The Dream Shifter

Chapter 36

"Saki!" Yuki shouted rushing over to Saki's collapsed body. A million questions ran through his head trying to understand what was wrong with her. 'I thought she was at home… What's she doing here? What's wrong with Saki? Why did she collapse?' He grabbed her up from the street letting her rest against him in a seated position. "Can you hear me, Saki?"

Hiroshi felt the flood of emotions and panic wash over him. He tried to keep himself in control, but he had never seen Saki in such a state before. It had looked like she was in a fight and badly lost it with the bruises and dirt that covered her. Even her clothes were ripped from something or someone. 'What did she get herself into? If they did this to Saki…' He placed his hand on Yuki's shoulder to grab his attention away from Saki for a moment. "Yuki, we should get her out of here to rest."

"Yeah…you're right."

"I'll help you…" Hiroshi started to move to the other side of Saki to give Yuki aid but found that his assistance was not needed. Yuki had already put his arms under her legs and back lifting her up in his arms holding her close to his chest. Hiroshi stood with his mouth agape watching Yuki walk away from him hardly missing a motion. "I guess you don't need my help." It took Hiroshi a moment to catch his mind up that he was being left behind by Yuki to hurry to his side. 'I guess he's stronger than he looks. Maybe there's more truth to that story than I gave him credit for.' When he reached Yuki's side he looked over to him seeking an answer. "Where are you going? Her apartment is behind us."

"I can't take her to her mother looking like this."

"But she'll figure it out eventually. Saki's missing right now."

"All the more reason to find out what happened before her mother does find out. My house is just up the street. She'll be safe there." Yuki guided Hiroshi to his house trying to keep his mind focused and far from fearful thoughts that tried to explain what happened to Saki. He did not want to consider what it was or jump to conclusions (although he had already jumped too many before even touching Saki).

From further down the street Ayumi came walking towards the two of them. She had already changed out of her school uniform into a simple red dress. When she saw Yuki carrying someone in his arms she hastened her pace to reach them before they made it to the threshold. "Is everything alright, Yuki? Is that Saki?!" She ran around Hiroshi meeting up with Yuki at the doorway looking down at Saki. "What happened to her?"

Yuki turned his head away trying to hide the rising emotions of regret, failure, and anger away from her. "I don't know…"

Hiroshi caught up to Ayumi and pulled her away from Yuki letting him have room. "It'll be alright. Saki's strong." He held her back at her shoulders keeping her close to him feeling her struggling against him.

The pounding that Yuki slammed against the door was finally answered in slow fashion by his younger brother, Jun. It only took him a split second to change from a blank expression to a panicked one that was quickly melting into uselessness. Jun ran away a moment later disappearing into the house leaving the three to sweat embarrassed. Yuki shook off his stalled disbelief and pushed through into the house quickly making his way to the living room. He knelt down to ease Saki on to the couch letting her lay straight with her head resting against a pillow. "Saki… I-I…"

Hiroshi and Ayumi stepped into the living room keeping a safe distance away not certain to do. Yuki turned back to them coming to meet eyes with Ayumi and piercing through her mask trying to see if she would be able to help. None of them knew what was wrong with Saki and even less about what needed to be done. Yuki stood up walking away from them looking up the stairs. "Ken! Where are you, Ken?" A few more shouts finally revealed Ken behind him coming from the back of the house.

"What's all the shouting about?"

"I need you to show Hiroshi where the blankets are and bring one back." Yuki looked over to his friend with eyes that said he needed his help. Hiroshi silently agreed and followed behind Ken up the stairs. Yuki turned back to Ayumi now that he was alone with her. "Can you do anything to help her?"

"You're overreacting. You need to calm down and relax."

"Can you or can't you?"

"Probably, but you can't always be dependent on my power or your power."

Yuki was fighting back the urge to shout at Ayumi knowing that it would only cause more troubles. He had to do this quickly before they came back. "…I don't care… What good is having the power if you don't use when it's needed?! Saki's hurt. She needs help!" He grabbed Ayumi's arms trying to plead with her. Saki needed him now. He had been barely holding back everything in a dam that he felt was going to break at any moment. The last time he could do nothing for her and regretted it. He was not going to allow that to happen again. "Please…"

"…Fine…" Ayumi removed her arms from Yuki and walked over to Saki's side. The unconscious girl looked peaceful through all of the beatings that she had taken. Ayumi closed her eyes and concentrated quickly to provide a fast aid to her that would be as quiet as possible. A soft faint almost invisible blue glow came around her that faded away immediately drawn in thin threads on to Saki's body seeking out any injury to mend. 'Most of what she has are just surface bruises, nothing deep. There's not much I can do aside from push along the natural healing process.'

Yuki watched over Ayumi's shoulder holding his hands together squeezing them tightly. 'Saki… please be alright…' The tap of feet and whining boards from upstairs grew louder as Ken and Hiroshi drew to the steps. Yuki placed his hand on Ayumi's shoulder alerting her to their presence. "They're coming back," he said under his breath.

The faint light that Ayumi was emanating from her disappeared shattered to vapor. She stood up regaining her usual face that was heavily wrinkled in worry. She stepped away letting Hiroshi hand over the blanket to Yuki. Once Saki was covered up and allowed to rest they retreated to the kitchen to keep an ear out for when Saki would wake. Yuki sent his brother back to search for Jun to make sure that he was alright. When Ken was gone Yuki turned to his friends who both had uncertain faces. "What should we do? I'm worried about Saki, but…"

Hiroshi could see that Yuki was starting to lose it for how much he had been holding it together. "Hey man. It'll be alright. Like I said before Saki's strong. A little rest and she'll be up kicking me into the pavement."

Yuki choked on a laugh at Hiroshi's joke breaking in a smile that felt painful. "Yeah…"

"Do you know what happened to her?" said Ayumi stepping into the conversation making the two boys realize that she was out of the loop. She had not been brought up to speed and the way that Yuki was acting she was not certain if he was overreacting.

Hiroshi stepped in seeing that Yuki was not able to respond. "We don't much. We found her barely walking in the street before she collapsed. What you see is how we found her."

"Saki…what can we…" Ayumi's voice began to break up with the bubbling emotions rising up pushing tears. She tried to wipe them away quickly, but could not work fast enough to keep them at bay.

The stream of tears from Ayumi made Hiroshi panic a little not wanting to have the girl crying, but also not knowing what he could do. 'Great…first Yuki and now Ayumi… Yuki just better not start crying…' Hiroshi tried to give a reassuring hand to Ayumi but caught out of the corner of his eye that Yuki was starting to lose it. He let out a long sigh and pulled out chairs for the two of them to sit down. Hiroshi stepped out of the kitchen becoming a little embarrassed by the scene developing (especially since Ayumi was faking it).

In the living room, it was quieter, though Saki's presence made the room feel heavy. Hiroshi took an uncomfortable seat in the end chair that gave him a view of Saki. "Can't believe this happened to you… You're always charging in beating up bullies for Yuki. And now you're lying here…" Hiroshi dug his face into his legs as he drew up close.

"…Yu…ki…" said a strained voice from Saki's lips. Her body started to move slightly and her eyes flicker open.