Hello everyone. Here is a little warning to my viewers, today's chapter is talking about an illness. I have no clue if any of you are male or female, but if you are female you should look up Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). It's very rare, but my friend caught it due to an open wound, usually it's caught through feminine products. I just thought this would be a good warning to my readers, and a good medical problem for Chrissy. So I apologize if I offend anyone in any way with this chapter.
Today was hot considering winter was in its way. It was the middle of November and I was literally dying of heat. I got up slowly this morning, putting on a tank top and shorts and throwing my hair into a bun. I walked into my bathroom and brushed my teeth. My chest was itchy, i saw a slight rash in the mirror, but decided against scratching at it. I then headed for the kitchen to see everyone else. I could see everyone thought it was cold, weird. Masaomi sat next to Conner, both wearing sweaters. Ukyo was still in his pjs, that were also long sleeved.
I started walking down the stairs when Azusa-kun said, "Chrissy-chan, aren't you cold? It's freezing in here."
I shook my head slowly and said, "no it's kind of hot really." I finished walking down the stairs and entered the kitchen. I grabbed myself a cup of coffee and headed for Masaomi. Right as I rounded the corner I felt dizzy, my body felt weak and then, suddenly, I couldn't hold my balance. I felt my body fall to the ground. I could hear my name being shouted. My eyes refused to open, it was hot.
Masaomi's P.O.V.
Chrissy was coming down the stairs in a tank top and shorts, nothing really unusual, she loved tank tops all year round. As she entered the kitchen I focused on a form that I needed to fill out for the hospital. Before I knew it Chrissy was falling to the ground, her cup of coffee shattering across the floor. I was up in an instant, Conner closely behind me. I knelt beside her, I out my hand on her head, she was burning up.
"Subaru, go to my room and grab my medical bag. Now!" Subaru jumped and ran for my room. Conner helped me move Chrissy to the couch. When Subaru was present with my bag I took out a thermometer and placed it into her mouth, then we waited. After a few moments I took it out, it read 102 degrees.
"We need to go to the hospital, her fever is too high. What is that?" I asked to no one. I looked at Chrissy's chest and her face and there is a slight rash. I motioned for Conner to help me lift her. Instead, Kaname came over and picked her up easily in his own. We mad our way down for the car and left for the hospital. Kaname, Conner, Ukyo and I went to the hospital. The rest were going to stay home until everyone arrived and them they would meet us at the hospital.
When we got the we rushed inside and I called for a nurse. She came over and I told the nurse what I could of her symptoms. Chrissy was rolled away and we all waited in the waiting room for word of what's happening.
Within an hour everyone else was here, even Taichi came. We waited for what seemed forever, Wataru-chan was frighteningly quiet, he wouldn't talk to anyone. Ema-chan sat next to him holding his hand, Louis-kun sat next to her. Next to me sat Conner and Taichi, behind us sat Ukyo, Kaname, and Natsume. Off to the side sat Azusa, Tsubaki and Yusuke-kun. Subaru came walking back into the waiting room with Iori to his side.
"I called mom, she said she is on her way. I also talked to Hikaru, he can't come, but will come as soon as he is finished with work." Subaru spoke with a twist of pain.
"Fūto is also on his way." Iori said shortly and went to sit down, Subaru followed.
A women about five feet tall came in wearing a business suit, she was holding a stack of papers. She had short blond hair that fell right above her shoulders. She looked extremely nervous, perhaps she was lost.
"Excuse me I looking for Mr. Asahina." A French accent poured out of her Japanese. All of us looked up at here. She started waving her hands nervously.
"Nanami-san what are you doing here?" Ukyo spoke suddenly.
"Sir, I was told you were at the hospital for a family member and that you would be coming to the office later tonight to pick up your forms. I though it best to bring them to you." she said shaking the file towards Ukyo.
"Oh thank you Nanami-san." Ukyo said taking the files from her. She nodded and said her goodbyes and then left.
Twenty excruciating minutes went by until the doctor came out to see us.
"Masaomi-san," one of the female doctors I work with came up to us. I stood and greeted her.
"Is she alright?" I asked slowly.
"She will be, I'm afraid she is very unlucky. She is suffering from TSS. We have set her up to an IV and have cleaned the area. She has also been moved to the ICU, a nurse will be out here shortly to bring you all to her. I have also requested a private room for her. I'll see you shortly." She said bowing and taking her leave.
"What is TSS?" asked Conner and half my brothers at the same time. I went into doctor mode.
"TSS stands for Toxic Shock Syndrome. It's very rare, it usually occurred in the 1970s for women. It had to do with the super absorption of tampons. It's not strictly related to tampons, it can also occur if bacteria enters open wounds. Also, known, two types of birth control methods have been linked to cause TSS. TSS is a systemic illness, meaning it affects the whole body. Two bacterial cause this, I won't get into their medical names, but they are called Strep and Staph. They produce toxins in the body and in some cases the body can't fight them and the immune system reacts."
"Did this happen over night?" Ema-chan asked holding on to the side of Louis's shirt.
"TSS occurs within two to three days. Chrissy symptoms were thankfully not bad, a rash and a fever, although if she can't fight them she could start vomiting."
"Is that as worse as it is going to get for her?" Iori asked.
"Hopefully, now that she is being treated. The symptoms go further, though. Rapid drop in blood pressure, diarrhea, muscle aches, headache, confusion, seizures, kidney or other organ failure, bright red coloring of the eyes, nose, mouth and genital area."
"What have they done for Chrissy?" Kaname asked.
"They've hooked her up to an IV, then next step will be to take a blood sample and see how her organs are doing. She will most likely be kept her for a few days for observation." Everyone went quiet again and sat back in their seats.
Conner whispered slowly to me, "this is a um...female illness because of um...periods?"
"No, not necessarily. It can be if certain female products are not used correctly, but you and I know Chrissy and she is very tidy when it come to female things." He nodded and laughed. We waited a long time and eventually a nurse came out and led all of us into Chrissy's hospital room. I believe since I work in the hospital they let all of us in her room at once.
Wataru-chan ran to Chrissy's side and grabbed one of her hands. Ukyo walked up behind him and placed his hands on Wataru-chan's shoulders. The rest of us took seats around the room, Chrissy was hooked up to an IV and other machines that measured heart rate, and pain levels. Chrissy was also in a hospital gown, covered in many blankets to stay warm.
It must have been hours since we entered the room because in walked my mother with bags of food, and Rintarou right behind her with big stuffed animals.
"Is she alright? What's happened?" My mother asked trading the food off to my brothers and running to Chrissy's side. Funny how much she likes Chrissy now. I explained to my mom and Rintarou what happened to Chrissy and they both nodded and understood. Rintarou walked over to Chrissy and kissed her head, "Hey sweet girl we are all here with you." I wanted to say that she would be fine and she wasn't dying, but I decided against it.
My mother passed around plates and utensils and then started feeding all of us. Wataru-chan didn't eat, he just sat there holding Chrissy's hand. We all noticed his silence, but no one decided to say anything.
"IS SHE ALIVE?!" yelled Fūto bursting into the room. He was in a shiny outfit, with make up on his face, and he was still holding a microphone. Mom slapped him upside the head. She then explained that Chrissy would be fine. I'm happy he didn't ask what was wrong with her, explaining this a third time is becoming a hassle.
A few more hours passed and it was time to call it a night, visiting hours were about to end and we all needed to leave. We all grabbed our belonging as kissed Chrissy on the head goodbye. Rintarou set the pile of stuffed animals on the chairs in the room. Wataru-chan walked silently to the cars. We all got in and headed home.
When we got home everyone sat down in the living room or the kitchen. I went to Chrissy's room and gathered her sheets, best to wash them before she arrived home. I gathered her sheets and pillow cases and threw them into the washing machine, I also put the clothes the hospital gave us into the wash. I walked back out and looked down into the common room, everyone was there except Wataru-chan. I assume he went to his room. I walk to his door and knock, but receive no response, so I let myself in. There in the corner if his bed sat Wataru-chan petting Pachi on the head.
"Hey, Wataru-chan want to tell me what's wrong?" I asked petting Pachi. I did not get a response.
"Chrissy is going to be just fine, she'll be home before you know it." Again nothing. I sighed and left his room, knowing I couldn't say anything to get him to talk. As I leave his room Koga charges in. He gives me a brief wave and heads to sit next to Wataru-chan. Maybe Wataru-chan will talk to Koga.
I head down the hall and go to my room, I quickly jump in the shower and then head for bed.
Wataru's P.O.V.
She was going to die, there is no way around it. So what if Masaomi-nii says she will be alright, she isn't she is going to die. After Masaomi-nii came to talk to me in walked Koga-kun.
"Hey Wata, how's Chrissy-chan?" He called me Wata for short. I didn't answer his question, I just kept petting Pachi. "Yeah, I'm sure she'll be fine, I'm also sure she'd want you to study for our exam tomorrow. I looked at him with bewilderment, he wants me to study while Chrissy is in a hospital dying?
"What?" I asked breathlessly.
"Look, I get it your sister is lying in the hospital and you feel powerless. We all feel powerless with something's in our lives. We have a test tomorrow, what is going to happen when Chrissy wakes up and comes home and finds out you didn't take the test because of her?" After a while Koga pulled out our study guide for the test and started studying.
"Kay" I said holding back tears, "and she isn't my sister."
"Whatever, she so is your sister." Koga said handing me flash cards. We spent the next two hour studying, finally I decided it was time to stop. Koga had already quit and fallen asleep on my bed. I pulled out the futon I kept in my closet and decided to sleep on that.
Normal P.O.V.
Waking up hurt right now, my arm stung and my head felt heavy. When my eyes finally did open and adjust to the scenery I realized I was in a hospital room. White walls surrounded me, chairs lined the walls and stuffed animals sat atop the chairs. A needle was stuck in my right arm, which was hooked up to what I assumed was an IV bag. I took my left hand and tried to sit myself up.
"Don't move to fast Miss. Hawthorne." A lady said walking into the room. "I'm Dr. Yawata."
"Hello, um what's wrong with me. I remember being at home, but that's it. You passed out with a fever of 102 degrees, you are suffering from Toxic Shock Syndrome or TSS." She went on explaining what TSS was and I felt exhausted after her explanation. She told me I was being kept over night to watch my body and what not. Tomorrow I'd be getting my test results back and see if my organs are alright.
When I woke up later it was around 6 in the morning. I was starving and I needed to use the bathroom. I got up slowly and went to the bathroom with the IV stand. It was tricky, but made it through. I was drying my hands when I heard, "SHES DEAD, SHE DIED, SHES GONE!" That was Fūto-kun's voice. 'I'm dead?' I thought in my mind. I heard others telling Fūto to shut up. I slowly opened the door and felt eyes on me. "SHES ALIVE!" Fūto yelled hugging me.
"You're crushing me." I said patting him on the back. He let go but his place was filled by another and then another and it continued until there was no one left.
Masaomi gave me a quick kiss on the forehead and then led me back to my bed.
"Felling better?" He asked.
"I think so, I don't really remember much."
"It's ok, you're ok, and that is what matters."
"Dr. Yawata told me this happened because of this," I pointed to the burn mark on my arm that I got cooking last week. "She told me bacteria got into it and then spread through my body, guess that is how I wound up here. Think we could get some food in here, I don't think I've eaten anything." Masaomi laughed and left for some food.
Ema-chan came up and sat next to me, she told me what happened yesterday and how Miwa and Rintarou came all the way to see me, and how Fūto left work to come see me too. I felt terrible, they shouldn't have done that. She continued to talk as I ate my breakfast, that I inhaled. She told me how Wataru-chan hadn't spoken to anyone and how he didn't leave my side until he had to. Poor kid, I probably scared him passing out like I did.
Miwa and Rintarou came in later that morning with more food, I was so happy.
"How are you feeling?" Rintarou asked.
"Better, I'm sorry you both had to come down here."
"Nonsense, of course we came. You family, and when family is sick family come for a visit." Miwa spoke handing me a donut. Strawberry donuts my favorite, I was in complete bliss. Dr. Yawata came in and showed my blood test results to Masaomi. My organs were in perfect shape, yay. I could be releases as early as this afternoon. She prescribed a few drugs that I needed to take to flush out the toxin.
As I was being discharged Koga and Wataru-chan walked into the room.
"Told you she'd wake up" Koga nudged Wataru-chan, who stayed quiet.
"Hey boys, how was that test you had today?" I asked remembering it was on the calendar.
"Test?" Masaomi and Ukyo said at the same time.
"It was cool, I came over last night and studied with Wata."
"Oh good, when I'm up and able we will all go for ice cream and a movie, ok?"
"Heck yeah!" Koga jumped up and down. Wataru still hadn't spoken. I remember Ema-chan telling me Pachi spent the night with Wataru-chan.
"Oh my, Pachi was alone without me yesterday. Poor thing must be scared."
"N-no, he slept with Koga and I. I fed him too." Wataru-chan spoke breathlessly.
"Really? Was he bad? Did he sleep ok?" I asked extra sweetly.
"Yeah, he was okay. I pet him a lot too. Will you be able to leave soon?" He lit up at the last question.
"Yep, in a hour or so." He smiled and then told me about his test, every so often Koga would jump in and say something.
When I got home I went straight for Pachi and gave him a good petting.
"Did you miss me?" I repeated over and over to him. He just sprawled on the ground and wagged his tail. When I walked into the common area Taichi tackled me for a hug.
"I'm so glad you're ok!" He sang.
"I am too."
"Damn Juliet, nearly gave me a heart attack when you collapsed." Conner said pulling me into a hug.
"Sorry, Romeo. I didn't do it on purpose if that helps at all." He laughed and sat back down next to Taichi.
Night came quicker than I thought it would. Soon everyone was preparing for bed. Taichi had walked Koga home on his way home. Hikaru showed up before dinner started. I was changing in my room when a knock came to the door. It was Masaomi, I thought it was going to be Wataru-chan.
"Hi, what are you doing here?" I asked.
"You shouldn't be moving around, go lay down." He said pushing me towards my bed.
"Hey now, relax. I'm fine, a little sore but other than that I'm ok. What did you come here for?"
"To lay in bed with you, which I won't do if I dint see that you are resting." I laughed and got into bed, Masaomi quickly stripped off his clothes and changed into a pair of pjs he brought from his room. He climbed in after me and kissed my head.
"I'm glad you're ok, you scared the life out of me, well all of us, when you fell." Masaomi was the best boyfriend in the world, taking such good care of me.
"I know I'm sorry. I wish I could remember it." He tightened his arms around my waist and we fell asleep. I don't remember falling asleep, but sleep came soundlessly.
So I hope I've filled you all in on what TSS is. It may be rare, but if you get it prepare for not fun times.
I don't know if any of you read other peoples reviews... to Orchidellia, I know tattoos are not good in Japan, but for this story they will be fine. As much as I'd like a Yakuza fight or something that won't be happening here.
I gave a brief introduction to Nanami. More on her later.
I also put Ema-chan with Louis a few times...did you notice? Huh, huh did you? XD