Chapter Text
Chapter One – Kiete ita
Calliope does not feel. An apprentice of Death cannot feel any pain, any emotions as she is a reaper, and reaper’s do not feel guilty for reaping a soul. The Mori does not feel. But Calli does.
Calli has been around the humans, the overworld, for a long time now ever since she took a hiatus from her reaping job. She had become well-accustomed to the humans that she was pretty sure she can blend in very well, except for the fact that she acts quite of a boomer despite looking so young.
She had also felt different kinds of emotions. Happiness. Sadness. Anger. And hurt. She had all experienced it. But never did she prepare for a whirlwind of emotion all at once, until today.
She stood outside the emergency room. The white walls giving off an eerie feel and the bright red words of the emergency room does not make her feel any better as she stares anxiously at the door. Many of you are probably questioning why on Earth there was a reaper inside a hospital of all places. Well… who wouldn’t rush to the hospital when you heard that one of your friends was undergoing a major surgery due to heart failure?
She paced around the halls, waiting for the doctor to come out while her other friends stared at her and at the door in worry.
“Hey Calli, would you sit down? Pacing there wouldn’t make the process or the time go faster.” Amelia called out to the reaper.
“Then why don’t you use that watch to control time?” Calli snapped, a flare in her eyes as she glared at the now frowning detective.
“You and I both know that this watch doesn’t work that way.” Amelia said, firmly. She sighed, running a hand through her blonde hair. “Calli, sit down, you’re gonna tire yourself out.”
Calli grumbled but heeded the detective’s request and sat beside Ina who held her hand and squeezed it reassuringly. The former’s stiff shoulders slightly relaxed at the touch as a sigh escaped her mouth. Calli never thought that she would feel worry, pain, and shock at the same time. She could still feel her heartbeat ringing loudly against her ear as her palms began to sweat.
She let out a breath and looked at Amelia. “What happened anyway? Why was Kiara..?” She couldn’t continue her own words, emotions blocking her speech.
“I don’t know. When I got there, she was already having a cardiac arrest and I had to teleport her as fast as I could to a doctor or else she wouldn’t…” Amelia gulped, not wanting to think about the possibility.
Calli inhaled sharply. “Thank you, Watson.” Amelia nodded a hum.
After almost painstaking two hours of waiting, the doctor had finally come out from the door smiling solemnly. All four stood up as soon as the doctor came, but no one dared to speak, until Gura decided to slice through the silence.
“How is she doing?” She asked, her tail curling anxiously.
“She’s fine. The surgery went well all thanks to Miss Watson who acted fast enough for Miss Takanashi’s life to be spared.” The doctor announced. The group sighed in relief, but they also know that’s not the only thing the doctor would say.
“Unfortunately, Miss Takanashi’s heart attack was severe, causing some blood to reach her brain. We have successfully drained the blood out from her brain, however, there are two possible outcomes the patient may have. One is memory loss, and the other one is losing their emotions. Or maybe, both.” The doctor continued, dropping the bombshell.
The group stood silently in front of the doctor, processing what had been told to them. Ina’nis' flaps were pressed flat on her head, a clear sign of distress and anxiousness. Her hands were also gripping the hem of her dress as she bit her lip. Gura was also no better, her tail had fallen limp from behind. She was also biting the inside of her cheek, tears staining her eyes as she sniffled. Amelia was… Amelia. She was standing there; a cold and calculated glare was placed from her normal mischievous and sly eyes. She sighed, closing her eyes, looking away from the doctor. But Calli… Calli was... was frozen. Her whole frame went rigid at the news. The fact that Kiara would not only lose her memories, she might also lose her emotions. And Kiara.. Kiara was sunshine to Calli. The thought of Kiara losing herself was enough for Calli to take a step back, only to fall limp on the hospital chairs, mouth agape.
The doctor fell silent, looking at the distraught mythos before setting their gaze to Amelia.
The other two joined Calli on the chairs, Gura’s tail curling on the former’s leg while Ina’s head rested on her shoulders. She wasn’t able to hear or notice the doctor and Amelia leaving the premises. She was too disoriented at the news to even move or allow her senses to work.
Suddenly, she felt tired. Like her body was sucked out of energy and her head rested onto Ina’s before letting her consciousness fade.
When she woke up, she found herself inside a white room feeling fabric beneath her touch and coming to a conclusion that she might be on one of the hospital sofas placed in each patient’s room. She rubbed her blurred gaze and looked at her right, already seeing familiar cascades of teal and orange. She sat up noting that their friends were not around before fixing her gaze to the sleeping phoenix. She stood up and walked towards the left side of Kiara’s bed.
“She looks so peaceful..” Calli thought. She lifted her hands to brush the stray tresses of bangs from Kiara’s head. “When was the last time I saw you looking this peaceful...”
She suddenly felt a pang on her heart as she was reminded of the time whenever she saw Kiara on her death bed looking so tired and in pain despite the smile on her face every time she sees the reaper.
Calli allowed herself to sit in the stool beside Kiara’s bed, just staring at her, looking for any sign of movement. And when she did, she felt her heartbeat. But it wasn’t a beat of excitement, rather it was a beat of anxiousness and worry. She knew the outcome, or at least she already knew what to expect, and unlike the old days, she was more worried and in pain for what the outcome would bring.
“Calli?”
She blinked. She remembers her. Kiara remembers her. She was happy but something was different. She looked at the phoenix who was now looking at her, and her heart fell as she gaze up the familiar purple pools now devoid of emotion.
“H-Hi Ku—Kiara… you good?” Lame, she knows.
Kiara nodded and closed her eyes before mumbling. “Where are we?”
“Hospital.” Calli answered. Kiara hums monotonously before looking back at her. “Why am I here?” She asked. Calli gulped. But she does her best to answer.
“So, Amelia found you in your home having a cardiac arrest and teleported you to this hospital and… doctor said there might be possible outcomes for what happened, and I think I know what it is..” Calli said, mumbling the last part.
The door opened revealing the rest of their friends and the doctor. Gura immediately perked up and went to Kiara’s right side, her tail flopping down near Kiara’s leg brushing lightly. Ina was also quick to her side, sitting on another stool on her right with her hand near the phoenix’s head. Amelia stood beside the doctor with crossed arms, a small smile grazing her lips as she stared at the phoenix.
The doctor made their way to Kiara, not minding the three mythos that were standing close as they ran tests and queries towards the phoenix. When the observation was done, the doctor took a step back and cleared their throat.
“It seems that you have lost some memories before and during the incident and also lost your emotions in the process.” They informed Kiara. “But do not worry, it is only temporary. Psychological and behavioral exercises might be enough to bring back the emotions.” They continued, mostly informing the others than Kiara herself.
“Thank you, doc.” Amelia nodded in gratitude. The doctor nodded back at her before leaving the room. Amelia exhaled and looked at the four. “Well, you heard them. I think it’s safe to assume Kiara’s memory and emotion will come back in due time.”
“How are you feeling though, Kiara?” Asked Ina.
“Nothing much other than being tired.” Kiara said monotonously.
“That.. might take a lot of getting used to though.” Said Gura, noticing the difference in her speech. “But I’m glad you’re okay.” Kiara nods, not knowing how to react.
“Oh yeah. You might be staying in here for a while for checkups. But it wouldn’t probably take a week, a maximum of three days and you’re good.” Announced Amelia to which Kiara nodded.
“That’s good, I guess. I've got a feeling of not wanting to be in here for too long anyway.” Said Kiara.
“Rest well then, Kiara. We'll be here when you wake up.” Grinned Gura, her tail thumping the unoccupied part of the phoenix’ bed who nodded and ruffled Gura’s hair. “Aight, emotions or no emotions, you're still Kiara. Stoop!” She groaned but made no effort to stop the hand ruffling her hair.
Ina giggled at this and poked Kiara’s face before scratching her scalp, allowing Kiara to relax and become drowsy. Calli was staring at Kiara, unable to move and Amelia noticed this, taking note of it.
Amelia once again stared at Kiara, letting out a breath, tapping her fingers on her coat as she leaned on the wall, thankful that Kiara was somewhat okay and probably… nevermind.