I'm so happy at the positive responses I'm getting to this fic. Again, THANK YOU for the feedback and support. Please continue to share your opinions with me.

FYI, I made a KenxRan group. It's meant to be a support network for those of us who just can't get enough of this pairing. I know how hard it is to find KenxRan fics, so this is where we can connect. ^_^ If your write KenxRan, please join. You can also tell us if you've posted any KenxRan here. I for one, will be glad to add any and all KenxRan writers to my favorites list, and will make a point of reviewing their fics. Anyone interested? Here's the link:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kenxran/

~Koyasu

~~~~~~~~~~

"Oh, Aya-chan!" Omi took the sobbing women's hands. "I'm sorry you couldn't learn about your pregnancy under happier circumstances. But I've seen how gentle and nurturing you've been with Ran-kun and Ken-kun these last few weeks. I know that you'll be a wonderful mother. Yoji-kun and I will give you as much help as you need, and you know what?"

Aya didn't look up. "What?"

"Ran-kun will be thrilled to learn he's going to be an uncle! You should go back into that room and tell him the good news."

Aya nodded, letting go of Omi's hands and wiping her eyes dry. "Shall we?"

Just as they were about to enter the room, Yoji walked up. "What are the two of you doing out- Aya?" He noticed the woman's red face. "Is something wrong?"

"Yes and no", Aya sighed. "Here's some good news: my brother is awake. Now we're going in to tell him some more news."

"Ran's awake? Fantastic! Um...is your other news good news?"

"Depends on how you look at it", Aya shrugged. "Care to go in while I tell him?"

"You two go ahead", Omi told them, starting down the hall. I have to find the a doctor and tell them Ran-kun is awake. Then, I need to get a nurse to clean up Ken-kun and and change his gown and sheets."

Yoji nodded, walking into the room with Aya. Ken was sitting on Ran's bed, leaning in to kiss him.

"Ken!" Yoji ran over, carefully pulling Ken off of Ran and tranferring him to his own bed. "Be careful! You don't want any of Ran's tubes to come unplugged."

"I just wanted a kiss!" Ken whined. "I missed him!"

"We know", Yoji said, tucking Ken in. "But you should wait until Ran is a little better before you get him too excited, okay?"

"Hmph!" Ken pouted.

Aya took a seat next to Ran on the bed, making sure not to sit on any tubes. She examined his face. 'He looks distracted. Unhappy.' She ran a finger down his cheek. 'Poor thing. You just woke up, and already, you have so much on your mind.' "Nii-chan?"

"Ah." Ran winced at the sound of his own voice.

"I have something to tell you that I think will make you very happy." She took his hand, looking lovingly into her brother's sad, violet eyes. "You're going to be an uncle, Ran. I'm pregnant."

Ran's face brightened, and Aya could swear she felt him squeeze her hand. "Gah aah!" he exclaimed happily.

"I hear somebody is finally awake", a tall, thin, silver haired man smiled, walking up to stand beside Aya. "Hello, Ran. I'm Doctor Kubota. Glad to see you've finally come around."

"Ah", Ran strained, still trying for words. "Ahh...Uhh..."

Doctor Kubota looked Ran over carefully, then checked the heart monitor. "Your vital signs are stabilizing, Ran. You need to make a decision now." He looked at Aya. "Do you think he's ready to decide about-?"

"I think so." Aya leaned over her brother. "Ran, you need surgery on your back. It was badly injured. If they operate, you might increase your chances of being able to walk again. Would you feel up to it in maybe...?" she turned to the doctor.

"We can operate in a few days", he answered. "So, what's your answer, Ran? Blink once for 'yes' and twice for 'no'."

Ran blinked once.

"Wonderful!" the doctor clapped his hands together. "We'll operate on Friday. You just wait and see, Ran. You'll be up and walking before you know it. Just like your friend Ken here."

"We're more than just friends", Ken proudly cut in, while a nurse wiped him down. "Ran is my butt monkey!"

Yoji couldn't help himself. He erupted into a fit of laughter at that statement. Soon, everyone in the room was laughing. Everyone, that is, except Ran, who's pale face was turning deep red.

"I don't see what's so funny", Ken sulked. "It's true."

Aya wiped a happy tear from her eye. 'It feels good to smile', she thought. 'I'd forgotten just how good it felt, until now.'

*

Ken was agitated, and it seemed there was no consoling him.

"He's gone!" the brunette wailed. "Ran is gone! What did they do to him?"

"Relax. He's in surgery", Yoji reassured his friend, fighting the urge to roll his eyes. "He'll be back in a couple hours."

"Oh", Ken sniffed. "But where is Aya? And Omi?" He looked around, like a scared child left behind at the mall.

"What? My companionship isn't good enough?" Yoji asked, sounding hurt.

"No, Yoji! I didn't mean-" Ken held up a hand in protest.

"I'm just teasing", Yoji smirked. "Omi and Aya are meeting with one of Ran's doctors."

"Is something wrong with Ran?" Ken's eyes widened. "Will something bad happen to him?"

"Well...something bad has already happened to him, actually. To both of you. That's why you're here", Yoji said, fidgeting. "Now, we just need to know if he'll recover."

"Like I am, right?" Ken grinned. "I'm recovering good."

A pained smile crossed Yoji's lips. "Yes. Yes you are."

Just then, Aya and Omi walked in, looking discouraged.

"Hello, Ken-kun", Omi smiled, sitting down. "Aya-chan needs to talk to Yoji-kun for a minute."

Ken looked worried. "Is it about Ran? He's okay, right?"

"He'll be alright, but..." Omi looked towards the door, wondering how Aya was holding up. Looking back at Ken, he tried to find the best way to tell his damaged friend what had happened to Ran. "Do you remember when Ran woke up? You said he was a baby."

"I did?" Ken stared blankly at Omi. "I don't remember that. Is he, though? Is Ran a baby now? He can't talk or walk, and neither can a baby."

"That's true", Omi choked out, wiping his eyes. "Because Ran was so badly hurt, his brain isn't telling his body to do some things that it should."

Ken sat up. "Like talking?"

"Yes. Talking is one thing. And because of the injury to his bladder, he can't use the bathroom himself, just like a baby. As for walking...well, we don't know just yet. We WON'T know until after he's had a little physical therapy", Omi explained, trying to put things simply for Ken. "So, for now at least, Ran will need extra care and attention, like a baby. But Ran is still a grown-up. The outside has changed, but he is the same Ran on the inside."

Ken's eyes lit up with hope. "Honto ni?"

Omi nodded, laughly softly. "Honto ni."

*

"That's too bad", Yoji frowned, running a hand through his hair nervously. "So, Ran will never be able to speak again?"

"That's how is looks", Aya murmured, looking at her feet. "His brain won't send the right signals, from what I can understand."

"What about his thinking?", Yoji asked. He hesitated. "I mean...look at how Ken is. Will Ran be-?"

"It's hard to tell", Aya replied, her voice filled with frustration. "Since he can't communicate with us, we don't know what's going on in his head. So, I guess we'll never know."

Yoji just stood there with a pensive expression on his face for several moments. It looked like he was trying to make up his mind about something.

"What is it? Tell me!" Aya didn't like this silence.

"I know someone that I think will be able to help Ran. That is, if he doesn't shut this person out. If his memory is alright, he might put up some walls."

Aya held a hand to her forehead. She had a lot of information to deal with today, and Yoji's little riddle wasn't helping. "I don't understand. What...WHO are you talking about?"

"A friend of mine", Yoji replied, the grin he wore telling Aya that "friend" meant "bedmate". "His name is Schuldig."