"I'm gonna go crazy if I have to count the tongue depressors again." Anthony mumbles as he moves on to sterilizing the simple medical equipment.
"At least they don't have you washing vomit bowls," Kitty said, wrinkling her nose in distaste.
"I iwsh I knew if it were a good thing or a bad thing that this is taking so long."
Ryuzo sits and looks at the places mentioned in the original treaty, then consults the map. He looks for anyplace he's familiar with to get a frame of reference, to be able to figure out how to get to the shrine.
Anger was first. Pure rage swept through Michael's mind, and he struggled to keep it under control. He would not let this thing win! His mind was his own, dammit! If he was tired of being bullied on the outside, why should the inside be any different?
Mind-numbing despair comes next, but Michael slams that away. Why should he be sad? He had Kitty! He was talking to his family again, really talking!
He also looks for the proper etiiquette, if it can be found, and who to speak to, if anyone, or if merely being at the shrine and denouncing your role is enough...
Anger was first. Pure rage swept through Michael's mind, and he struggled to keep it under control. He would not let this thing win! His mind was his own, dammit! If he was tired of being bullied on the outside, why should the inside be any different?
Mind-numbing despair comes next, but Michael slams that away. Why should he be sad? He had Kitty! He was talking to his family again, really talking!
Nala was sweating in spite of the cold. She was vaguely aware of Miss Jones using a handkerchief to wipe the sweat off of her face and placing an ice pack on the back of her neck. That helped. She trembled from the sheer effort of this. The seed was fighting back hard.
"I think this is the last one. Once this tendril is free I can draw the seed out of your mind."
"Be sure. Please be sure."
He tried to make it easier, he really did. He pulled down all the walls he had things hidden behind, either subconsciously or not. He didn't care what she saw as long as this thing was out of him.
Makes note of the lack of info, and ports to outside of the infirmary, to wait for Nala.
"Be sure. Please be sure."
He tried to make it easier, he really did. He pulled down all the walls he had things hidden behind, either subconsciously or not. He didn't care what she saw as long as this thing was out of him.
Nala looked with extra care as she tried to find any more tendrils, but only this one was left. But it wasn't going to be easy. It was the strongest one and it had many tiny little tendrils branching off of it that all needed to be carefully frozen before she could attack the main bulk of it. She barely glanced around her at what was here in Michael's mind, only looking around to make sure she hadn't missed any tendrils and she slowly methodically killed the last hold the seed had on him.
Pain. Like every other living thing, the seed wanted to survive. This was it's home, where it had plenty of food and space to grow.
But it was a parasite. If it wasn't removed, Michael knew the potions eventually wouldn't be enough to hold it in check. So he ignored the pain as best he could. Kitty, Anthony, Mom, Dad, Cait Sidhe... no, he was doing this for himself. The others would be happy, of course, but he would be able to have a regular life. He'd be able to lose his temper or swell with pride without putting others at risk. Michael would not be someone for others to be afraid of.
He felt the pain ease. He wasn't worried anymore, and the seed had less and less to hold on to.
Nala felt a moment of triumph as the last tendril started to wither. She added more and more cold to it until it had no choice but to withdraw. She searched carefully to be certain she hadn't left so much as a single iota of this thing attached and finally she was certain that the seed was no longer anchored here.
"Okay, it's time to draw it out. Miss Jones, I need the containment unit right now," she said as she struggled against the power of the seed, keeping it encased in cold so it couldn't grab onto any part of Michael's mind as she drew it out. It didn't come easily. She could hardly focus through the pain as it lashed out at her again and again, but she held on, drawing it out bit by bit, never letting go until the small malevolent thing was sealed away inside the container that had been designed for that purpose.
Nala slumped against the wall, collapsing from sheer exhaustion.
"It's done."
Michael manages to mutter a thank you before passing out from the pain.
Miss Jones checked on both of her charges to make sure they were alright before walking out into the other room, sealed container in hand.
"For those of you waiting to find out, the surgery was a success. Mr. Dacamara is currently unconscious, but fine. It was a difficult procedure and he needs to rest for a bit. Miss Zamarosok is also exhausted. But otherwise fine. You are welcome to go in now."
"Thanks Miss Jones." Ryuzo will go in and lay a hand on Nala's shoulder.
"Good job sweetheart. I knew you could do it." he says with a warm smile.
"I know where the shrine is, we can leave anytime."
"Thanks Miss Jones." Ryuzo will go in and lay a hand on Nala's shoulder.
"Good job sweetheart. I knew you could do it." he says with a warm smile.
"I know where the shrine is, we can leave anytime."
She smiled at him weakly. "That was a rough fight. That thing really didn't want to give up its host. Well, at least I was able to use my power for good this time. If I do end up losing it, I'm glad I was able to do this first."
"Just let me catch my breath for a minute. I feel like I just had PE for three class periods running."
"No way. Not until he's conscious at least," she said, tears of relief running down her cheeks. She'd been so worried. And it wasn't that she didn't trust what Miss Jones said, but she'd feel a lot better once he was awake and could tell her himself that he was alright.
"Too... loud." Michael complains after little more than an hour, eyes closed tight against the massive headache he's got.
KItty pulled a chair next to the bed and held Michael's hand while she waited for him to wake up.
"We'll have to let your parents know pretty soon," she said to Anthony, wiping away tears with her free hand.
"Too... loud." Michael complains after little more than an hour, eyes closed tight against the massive headache he's got.
"Michael!" she exclaimed happily and then whispered, "Sorry."
Michael winces, but manages to crack open an eye.
"I'm... still happy... you're here."
"Creep." He mutters with a feeble gesture at Anthony.
"Ant..."
"Yes, you're both happy so stop calling each other names," Kitty said, half laughing, half crying. "I'm just so relieved. I know you said not to worry, but I couldn't help it."
"He... started... it." Michael says as he squeezes Kitty's hand. "Knew you... would. Stubborn kunoichi."
"He... started... it." Michael says as he squeezes Kitty's hand. "Knew you... would. Stubborn kunoichi."
"Hmph. I'm not a kunoichi anymore, partly thanks to you," she said, mock indignantly.
"It's ok, catch away. I was unable to find the...etiquette or protocol for the shrine, or who you're supposed to make your grievance to. Those procedures were "mysteriously" missing. But whatever happens, I'm with you 100%."
"Anthony, cover your ears." Michael warns, giving his little brother a moment. Deal... kunoichi. You stole my heart." ;P
"Anthony, cover your ears." Michael warns, giving his little brother a moment. Deal... kunoichi. You stole my heart." ;P
Kitty laughed and kissed his cheek. "I can't steal what you freely give...and I gave mine to you in exchange so at the very least it's a fair trade," she teased, eyes twinkling with amusement.
"It's ok, catch away. I was unable to find the...etiquette or protocol for the shrine, or who you're supposed to make your grievance to. Those procedures were "mysteriously" missing. But whatever happens, I'm with you 100%."
"I'm guessing by missing you mean crossed out or otherwie removed from the text? Well, that doesn't surprise. Neither queen would want this information to be readily available."
"Alright, let's go. We need to move quickly if we're going to get this done before my mother arrives."
"Worst thief ever." Michael's voice is definitely starting to sound better than is did.
"Worst thief ever." Michael's voice is definitely starting to sound better than is did.
"Yep," she agreed cheerfully. "And he did tell you to cover your ears first, Anthony-kun. It's not our fault you can't follow directions," she said sticking her tongue out at him.
"So, we should definitely let your parents know what's going on now. I bet they'll be super relieved when they find out that you're okay and there's nothing to worry about anymore," she said, rolling her eyes at Anthony's comment and deliberately ignoring it.
"I did send them a letter last night... should be there by now. They're probably freaking out."
"That's pretty much what I'm talking about. We need to let them know that the crisis is over and they don't need to worry anymore. I'm sure they'll be happy to hear the good news. Actually, considering that you sent a letter last night, I'm a bit surprised they aren't here already."
"Please take that back..." Michael pleads. Anthony, due to his activities last night, also seems like he wants Kitty to recant her statement.
"Ok hold my hand..."
When she takes it, he ports them both to the location...
"Please take that back..." Michael pleads. Anthony, due to his activities last night, also seems like he wants Kitty to recant her statement.
"My saying it or not won't effect whether or not they show up," she said, bemused. "I just can't imagine parents not showing up right away after getting a message like that is all."
"I believe the phrase is 'Speak of the devil' isn't it?" Jerak says from the infirmary doorway. "I wanted to make a much more dramatic entrance, but Sylvia refused to let me have any fun to try and cheer you up."
"You be quiet!" Sylvia scolds. "You really wanted to risk shocking him when he's like this!?"
Both of the Dacamara kids groan in usual.
"I will tell people this is your fault, Kitty."
"Dacamara-sama!" Kitty exclaimed, bowing respectfully and then grinning widely. "It's okay. We don't have to worry about shocking him anymore. Michael is okay now. They had to move up the procedure and it took a really long time. Anthony-kun and I were going crazy waiting, but they got the seed-thing out of Michael's head so everytthing is alright now...oh dear. I think I'm going to start crying again. I'm just so relieved and happy...." she said tearing up again.
"He'll be just fine then." Sylvia tells Kitty as she walks over and lays a hand on Michael's forehead, checking for fervor.
"Mooooom! Don't you think if I had a fever the nurses here would have fixed it?"
"Oh be quite. How are you feeling?"
"A bit better, actually. What did you do?"
"She's a mother. They can all make their kids feel better." Jeran interjects.
Kitty looks at Jerak oddly. "As much as I love Okaa-san....she's actually terrible at dealing with sick people. She says that if being sick is uncomfortable it will make us get better quickly...."
She looks at Michael's parents confused, as she tries to figure out what they're hiding.