Just Trust Me

Chapter 4

The nurse's office consisted of white white white. Ceiling white, papery white, sickly white. All of it was white and Kiba wondered if this is how people go crazy, with all this white. He was even dressed in white. The stocky nurse was dressed in white, and with her skin she almost blended with the papers she worked on.

Excuse me?

The nurse didn't stop her paper shuffling, and uttered a grunt he took to decipher as a Yes?

When can I leave? I feel better now.

Your teacher told me to keep you until the third bell.

At this, he closed his eyes and blocked out the white.

'The morning wakes, smiling.'

What? His head shot up. What did you say?

The nurse sneered in his direction, finally looking at him. I didn't say anything.

'But I can't help but tremble.'

Kiba stared at her stone lips. Why weren't they moving? Where did you hear that song?

'Knowing that this part of me will soon fade away.'

Her face twisted deeply, into something so grotesque he shut up, and she spit, I. Didn't. Say. Anything. And she turned away.

'It is painful, this reminder, but it keeps me grounded, making me believe that it's not all a dream.'

He watched her work on swishing the papers from one end of the desk to the next. It was strange, this song, this room. Everything was monotone, the only break was the smooth, low voice of the song. Again and again she slid the paper to one end, then retracted it back. Slide the paper. Retract it. Slide. Retract.

'When my time comes, remember what I have done, and don't forget me again.'

Forgive and forget is what he was taught. Leave them alone, his mother would say, straightening his tie, Forgive them and forget what they have wronged. But he was never sure which way it went, so he forgot people when he forgave their mistakes.

Can I have a glass of water, please? He said, watching the nurse huff. She stood up, made sure her papers were in line in a mess, and left the room without looking back.

'I need you to stay and remind me another time that when this is over, I will be human again...'

It was clear, pure, that voice, but it attacked from all sides at once and Kiba didn't know where the source was. Hello? he called, thinking that since it answered him last time, it may as well answer him now, Where are you?

It ignored him.

It sang whisper-quiet, like he was the only one who should hear it. So he heard it, over and over, repeated until curiosity got the better of him and he started snooping around the white white room.

The cot was unbroken white, so he turned to the cupboards and desk drawers and found that even the insides of those were white. The curtain in the corner whished slowly, as if wanting to draw his attention to the outside.

Hello?

Slowly, slowly, like a groundhog seeing its shadow for the first time, he crept to the window on his hands and knees and peered over the edge.

The voice stopped abruptly, and the only thing he saw was the stretch of green for a long time. The hills around were humped, like a blanket you wave to get the crumbs off. Hello...?

It was then that a different nurse came. She wore all pastel, a clear contrast to the room. She stood at the door, holding his cup of water that was warm from the long time she took. Are you okay? Come, come, get away from that window.

Kiba chanced a look down outside, snickering at the fact that it was only a few feet down. I'm not trying to jump, he painted a smile, and I'm not trying to escape.

Come, just come to me, please. She was keeping her distance and then he knew that she was actually very freaked out. How long was she standing outside that door?

I'm coming, I'm coming. Don't hit the ceiling, you won't be getting in trouble.

Despite his calming words, as soon as he stood within five feet of the nurse she grabbed him and stuffed him close to her bosom. You are not going anywhere. Well, anywhere but psych. The head nurse made a call, and the headmaster approved, so you're going to have to stay in here until they come to get you. She sent me to fetch you, but...

What about my drink? he tried, mouth full of cloth. The last place he needed to be was the psych hall where they would pick apart his brain and leave him comatose.

Oh! I'm sorry, I think I dropped it somewhere... I'll, uh... I'll be back! And she left, leaving him with the water staining his socks and the white room that somehow ate his clothes.

Quickly, he scampered around the room looking in places he didn't before. They were in one of the cot's drawers, his clothes, with his shoes on top and pendant safely inside. Shed the gown, pull on the shirt, the pants, the sweater. Tie up his shoes, wrap the pendant around his neck, and out.

When the nurse came back, he was sure that she would look everywhere for him, so he went back and left a note. Sorry. I'm not up for being a vegetable right now. I mean, I don't like the psych hall. But if you came to get me for a date, I'd be all up for that. I hope your superior doesn't flip.

Perfect.

Then he left for real. Really. Out the door, past the unsuspecting nurses, and into the hallways of the classroom. It was quick, this escape, and he patted himself on the back when he pulled it off. It was class still, since the doors dotting the walls were shut tight and it was heavy.

Kiba spirited slowly down the corridor and down the stairs. The elevator would have been easier, but people were lazy and the chances of meeting anyone on the stairs was close to zero.

So when he came face to face with pale, unrevealing eyes, he knew he was in trouble.

Inuzuka?

Hyuuga, excuse me. I'm trying to get to my locker.

You were supposed to be lying down, right? Under Haruno-san's care.

No, I wasn't. Excuse me, Hyuuga.

Yes, you were. I saw you on the ground in the middle of the hallway humming to yourself. I thought you were hurt.

I wasn't- Wait, it was you that called Iruka-sensei on me?

Yes, but-

No, Neji. You don't get to do that.

You were lying on the ground, Kiba. It was my duty to report a fallen classmate.

No, it's not. If I'm lying on the ground in the middle of the hallway, you should stop and think, 'Hm. Maybe he's not hurt. He doesn't need to go to psych, either. I like to sing, and maybe he likes the scent of the school floor.'

Neji stared at Kiba with something akin to pity. Are you sure you're okay? he murmured, placing a cool hand on Kiba's cheek, You're burning up here. Maybe I should-

Neji, I'm fine, okay?

I'm just worried-

Don't be, please. The chilled hand was mixing temperatures on that spot, allowing a neutral area between their two worlds.

Inuzuka...

With a quick glance to the depthless eyes, Kiba shifted, so the hand fell. I'm fine. And he shuffled around the prince.

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These past few chapters were shit, I know. And I'm sorry.