Disclaimer: I don't own SM or any of its characters.
Chapter 10
"Mamoru-san!" Minako & the other 4 girls came running down the same endless white hallway that Motoki had ran down. "Where is she?!"
"She's in surgery." Mamoru replied quietly, not looking up.
"What happened? How bad is it?" Ami asked solemnly.
"She had a concussion & is bleeding really badly. They're trying to get the baby out as quick as possible so that they can help her... the mother is always the most important in situations like this..." Mamoru said, Ami closed her eyes tightly... she knew what he was talking about.
"She's not going to die! Surely you can't believe that!" Rei said defiantly as her eyes brimmed with tears. "Usagi can't die!"
"Usagi is strong! She'll be all right." Makoto reasoned.
Minako hugged Naru as they all began to realize that she didn't have the greatest of chances... & the baby had less of a chance than Usagi.
Mamoru got up & began pacing again. Motoki arrived with Shingo & the boy immediately ran to him & hugged him tightly as he cried. Mamoru looked down at him. "Shingo-kun... have you called your mom & dad?"
His breath was choppy as he tried to breathe in. "Yes, I did."
Just then a nurse came from the O.R. & the 8 people rushed her with the same question: "How is she?" Mamoru asked pleadingly.
"It's too soon to tell." The nurse replied sadly.
"What about the baby?"
"It's too soon to tell..." She replied again. "I'm sorry... we'll inform you as soon as we can." She quickly left to get another doctor.
The next 10 minutes went by painstakingly slow. Usagi's parents had shown up & were hugging Shingo & the girls. Motoki sat with his head in his hands & Mamoru paced back and forth in front of the door; all the while trying to avoid the penetrating stare Usagi's father was giving him... not that he could blame him, he must've thought that Mamoru was the one who got her pregnant, the cause for all of this. It was the least of Mamoru's worries at the moment.
Silent... Silent... and then...
Everyone's heads shot up as they heard a baby cry. The nurse from earlier came out almost immediately. "It's a girl. She's going to be alright, because of the way Tsukino-san fell there wasn't much harm done, just a few little bruises." She sighed. "Usagi is still in critical condition, though. The doctors are trying they're best."
No one really knew how to react. They were happy that the baby was safe but so worried about Usagi that it was sort of overshadowed. "Thank you, Kaori- san." [A.N. The name Kaori isn't referring to the villain from SMS... it's just the first name I happened to think of ^_^;]
"No problem, Mamoru-kun." The nurse smiled softly, a little sympathetically even as she went back into the O.R.
"Mamoru-san, how do you know that nurse?" Naru asked him.
"I work here as part of university. We're required to as part of Med School... I know a lot of people..." He replied distantly, staring off into nothing.
"Mamoru?" Motoki snapped his fingers in front of Mamoru's face with no reaction from his friend. "Mamoru!"
"Leave me alone..." Mamoru whispered almost inaudibly as he walked away from the group of people & sat down. He knew so many people... but right now the one he cared about the most was fighting for her life on an operating table. Thinking about it was beginning to become too much to bear. The last person he had been this close to was his sister... he didn't want to lose Usagi too. He loved her more than anything else in the world.
Another nurse came out & talked to the others without Mamoru even noticing. Makoto left to get prepped to give blood to Usagi since they were both Type O. [A.N. hehehe I checked it out in my manga! ^_^]
"Mamoru." Motoki walked over & sat down beside him. "Answer me, please." Mamoru gave no response as he continued to stare at the floor. "Mamoru. Come back." Motoki put his hand on his shoulder. "You're beginning to lose it, come back."
"Usako." He said. "I can't live if she doesn't."
"Get a grip. She'll be okay, just wait & see."
"I hope you're right. I need her."
*~*~* 2 Hours Later *~*~*
Nurse Kaori came out of the O.R. wiping her eyes. "Kaori-san!" Mamoru ran up to her, the first time he had moved from his spot for the past 2 hours. "How is Usako?" Everyone else blinked a little when they heard 'Usako'.
"She's in stable condition... I think she's going to be okay..." Kaori smiled. Everyone sighed with relief & hugged & cried.
"Oh Thank God!" Mamoru smiled as Motoki hugged him.
After a few minutes of celebrating Minako turned to Mamoru. "Did you just call her 'Usako'?" She asked the question that was in the back of everyone else's minds.
Mamoru blinked & smiled as his face tinted pink. "Yes..."
"Since when?" Rei joined Minako.
"I don't know. A while now, I guess." He replied. The other girls began to join in with questions & Mamoru sighed.
*~*~* Usagi's Hospital Room, the Next Day *~*~*
The girls & Shingo were at school & Usagi's father & Motoki were at work. It was only Mamoru & Ikuko at the hospital. Ikuko was at the moment, down the hall at the nursery window watching her new granddaughter. Mamoru had stayed by Usagi's bedside all night long.
His hand holding hers he was half asleep when she stirred. His head lifted up off the bed as her eyes fluttered open. She looked over & smiled at him. "Mamo-chan."
"Usako!" Mamoru exclaimed.
Usagi was taken aback by his enthusiasm & that was when she realized that she had no idea where she was. The last thing she remembered was talking with Mamoru in the restaurant. "Mamo-chan... Where am I?"
"The hospital. You fell in the restaurant."
"I FELL?!" Usagi exclaimed. She then looked over at her stomach and yelped.
"Usako!" Mamoru whispered. "It's ok, it's okay." He rubbed his thumb over her cheek as he held her face in his hand. "The baby's okay."
"What... what happened?"
"You hit your head on the table & were knocked unconscious when you fell... when we were in the ambulance you started bleeding pretty heavily & everyone thought the baby was dead. She's alright though, just a few bumps & bruises..."
"She?" Usagi asked quietly as a little smile began tugging at the corners of her mouth.
"Yeah. You have a little girl."
"Ha! I was right!" Usagi cheered.
"You know, for someone who has just been through all that you've been through, you're sure energetic." Mamoru smiled.
"I'm so happy! I can't even feel anything else. I don't even know how to explain this. When can I see her?" Usagi began sitting up.
"I don't think you should get up right now." He eased her back down. "You're mother's down there right now, anyway."
"My mom? Why is she here?"
"Usako... you should go back to sleep, I'll explain it all later."
"Mamo-chan?... Please, tell me. Why?"
"Usako, I'm sorry. " He said as he looked in her eyes. "Yesterday, I honestly didn't think that I'd ever get to talk to you again."
"What do you mean?"
"I thought you were going to die..."
"Eh?" Usagi blinked.
"Usako, you almost died. It was a miracle that you & the baby both lived. Everyone came from school & Shingo called your parents."
"I... almost died?" She was in disbelief.
"You don't know how thankful I am today. I was so scared I'd lost you." Mamoru kissed her forehead gently.
"Mamo-chan..."
"Get some rest, Usako. I promise I'll still be here when you wake up."
*~*~*~*~*~*
"Mamoru-kun." Kaori came into the hospital room to check on Usagi. "How's she doing?"
"Pretty good. She woke up about an hour ago. I told her about what had happened."
"Have you gone to see the baby yet?" Kaori was a good friend of his. She had known him since he started working at the hospital.
"Nah. I'll wait until Usako can see her as well." Mamoru smiled.
"Mamoru-kun... everyone's been wondering... is she your baby? Are you the father?"
"No, she's not my baby... But I suppose that I'll be her father, if Usako lets me."
"Are you serious? How are you so close to Usagi?"
"She's been living with me for the past 6 or so months."
"So she's the girl that you were always talking about. We all thought she was older."
"Nope."
"Is she your girlfriend?"
"No. We just live together."
"But you love her."
"Well, yeah, of course I love her. She's amazing. Talk to her for 5 minutes & you'll understand completely." Mamoru smiled.
"I'm sure I would. Well, I have to keep going, I've got other patients to see. I was just worried about how she was doing this afternoon."
"Alright then. I'll see you around later then."
Kaori stopped at the door. "Oh, Mamoru-kun."
"Yes?"
"You have a beautiful daughter." Kaori smiled as she left.
*~*~*~*~*~*
"Chiba-kun... are you in love with my daughter?" Ikuko asked as they sat in chairs on either side of Usagi's bed.
Mamoru couldn't help but blush a bit & laugh nervously. This woman was direct; this was the first thing she had said to him all day. "Yes. Yes I am." He admitted proudly.
"I see... Has Usagi been living with you all this time?"
"Yes."
"Did all of her friends know? We asked them all & they wouldn't tell us where she was."
"She didn't want anyone to tell you where she was. She was so ashamed of the way you both reacted when she told you that she was pregnant."
"We didn't mean it. We were just so shocked. I never thought Usagi would be the kind of girl that would go out & get preg-"
"But she didn't!" Mamoru's defences went up. "She didn't WANT this to happen & it WASN'T her fault." He said. "Did you even let her explain to you what happened?"
"No." Ikuko said quietly.
"So you have no idea? Did Shingo-kun tell you anything?"
"Shingo?"
"He knows what happened. He also knew Usako was with me. He came to visit once a week."
"He did?"
"Yes." Mamoru replied. "I think... I better explain to you Usako's case." He took a deep breath. "You see... she was raped... by a boy in her school. I was the first one to know; I could tell something was wrong from the first moment I saw after. I was just trying to help her out with everything but then she found out that she was pregnant." Ikuko was crying. "Do you know how hard it was for her to try to tell you what had happened? She was terrified. She almost killed herself. Do you think that she would want you to know where she was after the way you acted?"
"You're not the one who did this to her?.."
"No. I'm not." He replied.
"Chiba-kun..."
"You can call me Mamoru."
"Mamoru-kun... I want to thank you for taking such good care of Usagi."
"It's not a problem. You have a wonderful daughter."
"I know. I hope she can forgive me..."
*~*~*~*~*~*
Usagi had woken up not long after Mamoru & Ikuko's talk & had her own talk with her mother as Mamoru went for a walk to stretch his legs & get some coffee. His walk led him all around the hospital as he talked to all the nurses, doctors & aids that he had met during his rotations. [A.N. I'd imagine that people in med school would have to work at the hospitals in all of the different wards & such... my sis is in nursing & that's what she has to do. Meh ^_^] He met up with Ikuko in the hall as she was about to leave. "You're going now?"
"Yeah. I'm going home to meet Shingo when he gets off school. We'll be back after dinner. Will you be staying here with her?"
"Of course." Mamoru smiled. "See you later."
Mamoru continued on his way to Usagi's room. "Hey. How are you feeling?" He asked her when he got back.
"Good. I'm a little sore; the pain killers are starting to wear off... but hey, how are you?" Usagi asked.
"Me? I'm fine."
"Did you really stay by my side since I got out of surgery?"
"Yeah." He admitted with a little smile.
"Mamo-chan? When can I see her?"
"I don't know. Is now a good time?" He grinned as a nurse, as if on cue, walked in the room carrying a small baby wrapped in a little pink blanket.
"Aw!" Usagi gasped quietly as the nurse placed her in her arms.
"I'll be right back." Mamoru quickly left the room & headed down the hall. "She's so beautiful!" he beamed as he saw Kaori.
"I know. I told you she was." Kaori smiled.
"No... I mean, Usako. She's never been so beautiful." He turned & ran back down the hall.
"Mamo-chan? Where did you go?" Usagi looked up at him as he walked back in the room.
"Nowhere important." He sat down beside her & looked at the baby with the blonde hair & light green eyes. "She's adorable." She smiled at Usagi.
"Mamo-chan... I was talking to my mom... she said she wanted me to come back home & that she was sorry."
"Oh?" Mamoru held his breath. "What did you say?"
"I forgive her & Papa, but... would it be okay if I still stayed with you?"
"Of course!" Mamoru smiled brightly. He was so relieved. "So, you were having such a hard time thinking of a name for her before... have you decided?" He asked as he looked down at the baby.
"Yeah." Usagi replied. "I think I'll name her Miyako."
Mamoru smiled. "Thank you."
And they kissed.
THE END
*~*~*~*~*~*
He-yo! So, what did you think? I hope you all liked my fic. There was so much that I had changed from my original plan. It wasn't until the part where Mamoru was leaving in the restaurant that I decided to make Usagi fall... I usually write spontaneously b/c it's fun not knowing exactly where they are going... it's almost like I'm reading it myself. ^_^; Please review! I might write another fic in the future when Miyako is older... but I'll wait & see. ^_^ I'd just like to thank you all for being so supportive, it means so much to me & I really feel like I've matured as an author since my first fic.
Chapter 10
"Mamoru-san!" Minako & the other 4 girls came running down the same endless white hallway that Motoki had ran down. "Where is she?!"
"She's in surgery." Mamoru replied quietly, not looking up.
"What happened? How bad is it?" Ami asked solemnly.
"She had a concussion & is bleeding really badly. They're trying to get the baby out as quick as possible so that they can help her... the mother is always the most important in situations like this..." Mamoru said, Ami closed her eyes tightly... she knew what he was talking about.
"She's not going to die! Surely you can't believe that!" Rei said defiantly as her eyes brimmed with tears. "Usagi can't die!"
"Usagi is strong! She'll be all right." Makoto reasoned.
Minako hugged Naru as they all began to realize that she didn't have the greatest of chances... & the baby had less of a chance than Usagi.
Mamoru got up & began pacing again. Motoki arrived with Shingo & the boy immediately ran to him & hugged him tightly as he cried. Mamoru looked down at him. "Shingo-kun... have you called your mom & dad?"
His breath was choppy as he tried to breathe in. "Yes, I did."
Just then a nurse came from the O.R. & the 8 people rushed her with the same question: "How is she?" Mamoru asked pleadingly.
"It's too soon to tell." The nurse replied sadly.
"What about the baby?"
"It's too soon to tell..." She replied again. "I'm sorry... we'll inform you as soon as we can." She quickly left to get another doctor.
The next 10 minutes went by painstakingly slow. Usagi's parents had shown up & were hugging Shingo & the girls. Motoki sat with his head in his hands & Mamoru paced back and forth in front of the door; all the while trying to avoid the penetrating stare Usagi's father was giving him... not that he could blame him, he must've thought that Mamoru was the one who got her pregnant, the cause for all of this. It was the least of Mamoru's worries at the moment.
Silent... Silent... and then...
Everyone's heads shot up as they heard a baby cry. The nurse from earlier came out almost immediately. "It's a girl. She's going to be alright, because of the way Tsukino-san fell there wasn't much harm done, just a few little bruises." She sighed. "Usagi is still in critical condition, though. The doctors are trying they're best."
No one really knew how to react. They were happy that the baby was safe but so worried about Usagi that it was sort of overshadowed. "Thank you, Kaori- san." [A.N. The name Kaori isn't referring to the villain from SMS... it's just the first name I happened to think of ^_^;]
"No problem, Mamoru-kun." The nurse smiled softly, a little sympathetically even as she went back into the O.R.
"Mamoru-san, how do you know that nurse?" Naru asked him.
"I work here as part of university. We're required to as part of Med School... I know a lot of people..." He replied distantly, staring off into nothing.
"Mamoru?" Motoki snapped his fingers in front of Mamoru's face with no reaction from his friend. "Mamoru!"
"Leave me alone..." Mamoru whispered almost inaudibly as he walked away from the group of people & sat down. He knew so many people... but right now the one he cared about the most was fighting for her life on an operating table. Thinking about it was beginning to become too much to bear. The last person he had been this close to was his sister... he didn't want to lose Usagi too. He loved her more than anything else in the world.
Another nurse came out & talked to the others without Mamoru even noticing. Makoto left to get prepped to give blood to Usagi since they were both Type O. [A.N. hehehe I checked it out in my manga! ^_^]
"Mamoru." Motoki walked over & sat down beside him. "Answer me, please." Mamoru gave no response as he continued to stare at the floor. "Mamoru. Come back." Motoki put his hand on his shoulder. "You're beginning to lose it, come back."
"Usako." He said. "I can't live if she doesn't."
"Get a grip. She'll be okay, just wait & see."
"I hope you're right. I need her."
*~*~* 2 Hours Later *~*~*
Nurse Kaori came out of the O.R. wiping her eyes. "Kaori-san!" Mamoru ran up to her, the first time he had moved from his spot for the past 2 hours. "How is Usako?" Everyone else blinked a little when they heard 'Usako'.
"She's in stable condition... I think she's going to be okay..." Kaori smiled. Everyone sighed with relief & hugged & cried.
"Oh Thank God!" Mamoru smiled as Motoki hugged him.
After a few minutes of celebrating Minako turned to Mamoru. "Did you just call her 'Usako'?" She asked the question that was in the back of everyone else's minds.
Mamoru blinked & smiled as his face tinted pink. "Yes..."
"Since when?" Rei joined Minako.
"I don't know. A while now, I guess." He replied. The other girls began to join in with questions & Mamoru sighed.
*~*~* Usagi's Hospital Room, the Next Day *~*~*
The girls & Shingo were at school & Usagi's father & Motoki were at work. It was only Mamoru & Ikuko at the hospital. Ikuko was at the moment, down the hall at the nursery window watching her new granddaughter. Mamoru had stayed by Usagi's bedside all night long.
His hand holding hers he was half asleep when she stirred. His head lifted up off the bed as her eyes fluttered open. She looked over & smiled at him. "Mamo-chan."
"Usako!" Mamoru exclaimed.
Usagi was taken aback by his enthusiasm & that was when she realized that she had no idea where she was. The last thing she remembered was talking with Mamoru in the restaurant. "Mamo-chan... Where am I?"
"The hospital. You fell in the restaurant."
"I FELL?!" Usagi exclaimed. She then looked over at her stomach and yelped.
"Usako!" Mamoru whispered. "It's ok, it's okay." He rubbed his thumb over her cheek as he held her face in his hand. "The baby's okay."
"What... what happened?"
"You hit your head on the table & were knocked unconscious when you fell... when we were in the ambulance you started bleeding pretty heavily & everyone thought the baby was dead. She's alright though, just a few bumps & bruises..."
"She?" Usagi asked quietly as a little smile began tugging at the corners of her mouth.
"Yeah. You have a little girl."
"Ha! I was right!" Usagi cheered.
"You know, for someone who has just been through all that you've been through, you're sure energetic." Mamoru smiled.
"I'm so happy! I can't even feel anything else. I don't even know how to explain this. When can I see her?" Usagi began sitting up.
"I don't think you should get up right now." He eased her back down. "You're mother's down there right now, anyway."
"My mom? Why is she here?"
"Usako... you should go back to sleep, I'll explain it all later."
"Mamo-chan?... Please, tell me. Why?"
"Usako, I'm sorry. " He said as he looked in her eyes. "Yesterday, I honestly didn't think that I'd ever get to talk to you again."
"What do you mean?"
"I thought you were going to die..."
"Eh?" Usagi blinked.
"Usako, you almost died. It was a miracle that you & the baby both lived. Everyone came from school & Shingo called your parents."
"I... almost died?" She was in disbelief.
"You don't know how thankful I am today. I was so scared I'd lost you." Mamoru kissed her forehead gently.
"Mamo-chan..."
"Get some rest, Usako. I promise I'll still be here when you wake up."
*~*~*~*~*~*
"Mamoru-kun." Kaori came into the hospital room to check on Usagi. "How's she doing?"
"Pretty good. She woke up about an hour ago. I told her about what had happened."
"Have you gone to see the baby yet?" Kaori was a good friend of his. She had known him since he started working at the hospital.
"Nah. I'll wait until Usako can see her as well." Mamoru smiled.
"Mamoru-kun... everyone's been wondering... is she your baby? Are you the father?"
"No, she's not my baby... But I suppose that I'll be her father, if Usako lets me."
"Are you serious? How are you so close to Usagi?"
"She's been living with me for the past 6 or so months."
"So she's the girl that you were always talking about. We all thought she was older."
"Nope."
"Is she your girlfriend?"
"No. We just live together."
"But you love her."
"Well, yeah, of course I love her. She's amazing. Talk to her for 5 minutes & you'll understand completely." Mamoru smiled.
"I'm sure I would. Well, I have to keep going, I've got other patients to see. I was just worried about how she was doing this afternoon."
"Alright then. I'll see you around later then."
Kaori stopped at the door. "Oh, Mamoru-kun."
"Yes?"
"You have a beautiful daughter." Kaori smiled as she left.
*~*~*~*~*~*
"Chiba-kun... are you in love with my daughter?" Ikuko asked as they sat in chairs on either side of Usagi's bed.
Mamoru couldn't help but blush a bit & laugh nervously. This woman was direct; this was the first thing she had said to him all day. "Yes. Yes I am." He admitted proudly.
"I see... Has Usagi been living with you all this time?"
"Yes."
"Did all of her friends know? We asked them all & they wouldn't tell us where she was."
"She didn't want anyone to tell you where she was. She was so ashamed of the way you both reacted when she told you that she was pregnant."
"We didn't mean it. We were just so shocked. I never thought Usagi would be the kind of girl that would go out & get preg-"
"But she didn't!" Mamoru's defences went up. "She didn't WANT this to happen & it WASN'T her fault." He said. "Did you even let her explain to you what happened?"
"No." Ikuko said quietly.
"So you have no idea? Did Shingo-kun tell you anything?"
"Shingo?"
"He knows what happened. He also knew Usako was with me. He came to visit once a week."
"He did?"
"Yes." Mamoru replied. "I think... I better explain to you Usako's case." He took a deep breath. "You see... she was raped... by a boy in her school. I was the first one to know; I could tell something was wrong from the first moment I saw after. I was just trying to help her out with everything but then she found out that she was pregnant." Ikuko was crying. "Do you know how hard it was for her to try to tell you what had happened? She was terrified. She almost killed herself. Do you think that she would want you to know where she was after the way you acted?"
"You're not the one who did this to her?.."
"No. I'm not." He replied.
"Chiba-kun..."
"You can call me Mamoru."
"Mamoru-kun... I want to thank you for taking such good care of Usagi."
"It's not a problem. You have a wonderful daughter."
"I know. I hope she can forgive me..."
*~*~*~*~*~*
Usagi had woken up not long after Mamoru & Ikuko's talk & had her own talk with her mother as Mamoru went for a walk to stretch his legs & get some coffee. His walk led him all around the hospital as he talked to all the nurses, doctors & aids that he had met during his rotations. [A.N. I'd imagine that people in med school would have to work at the hospitals in all of the different wards & such... my sis is in nursing & that's what she has to do. Meh ^_^] He met up with Ikuko in the hall as she was about to leave. "You're going now?"
"Yeah. I'm going home to meet Shingo when he gets off school. We'll be back after dinner. Will you be staying here with her?"
"Of course." Mamoru smiled. "See you later."
Mamoru continued on his way to Usagi's room. "Hey. How are you feeling?" He asked her when he got back.
"Good. I'm a little sore; the pain killers are starting to wear off... but hey, how are you?" Usagi asked.
"Me? I'm fine."
"Did you really stay by my side since I got out of surgery?"
"Yeah." He admitted with a little smile.
"Mamo-chan? When can I see her?"
"I don't know. Is now a good time?" He grinned as a nurse, as if on cue, walked in the room carrying a small baby wrapped in a little pink blanket.
"Aw!" Usagi gasped quietly as the nurse placed her in her arms.
"I'll be right back." Mamoru quickly left the room & headed down the hall. "She's so beautiful!" he beamed as he saw Kaori.
"I know. I told you she was." Kaori smiled.
"No... I mean, Usako. She's never been so beautiful." He turned & ran back down the hall.
"Mamo-chan? Where did you go?" Usagi looked up at him as he walked back in the room.
"Nowhere important." He sat down beside her & looked at the baby with the blonde hair & light green eyes. "She's adorable." She smiled at Usagi.
"Mamo-chan... I was talking to my mom... she said she wanted me to come back home & that she was sorry."
"Oh?" Mamoru held his breath. "What did you say?"
"I forgive her & Papa, but... would it be okay if I still stayed with you?"
"Of course!" Mamoru smiled brightly. He was so relieved. "So, you were having such a hard time thinking of a name for her before... have you decided?" He asked as he looked down at the baby.
"Yeah." Usagi replied. "I think I'll name her Miyako."
Mamoru smiled. "Thank you."
And they kissed.
THE END
*~*~*~*~*~*
He-yo! So, what did you think? I hope you all liked my fic. There was so much that I had changed from my original plan. It wasn't until the part where Mamoru was leaving in the restaurant that I decided to make Usagi fall... I usually write spontaneously b/c it's fun not knowing exactly where they are going... it's almost like I'm reading it myself. ^_^; Please review! I might write another fic in the future when Miyako is older... but I'll wait & see. ^_^ I'd just like to thank you all for being so supportive, it means so much to me & I really feel like I've matured as an author since my first fic.