Ariel sniffles loudly, scrunching up her nose as she tries to will her eyes to stop watering. When that doesn’t work, she wipes the tears away, smudging her makeup in the process, leaving a trail of black mascara around her eyes.

She’s still conscious and (mostly) cognitive thanks to him.  She downs the aspirin with a glass of cold water and shimmies to bed, where he tucks her in.

“Oh, Riku,” she says, gently patting his cheek and pouting slightly.  “What would I do without you?”