Endless Rain

"Let's play a game!" Maya said joyfully. Aiji groaned. He hated Maya's games. "Oh please! It will be funny! I promise!"

"You say that every time, Maya!" Aiji said grouchily. "I don't want to play your stupid games!"

"Please!!!" Maya pleaded.

"Fine, but you have to leave me alone for the rest of the day!" Aiji said giving in. Maya squealed happily making Aiji instantly regret the decision.

"Hmmm….. Okay! I'll think of someone in a band and give you three hints and you have to guess who it is. Got it?"

"Yeah, sure." Aiji said turning the TV up louder. Maya quickly grabbed the remote and turned the TV off. "Hey! I was watching that!" Aiji whined.

"No, you were playing a game with me." Maya said sternly. Aiji sighed. "Okay, hmmm, it's a guy. He plays guitar and he's the most beautiful guy in the whole world."

"Is it Miyavi?"

"No."

"Is it you?"

"No."

"Okay, I give up, Maya." Aiji said trying to grab the remote from Maya's hands.

"But you didn't get it yet!" Maya pouted.

"Then just tell me who it is!" Maya shook his head happily.

"Not till you guess it right. Want another hint?"

Aiji sighed. "I guess so."

"Hmm… He's really sweet and has an amazing personality." Maya replied thoughtfully.

"I still have no idea. It sounds like you just want to describe yourself and annoy me." Aiji said discouraged.

"Hey, I'm not that self-centered." Aiji held back a laugh. Maya smiled and slapped him playfully.

"Hey! I didn't say anything." Aiji said defensively, laughing.

"Yeah, sure." Maya replied getting up. "Hey, I'm going to buy more lollipops. Is there anything you want?" Maya asked tossing the remote to Aiji.

"Eh, no thanks." Aiji said already distracted by the return of his TV time.

"I bet you $20 you can't ever guess who I was thinking of!" Maya yelled before shutting the front door. Damn it! That's going to bother me for the rest of the day. Aiji thought. Aiji smiled to himself his mind running through a list of famous guitarists. He still couldn't figure it out.

***

It was a few hours later. Aiji was getting worried that Maya hadn't come back from his lollipop run. It wasn't like Maya to take so long just to get candy. Finally Aiji decided to call Maya.

Aiji picked up his cell phone and dialed Maya's number. The phone rang a few times before someone finally picked up. It wasn't Maya.

"Hello?" A gruff voice answered.

"Hi? Where's Maya?" Aiji asked nervously.

"Are you a friend of Masahito Yamazaki?"

Aiji was slightly confused until he realized the man had said Maya's real name. "Oh, yes." He replied worry building in his stomach.

The voice paused for a moment before saying anything else. "Well, he was in a car accident…. He was hit by a drunk driver and is in the hospital now."

Aiji froze in shock and fear. "WHAT?! WHERE IS HE?! WHICH HOSPITAL?! IS HE OKAY?!" Aiji yelled panic filling his stomach.

"He's at Alumina Hospital." Aiji hung up before the man said anything else. He had to see Maya. Aiji ran out of his house forgetting his jacket and almost forgetting his keys as well. On the way to the hospital Aiji got stuck in traffic. Aiji watched the snow fall as he sat surrounded by unmoving cars. Aiji was close to tears. He didn't want to lose his best friend. Aiji knew Maya would have called if he were conscious which made Aiji even more afraid for his friend.

Aiji finally reached the hospital. He was almost angry at the nurse's slowness in getting Aiji to his hurt friend. When Aiji eventually got to Maya's room he nearly cried at the sight of his friend. Maya's skin was covered in large bruises and he had several bright red bandages and lots of needles sticking out of his skin. Maya's face was badly injured but Maya still managed to look beautiful. His hair was matted to his bandaged head. He looked so messy but his face was very peaceful as though he were only sleeping.

"What's wrong with him? Is he gonna be okay?" Aiji asked fearing the answer.

"He was thrown out of his car in the accident. He landed on his head and may be unconscious for several weeks if he does live." The nurse replied unemotionally.

"What is the possibility that he will live?" Aiji now had tears streaming down his face.

"He has a 17% chance of living. And an 89% chance that if he does live and wake up he will have severe brain damage and will be unable to function in society as a normal person. He also has a 77% chance that if he lives he won't ever wake up."

Aiji broke down. He fell next to Maya's bed sobbing. He couldn't believe his best friend could possibly die. Aiji might never get his friend back. Aiji sat in a chair next to Maya's bed and held onto Maya's unconscious hand. He fell asleep like that, not once letting go of his friend's hand.

"Please don't die Maya…. I still need you…." Aiji whispered even in his sleep.