Just Friends?

The trip to the meeting of the super heroes hadn't gone Exactly as Hiroshi had hoped. Suki seemed a bit unsure about things so he decided to let it drop. After all, it was a big decision and if one was unsure it was best not go through with it on their end.

He had given Suki her gift from that shop about a day ago after they had left that meeting. Come to think of it, it had been the first time he had brought something like that for her but it hadn't been the first time had gotten her something.

After his talks with Torin and Camlo when he was stranded, he did begin to wonder if there was something more there. At the least, other people thought so due to how they acted around each other but he wasn't too sure.

At the moment, he was just going for a walk; it was something he did when thinking since it helped clear his head. He was also worried about the Oni getting stronger. True they had a new member but things were still getting tough. They would have to get stronger or if they were lucky a few more would join their rag tag group of underdogs.

"Oh, my boy. You seemed very much Lost in thought." says an Old Man as he comes hobbling over "So, why are you lost, my son?" he asks "Perhaps I can help." he offers.

Hiroshi was taken back by someone talking to him, it seemed to be a old gentleman of some kind. "Huh? Sorry, I was in my own world. Just thinking about a few things, school, a certain girl; typical teenager stuff."

The old man chuckles lightly "Ah, to be young again." he says fondly remembering the past "Life is too short to remain unsure of the future. Carpe Dien, my boy! Carpe Diem." he says, encouragingly.

The young demon was slightly confused. "I get the first part, but what the heck does Carpe Dien mean?"

The old man chuckles "It's Latin for 'Seize the Day', my boy." he says "The most she'll say is that she wants to stay as friends, right?" he asks "If nothing, you can always take her camping again. That seemed to work out alright."

Hiroshi was going to comment again but that last thing made him a bit suspicious. "..How do you even know about that? I haven't met you before and my or Suki's family never mentioned you. You a physic or something?"

The old man chuckles "Calm down my boy. I'm just a nosy old man out for a stroll, giving advice to the younger generation." he as he starts off "What you choose to do, is ultimately up to you. Take care, young man." he says as he hobbles off.

Hiroshi didn't know what to make of things but he let it go as he continued his walk. The old man had a point, the worse she could do was say no. Besides, he didn't want to regret things years from now of what Could have been if he hadn't kept quite.

He headed to Suki's house, which didn't take him long before knocking on the door.

There was no answer and Suki's neighbor, Mister Shoji, comes walking out "Ah, Hiroshi. Suki and her family aren't home right now." he says "They had to take Takumi to the hospital because he collapsed and was burning up." he explains in a grim tone "That was almost an hour ago."

Hiroshi cursed mentally, damn he thought while Suki's brother hadn't really progressed he had at least hadn't been getting worse. The other stuff could wait for a while, this was more important. "Which hospital?"

Mister Shoji shrugs "I'm not really sure. I think it was St. Luke's International Hospital." he says "Do you need me to give you a ride?" he asks.

The young demon nodded right away. "Yeah, if its not too much trouble." He was really anxious to get to Suki and her family as soon as possible.

Mister Shoji nods "Give me a minuet." he says as he heads back inside. A moment later, he comes out and pulls his car around "Come on, Hiroshi. Let's head out." he says, opening the passenger door.

Hiroshi of course wasted no time what so ever to get inside the car. He hoped things didn't get worse, if anything happened to her brother Suki would be heart broken. And while he did get on Hiroshi's nerves it wasn't like he wanted the squirt to get hurt or anything.

It was a short drive to the hospital. Mister Shoji dropped Hiroshi off and headed back home. Inside it was the typical hospital. The nurse at the counter smiles at Hirochi "Hello. How may I help you?" she asks.

Hiroshi nodded. "Yeah, my name is Hiroshi Johnson. I was wondering, did the Izumi family come a young boy named Kyosuki? I heard he got really sick and I'm a good friend of the family." Hospitals..he didn't like them. Mostly because they were a reminder of things he preferred not to think about.

The nurse checks her computer "Yes. We have an Izumi Takumi in room 212, registered eariler this night." she says looking back to Hiroshi "Are you a friend of the family?" she asks.

"Hiroshi?" Fumitsuki asks, sounding surprised, as she rounds the corner with a couple of coffees "W-what are you doing here?" she asks, slightly flustered "How did you know we were here?"

Hiroshi turned to her. "We'll, I was going to visit your guys house when Mr. Hoji told me there was a family emergency so when I heard I came as fast as I could to check on everyone."

Fumitsuki nods "Yes, Takumi collapsed and we couldn't get him to awaken. Plus, he was burning up." she explains "Uh, could you excuse me for a moment. My mom and dad are waiting for their coffee." she mumbles as she heads over to her parents.

Konata stands to greet Hiroshi "Thank you for coming, Roshi." she says with a tired smile "We're waiting for the doctors to finish examining Takumi." she says with a sigh.

Suki gives her a small hug "Takumi is going to be just fine." she assures her mother, then motions for Hiroshi to follow her around the corner "Mother's tried everything she could, but nothing seems to be working. She's exhausted, but she tries to remain strong, for the family." she says, sounding a bit tired herself.

Hiroshi gave his friend a brief hug, feeling she needed it before pulling away. "Just like you are, but can't over do it Suki. Takumi will be worried when he wakes up seeing you exhausted, even if he won't admit it."

Suki shakes her head with a sigh "I'm afraid he won't be...lately, he's been getting more and more aggressive towards me and, I don't even know what I did to get him so mad at me in the first place." she says.

"I mean, I know he was upset when I became Nixa and he's always been jealous of that and the fact that I have a tail and all, but he's started to become downright hostile at me." she explains in a low tone.

Hiroshi thinks for a moment. "It..I'm pretty sure it has to do with the Oni some shape or form. It's too much of a coincidence, first that Oni attacks close to home, then all this. Plus the last one, it was mentioned it was just a suit of armor being controlled by a distance somehow among other other stuff. Have you ever heard of Oni messing with emotions, or say making negative feelings even worse?" But he hadn't heard anything from Torin's hunter cell, but he doubted they would get much help from them anytime soon.

Suki nods slowly "Yes. I've heard that there are powerful Oni that can possess a person, overpower their will and control them." she says "But the Oni don't know who I really am, let alone Takumi and why would they harm him to get to me? They've never done this before." she says.

The doctor comes back out "Mister and Misses Izumi? We've finished our preliminary examinations of your son. Aside from some slight dehydration, he seems fine." he says. This did little to ease the worry, however "I would like to keep him here overnight, for observations, if that's alright." he says.

Konata nods "Of course, doctor. May we see him now?" she asks. The doctor said they had to keep it short, he was still so tired.

Hiroshi thinks for a bit longer. "I have a theory, but its very half assed. If Takumi is jealous of your power and a Oni or something else Offered power in exchange for something? That could be a reason why. And really, if the Oni are smart they're bound to adapt in some form eventually instead of doing the samething."