"Wake up! Wake up!!"
Kakashi's eyes fluttered open to the startling closeness of a girl's face, his vision was too blurry to know who she was but she was sitting right on top of him, staring into his eyes, he could even fell her gentle breathing on his face. He reacted instantly, a startled gasp escaping his lips as he shot upright. His head connected with the girl's with a sickening thud, sending her tumbling from the bed with a small yelp.
"Ouch!" she cried, a pained expression twisting her features.
She looked about twelve years old, petite at four feet tall, her bright purple eyes a vibrant contrast to her long, raven-black hair that cascaded almost to her knees. The long, black silk gown she wore seemed to shimmer faintly in the soft light filtering through the room.
A moment of furious rubbing at her forehead gave way to a sudden, dazzling smile. She stood, her form lithe and graceful.
"You're awake! What's your name? Where do you come from? Do you remember anything?" Her words tumbled out rapidly, each question brimming with an almost overwhelming curiosity.
Kakashi stared at her, still unable to understand what was going on. His head still hurts, but he was still breathing, and that was all that matters, at least for now. He stared at the little girl who was still relentless with her questions.
After a moment, she noticed his vacant expression, then paused for a moment, expecting him to speak, which he did.
"Who are you?" Kakashi finally asked, his voiy slightly coarse due to the smoke he inhaled earlier. He glanced around the rather spacious room, he eyes momentarily blinded by the sharp rays of sunlight as his gaze reached the window, he covered his face with his arm, shutting his eyes, before slowly opening them and letting them adjust to the light. "...and where are we?? And why were you sitting on me???"
The girl, unfazed by his questions, climbed back onto the bed with a cheerful bounce.
"I'm Mira Tokoyami, daughter of Natski Tokoyami, and the future dark magic sage," she announced with a dramatic flourish then sat down on the bed.. "Don't tell Mom, but I was trying to wake you up. Mom said yelling wouldn't work, but I guess it did." A mischievous glint sparkled in her purple eyes.
"Who yells at an unconscious patient?" Kakashi muttered as he held his forehead, his brain felt like it was gripped from the inside.
"It worked, didn't it?" Mira said with a cheerful smile.
"It's like I'm forgetting some..." Kakashi muttered, the fog in his mind beginning to lift, slowly he began to remember. A sharp pang of worry pierced through his confusion. "Where did they take Megumin?"
"Megumin?" Mira thought for a while then quickly responded. "Oh!, You mean the girl that was with you?" She didn't even wait for a reply before she continued. "Sadly, her condition was far worse than yours. I don't really know the details but I heard mama saying that they will have to put her in a revitalization machine"
Kakashi only understood the first part but didn't know what she meant by a revitalization machine but the word "worse" made him fear for the worst. He quickly stood up from the hospital bed and surprisingly, his right leg didn't hurt. He looked down at his leg, his eyes widening in disbelief as he noticed the twisted feet had completely been healed.
"I--i have to see her, I have to make sure she's okay" Kakashi declared, his voice still weak. He tried to move but he suddenly felt dizzy and held on to the bed, then slowly walked towards the door but Mira grabbed his arm.
"You can't leave! You just woke up after being unconscious for two days" She said, her voice sounded concerned. Kakashi tried to pull his arm from her grip but Mira was surprisingly strong for someone so small, or maybe it was because he was still weak. "You need to rest. We can check on her later. Besides, if you leave now, mama will know I woke you up, so please stay"
"I'm sorry, but Megumin is more impor—" A wave of dizziness washed over him, making the world spun around him. He stumbled, but Mira's quick reflexes prevented his fall, gently guiding him back to the bed.
"I know you're worried, but you're still very weak," she said softly, her voice laced with concern.
**Knock, knock!**
"Mom's here," Mira announced, her voice barely a whisper.
The door opened, revealing a young woman who appeared to be in her early twenties. She was strikingly attractive, her figure emphasized by a tailored suit that hugged her curves. Her black hair was pulled back in a neat ponytail, and her eyes held a captivating sparkle, as if tiny stars were embedded within their depths.
"Is she your mom?" Kakashi asked, his gaze lingering on the woman's striking appearance. "She looks more like an older sister."
"No," Mira snapped, her eyes narrowing. "What are you doing here!?"
"I have a permit," the woman replied calmly, her voice smooth and controlled. "I'm here to ask him a few questions." She settled into a chair beside the bed, her composure unwavering.
"Can't you see he's—" Mira began, but Kakashi interrupted her.
"It's alright," he said, his hand remaining on Mira's shoulder, a gesture of both reassurance and a silent request for her to remain calm.
Mira nodded, though her expression remained guarded, and sat on the edge of the bed. "But I'm not leaving."
"That's perfectly fine," the woman said, her gaze shifting to Kakashi. "I'm Elizabeth, London Police Department. I need to ask you a few questions about what happened two days ago."
_Two days already?_ Kakashi thought.
He nodded slowly, his mind still struggling to fully grasp the passage of time.
"O-Okay."
"Can you remember anything from that night? A name? A description? Anything at all that could help us?" Elizabeth's voice was low, but her eyes held an intensity that belied her calm demeanor.
"I don't think so," Kakashi replied, his voice strained. "Most of it's still a blur."
"Try!!" Elizabeth insisted, leaning closer, her voice edged with urgency. "We need something, anything. Every detail counts."
"You're too close," Mira protested again, but Elizabeth remained focused on Kakashi.
"You weren't alone, you know. There were other children. They're all dead. Don't you want justice for them?" Her words hung heavy in the air, a stark contrast to the otherwise peaceful atmosphere of the room.
The pressure was immense, a vise tightening around Kakashi's mind. The blurry fragments of memory began to coalesce, sharp and painful, memories he desperately wanted to remain buried in the depths of his unconsciousness.
"Ahhhh!! Ahhhh!!!" Kakashi cried out, his hands flying to his head as a wave of nausea and terror swept over him.
His heart hammered against his ribs, his body shaking violently, his skin slick with sweat.
"Stop! You're making his condition worse!" Mira screamed, her voice shrill with alarm.
"There were over eighty children found dead," Elizabeth shouted, her voice tight with frustration and grief. "He's the only one who can tell us what happened! Who were they? Who were those demons?"
"Please, stop. I can't take it anymore," Kakashi pleaded, his voice barely audible, his body wracked with sobs. But Elizabeth, consumed by her mission, remained relentless.
A new voice, calm and authoritative, cut through the tension. "I think that will be enough for today, Elizabeth. Don't you think he's had enough?"
Elizabeth flinched at the sound of the voice, turning to see a woman standing in the doorway. She was tall and elegant, her long black hair a stark contrast to her dark, intense purple eyes.
"M...Miss Tokoyami!" Elizabeth stood abruptly, bowing her head. "I was...only asking questions."
Miss Tokoyami, Mira's mother, stepped into the room, her presence radiating an aura of quiet strength. She surveyed the scene, her gaze lingering on Kakashi's distress before turning back to Elizabeth.
"I can see that," Miss Tokoyami said, her voice gentle but firm. "And I think that will be enough for today, don't you think?"
"I'm so sorry, Miss Tokoyami," Elizabeth stammered, bowing repeatedly. "I apologize. I lost my composure. Perhaps I should leave and return tomorrow?"
"That sounds like a very good idea," Miss Tokoyami replied, her expression unwavering. Elizabeth, defeated, left the room.
Miss Tokoyami approached Kakashi, who was still trembling, Mira doing her best to comfort him.
"Poor child," Miss Tokoyami murmured, her voice soft with compassion. "Don't worry. You can rest now."
And as if released from a terrible burden, Kakashi finally drifted off to sleep.