"Wake up! Wake up!!"
Kakashi's eyes fluttered open to the startling proximity of a girl's face, her features sharp against the blurry edges of his consciousness. He reacted instantly, a startled gasp escaping his lips as he shot upright. His head connected with the girl's with a sickening thud, sending her tumbling from the bed with a small yelp.
"Ouch!" she cried, a pained expression twisting her features.
She was perhaps twelve years old, petite at four feet tall, her bright purple eyes a vibrant contrast to her long, raven-black hair that cascaded almost to her knees. The long, black silk gown she wore seemed to shimmer faintly in the soft light filtering through the room.
A moment of furious rubbing at her forehead gave way to a sudden, dazzling smile. She stood, her form lithe and graceful.
"You're awake! What's your name? Where do you come from? Do you remember anything?" Her words tumbled out in a rapid-fire succession, each question brimming with an almost overwhelming curiosity.
Kakashi stared at her, his mind still fogged with the remnants of unconsciousness. He registered her questions, but his thoughts remained sluggish, unfocused. After a moment, she noticed his vacant expression, her own face falling slightly before she settled into a patient silence, waiting for his response.
"Who are you?" he finally asked, his voice raspy from disuse. He glanced around the room, his eyes momentarily blinded by the sharp shafts of sunlight piercing through the window. He shielded his eyes with his hand. "...and where are we? And what were you doing on top of me?"
The girl, unfazed by his questions, climbed back onto the bed with a cheerful bounce.
"I'm Mira Tokoyami, daughter of Natski Tokoyami, and the future dark magic sage," she announced with a dramatic flourish, settling in front of him. "Don't tell Mom, but I was trying to wake you up. Mom said yelling wouldn't work, but I guess it did." A mischievous glint sparkled in her purple eyes.
"Who the hell yells at an unconscious patient?" Kakashi muttered, the fog in his mind beginning to lift, revealing fragments of the events that had preceded his unconsciousness. A sharp pang of worry pierced through his confusion. "Where did they take Megumin?"
"The girl who was with you?" Mira didn't wait for his reply, her voice a cascade of words. "Her case was far worse than yours. They put her in a revitalization machine after surgery. I don't know the details, but Mom said she was incredibly lucky to be alive."
He didn't fully grasp what she was saying, but the chilling weight of the word "worse" resonated deeply. He stood abruptly, his legs surprisingly steady beneath him. He looked down at his leg, his eyes widening in disbelief as he noted the complete absence of the injuries he had sustained only hours before.
"I have to see her," he declared, his voice firm despite the lingering weakness. He made a move to leave, but Mira's hand shot out, gripping his arm.
"You can't leave! You just woke up after being unconscious for two days," she insisted, her grip surprisingly strong for someone so small. "You need to rest. We can check on her later."
"I have to make sure she is—" A wave of dizziness washed over him, the world tilting precariously. He stumbled, but Mira's quick reflexes prevented his fall, gently guiding him back to the bed.
"I know you're worried, but you're still very weak," she said softly, her voice laced with concern.
**Knock, knock!**
"Mom's here," Mira announced, her voice barely a whisper.
The door opened, revealing a young woman who appeared to be in her early twenties. She was strikingly attractive, her figure emphasized by a tailored suit that hugged her curves. Her black hair was pulled back in a neat ponytail, and her eyes held a captivating sparkle, as if tiny stars were embedded within their depths.
"Is she your mom?" Kakashi asked, his gaze lingering on the woman's striking appearance. "She looks more like an older sister."
"No," Mira snapped, her eyes narrowing. "What are you doing here!?"
"I have a permit," the woman replied calmly, her voice smooth and controlled. "I'm here to ask him a few questions." She settled into a chair beside the bed, her composure unwavering.
"Can't you see he's—" Mira began, but Kakashi interrupted her.
"It's alright," he said, his hand remaining on Mira's shoulder, a gesture of both reassurance and a silent request for her to remain calm.
Mira nodded, though her expression remained guarded, and sat on the edge of the bed. "But I'm not leaving."
"That's perfectly fine," the woman said, her gaze shifting to Kakashi. "I'm Elizabeth, London Police Department. I need to ask you a few questions about what happened two days ago."
_Two days already?_ Kakashi thought.
He nodded slowly, his mind still struggling to fully grasp the passage of time.
"O-Okay."
"Can you remember anything from that night? A name? A description? Anything at all that could help us?" Elizabeth's voice was low, but her eyes held an intensity that belied her calm demeanor.
"I don't think so," Kakashi replied, his voice strained. "Most of it's still a blur."
"Try!!" Elizabeth insisted, leaning closer, her voice edged with urgency. "We need something, anything. Every detail counts."
"You're too close," Mira protested again, but Elizabeth remained focused on Kakashi.
"You weren't alone, you know. There were other children. They're all dead. Don't you want justice for them?" Her words hung heavy in the air, a stark contrast to the otherwise peaceful atmosphere of the room.
The pressure was immense, a vise tightening around Kakashi's mind. The blurry fragments of memory began to coalesce, sharp and painful, memories he desperately wanted to remain buried in the depths of his unconsciousness.
"Ahhhh!! Ahhhh!!!" Kakashi cried out, his hands flying to his head as a wave of nausea and terror swept over him.
His heart hammered against his ribs, his body shaking violently, his skin slick with sweat.
"Stop! You're making his condition worse!" Mira screamed, her voice shrill with alarm.
"There were over eighty children found dead," Elizabeth shouted, her voice tight with frustration and grief. "He's the only one who can tell us what happened! Who were they? Who were those demons?"
"Please, stop. I can't take it anymore," Kakashi pleaded, his voice barely audible, his body wracked with sobs. But Elizabeth, consumed by her mission, remained relentless.
A new voice, calm and authoritative, cut through the tension. "I think that will be enough for today, Elizabeth. Don't you think he's had enough?"
Elizabeth flinched at the sound of the voice, turning to see a woman standing in the doorway. She was tall and elegant, her long black hair a stark contrast to her dark, intense purple eyes.
"M...Miss Tokoyami!" Elizabeth stood abruptly, bowing her head. "I was...only asking questions."
Miss Tokoyami, Mira's mother, stepped into the room, her presence radiating an aura of quiet strength. She surveyed the scene, her gaze lingering on Kakashi's distress before turning back to Elizabeth.
"I can see that," Miss Tokoyami said, her voice gentle but firm. "And I think that will be enough for today, don't you think?"
"I'm so sorry, Miss Tokoyami," Elizabeth stammered, bowing repeatedly. "I apologize. I lost my composure. Perhaps I should leave and return tomorrow?"
"That sounds like a very good idea," Miss Tokoyami replied, her expression unwavering. Elizabeth, defeated, left the room.
Miss Tokoyami approached Kakashi, who was still trembling, Mira doing her best to comfort him.
"Poor child," Miss Tokoyami murmured, her voice soft with compassion. "Don't worry. You can rest now."
And as if released from a terrible burden, Kakashi finally drifted off to sleep.