Since his fight with Erica, Kaioshin hadn’t been the same. Not one smile could be brought to his face. If anyone asked him what was bothering him, he’d ignore them and walk away. He was convinced Erica just didn’t love him any longer, but he still regretted saying what he did. He never would have told her he had didn’t need a mere mortal…because with her he did. He had loved her more than anything; therefore he went away to prepare a surprise for her. Kaioshin had come to see her that morning to give her good news, but by the time he left he didn’t think the news was good anymore.
Kaioshin stood on the balcony that overlooked the eastern universe. He sighed when he noticed Earth. “Why…why didn’t I just tell her? Why did I leave her hanging like that again? I thought I was doing something good for her…” He sighed again and left the area.
Kaioshin met up with Kibito outside of the house. “Are you feeling any better?” Kibito asked.
“Not really,” Kaioshin barely answered. “I hate myself, Kibito.”
“Why?”
“Because I wasn’t good enough to her…”
“Master, you did the best you could for her. She just doesn’t understand your situation.”
“I still had no right to call her a mere mortal…I basically told her that I didn’t need someone as low as her.”
“She pushed you into it.”
“I’m sorry, Kibito…I just don’t want to talk about it. I’m going to bed.”
“Good night, then.”
“Good night.” Kaioshin walked slowly up to his room and prepared for bed. He wasn’t lying down for more than half an hour when he could feel something happened. He sat up and concentrated on it. It was Erica. Something happened to her. Kaioshin jumped out of bed and ran over to his crystal ball. He quickly commanded an image of Erica to appear. What he saw almost gave him a heart attack. “No…this is all my fault…” He changed his clothes and left, leaving an image of Erica on a stretcher in the crystal ball.
Kaioshin appeared at the entrance of the hospital in seconds. He quickly walked in and went to the front desk. “May I help you?” The receptionist asked.
“I’m looking for Erica Steel. I heard she came in…”
The woman looked at the computer for a second. “I don’t have an Erica Steel listed. You may have the wrong hospital, sir.”
“No, I’m sure it’s the right one. She was brought in by an ambulance a few minutes ago.”
“Sir, three ambulances just arrived, and I don’t know who was in them.”
Just then someone else came up to the desk and looked at Kaioshin with a strange look. “I think I know who you are,” the girl said.
“I’m sorry, but I don’t think I’ve ever met you,” Kaioshin replied.
“No, we’ve never met. But you fit my friend’s description of her ex-boyfriend. Your name is Kaio-something.”
“Kaioshin…yes then you must be a friend of Erica’s.”
“Best friend, actually. She wouldn’t want you to be here, so you might as well leave.”
“No. I must see her. I know something terrible has happened.”
“Yeah, she came over my place and when she left someone attacked her,” Shelby explained.
“How do you know all of this?” Kaioshin asked.
“I just got a call from the cop. Erica had my number in her purse and the cop found it. He told me to come down,” Shelby said.
As they were talking, a call came into the receptionist. When she hung up, she interrupted the conversation. “You were looking for an Erica Steel? She’s in room 408.”
“Thank you,” Kaioshin said. As he started to walk away, Shelby grabbed his arm.
“You’re not going up to her are you?” She asked.
“Yes, I am. Excuse me,” Kaioshin said and continued on his way.
The two went to the fourth floor and was stopped by a nurse. “This is the critical condition unit. Only immediate family is allowed up here, I’m afraid.”
“I’m…we’re the only family she has around this area right now,” Kaioshin told her.
“Who are you looking for?”
“Erica Steel? We were told she’s in room 408.”
“Oh, yes. Poor girl. She was almost killed tonight. Let me get the doctor for you first. Wait here please.”
“I knew I should have driven her home,” Shelby said.
And I shouldn’t have done what I did, Kaioshin thought to himself.
A few minutes later, a tall man with dark hair and glasses came up to Kaioshin and Shelby. “You’re here for Miss Steel?” He asked.
“Yes,” Kaioshin answered. “How is she? Will she be alright?”
“She was badly beaten tonight. I don’t know under what circumstances, but she has many bruises, and has suffered a concussion. I’ve put her on oxygen for the time being. She should be alright.”
“May we see her?” Shelby asked.
“I’ll let both of you go in for now, but only one is allowed to stay the night,” the doctor replied. “She’s down the hall in 408.”
“Thank you,” Kaioshin said and quickly walked ahead of Shelby. Kaioshin found 408 and walked in. His heart sank to see the person lying in the bed. He couldn’t believe it was Erica. Her head had a bandage around it, and her cheeks here scrapped. Her face was mostly hidden by the oxygen mask, and the rest of her body was covered with a sheet. Only her arms could be seen, and one of them had a narrow tube attached to it. Nearby was a monitor whose screen had a green line going up and down.
Shelby came in behind Kaioshin and almost felt the same affect. She watched as Kaioshin went to the bedside and brush the hair on the side of Erica’s head. He stood at her side as if he had been in her shoes, only made it out without a scratch. Shelby smiled and came up next to him. “You can stay the night,” she said.
Kaioshin looked up at her. “Thank you,” he responded.
Shelby had only been gone for an hour when Erica started to come around. Kaioshin watched as her eyes struggled to open. She opened them looking straight up, but then she noticed someone sitting beside her. She looked over to see Kaioshin’s face staring at her. A smile came to her face.
“Kaioshin…” she said weakly through the oxygen mask.
“Don’t talk…I can tell you don’t have much strength right now,” he said putting the back of his hand to her cheek. “Erica, I’m very sorry about the other day. I didn’t mean to say what I did.”
“I know…but it was my fault…”
“No. You had every right to be mad at me,” he said. “I promised I would tell you where I was if I was going to be gone for a while, but I honestly didn’t think it would take so long. I had no right to call you a mere mortal. I can still hear myself yelling at you…if you don’t want me anymore, I understand.”
“Kaioshin…I can’t live without you…please don’t leave me now,” Erica said putting her hand over to him. He picked it up with a smile and kissed it.
