Truth, Perjury, and Sacrifice

Break-Through

She awoke to a hand on her head and pressure on her arm. Karen's eyes slowly opened, first seeing Kotoko and Nagisa. Nagisa was silently reading, while Kotoko was skimming through old magazines with headphones on. She turned her head in the other direction and noticed that Byakuya was running his fingers through her hair. She smiled, "Hey," she said, sitting up. Glancing at the clock on the nightstand, it was already ten in the morning. "I didn't realize how tired I was, I guess."

"Or how dehydrated you were," Byakuya said, pointing to the IV in her arm. "Kyoko told Tsumiki that you looked extremely pale, and I have to agree with them."

"Yeah, I suppose I was a little neglectful to myself. I think that was the first time I slept for several hours straight in the last few days," Karen said. She looked at the already half-empty IV bag, "So, I guess I can't leave until this is empty, huh?"

Byakuya nodded. "Tsumiki wants to check on you before you leave, too. Technically, you were admitted at five in the morning."

"Have you been awake this whole time? You could've woken me up!" Karen fully sat up and stretched her shoulders and arms.

"After the past 48 hours you've experienced? I think not. Besides, I've kept busy," he said, tapping the paperwork in his lap. Now that she was awake, however, he set aside the folders and papers. "I've also been catching up with everything that has happened. I've already spoken with Hajime and the others. Even some of the new students called you, but I answered on your behalf."

"Oh? You were nice to them, I hope," Karen smirked, worriedly.

Byakuya rolled his eyes, "I was civil with them. They called to thank you."

"Thank me?" Karen shook her head. She curled her lips inward, unsure of whether to explain that this wasn't a cure they received, but merely a way to buy time. And one that was by pure chance. "But we aren't out of the woods yet."

"We are all aware of that," Byakuya said, taking a hold of Karen's hand. "But I think they are thanking you for the additional time." He forced a smile and grabbed a short stack of papers from a folder. "Speaking of which," he presented the papers to Karen. "I need you to read this and sign it."

Karen took the papers and only read the title of the document before tossing it aside, "I'm not reading that. We don't need to discuss this now."

"Karen, we have encountered multiple life-or-death situations by now. It's only appropriate to discuss the aftermath in the event of-."

Karen put her hand up, "I know."

"The three of you will be taken care of. I'm simply taking precautions now," Byakuya said, handing the documents back to Karen. He watched her sigh and lean back in her chair, seriously reading the papers this time. He heard something from Nagisa's direction. "Did you say something, Nagisa?"

"You can't die on us," Nagisa said.

Karen and Byakuya looked at each other, then back at Nagisa. "He's not going to die, Nagisa."

"Oh yeah? And how can you be so sure? Before we even came to stay with you, you two ended up almost dying!" It was finally clear as to why he struggled with getting close to either of them. "The stupid servant even almost died!"

Karen couldn't help by grin, "You really need to start calling Nagito by his real name." She set the papers aside once more and left the chair to approach Nagisa's bedside. "Neither of us is going to die anytime soon if we have any say about it."

"And when you don't, what's going to happen to us then?" Nagisa glared at Karen.

Karen shook her head, "Let's not think about that right now, okay? Because all I've been thinking about the past few days is going home with the people I care about." She sat down on the edge of his bed, "Because that house isn't home without you in it. I'm proud of you for withstanding all you've been through, Nagisa, but I want to let you know that it's okay to let down some walls with us."

Nagisa didn't know how to react to that and looked to Byakuya. Byakuya didn't know what to say either. Karen chuckled, "You and Byakuya have similar childhood experiences, but I think you and I can relate, too. I'm an only child, and I had to be the very best for my father and prove to him that I was worthy of inheriting the family business."

"Did he do anything to hurt you?"

"At first, I didn't think so, but as I got older, I realized that he always did one thing that was greatly discouraging and yet highly motivating." Karen sighed with a sad smile. "If a design I drew wasn't the standard that my father was looking for, he'd tear that piece of paper in half right in front of me. If one stitch was out of place, he'd rip every stitch in the line out. However, those weren't the worst."

"There were times when I would create a piece that was just right, perfect, and my father would claim it as his own. It wasn't until I was 16 that I was able to claim my own work."

"Where would your father learn to do such a thing?" Even Byakuya was appalled by this behavior.

"Uh, well, you're not going to like that answer," Karen said, looking back at him. "My father was actually inspired by your father's methodology, even though I don't recall your father ever taking credit for someone else's work."

"He most certainly did not."

"So, you know what it's like to work toward something and never feel good enough?" Nagisa asked, his gaze redirected toward the windows.

"Both of us do," Byakuya said. Karen looked back in shock. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"You're admitting to not feeling good enough? I think I'm having that stroke now." Karen smirked, "Sorry, I'm just a little surprised is all. But yes, I think we both have moments even now where anything we do just doesn't feel like enough." Nagisa didn't say anything. Even Kotoko got out of her bed to approach him.

"You are both enough," Karen said. Nagisa and Kotoko immediately looked at her. "You don't have to prove yourselves to us, or anyone else anymore." Tears overwhelmed Nagisa's eyes as he furiously tried to brush them away. "It's okay to cry, too. And to yell, get angry, or even just spend an entire day in bed."

Seeing how distraught Nagisa had become, Karen opened her arms just in case but didn't expect Nagisa to actually accept the gesture. His tears paused briefly until Kotoko nudged him just a little. He accepted the hug with hesitance at first, but eventually, he held on tightly, openly sobbing.