A/N: Here is the second chapter, thank you for all the likes and comments this story has gotten. Remember flames are accepted and expected, so if you don't like what I'm doing then speak your mind and I will take it into consideration. Once again thank you all for your support.
The days slowly began to blend together as Aelita swam in and out of consciousness. One minute age would be awake, the next she would slip back into the seeming endless cycle. This went on for at least a week, and then finally she woke.
Yumi Ishiyama sighed and pushed her choppy black hair from her eyes. She glanced at her watch then up at a analog clock that hung from the hospital lunchrooms far wall. At the moment Yumi sat alone sipping her coffee and watching the few doctors that had ventured down from the upper floors. "It's four-thirty, you're up" Ulrich announced from behind Yumi causing her to jump slightly. Yumi nodded in acknowledgment then glanced up into Ulrich's brown eyes. "Any change yet?" She asked despite already knowing the answer. "Not yet, she's still asleep" the brunette replied taking his seat across from Yumi. The Japanese teen nodded sadly, "I got you some breakfast" Yumi said after a short silence. "Thanks" Ulrich grunted gratefully as Yumi slid him a small sandwich. "I'm going up, good luck down here" Yumi said as Ulrich unwrapped his breakfast. "See you soon beautiful" the German teen said as his partner left for the double doors that led to the hospital's lobby.
As soon as the elevator doors closed, Yumi sunk to the floor and buried her face in her hands. This wasn't the first time she's cried like this and it wouldn't be the last. The tears slowly streamed down her face as the numbers displayed on the monitor rose steadily. Hiccuping slightly Yumi pushed herself up and began to wipe away her tears. She had to be strong, for Ulrich, Jeremy, and most of all Aelita. Suddenly the elevator lurched to a stop and the heavy metal doors slid silently apart, swallowing Yumi stepped out into the small lobby that sat on the hospital's twelfth floor.
Ulrich sat by himself in the lunch room just like he had been for the last week at this time. No one ever bothered him, they didn't even give him a second glance, this didn't bother Ulrich though, in fact he preferred it. Being alone means he could think, and he had plenty of time to do so recently. Suddenly a flash of purple tore Ulrich from his thoughts, a few tables away a child clad in a large purple jacket was happily bouncing in his seat. Feeling a rush if sadness, Ulrich quickly got up and made his way to the exit doors.
Yumi carefully pushed open the door to Aelita's room and glanced inside expecting the girl inside to be asleep, instead she was met by a small voice. "Hello Yumi" Aelita whispered quietly due to not speaking for a few days. "Aelita!" Yumi exclaimed rushing over and wrapping get arms around the pink haired girl's body. Tears began to drop down from Yumi's eyes as relief flooded over her washing away her fatigue. As soon as she was released, Aelita glanced around the room. "Where's everyone at?" She asked noticing the emptiness of the room. "Ulrich is down stairs, Jeremy is taking care of Xana at the moment, and Odd is..." Yumi said then trailed off as she caught herself. "He's in the lunch room isn't he?" Aelita asked with a small smile. Yumi bit her lip and looked down at her feet. "Odd's not going to be here" Yumi managed to get out before her voice cracked. "What do you mean?" Aelita was about to ask then stopped as a flood of memories forced their way into her mind. "Oh god" she whispered before burying her face in her hands. "I'm so sorry Aelita" Yumi said putting her hand on her friends shoulder, soon both girls were sobbing uncontrollably.
Odd silently watched the two girls weep from the other side of the room, a tightness had formed in the pit if his stomach. "I'm sorry Aelita" he whispered as he suddenly crossed the room and put his hand on Aelita's pink hair. The girl stirred slightly causing Odd to quickly draw his hand back in concern; he glanced at Aelita then back at his hand.
Ulrich quietly stalked through the forest that he'd traversed many times in the last few years. He had left the hospital over two hours ago, Yumi had called him and said Aelita was awake but he didn't care at the moment. Anger flowed through him scalding his insides as he thought of the events of the last few days. A boy silently followed a few steps behind the brunette; he sighed and ran a hand through his blonde hair. "You're going to have to move on sometime" he whispered to Ulrich who of course didn't hear him. Suddenly Ulrich let out a barbaric yell then swung at a nearby tree. His knuckles hit the bark with a sickening crunch causing the boy to draw his hand back in shock. "Crap" Ulrich growled clutching his hand gingerly, hissing in pain he turned and started to make his way back to the hospital. He paused when a snow flake drifted past, "I guess this is good bye" he whispered mournfully.