Shiori's Miracle

By Laura Schiller

Series: Kanon

Disclaimer: This fictional universe does not belong to me.

Shiori woke up slowly, with her eyes still closed, the too familiar smell of disinfectant surrounding her. The hospital sheets were stiff, but still comfortable, and once she had her eyes open, she could see the pale green walls around her. At her bedside sat a girl in a red and white school uniform, with long wavy brown hair and blue eyes. The sharp, anxious look on her face, which had been there almost as long as Shiori could remember, was nearly gone.

"Onee-chan...?"

The words came out faint and hoarse, but the still came, and Kaori's face broke into a relieved smile.

"Shiori, you're awake!" she whispered, taking her little sister's hand in both of hers. "How do you feel? Better?"

Shiori nodded – and it was true. If she hadn't been connected to a bunch of machines and monitors around her, she could be standing up and walking around the room.

"I feel great," she said.

"The nurses said you have a full chance of recovery," said Kaori, and both pairs of blue eyes exchanged a happy sparkle. "By the start of the next school year, we'll be hanging out in the caf together. Just like you always wanted."

At that moment Shiori noticed a piece of paper standing on her night table; it was a greeting card and she couldn't remember it being there before. She reached out, picked it up and held it in front of her, noticing how thin and fragile her own fingers were. Never mind, she thought. Soon they'll be just as strong as Onee-chan's.

The card showed a Siamese kitten with a white ribbon around its throat and eyes as big and blue as Shiori's own. Inside it read: Dear Shiori – Hope you're doing fine. Kaori-san says you're on the road to recovery. The doctors won't let me see you yet, but they will soon. How's the sketchbook coming along? I expect to see you hailed as the next Picasso in ten years (Just kidding). Get well soon or I'll break into your house and eat all the ice cream.

All the best,

Yuichi

"How did he know?" she asked softly. "That I love cats, I mean?"

She would have hugged the card if Kaori hadn't been watching.

"Well, Nayuki does," Kaori pointed out logically, "And so did that strange housemate of theirs, Mako...something. Maybe he figures all girls like cats."

"He's so kind," Shiori replied, lying back on her pillow with closed eyes. "Isn't he, Onee-chan? He was there for me when I thought I was going to die."

The older girl nodded, soberly at first, but then smiling. "He means a lot to you, am I right?"

Shiori was so happy to be talking confidentially to her sister at last that she would have given away anything. As it was, she blushed and said, "Well, yes. Of course. He's like...he's special. If anyone could cause a miracle to make me healthy again, he could. I just know it."

"Don't tell me you're still superstitious," Kaori teased.

"I don't like people who say such things," she replied plaintively, then they both had to laugh.

"But seriously," Shiori continued, "I don't know if he could work magic and that's not what I was trying to say. I mean if I hadn't run into him and Ayu-chan squabbling in the park that night, I would have...well, you know. And if he hadn't invited you to my birthday party, we wouldn't be talking here like this. That's what I mean by working a miracle – whether or not he did anything else."

Kaori looked at her sister, talking quietly and earnestly with her hands wrapped around the card, with new respect.

"Do you know, imouto-chan," she said finally, "I think you might be right."