Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Restoration ❯ Recovery ( Chapter 10 )

"I'm back," Ikara gasped as he pulled Eveningsong to a halt. He helped the human doctor off the horse as D walked out of the shelter that had been made for Lee. The demon physician stepped into the camp area with some leaves and berries in a bucket. He glanced at the human doctor and set his bucket on the ground.

"Good. More help," the demon physician said as he shook his colleague's hand.

"How is he?"

"Asleep. He fever has broken," D said as he stretched his arms.

"That's good. What about Ryo?" Ikara asked and D shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't know. No one's come back from the village yet."

"They're coming. I can hear the sound of hooves beating on the ground," Raling said as he tossed another piece of wood onto the fire.

"One of the horses is pulling a wagon," D commented as his ears twitched intently and Raling looked at him.

"Are you sure? They shouldn't need a wagon."

"I know what I'm hearing, Raling and one is pulling a wagon."

"Please be careful my lord," Ord said, once he had brought the wagon to a halt. Everyone watched speechless as Ryo climbed out of the wagon. He held onto the side of the wagon with his good arm then dropped down to the ground. He shut his eyes momentarily in pain as the other demons ran up to him.

"What are you doing here?" Raling asked as he walked up to Ord.

"He insisted on it," Ord said as Ryo winced in pain. The ride had been more painful on his arm than he had expected it to be.

"Where is he?" Ryo asked D who stood staring at him.

"He's in there. Don't touch him," D said and Ryo glared at him.

"I'm not an idiot."

"Stay calm your highness. Let's look at your arm, shall we?" the doctor asked as he reached for his arm.

"Have you checked him first?" Ryo asked as he drew away from the doctor.

"There's another physician looking at him. You wrapped it really well."

"I don't need compliments. How is he?"

"Calm down, your highness. He should recover nicely if all goes well."

"What could go wrong? What are you giving me?"

"Some anesthesia. It will make my job much easier. Hmm. It looks like your wound's been infected. That's what you get for refusing to have it looked at."

"My main concern is him. I will not take the throne without him."

"Rest assured that you will not lose him, your highness. Now, why don't we get you inside and lie down?"

"What did you just shoot me with?"

"A simple tranquilizer your highness. You will be asleep in no time."

"What?"

"We need to fix your arm correctly. You did a fine job of keeping the bone in place but I'm afraid that much more is needed. Now, lie down right here and we'll get to work soon."

Ryo protested slightly as the doctor forced him to lie on what appeared to be a makeshift gurney. Ryo struggled to keep alert but the tranquilizer had conquered his system. Slowly he shut his eyes as the doctor began to unwrap his bandages. He opened his eyes halfway and gazed at Lee. His eyes drooped shut then snapped open again as he tried to stay focused on his companion who lay silently on the floor. He refused to lose him. Not after all they had been through. He couldn't lose him. He gritted his teeth in frustration as he closed his eyes for the final time.

"So how is he doing?" D asked as the doctor walked out of the shelter.

"He's going to be out for quite awhile. He really shouldn't have waited so long to get examined. I'm afraid that he's caught a virus of some sort. There's no telling what kind of diseases that animal was laden with. The virus doesn't appear to be serious but I'm taking a sample back to my workroom to run some tests on it. I shall return as soon as possible."

"So what do you want to do now?" Ikara asked and D looked at him.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"Well it looks like we're stuck here for awhile. We might as well make the best of it."

"I think one of us should go back to the castle and inform everyone of the situation."

"I'll go."

"It would be best if I went but I do not dare leave his highness' side. I don't want you to wind up getting injured as well."

"I went to the village and came back alive."

"The human village is not as far as the castle. Besides, that's not what I meant when I spoke of my concern about you becoming injured. Ryoshan is extremely hostile when he's injured and I think it would be best for someone with a little more protection to take care of him. My skin can change to armor if I need it to. Yours cannot," D said.

"D, I am willing to leave here and go back to the castle. My men are capable of looking after things in my absence," Raling said and D looked at him.

"You have done so much already," D said and Raling held up his hand.

"It is the least I can do to atone for my family's grudge. I shall take one of the men's horses. Nightwing has seen far too much action as it is."

"Thank you for volunteering. It makes me feel a lot less tense."

"Ikara can join me if he wishes. He doesn't seem to be needed here."

"I could check on the construction," Ikara said and D nodded his head.

"All right. Take Lee's horse back. He's not going to be needing her any time soon," D said as Ikara picked up his belongings.

"Please take care of both of them," Raling said as he rode off. Ikara hastily followed him on Eveningsong and D sighed. He had no idea that the task of restoring the kingdom would be filled with so many obstacles. Of course, he reminded himself, this was the first time he had ever restored a kingdom so there was sure to be hardships. But the hardships they were currently experiencing could not be natural. He sat down in a corner and folded his wings. All he could do now was wait for them both to recover from their injuries.

A week went by and soon, Lee had acquired a fuller range of mobility than he had before. He could still not walk, but he was able to sit up as opposed to lying flat on his back. He gazed at the table that Ryo lay on and sighed. He still felt guilty for everything. If he had been more alert then perhaps all of this could have been avoided. He should have dodged the attack. He had only made himself a burden to Ryo. D walked into the shelter and handed him a bowl of fresh stew. Lee took it from his hands and sighed once more.

"This isn't your fault. It was an accident. It couldn't have been avoided," D said as he sat next to him. Lee glanced at him with tears in his eyes and D comfortingly took his hand.

"I just wish Ryo hadn't pushed himself so far," Lee sniffed as he took the spoon that D gave him.

"Ryo's stubborn in that respect. I think it's kind of cute that he has such a concern for you. Six years of survival games didn't affect his capability to love. He was willing to place his life over your to guarantee your well-being"

"That time in his life was no game."

"I didn't mean it literally. How is it? I generally don't cook for more people than myself."

"It's good. It needs some spices though. Try putting a couple of the berries from the bush you found the other day into it. I think that would improve the taste."

"You amaze me."

"How so?"

"You just do. I mean, you've got the personality of a woman and yet you can kill just as well as any other man. It's like they stuck two people together the they made you. I know you weren't always into this kind of life. I remember your greenhouse days. I also remember how you were in the city. Don't forget that I was the only real contact you had with your own people."

"I thought everyone had forgotten about the greenhouse."

"That's pretty hard to forget. While the rest of us were running amuck in the courtyard, you were playing with flowers or you were somewhere else doing sissy stuff."

"I wasn't interested in causing trouble."

"You were a teacher's pet. You didn't even try to join in on our fun."

"I tried…once. I got soaking wet."

"I remember that time. Lendas had to pull you out of the well. We sure got it from him that day. Your dad's got a temper when he wants to use it."

"He was only trying to protect me I guess. Sometimes it was embarrassing."

"Like when we had sent you on a trip for something that didn't exist?"

Lee smiled at the remembrance and drank another spoonful of stew. D watched him for a moment then stood up. He walked over to Ryo and placed a hand on his forehead. Lee watched him and sighed. He wished that there was something he could do for Ryo. The doctors had gone to tend to their own businesses and D was left to care for the two since Ikara had gone back to the castle. He knew that one of the doctors would return soon to check up on them but it annoyed Lee to be helpless. He didn't mind the attention he was getting. What he minded was not being able to get close to Ryo when he might be needed the most.


"He's still alive," D commented as he stepped away from Ryo.

"That's good. I wish I could be near him."

"You both are stubborn. I guess that's good considering what we've all been through. A normal couple wouldn't survive after all this."

"If your normal couple is a human couple, then yes. Our people have been through a lot more than any human can imagine."

"I'm still surprised that Ikara has stuck around for so long. Do you think he'll stay after the coronation?"

"Why wouldn't he?"

"Well you know the drill. You've got that traditional dress that you have to wear."

"It's not a dress It It's a robe."

"Same thing. Especially the way you're going to have to get fixed up in it. Is that why you were down there picking out flowers that one morning?"

Lee said nothing as he set his bowl on the floor. D grinned as he walked back over to were he sat. Lee was embarrassed yet again. He picked up the bowl and carried it out of the shelter. He put it into a pot that Raling had brought to him and picked up a bucket of water. He dumped the water into the pot and placed the pot over the fire.

Lee had been selecting flowers for the coronation. He guessed, in a human sense, the ritual was somewhat in equivalence of a wedding ceremony. On the day of a coronation, Lee would wear a teal robe…even though D thought it looked suspiciously like a close fitting dress…a satin belt around his waist and a crown of flowers. His wings would have some kind of ribbon draped around them and he would wear some light cosmetics. D shook his head as he pictured Lee in such attire. Granted, he had the face and body at it. He seemed to be slightly androgynous, which was most likely the reason for his two distinct personalities. Perhaps he wasn't androgynous in a physical sense, but there was definitely something that set him apart from the other demons. Lee looked at him strangely as he walked back into the shelter. Could he see the image that was stuck in his mind? D said nothing as he picked up a piece of tree branch and began to carve it. It was better to be silent then to bring up some awkward conversational subject. Lee watched him for a moment and sighed. He wished that he could move once again.

"You're going to wear sandals with that dress aren't you?" D asked and Lee glared at him. He HAD been thinking of the coronation. Lee ran a hand through his short hair for a moment then glanced away.
"It's not a dress," Lee replied and fell silent as Ryo's eyes snapped open like an animal that had just caught sight of its prey.

"Well it looks as if someone's conscious again. You had us worried," D said as he walked over to where Ryo lay.

"What happened? I feel as though I've drunk too much alcohol," Ryo asked as D helped him to sit up.

"Your arm became infected and you caught a virus. The doctor put you out a week ago. How is your arm?"

"The pain isn't as bad as it was. How is he?"

"Why don't you ask him yourself?"

"Don't make him move on my account D," Lee said and Ryo glanced at him.

"You look a lot better than I feel. Where is everyone?"

"Ikara went back to the castle to finish construction. The others have gone back to the village," D said.

"Why are you flushed?" Ryo asked Lee.

"I've been giving him a hard time about the coronation," D said.

"What about it?"

"I just asked him if he was going to wear the traditional dress at the ceremony."

"It's a robe," Lee said and Ryo looked at him.

"Are you sure? I always thought it was a dress," he said and Lee lowered his eyes.

"You would. You don't know any better."

"What?"

"Well you don't. You just throw on whatever your hand touches first."

"I think you've been insulted," D said and Ryo looked confusedly at Lee.

"What the hell are you talking about?" he asked.

"I can tell you're feeling better. You're acting like yourself again."

"I'm still in pain. Are you talking like a woman again?" Ryo asked Lee.

"I'm just saying you don't know the difference between a dress and a robe," Lee replied. "And I do not act like a woman and you know it."

"I still think he insulted you," D said and Ryo looked at him.

"What's on the fire?" Ryo asked and D sighed.

"Dishes. I didn't know that you'd be waking up today. I can get a fish or something if you can wait that long."

"I'll be glad when I can do things for myself again."

"You aren't the only one," Lee said and Ryo looked at him.

"I'm not exactly sure how to take that statement," he said and Lee smiled.

"I wasn't meaning it in more ways than one honey."

"With you I never know."

"Come on, I'm not that sick minded."

"Sick minded wasn't the word I was going to use. I was looking for something more on the lines of obsessive."

"I'm not obsessive. I just get concerned."

Ryo shook his head as he got off the table. Lee watched him walk over to where he sat and smiled when he noticed the look in Ryo's eyes. He wasn't going to let their injuries get in the way of their love. It was also good to know that Ryo didn't fault him for their current situation. Ryo sat beside him and gently embraced him. Even Ryo in all his abusiveness and forcefulness, could still be gentle and sensitive. Lee closed his eyes and sighed. Now he could definitely get well.