Chapter 1: However Long Forever Takes
Tadashi was halfway home when he saw the ambulances pass him. An idle police car saw them pass as well just as the call came in on the radio, "All available units. We have a 3 car pile-up on Main and 3rd. Three passengers, a man, woman and their daughter. Parents are dead at the scene and daughter's in critical condition. Cause of crash is a driver under the influence, requesting back up."
When Tadashi heard the radio his heart sank, "It can't be."
The police car engine started and went in the direction of the accident the same route that Hikari had taken. Tadashi looked towards home then back towards where the police were headed. Tadashi started to run back to follow the police. His phone rang; he stopped to answer it without even looking at the caller ID. "Hikari?!" he said.
"Tadashi?" A confused Hiro replied on the other line. "Where are you, Aunt Cass is freaking out!"
"I have to go," Tadashi replied.
"Why? What happened?"
"I think Hikari's in trouble."
"Tadashi, wait!"
He hung up and continued to run. The road seemed to stretch father and farther the more he ran. He ran the five miles past the pond until he saw the flashing lights of the ambulance. As he rounded the corner, he heard Hikari scream in pain, "Hikari!" he yelled.
He ran up to the scene where he saw Hikari on a stretcher passed out from blood loss. Her right had gotten caught in one of the car doors.
Tadashi watched the medics as they frantically rushed to wrap her injured hand, applying pressure to try to stop the bleeding. "Hikari!"
One of the police officers stopped Tadashi from charging, "Whoa there son," he said.
"You have to let me through! That's my best friend!"
Back at the wreckage, Hikari shivered from the pain. A medic flashed a light in her heyes ad touched her cheek, "Sweetheart, I need you to stay with me," said the female medic, "Can you tell me your name?"
Hikari stuttered as she tried to speak, "H-h-hik-kari. Hikari Isogai."
"Okay Hikari, my name is Dr. Emma Smith; can you repeat my first name?"
"E-emma."
"Okay, we're gunna get you to the hospital, alright?"
Hikari closed her eyes and began to tremble, "Hikari?" Emma asked as she slipped into a seizure. Emma held her down, "We need to get her out of here. Get me a gurney!"
"Hikari!" Tadashi yelled as the officer held him back.
"Son, you need to calm down, your excitement won't help any."
Aunt Cass pulled up and got out of the car, Hiro was with her. "Tadashi!" Cass yelled ash she pulled her nephew back.
"Oh my God!" Aunt Cass saw the bodies of Hikari's parents and watched as they put her on the gurney. She blocked Hiro's view by keeping him behind her.
"Officer we know that girl, she's like family to us."
"You know her," Emma asked.
"Yes."
"You can follow us, to the hospital," said the other medic, "We called the hospital they have an OR ready, she's going to need surgery."
Aunt Cass nodded; she took her older nephews shoulder. The three of them piled into the car and followed the ambulance to the hospital. When they got there, they had already taken Hikari out of the ambulance. Tadashi watched them wheel her into the OR. He kept his eyes locked on the doors waiting anxiously for her to come out. He'd wait forever it thats how long it took.
