- "That I cannot know, Sinon-san. Perhaps, he was checking on you because he cares, or maybe because he values his assets, or maybe because he feels guilty for what has happened. Or, perhaps, he is afraid. Fear is a permanent guest in this ward".
Kitagawa sat on the chair and started to check her tablet.
- "Who knows what is going in the heads of those aristocrats? I can tell you for sure though that he looks more reasonable and restrained than the KOI bunch that frequent the station to visit our patients. Regardless, you need to focus on your recovery. Your body is healthy, it is your mind that needs assistance. Nobody can help you with it until you decide yourself that you want help".
Kitagawa smiled and looked in the upper corner of the room as if dreaming of something distant.
- "If you ask me, I find strength in dreams and what I can get from life. For example, I want to put off some money and get that widely advertised OS&C trip to the Sigmas. I keep checking the views of Hiran and imagine seeing it with my own eyes. Maybe, you also have something or someone to live for. Duty, love, curiosity, whatever it is - humans are emotional creatures so you need positive emotions to fuel your will to live, and thus the resistance of your body.".
Fort Wakkanai ''You say I need to have... positive emotions? Like... Having you here?'' She paused and looked at the doctor. ''Maybe... maybe I should leave Kusari. Getting lost somewhere... I don't know.'' She said unsure of her words. But what she was sure on was that she needed the leave this place.
''I know you are currently working, doctor but... I would like to know you.'' Her eyes met Kitagawa's eyes. The doctor could see that Sinon wanted to be a bit social.
- "As of now, Sinon-san, you cannot leave anywhere. Not until you finish your treatment and have a chat with the KOI. So far, my reports have kept them away but once you are deemed mentally stable enough, they will surely have a talk with you. This is how things are at Wakkanai. I guess you understand why".
As Kitagawa was talking about the KOI she for the first time got serious and gloomy, however, quickly returned to her upbeat manner afterwards.
- "After you finish your treatment and if decided upon to be free to go - why not? You can go travelling wherever the wanderlust guides you. In a way, I envy you: to be able to roam freely. I am bound by my duty here and I actually like it!"
Kitagawa stood up again and checked the sensors monitoring Sinon's activity on the wall.
- "I don't know if you are bound by any duty but the way you talk it seems you are more of a freelancer. I am also glad I bring positive feedback to you: most doctors try to appear serious and distant. I don't believe in this. I used to work with children for a few years before being transferred to Wakkanai and know from personal experience that good cheering and a smile can cause faster recovery. As for knowing me - I am always glad to share my personal experiences with the patients to foster better trust and recovery".
The doctor turned around, smiled, and sat back in the chair, locking hands over her chest ready to listen:
- "Don't be shy, shoot your questions! My life hasn't been very exciting but I have a few funny stories to share to cheer you up."
Fort Wakkanai
Sinon felt good in the presence of the doctor. She was listening to her when she was speaking. And she was right that being like she was helps to recover faster than being cold. Sinon Yuki was sitting on the bed looking at the doctor. She took a deep breath. ''I must admit, it is because of you that I can.. be out of my mind... And to answer you, I work for the Shimamori clan but with what I have done.... I.. I don't know if I am in their rank again.'' Revealed the woman.
''You are the one who is friendly with me and... I like you for that. So... my first question is what is your name and what did you do until now? I know it is two questions in one.'' The woman looked at the doctor waiting for her answer.
The doctor jokingly stretched as if giving a formal introduction:
- "Kitagawa Emiko to omoshimasu. It is pleasure to meet you!".
She chuckled and returned back to the upbeat relaxed stance.
- "To answer your second question - I am a doctor as you can see and have been one since I graduated from the university on Kyushu. It's been a while..."
She dreamingly started investigating the ceiling as if trying to bring back the memories in her mind.
- "I've spent the last five years working here, at Fort Wakkanai, treating all sorts of patients mostly from Hokkaido and Tohoku. During the recent war against Gallia, I have also tended to the wounded soldiers. Luckily, I am not overspecialised not to be able to treat a wide range of patients. And because Tohoku is nearby, I have seen all sorts of things one can barely imagine. And before that... I've been a paediatrician back on Kyushu. Working with children required to be genki (//cheerful) and know a lot about all parts of human body. I did my job well but also as a hobby conducted research at the local medical university. I think I got noticed and offered a transfer here. It's not bad, the pay is very good and the career growth is fast. I do miss children sometimes, though, and I am far away from home and friends. But if one likes the job, loneliness becomes solitude, eh?".
Kitagawa again stood up as if not capable of sitting still for a long time.
- "As you can see, I find joy in my work although many people would call my working conditions rather depressive. You also should see something positive about your life. I do not see a reason for Lord Shimamori to refuse you in returning to your post if you recover. Well, and if the KOI do not find anything on you that is. So, focus on the recovery and you will be able to get your position back!"
Fort Wakkanai
Sinon listened to the doctor and she was interested in what she was saying. ''Kitagawa Emiko... I like your name. It fits well with your personality.'' Said Sinon Yuki. But her face became a bit dark. When she mentionned KOI. Then, she was afraid. She feared something and even her did not know what. She simply had fear. Now negative thoughts arrived. She saw her being tortured and slowly the vision of the weird ship and what the alien said haunted her. She was slowly loosing contact of reality.
The visions became more intense and more violent. She screamed and then she lost consciousness. Maybe Sinon Yuki wasn't full recovered after all.
Yuki did not remember much about what happened when she was unconscious. The doctor calling the staff, syringe injections, and long sleep. Throughout the dream she could hear the distant voice of doctor Kitagawa:
- "It will be fine, you will get better. You need more time. We will take care of you".
The forced sleep provided the needed rest for the body but was the mind resting as well? Only the time will tell.
Fort Wakkanai
Six days have passed since she had her crisis. Her body was on her bed. The woman opened her eyes and it was dark. There was a fog surrounding her. Her head hurt. She decided to get up of the bed. The woman looked around the place and there was no one. Not even the doctor Kitagawa. She began to walk and saw a corpse. It was Minato's. Seeing this broke her even more. She kneeled near the body and cry.
A shadow appeared behind her. The shadow did not have a precise shape but the eyes of it were red and its mouth as well. It got closer of the woman who was crying and breaks the silence. ''Yes... Cry.. Feed me...'' Its voice was dark and had an effect of echo. The woman turned her head to see where the voice was coming from but she saw nothing. She stood up walking toward the voice she heard a few seconds ago and some tears were running down on her face. The woman was wearing an hospital dress and her feet were naked. But what she did not know, the shadow was behind her.
Minutes and hours have passed and nothing. It was probably her imagination. She was about to turn around again but the shadow behind her tackled her to the ground and sat on her to make sure that its prey couldn't run. The way that the shadow was sitting on the woman prevented any movements of her arms. The woman was afraid. Something that the shadow particularly enjoyed to smell. ''Your smell... smells good...'' Said the shadow. The woman was terrified-
Sinon was asleep in the chamber where she has passed two weeks and a half. To make sure she was ok, there was a doctor overseeing Sinon. She seemed passing a peaceful dream but on her face, tears began to run. And after some minutes later, her breath began to be heavier. Like if she had difficulty to breath. However, all seemed to indicate that it was more psychic than physic.
Yuki was observed via the cameras in her room from a distance. Whenever she was having nightmares and sleep paralysis the observing personnel would administer a dose of sedatives while monitoring the change in neurohormonal balance. The data indicated that whatever was happening to Sinon was mental and had little physiological expression except for the regular changes accompanying mood swings and psychological distress. Knowing the background behind her admission to the ward, however, nobody from the personnel dismissed the possibility of some phenomenon beyond the scope of measurement available.
Dr. Kitagawa entered the room as usual with her tablet in her hands. She was holding a tumbler with some warm drink that she was joyfully sipping while watching the data running down the screen. With a smile she greeted Yuki:
- "Good morning, Sinon-san! How have you been? Do you feel you are getting better? Does anything trouble you?".
Fort Wakkanai
Sinon Yuki woke up spontaneously. She was sweating due of an horrible nightmare. The woman was afraid. It can be read on her facial expression. The doctor was in the room and Sinon looked at her. ''Kitagwa...'' Said the kusarian. ''I... I am afraid.'' She was afraid to loose herself control and to become a crazy woman ready to jump on anyone just to satisfy her impulsions. But with what happened, with that weird ship, it could be worse than when she was working for the forty-sixth.