Animal Adventure

Chapter 10: Changing Our Top Star

It has been an hour since they arrived at the hospital. The boy who was having a heart attack was immediately taking to the emergency room. Aka contacted Teresa about what happened and that she might be home late at night or early the next morning.

As of right now, Aka and the boy with black ears are waiting for the news. Aka watches the boy as he bounces his legs in nervousness. His face has dry tears from crying earlier and didn't wipe it off. Aka hasn't interrogated him yet, but now seems like the time to question him.

"I know that you are worry about you friend." Aka started, making the boy jump. "But I need to ask you some questions. What is your name?"

"Natsuki." He answered while not looking at Aka.

His attention is directly down on the ground. His legs are now swinging back and forth. When he answered, Natsuki has a slight accent to it. From what Aka can guess, he is a foreigner or something like that.

"And your friend's name is Syo, right?"

Natsuki nods.

"What happened for you two to be outside without your parents?"

Natsuki tugs at his shirt as he thinks about the answers he is about to say.

"Syo-chan and I were running away." He finally said.

"Running away?"

Aka's face scrunches up when she heard the words. There are two possible things that would make someone to run away. One they could be running because their parents are bad. Or...

"These bad people took us and now we don't know where we are."

There are people after them. Aka's face scrunches up even more.

"Where were you before they took you?"

"We were playing at the park. Our parents were setting up a picnic for all of us to eat together."

"Where do you live?"

"England."

Aka eyes widen. She knew that he might not have been around here, but for him to say England is a surprise to Aka.

"England?"

Natsuki nods his head. When he didn't hear anything from Aka, he flinches when he sees Aka's face. Aka didn't notice as she thinks of ways to murder these people that kidnapped the two boys. She also didn't notice how the temperature rise in the room.

"Those good for nothing people." Aka said to herself. "To kidnap them and send them all the way here is unforgivable."

"Where is here?" the boy asked.

Aka snaps out of her murderous thoughts and focus on the boy. The room also cools down a little.

"Too far away from home, I'm afraid." Aka said.

Aka explains where they were and that it will be hard for the two boys to return home. Natsuki looks like he was about to cry when he hears Aka explains it. Aka feels bad, but there is no way in sugarcoating the situation.

"I'm sorry, but it seems like you'll have to stay here until I can figure out what to do." Aka said.

"Are we ever going to go back home?" Natsuki asked.

Aka hesitates to answer. She knows that there is a chance that they might never see their family again, but Aka would be damned if she didn't try to help.

"I'll make sure you get to see your families again." Aka promised, determination in her eyes. "I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't help you."

Natsuki looks at Aka in awe. When he first saw Aka, he thought she was a scary person with her face scowling as she helped get Syo-chan. But the hybrid realizes that she was concentrated on the task at hand and was really trying her best to help Syo-chan to not be in pain. Natsuki smiles for the first time in a long time and hugs Aka without warning.

Aka is startled but did not push Natsuki away. Instead Aka wraps her arms around him and rubs his back, making sure that he gets the message. It seems like he does as Natsuki sobs into Aka's shoulder. Aka continues to rub Natsuki's back until a doctor comes.

Aka lets go of Natsuki and waits for the doctor to give the news.

"Are you here for Kurusu Syo?" the doctor asked.

Aka nods as Natsuki jumps off the bench that they were sitting at.

"Will Syo-chan be okay?" Natsuki asked.

"I'll show you where he is resting now." The doctor stated instead of answering.

Aka stands up and wait for the doctor to guide them. The doctor leads them to a room a couple of ways down from where Aka and Natsuki was sitting. The doctor opens the door. Aka and Natsuki follow close behind. The room that they walked into is just like any regular room in the hospital. The only difference is the small boy laying in the bed with an IV next to it.

Syo looks peacefully sleeping at first glance, but upon closer inspection, his skin is almost as white as the blanket covering him. The beeping of the heart monitor is steady, although it is a bit slow.

"Now," the doctor started as the door shuts, "His condition is stable. If you had waited any longer, he could have died."

Natsuki flinches as the doctor explained what happened.

"Are there any problems with Syo's health? From what I know, kids his age don't get heart attacks real easily." Aka asked. "I deal with hybrid children for work and this is my first encounter of someone having a heart attack."

"Syo-chan has a heart condition." Natsuki explained. Aka and the doctor look at Natsuki. "He has it from when he was born. The doctors said that he has until 12 years old to live."

Natsuki's eyes begins to water as he remembers how Syo-chan would not make it passed 12. Aka puts her hand on top of Natsuki's head and starts stroking his hair. Aka thought that if she did this like Teresa does when Otoya gets upset, Natsuki might calm down. And It does.

"Yes. What he said is true. Syo here doesn't have much time to live. Right now, he is age 6. So, he only has 6 more years to live." The doctor explained. "There is a possibility of surgery, but the chances of success are low."