Current Time:

"Wh-what? Whe-where am I?" Ichigo asked, dazed and confused, waking up from a coma.

"Oh, thank God. Ichigo, you're awake." Ryou emotionally spoke to Ichigo, pressing the call button.

"Where am I? What's going on?" Ichigo asked, looking at Ryou.

"You're in the hospital; you were shot a month and a half ago and have been in a coma." Ryou answered, holding Ichigo's hand.

"Where are Kai and Mai? What about Mom and your parents and Tomohiro?" Ichigo asked, panicking.

"Kai's with your mom and dad and Mai's asleep in the bed next to you. My parents are dead; you know this. Who's Tomohiro?" Ryou calmly told Ichigo before asking her.

"Your younger brother. He and your parents are alive; they thought you were dead because your grandparents never answered your calls or told them you were alive. And your cousin, Holly." Ichigo continued to panic.

"My grandparents are all dead. My dad's dad was shot and killed in a drive by. My dad's mom committed suicide. My mom's parents were murdered when she was a kid. Trust me when I say, I saw my parents' bodies; I know they're gone. So, I know I also don't have a younger brother. I have Keiichiro, but that's it—aside from you and the twins." Ryou calmly told Ichigo.

"B-b-but we broke up because Kai loves me more and Mai loves you more. And I love him more and you love her more. And Yosei said we couldn't be together. And Mai's the reincarnation of a priestess and a witch and has spiritual powers and can see ghosts. She's so weak and mentally slow. And Kai got the strength and smarts. And Dad! How could you leave him with Kai; he hates the twins. He says they're mistakes and doesn't think we should be together." Ichigo frantically responded.

"Strawberry, calm down." Ryou instructed, holding Ichigo's hand.

"I don't hate the twins. Aside from your mother and you, I love them more than anyone." Shintaro spoke, walking in.

"But your beach house. The one where your father took you fishing." Ichigo told Ryou.

"My dad never took me fishing. I mean, he did once. But that was in America. The only beach house I have here, I haven't been to since I last took you and the other girls three years ago. Ichigo breathe." Ryou calmly told Ichigo.

"Where's Kai?" Ichigo asked right away.

"Downstairs in the giftshop with your mother, getting something for Mai—and probably you." Shintaro answered, sitting down.

"Let's calmly talk things out. Yes, Mai is spiritually gifted; she can see and ghost. So can you and your mother—and Kai. She used to be able to feel them, but your dead aunt made it so that wouldn't be a problem anymore. I don't know about her being a reincarnation of a priestess and a witch. But if she is, we'll still love her. Same with Kai. Yes, he's smarter and she's slower, but that doesn't mean anything. And yes, she's a little weaker than him, but again: it means nothing. I don't love Mai more than Kai or Kai more than Mai. And Mai and Kai love both of us just the same as well. Look deep into your heart: do you feel you love either one more than the other?" Ryou started calmly talking to Ichigo before asking her.

"No, I love them both the same." Ichigo replied, watching Ryou.

"There you go. I don't know what went on in that head of yours. But it probably has to do with all the medications you've been hooked up to." Ryou calmly told Ichigo.

"What about Yosei? Are we still together? What about Kish and Masaya? They wanted me back and Kish brainwashed me, Kai, and Mom." Ichigo asked, watching Ryou.

"Yosei was your nurse when you first arrived. She was fired for attacking me. She was a strong believe that fathers shouldn't have any rights to children; she attacked me because I have full parental rights of the twins and we're still working on getting you onto their birth certificates. She screamed at your unconscious body that you should break up with me. And at your parents to make them make you break up with me. But a different doctor firmly told her, as she was being arrested, that if we were to break up, I'd still have full custody rights. Now, I don't want to break up. But if you're not happy; I won't make you stay." Ryou sincerely told Ichigo.

"I don't wanna break up." Ichigo cried; she was so confused.

"Then we won't break up." Ryou told Ichigo, holding her hand.

"What about our home? Where do we all live? Did Mom and Dad really lose their home?" Ichigo asked, looking around.

"You, the twins, Keiichiro, and I live in the house down from your parents. Yes, your parents lost their house almost a year ago. But they got it back—and completely own it as of three days ago. We found forgeries and such." Ryou calmly explained, rubbing her fingers.

"What about Zakuro, Mika, and Kenji?" Ichigo asked, looking at Ryou.

"You don't remember?" Ryou asked, looking at Ichigo.

"Remember what?" Ichigo asked, confused

"Zakuro was shot while at one her modeling shoots three months ago and lost the babies. She became severely depressed, hooked on drugs, and tried committing suicide. Keiichiro sent her to rehab. She started getting better, but she broke up with Keiichiro a last month." Ryou explained, shocking Ichigo.

"Mom!" Kai called, running in.

"Kai." Ichigo happily greeted with a smile.

"You're awake. Thank God." Sakura happily cried.

"Can I get in bed with her?" Kai asked, looking at Ryou.

"Umm… Yeah. Just be mindful of all the cords and such." Ryou replied.

"How's Mai?" Sakura asked, concerned.

"She's sleeping right now. But she's been up a few times." Ryou answered, watching Sakura carefully hug Ichigo.

"He's so small." Ichigo noted, holding Kai close.

"How old are he and Mai?" Ryou asked Ichigo, confusing Sakura and Kai.

"They just turned five, right?" Ichigo asked, looking at Ryou.

"No. They just turned four, four months ago. It's October." Ryou calmly told Ichigo.

"Did anybody push the call button?" Sakura asked, looking around.

"I did a few minutes ago." Ryou answered.

"Where the hell is a nurse?" Shintaro asked, annoyed.

"I don't know." Ryou sighed, watching Ichigo, pressing the button again.

"When were they last in?" Sakura asked, watching Ryou.

"A few minutes before Ichigo woke up to check on Mai and their vitals." Ryou answered.

Knock. Knock.

"When did we wake up?" A nurse asked, walking in. It was a different nurse from before.

"About ten minutes ago. I've been pressing the call button since then." Ryou answered, watching the nurse.

"Sorry. I just got to the nurse's station and saw the light. I can't help but wonder why none of the other nurses came by. How are you feeling?" The nurse spoke before asking Ichigo, watching her.

"A little sore and confused." Ichigo answered, watching the nurse.

"Yes. That's normal for gunshot victims. Please hold still." The nurse replied before instructing, taking Ichigo's vitals.

"Well, you don't have a fever. Your oxygen is better today than these past weeks. Your BP is low, and your pulse and heartrate are fast. Keep going in the right direction, and you'll be able to go home soon. Do you need anything?" The nurse told Ichigo with a smile before asking.

"Can I have some water?" Ichigo asked.

"Of course. I'll be right back." The nurse replied before walking away.

"Mommy?" Mai asked, not opening her eyes.

"Mai?" Ichigo asked, turning to look at her.

"It's ok, Baby: you can open your eyes; Mommy's awake now." Ryou calmly told Mai, walking over to her.

"Mommy!" Mai happily cried, opening her eyes.

"Oh. We're awake as well." The nurse noted, walking in with a cup of water for Ichigo.

"Yeah. She's been up and down for the last three days." Ryou replied with a smile.

"Here's your water. And I will check on Mai's vitals." The nurse handed Ichigo her water before walking over to Mai.

"Ok, Mai; it's time to let the nice nurse do her job." Ryou told Mai when the nurse got the BP cuff ready. Mai hated the cuff; it hurt her arm.

"Ok. We have a small fever of 99.1, which is better than earlier this morning. Her BP is fine, but her pulse and heartrate are fast. And her oxygen is normal. She's been keeping food and liquids down in the last day and a half, so she should be able to go home in maybe two or three days." The nurse gave Ryou Mai's information before informing him.

"Thank you." Ryou replied with a smile.

"Of course. Are you hungry or thirsty?" The nurse replied before asking Mai.

"Can I has a banilla shake?" Mai asked, looking at Ryou and Ichigo.

"That's fine." Ryou and Ichigo answered at the same time.

"Ok. I'll bring that right in. Would you like one as well?" The nurse asked, looking at Kai.

"Yes, please. But chocolate?" Kai asked.

"Of course. I'll be back soon." The nurse replied before heading out.

"Mommy, you feel better now?" Mai asked, looking at Ichigo, trying to sit up.

"A little." Ichigo answered with a smile.

"Dats good." Mai happily replied.

"Are you going to eat something tonight?" Ryou asked, watching Mai.

"Yes. But not now. I not hungry now." Mai answered with a soft smile.

"But you want a shake?" Shintaro asked, watching Mai with a smile.

"Yes." Mai answered.

"I have a question." Ichigo spoke up, looking from Mai to Ryou.

"Yes?" Ryou asked.

"If none of those other people are real, what about Yuko and Mokona?" Ichigo asked.

"They're characters from a show that was on TV a few weeks ago when I was still in the hospital. Why do you ask?" Kai answered before asking.

"You're mother had some interesting dreams—probably partially from being shot like she was, being in a coma, and all the medications she's on. Let's just say she could hear things while she was unconscious, and some things got mixed in. So, when she woke up, she was just a little confused. But never mind any of that. She came back to us, and that's all that matters." Ryou calmly answered to the best of his ability.

"I wanna sit wit Mommy." Mai spoke up, noticing Kai sitting with Ichigo.

"I'm sorry, Baby. But right now you can't. Maybe in a few days when you get all your IVs out. You and Mommy both have too many cords attached to you, and we can't have anything getting tangled together." Ryou calmly explained to Mai.

"Ohhh." Mai sadly replied, looking down.

"Aww… Why are we sad?" The nurse asked, walking in with two shakes.

"I wanna sit wit Mommy." Mai answered, ready to cry.

"Well, right now isn't a good time for that. But maybe tomorrow when you get release, you can lay with her." The nurse calmly spoke, handing Kai his shake.

"Tomorrow?" Ryou asked, shocked.

"Yep. I ran into her doctor on the way to put the order for two shakes in. It won't be until tomorrow afternoon sometime, but she'll be able to go home. She'd only end up staying if she started spiraling down again. Here's your shake. And when she's ready to eat something, just call down to the kitchen. Another nurse or I will be in within two hours to check on you again. Press the call or emergency button if you need anything sooner." The nurse explained before heading out after giving Mai her shake.

"That's great news. What's wrong?" Ichigo insisted before asking Mai, concerned.

"But I no wanna leaf Mommy lone." Mai cried, tears just pouring down her cheeks.

"Mommy's not going to be alone. I'll be here with her sometimes while you and Kai are with your grandparents. And when I'm home with you, Grandma and/or Grandpa will be here with her. And you and Kai will come visit her every day, I'm sure. Don't worry; somebody will be here just like we have been for you and Mommy while you've been here. And that's not all. Uncle Keiichiro's been here. Aunty Lettuce and Uncle Pie have been here along with Aunty Pudding and Uncle Tart. Aunty Pepaminto and Uncle Kish have been here with Aunty Kiwi and Aunty Keki. Uncle Koda and Aunty Nashi have been here once or twice. Even Aunty Berry and Uncle Tasuku came to visit once. Only Aunty Zakuro and Minto haven't been here. Oh, and that reminds me. Uncle Kish and Aunty Pepaminto are getting married soon—as soon as you and Mommy can get out of here. And they would like for you to be their flower girl and Kai to be their ring bearer. And if possible, Aunty Pepaminto wants Ichigo to be her maid of honor. Uncle Pie is going to be Kish's best man." Ryou calmly explained to Mai and Ichigo, answering Ichigo's earlier question about Kish.

"What about Masaya? Where is he?" Ichigo asked, concerned.

"He's the one who shot and stabbed us." Kai answered, leaning against Ichigo.

"What?" Ichigo asked, beyond shocked.

"That was our reaction as well." Sakura and Shintaro replied.

"Mai, Pumpkin: can you reach my hand?" Ichigo asked, noticing how upset Mai was becoming.

"Hold on a minute." Ryou instructed, standing up again. He carefully moved some of the equipment over before moving Mai's bed just enough so she could reach Ichigo's hand.

"And yeah. I never liked him—especially since we started dating. But I didn't think he'd go this far. I especially didn't ever think in a million years he'd go after children. Go after me. Fine. But leave you and our children out of it." Ryou added, sitting back down as Ichigo and Mai held hands, and Kai leaned against her.

"Did you get shot too?" Ichigo asked, watching Ryou.

"Kind of. He went after Mai first. She and Kai were napping upstairs in the café while we and the girls cleaned up. He climbed through a window and stabbed her four times in her stomach and shot her once in her left shoulder. Her screams got our attention right away. He shot at me, but only grazed my right cheek. Otherwise, he only stabbed me while I shielded Mai. He shot Kai in the right arm and left leg. When you refused to be with him even after the fact, he shot you in both shoulders and once between your breasts. He then stabbed you fifteen times in the stomach and chest. Kai called police from the emergency phone I keep in there. Oh, and he was stabbed once in the back of his right shoulder trying to protect Mai. You and Mai sustained the worst of it all. Kai was next followed by me." Ryou explained when he saw Ichigo wasn't going to give up.

"Where is he now?" Ichigo asked, lightly squeezing Mai's hand and holding Kai close to her.

"Prison. Kish, Pie, and Keiichiro were able to get him down before police arrived. Police then took him away. His court date was—three weeks ago, I do believe." Ryou answered, trying to remember.

"Two weeks and three days ago. Kai testified. It didn't take the jury long to convict him. He was found guilty of four counts of premeditated attack, four counts of premeditated murder, two counts of attack children under five, two accounts of attacking two adults, four counts of attempted murder, and two counts of child endangerment. He's lucky none of you died, otherwise, he'd be facing murder charges as well. He got twenty-five to life with possibility of parole after thirty years." Shintaro explained, watching Ichigo.

"I hope he never gets out." Ichigo harshly spoke.

"He shouldn't. But just in case, make sure you all show up to every court date there is." Sakura sternly replied.

"Can we give them their presents now?" Kai asked, looking at Sakura.

"Right. Of course. Ichigo, we didn't know when you'd wake up again, so we picked you up some flowers." Sakura told Ichigo, placing a bouquet of roses on her night table.

"Thank you." Ichigo replied with a smile.

"And for our little Mai, we got you a get well teddy bear." Sakura happily told Mai as Kai got out of bed.

"I picked it out for you." Kai told Mai, handing her the teddy bear.

"Tank you." Mai thanked Kai and Sakura.

"You are both so welcome." Sakura replied, hugging Ichigo before going to hug Mai.

A Few Hours Later:

10:23 PM:

"You know, I was so worried I had lost you and Mai. Kai scared me as well, but once I knew he was gonna live and be ok… He and I were so worried about you two." Ryou told Ichigo, holding her hand as they both watched Mai sleep.

"Thank you for never giving up or leaving us." Ichigo tearfully thanked Ryou.

"Oh, God: never." Ryou replied, squeezing Ichigo's hand.

"And thank you for not thinking I'm crazy after all I said earlier." Ichigo added, squeezing his hand in return.

"Oh, you know I think you're crazy. I've always thought you were crazy. Hell. You're my crazy Strawberry, and I love every second of your craziness. As for what you were saying earlier. I've heard it's common for coma patients to say strange things when they wake up. I've heard they've had weird dreams that could seem so real that they don't know the difference. I've heard stories of people breaking up with their partners because they were stupid and refused to listen to what their loved ones had to ask or say. I figured I'd listen to you before I'd make judgments. And even if I were to break up with you—for any reason, I would never take the children away from you—and I would talk to you about a custody arrangement. And of course, we'd involve Kai and Mai as well. Ichigo, I love you more than I've ever loved anyone before. Kai and Mai are an entirely different type of love: I love those two more than I'll ever love anyone ever. But you and they are my entire life. I have never been so scared in my entire life as I was this past month and a half. I prayed so hard; you have no idea. I already lost my parents; I couldn't lose you or the twins either." Ryou told Ichigo, teasing her at first before becoming emotional.

"I love you, too. And I'm so sorry I believed any of what I dreamed about. I can't believe I believed Mai loved you more than me. Or that I thought Kai loved me more than you. Not that they loved us equally." Ichigo replied before apologizing, upset.

"It's fine. Who knows what's out there? We just have to stay strong and prove we can beat whatever is against us. We have to be strong for not only us, but the twins most of all. And while I know we shouldn't force ourselves to be together for the twins if we're not truly happy because that makes everybody miserable. But Strawberry—I truly love you more than anyone I've ever dated before. I want to work out for us AND the twins." Ryou sincerely told Ichigo, looking into her eyes.

"Please don't leave." Ichigo pleaded with Ryou.

"Never." Ryou promised before leaning in to kiss her.

"Mommy an Daddy marry." Mai mumbled in her sleep.

"I love her, but it is creepy how she does that." Ichigo told Ryou with a smile.

"You're one to talk: you talk in your sleep as well. You didn't while you were in a coma—which freaked me out even more because I couldn't hear your lovely voice and know if you were going to be ok or not. But you do talk in your sleep regularly. And last I knew; we all have great hearing." Ryou told Ichigo in a whisper, teasing her a little.

Ichigo responded by sticking her tongue out at him.

"Just you wait until you're better. You'll get what's coming to you—and that tongue of yours." Ryou playfully warned Ichigo before gently kissing her again and again…