To love a sword

Chapter 35: Forgotten Past

Beta read by Shigiya, Paragon of Awesomeness and FabledLife

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-Sainan-

Lately, Sainan had been caught in a lull—so quiet that Ryouko almost forgot what peace felt like. The clinic was stuffy, the sharp tang of antiseptic hanging in the air, mingled with the faint buzz of medical equipment. The alien doctor, her auburn hair pulled back in a no-nonsense bun, slumped against her desk. Her eyes were tired from lack of sleep, but still sparked with remnants of yesterday’s little adventure.

“…Then all the students gathered around the fire. Then came the ceremony of prizes being given out, and we had quite the show with Lala getting a bit jealous.” She spoke to her assistant, Shizu. The ghost inhabiting the artificial body Ryouko made to look just like her, wearing a nurse's outfit. Adorable but also practical, she designed it herself. 

“Hehe, it sounds amazing!” 

“You really ought to have joined us, Oshizu,” Ryouko said, her words dancing with the joy of recollection. “The beach alone was a sight to behold; it was very clean, and it reminded me of the Ryukyu Islands beaches. With Sephie around, the experience was even more amazing! Shame she had to go back, it's a nice experience to hang out with a woman around my own age every so often.”

"I appreciate the offer, Doctor," Shizu said softly, tucking a stray lock of blue hair behind her ear, "but I really needed to take care of the clinic. Who else would look after the patients while you're on vacation? Without you around, some people were worried that they would have needed to go to the regular hospitals."

The buxom brunette leaned back in her chair, the leather creaking under her, and studied her assistant closely. It was true—the clinic had only grown more popular with time. With more and more aliens secretly making their way to Earth, fearful of exposure, Ryouko’s clinic had become the only safe haven in the area for species too afraid to risk a human hospital and the inevitable consequences. Zastin and his task force worked tirelessly to keep the secret, but one mistake could undo everything for a few unlucky individuals. 

They have been especially strict lately after Sephie’s visit…

"A day or two of absence won't cause that much trouble, and everyone needs some form of leisure time," she said kindly, a smile tugging at her lips. "You've been working here for a long time now. I see how hard you work every day, you deserve a break just like anyone else. Besides, if there's an emergency, the patients can always call me. I'd be back in an instant."

It wasn’t the first time she had taken leave, nor would it be the last. Unless a true emergency occurred — something catastrophic like a patient in need of immediate surgery — most cases could wait. In fact, just this past year, the only genuinely urgent medical situation had been Golden Darkness’ case of severe malnutrition, and even then, it had stemmed more from reckless eating habits than any true peril. The girl had nearly starved herself from the inside out with a diet consisting almost entirely of potato chips and any other junk food she’d been able to get her hands on.

Shizu, of course, technically didn’t even have a body to maintain anymore. A ghost could drift through centuries without needing a single doctor’s visit. But her mind and her soul, those were still very much alive and working. Relentless work would wear even the dead down, with enough stress. 

Besides, a day at the beach with some of the students seemed like the perfect way to relax and socialize. Yet, the longer Ryouko mulled over Shizu’s flimsy excuse, the more suspicious she became.