Disclaimer: "I do not own Demashitaa! Powerpuff Girls Z".

lap1997: So this is the next chapter, I'm going to keep using this collage style probably for this whole story, however long it may be. I hope you guys enjoy!

As I open my eyes, I notice several things all at once; blinding white light that makes my eyes squint; a plain white ceiling above me; a steady beeping sound off to my left; the fact that I'm lying on an uncomfortable and itchy bed; an IV stuck in my right arm; something elevating my right leg, which seems to be encased in a cast; a bandage wrapped around my forehead; the clicking of heels against tiled floor; the fact that I couldn't remember how I had gotten to this place, which I assumed was a hospital; the clothes that I was wearing, one of those aprons that you were when you are at the hospital, which just proved my point that I must be in a hospital; and the four people that were in the small room with me. I knew two of them, Kaoru and Katsu, who were standing at the foot of my bed. Katsu had his arms around Kaoru's waist while he stood behind her. Kaoru's eyes were red and puffy, like she'd been crying. They were wearing the same clothes as when I left them, so I couldn't have been out for too long. The other two people I did not know; there was a man who was standing by the door to the room; he had orange hair and was wearing a baseball hat backwards; he couldn't be older that twenty-two; and a girl who looked about twenty or so; in other words, my age; she had blonde hair up in pigtails; big blue eyes that I could stare at for hours and still not have seen them enough; and she seemed vaguely familiar. Then it hit me; she was the last thing I saw right before I blacked out.

"He's waking up!" the blonde haired girl said as my eyes adjusted to the bright light. "About damn time" the man standing by the door muttered, irritation clear in his voice. Katsu whipped his head around towards him "Hey, why don't you shut up, you're the one that hit him!"

"So, the dumb idiot should've been paying attention! I didn't ask him to walk out in front of me!"

"Why you son of a…"

"That's enough, both of you!" Kaoru snapped at the two. They both shut up immediately, but continued to glare at each other. Kaoru then walked over to my side and asked "How are you feeling Hiroshi?" "Okay, I guess. What happened?" "That moron", she said, pointing at the 'moron', "almost killed you with his truck"

"I have a name!"

"Oh, and what's that?"

"It's Mamoru. Mamoru Shima"

"How long was I out?" I asked, trying to keep a fight from starting.

"About three hours, you really had us worried"

"Who is she?" I asked, pointing at the blonde haired girl. Before Kaoru could answer though, the girl spoke up for herself "My name is Miyako Gotokuji. I was the one who tried to warn you but, well, I wasn't fast enough". She lowered her head like she had done something wrong. I smiled at her and said "Thank you". She looked up and seemed reassured. At that time the door opened and a doctor walked in holding a clipboard in his hands. "Oh, good you're awake" he said as he stepped over to a tray and placed the clipboard on it. "Hey doc" I say, already starting to feel tired from the conversation I had been having.

"How are you feeling Hiroshi?"

"I'm not gonna lie, I've been better"

"I believe you there. So do you remember anything after you were hit?"

"Well… I remember walking across the street, and then someone shouted and then… that's about it"

"Do you remember anything after that? Try hard" he pressed. I thought really hard. I remember the impact and then "Her" I said, pointing towards Miyako. The doctor looked at Miyako, then back at me. "What about her" he asked while pointing at Miyako. "I remember… she was the last thing I saw before… before I blacked out" I said weakly, feeling like I'd pass out any second. Miyako seemed to notice, and spoke up for me "Uh doctor, I think Hiroshi is very tired, maybe we should let him rest and see if he feels better later?" I nodded in agreement and the doctor said "Of course, we'll let you get your rest, and we'll check up on you when you feel better, okay?" "Okay" I croaked out, ready to drift off at any moment. "Someone is going to have to stay with him, just to make sure he'll be okay" the doctor said, no longer talking to me. Miyako raised her hand and said "I will" "Okay, I'll be back to check on him in a few hours, if he wakes up, come get me" Miyako nodded. The doctor walked out with Kaoru and Katsu following him. Mamoru walked over to stand beside me "Hey, uh, buddy, I am… really sorry for what happened and I just wanted you to know that…" I stopped him with a wave of my hand, but I was too tired to say anything. He seemed to understand and nodded. He walked out without saying anything else. I looked over Miyako. She smiled at me, and I weakly returned the smile, before my eyes closed, and I slipped into sleep's warm embrace.

She sat with him, not wanting to leave,

Not wanting to let him go.

He lay still and silent

Unmoving

Uncaring.

The rhythmic sound of his breathing

And the steady beeping of the machines

Lulled her to sleep.

When she awoke hours later

It was to the ominous sound of one, long beep.

And she knew

That, even though she didn't want to let him go

She just might have to.

End.

lap1997: Hope you guys had as much fun reading this as I had writing it. Love it, hate it, leave a review! Thanks!