This Means War- Ch. 20: Healing

We ran to Nya.

She had crashed into a table and was clutching her head. Jay and I knelt down next to her. “Ugn…” She moaned, grabbing her head. Her face had a horrible red welt where Stacia had slapped her, surrounded by some nasty scratch marks, courtesy of her too-long fingernails.

“Nya? Are you okay?” I asked quietly.

I wasn’t sure if she heard me at first. But then she mumbled grumpily “Yes. I’m fine…”

I turned to Sensei and nodded towards him. He nodded back. He led Kai, Sue and Zane away from us, rambling about the food here or something, giving us space.

I turned back to Nya, who still had her eyes shut tight, and pushed her palms against her head, as if was about to explode.

“Nya,” I said, concerned, “Are you actually okay?”

“Yes, of course!” She managed a weak smile. “Here, I’ll show you! Let me just stand up-”

“Nya, I don’t think that’s a very good ide-” Jay tried. But he was too late. Nya tried to bring herself up by grabbing onto whatever table or chair she could reach. But as soon as she got to her feet she wobbled, clutched her head, and feel over. I reached out and caught her in my arms.

“Nya you can’t-” but she interrupted me.

“Cole, I’m fine! Just let me-” She tried to stand again, but failed miserably. This time when I caught her, I swept her up in my arms and started walking away. “Cole! What are you-?” She said, feet dangling from my arms.

“Cole? I can take-” Jay started, but I ignored him. I wasn’t even quite sure he was strong enough to carry Nya.

“Nya, you’re hurt. You clearly can’t walk. It’s okay, I can carry you.”

“What? You think I can’t handle a little slap?” She asked defensively.

“You crashed into the wall and the table, I think you’re seriously messed up,” I laughed.

“Haha… laugh all you want” She said playfully.

Jay went to get Kai, Zane and the others and we all decided we’ve had enough for one night. Kai pleaded with Sensei to let Sue come to the monastery and he agreed. I gently put Nya in my Tread Assault and drove back to the monastery as fast as possible. Jay and Sensei followed me in the Storm Fighter along with Zane and Kai who drove along behind.

Well, maybe not Kai. He and Sue veered away from us as he took her on a joy ride. But I was happy for him that he got to have fun tonight, that’s what he really wanted. And no one keeps Kai away from what he wants, I thought laughing.

But the rest of us drove back to the monastery as fast as possible. Sensei still had to check out Nya’s head.

-

I transformed my fire sword into my motorcycle, probably a little to dramatically.

“Woah!” Sue said, wide-eyed.

“Wanna come ride with me?” I asked.

“On this?!” She pointed in shock to my Blade Cycle.

“Yeah, hop on!” I smiled and held out my hand to her.

“Ah! I can’t believe this is happening!” I pulled her onto the back of my motorcycle and she wrapped her arms around my waist.

“Hold on tight,” I grinned. Her arms squeezed my waist, and I sped away. Soon the Night Club was just a flashing light in the distance. The wind whipped through our hair and the cool night felt good after being in the crowded dance club.

“Thank you, Kai! I haven’t had this much fun in so long!” She said, as we drove through the city. Then she suddenly kissed my cheek. I was kind of shocked. I wobbled the Blade Cycle for a moment, then quickly focused again and stabilized it. I could feel my face flush. Sue giggled behind me.

I sped us up as we maneuvered through the brightly lit streets.

“WOOHOO!” We yelled as we sped into the night.

-

I brought Nya into her room and gently laid her on her bed. She had fallen asleep while we were driving home and was now sleeping peacefully. I was sad, but also glad. I wanted to talk to her more about what happened tonight, but all her groaning was kind of making me nervous. Sensei walked in and put his hand on Nya’s head.

“Boy. She is going to have a bad headache tomorrow,” He said.

“Is she alright?” I asked.

“Oh, yes. She is alright. She just has a little concussion, that’s all. The worst that’s going to happen is she’ll have a headache, or maybe start hallucinating” Sensei chuckled, remembering Kai’s hallucinations. “She’ll be fine by tomorrow or so.”

He touched her face thoughtfully. “Her face doesn’t look so good though” He paused, looking at the red mark and scratches. “I know!” He turned to me, “I have just the thing!”

He left the room for a few minutes and came back with a cloth soaked in something that smelled good. Like flowers or something. He handed it to me, “What is this?”

“It’s special healing tea. Put it on her face, gently. It should make it feel much better. If you’ll excuse me, I have to go see what kind of trouble Lloyd’s gotten into” He swiftly left the room.

“Of course,” I mumbled, “He has tea to heal bruises on people’s faces. Why am I not surprised?”

I sat next to Nya on her bed and slowly put the cloth over the cheek that Stacia slapped, and held it there.

I thought about tonight, and all that had happened. How could Nya have possibly known that Stacia had a crush on me? Was it just some secret girl radar? Can they tell or what? I certainly didn’t see that coming. The inquisitiveness was eating away at my brain. Did she really know? Was she just guessing? Did she even want to kiss me?

“Oh, Nya. I wish you were awake. I have so much to ask you about tonight.” I sighed.
She stirred and mumbled.

“Nya!? Are you awake?” I whispered.

“Mmmm….” Her eyelids fluttered.

“If you can hear me Nya,” I paused, feeling stupid I was talking to someone half-asleep….  “Why did you kiss me?”

I was ready for no answer, considering she was sleeping.

“eh….hurv…yuuuoh…” She mumbled, incoherently.

“What?”

She stirred and shifted, in her sleep.

“Yyyye looov…. Yu….”

I really wasn’t sure if she was dreaming or if she was actually conscious. But she seemed pretty much asleep, so I left it at that.

I lifted the cloth off her face. To my surprise, her face was almost completely back to normal. It was just a little pink now. I set the cloth on her bedside table and stood.

“Goodnight Nya,” I leaned down and gently kissed the spot Stacia had hit, and went to bed.

But I couldn’t sleep.

As much as I wanted Nya’s sleep talking to be true, I knew it was too good to expect as much.