such a way." Mizore lowered her gaze.
"...No doubt. ...Let's keep an eye out. ...In case." Yuichi confirmed.
"Yeah. Especially on Raizo."
The two nodded with grave expressions.
•••
~ to be continued...