THE MISSING EMPEROR ~ The Elemental Seven Book I

CHAPTER XVI: INFIRMARY

She woke up in the real world. She found herself in a room with all her friends looking at her rather concerned. Cray was holding her hand tightly. Her Ryuugan eyes were wide open but she seemed unconscious. Did the seal broke? Cray asked herself. LeGrande was standing by the bedside asked, "Myoku are you alright? You're here in River's infirmary. We've just reached LaMahaya." Myoku's eyes reverted to its normal kind blue green color but looked rather weak. She regained her consciousness and spoke feebly, "Hey, there." Myoku smiled. "Hey," River sat next to her. "You alright now?" he asked. Myoku looked at River. She remembered her vision. 

This boy is her cousin. Her memories of River were wiped out by the Ryuugan users. Most probably they did the same thing to him. That's why he can't remember when and where did they met. He can't remember how they met. The only thing that they both remembered was that they were childhood friends in LaMahaya. River's memories of her must have been the only thing that was erased from him, not the memory of her mother's death and how he killed the townspeople. A tear fell from her eye. She turned to Cray, hugged her and sobbed on her shoulder. "We... have to find his father. We have to." Myoku said. 

"So you are Miss Myoku? Here..." Emerald said offering her an herb she grew from her right hand. "This will take away any pain you're feeling. Physically, that is." Emerald turned to Cray and asked, "You are Miss Cray, right?" Cray just nodded in response. "Myoku, are you alright?" River asked again. Myoku touched his face and forced a smile. "Yeah. I'm fine, Master River," she said. The Ryuugan suddenly activated against her will and she saw part of her past.

A very angry child with tears on his eyes standing atop of a hill. "No, please don't do this." Myoku's voice said. The child remained staring at the town downhill. "Let the lords handle this, calm yourself!" Myoku said stopping the child from doing what seemed to be horrible. The child's eyes turned blue. He raises his arms sideward. "RIVER STOP!!!" Myoku screamed and an ice blast blew her away.

Myoku removed her hand from River's face. Her eyes turned normal. "We...really need to find your father." She told him. "After you're well." River replied. "Its only June 9th." he said. Emerald sighed, "Its three days after the deadline," she turned to LeGrande and asked, "Took you 3 days to get here?!" LeGrande answers Emerald. "I'm sorry, but this ship happened to be the fastest one available in our Lascaux port." he explained. Myoku tried to get up but River stopped her. "Easy. What matters is you're here now." he said. He then gave out his orders. 

"Emerald, please gather the lords of LaMahaya to the imperial hall now." 

"Right away!" Emerald bowed and left. 

"LeGrande, gather an escort and take Myoku to the palace's central infirmary. I need speak to Cray in private." 

LeGrande bowed and said "Understood, m'lord." He turned to Myoku and said, "Come Miss Myoku. First you need to rest otherwise you won't be in you best condition. Besides that deadline was just the lords' trying to control River. By you guys not showing up on time, you have flouted their authority." he smiles. "Which is good. They need a lesson in respect!" he encourages Myoku with a wink. "I like your idea of delinquency." Myoku said with a faint smile. "And have I not told you to drop the 'miss'?" "oh, right. Forgot." LeGrande was about to lay Myoku on a stretcher when River pulled him to a corner. "Give us a sec, Myoku."

"LeGrande... You said Myoku what...blacked out? How exactly did this happened? I trusted you to get them all here safely!" River asked looking rather concerned and angry. "Apologies, Prince River--" LeGrande said apologetically. "You don't need to call me that LeGrande. I won't be staying after we find my father." River said sadly. "Right. I am sorry though River. It was my fault." LeGrande apologized. "I shouldn't have tested Myoku. I wanted to see if she had her powers under control already." he explained. "Tested her? It wasn't your place to do that." River said firmly. "I just realized that's why I'm sorry." LeGrande replied. River accepted LeGrande's apology with a nod. He looked back at Myoku and saw Cray's eyebrows furrowed when she glanced at LeGrande. She looked back at Myoku then touched her friend's face dearly. "hey," Cray said. "It'll be alright, Myoku. We'll find his dad. Promise! Just rest for now. We can't have you passing out on the mission can we?" she smiled. Cray's eyes glowed white as she gently touched Myoku's forehead bringing forth soothing memories and emotions to her. Myoku smiled back and said, "Thanks... you guys" she closed her eyes to sleep.