∆ Clock Strikes SIX

Argh... my head hurts. It's heavy. I can't open my eyes. It's so hot. My throat is dry. Water... I need water...

Ah—

It hurts. My chest... is clenching.

I can't... breathe!

'Akaito, hang on! Open your eyes!' someone shook me.

It's painful...!

'Akaito! Can you hear me? Akaito!' the voice continued yelling.

I can... but however I try, I can't open my eyes! Can't even... breathe!

Footsteps rushed in. 'She's barely conscious.' The same voice informed.

'I understand, we'll move her to the stretcher. Thank you for informing.' A woman's voice said.

'Let me help.' The guy said. I couldn't feel anything but I guessed they had transferred me to a stretcher because a few sighed in relief. Not long after, I lost it again.

-

'Ugh...' was the first thing I said when my head throbbed as I opened my eyes.

'You're finally awake.'

I turned my head and saw Kou, staring at me from his bed.

'Your illness sure is a serious one.' He commented. I took a deep breath and sat up with difficulties but nevertheless managed to without any help.

'How long was I out?' I queried.

'You were just transferred from the ICU after being in a coma state for two days.' Kou answered.

'T-Two days!?' I gasped. 'Did... did anyone come by?!'

'No one.' He replied.

I looked away and felt disappointed.

'He passed by the ward though. I think he knows you're not here.' Kou added.

I turned to him. 'Who?'

'The blonde, right?'

'Mhm, yeah. Thank you for informing.' I bowed my head.

'Who is he to you?' Kou asked.

'Eh? He's...' I searched for the appropriate word. 'Someone important.'

Kou lowered his gaze. 'I see.'

I brought a finger to my lips and remembered the scene at the rooftop. I smiled to myself. It was early morning and cold. It seemed that it had rained the night before. The sky was dark and the sun could not be seen.

'And...' I turned my head back to Kou. 'Thank you for informing the nurses that day.'

'No problem.' He retorted nonchalantly.

I got off the bed and wore the slippers. 'I want to go out to the garden. Do you want to come along, Kou?'

Kou didn't avert his gaze from his phone. 'No, thank you.'

'Alright, see you later.' I waved and exited the ward.

-

Uh... this might not be a legal part of the garden. I've got to get back.

I backed away from the dark forest ahead and turned around. 'Young miss, won't you come to take a look?' an echoing voice called out. I halted dead in my tracks and faced the forest again.

Okay, first of all. Why did I even encounter a forest behind a hospital? Was there even a forest in the first place? Wait—what if this is an entrance to a demon's world? What if I get sucked in and never come out?

I can't meet Shuu, then!

'Not really, whoever on the other side,' I called back. 'I have someone important to see. I can't visit your place. Sorry! I'll come later.'

With that, I ran away. I was sure a pair of eyes was watching my back but I had to ignore the stupid instinct and returned to my ward. But as I neared my ward, a bunch of cameramen and reporters were gathering by the door. I blinked in confusion. My legs felt weak and I remembered it was almost time for me to consume my medicines.

I supported myself by holding on to the railing along the corridor. Why are there so many people by the way? I stopped 2 steps away behind a reporter. They were trying to peek inside since the door was closed tight.

'Please, go back. He's not fully recovered yet and wished not to be disturbed. I have no comments!' an elderly man guarding the door said. I recognized him as the one who forced Kou to stay in the ward the other day. Kou's manager!

'Have you found out who's the culprit for the hit-and-run case?' one shouted. I flinched. Hit and run? Kou was hit and run?

'No, we haven't. The police had identified the plat number but it turned out to be a stolen car. Please, don't ask anymore.' Kou's manager answered.

'Then the hit and run case was intended?' another called out.

Kou's manager frowned and didn't reply. I saw he was having a hard time so I cleared my throat, mustered up my courage and tried to make them go away.

'Excuse me!' my loudest voice ever made everyone stopped talking. All eyes centered on me. 'This is my ward as well so please, make way for me. I need to get in and rest. I beg all of you not to wander here anymore because loud noises might send me into the ICU again. So please, stay away.'

I bowed deeply and a few sighed.

'We should respect her.' A man said and one by one left the scene. Kou's manager and I watched as they got into the elevator and descended. Kou's manager sighed in relief then turned to me, bowing his head.

'Thank you so much for helping me.' He spoke.

I smiled and waved my hand. 'No, no, it's fine, don't sweat it.'

He extended a hand. 'I'm Masaomi, Kou's manager.'

I shook it. 'Akaito.'

He pushed the door open and gestured for me to enter first so I did. Kou was inside, meddling with his phone and as we entered, he looked up.

'Are they gone?' Kou asked Masaomi.

Masaomi gave him a thumb-up. 'Thanks to your roommate.'

I sat on the bed and poured water into my glass.

'She did?' Kou frowned slightly.

Masaomi nodded vigorously. 'In exchange of this lady's kind heart,' he raised a hand in triumph, smiling. 'I'll treat you two to a luxurious dinner!'

'No need to go that far!' I said urgently.

'Don't mind, don't mind!' Masaomi shook his head; trying to assure me it'd be all right.

I glanced at Kou and he shrugged.

'Old man,' Kou spoke and Masaomi turned to him. 'My brothers are coming to visit tonight. Maybe you should postpone that oh-so-luxurious dinner tomorrow night.'

Masaomi's smile faded. 'Oh... okay.'

'I-I'd like lots and lots of Karaage tomorrow!' I exclaimed.

Masaomi looked at me, his face had lightened up and he grinned. 'Really?! I'll bring a lot tomorrow then!!' he beamed.

I nodded. 'Miso soup as well!!'

'Noted, ma'am!'

Kou frowned at both of us.

'Old man, I haven't had a drink for so long. Bring one tomorrow.' He said.

Masaomi winced at the word "drink". 'I will.'

-

I sobbed and gripped Shuu's sleeves tighter than ever. The pain wasn't going away but the warm sensation has begun to engulf me. I was trembling as Shuu held me tighter.

'Hang on, your blood vessel is thinning,' Shuu whispered into my ear and I cried as my heart clenched even more and it'd hurt to breathe. 'Endure. Don't use so much oxygen, you're running out of breath.'

'S-Shuu...' I panted.

'Don't even talk.' He added.

The rooftop was deserted yet again and we were alone. I was having fun babbling to him when the pain struck me. He healed me but it came back again and again and it made him panic slightly.

Soon, Shuu breathed heavily. He gritted his teeth as he continued to heal me. I was guessing healing someone consumed the healer's energy and my pain wasn't something so simple.

Not long after, the pain went away and my gasps died down. Shuu rested his forehead on my shoulder, slightly panting. I hugged him and buried my face unto his chest.

'Thank you,' I said quietly. 'But please, don't do it next time. You're tiring yourself.'

He kept silent.

'I love you.' I murmured.

Again, no response...

'Do you need blood, Shuu?' I asked but my voice was small. I was afraid but willing to give it to him if he were to ask for it.

'Don't.' he said firmly.

I ruffled his hair. 'It's fine. I'm dying anyway, losing 1/3 blood won't make so much difference.'

'In this condition, I might consume 2/3. That's near death.' He retorted, not moving.

'As long as you kiss me goodbye, I don't mind going away forever.' I giggled.

He lifted his head and looked at me. 'I'm going to search for a prey. Go back to your room. I'll come back tomorrow.'

I smiled half-heartedly. 'Okay.'

He helped me up and escorted me back to the room.

-

Kubota smiled in satisfaction. 'Good. Despite being admitted into the ICU days earlier, you're beginning to show improvement. Keep it up and I might discharge you as early as tomorrow morning.'

My eyes widened with excitement. 'Really?!'

'Really.'

'YES!'

'So how do you find living in the hospital? Isn't it quite fun?' she queried.

I remembered the story of the morgue and I quickly made a face at her. 'Not at all! I was haunted even by the name "morgue"!' I pouted.

'The morgue...?' Kubota frowned. 'There's a morgue in your floor?'

I flinched.

'Just kidding, yeah they say it's haunted but what do you expect? It is where you keep corpses.' She smiled.

'And um,' I tilted my head to point at the window behind her. 'Was there always a thick forest around here?'

'Forest?' Kubota paused to think then shook her head. 'When this hospital was build, the forest around here was long gone. Why are you asking?'

'Nothing, just having the thought of it.' I shrugged. So I was right about the forest being "foreign".

'I have an appointment in 10 minutes, do you want me to walk you to your room?' she questioned as she glanced at her wristwatch.

'No, I'll be fine by myself. Thanks.' I bowed my head, stood, and left her room. As I strolled along the corridor, I looked out of the window. The garden was filled with a lot of patients walking or sitting with families or friends.

I examined the fence around the garden and wondered how I strayed too far that day I heard a voice calling me from the forest. There wasn't even a forest to begin with...

'Come.'

I startled and froze. It was the same voice. My eyes began searching for the source but I found no one. I tried to calm myself; telling myself that it was an imagination.

'Come back.'

I gasped and took a step back. 'Who's that...?' despite knowing the voice didn't come from anywhere near me, I whispered out the question. I suddenly felt cold and my vision started to blacken.

I blinked repeatedly, shaking my head, trying to stay conscious. Something was wrapped around my waist and I was staggering. The floor almost lost me when I heard a voice.

'Akaito!' it was Kou.

I tried to take a breath but whatever was wrapping around me seemed to be suffocating me. I reached out my hand. Kou wasn't in my vision anymore—it was all blackness.

Kou clicked his tongue and suddenly my vision came back. I was in Kou's arms and he was glaring at something behind me. I could breathe properly by then.

'Are you okay? Can you breathe normally?' he asked.

I nodded. 'I'm fine. What was that?' My mind was trying to process what just happened.

'Phantom, no idea how it got here though.' He muttered.

'What?'

'Are you human?' he frowned and shortened the distance between our faces.

'Of course I am!' I retorted.

'If you are, they won't harm you. Tell me, what are you?' he pressed. I pulled my head back.

'I am a human!' I protested and pushed him away. 'But what was that? Phantom?! What the hell is that?!'

Kou sighed and shook his head. 'Let's just go back to the room.' He took my arm and we headed back to my ward.

-

Shuu's face darkened. 'Phantom?' his voice was low but firm.

'Kou said so.' Koyuki nodded. They were sitting side by side on one bench at the rooftop; star gazing, as they had nothing else to stare at. It was around 23:00 when Shuu arrived and brought her to the roof once again.

Koyuki had told Shuu what happened that morning. The blonde frowned. 'You're a human so why would a Phantom come to harm you?' he murmured.

'What did you say?' Koyuki queried.

Shuu shook his head. 'Nothing, did you have any trouble breathing after that?'

'No, I don't.'

'Weird...'

'So you do know what a Phantom is? What's that?' I tilted my head.

Shuu was reluctant but he told her nevertheless, as she already knew that he wasn't a normal being. 'You know we have two worlds coexisting, one is the Earth, and the other is the Underworld, or what we usually call, Achira no Sekai. Vampires, Demons, and Phantoms originate there.

'Phantoms are usually made out of potions or spells so it doesn't actually have feelings—like an NPC, they would obey their masters and can only be defeated with anti-supernatural weapons generated by a group of special elites, the Supernatural Division. Of course, vampires and demons are able to defeat them too. In Achira no Sekai, Phantoms are of the lowest class.' Shuu explained.

Koyuki listened in awe. He sighed and wondered how long has it been since he talked that much. He was too lazy after all. He was thinking how he'd made the effort to visit the worthless human beside him—and then he thought, 'Why am I even thinking? Since when did I start thinking?'

Perhaps his title as a boyfriend changed his mindset. He began to feel like he needed to be by her side, like he must be there with her as long as he could. Also, he was curious as to why she was attacked by a Phantom and why she wasn't affected like a normal human would.

'Before I was attacked...' she trailed off, contemplating with her self if she should told him; would he believe her? 'I heard a voice calling me, telling me to "come" and "come back". I saw a forest behind this hospital but Dr. Kubota said there was no forest. Am I being treated to too much drugs? Was I hallucinating?'

Shuu's eyes widened slightly. 'You could see the forest behind?' he turned his head to her.

'There is really a forest?!' Koyuki questioned him back.

Shuu straightened his back and leaned closer to her. 'What are you?' he whispered.

Koyuki would've breathless because he was too close but her mind was too busy processing what happened with the attack earlier that she snapped. She looked away and stood.

'I am a human, is that so hard to believe?' she glared at the blonde, clearly angry. 'Stop asking me that question! Are you thinking that I might be a vampire or a demon? I'm near death! I don't think a vampire or a demon could get infected with humans' disease anyway—why are you still doubting me?!' she took a step back and with a sigh, she turned away and left.

Shuu dropped his gaze. She must be devastated at the fact that she's going to die. He let out a sigh and disappeared into the night.

**** WRAPPED ****

A/N: Sorry for not updating earlier! The internet at my campus is shitty.