Chapter 10

Coma

Natsume POV

A lightning bolt came rapidly towards me. It felt like everything was in slow motion. I saw everything- Magenta Thief rushing towards me and taking the attack instead of me, and desperate yelling- in slow motion.

''NATSUME!''

Once my partner collapsed harshly to the ground unconscious, everything started to return to its normal speed.

Natsume? Did that girl just call me Natsume? How does she know my name? I have my mask on. Her voice seems awfully familiar and it annoys me. Natsume? Wait, no….it can't be.

Magenta Thief's mask came off. I stared at the girl's face. It was the face of that girl that I didn't want to see hurt. It was the face of that girl whom disappeared for 2 years, and then came back. It was the face of that girl that I wanted to protect with my whole entire life. It was the face of that girl whom just took the attack and possibly saved me from going to hell. It was the face of that person that I loved more than anyone else. Mikan.

''MIKAN!'' I screamed on the top of my lungs.

I leaned towards her and shook her rapidly. My heart felt like it was going to explode out of my chest or break unevenly. Unexpectedly, I felt a hand travel up to my face. It was Mikan's. Her gentle, kind eyes were open slightly. Her eyes were filled with pain, yet somewhat ease and happiness. As being Mikan, she smiled that bright smiled that everyone adored including me. She smiled that cheerful, optimistic beam even in situation like these. Even if the situations are life threatening.

Suddenly, a very faint light started to form from her hand and covered me and her, and then Black Shark who now I know is Kevin Owens. Soon, we were out of the building heading towards our academy. Once my feet felt the ground, I immediately started to run to the hospital while carrying Mikan in my arms. Kevin followed not so far behind. After a couple of minutes, we finally reached our destination.

''I need a nurse, a doctor! NOW!'' I roared on the top of my voice.

I was running out of strength, but I had one thing to keep me going. Sakura Mikan. I won't stop until I know she will be ok. It's my fault that Mikan got hurt, but I'm going to fix it. I promise.

A nurse with long frizzy hair pulled out a gurney. I sat Mikan down carefully. I stared at her short breathes. Her eyes were shut tightly unlike before. I know she was in pain. She was suffering. My heart cracked some more. Yet again, was my heart still there? Didn't it break completely when I saw her shot by that bolt? I caressed her cheek softly with the back of my hand.

''Nat...sume...,'' she whisperd, barely audible, before the nurses and doctors dashed her off to the Operating Room.

~ My One and Only Love ~

I paced back and forth in the waiting room. On the other hand, Kevin was sitting down, but not calm like me. His right hand was tapping irritatingly loud on the seat handle and his left leg was shaking unwillingly or maybe willingly. It felt like forever until we heard the news from Doctor Imai. He was covered in sweat.

''The patient is fine. We miraculously stopped the bleeding,'' he said with a slight grin. Kevin and I heaved a grateful sigh. ''However, since she was shot with a powerful lightning bolt close to the heart, she's in a coma. We don't know when she's going to wake up.''

Owens tightened his fists. His whole body was trembling. Tears started to fall from his eyes. Without thinking, I smashed the wall leaving a deep indentation. My bangs covered my face. I was about to cry, but I had to be strong. I'm not going to be a weak and pathetic and start to break down like Owens. No, not right now, especially not now. I wish I could just die right now. I wish that could have been me instead of Mikan, who got shot by that damn lightning bolt.

''If you would like, you may see her,'' the doctor offers kindly.

I pushed my messy bangs away and gradually started walking to the patient's room. I gazed at her beautiful serene face. I saw her body moving down and up because of her slow deep breathing. One of her strands of hair blocked a small part of her face. My hand slowly reached it to tuck it behind her ear when a punch unpredictably met my cheek. I flopped down and almost hit my head on the table.

''If she doesn't wake up, you'll better be prepared in a world of pain,'' Kevin announcedwith rage.

I jumped right up and punched him right back. He stumbled back.

''I'm not afraid of you,'' I retorted back.

''We'll see about that-''

BAKA! BAKA! BAKA! BAKA!

(Author's Note: I really want a baka gun. Maybe next Christmas, my parents might get me one :P)

''You idiots.''

I turned around to see where that bullet and monotone voice came from. It was of course, Mikan's ruthless, cold-blooded, brutal, vicious, and inhuman best friend.

''Do you think fighting will make Mikan's condition better?''

Kevin and I impulsively widened our eyes. We glanced at each other, and then immediately turned our eyes away from each other. Imai smirked as she saw this.

''Thought so,'' she added and sar down on the bed of the slumbering patient. She tucked behind Mikan's ear the strand of hair I was going to tuck until that Owens dude punched me. ''If you try to kill each other, do you think Mikan will like that when she wakes up?''

My eyes grew larger the second time. The Ice Queen was right. I couldn't take this anymore. I needed to be left alone. I headed towards the door, took one more glance at the sleeping Mikan, and left.

Hotaru's POV

''Owens, you leave as well. I want to be left alone with the patient,'' I declared.

''No.''

''I guess I have to use that button again.''

''W-wait-!''

But it was too late, I already pushed the button. My silver contraption, or Invention 10023, appeared and knotted Owens with a tight rope and transported him somewhere out of the wide-open window.

At that moment, bunny boy came dashing into the room.

''I just talked to Natsume. He told me everything and then left without saying another word. He blames himself for Mikan's condition. He's really in a bad mood,'' Ruka shouted rapidly then saunters in front of me, without sitting down. ''How's Sakura-san doing?''

''What do you think?'' I said with tears forming up in my eyes. ''She lied to me. She said she would be alright, but she's not.''

Gosh, the only one to make me emotional likes this is that baka Mikan and sometimes bunny boy. I couldn't hold my tears anymore. I blinked my eyes and let them fall. They splashed on the floor.

''Hotaru…'' Ruka-pyon murmurs.

''Mikan in a frickin' coma! The doctors don't know when she's going to wake up! It could take a week, a month, maybe even a year before she wakes up,'' I gritted. .

I continued weeping until warm comforting arms snaked around my body. My eyes broadly opened, but relax. I feel so at ease when he hugs me.

''Ruka…,'' I whispered.

''Hotaru, don't cry. I rather you have the monotone expression on your face or a happy face than a crying, depressive one. Everything is going to be alright. Sakura-san is a strong and persistent girl. You know that better than anyone. She's probably fighting from the inside to wake up and see you and all of us again. So, don't worry.''

My tears kept falling until after a few minutes. Ruka released me and smiled. I grinned back at him. I look back at Mikan. I noticed she has a smile placed on that idiotic face.

Mikan, are you fighting from the inside like Ruka said? Are you trying hard to wake up from your coma? Are you trying to wake up so you can show us you're alright with your bright smile? Are you ok? Please wake up soon, Mikan. I need my best friend. Keep on fighting.