DOCTOR KAORI’S HOME

After a long day at work, Kaori, instead of taking her time to rest, couldn't resist the temptation to cook something delicious for dinner.

As she observed the brewing storm outside, she decided to prepare a comforting, warm meal and immediately placed a hot pot on the stove. Her thoughts then turned to the selection of veggies to add to the hot pot.

Sachi's father, Kazuma, had also returned home early and was deeply engrossed in a word game with Sachi at the dining table while they eagerly awaited for the food to be served.

Beep….Beeep….Beeeep…

When Kaori's phone rang unexpectedly, she couldn't help but wonder who it could be trying to reach her at this late hour.

Kaori looked from the kitchen towards her husband and daughter, who were too busy in their game to acknowledge the call.

“…Hfff.” Kaori sighed and decided to do it herself.

Having no choice, she lowered the flames on the stove and went to pick up the call.

But once she saw that this was not just any ordinary call, her facial expression shifted noticeably towards concern.

It was the alert message configured to notify her if a patient's emergency situation had been triggered.

And the name of the patient for which the alarm went off worried her even more.

“Mama. Is something wrong?”

Doctor Kaori quickly noticed Sachi standing right in front of her and hurriedly put the phone behind her.

“It’s nothing you need to worry about, sweetheart.” Kaori reassured Sachi, making certain not to display even a hint of concern while they were at home.

Kaori bends down and starts caressing Sachi’s cheeks.

Rather than being captivated by words Sachi holds her mother’s hands and finds them shaking. Kaori knew that Sachi always wanted to spend time with her family but because of her demanding work, she had very less chances to do so.

“Tell me.” Sachi said, her young age not hindering her ability to distinguish between the right and wrong.

“Well, it seems like one of my little patients got a bit sick.” Kaori says making an unthinking expression while scratching her face.

“Did something happen to Ken?” Sachi quickly reached a conclusion and guessed the person.

"Seems like you've got me," Kaori admitted with a smile. "It looks like Kenta is a bit sicker than usual."

Kaori knew it would be useless to hide anything from her daughter who was able to figure it out so quickly.

“⸺Is it because of my fault?” Sachi’s horrified expression deepened further.

“Why do you say that?” Kaori was suddenly surprised by what Sachi said.

“Mom I did not tell you about something. But is it because I asked Ken to take me to the park? I promise I will never do it again.” Sachi rushed to explain her involvement in the plan of going to the park with Ken secretly as quickly as possible.

She couldn’t help but put the blame on herself because despite knowing about Ken’s illness she might have encouraged Ken to take her to the park.

“So, you finally decided to tell me the truth. But I already knew about it.” Kaori giggled.

Sachi was surprised to hear her mother’s answer.

“In fact, I was planning to suggest the same the next week. So, did you enjoy playing in the park?” Kaori asked with a serene expression.

“⸺A lot.” Sachi’s face was already on the verge of crying but her mother’s smile had suddenly put her mind at ease. At the same time, Kaori’s finger wiped Sachi’s eyes before a tear would ruin her cute face.

Kaori looked into Sachi’s eyes and the two smiled at each other, “Then I will make sure he gets well in no time. So, do you want me to stay?”

Sachi looked back and saw her dad already standing behind her ready with the car keys.

“You don’t plan to go out in the storm in a car alone. I will drive you to the hospital as fast as possible.” Sachi’s dad, Kazuma offered.

Sachi looked back, the two smiling back together at Kaori.

“Just leave the home to me and get back as soon as you can.” Sachi said loudly.

Alright. Sweetheart, I will do as you say," Kaori said, gently pinching Sachi's nose and swiftly donning her doctor's coat. Most of her other equipment was otherwise back at the hospital.

Sachi waved her parents from the door as she saw them sitting in the car and then once they had left she quickly closed the gate. Sachi knew well that if she did not remain strong it would upset her parents and wanted to support them in any way possible.

“Don’t worry we will reach the hospital in no time.” Sachi’s dad turns the car key and quickly pulls out the car from the parking area of the house.

“What I am more worried about is that the hospital has not yet directly contacted me, despite the alert.” Kaori found it strange that despite the alert the hospital did not immediately contact her.

“It is possible it might be a false alarm or they were able to handle the situation on their own.” Sachi’s dad made a plausible guess.

“That’s what I hope as well.”

Kaori looked out of the window, even though there was nothing visible because of the night storm. The heavy rain fiercely continued striking the car’s window all the way.

It was a thirty-minute drive, but because of not facing any traffic on the road, they would have reached the hospital only in twenty minutes.

But as the car came close to the hospital building, Kaori felt a sudden chill. It was not the cold from the storm, rather it was warm inside the car.

Her hands and legs itself pulled in closer as her eyes widened with a realization. Kaori’s husband quickly noticed the change and worriedly looked at her.

“Kaori is everything fine?” Kazuma asked.

“Why? How is it possible? Why are those black shadows of all places appearing here?” Kaori’s heart began to race.

A biting pain ran down her spine as the wind picked up. But as if Karoi could hear something more, she put her hands close to her ears to stop the whispering only she could hear coming from far away. Her breaths came out in shallow.

Kaori’s husband, Kazuma quickly stopped the car just outside the hospital gate and looked back.

“Are you sure it's them?” Kazuma did not doubt his wife’s words but at the same time, he was the only other person who could realize the horror in the meaning of those words.

Kaori clenched and unclenched her fists, her fingers cold and numb. But there was no doubt she could feel the ominous presence from this far and it was coming from the hospital.

“They did not appear for ten years. But why now? Even when I had made sure not to use my power for once, so as not to attract them.” Kaori’s face was contorted with terror. The terrible things that had happened in her past tormented her.

“It will be alright. We have dealt with them once in the past we can do it again.” Kazuma said holding Kaori’s hands, his fingers gently brushing her palm and calming her down.

“But…” Kaori still did not know what to do. All this time she wanted to stay away from that darkness. But now it was as if it just followed her back, the more she wanted to get away from it.

“Right now, it’s not the time to worry about how they found us out. We need to make sure the patients are safe here and figure out their real motive. Don’t you want to get back home as soon as possible for Sachi?” Kazuma said to Kaori. Even though he knew how much Kaori was scared of how those things could hurt other people, he also knew that Kaori hated them with the same intensity.

And once she heard her daughter’s name and decided what to do next she had become a completely different person.

“You are right. They are going to regret ever coming face to face with me again.”

Kaori who was just seconds ago looked scared, but now looked more confident than anyone.

“And I will be right there to help you.” Kazuma said looking glad that his wife was back to being normal.

The two quickly got out of the car.

But Kaori also knew in her heart as she entered the hospital, that something about this incident was not right. She until now couldn’t have sensed the presence of these shadows approaching. Nor they went directly after her, which should have been usually the case. But why go after her patients then?

“Kaori do you feel their presence?” Kazuma enquired trying to proceed with caution.

“It’s almost spread all across the hospital. But I can feel their presence strongest on the third floor. So, leaving that the rest of the building should be fine for now. We need to hurry.” Kaori quickly planned to rush in.

“I am coming with you.” Kazuma quickly stopped Kaori from going alone.

“But it’s dangerous. You know that only I can destroy them.” Kaori knew that even if Kazuma wanted to help her, she at the same time did not want to see him getting hurt.

“I promised I would never leave you alone. We two will together take them down just like we did the last time.” Kazuma said boldly. He knew the secret of Kaori’s power and also that she was strong enough to take care of her own and that he might even get in her way.

But at the same time instead of just sitting around he would rather use himself in any way possible even as a distraction or shield to help Kaori and keep her safe.

“You know we cannot involve or let anyone know about this. So, I want you to stay here and stop anyone from coming in.” As Kaori said that for once she put her hands on Kazuma’s chest and softly hugged him.

And after a small pause ⸺with a gentle push, she puts a gap between him and runs towards the elevator door, and presses the close button.

“I will come back soon.” Kaori’s face was brimming with confidence because she knew she could always trust Kazuma. And also, because she had promised herself that she would never let him down.

Kazuma was surprised by this and tried to follow her as quickly as he could.

“Doctor Kaori, is there a problem for coming this late at night.” The receptionist lady had come back in and was surprised to see Doctor Kaori along with her husband.

Kazuma remembered Kaori’s words and had no choice now but to turn back.

“Mam, I am Kaori’s husband and it seems like one of her patients needs urgent attention.” Kazuma tried to stop the receptionist from following Kaori.

“Is that so, then I must go with her.” The receptionist nurse offered.

“You don’t need to worry about anything as my wife will surely have everything under her control.” Then suddenly Kazuma’s voice became passionate as he said, ”In fact would you like to hear my company’s research department’s latest creation of a new drug and how it can help so many people!”

***

THE HOSPITAL

As the lift came to a halt on the third floor. The gates opened. If one were to observe the third floor it would have looked like any other normal hallway for a hospital with several rooms on either side.

What might not have been normal would be the apparently empty-looking lift.

But then an eye quietly peeked from the side, and at the same time, a sharp scalpel was launched at the same spot.

The person in the lift quickly pulled herself back and avoided the shot. The scalpel was unimaginably thrust inside the metal of the lift where it landed as if an extraordinary force was behind it.

“It looks like you were waiting for me here after all.” Saying that Kaori shifted her leg and showed herself in front.

A palpable aura of confidence exuded from the young Kaori as she stepped out. Her doctor's coat billowed slightly behind her as she moved.

Despite the sudden attack on her she did not consider it dangerous to just walk out in the open.

As if Kaori was expecting this unnatural occurrence to happen, the whispers around her grew sharper and loud.

The electric light in the lift burst with golden sparks. While the hanging tube lights suddenly started to flicker in an unruly fashion and shake. The doors slightly shook and it suddenly turned dark with complete silence.

A dark, frigid mist swiftly fills the place in no time, transforming the once ordinary hospital chamber into a haunting graveyard scene.

However, this eerie transformation was far from the end of the bizarre occurrences. In the distance, at the far end of the hall leading to Kenta's room, several ominous, indistinct figures emerged from the inky black mist.

Trolleys that had been lying idle along the corridor, along with the medical equipment stored in the supply room, began to stir and move of their own accord.

Kaori, undaunted by the sinister setting, continued to move forward without hesitation, her words cutting through the tension. “Seems like you still do not like meeting me even after so many years?”

Suddenly, all the sharp surgical instruments, including knives, scalpels, scissors, and needles, levitated in the air, taking aim at Kaori.

With a swift and bullet-like whizzing sound, they were launched toward her.

However, surprisingly at the same time, Kaori swiftly produced a large red wrench from inside her lab coat and deflected the projectiles with three precise thrusts. The remaining objects missed her, passing through her formlessly.

She nonchalantly placed the spanner behind her shoulder and flashed a confident smile at the shapeless shadows.

“I'm glad I brought this with me and kept it in my locker here all along and did not throw it away back then.”

Kaori knew it was peculiar for a doctor to harbor such an item in her wardrobe. But she couldn’t help herself with her strange obsession.

“Hey, do you know why swinging this wrench feels as natural to me as checking a person's pulse? ⸺Oh! It's such a shame you can't speak, but only groan." Kaori quipped with an amused tone, poking fun at the shadowy figures.

“Maybe a sword would look much good in my hand.” Kaori was not at all worried about the danger that the deathly shadows posed to her.

In fact, she was always intrigued by her dexterity in handling any object as a weapon and how it consistently put her in an amazing mood.

Kaori's main objective was still the last room of the floor where Kenta was and also where she could feel the terrifying presence from. That would mean the other patients were not their target and were probably safe and ignorant of what was happening outside.

Also, this was Kaori’s first time seeing the shadows working together to stop her in a coordinated manner otherwise they would always be actively attacking her in the past.

On seeing all their attempts failed in stopping Kaori, the shadows shifted in a frenzy mode and the air became much colder but it only affected Kaori by a little.

As if she was also immune to the fall in the change in temperature.

While speaking Kaori took out all the objects which the shadow could throw at her.

“So would you please now let me pass through? ⸺Is that what you thought I would ask.” Kaori laughs.

She pulls back her long hair and ties it with a rubber band and holding her spanner in both her hands it almost looked like she was taking a battle stance.

“I am going to erase each one of you right now.” She says pointing her spanner at them.

On hearing Kaori’s declaration, the shadows go wild and start behaving abnormally as if they understood Kaori’s intentions.

Kaori holds her spanner straight and for the first time in ten years she manifests a power from inside herself she had kept hidden from the world. She was already in control enough to imbue the spanner with that energy and it started giving off a faint golden-white light.

“It does really feel like I am using magic sometimes.” Kaori always felt a peculiar reaction when using her powers excessively making her feel almost invincible and capable of doing anything.

Kaori’s expression then became one of deep curiosity. She never knew how or where she gained this power from. But she always wanted to use it to help people, so she decided to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor.

And the fact these shadows were in her way and attacking her patient angered her further.

Kaori charged straight at the shadows; the heavy spanner did not hinder her movement at all.

One of the black shadows extends its body into a giant hand and tries to push back Kaori. But her movements were too fast, and Kaori backflipped efficiently and dodged the horizontal palm swipe.

Swiftly moving her spanner, the golden light from it intensifies and hits the black shadow’s body.

At first, it felt like the spanner just passed through but a blast of shining light inside it turns it into black ash and the shadow disintegrates.

The other shadows did not remain quiet and two of them turned their bodies into solid long spikes all along the hallway and launched it at Kaori.

While Kaori ran she jumped and put her left leg on the side wall. Another leap and she was upside down the ceiling wall and avoided the spikes.

“I am over here.”

In a flip second, she thrusts herself from the top towards the shadow and takes out two other shadows in a single strike.

None of their tricks worked and they failed to take down Kaori while she quickly took down each of them without any hesitation.

“Guess the cleanup is complete over here.” Kaori looked around but could not sense any other shadows around her.

She did not want to face another wave of shadows and waste time so she headed quickly to Kenta’s room.

Kaori knew things were not over yet, because the deathly presence from inside Kenta’s room had not vanished yet.

To her, it almost felt like the shadows were stalling her while they searched for something.

Kaori attempted to turn Kenta's doorknob, but it refused to budge. Without hesitation, she gave the door a swift kick, and it shattered as if it were made of cardboard.

The moment she went in, the powerful force of the giant cloud shadow took her by surprise as it roared at her.

Her body froze for a second seeing such a massive shadow.

Kaori knew at times like these, a normal human would run away, get scared or worse faint.

But right now in her heart, she knew she was devoid of such emotion.

Instead, her eyes looked around to analyze the situation.

Two nurses were lying unconscious around the room. Before the shadow could use them as a hostage. Kaori quickly moved while dodging the same spike attacks from the dark shadows previously and carried the nurses behind her to safety.

Once she made sure they were safe, her eyes spotted Kenta flying horizontally upside down, the black shadow completely covered him from toe to head.

And Kaori could only feel a little life from him. She had seen this happen before, of how these shadows quickly suck away all life energy when they start preying on humans.

The only one-way Kaori could get Kenta back safely was to use all her powers to purify the giant cloud shadow that had taken him.

She puts her arm before her and channels her supernatural energy along it. The giant black shadow felt the surge in energy around Kaori.

It twists in terror and forms a structure of a giant face with only a mouth.

It tried to swallow Kaori whole and almost succeeded while Kaori was still busy focusing on handling such a large amount of that mystical energy.

“⸺Too late.” The white light from Kaori’s hand passes like a beam and penetrates through the giant black shadow.

Its bare mouth gives out a hollow scream as it burns down.

***

KENTA KAZUKI

I thought I was supposed to die as my life flashed before my eyes.

Surprisingly I could still feel cold and it was dark all around me. It was difficult to tell myself whether I was dead or still alive. But that giant black shadow had definitely captured me and there was no way of saving me now.

The unbearable pain I felt from inside me as if my whole body was being pierced also started to fade away. Even my consciousness began to slip away once more as if I was being drawn into a sleep from which I would never wake up.

But then I felt a bit warm near my belly. And my whole body slowly began to react in the same manner.

Suddenly, an inexplicable thought crossed my mind, that I had felt this presence before. Someone was there beside me and I knew that I need not worry any longer.

As long as they were here, they won’t let me get hurt.

And the sheer desire of my to know that person once again helped me open my eyes even if I could barely control my numb body.

“…Doctor Kaori.” I muttered.

She was standing right there in front of me. Everything around me looked hazy but I could tell that the room was in a frenzy. I was quietly lying down on the bed unable to feel my legs or hands.

“Look who finally decides to wake up?” The cheerful voice of Doctor Kaori made me look away from the destruction. She was as usual wearing her white lab coat.

But that was not all, where once Doctor Kaori’s hairs had been dense black, it was now tinged an opposite pure white and was bathed in a pale light.

I did not understand what was happening to me. Who or what actually attacked me? Was, ⸺what happening to me right now, even real?

“I know you have a lot of questions. And it's alright if you are feeling scared right now. But I am here to keep my promise. Remember I told you I could do miracles.” Doctor Kaori kept talking to me. Her eyes shone with a faint blue light as well.

I did not completely understand what Doctor Kaori meant by it. But the similar golden light that I had seen Sachi use on me to heal my knees, was currently being used by Doctor Kaori as well in a similar manner.

I wanted to speak more. My lips moved, but it lacked any voice.

“It's alright if you only hear.” Doctor Kaori acted as if she understood what I was going through.

“Remember the day I first met you? The Kenta I saw that day had such a depressed look like he was completely alone in this world. And I was so happy that you slowly started to smile. And I want you to keep doing that even from now on. It’s okay if you sometimes feel like crying but I am sure you will never cave into sadness. ⸺I am sorry if this time is a little less for you before I leave.” Doctor Kaori said with a longing as if she did not want this moment to ever come.

I didn’t know why Doctor Kaori would speak in such a way. It was unlike her.

But I always believed in her that she would keep her promise.

⸺And that’s what scared me the most.

How the miracle worked, I did not really understand nor I wanted to know.

But Doctor Kaori told me that there was a condition only then I would be able to see it.

“Kenta I am sorry for doing this to you but it’s the only way to keep you safe.”

Doctor Kaori knew that the black shadow had completely drained Ken’s life force leading to the failure of his internal organs. But using her supernatural powers she was trying to heal me as quickly as possible and get the residue black stuff out of him.

Doctor Kaori from her past experience knew that these shadows were usually after her miraculous power. And they would also go after anyone on whom these powers had been used.

The only way to stop this from happening was to erase all memories of that person about herself and stop them from acknowledging any part of her and rejecting the miracle subconsciously.

“The next time you wake up, I am sure you will see a completely different world and will be able to live a much happier life and even go to school and do all sorts of normal things that you would love doing even if you didn’t know about them.” Doctor Kaori talked of a dream that I knew only she could make come true.

The miracle I had always wanted and waited for. But I was not sure of it anymore myself.

Doctor Kaori closed her eyes and the white light took a circular halo form and began to rotate over my head. As if it was slowly trying to absorb something from my brain.

My most recent memories. ⸺Memories that I had cherished most started playing in my mind one last time.

⸺Was I being abandoned again?

I wanted this life to go on with the same people. There was no point if I was not able to meet them or know them after they had given so much to me.

My eyes were closing in on itself. Even the last of my memories of the person standing in front of me was quickly washed away and I could barely recognize them anymore.

I wanted to stop this and scream with all my heart.

Even if just for a little longer… I did not wanted to forget.

Even if I was hurt I did not wanted to be left alone.

Why can’t things just remain the same?

For just a little longer…where’s the harm in that.

***

DOCTOR KAORI

I quietly walked out of the elevator as it came to a halt on the ground floor, making my way toward the parking area without drawing any attention to myself.

Dragging the heavy red spanner along with myself.

Opening the exit door, there was one person standing in front of me beside a car. The man I wanted to see the most right now.

“Kazuma.” I called out.

“Kaori are you alright? Did you do it?”

“Yes, I took care of it. And Kenta will be fine from now on without us.” As I said I felt like I was not being honest with myself.

“It's alright. The decision you made is because you want to protect all of them.”

Suddenly my limbs felt loose and all the power inside me was being siphoned out. I knew the power inside me was too much for my body to handle.

“You have overused your powers again. But it's alright you can relax now, we have won.” Saying that Kazuma held me in his arms before I could fall to my knees out of exhaustion.

He gently caressed my hair while hugging me.

“I told you I will return safely.”

“Yes, I know.” Kazuma said with a comforting voice.

“And that’s why you can relax as well.” Kazuma’s fingers quietly caught hold of my right hand. And the spanner I had till now held tightly in my palm falls from my hands and the peculiar white color of my hair returns back to normal.

“Kazuma… I am…” I did not know whether I should thank Kazuma first for being here with me or apologize to him for putting him in such a dangerous situation.

"It's so unfair how effortlessly cool you look right now. I might fall head over heels for you all over again," Kazuma said, attempting to lift my spirits.

“You said the same thing the last time as well. So, I will also say it again too. And you are the best partner I will ever find.”

Kazuma and I get back in the car ready to drive back home.

“Kazuma I think it's not over yet?” I had a strange feeling that this attack of the shadows was not just a coincidence.

“Don’t worry. I will get you and Sachi as far as possible where they will never be able to find us. And once everything is normal we will come back.” Kazuma had already found a way and had made preparations for situations like these long ago.

“Thank you Kazuma I knew I could always count on you.”

I don’t know when but the moment I leaned on Kazuma’s shoulder I quickly drifted to sleep and woke up only when we reached back home.

I quickly went inside to find Sachi while Kazuma planned to make all the preparations so that we could leave this place as soon as possible.

I found Sachi sleeping on the couch and as usual, the slight movement of the door opening woke her up in an instant.

The little energetic girl quickly came over to me and asked, “Mom. Is Ken fine now?” Sachi tried to hide her anxious face very well but her trembling voice could barely hide her concern.

“Of course, he is safe now.” I reassured her with a victory sign.

“Mom is the best.” Sachi without a warning put her hands around my neck and got close to me.

Seeing Sachi’s happiness, I could not really bring myself to tell her the truth about the friend she made would no longer remember her anymore.

But her safety was right now most important to me.

“Sachi, do you remember you wanted to go to a carnival? Well, it looks like we are having one just outside the city and from there we can go on a long trip for a few days. Just you, me, and Kazuma.” I happily announced the good news to her.

“But don’t I have school and what about meeting with Ken?” Sachi despite her wish to spend an entire vacation with her parents did not wanted to get in between their work.

“You see I had a little talk with Kenta and he said it was my fault that I did not take you somewhere out during the entire holiday. So, why don’t we do it now? And when you return you will have lots of gifts and stories to share with Kenta.”

“Umu.” Sachi quickly agreed and went to help her father with the preparations and to get her essentials.

I felt like a terrible person lying to my own daughter. There was no way of knowing whether what I was doing was a mistake.

But if I am able to keep my family smiling together, then I am doing it right.

Isn’t that right, mother and father.

***

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