Soul Eater but it's Sonic

Chapter 19

 "How have you been feeling?"

Nurse Tikal's voice spoke softly after she removed her stethoscope from Shadow's chest.

"Same as usual, I guess," Shadow replied.

"Physically, you're recovering remarkably well. But what about emotionally? Have you been feeling depressed or anxious lately?"

"Yes, but depression is nothing new," Shadow wanted to say. He didn't want to be difficult, though. She was only trying to help.

"I don't know if this counts, but I've been having just about the same dream ever since I got here,"

"Tell me about your dream, Shadow,"

Tikal stood patiently and listened to Shadow describe his encounter with Mephiles. He avoided naming Mephiles directly, referring to him only as a demon that shared his appearance.

"What happens after the demon pulls you into the dark?" The nurse asked.

"He leads me through a door, then I end up by myself. I get lost in the hallways of a factory or something. The air is so warm and awful. I hear Sonic's voice and try to find him but..." Shadow thought about stopping entirely. "I end up killing him,"

Tikal did her best to appear neutral. "Believe it or not, having recurring nightmares is pretty normal after what you've been through. I don't see any reason to worry,"

Shadow nodded, feeling himself relax a bit. The door of his hospital room opened and Sonic walked in. The meister noticed his weapon was shirtless; the gash that ran from Shadow's left shoulder to his right hip was clearly visible. Dark scabbing and sutures spanned the length of the laceration. A look of sadness shifted Sonic's expression immediately.

"Sorry,"

The meister stepped back out of the room and closed the door.

"That was quite the reaction," Tikal said.

"He always gets like that when it comes to me being injured. He really hates seeing it," Shadow ran a hand along the wound gently.

Tikal wrapped the gash in bandages until it was fully covered.

"Get dressed and tell him the good news, then,"

What the witch really wanted to say was 'Tell him to grow up,' but she had to keep acting like a school nurse, unfortunately.

Sonic leaned on the wall outside of Shadow's room looking sullen and feeling stupid. Pouting in front of Shadow wasn't doing any good. He expected nurse Tikal to exit the room when he heard the door open. He stepped away from the wall in disbelief when he saw Shadow walk out too. The weapon was wearing the clothes that Sonic had brought yesterday but he wasn't expecting to see them used so soon.

"You'd better take him with you this time," Tikal said.

"Wait, really?" Sonic's eyes widened with excitement.

"He's been healing faster than we expected. Weapons that have consumed as many souls as Shadow tend to be resilient. As long as he takes it easy there's no reason he shouldn't ease back into a normal routine. We'll keep an eye on his condition through regular follow ups. If something changes regarding his health, I want to know right away," Tikal smiled and playfully pointed at the weapon, then the meister.

"You bet," Sonic said.

Tikal watched the weapon and meister leave, feeling thrilled. Starline had put her in charge of Shadow's follow up examinations. She'd have many more opportunities to check on her test subject. Plenty of blood to examine as well. Shadow's violent nightmares were proof that the black blood was affecting his mind. If he were pushed further, put under more stress, the effects would be much greater.