Soma was champing at the bit as he waited in the aisle, bag in hand, for the first passengers to get off the plane. He'd been restless for an hour already. Finally, he was going to be able to take action instead of being stuck on this plane cut off from everything! When it was finally his turn, he escaped the plane and started running down the aisle in search of a newsagent. When he reached the newsagent, he swore and looked everywhere. He hadn't even had time to take any French money. Spotting an ATM, he rushed there, checking at the same time that his flight's luggage still hadn't arrived. Provisions made, he was finally able to grab the few newspapers that covered the African tragedy. He threw away the first one that focused more on politics and the situation in Africa and humanitarian missions, before finding what interested him.

The wounded had been admitted to the Salpetrière. His heart sank. He knew this hospital; it was where Seishi had taken him for treatment for his heart problems. Fortunately, because it was easy to get lost in this gigantic center. The wounded now... The French leader, it could only be Sei, always... between life and death... Soma ran a hand over his eyes. Oh Kami-sama, he still couldn't believe it... He lowered the newspaper, his hand too shaky now to hold it, then sighed. No, at least it meant Sei was alive, and that was all that mattered. Now he was going to be treated; they would do anything for that. He headed to the conveyor belt to collect his luggage. More paperwork than clothes, he thought bitterly. Long gone were the days when he'd first come to France for vacation... with Sei... From Roissy, he decided it was too complicated to get to La Défense by subway, so he took a taxi and threw his belongings into the first small hotel he came across, not far from where his company building was supposed to be. He then had himself driven to the hospital.

Soma absentmindedly paid the taxi and gazed at the imposing entrance. He took a breath. The serious stuff was about to begin.

He entered the compound and headed for reception, trying to recall all the French he had finally mastered a little more than two years earlier. After several long minutes of patience, one of the two receptionists was finally at his disposal. How on earth was he going to introduce himself... especially at such a late hour, 7:30 p.m., even normal visits were probably no longer permitted.

"Good evening, miss... Can you tell me who I should contact to see Seishi Desmond d'Arbois, the..."

"The wounded man from Mali??!" the young woman interrupted, looking shocked.

"Ano... Uh, yes, that's right, I..."

"I'm sorry, sir, but as you might expect, exceptional measures have been taken for this case. The public doesn't have access to..."

"I'm assuming all that, but I'm close to Seishi and his family. I just arrived specially from Japan and haven't been able to contact his parents."

"But... You need an authorization from the..."

"Couldn't you just call someone who can tell me how to contact them? I assume they're here, so just tell them my name, please."

The hostess seemed troubled and thought for a moment.

"Listen," she continued hesitantly, "you're in the wrong sector anyway. What I can do is alert the security staff in the wing where the returnees have been taken so you can explain your situation to them. They'll decide who to contact, if needed."

"Thank you," Soma murmured. “If I can even get some news or contact his parents it would be a great help.”

The girl, who was rummaging through her papers, finally produced a small map of the hospital with a smile.

"Here, we're here. Exit to the right over there and it will be signposted. You should go here. You can't go wrong," she added with a sigh. "There are plenty of journalists at the entrance. I might as well tell you that you'll have the chance to explain yourself to security, but don't expect to fool them."

Soma sighed in turn.

"I suspect so, but I still think I have what it takes to convince them if they deign to give me the chance. But it's been almost two days since I learned of this tragedy, and since then I haven't been able to get the slightest information or contact with those I consider family, so I'm seriously despairing, and one more night would really drive me crazy!"

The young woman smiled again.

"Just give me your name so they can let you through." Soma gave him the information she needed and then set off at a run towards the place where he would finally find Seishi. All in all, the first stage hadn't gone too badly. Now for the rest...

Soma had no trouble finding the wing where the expedition members were being treated. A few journalists were waiting, stationed at the foot of the door. He let out a breath of disgust and walked firmly toward them. He pushed his way through them, ignoring those who were taking pictures just in case, and pretending not to understand the others bombarding him with questions about his connection to the wounded and the information he had about them.

"Noguro Soma," he announced to the guard, hoping he wouldn't need to resort to French to explain things further in front of the journalists.

The guard raised an eyebrow and, after referring the matter to the appropriate person on his walkie-talkie, opened the door a crack. Soma slipped nimbly through while the man held back the reporters and their hubbub. He'd barely entered when he almost ran into another giant. He looked up to explain when another voice called out to him. A third man, dressed more casually this time, had approached.

"So, what's going on here? Who are you?" And Soma explained his story again, facing his interlocutor's skepticism.

"Listen," he begged one last time, "I don't have a camera, no tape recorder. I'll empty all my pockets if you want, but I swear I'm not a journalist... and I don't carry this species in my heart either."

"Anyway, the doctors wouldn't accept anyone at this hour."

"So just let me wait here for someone or leave them a message. Tell them about me and you'll see. Either they accept me or they don't want me and you throw me out!"

The man hesitated.

"Please." Soma lowered his head. "Seishi is everything to me and..."

"Soma-kun?!"

Soma jumped. That voice... Only one person still called him that. He turned around.

"Soma-kun, it's you... You came."