Disclaimer: I don't own Ranma 1/2...

Chapter 2: "Do you hear me?"

Ukyo was sweeping the snow out of the restaurant's entrance when Ranma and Akane came. Her heart started to jump out of joy, but the look on their faces brushed the happiness away.

"Hey Ranchan, Akane, came for a meal?"

"No Ucchan, we're going to the clinic"- Ranma said with grief

"The clinic? Are you ill?"

"No… it's Ryoga, he had an accident" Ukyo looked at Akane to see if it was a joke, but the girl kept looking down.

"What kind of accident?" she asked a little concerned now. For Ryoga being in the clinic it had to be something nasty.

"We were sparring, and he slipped and hit his head on the wall"

"But that's not so bad, I mean, he's so strong… right?… Ranchan?" He was looking down as well, his conscience not letting him meet her eyes

"He's been unconscious for the last week Ucchan…" He said in a regretted tone

"What…? Why didn't you tell me?? He's my friend too!" Ukyo snapped, surprising the pair and herself as well

"We're sorry Ukyo, but dr Tofu said that he needed to rest so we thought…" She trailed off

"But I'm sure he wont mind if you come with us." Ranma said, hoping that she wouldn't start a fight with Akane

"Ok, just let me close the restaurant." He said and rushed inside.


The three of them came to the clinic around two on the afternoon. Dr. Tofu greeted them on the entrance, Ukyo noticed that he glared at Ranma for a moment and that the pigtailed boy kept looking down, almost like… Ashamed?… Of what? Ranma and Akane entered the room first, as Dr. Tofu explained the whole situation to Ukyo in his office.

"You mean you don't know when he will wake up?" She asked

"No… We're doing the best we can, but it will take time. I don't know how much…it can be weeks, months, even years… or he can open his eyes tomorrow. It's a matter of his will to come back, to live…" Ukyo found herself sobbing

"There is nothing we can do?"

"Well… Some doctors think, including me, that people in coma can hear us, they just can't react. I talk to him when I check up on him, but it's only for a few minutes"

"You mean if he has someone who talks to him, it can make a difference?"

"That's right. He needs to stay connected to reality. I can't guarantee it will work, but it would be worth the shot… I do as best as I can"

"That's what Ranchan and Akane are doing now?"

"Them? Oh no… They came today after a week, so I think they can't really help him"

"Today it's the first time they visit him??"

"Yes, why didn't you came earlier then?"

"Because I just found out. If I didn't had stop them I wouldn't know either. They didn't even call me, Ryoga's my friend too." She answered indignant

"Well, Ranma seemed too reserved about this whole issue. And I didn't have his friends numbers. Not even his parents know. I told Ranma to try and locate them, but he said he couldn't and left a letter in Ryoga's house, in case they show up there"

"Oh… But still, they should have let me know…" Ukyo's eyes suddenly lit up "Doctor? Would you mind if I come here every once in a while? Just to talk to him a little"

"Of course I wouldn't mind, it would be a lot of help for him. You're welcome to visit him anytime"

"Thanks Dr. Tofu." She smiled at him and both got up, "I'm gonna see him now"


She left Tofu's office and headed to Ryoga's room, where Ranma and Akane where waiting outside.

"Ukyo do you want us to wait for you?" Akane asked

"No thanks, I'm ok… so how's he doing?"

"He's still… 'asleep' " Ranma said

"We'll see you in school tomorrow ne? Ja ne Ukyo"

"Bye Ucchan"

"See ya guys"


The room was shadowy, only thin rays of light came in through the curtains. He looked so calm… She sat on a chair next to the bed, and brushed a bang out of his face.

"Hey sugar…" She whispered, caressing his cheek with the back of her hand. "Sorry I didn't come before, I just found out…" She smiled at him, wondering if he was listening. "I'd like to ask you how you've been, but I guess it's useless ne?" She started to cry again. She hated seeing him like this, breathing through a machine and with needles all over him. The only sound in the room beside her voice was the slow beep of the machine that controlled his heart. She remembered the talk with Tofu and started to tell him how her life was since she last saw him. It felt weird at first, but eventually she found herself giggling over a joke she told him. It was two hours later that she left for home, thinking about what to talk tomorrow with him, well, to him.

That night, when she laid on her bed looking at the stars, she wondered what was he seeing in that deep sleep. If he remembered her, if he was thinking about Akane… She had found a book that afternoon, a book she used to read when she was on the road looking for Ranma, and thought Ryoga would like it too.

The next day after lunch, Ukyo left school and headed to the clinic. She said hello to Dr. Tofu and went to Ryoga's room again. There he was, just like the day before. Nothing had changed. She opened the curtains allowing the sunlight to bath the room with its clarity. She sat on the chair, opened the book on her lap, held Ryoga's hand, and started to read out loud…

End chapter two.

A/N: I know it's kinda unusual for Ukyou to be this nice to him, but I'll explain her reasons later...Please review!! Thanks!