Chapter 114 - Trauma

"Miss Suzuki, we're happy to inform you that all your laboratory exams and scans are normal."

Ara smiled upon hearing the news. "That's great!"

Finally, they could leave. Looking at the watch, Ara was surprised that it was already evening.

"Yes," the doctor smiled kindly, but he suddenly looked worried so Ara and Ryuu stopped and looked at him with inquiring eyes. "However…"

"Is there something wrong?"Ryuu asked, his face may not show it, but there was a worry in his voice.

"Nothing that's physical," the doctor assured them again. "Like I said earlier that Miss Suzuki's tests were all good. But based on the type of episode she had earlier on the train, it seemed that psychologically, Miss Suzuki is still suffering."

"I don't understand," Ara was confused. She's okay but not her mind?

"I'm not sure if Master Homura and Miss Suzuki have already heard about post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD before. It is a kind of disorder that can possibly develop after an individual has experienced, witnessed or been exposed to major trauma."

"It's her car accident?"Ryuu inquired, and the doctor nodded.

"Miss Suzuki's accident was a major one – she almost died. Based on what she said happened earlier, there was physical pain, dissociation, and disorientation. These are signs of PTSD episodes. She may not really show it, but maybe her body remembers and sends a signal to her brain that caused her to have an attack."

EH?

Ara panicked. Technically, she didn't experience the car crash because she was still in Ritz that time – but she couldn't say that could she? But this was Ara's body, so maybe this body remembered? She had no idea and couldn't ask about it either.

"How do we deal with it?"

The doctor then hesitated. "Well, just like most mental conditions, PTSD needs time to recover from, but, there are many ways to reduce episodes. Relaxation techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, massage, or yoga can ease the symptoms. Of course, she has to avoid alcohol and drugs."

Hearing the word alcohol, Ryuu turned to her with a frown. "Hear that? You stay away from my collection," he told her, and Ara smiled sheepishly remembering the rare red wine she chugged down.

The doctor laughed.

"Well, if Miss Suzuki really wants to have a drink, she can still have some if the amount is little and only occasionally."

"No, she won't drink," Ryuu declared.

Ara was unhappy. Her beloved alcohol!

"Ah, that's sad because it means I can't get married too," she said in a sing-song voice with an innocent expression as she looked up at her future husband.

The Homuras followed the Shinto tradition, and during wedding ceremonies, the bride and groom would be required to drink sake.

Her words made Ryuu's eyes widen in alarm. He looked at her like she was nuts, before finally sighing in defeat. "She can drink sometimes," he said grudgingly.

Ara=1 Kou=0

Ara internally cheered.

HUZZAH!

Soon, the two of them were back in the car on the way to Denechofu to get Ara's drawing tools. She always kept her things in one bag so she just had to grab it and go.

"Is this it? Nothing else?"Ryuu eyed her bag.

"Yeah. You told me I don't need clothes. Or do you want me to get some too?" she asked, as she paused from entering the car.

"No need. You have all the clothes you need there. If you want more we can get more too." Ryuu pulled her in and made her settle next to him.

Ara checked the contents of her bag and was satisfied she didn't forget anything. Ryuu eyed her things as well.

"I will ask Yayoi to set up a studio for you at the Cedar Palace," he said.

"Huh? No need," she said, shaking her head. "I am planning to be a mangaka."

"You are?" This was news to Ryuu.

"Why? I can't?"Ara challenged as she squinted her eye at Ryuu.

Koutaishidenka shook his head. "You can do whatever you want as long as it's legal."

Hearing the word legal made Ara remember her nightly hunts and she laughed nervously. Well, she's beating up unruly drunkards and punks so it's helpful to the community no? It's still illegal though.

"Of course. Do you think I can be some kind of a thug?"

"Aren't you?"Ryuu countered. "You just bullied your husband at the hospital earlier."

"What? But I was just stating facts no? I can't complete the wedding ceremony without drinking alcohol right? Right?"

Homura Ryuu sighed. "You talk too much woman," he said as he lowered his head and locked his lips with hers in an impatient kiss.

The driver and Koga saw from the rearview mirror that their bosses were getting intimate that the assistant pushed the button to raise the partition with a knowing smile to give them privacy as they drove towards the Homura House.

At the Cedar Palace, Suzuki Aki sat waiting for his sister and Ryuu to arrive. He had been worried since noon, that even when Ryuu called to assure him that his sister was fine, he still felt restless until he saw with his own eyes that she was okay.

Ryuu told him via text that the doctor said that Ara was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. To Aki however, he felt like he had developed a type of trauma himself when he nearly lost Ara. Even just a bit of sickness, he felt restless.

Kazehaya Gin had recognized his anxiety and was kind enough to invite him to the Cedar Palace after the conference to wait for his sister and her fiancé here. Gin made him comfortable in Ryuu's personal receiving room, in front of the lovely zen garden where the servants offered him some refreshments.

A very pretty servant had arrived with drinks and snacks. She had tied her hair in a severe braid, but it didn't lessen her beauty. In fact, it only heightened her face. Aki watched as the servant respectfully placed the things on the low table and politely excused herself without looking at any of them.

"Do you like her?"

Gin's voice distracted Aki and when he looked, Homura International's CEO's face was devoid of a smile for the first time, his hazel eyes boring into his as he took one cup of tea from the table and sipped it.

"Like her? I just saw her," Aki answered. "I was just surprised to see someone as pretty as her working as a servant here," he continued.

"Oh? If you take her for your wife, she won't be a servant anymore then," Kazehaya suggested glibly before taking another sip.

Suzuki Aki shook his head vehemently. "No way. I'm already taken."

Gin paused. "Really?"

"Yeah." However, the light in Aki's eyes vanished. "Taken for granted."