“Dom? Dominique?” He walked across the kitchen, looking for Dominique. He paused at the door when he thought he nearly ran into a dark form. He rubbed his eyes a few times, thinking if he was imagine thing or it was real. Nothing was in front of him and slowly, he took a peek into the kitchen. His gaze settled on Dominique who was standing in front of a cabinet in the kitchen. “Dominique?”
Dominique’s head turned suddenly, his bewildered gaze searching Kaien’s face. “Yes?”
“Did you find the medicine?”
“Yes, I guess,” answered Dominique and stepped back to let Kaien through. Kaien looked into the opened drawer and saw lots of medicine and vitamins in it. How could all those medicines be stuffed into the kitchen drawer just like that. They should be arranged neatly on the cabinet. Kaien took a look at them one by one while Dominique was watching him from behind.
There was medicine for pain and palliative care, antiallergics, antidotes and medicines used in anaphylaxis, poisonings and also anti-infective medicines.
“Dominique?” Kaien called, eyes still fixed on a bottle of doxycycline. He knew Dominique was watching his every move from behind.
“Yes?”
“Are you sick?”
“Huh? What do you think? You are the doctor.”
Kaien did not answer, but asked, “Dominique. . . Do you want to play a game?”
“Game? Yes!” Dominique was a bit excited.

“It’s called One-Answer-Question,” said Kaien without turning back to look at Dominique. But he could hear excitement in Dominique’s voice, so he began explaining the game. “It’s like this, you and I would rotate asking each other questions, but the one that answers it must answer it in one word. You can ask a long question, but I have to answer it in one word and can’t answer the question with a question. Same goes for you when it’s your turn to answer. Asking and answering not more than 3 seconds, if more, you lose. We rotate, if you ask twice in a row, you lose. How about it?”
Dominique seemed excited about it and asked,“What will the winner get?”
“Anything he wants.”
“Anything?”
“Yes. Anything. Everything.”
“Ok. Great! You can start asking first, Kaien.”
“Ok, sure,” said Kaien, still having his back facing Dominique. Then, he began, “What do you like?”
“Food,” answered Dominique. “Do you want to know my secrets?”
“Yes. Where’s your parents?”
“Dead. Do you miss your wife?”
“Yes. Are we the first visitor?”
“No. Do you want to see your wife?”
“Yes. Angel or devil?”
“Angel. Are you ready to die?”
“Yes. Can we leave?”
“No. Truth or dare?”
“Truth. How long have you been here?”

“Forever. Are you scared of me?”
“No. . .”
“Really? Ah. . .”
“Haha! You lose!” Laughed Kaien and looked at Dominique. “Two questions in a row! Hehehe!”
“Tsk. . . It was because you are slow.” Dominique was unsatisfied. “Let’s do it again!”
“Next time, Dominique. Next time.”
“Ok,” Much as he hated to admit it, he still went along with Kaien. “Fine. What do you want?”
“Oh, that. Hmm. . .” Kaien, thinking. “Could you make me a chicken soup?”
“What?!” For a moment Dominique was shocked by Kaien’s words. “Chicken soup?”
“Yes, chicken soup. It has anti-inflammatory properties as well as acting as an immune booster,” Kaien explained in his formal doctor-tone. “So, it’s good to get over the cold.”
“Oh, it’s for Allen,” said Dominique. He chuckled to himself. “Heh. Too easy. You can keep your ‘prize’ for another time. I’ll make the soup for ‘free’. Besides, you had skipped breakfast earlier.”
“Great! Thanks, Dominique. I’ll wait in Allen’s room and I’ll be taking these vitamins as well.” Kaien waved a bottle of vitamins in front of Dominique and was about to leave when Dominique stopped him.
“Think about what you want and tell me what you come out with.” Dominique’s tone sounds serious and ‘dark’ in it. He appeared normal, unassuming, but there was something otherworldly in his eyes that warned Kaien that he was not normal. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
“Yeah. . . Sure,” answered Kaien, simple and passed Dominique. He stopped at the kitchen’s door and turned to look at Dominique. “Dominique. . . Telling me your dark secret doesn’t scare me. . .” Kaien smiled softly when Dominique raised his right eyebrow at him. “. . . Hiding it does.”
Kaien waved goodbye and left Dominique standing there, in the kitchen alone. Then he smirked.
‘Interesting’.