Chapter 13: Wounds will heal
The skies were dark, the moon shining bright and the stars twinkling. Clouds rolled in the distance, a storm having passed through that day. Raindrops dripped off trees and buildings, puddles formed on the ground.
A school building, having long since closed down for the day, sat silently in the cool night. In the schoolyard, nine figures lay on the muddy ground. One flinched as she awoke, her eyes fluttering open as consciousness came to her.
She sat up slowly, her clothes drenched and muddy. She gazed around with blurred vision, and realized it was nighttime. However, the darkness wasn't from an old, rotting empty building. It was that peaceful darkness… when the sun fell and the moon rose.
She suddenly realized that she was home. Glancing around, she saw nine other figures, and her heart swelled.
They all made it back.
Soon after, the other three had awoken, as well as the children… well… most of them.
Ayumi remembered her husband's condition, and quickly crawled over to his form, looking over him. He didn't seem to be breathing… and his eyes were closed.
"No… No, Yoshiki! Please! Wake up!" She cried out, she shook him gently, but got no response. She felt as if her world had stopped. The tears were unstoppable now; she leaned over him, gently pressing her forehead to his.
"Y-You… can't leave me… please…" She sobbed, her eyes closed as more tears spilled out.
Satoshi lay on his good side, the pain in his leg becoming unbearable. His heart sank when Yoshiki was unresponsive. He couldn't have given up that easily… could he? Maybe he had… his body was already put through a lot.
Naomi crawled over to Ayumi, scanning Yoshiki's body closely. Reaching out, she placed two fingers on his bloody wrists, the wounds from his knuckles having streamed blood all over his hands. After pausing for a moment… she could just make out a small pulse. It was weak, but it was something.
"Ayumi… don't worry… he's alive…" She breathed, and the woman perked up.
"We need to get everyone to the hospital," Naomi murmured, and Yuka was already on her phone.
Within minutes, two ambulances parked before the school, their lights blinking brightly. Four paramedics exited from the back, reeling in beds up to the group.
"How is he?" A male paramedic ran up to Ayumi and Naomi, looking over Yoshiki.
"Not good. He's lost consciousness… as well as a lot of blood. I don't know how much longer he'll be alive," Naomi explained, while Ayumi stayed silent.
"Very well. Let's get him onto the backboard," The man turned to another paramedic, and the other nodded. With some help, they were able to get him on the bed.
Satoshi had been placed in the other bed, unable to walk any more. One of the paramedics asked the rest of the Mochida family to ride with them, Aya's knee injury a growing concern to the paramedics.
Ami went up to her mother, hugging her side as she watched her father disappear into the ambulance. One of the men came back out. When he noticed Ami's arm injury, he went up to them.
"Are you his family?" He asked, and Ayumi nodded.
"Come with us, it seems your daughter is injured as well," He spoke, and Ayumi breathed. She looked down to Ami, the little girl looking up at her with big eyes. She had completely forgotten about her daughter's arm injury. Now, she felt like a horrible parent.
She shook her head to rid of her thoughts, and walked over to the ambulance. With some help, Ami was lifted first, one of the paramedics already looking at her arm. Ayumi came in next, sitting next to her daughter. She looked over to Yoshiki, a breathing mask already over his face, as the other paramedic was quick at work.
With everyone loaded, both ambulances drove off, towards the direction of the hospital…
At the city's hospital…
When the ambulances pulled up to the emergency entrance, nurses were already there to help. First, Yoshiki was wheeled out, his life dwindling away with every second that passed. Satoshi followed, his leg injury in need of major medical care. The rest of the family came last, some nurses coming out to meet with them before guiding them back in.
Ayumi sat in a small hospital room, Ami in her lap as a nurse looked over the wound on the young girl's arm. It was deep, but it stopped bleeding long ago. That didn't mean the pain hadn't ceased. Ami winced and squirmed as the nurse applied anti-bacterial cream and other medical products to help with healing. Soon after, her arm was wrapped up in a thick layer of bandages.
"And how about you?" The nurse turned to Ayumi, and the young woman shook her head nervously.
"I-I'm fine… really," Ayumi replied, but the nurse looked at her skeptically.
"You seem a bit pale… when is the last time you've had anything to drink?" The nurse questioned, and Ayumi's breathed hitched.
"U-Uh… a while…" Ayumi glanced away, and the nurse snorted.
"Well then, we should fix that. We'll hook you up to some fluids so you don't risk dehydration," The nurse turned, going to exit the door.
"W-Wait? An I.V.? B-But-" She didn't have time to finish before the door shut on her. She let out a sigh. Ami tilted her head at her mother, blinking.
"W-What's an I.V.?" Ami asked, and Ayumi smiled sadly at the young girl. She reached over, patting the young girl on the head.
"They're going to give me a shot, little one," Ayumi answered, and Ami's eyes widened.
"B-But shots hurt!" Ami knew well of the small needles. She hated coming to the hospital because of that very reason. Her usually calm demeanor would be replaced with a fit of cries. She didn't like needles… neither did her mother.
"I know, Ami. But, I'll have to be strong if I'm going to get better," Ayumi sighed, not looking forward to this. But she knew she was having it better than her husband. Last she had heard, he was in surgery, doctors and nurses trying to fix the puncture wound and any bleeding to his organs. One doctor had told her he would be permanently blind in the eye that was scratched.
It was around midnight when Ayumi and Ami had been released from their room. Ayumi could still feel the stinging in her arm, but dared not to touch it. As she walked out into the waiting room, she immediately saw Naomi and her family.
It was very rare when a nurse was the one being examined for injuries. Naomi felt a tinge of embarrassment, but her family came first. The three children were checked over, Koji and Aya being the source of the doctor and nurses concern. Koji, with some time, would return to a healthy infant. Aya's knee injury had been completely stripped of its previous bandaging. With some numbing ointments, they were able to take the stitches out without much of a problem. The wound was easily cleaned, and re-bandaged. To help her walk, she was given a crutch so she could stay off the leg as much as possible.
Naomi's own injury, her inflamed ankle was treated correctly, and now the pain was no longer a problem.
The mother perked up when she saw Ayumi and her daughter walk over to them. Ami's previously injured arm was bandaged, and Ayumi didn't seem as pale than before.
"H-Hey Naomi… um… any news on Mo- Satoshi?" Ayumi asked, walking up to the larger family. Naomi blinked while she cradled Koji, her two children on both of her sides as they slept. Yuka was in the chair next to them, stretched out.
"Well… according to the doctor, his knee cap had completely shattered and his lower leg has a pretty nasty snap. It'll be a while before he'll be able to walk normally again," Naomi replied, and Ayumi nodded. The woman then sat down in a chair next to the large family, Ami joining her side.
"Have you… heard anything on your husband?" Naomi looked to her, and she paused.
"He's in surgery… As far as I know… he'll be blind in one of his eyes for the rest of his life," She looked away, hiding her eyes with her bangs. Naomi frowned, knowing Ayumi wasn't one to handle loss well when it came to anybody close to her. The brunette wasn't sure what Ayumi would do if Yoshiki didn't make it.
"Ayumi…" Naomi started, catching the other woman's attention.
"…He'll make it… I know he will… he's a strong person, and he wouldn't give up so easily… especially for you or your daughter," Naomi spoke and Ayumi could only blink. She smiled softly moments later, dipping her head in silent thanks.
The families continued to chat quietly. The three of them hadn't seen each other for many years, mostly because they had all gone to universities all over Japan. Over time, they branched off on their own to start families. The children continued to sleep, it having been late in the night; Koji would occasionally wake up to be fed.
It was around three in the morning when a nurse stepped over to them. Naomi, who was half-asleep, perked up when she saw the nurse. Yuka fell asleep on the arm of the chair, breathing softly. Ayumi had fallen asleep against Ami, who used her mother's side as a pillow.
"Mrs. Mochida?" The nurse asked, and Naomi blinked, growing alert.
"That's me," She answered, and the nurse smiled.
"Your husband has come out of surgery… he's requested that his family come and see him," She replied, and Naomi blinked again. He went into surgery? Was the break that bad?
"O-Of course," She stammered, shifting around so she could wake up the little ones on her sides. She tapped her foot against Yuka's, and the younger girl awoke suddenly, her eyelids heavy. With all the commotion, Ayumi had awoken slowly as well.
With some effort, Naomi was able to convince her two sleepy children to walk off to their father's room, followed by Yuka.
"Excuse me… um… nurse?" Ayumi caught the nurse that stood there, and the young woman turned to her. She walked over to her.
"May I help you?" She asked, and Ayumi hesitated.
"Is there any news… on my husband, Yoshiki Kishinuma?" She asked, and the nurse paused.
"Oh… yes. He's made it through surgery… but he's still recovering from the lasting affects of his medication… it'll be a while before he wakes up again. But, if you want to see him, you can follow me," The nurse responded, and Ayumi's worries were washed away. He was okay… he was alive.
Gently nudging Ami awake, the two of them followed the nurse back into the maze of hallways. Upon coming to a door, the nurse turned and gestured for Ayumi to enter. Hesitantly, she grabbed the doorknob and went in.
The room was considerably dark, apart from the dim light coming off from the wall. When she saw him lying there, his body hooked up to wires and tubes everywhere, her heart went into her throat. Standing next to his bed, she looked over him, his head wrapped up in bandages as it covered over the injured eye. A nosepiece was helping him breath, and wires hooked up to his arms, helping keep his health in check. Machines beeped here and there, regulating his vitals as he slept.
Ami walked up next to her mother, staring at her father. She seemed scared of him, barely recognizing her father underneath everything.
"Mommy… is daddy… going to be okay?" Ami looked up to her mother, and Ayumi was silent, before a small smile crossed her lips.
"Of course sweetie… but right now… he's sleeping. We shouldn't disturb him," She whispered back to the young girl, and Ami nodded before looking back at her father.
Ayumi eventually put Ami back to sleep, placing her in one of the chairs in the room. The young girl couldn't fight her own drowsiness, her mind and body too tired to stay awake. With her daughter sleeping, she turned back to her husband, sitting down in the chair next to the bed. Gently, she placed her hand on top of his, afraid she'd cause pain to him in his slumber; his hands were bandaged from the wounds on his knuckles.
"I'm so glad you're alive… I wouldn't know what to do without you…neither would Ami," She murmured softly, gazing at his sleeping form. His chest fell and rose with each breathe he took.
She eventually fell asleep, her head lying in her arms as she lay over his bedside. Even she didn't have the energy to stay awake.
The next morning...
It was late morning; the sun had already risen above the horizon. The curtains were just thin enough to let some light shine through.
His eye fluttered open, his body was aching everywhere. He couldn't see out of his right eye, and finally sensed that it was covered over. He could feel the scratch, and it bothered him. The events of the previous day came flooding back to him, and he sighed. Why were they always involved in these things?
He finally realized that somebody was sleeping on the side of his bed, and he glanced over, recognizing familiar indigo hair.
"A-Ayumi…" He croaked out, cracking a small smile. She wasn't hurt. She was safe… and so was Ami… he saw the young girl before he completely blacked out. Ayumi would never let their daughter get hurt.
Another hour passed, and she had awoken to him, a soft smile on his lips as he gazed at her. She was never so happy to see him awake. She leaned over, their foreheads contacting as she breathed in his scent. It smelled of sour medicine and plastic, but she didn't care. Underneath all those bandages, he might've been beaten and broken, but he didn't give up. He fought for everybody's life yesterday, and still came out in the end.
Ami woke minutes later, and when saw her father was awake, she was quick to hop on his bed. Her mother warned her not to sit on his stomach, as she often did to wake him up in the mornings, and she obliged. She laid next his body, just happy at the fact that her father was okay.
As the day went on, doctors and nurses had come into the room, checking Yoshiki's vitals, as well as bringing him tiny meals. He didn't eat them though; he didn't like to eat hospital food.
Around mid-afternoon, the small family got a knock on the door, and they perked up at the noise. Ayumi turned, ready to go answer it when it opened by itself. She was expecting a nurse or a doctor, but instead, there standing in the doorway, was Satoshi on crutches. His leg was covered in a thick cast; doctors were afraid the pins surgically placed in his lower leg would come out and further harm than heal his break.
"S-Satoshi? W-What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be… you know… resting?" Ayumi stuttered as he came in, and Naomi was close behind him. For once, since their entire visit, Koji wasn't in her arms. Ayumi could only guess the hospital supplied the mother with a temporary crib so she could rest.
"Aha… well I couldn't help but see you guys… besides, I wouldn't leave her alone until I knew of Yoshiki's condition," He gestured to his wife, Naomi shaking her head.
"W-Well, let's get you a chair or something… you shouldn't be up and about with your leg…" Ayumi glanced around the room, before going over and grabbing a chair.
The brun male sighed as he sat; glad he was off the crutches. He was already tired of them, and he had barely used them. Naomi sat next to him, placing a hand over his.
"W-Wait… where are the kids?" Ayumi suddenly noticed the children's absence.
"Yuka took them down to the café on the first floor… They were pretty hungry," Satoshi responded, and Ayumi suddenly felt bad. It had been awhile since Ami had eaten… the little girl must've been starving. She would treat the girl once the Mochida's left the room.
"It's good to see you're okay, Yoshiki…" Satoshi turned to the blonde, and he chuckled.
"Ahaha… you should see yourself," The blonde replied, and the adults laughed.
The four of them continued to talk, catching up on life before everything happened. But all good things had to end. Satoshi had to get back to his room, and Yoshiki needed to rest. With some struggle, Satoshi was able to get up and back on his crutches, and with some last goodbyes, the two of them exited the room.
"Why did we ever separate…?" Ayumi inquired, her eyes getting a distancing look to them.
"Things happen Ayumi… sometimes… best friends have to go separate ways," Yoshiki spoke, and she closed her eyes.
"I hope we can change that…" She replied before looking over at him.
"Why don't you rest…? I'm going to take Ami down to the café. It's been awhile since she's last eaten," At the sound of her name, the little girl perked up from her seat.
"Alright…" He wheezed. She turned, ushering Ami over. As the two of them walked out, she looked back and smiled at him.
They made it…
They fought against hell…
And won…
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One more chapter to go!