Chapter 11

“This is Murasakino, she is a former member of the Black Plague, after I killed her Master it would appear I am now her Master” said Riku.

“Oh? And that all happened while you were in there?” asked Lillie.

“Correct Riku Yuki is my new master,” said Murasakino.

Lillie looked at Lotus, who just shrugged not knowing what to do about the situation. The three started walking back to the school to head to their dorms. So, Riku could mourn the loss of his recently deceased wife. He appeared to be calm on the surface, but what lies beneath nobody knows except for himself. H...how am I going to tell her parents...or my parents...how will I move on?...I...I can’t Riku thought to himself. Once he got to his room with Akino, Lotus, and Lillie in tow he went straight for his bed. The moment he plopped down he just laid there staring at the ceiling. Riku felt a sudden wave of sadness, and despair crash onto him like a wave; he spent so most of the day being angry that he didn’t let the loss of his late wife settle. Once it did Riku found himself slowly drifting off to sleep.

On the other side of the school Carmen was back in her dorm room, or rather on Raiden’s side of the room. She was looking through his closet looking for something “gray...black...more gray...does this idiot wear anything other than gray or black?” she asked herself. Then found something that stood out like a sore thumb; it was a blue hoodie. She thought for a moment with a small smirk spread across her face. Carmen took the hoodie and put it on looking at herself in the mirror it’s...larger than I thought it would be….well he is taller than I am. She thought to herself as she began to space out, and a day dream of a future between her and Raiden suddenly flowed into her thoughts. Carmen blushed then shook her head looking at herself in the mirror sitting on Raiden’s bed. “Ugh what am I thinking! Why would I like that idiot!” Carmen scolded herself. That’s when a knock at the door caught Carmen’s attention as she went to answer the door, finding Riku standing right in front of her. “Oh Hey Riku...what brings you here?” she asked.

“I just wanted to check on you, and ask a favor” said Riku.

“Oh uh...I’m doing good, w-what did you need?” she asked him nervously.

“That’s good that your good...Um can you keep my apprentice here? I know Raiden’s still in the infirmary” said Riku.

“U-uh S-sure I guess but she has to go back with you when Raiden gets out the infirmary” said Carmen.

“Yeah of course that was the plan” said Rin.

“Master, who is this child you are leaving me with?” asked Murasakino

“Child?” Carmen asked, sounding irritated.

“She isn’t a child, she's the same age as you, her name is Carmen” said Riku.

“Carmen?” Murasakino asked again.

“Yes that’s me your caretaker for however long my roommate is in the infirmary for” said Carmen.

“What about my Master, where will he sleep?” Murasakino asked.

“I’ll sleep in my own dorm until then,” said Riku.

“I will await my Masters return” said Murasakino, as Carmen closed the door leaving Riku in the hallway.

“You’ll have the dorm to yourself...I’m going back to the infirmary to see if Raiden has woken up yet...your welcome to shower here the bathroom is down the hall it's the big sliding door” said Carmen as she walked out the door closing it behind her. Once the doof or clicked Murasakino looked around the room, on the wall closest to her was a few posters, and a few pictures. One of the pictures that stood out was one of Raiden, Riku, Karma, and Akaze all outside of a bowling alley. None of the girls from 2-C were nowhere to be found in the photo. Where are their classmates? Akino thought as she looked at the picture.

Following week with Carmen...

Carmen was sitting on the chair beside Raiden’s bed with her head on his leg as a pillow. Though she was woken up, when she felt her body being moved. Carmen’s eyes fluttered open seeing herself in the bed Raiden was in, she looked up to be met with a pair of blue orbs. “Sorry, didn’t mean to wake you,” said Raiden.

“It’s okay…” Carmen was too tired to care; she just laid her head on Raiden’s chest and crashed back out.

The following day Raiden and Carmen were walking out of the infirmary back to their dorm, on the way the two ran into Riku, and Akame. “Carmen where’s Akino? I thought she was with you?” he asked.

“She’s at the dorm I went back to the infirmary to check on Raiden, or rather stay until he woke up” said Carmen,

“Who’s Akino?” asked Raiden.

“Riku’s new friend,” said Carmen.

“A friend I entrusted to Carmen, probably doesn’t even know where she is at this moment” said Riku with a hint of aggression.

“Don’t get upset with me because Raiden woke up,” said Carmen with some sass.

“Hey the both of you calm down, now let’s sort this thing out and we can move along with our day” said Raiden.

Riku and Carmen nodded, then the three began walking back to Raiden and Carmen’s dorm so that they could figure out what to do with Murasakino. Once the two got back to the dorm they found the girl in question wearing one of Raiden’s hoodies. This caused Carmen to get a little jealous while Riku furrowed his eyebrows, and Raiden just stared. “Why are you wearing my roommates clothes?” Carmen questioned.

“I did not know what to wear, and all of your clothes were too small,” said Murasakino.

“That’s fine, I needed a wardrobe upgrade anyway” said Raiden.

“Akino you should’ve come to me I would’ve taken you to get some clothes” said Riku.

“My apologies Master, you told me not to leave the dorm I was only doing as I was told” said Murasakino.

“Why does she call you Master?” asked Raiden looking at Riku.

“It’s a long story for another time, but for now I’m taking her back to Kira’s Dorm. The Principal allowed me to stay there, so I’ll be requesting another bed,” said Riku.

“Speaking of the Principal, he said he wanted to see you when you came back to us” said Carmen.

Raiden gulped and nodded, he walked past Akino getting some clothes from his side of the room. He walked to the closet and grabbed a towel, then got into the shower. Akino used her shadows to move and was standing beside Riku, when Carmen turned to say bye to Riku she jumped. Carmen looked back at the bed then back to Akino she then crossed her arms one pointing at Akino, the other at the bed she had a confused look on her face. Eventually she put her arms down and just brushed it off as normal that she can just do that randomly. “See you later Carmen” said Riku as he walked out of the dorm closing the door behind him.

Carmen sighed as she went over to her side of the room and threw herself on her bed as she waited for Raiden to exit the bathroom. Though something seemed off an uneasy feeling creeped into her stomach as she stared at the ceiling. She had been staring at the ceiling for a while because before she knew it when she sat up she couldn’t hear the shower running anymore. The only audible sound she could hear on the other side of the door was Raiden taking deep breaths, followed by ‘they burn’ or ‘it hurts’. She grew a little concerned and knocked on the door. Though it may have startled Raiden because she heard a ‘gah’ then a thump like someone hitting drywall.

“Hey Raiden are you okay?” Carmen asked.

“Oh Yeah! You just startled me is all hehehe” said Raiden as he started to get his clothes on.

“I see” said Carmen as she walked back over to her bed

“Hey, do you know if we have anymore S’mores poptarts?” asked Raiden as he stepped out of the bathroom fully clothed.

“I..uh ate the last one while you were in the infirmary...he..he..he” said Carmen as she rubbed the back of her head nervously

“YOU WHAT?!?!?!?!?” said Raiden.

“I ate them and I ENJOYED IT!” said Carmen.

“I told you I called DIBS,” said Raiden.

“Well how are you gonna tell me otherwise when you’re unconscious” said Carmen.

“Fair point,” said Raiden.

Carmen giggled softly, but then she noticed something off about Raiden he looked a bit more pale and he seemed off balance more so than when he normally wakes up. I wonder if he’s okay Carmen thought while slowly walking over to him and putting her hand on his shoulder.

“Hey Raiden...are you okay?” she asked her voice as soft as a cloud.

“Huh, y-yeah I’m just getting used to moving my body around after being in bed for two weeks” said Raiden lying through his teeth to Carmen.

“Do you want some help?” Carmen asked.