A/N: As much as I would like to see Kimiko Morizumi burn tortuously slow in a fiery crash, and be fully conscious for every moment of it, she will only suffer what every criminal does in this one. This one is about Kyoko and an idea that I got from a comment on one of my other stories. 8) Hope you enjoy this one. *hugs*

Chapter 2

It was frustrating. She had no sense of how long she'd been in the hospital before she'd awakened. Kanae and Yashiro-san were snuggled together on the little sofa at the foot of her bed. Her head felt like a crushed egg and her voice wasn't working. Not a squeak, whisper or, single solitary noise. For all intent and purpose, she was mute. All she could remember is hearing a noise above her, seeing Kimiko Morizumi and her manager peering down at her from above, and her world going black.

She suspected that something major must have happened, that something heavy had fallen on her. She weakly lifted her hands and wiggled her fingers on each hand. She checked her legs and feet the same way. At least I can still use those. She thought with a few tears fighting their way out of her eyes. Stop whining Kyoko, at least you're still alive. She scolded herself, and searched around her immediate area for a call button or something, so she could call the nurse. Maybe my throat is a just little dry, and I only need to drink something. That had to be it, otherwise the implications were devastating. How could she continue in anything if she didn't have a voice? How could she act? How could she even hold a simple job without being able to talk to the customers?

There it is. She picked up the small device and pressed the button, then twisted the knob that said lights so that she had a nice soft, low glow in the room, without waking her two visitors. She glanced a the table next to her bed and noticed a thick book with a small bookmark in the center. How long have I been here? It was a book of fairy tales she noted, and smiled softly at the sleeping female on the sofa. How sweet of Mōko-san to do that for me. She sighed and looked up when a surprised nurse came in.

"Kyoko-san, you're awake." The nurse announced softly with a smile. "I'll be back in a moment. I'm going to let Dr. Tanaka know you've finally awakened."

Kyoko waved her hands at her and patted her throat and mouthed the words. I need something to drink.

The nurse gave her a pitying look and nodded. "Would you like something to drink?"

Yes. Kyoko nodded.

"I'll be back shortly with something for you." She told her quietly to prevent awakening the pair on the sofa.

Thank you very much. She tried and failed to produce the words.

"You're welcome." The nurse told her, patted her gently on the shoulder, and left.

At 8pm in the evening, on a Wednesday, a little over one week from the morning that Kimiko Morizumi and her manager had been arrested, Kyoko Mogami awakened. The first call went out to Lory Takarada, who in turn called Jouji Morizumi, Kuu and Juli Hizuri, Kuon Hizuri, and Saena Mogami. Kanae Kotonami contacted Chiori Amamiya and Erika Koenji. Saena Mogami informed Ken'Ichi Katagiri and in turn, he contacted Aki Shoko, who told Shotaro Fuwa, who told his parents. From there the news spread through the grapevine, via overheard conversations. Kyoko-chan was out of her coma. Schedules were cleared, meetings were rescheduled and flights were booked. Three local florists, in close proximity of the hospital were booked solid and cleaned out completely.

She sat in her room, experimenting on the different sounds she could still make, without the use of her voice. Dr Tanaka had told her that with time and therapy, there was a possibility that she could recover the use of her voice. That sometimes things like this healed and cleared up on their own. Although, she had a hunch he was only telling her this to give her a little hope. Yeah, and Morizumi-san is a saint. She thought wryly.

"I see that Takarada-san has arranged for a sign language instructor to visit you while you're here." The doctor commented as he entered her room, not realizing that Lory hadn't told her yet.

She looked up at him in surprise and furrowed her brow. Really? Did he say anything else? She mouthed.

He smiled at her. "You do have quite a few gifts and floral arrangements waiting to be inspected by Kotonami-san, and Yashiro-san and brought up by the volunteers." He diverted the question. If she didn't know yet, he suspected Lory wanted to tell her himself.

For me? She asked surprised.

He laughed. "Of course Kyoko-san, they've been arriving since you awakened last night." He informed her.

Wow. She mouthed with wide eyes.

Lory was not about to give up one of his most talented actresses just because she couldn't speak. He didn't even need to research to know that in recent years, there had been a small explosion of dramas and movies with actors and actresses that were mute, deaf or, both. There was an entire genre of it in Asian culture recently, and he'd even hired a sign language instructor a couple of years ago because of this. There were at least seven directors that were looking for talents with the knowledge of sign language and the fact that Kyoko could still hear was an added bonus.

He could hardly wait to give her the news. He suspected with her personality, she was probably a little down at the moment. He was certain that this would cheer her at least a little bit. He smiled and peeked into her room, while giving her door a soft knock. "Mogami-kun..." He called to her and she clapped twice to let him know she'd heard and he was welcome to come in.

Maria looked up at Lory, noting that he was no longer lost in his thoughts. "Is it okay if we come in Onee-sama?" Maria asked timidly.

Kyoko nodded with a smile and held her arms wide to hug Maria.

Maria climbed up on her bed and hugged her tightly. "Hi Onee-sama." She breathed out in relief. "I was so worried about you." She told her in tears.

Kyoko pulled back a little, held up her index fingers and bowed them toward each other, then smiled. Ever since her discussion with the doctor that morning, she'd been surfing the internet on her phone and learning simple words and phrases in Japanese and American sign language. At the moment she was telling Maria hello.

Lory chuckled. "Mogami-kun? Do you already know sign language?"

She shook her head. The doctor told me this morning that you hired an instructor. She mouthed to him. She seemed a little upset that he would go through all that trouble for her.

Lory shook his head. "No, Rena-san has been a member of my staff for a couple of years now. She teaches the classes for the use in the dramas and movies that require it. You would be surprised how many directors are looking for an actor or, actress with that knowledge." He commented.

She tilted her head in curiosity.

He sighed and sat on the chair next to her bed. "Kyoko-chan, regardless what you think, you will always have a place at LME. You are very talented, and you are a quick learner. Director Morizumi and Producer Kuresaki are holding your spot as Momiji. I've been informed that they have refused to replace you."

But, what about my lines? Won't that be a problem? She asked a little worriedly.

He shook his head. "They've already made adjustments and Amamiya-san has volunteered to voice-over for you."

She stared down at her hands as Maria fidgeted. "It's okay Onee-sama."

Isn't that like lying? Kyoko asked.

Lory shook his head. "She will get full credit for it. I assure you."

She looked down at her hands once again. At the moment, she'd never felt so completely useless. Chiori-chan is going to have to pick up the slack, so they can continue filming. She thought in distress. Her vision blurred and she felt the moisture on her hands.

"Onee-sama? It's good news, right? You still get to be Momiji. They want you back." Maria stroked her hair gently.

She nodded sharply. She was still having a hard time accepting it and didn't understand how all of this happened. Sure, the doctor had told her it had something to do with the nature of her head injury and the way her neck had been traumatized, but she didn't see how that could be the only problem. Not that she was complaining about it. She could have easily been left as a paraplegic by a matter of millimeters. So, in that aspect she was grateful. It was all a matter of how her brain was being prevented from sending the proper signals to her larynx and a bit of possible permanent nerve damage. They had already done a surgery when she was first admitted to repair a small portion of it, but the prognosis was a little open-ended in that aspect. She had been lucky, most with this problem ended up breathing through a hole in their throat for the rest of their lives. It was that fact that had the doctor a bit optimistic regarding her vocal future.