[KIYOMI]
"My queen, the queen consort is here," the nurse suddenly said, snapping Kiyomi out of her clouded thoughts. She had been following the nurse so sheepishly that she didn't even realize they were in Elif's room.
"Kiki!" Elif said as she got up and rushed to her best friend while Sakura just watched calmly like she approved of this.
Kiyomi felt like she was suddenly breathing fresh air when she felt Elif's hands pulling her into a hug that she thought she would never get. She had been so certain that her best friend would be so mad at her and rage, and now, she was whole again.
However, her happiness didn't last for long when she looked at Sakura and the woman was smiling, genuinely like there was something she had done to Elif. At that thought, Kiyomi stiffened.
Her mind went back to the moment she had realized Sakura's first show of jealousy and this wasn't confronting at all. She wanted to ask if her best friend was compelled to smile and wave at her.
She wanted to ask a lot of questions, and she felt like this wasn't even what she had been hoping for. Truthfully, Kiyomi would have assumed that her best friend would still be upset with her, and that in itself was a burden that Kiyomi was open to bearing.
Not this, or whatever the fuck the Lycan queen had done to her Elif.
"No… What did you do to her?" Kiyomi asked as she pulled back from the hug, her eyes never leaving Sakura Watanabe's. She knew she shouldn't have trusted the woman's sudden relaxed state, but what else could she do right now?
"You wanted your friendship with her, and I didn't want her upset too, because that would upset you. I seemingly can't think straight when you're upset, and I had the best remedy for that, my beautiful petal.
"I did us all a favor don't you think?" Sakura asked and Kiyomi's heart sank into her stomach. This was more than even she could handle and she wasn't sure there was ever going to be a day when she was truly happy with her friend.
If Sakura had manipulated Elif then there was no telling what else the ad woman had done to her best friend. And in a surge of instincts, the good doctor decided to sniff her best friend for any magic.
She wanted to be sure that her friend was okay, even if she had been manipulated. She hadn't seen Elif for days and she couldn't handle the thought that Elif had suffered because of her relationship with Sakura.
Oh, this woman was driving her insane, quite literally.
"Why? What did I ever do to you to earn this much cruelty, Sakura? What was so wrong with me that you had to append my entire life and now you're messing with my friend too? Is this what love looks like for you?
"You say you care then you turn around and fuck it all up. Why would you manipulate Elif? What else do I have to give up so you can let her be? What more do I have to lose for her to remain sane?" Kiyomi asked defeatedly.
She was sick and tired of the games. She just wanted to be free and while that was kind of an overreach with the contract she had signed. She wanted to hope so desperately that there was something to look forward to.
But then again, each time Sakura seemed to prove that she didn't have anything to look forward to anymore. One moment she was happy about being a medic and the next she was being reminded of her debts to Sakura.
What kind of a life was she destined for and why the hell did she have to suffer in the hands of the woman who was so crazy the realm couldn't define her even with her insanity on check?
"I don't know what you're talking about," Sakura stated calmly, the smile that had once been on her face falling as she stared at the beautiful woman that belonged to her. She wanted to defend herself even more, but there was no way Kiyomi would trust her.
"Seriously? What is this then?" Kiyomi said as she pointed at Elif who was stunned, a little too stunned to even speak. She hadn't realized how frustrated her best friend was and now that she understood, Elif felt her heart shatter for Kiyomi.
"Kiki—" Elif tried, only to fail hopelessly.
"You own me, and everything I have, Saki. Isn't that enough for you? Why would you want to break my soul too, when I accepted what I signed up for? Why would you torment me only to kill me? Or is this your way of reminding me you won't let me go ever?"
Kiyomi was frustrated, but in her rant, as she looked at Sakura, she saw something that she could have sworn she had never seen before. Here and now, as the Lycan queen stared at her, Kiyomi saw raw hurt, almost like she was the one hurting Sakura.
But then how could that be?
"Your friend doesn't have a trace of magic on her. I didn't do anything to her other than nurse her to health. I explained to her that I was the reason you were apart and she didn't have to worry anymore, because I cleared any misunderstandings.
"I came here to let your dear friend know that she would be going back to her life without any stress because of the Russians, and that she would be under my protection, always, given she is important to you.
"I didn't expect that my act of kindness would be repaid by what the fuck this is… You know what, I don't even want to be here. I despise hospitals. When you're done making me into the bad guy, your job is waiting for you in Odanera City Hospital.
"Take it or leave it. You know where to find me, if you need me," Sakura said as she got up and walked away, not even sparing Kiyomi another glance. The good doctor stood there, shock on her face while the other Lycans stared at her accusingly.
"Wha—" Kiyomi let out defeatedly.
Kiyomi watched Sakura's retreating back and this time, she felt like a terrible person. Fuck, she felt like she was way worse than Sakura because of this single incident. Then again, the good doctor couldn't be blamed for always thinking the worst of the woman.
It wasn't like Sakura Watanabe was the bastion of temperance and someone who could be reasoned with. Defeatedly, Kiyomi plopped on the bed that was in the room, her brain filled with thoughts of Sakura and whatever had happened.
"What did she do to you?" Kiyomi asked as she looked at Elif who was staring at her in understanding.
"Just what she said. She swore that she thought we were lovers, that's why she wanted us apart, but I told her it wasn't so. She even had me hold this magical true or false ball to let her know my truth. And Kiki… she held it too," Elif said earnestly.
"What? Why?" Kiyomi asked, as lifted her head curiously.
"Because she wanted me to trust her with you."
"Don't tell me you do."
"I don't, obviously. But it seems like she cares for you," Elif said carefully.
"Arghh… What have I done?!" Kiyomi sighed frustratedly.