Lina opened her eyes wearily--her eyelids were sore and it was difficult to focus her vision at first. Well of course, her eyes hadn't been open in the past day or so. The first thing she noticed was the sunlight stripped to lines on the ceiling through the blinds, and she realized it must have been early morning. Lina felt great, never felt better, really. She breathed in deeply and took in the air for all it was worth--just another amazing morning.
She blinked again and realized something different in the scenery than she'd notice--that being a haggard looking man kneeling over her with his unusually large hand outstretched over the wound on her chest. She threw her hands up suddenly, pushing him roughly out the way and screaming, "Pervert! Who the hell are you!?" Her shirt was unbuttoned, but no worries because whoever had tied her bandages had wound them tightly around her chest--a little too tightly since it disabled her breathing.
Zell heard her voice and rushed out suddenly from behind the curtains of the Infirmary. "Lina!" he called and wrapped his arms around her. She didn't really know what to do...since she still felt violated by the strange haggard man, but then again...here was Zell, holding onto her for dear life, further impairing her breathing, but making her smile all the while.
"What...what happened?" Lina asked, slightly confused. All she remembered was the wound, and Nakago's malicious grin--how that grin would haunt her forever more. Lina slipped a hand between herself and Zell to the wound was supposed to be, but there was none. The mysterious man smiled proudly and nodded.
"Yui was just beginning to summon Seiyru," Zell explained, finally letting go of Lina and giving her the chance to button her shirt hastily. She'd handle the messy business with the bloody bandages later. "But Miaka Yuuki jumped on her and tackled her down. Let's just say...if Irvine had been there, he would have been positively thrilled." Lina nodded and gave the man another somewhat fearful glance. "That's Mitsukake, Lina...he just saved your life." Lina flushed red for her mistake.
"Oh, I'm really, really sorry about that," Lina cried to Mitsukake. "I just um...well freaked out yes, but uh yeah, I don't usually wake up with some guy over--"
"It's alright," Mitsukake cut her off quickly and everyone in the room chuckled nervously. "I had to come when I heard the Receiver of Powers was in trouble," Mitsukake said rather proudly at his own actions; however, Lina and Zell stared at him rather blankly. He sighed, realizing they frankly had no clue what he was talking about. In that case, he decided to start over with the basics. "Lina Heartilly, correct?" Lina nodded and Zell did as well as if he'd been asked the question. "You are the Receiver of Powers. See, the RoP can store many powers, then return them to the one given by."
"Um...I don't quite follow," Lina said as she sat up in her place, Zell holding her for support. Usually it would take longer for any patient in her condition to jump out of shock, but luckily, Lina had been in the Infirmary far too many times to have it affect her as direly as it would to anyone else. It was written in her destiny to be like this.
"Well, you can store different powers in yourself, and when you're done with them, you can give them up--sometimes people will ask you to hold powers for them. Well, it's basically just a very intricate process," Mitsukake tried desperately to explain. "Your job is just to experience everything. If someone where to discard their power, you would be able to take it. You can see the powers in little spheres of energy and from what I remember, each power contains a different energy signal or pattern."
"Lina won't get hurt, right?" Zell cut in and asked. "I mean...is it painful or anything? Because if it's too painful I don't want Lina to have anything to do wi--"
"She'll be fine...I'm sure she can handle it. She lasted a full day after that wound, didn't she?" Mitsukake interrupted him as he spoke--not to be rude or anything, but he was on a tight schedule and he had to leave as soon as he possibly could. He began packing up his medicinal instruments into a small leather bag, but in the meantime pulled from his bad a sphere of white energy, bright as day, blinding to look directly at, but releasing rays that fluctuated in strength, faltering, but strong. "Your sorceress powers, Miss Heartilly." Lina shut her eyes just a bit, then took the sphere as it sunk into her skin and into her system. Zell frowned, thoroughly confused--he couldn't see the sphere. "Also, I promise your secret is safe with me." Lina nodded solemnly and thanked him.
"So how did you save me?" Lina asked, smiling as Zell wrapped his arms around her waist carefully as to not touch her wounded areas.
"I'm one of the Suzaku Seven. Constellation, I mean," Mitsukake said rather proudly as he picked up his little bag and stood. He straightened his shirt then bowed his head, "It was nice meeting you all, but I've got to run, good day." After a cursory wave, he left.
Zell turned to Lina and kissed her, "Forgive me?"
"Wha-? Forgive you for what?" Lina asked as Zell leaned in again.
"I was stupid. I'll never be jealous again. I promise," Zell said and Lina giggled, leaned in also, and kissed him right back.