āThe Sun Dorm. The students, theyāā She cut herself off with a shake of her head. That couldnāt be right. Sheād doneā¦ something. Why couldnāt she remember what? She remembered reaching, then falling, thenā¦ seeing. Sheād dreamed she could see again, like she had as a small child. Part of her, the selfish part, wanted nothing more than to be alone for a while and mourn the loss of that which could not be returned, but she shoved the instinct away. Other things were more important, likeā¦
āKaichouā¦ what happened? I donāt remember.ā The question was asked in the softest sotto voce she had, but it sounded too loud to her ears anyway. If he was here, in the infirmary (for that must be where they were), she did not imagine it could have been anything good.
Any answer the young Kuran might have provided was forestalled by another arrival, however, as the door to the room swung open to admit the masked vampire. He had been monitoring Ekaterinaās vitals from his temporary residence in a guest house, and upon her waking, had set out for this room at once. āDevotchka,ā he exhaled, and the sound was caught somewhere between relieved and sad.
āBatya?ā she responded, clearly perplexed, if not a bit happy to realize who the visitor was.
His response was not immediate, however, and though she could not discern the reason for his pause, it would have been obvious enough to Takeru, at whom the manās posture now indicated he was looking. There was something of an interlude, perhaps no more than a few seconds, and Kittyās brows drew together in her confusion.
āYou areā¦ yes, I see. It makes sense now.ā There was another pause, this one thoughtful, and then Ivan inclined his head at the young man, an uncommon gesture of respect, before turning back to his adopted daughter. āMuch has happened since you slept, Katya moya. But it is not a telling to request of Kuran-kun right now.ā Still, he was clearly leaving it up to the other whether he chose to say anything about it or not, and moved about her bedside as a doctor would, checking the monitors, taking her pulse, and removing the IV drip once heād determined she was in no danger of relapsing into her coma.
Ekaterina had fallen silent upon the gentle remonstrance, as she often had before. Ivan always wore the velvet gloves around her, and she knew that very well. She also understood to some extent that this was not how he was with anyone else, though she knew not what the difference was, only that elsewhere, his demeanor was colder, harsher, more metallic and logical and chilly, and this rare warmth was only hers. She had never known what to think about that, really. It wasnāt like sheād done anything to deserve such exception.
Deserveā¦ why did it feel like sheād had this argument with someone before? She did not generally make a habit of revealing her inner mind to others, as it was an unnecessary burden upon people who generally had more important things to do. So then why did the line of thought seem so familiar? Her thoughts were interrupted when Ivan brushed her fringe back from her forehead with one hand, tucking a few stray hands gently behind one ear. āThere is much to do, Katya. I must go now. Be a good girl while I am gone.ā She nodded slowly, and he dropped his hand, shooting a brief look at the roomās other occupant. āDo not let the memories of those who are gone drown you, young Lord Kuran. Only madness lies down that road. The living will need you yet.ā
Ekaterina had never heard him sound so grave and burdened before. She had the distinct impression that Ivan knew exactly what he was talking about, from something deeper than scientific observation. But heād never told her of any such thing. She almost opened her mouth to question the advice, but the words had not been meant for her, and she left them alone. Perhaps they would mean more to Kuran-kaichou than to her.
The door closed behind him, and Ivanās footsteps swiftly receded into nothingness. Kitty laid back with a sigh. āIām sorry,ā she said quietly. āI meant to ask you how you were, but that is a question with no happy answer right now, isnāt it?ā It seemed kind of pointless, in the wake of everything that had happened recently. And she knew there were pieces she was still missing.