Chapter 07: Sick in Bed “Mmmgh...Ahhhh...Where am I?” Noelle moaned as she opens her eyes. As her eyes were wide open, Noelle saw herself inside her bedroom with the window wide open. However, she was still dressed in her lavender paisley tunic like shirt, her red long sleeved under shirt and her denim shorts she wore yesterday. “What a nightmare! Ugh! I don't feel too good...” When Noelle got herself out of bed, she suddenly felt rather light headed and dizzy. She felt imaginary earthquakes as she got herself out of her room to greet her dad. “Oh my...” As Kai Fai came to check up on his daughter, he noticed how flushed and sweaty she looked. “Oh my, are you okay Noelle? You look like you're burning up.” “I don't feel good.” Noelle groaned. “So hot....(cough) (cough)...” Kai Fai puts his hand on Noelle's forehead. It felt as hot and sweaty as it looked. “My my, you're burning up young lady. You go lay down and take it easy today.” “But what about my homework...?” Noelle moaned in discomfort. “I don't want to fail my classes...(ugh)!” “But you're in no condition to go to school today!” Kai Fai said sternly. “I want you to get better first. Besides, maybe you can call Yukio or any of your friends to bring home the homework to you. Now, you go lay down.” “Okay Dad. I'll (cough) (hack) take it easy today...” Noelle sighed as she made her way back to her room and throws herself on top of her bed, panting heavily. “Is there anything I could get you Noelle?” Kai Fai asked in a concerned tone of voice. “Man, I just hate seeing my darling daughter get sick like this.” “Just get me a huge bottle of water. Nice...cold...water...(sniff).” Noelle panted as she lays on top of her covers. “Okay, I shall do that.” Kai Fai said more cheerfully. “One big bottle of water coming up!” So Kai Fai goes over to the kitchen, grabs down a red, white and green squeeze bottle he got from La La's Pizza years back. While he filled the bottle with ice and cold water, he picks up the Ming Pao newspaper, and brings it over on the counter above the dishwasher. As he's done filling the La La's Pizza squeeze bottle up, he unravels the newspaper and skips over to the local news section. One story caught his eye and Kai Fai started to feel a little alarmed at the article. “Oh my god...no way!” The article had to do with a pet golden tiger named Blondie mauling her owner and escaping from her owner's house in the valley outside of Kowloon. He also read about the man eater being decapitated and stabbed by unseen killers. “Oh my...I have to tell my daughter about this. Thank the lord that she came home safe!” --- “You mean someone's pet tiger went on a rampage and got killed nearby where we live?” Noelle asked in a rather alarmed manner. “Yes. The tiger, named Blondie, mauled her owner, scratching him up fierce and biting off a couple of his fingers, has escaped.” Kai Fai told her daughter, feeling quite a bit of concern for her as well. “However, Blondie has been killed. No one knows who or what killed her.” “Hmmm....” Noelle had a thought pop up in her mind. “I don't know what's worse, being eaten by a tiger, or getting slaughtered by those unseen killers?” “Well, I'm glad you ran into neither party.” Kai Fai sighed in relief. “I just can't bear anything happening to you!” “Same here with you Papa.” Noelle replied as she and her dad hugged each other. “Now I'm going to get more rest. I'm worn out.” “Okay Noelle. You take it easy.” Kai Fai responded as he rubbed her daughter on her head and left the room, leaving the rather sickly Noelle to get much deserved rest.” --- Meanwhile, back at the Kwan Yin K-12 school, Ran was overhearing some conversations from other students as he made his way to Health class. “Did you hear about that tiger that got loose in the valley near Kowloon?” A little boy student asked his female friend. “Oh my, you must be joking?” The little girl student scoffed. “No, I'm dead serious.” The boy student pouted sternly. “It was even on the news.” “Really?” The girl student asked. “Yes really!” The boy student exclaimed impatiently. “But the tiger got killed by someone or something. No one knows who or what did it.” “Scary...!” The girl exclaimed in fear. “What's worse? The man eating tiger or the unseen killers?” As Ran overheard the conversation between the two young students, he lets out a dissatisfied groan and thinks to himself. “Damn it! That slayed tiger is all over the news now. I hope Noelle is okay after what happened last night.” When Ran made his way to Health and Safety class with Mr. Yeung, he was greeted by Yukio Nozawa. “Hi, Ran.” “Hi there.” Ran said with a nervous looking grin on his face. “Are you one of Noelle's friends?” “Of course I am.” Yukio said, patting Ran on the shoulder. “My cousins told me all about you.” “Cool...Ah ha ha...” Ran laughs, try to hide his queasiness. “Is Noelle here today?” Yukio shook his head. “No, she's not here. She's sick today. I was coming to get Noelle her homework, so she can catch up to the other classmates.” “Ah, poor girl.” Ran sighed. “I hope she feels better.” “Don't worry, she'll be fine.” Yukio responded to the concerned Ran. “Noelle just has the flu, that's all.” “Ah, okay.” Ran said as calmly as he could. “Tell Noelle I said hi and hope she gets better.” “Thank you Ran.” Yukio said as he gave a former bow to Ran. “Well, good luck in class. Don't let Yoshiko and her friends get you down.” “I won't! Heh heh heh!” Ran laughed as he waved to Yukio and made his way into class. Ran started to sigh and started to think about Noelle and her friends. “I'm glad Mist...er...Noelle has made some friends in human form. A friend of Noelle is a friend of mine. I just hope that...I can keep things secret a little longer...” Just as Ran entered the classroom, the bell rang three seconds later. Mr. Yeung went over and talked to Ran. “Ah, thank goodness you're not late for class Ran. Now, go that your seat.” “Yes sir!” Ran said formally as he sits in the back of the class. “Today class, we are going to watch some DVDs on railroad and subway safety. They are sponsored by MTR co. ltd. and various Safety councils.” Mr. Yeung announced as he gets the class to gather around the TV set and watch the safety DVDs. “Now, come close to the TV as I turn out the lights.” But Ran was too distracted by his thoughts of what happened last night, as well as Noelle's health and well being. “Poor Mist. First she is summoned when her or her loved ones are in danger, then when she reverts back to Noelle, she forgets everything, and now, she's sick with the flu. That poor girl just can't get a break, can she?” --- “I have bad news Mist..!” an albino devil goddess cried out in dismay. The albino devil goddess was clad in a skin tight, blood red hobble gown with long, flowing sleeves with violet trimming, and octopus like tendrils at the hem. She also wore a blood red circlet around her snow white hair, indicating that she was a royal goddess. She also had weird pinkish-white stitching at her neck, as well as her limbs and other parts of her body. “What is it Lady Hel?” The teal haired Valkyrie asked. “Lord Odinn and Doll Grethe are trying to take you back to Godheim.” Queen Hel told Mist in a solemn tone of voice. “Plus, when they take you back, not only are they going to seal the portal between Walhalla and Niflheim....” King Bullar explained in a somber manner. “Oh....OH NO!” Mist shrieked as tears started to form in her blue eyes. “What else are they going to do Lord Bullar....?” “They will....take away your emotions and memories, sealing them away and putting them far out of your reach.” Lord Bullar replied. It broke the dragon devil's heart to see tears form in the Valkyrie's eyes. “No....NOOOOOOOOO!” Mist cried out in sorrow. “I don't want to get my memories and emotions taken from me.” “It's going to be okay my dear Valkyrie.” Hel sobbed as she, Bullar and Amirani gave Mist a hug. “I don't want to go back and not be myself!” Mist sobbed as she hugged her devil friends in return. “I'd rather be sealed away in Mithrite that go back to Godheim!” A look of shock was painted on the royal family's face. Amirani was the first to speak. “Are you sure about this? Being put in suspended animation in Mithrite? Isn't that a little....” “Please guys!” Mist cried out loud. “I can handle it! Just please, let me be here....I don't want to forget about you guys. I love you all.” Amirani hung his head down for a little bit, but then, he looked up at Mist and said. “Ah, I understand. We'll be happy to do what we can for your well being.” Hel beckoned as she and her family led Mist over to the Mithrite chamber. “Come, follow us...!” While Mist followed the royal devil god family to the chamber, she was ordered to stand on top of the platform that led down to the sealing device. Mist seemed surprisingly calm about all this, much to the royal family's surprise. “Thank you all very much for helping me out. I am grateful for everyone's hospitality.” “You welcome Mist.” Hel said as she started up the device and moved the platform down to the sealing device. “Remember, you will be revived after Ragnarok.” Bullar added as Mist saw everything turn blue around her. “Until then...we shall protect you...” Just as Mist was being frozen away in the Mithrite stone, Noelle woke up. --- “Whoa...what a strange dream...” Noelle yawned as she sat up and got herself up off the bed. As Noelle woke up, she realized it was still daytime, with a partially cloudy sky outside. “Still daytime...hmmm...” Noelle looked over at the dresser drawer next to her bed and notices some homework on top of it, as well as a note. Before doing any of the homework that was brought home to her, she picks up the note and reads it. Hi Noelle, I'm sorry to hear about you having the flu. Yeah, I knew there was some sort of virus going around, but still.... Anyways, it was a rather interesting day at school today. Yoshiko started to make Ran do all her assignments for her, much to his frustration. So my cousins and I teamed up with him and did something funny to get back at Yoshiko and her friends. And there, when Yoshiko and her friends left the room for a bit, I showed Ran some 666 Hellish hot sauce (one of THE hottest of all hot sauces ever!) and we all gleefully took turns pouring the sauce in all of the lunches Yoshiko and her friends were eating. Then, as they came back, we watched in glee as they took bites out of their lunch, and were whining, panting and drooling buckets. You should have seen it, it was funny. Well, I hope you get well soon. Take it easy. Sincerely, Yukio Nozawa Noelle laughs as she got done reading the note. “Oh, if only I could make it to school today. I would have love to see those annoying leeches take a bite out of that hot sauce.” Noelle puts down the letter and goes and looks at her homework. She had homework from her science class, her world literature class, her and her math class. “Just these four assignments. Ha ha! Not bad. I think I'll start with math first, since that's the most boring of the subjects. I'll just save the best for last.” As Noelle got ready to her homework, her father knocked on her door. “Come in Papa!” “Hey Noelle? Is there anything I can get you?” Kai Fai asked his ill daughter. “Well...” Noelle asks back. “Do we have any tea?” “Yes, we do!” Kai Fai exclaimed. “Would you like herbal tea?” “Yes please.” Noelle replied. “Thank you very much.” “You're very welcome.” Kai Fai said, grinning. “Now, study hard! I know you can do it.” Kai Fai goes and gets some tea ready for his daughter. While he did that, Noelle starts to do her homework. But even though she did that, she couldn't help but think about the strange dream she had today. What did this all mean to her? But she had to brush those thoughts off to the side as she focuses on getting better first.