Sweet Memories Gone
A/N: Hello all, I have returned to the writing scene, this time ending my hiatus with my first Love Hina fic! Note, Love Hina and everything else related to it are not my property, as they belong to Ken Akamatsu, however I do own the plot to this story as well as any original characters I decide to throw in if necessary. Well, sit back, relax and enjoy the story!
Chapter 2: Love ensures survival
The operating room light was still on. Naru paced impatiently and anxiously back and forth while waiting for word about Keitaro's condition. Shinobu was quietly crying on a chair in the corner, being comforted by Motoko. Naru stopped for a bit, wiped another tear from her face. "Please be okay…we don't know what we'll do without you…hell, what am I'm going to do without you. Please don't leave me…" she muttered to herself quietly as she resumed pacing around. She occasionally rubbed the silver cross that dangled from her necklace.
"This is for you, Naru." She looked up from studying her books to see Keitaro handing her a little box. "Keitaro? What's the occasion?" He smiled and just said, "Just a token of my appreciation for being with me, showing me that you care. When I failed the exam last week and thought all was lost with that E grade, you pulled me out of the depths of my depression when you said you would continue to wait for me." Opening the box for her, he took out a little silver cross attached to a necklace made of sterling silver. He got up from where he was and moved closer to her, putting the necklace around her neck gently and snapped the latch. "That's so sweet, thank you!" She said with a joyous cry. "No, I should be thanking you, without your love, I'm lost Naru." When Keitaro said that, Naru turned around to face him and pulled him into a kiss.
Mitsune noticed her friend was in some of the worst pain she ever felt. "Now, just don't worry. Good ol' Kei is stronger than you think, you know that." She said as she placed a hand on Naru's shoulder. "Don't lose hope now, you hear?" Naru could not contain it much longer and buried her head in her friend's shoulders and started crying. "I know…I know! I just…I just can't stop thinking about…what if he doesn't…" Naru rambled frantically. "Shush! Don't think of such things…" Mitsune spoke in an effort to comfort her friend. Naru's sobs can be heard all throughout the hall. By the window, Haruka stood there watching the light to the O.R. "Nephew…you must pull through, Naru needs you…" She thought to herself. A moment later, the light shut off and the Doctor stepped out. The anxious friends and family crowded around the doctor, eager to hear the news about Keitaro's condition. Naru was the most anxious of them all, and she urged the doctor to speak. "Is…is he going to be alright?"
"Please calm down, miss. I have a bit of good news as well as some difficult information. First off, he is going to live at this point." There were then breaths of relief that could be heard among everyone. "He has suffered tremendous injury and we have managed to mend them to the best of ability, it is up to his body to resume the rest of the healing. He sustained a great deal of trauma to his head and he is currently in a comatose state. There's currently no way to find out just the extent of damage is to his brain. He may or may not wake up. I'm sorry, but now it is up to him to pull through. We've done all we can." Naru then asked if they could see him. "You may in a few minutes, he is being transferred to his room in ICU." The doctor replied. "Thank you, doctor." Naru said a moment later. "You're welcome, have faith, I have a feeling he will pull through. There were times in the operating room where he would have passed on, but it seems that he was fighting to live on, to survive. Now if you excuse me, I have things to attend to." The crowd of loved ones nodded and parted a passageway for the doctor to pass through.
Naru and the others went into his room to see him. There he was, lying peacefully on the bed, the sound of the machines that regulated his breathing could be heard hissing every few seconds. It was hard for Naru to look at him, with him covered in bandages almost from head to toe. Each one of the Hinata girls said their individuals words of encouragement into his ear, hoping it will stir him from his coma. Haruka spoke her piece into his ears too, before turning back to speak to Naru. "You are very important to him, as he is to you. Probably seemingly more than all of us right now. I'll ask everyone to leave you alone with him if you like…" Naru just nodded and thanked her. Haruka placed her hand on Naru's shoulder in understanding and urged everyone that theirs is nothing they can do at this point but pray for him. "Let's go back, Naru will stay with him tonight." Everyone nodded and started filing out of the room. Haruka turned back once more to look before stepping out of the room.
Naru turned back to Keitaro after seeing Haruka leave. She pulled up a chair next to him and sat down. Reaching for his hand, she held it as she spoke into his ear. "Keitaro…I'm here." A tear started to run down her face as she held that hand against her face. "Its Naru…We still have to go to Tokyo U together. Please don't leave me and break that promise you made to me…" Naru wishes that he would simply just squeeze her hand, open his eyes, something to show her that he acknowledges her. "I love you…" She whispered softly into his ears. Laying her head down beside his pillow, she started to sing softly into his ears. She struggled against sleep as she continued to hold his hand, squeezing it gently, hoping it will squeeze back.
Weeks pass, as Keitaro remained unconscious on his hospital bed. Naru would come and stay with him almost tirelessly for days on end until she was told to return home to rest by Haruka each time. The poor girl hasn't ate much as well. Whenever told to rest or eat, she would not stay long doing those things and would eagerly return to his side, just waiting and hoping that he will wake. She prayed day and night for his recovery, and her prayers might just be answered this fateful day. Naru was once again holding his hand, squeezing it, as she spoke about the morning sky outside, the residents back at the Hinata, his family's concerns and finally about how much she missed his touch, his love, and his voice. Not receiving a single response from him again only brought sadness to her heart. She rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes, as a tear streamed down her cheek. Suddenly she felt his hand jerk. She sat back up, surprised. Squeezing his hand, she cried out, "Keitaro?" He started to squeeze back gradually. She became relieved and overjoyed. Keitaro might just wake up after all. "Keitaro, can you hear me? Its Naru!"
His eyes started to open, blinking several times as his eyes have not been used to the light in weeks. Struggling to focus, he sees a girl who he doesn't recognize but yet she feels, looks, and smells very familiar. Not knowing where he was or what is going on was scaring him, but oddly the presence of this girl made him feel at ease. He struggled to talk and spoke, for the first time in weeks. "Where…what… Who are you?" He saw the facial expression of the girl by his side change from joy to confusion mixed with a little bit of dread as she started to realize what is happening.
Naru could not believe what she was hearing. The man that she cares about doesn't recognizes her. "What do you mean, I'm Naru!" Keitaro just stared at her blankly. Tears started to well up in her eyes as she looked at him. "Doesn't he know me? Doesn't he remember our promise?" She thought. "Keitaro, you're scaring me…please tell me you recognize me…" She pleaded with him, still holding onto his hand. She just watch him stare blankly and confused at her. "Don't you remember what happened?" She asked. Keitaro just shook his head then grunted as it hurt to move his neck. Naru looked like she was about to burst out crying again, "Take it easy, you were seriously hurt." She spoke, looking at him worriedly. Believing that the doctor should be alerted, she called for a nurse. She turned back to Keitaro and held his hand again. "You had me so worried…"
While waiting for the doctor, Keitaro just looked at this girl that was holding his hand. Even though he doesn't think he and her have ever met, just her smell, voice, and touch felt so familiar. Like something out of his subconscious, something pleasant from years past. Not just that, he can't seem to put a finger on her facial appearance, he sworn he has seen her but can't recall where. All that thinking suddenly has appeared to left him drained, even though he simply just woke up from a 3 week long slumber. A strange sense of concern came to him, making him feel like there was some sort of responsibility that he needed to fulfill. He stopped his train of thought as he was brought back to reality by Naru's incessant questions. He sensed a hint of concern or worry coming from her voice, the way she was holding his hand, he figured to some extent that he must mean something major to this young woman. "What did you say your name was?" He asked. "Naru is it? I'm sorry, but I don't think we've met…where am I? Why am I'm hurt?"
The doctor came in and spoke to Keitaro. "You're finally awake, Mr. Urashima. Nurse, can I get some assistance as I examine the patient?" The doctor turned to Naru and spoke, "Sorry miss, but you'll have to step out while we examine him." Naru nodded reluctantly and before she parted, she whispered into the Doctor's ear. The doctor nodded and replied, "I'll have a look into it. Don't you worry, miss. He will be in good hands." Naru watched through the window once she got outside his room. After a few minutes, the doctor came out, concluding his examination. "Overall, his health is doing much better. But I see what you mean about his memory. It seems he has suffered some form of brain damage. I have asked him, and he doesn't seem to remember much of anything. I estimate that he probably doesn't remember any events since the past year. There is no telling the true extent of his mental health at this point. I ordered a CT scan for him perhaps that will reveal his condition. In any case, he'll be healthy enough to return home to recover then, but he will be needing some care."
Naru felt her heart sink when she heard about his condition. But she swallowed her fear nonetheless and replied that she will take care of him, no matter the situation. The doctor reassured her that he will most likely make a full complete recovery in due time. "Just have faith, miss. Now if you excuse us, I'm going to take him to have that CT scan performed." Naru bowed her head and thanked the doctor as she watched him wheel Keitaro out of the room, the nurses reassuring him that he is in good hands. Keitaro looked over at Naru with some worry in his eyes. She just smiled and mouthed the words, "you'll be fine, I'm here."
Later on, Naru was told of his condition. He had some moderate amnesia as well as partial paralysis from his injuries. The doctor was actually amazed at his condition. Normally a patient with such injuries might not recover fully, but strangely there was signs of hope, saying there might be a chance he'll return to normal, or for the most part, regain most of his self. Naru went to the rest room after hearing the news and splashed water on her face. Swallowing some of the pain she felt about the disappointing and devastating news about his condition, she muttered to herself. "Could have been worse, at least he's still here with me. And I can't lose hope." Wiping a tear from her face, she prayed, "God, please. Please help restore the man I love, the man I care for to the way he was. Please…and I'll never treat him harshly and unjustly ever again!" She composed herself and left the restroom. She went to his room, and begun to break the ice, answering the questions he has, and caring for him in every little way. For the next few days as he was still recovering in the hospital, she came to see him. She would bring some soup that Shinobu had made for him. Being overjoyed when she heard about Keitaro being awake, Shinobu just simply wants to make the best soup possible for her sempai. Naru smiled as she watched his appetite improve with each day. Naru wondered about the hard days ahead. But for the sake of love, she will help him survive.
A/n: Well, that's the end of chapter two. How will Naru take care of him? Find out in the next chapter.
