Last Time: Who knew that karaoke could be so competitive? Eriol and Tori feuded over the tune of "I Still Love You" by Next. Madison saw that this wasn't making things easier, so she left and got a taxi. But that's when…the taxi crashed.


Making A Choice: Part 8


When she found out what happened, Sakura immediately rushed to the hospital. She had to see if Madison was ok. She had just been in a brutal car crash.

Madison's mother, Sonomi, was away on a business trip, but would get the next plane back to Japan. Li found out first, but had the unfortunate task of telling everyone. Eriol and Tori weren't aware yet. That left Sakura to be the first one at Madison's side.

Sakura was in tears over the sight. There was an IV sticking out of each of her arms and she was on a respirator. The accident was horrible and the driver of the cab had been paralyzed. There was no diagnosis on Madison yet, which really worried Sakura.

Sakura didn't move from her best friend's bedside and she remained by her side for hours. Madison didn't move. It didn't look like she'd wake up any time soon and Sakura felt terrible. She wished there was something she could do.

"Madison!"

Sakura barely turned her head when she found Eriol rushing to Madison's side. He knelt down and held Madison's hand. Sakura felt like punching him in the face. This was his fault. His and Tori's. If they hadn't been so stubborn and just left Madison alone, she would have never taken that cab and this would have never happened.

Then Sakura saw the grief on Eriol's face. She felt guilty for thinking what she just thought. This wasn't anybody's fault. No one could have seen this coming. And if Eriol knew something like this would have happened, he never would have been so pushy. Sakura knew that he cared deeply for Madison. And so did…

"Nakuru! Get out of my way!"

"Tori! You can't go in there right now!"

"I have to see her! Get out of my way!"

Sakura turned her head to see her brother walk in. He went and held Madison's other lifeless hand. This was definitely hard for everybody, but Sakura did notice one thing. Eriol and Tori weren't fighting anymore. Both of them bowed their heads and softly said those three words:

"I love you."

Eriol and Tori raised their heads. They glared at each other for a moment. They didn't like that the other said those three words, too. They got up and walked over to confront each other. Sakura couldn't stand this. They were about to fight again. It seemed so stupid now. Couldn't they see the dire situation? Couldn't they see that this was the kind of thing that made Madison take that taxi in the first place? Sakura couldn't take it anymore.

She exploded. "HEY!!" That got the two stubborn boys' attention. "I can't believe you two are still fighting after all this. What's it going to take? You both care about Madison. We all do. There's no reason you should be fighting like this."

Eriol and Tori turned their heads from each other, but they each looked at Madison out of the corner of their eye.

"Madison wouldn't want to see this," Sakura said sternly. "It's because she didn't want to see this that she took that cab in the first place."

Eriol and Tori looked hurt. Sakura didn't want to say that, but it had to be said. They were being stubborn and their fight wasn't important right now.

"What are you saying?" Eriol asked a little indignantly.

Sakura tried to put the words together. "I know it's not your fault. But my best friend is lying in this bed unconscious. Can you two at least try and get along…for her?"

Eriol and Tori looked at each other. There wasn't a truce by any means, but they would respect that request for Sakura…and for Madison.

"Later," Eriol muttered.

"Yeah…later," Tori mumbled.

The doctor then came into the room and saw the crowd. There were far too many people with Sakura, Eriol, Tori, and Nakuru. So the doctor asked for three to leave. Everyone left…except for Sakura.

Sakura knelt down beside her best friend again. She wished this wouldn't have happened. And she could only wish that she would just wake up.


~--------------------~


Eriol's heart never ached like this. He never wanted to see Madison like this. He felt terrible. Terrible for forcing Madison into that cab. Maybe Sakura didn't come right out and say, but Eriol felt that this was his fault. If only he hadn't been so stubborn and just left Madison alone. That's all she wanted.

"Is she ok?"

Eriol looked up to see a familiar face. He scowled. "Well…I haven't seen you in a while."

Sitting beside Eriol was the concerned Ms. Mackenzie. She really did seem concerned, but Eriol didn't really want to face his ex now. In actuality, though, Eriol didn't even know she was in Japan.

"You didn't answer my question, Eriol. Is Madison ok?"

"I really don't know," Eriol answered. And that answer disturbed him. "She's alive…but she's still out. I'm just waiting here to see if she wakes up. I appreciate your concern, Leila. When did you come back?"

"I came back a few months ago," the enigmatic teacher replied. "I came just in time for everyone's graduation. But…it wasn't soon after that I stayed for another reason. I'm going out with Sakura's father."

Eriol scowled again. "Oh, I see you finally found someone your own age." Then he looked up to see that Ms. Mackenzie was hurt by that biting remark. Eriol sighed. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to take any of this out on you. I'm just on edge right now. This is so frustrating. Everything has been frustrating. But in being so overbearing, I never realized that something like this could happen."

Ms. Mackenzie put her hand on Eriol's shoulder. "You love her, don't you?"

"More than anything," Eriol answered. "I…just didn't realize it at first. It seems to happen all the time. Li and Sakura didn't realize their love for one another until Li left for Hong Kong. I guess the same thing happened to me. After I left to go back to England…I started to miss Madison. Even when I was with you…I was thinking of her.

"I always pictured…being with her. I've never met anyone like her. Even though she's just a normal girl…I don't care. I love her. But…I was wrong to be so forceful. All she wanted was some space. When she wakes up…I promise to give her all the space she wants."

"She WILL wake up, Eriol," Ms. Mackenzie said gently. "The doctor said she'd pull through. She'll be fine."

Eriol finally smiled. "And you have no idea how good that makes me feel. Thank you for hearing me out, Leila. I…kinda thought you'd be a little bitter."

"Over what?" she asked calmly. "We knew it could never work out. We were just…too different. But I'm glad you found someone, Eriol."

Ms. Mackenzie got up and walked back down to the elevator. Her words left Eriol a little more at ease, but he thought about those final words…about being glad he found someone.

"Yeah…" he said to himself. "…but will she let me have her heart?"


~--------------------~


"I should have left her alone, Julian."

Tori did just about everything but bang his head into the wall. He was so ashamed of himself. He realized that what his little sister said was true. This never would have happened had Tori just left Madison alone to think about everything. Now all he could do was lament at the side of Julian and Nakuru.

"Tori, you couldn't have seen this coming," Julian said comfortingly. "There was no way anyone could have known."

"That's not the point," Tori responded. "The point is that she wanted to be alone. All she wanted was some space and I should have given it to her instead of being so stubborn. If only I had…then maybe this wouldn't have happened."

"Tori, you're making too much of this," Nakuru said. "She's going to make it. The doctor said she'd pull through."

Tori sighed. "You're right. I…I…am being paranoid. But…it's because I've never felt this way about anyone before, Julian. What's wrong with me? I've known her since she was a little girl. Why am I only realizing my feelings for her NOW?"

"It's not always love at first sight," Julian offered. "Sometimes love has to blossom over time. And sometimes it manifests itself in one spontaneous moment…like what happened with you and Madison."

"That kiss…" Tori began. "That first kiss…it was like…it just happened…but it was…wonderful. That's when I realized we had something special. And…I don't want to lose her."

"It's too bad that Eriol feels the same way," Nakuru frowned. "There's nothing you can do anymore, Tori. You have to realize that it's her choice."

As much as Tori loved Madison, he also realized that her upcoming decision had become an afterthought. "I just want her to be ok."

And just as he said that, Sakura came out of the hospital room. She had an ecstatic smile on her face…an innocent smile like she had back when she was ten.

"She's waking up!"


~--------------------~


As soon as Sakura gave everyone the good news, she rushed back to her best friend's side. Madison was moaning softly and stirring a little bit. But now she was opening her eyes and the first person she saw was Sakura.

Madison blinked for a moment from the brightness of the hospital lights. She didn't know where she was and Sakura wouldn't be surprised if she was completely unaware of what happened. An accident like that had to be completely traumatizing.

"W-What happened?" Madison finally asked.

Sakura smiled at her best friend. "I was so worried. Are you all right?"

"I…I've got a headache," Madison answered. "W-Where am I?"

"You're in the hospital," Sakura answered. "You were lucky you didn't go through the windshield when that taxi crashed. The driver wasn't so lucky. He was paralyzed. Madison…I'm so glad you're safe. I'm so happy that nothing's happened to you."

Sakura carefully wrapped her arms around Madison in a hug, trying not to aggravate any injuries. Madison hesitated, but then she returned the hug. Then as soon as Sakura released the hug, she looked back at the door to see both Tori and Eriol standing there. They were eager to see how Madison was faring.

Eriol walked by her right side and Tori to her left and they both knelt down. They each held one of her hands.

"Are you ok?" Eriol asked.

"We were so worried," Tori added.

Sakura smiled. It looked like after all this time and after all this fighting, Tori and Eriol were getting along. They put their differences aside so they could concentrate on Madison's well-being.

"I-I'm ok," Madison finally said.

"I'm sorry," Eriol immediately said. "I should have given you the space you wanted."

"I should have listened to you," Tori added. "All you wanted was some time to clear your head. I should have realized that this was tearing you apart. I'm so sorry."

"We'll give you all the time you need," Eriol continued.

"We won't pressure you anymore," Tori said. "Whatever you decide…will be fine." He looked up at Eriol. "Right?"

Eriol nodded. "Right."

There was silence at that moment. Sakura was almost holding her breath. It was like Madison was speechless. This was all she was striving for. She needed time to think and Eriol and Tori were granting her that wish. If anything…that might have been the only good to come out of this horrible near-tragedy.

Finally, Madison said something. But the next six words that came out of her mouth horrified everyone present.

"Thank you, but…who are you?"


Next Time: EEK! Who knew she could get amnesia? Now things have taken a horrible twist, so you don't want to miss the next chapter. Will Eriol or Tori help jog Madison's memory...or is this a job for a certain magical girl? ^_^ Come back and see what happens!


Any comments? If you have any, then mail me at AmericanCaptor@hotmail.com and don't forget to review below.