Chapter 19

Both Douma and Shinobu followed the rocky mountain trail leading to the summit. This was the forth mountain its clinic had been standing for years despite enduring a lot of disasters such as the Earthquake from two years ago. But admittedly it needed some renovation, the space was cramped and the facilities were not operating at times.

"We don't know what happened she just fell ill early this morning. Her brother is very worried." Images of Eiko's sickly state flashed in Shinobu's mind startling her.

"Was it something she ate or got into contact with?" Just yesterday the four of them were watching the news about those alien creatures and the symptoms of the disease they've been carrying. If Eiko is experiencing sudden changes in her skin and energy-levels that means she's been infected with the unidentified disease. Based on what Shinobu told him that seemed to be the case, Eiko needs help fast.

"I don't think so the food was fine. She went outside though." 

Outside, she was after Atashi. Could it be that she encountered something in the storm? Douma's eyes widened at the thought of his friends getting ambushed by those monsters. The minute someone breathes in the contaminated air the disease starts travelling to their system.

"Did she go out to find someone?"

"Yes is something wrong Douma?"

There was a moment of silence before Shinobu stopped in her tracks with a shocked expression on her face. 

"You know Reiji and the others?" Everything was starting to make sense now. "No wonder Atashi was rambling about some rainbow-eyed freak-

Douma looked away in sorrow. "What does he mean by that I'm not some freak I was just trying to get that stupid totem away from him!" 

"Aha! So you're the one who made him run away." Raising her finger, Shinobu smiled and continued walking leaving the shrine leader sulking near the wall of the mountain. "What's so special about that totem anyway, Eiko has been trying to get it away from him for some reason. Turns out she's not the only one even the leader of Paradise Shrine is trying to get a hold of it. Reiji said it poses a threat to humanity if not handled properly." 

"Which is exactly why I can't let him have it."

Glancing at the blonde, Shinobu wondered what Atashi was going to do with it. The totem is indeed a prized possession but did it have some sort of power that her friend wanted. For what purpose? It's not like he could simply harness it especially from something that was potentially dangerous even to the wielder.

"Hmmm I'll talk to him when we get back. A little convincing should do the trick." Positive, he'd probably listen as long as nobody was pushing him. The purple-haired girl was sure of that but she didn't understand why her friend was so reluctant to give it up. 

"Tried that approach he became a completely different person. The strange man who gave it to him is treating him like a puppet, Atashi distancing himself from everyone is what he wants. Can't believe he'd fall for that." Even though Douma was always calm and content there were times when he was a too occupied in his worries like he's kicking himself for letting it happen. Shinobu understood that he had to keep up with the smiley demeanor all the time he had a huge following that depended on him. 

Suddenly a large rock broke off from the cliff above the trail and fell towards them. Shinobu froze in horror watching the rock getting closer to her, unable to do anything in that spot.

Douma dashed towards her and got his fan out slicing the boulder in half right before it landed. They both watched the large rock crumble down the mountain into pieces. Looking at Douma's fan in relief and worry, Shinobu took in its details admiring the weapon used to save her.

"Thanks for saving me that fan is so cool." 

"It takes patience to become one with it." The purple-haired girl never knew she would meet someone with fan martial arts skills. Such elegant movements, even though Douma's weapon wasn't as threatening as a sword it takes mastery and patience just like he said.

Soon they reached their destination and it certainly wasn't the most welcoming with the cries of panic. A familiar face showed up at the entrance, Reiji was waiting for them. Douma wanted to ask him why he sent Shinobu, a visitor all alone to find him in these mountains. The scene of that rock falling replayed in his mind, he couldn't bear to lose a friend because of such ignorance.

"Reiji we're here how's Eiko?" Shinobu ran towards him in fear that she was too late. Luckily they weren't as one of the medics announced that Eiko was starting to have breathing problems to which the three of them rushed into the room that was packed with medics and another teen whom Douma assumed to be Maru since this friend of Atashi's didn't show up during his time at their place.

The teen with the straw hat looked at his younger cousin with guilt in his eyes. Even though Atashi was the stubborn one in this situation he wished there was something else he could've done to stop the two from running outside. Douma had every right to be mad with them.

"Everyone don't crowd around her the air will become too constricting," Douma said standing in the middle of the small room. "What happened how did she get sick? Eiko was alright yesterday."

"We saw something very strange in the forest while chasing Atashi." Reiji said with a quiver in his voice.

"They found a plant that was infected with something." One of the medics continued checking on Eiko's heart rate. "We advise not to go near any wild plants for now."

Douma looked at Reiji with a worried expression. It was hard to believe that the Hasu Mountains was becoming a treacherous place it was never like this something isn't right unless the plant was a poisonous species but Eiko's symptoms were too severe for that to be the case.

"Eiko went to look at it and that's when the plant let out this strange gas. I took her away from there she was coughing," Reiji went on. "It was dark green Eiko said it smelled like rotting meat and chlorine." 

The three of them glanced at Eiko who was struggling to breathe. Maru was arranging all the medical supplies with the medics. "We need sanitizers." He said clearing the space for more incoming equipment. 

Something about Eiko's condition made Douma very uncomfortable like he'd seen it before. That was when he noticed her arm, dry with numerous dark grey patches forming on her skin resembling bruises. This wasn't the first time he encountered someone with these symptoms. Eiko had definitely been infected by those monsters.

"We need to take her to the hospital now! Look at her she can't handle this much longer." Shinobu's cries snapped Douma out of his thoughts he too was thinking the same thing. Getting treatment there would be a better option. However the medics seem to be opposing to this idea and the doctor wasn't even in the same area. What's taking the doctor so long were they running out of supplies, then they should consider calling an ambulance right now.

The nurse treating Eiko's wounded skin faced Shinobu with a look of uncertainty. "We will eventually but right now we're having a hard time contacting the nearest hospital, it's five hours away from here and we're not sure if the ambulance will arrive on time."

"Then can someone drive her there? No excuses there's gotta be a way through this." Unsatisfied with the nurse's response, Shinobu got up and called out to everyone in the room. She wasn't going to let this slide.

"Anything can happen to Eiko during the long journey and remember, we're not supposed to go out just like that. Those things are still out there and the weather isn't doing any justice." Another nurse responded trying to sound reassuring but that didn't convince Shinobu she wasn't buying it their patient was in a serious condition hiding isn't going to solve anything it's not like they were going to stick around outside during the drive.

"What utter nonsense! Our friend's life is at stake can't you guys see that?!" Shinobu clenched her fist tightly she could feel her blood boiling. How could anyone neglect the well-being of others while working in the health sector this was such a cowardly move.

"I can treat her." Douma got up and faced the medics crowding around Eiko's bed with their equipment. 

The nurses glared at him. Both Shinobu and Reiji exchanged glances with each other they knew what to expect from the medic's reactions it was quite obvious with what's been happening in the mountains. Even though Douma had good intentions it won't get through to these people they've already despised him enough.

"You are not going near her. We've had enough of the problems you caused." Standing in front of Eiko defensively, the older nurse eyed Douma who remained quiet for a while. This was bound to happen the blonde knew how they were going to respond to his assistance.

"Besides you are not allowed here," The nurse picked up a broom and pointed it at Douma threateningly. "Get out before someone gets injured because of you!"

"Please listen I know what sickness Eiko has I treated someone who had it before-

"Did you not hear what she said? Leave this place at once you filthy rat we don't want you here nobody in Hasu Mountains wants to see you anymore!" Grabbing the broom, the younger nurse started pushing Douma out of the room with no hesitation. The other medics gathered a few items like cloths, soft toys, and plastic bottles, anything they could find and started throwing them at him.

"Stop this at once!" Shinobu yelled attempting to take the broom away from the younger nurse. Immediately, the younger nurse slammed the broom on the floor scaring Shinobu who almost fell back.

"What are you thinking siding with this monster?"

"Don't call him that he's my friend!"

"You don't know anything about this friend of yours young lady."

"And what do you know about him?" Shinobu stood beside Douma crossing her arms. None of the medics said a word they just stared at the two speechless. "As I thought, nothing."

Both nurses looked at Shinobu furiously wondering who she was, the girl didn't look like someone from the mountains, she must be a visitor who happened to meet the shrine leader somewhere. 

Another round of shoving and throwing of objects began as the medics lashed out at them. This was similar to what happened at the shrine earlier. Reiji and Maru looked at their friends helplessly they wanted to do something but Eiko was under their watch so they just had to wait for this mess to be over, the outcome being not seeing Douma and Shinobu again for a while.

"We're Eiko's friends you can't separate us from her!" Moving away from the broom and incoming objects, Shinobu eyed the medics with a look of resentment towards their treatment of guests.

"Think about how Eiko's brother Atashi will feel knowing that you're neglecting her! At least take her to the hospital now!" Douma dodged the items being thrown at him. Both Reiji and Maru watched as Douma was no longer in the room he was now in the hallway stepping over the items on the floor. 

Shinobu was getting pushed away too, the boys saw the last strand of her purple hair disappear from view. They got up and rushed out of the room, to their disappointment both their friends were leaving the clinic and there was nothing they could do to get them back.

"Speaking of Atashi where is he?" Looking around they just realized Atashi wasn't around which made Douma a little angry how could he leave his sister just like that.

"He ran away we don't know where he went." Reiji replied seeing Douma's firm expression made him shiver. "Aunt Mai is contacting his parents outside."

"That is very irresponsible of him and Reiji you're no different either, sending Shinobu to find me at the shrine was a very dangerous thing to do. This place is foreign to her she could've gotten lost or hurt." Douma's gaze turned cold Shinobu looked at him worryingly she appreciated his concern however the vibes coming off of him were starting to frighten her this wasn't the same Douma from earlier. 

"I understand I'm sorry." Looking down at the ground in shame, Reiji hid behind the wall he knew what he did was wrong. 

The clinic was now a mess especially the hallway. Both Douma and Shinobu had left there was no sign of them on the clinic grounds. If anything, the Hasu Mountains was in need of a new clinic one that will live up to its name and role.