Visit to the Hospital

"Hurry up Cara!!" Tsukiko shouted as he raced past the crowds of people.

"W-Wait up Tsukiko!! Sheesh!!" Cara groaned as she struggled to catch up to her leader. She couldn't blame him though considering the cause.

Both had the day off from classes and had decided to go to the hospital Hibiki was at to check on his condition. On the way there however, they surprisingly got a call from the very hospital staff, saying their friend had finally awakened.

The news had eagerly brightened the mood of both metas as they rapidly raced towards the hospital as fast as they could, Tsukiko more so then Cara. It wasn't that she wasn't worried, because she was, but it was after all Tsukiko who had been with Hibiki when the wind user had been hurt, so her leader had been worrying non-stop over his teammates condition and had blamed himself for it.

Thankfully he was snapped out of that state, no small part due to her actions and words, but there was no doubt in Cara's mind that the news of his teammates awakening has risen the silver-haired teen's spirit exponentially. It made her happy, but at the same time exasperated.

WHY COULDN'T HE SLOW DOWN!?!

"Cara hurry up!!!"

"J-Just hold on a second!! Tsukiko!!!"

==========================

"Room 813. That's on the eight floor, can't miss it."

"Arigatou!" Tsukiko said with a smile as he turned from the front desk of the hospital and towards his teammate, "Cara let's go!!"

Cara however kept in place, her breathing heavy as she waved her hand, "Y-You..go catch up. I'll...I'll be right behind you."

Tsukiko frowned, "You sure? I can wait if you want. I mean we both want to see him so-"

"It's fine!" Cara spoke up as she looked at her leader with a smile, "I mean it. I won't be long, I promise. Just go."

"But-"

"It's okay Tsukiko," Cara spoke calmly as she picked herself up slightly, "I mean it. Go."

Tsukiko stared at his teammate silently, as if contemplating something. After a moment though his face lit up as he nodded and turned running, "Alright!! See you up there Cara!!!"

As Tsukiko ran down the corridor, Cara simply watched with a smile. While she knew her leader would have waited for her, she also knew he needed this. He needed to speak with Hibiki alone and get some closure over what happened. To know that it wasn't his fault that Hibiki ended up as he did for nearly a month. So she didn't mind letting him go first to see their teammate.

Besides, just seeing Tsukiko become that bright and happy again made her cheeks and ears warm slightly.

....Though it didn't stop her from letting out a heavy and tired sigh as she leaned over again to catch her breath.

"I need a glass of water..."

==========================

Tsukiko's mind raced with emotions. Joy, worry, fear, nervousness, concern, and those were the tip. As he raced down the halls of the sixth floor and followed the numbers, his mind kept going back to the event at the ball.

Meeting Remilia and Basil. Getting into the contest with Hibiki. Getting their asses handed to them left and right by the two females before working together with Remilia, only to then get brutally beaten by Cerise and her team. It was all so much in such a short time.

The memory brought a slight frown to the silver-haired teen. The event had shown him just how weak he had been despite his 'curse', and showed that there were people out there just as young as him, but even more dangerous. It had shown him that despite everything, he wasn't strong enough to protect those he wanted too, as shown by Hibiki's stay at the hospital.

Despite that, it had also given him strength. Strength to become stronger, to master his abilities so he would never have to watch anyone be hurt again, especially his teammates.

It also gave him two promises to keep, both of which he fully intended to keep.

The promise to Cerise, to become stronger so he could defeat her.

"I will get stronger from this loss. I will become so strong nothing will stop me. And when I do....if we face each other....I want to fight you. So that only then....can I fight back against you and not sit back like this."

And the promise to Remilia....the one he was going to risk his life on.

"That's up to you....because I'm willing to bet my life, my freedom, for this. I won't stand by and watch someone fall into darkness, not while I can do something about it. Even if it means I have to offer my life in exchange. So let me bet it. Let me bet my freedom, my life, on helping you. On giving you hope, on helping whatever is happening....and on your sister."

Tsukiko felt slightly embarrassed as he went over the words in his head. It wasn't that he was lying, cause he fully intended to do whatever he could to help Remilia after seeing her interaction with her father, but he probably could have worded it a bit better so that she didn't snap at him for it.

Still, she didn't say no, so that had to be a positive thing right? He still didn't understand the situation fully, but he intended to show her that he wasn't just words. He would show he could and would help her and whatever problems she had. It was the least he could do for the trouble he had caused her.

As Tsukiko thought this through though, his mind returned to the other girl, Cerise. Her reaction to his own promise had been....odd.

"A promise?" Cerise asks, almost hesitant at the word. A smile bloomed on her lips, small and fragile. Yet it seemed all the precious, "A promise, what a dubious word", she says wistfully.

The black hole user wasn't sure what to make of it. She seemed almost shocked that he had made such a vow, but then seemed as if it was the most precious thing she had heard. It was kind of odd to him, though it may have been due to the fact he had only just met the strange girl who defeated his vampiric "friend". So he wasn't sure what she was like or thought of his words, and yet he couldn't get that smile out of his face.

He hadn't seen such a reaction before since-

"Don't go there Tsukiko," the boy whispered to himself as he shook his head. The past was the past sure, but he didn't want to bring up those memories again.

Focusing back on the hall, Tsukiko smiled as he saw the room number. Nervousness built up in his gut as he calmed himself and reached for the door handle.

"I thought you'd appreciate it, me doing it in person."

Tsukiko's hand froze as his eyes snapped to the door in shock.

That voice.

"We were worried sick ya know kora!"

A second voice filled the air, and it was easily recognizable for the silver-haired teen. That was Hibiki! He was awake!

But that first voice!

Wasn't tha-

"'Kora'? Eh. As far as verbal ticks go, I've heard worse."

Tsukiko's body froze. His eyes widened in shock as his hand shook and pulled away from the door slowly.

"M-Mari-san?"

"Is there a reason as to why you're blocking the door?" asked To Kei.

He stood behind Tsukiko, arms crossed and eyes narrowed. At his side was Basil Knowledge, her chest heaving from exertion.

"Cerise was the one who emerged victorious. In fact, she was supposedly the reason why you and that Tsukiko fellow forfeited, correct?"

"For what I know that spineless son of a bitch had no right to call it quits on me."

"You never told me how Remilia Scarlet became involved in all of this. If she wasn't your enemy, then...I remember meeting three of you at the island. You, that other boy, and the girl. What happened?"

As the voices continued to speak, Tsukiko remained completely silent outside the door where the voices came from. He was confused. No, confusion wasn't the right word to describe his current feeling.

Honestly, he didn't know what to feel.

When he had first heard Carmine's voice the black hole user had thought he was imagining things. It wouldn't surprise him considering how excited and nervous he had been when coming to the hospital. But then he had heard Hibiki speaking up and knew it wasn't a mere mishearing on his part.

Carmine was here! And she was okay!!

But that had only made Tsukiko even more confused. How was she here?! Last he had seen here was down the hole in that strange facility back on Kana Island, the thought of which still haunted and filled the silver-haired teen with guilt.

He regretted that he hadn't managed to go and look for her back on the island. He had wanted too so badly, but Cara and Hibiki needed him as well, and he couldn't abandon them either. It had eaten him though that they hadn't been able to go back after the event to look.

So it both relived and confused the boy at the same time to hear her voice talking to Hibiki. He had been ready to charge in with questions about until he heard another voice.

The voice of the woman he had met and helped, and who had helped him back.

"Mari-san," Tsukiko thought to himself silently as he listened.

His heart pounded in confusion every time he heard her speak through the door. Like with Carmine he didn't understand why she was here or even how.

When he had last seen her was back in the skyscraper in Lorange City, and then the whole pillar of light incident with To Kei he had discovered. He didn't know why but he had felt as if the beautiful blond's presence had suddenly vanished from the island during that event, and it terrified him.

Heck, he wasn't the only one, as it was that same event that had led him to meeting Carmine. And now both females were here, in the room right in front of him, talking to his teammate about things he didn't understand.

And yet, he still didn't enter the room.

Tsukiko didn't know why. He should have just charged in. He should have made sure he wasn't imagining everything he was hearing and confirm with his own eyes. It wasn't like he hadn't done so in the past.

But for some reason his body refused to move. Refused to go in and remained frozen on the spot.

Was it that he wasn't sure what to say to the two females? Or to Hibiki? Was it that he wanted to know why they had chosen to speak to his teammate rather than let him know they were alright?

Or was it he was afraid of how they would react to him...and his failure.

It was highly doubtful they would mind that he had been forced to give up the search for both much to his hate, but he still wasn't sure he could face them with that knowledge. Especially Mari-san, who he had promised to take care of the orb she had given him and give back to Cara.

How could he confront the woman who affected him such about such a thing?

Regardless of the reason, Tsukiko continued to stay outside the door and listen. And while he may have hated hiding from the trio inside, he had found their conversation very shocking.

Cerise. Remilia. As Tsukiko listened to the three speaking about the events that had happened nearly a month ago and the two girls interactions with them, he tried to understand what exactly was going on.

It has shocked him to learn that Carmine had found Cerise on the island in that same facility he had lost her in. That the girl had lost all her memories, and yet she was now a member of the team he had fought. It sounded ridiculous due to the timing, but he HAD been locked away from the outside world for a few days so there was always the chance it was possible.

But what did that mean about her teammates that he and Hibiki had fought? Did they know? And if so why was she drafted onto their team so quickly, and more importantly, who had done so? And why was it so big that Remilia had been defeated?

He had more questions that he liked, and he hated it.

"I'm afraid I have some bad news." Mari-sans voice spoke up again as Tsukiko listened,"A month ago, a close friend of mine had his pharmacy raided and vandalized. He was commissioned to look into classified research material. Said research was missing in the aftermath. He confided some information to me and I felt it prudent to discuss it with you."

Tsukiko's eyes narrowed. A raid? And on a researcher? He hadn't heard of any struggles or events like that in the news. Maybe it was kept secret. Heck if it was research, maybe Lancaster-san knew something.

"Why me?"

Tsukiko blinked as he heard Hibiki speak up.

"Why not entrust it to Tsukiko like last time?"

Tsukiko body flinched as his head looked at the door worriedly. So simple a question, and yet it brought fear to his heart again as he remembered asking himself that same question earlier.

Why hadn't they let him know? Why had they kept secret and spoken to Hibiki?

Why?

The answer came from Mari-san.

"I have reason to believe that your friend may or may not have been compromised."

BA-DUMP

Tsukiko's eyes widened as his breath froze.

"W-What?"

The words Mari-san had spoken were cold and without warmth. As if she really believed such a thing.

Why? Why did she say such words? Why did she make it sound like he couldn't be trusted? Why was she so cold in her response?

And why was it causing his chest to pulsate in pain.

Tsukiko's right hand moved over his chest unconsciously as he tried to control his breathing and mind, but his thoughts were racing too rapidly. Did this mean Carmine also didn't trust him? Did this mean that they were suspicious of him, and that the whole time they had met him it had been, what, an act?

He didn't know. He didn't understand and it was causing his heart to go crazy!

"P-Pull it together! Focus dammit!" Tsukiko yelled mentally to himself as he focused his hearing back on the room. He couldn't let himself feel this way, not now! Not when he needed answers!

"As I was saying, there had been classified information stolen. Not too long before that, there had been an another attack at the Yggdrasil Research Facility. The two are possibly linked," Mari-sans voice continued through the door, "While we do not know what the thieves stole there, we know what they took from the clinic."

Tsukiko's eyes narrowed as his hand clenched his coat tightly, as his entire attention focused on the door.

"Dossiers on this year's admissions of Terminal University. Everything the school entered in its medical records, they now have. Including you and your team."

Tsukiko's eyes widened. The thieves had WHAT?!

"More importantly," Mari-san spoke only to pause. The pause worried Tsukiko as he focused his hearing entirely on the door, "They also now have Alice's."

Tsukiko blinked.

"Alice?" Tsukiko questioned quietly. That name sounded familiar. Where ha-

"Is there a reason as to why you're blocking the door?"

Tsukiko's eyes widened as his head snapped around at the sudden and unexpected sound. His body seemed to freeze up as he saw who had spoken.

To Kei. The "friend" of Mari-san and Carmine.

And Miss Basil, the woman from the contest who he had faced off against with Hibiki.

"Shit."

To Kei suppressed a snort at the softly spoken swear. While Basil's breath grew steadily more even, his patience began to wear thin. "Well?"

"Shit," Tsukiko thought mentally as he stared at the face of the man before him. A face he was REALLY starting to get annoyed by.

Regardless he knew that To Kei wasn't the most patient type when annoyed, but at the same time it was the WORST possible timing ever. Couldn't he have come around AFTER Tsukiko had heard what he needed too? Seriously, this guys timing sucked! And with Carmine and Mari-san in there he wa-

Tsukiko's thoughts paused in shock, "Wait a minute. Is that why he's here? Does he know they're inside speaking to Hibiki? And why is Miss Basil with him anyways?"

More questions AGAIN. It was really starting to annoy the hell out of the black hole user. Especially since everybody involved in the promise he made to Carmine were now IN THE SAME VICINITY!!

How was he supposed to react to this?!

"Well?" To Kei spoke up seemingly in annoyance.

Tsukiko flinched and turned his gaze briefly towards the door. It sounded like they hadn't heard, but this was the worst possible timing ever! Still, he needed to give some answers and fast, less this guy lose his temper.

"Uh, hi Miss Basil...To Kei. Good to see you again so soon," Tsukiko said somewhat quietly, though his words were more directed at the woman he had met at the contest rather than the man, an act that To Kei seemed to notice. Before he could say anything though Tsukiko quickly spoke again, though his voice was still quiet, "Sorry if I was in your way. I was just debating over whether or not to go in or not. You see, it seems as if my partner is currently occupied with some..."people" at the moment."

He paused, unsure if he should reveal who was inside or not. Considering the possible scenarios that could and probably would happen in the next few minutes, there weren't many good odds in saying it.

No, better to not hide it. To Kei had already found him in a suspicious manner, so hiding this when he either already knew or was going to find out in the next few moments would just make things worse.

Besides, To Kei said it himself.

"Some people that you actually happen to know To Kei. You know...some people we spoke about, last we met."

They had MUCH to discuss.

And this was as perfect a time as any.

"Least, I hope so..."