Chapter 13

Much to Yuki's disdain, he was directed to lie on a stretcher once he was outside the apartment building. There were ambulances and police cars all over the place. He watched Shuichi and Mika be lifted up into separate ambulances. Hiro climbed in after Shuichi and Tohma climbed in after Mika.

"I'll ride with you, Aniki," said Tatsuha, climbing in the ambulance after Yuki.

"Do what you want," said Yuki.

Tatsuha laughed a little, shaking his head. "Count on you to have a bad sense of humor at a time like this."

***

The waiting room in the hospital was overcrowded with people. Shuichi's family, his band, all the members of Nittle Grasper, and everyone else was packed into that tiny waiting room. All of them wanted to know about Shuichi, Mika, and Yuki. Since they all came in together the doctors decided to announce their conditions all at the same time.

"Onii-chan, please be all right," whimpered Maiko, tears spilling down her face. She buried her face into her hands.

"What's taking so long?!" muttered Hiro, glancing at his watch for the thousandth time. "Shit, if it's taking this long to help Shuichi..."

"Don't worry," assured Ayaka. "The doctors said they would announce all their conditions together. He's probably fine and just waiting on everyone else."

"..."

"I can't believe this happened," said Ami. "I mean, Mayumi attacked ALL of them terribly..."

"They'll put through," said Suguru. "They're all too strong to be taken down by some crazy bitch."

"I guess so. I'll put my faith in them."

"What's going to happen to that woman?" asked Noriko.

Tohma raised his head. Despite his brother-in-law and wife being in the emergency room he was oddly calm. "Mayumi? I spoke with the police officers that arrested her. They want to charge her three counts attempted murder; twice for Eiri-san and one for Shindou-san. One charge assault for Mika-san. And assault with a dangerous instrument, which would be the golf club. But she's completely crazed. She could get off by reason of insanity and either spend a few years in a mental institution or just be let go."

"Can they do that? Just let her go?!"

"Yes and no. Eiri-san is a very popular romance writer. Shindou-san is a famous rock star. Mika-san is my wife and I happen to be a famous rock star and owner of a famous record company. She might get charged due to our status. However, our status could also be used against us and she could be let go."

"I hope she gets charged for what she did."

"..."

Sakano sighed sadly. "Somehow I feel that this could've been avoided..."

K shrugged. "Mayumi wasn't ever considered a suspect. If Nayuta-san hadn't given us vital facts we wouldn't have guessed her. Either way, this was unavoidable."

"I still feel like more could've been done."

"That doesn't mean she can get away with it."

"What are you-"

K pulled out a sniper gun. "ALL RIGHT, IT'S HUNTING SEASON!!!! WHO WANTS TO HUNT THAT BITCH?!?!"

"Are you crazy?!" exclaimed Sakano. "She's in police custody!! You can't just march into a police station and kill her!!!"

"Watch me!! Anyone in?!"

Maiko stood up. "That bitch will pay for what she did to Onii-chan." She raised a hand. "Give me a gun!! I'll help you!!"

"Maiko!!" cried her mother.

"Give me a gun too!!!" yelled Tatsuha. "No one hurts Aniki and Onee-san and gets away with it!!!"

"Ooh, this looks like fun!!" squealed Ryuichi. He waved his arms. "K, I wanna have fun too!!!"

Everyone's voice raised higher as more people screamed for guns.

Maiko's parents sought some form of sanity.

"Hiro-kun, say something!!" said her mother.

Hiro raised his head. "All right, I will." He raised a hand. "K-san, give me a gun too!!!"

"THAT'S THE SPIRIT!!!!!!!!!" K yelled in English.

"You're all crazy!!" cried Maiko's father.

"Ahem."

Over all the yelling someone clearing their throat stopped the yelling. Everyone turned to see two doctors. One looked downright annoyed the other looked a little scared.

"I take it all of you are the family of Uesugi Eiri, Shindou Shuichi, and Seguchi Mika?" asked the annoyed one.

Everyone confirmed the question.

"I'm Dr. Atari," said the annoyed one. "This is Dr. Saraga. I'll now go over the conditions of each of these people."

Everyone held his or her breath as Dr. Atari held up one of three clipboards in his arms.

"Uesugi Eiri has suffered a concussion," he stated. "But it hasn't triggered any negative responses from his previous injuries. Other than the concussion he's fine. We ask that he remains here for rest and we'll release him next week."

There was a collective sigh of relief amongst the large crowd of people.

Dr. Atari handed the clipboard to Dr. Saraga and raised the second one. "Seguchi Mika has also suffered a concussion. Her occipital lobe suffered some damage, so her eyesight will be affect. Her left wrist bone was shattered, and she suffered a broken nose. We request that she remain here for the next several weeks until she's made a full recovery."

There was a ripple of shudders throughout the crowd. Everyone knew that Mika was a strong-willed woman, but it was unknown how she would take to this news.

Dr. Atari handed that clipboard to Dr. Saraga and raised the last one. He hesitated before immediately starting, and everyone noticed this. A chill passed through everyone as they could tell this news was very bad.

"Shindou Shuichi has suffered massive head trauma. His skull is cracked a few inches above his left ear. The temporal lobe there has also been damaged so his hearing will be affected. His right knee suffered a compound fracture, and his left shoulder has been dislocated. We highly recommend that he remain here for several months."

A stunned silence followed this. No one knew what to say or how to react to this news.

Shuichi's family stepped forward. "Is he in a coma?" asked his mother.

"No," said Dr. Atari. "But he's heavily sedated. He won't be awake for another few hours."

"Can we see him?" asked Maiko.

"Only the immediate family. You three are so you may go see him. The immediate family members of Uesugi Eiri and Seguchi Mika may go see them. Everyone else will have to wait here."

There were groans of protest and several curses. Dr. Atari ignored all of them. "Dr. Saraga, I'm going to show the Shindou family to Shindou Shuichi's room. Can you take everything from here?"

"Yessir," said Dr. Saraga, slightly less intimidated. He turned to the crowd. "Um, the immediate family members may follow me."

"I'll go see Aniki," said Tatsuha. He turned to Ryuichi. "Wanna come with me?"

"HAI!!!!" cried Ryuichi, glomping Tatsuha.

"Um, Uesugi Eiri is in room 219," said Dr. Saraga, watching them run down the hall. Wow, that's Sakuma Ryuichi!! he thought. I own all the Nittle Grasper CDs, been to three of their concerts-

"I'd like to see my wife," said Tohma, interrupting his thoughts.

"I'll show you where she is," said Dr. Saraga, leading Tohma down the hall. "Oh, and Dr. Atari wanted me to assure you as her husband that though she endured a lot the baby is safe."

Tohma quickly stopped. "What?!"

"Um, her injuries haven't affected the baby at all so you don't have to worry-"

Tohma grabbed him by his collar. "Baby?! What baby?!"

"D-D-Don't you know? Your wife is four months pregnant."

Tohma let go of him. Mika-san was pregnant? And she didn't ever tell him in all these months?!

Suddenly fragments of past conversations roared in his ears.

["I went to see my doctor today to see if I was sick."

"Mika-san, why would you do that?! You've been rather healthy lately."

"Look at me, I'm as white as a ghost!! And I HAVE mentioned to you about my condition, but you've been too wrapped up in your work to care!!"

"Do you notice anything different about me?"

"Have you gained weight?"]

She's been trying to tell me all this time, he realized. But I've been so wrapped up in so many different things I never even took the time to actually notice!!

He sighed heavily. "Take me to my wife."

***

"KUMAGOROU BEAM!!!!!!" cried Ryuichi, throwing Kumagorou at a pitcher of water.

Yuki glared at him. "Why the hell did you bring THAT to my hospital room?!"

"He's part of the family," said Tatsuha. Yuki's deadly glare told him it was a good idea to change the subject. "So, how're you feeling?"

"Fine. I've regained all my memories."

"Really? All of them?"

"Yes, even what happened in New York."

Tatsuha shifted feet uncomfortably. "Aniki-"

"I'll be fine. I can deal with it. I AM an adult after all."

Tatsuha laughed nervously. "Yeah, I know."

Yuki fixed his glare on the machines around him and the hook-ups in his arms. "This is all unnecessary. I just have a concussion."

"They're just worried about you. They ARE doctors, after all."

Yuki rolled his eyes, then winced at the pain it caused. "So, how is everything?"

"Onee-san is hurt badly too. She's got a concussion, a broken nose, a broken wrist, and something's up with her brain that her eyesight screwed up."

"And Shuichi?"

Tatsuha froze. "Um-"

"Um what?!"

"Shuichi's bad." Came Ryuichi's voice from the corner. Tatsuha and Yuki gaped at him, noting at how serious he was.

"How bad?" asked Yuki, not bothering to hide the fear he felt.

"Very bad."

"Dammit, tell me!! I saw what his wounds looked like, for fuck's sake!! Is he going to be all right?!?!"

Tatsuha decided to speak. "He has a dislocated shoulder."

"And?!"

"And he has a compound fracture in his knee."

"Shit!!!" Yuki tried to sit up, but a dizzy spell hit him. "Tell me what else!!"

Tatsuha opened his mouth but nothing came out. He didn't know how he was going to tell his brother this...

But Ryuichi stepped forward. Never had Tatsuha ever seen Ryuichi look so coldly serious. He wasn't even cuddling Kumagorou; it hung at his side.

"Shuichi suffered head trauma," said Ryuichi. "Bad head trauma. They say his head is cracked and his temporal lobe is damaged, so his hearing is bad."

Yuki sat there in stunned silence until he started pulling the hook-ups out of his arms.

"What the hell are you doing?!" cried Tatsuha, rushing to his brother's side.

"Going to see Shuichi," said Yuki, ignoring the blood running down his arms from where the hook-ups had been. "I have to see him."

"You have a concussion!! You-"

"That's why you're going to get me there. Look, I'd help you if Sakuma there was injured and you wanted to see him."

"No you wouldn't!!"

"...You're right. But just do me this favor."

"Aniki-"

Ryuichi walked over and put one of Yuki's arms behind his head, ignoring the blood that was no doubt soaking into his hair. He helped Yuki stand up. "Tatsuha, help me. Yuki's going to see Shuichi."

Tatsuha sighed, taking Yuki's other side. There was no way he could refuse a request from Ryuichi. "And do you know where he is?"

"Yes, actually," said Yuki as the two helped him stand. "I'll direct you both."

***

Maiko looked at Shuichi from on the other side of the glass. Due to his current state they were advised to avoid entering his room just yet.

She had calmed down a few minutes ago, though seeing her brother lying there was nearly throwing her into hysterics again.

I don't know what's worse, she thought sorrowfully. The bandages covering him or the tubes sticking out his head.

She turned to her mother, who was still crying hysterically. She had to get her to calm down...

"At least he's still alive," she offered.

This caused her mother to wail louder.

"Is this where Shindou Shuichi is?" asked a voice next to her. She turned, recognizing Yuki Eiri and Sakuma Ryuichi, but not the third one. He and Ryuichi were keeping Yuki steady on his feet.

Maiko's mother looked up. "What? Yuki Eiri? Can I have your autograph?"

Maiko rolled her eyes. Even while sobbing hysterically her mother was a fangirl. "He's there." she pointed to the room beyond the glass. She turned back to the glass so she wouldn't see their faces.

Please Onii-chan, she pleaded to her sedated brother. Please make a full recovery and come back to us...

***

Yuki stared stunned at the sleeping boy in the other room. Never had he seen Shuichi so...destroyed. Not even when he had been raped.

This is all my fault, he thought, tears starting to fall from his eyes. Mayumi was only after ME, yet I pulled my sister and my lover into MY mess. She's hurt us all so terribly, and I was her original target...

He unwound his arm from Ryuichi's shoulders and touched the glass. He caressed the glass where it showed Shuichi's face. His bandaged badly bruised face. Even in this state of shock Shuichi words from what seemed like years ago echoed through his head...

["Do you know what it feels like to see the only person you'll ever love hooked up to a lot of machines, being barely alive and you can't help him?!"]

I do now, he thought, choking on a silent sob. I know what it feels like now. I'm completely helpless. There's nothing I can possibly do to repair his fractured knee or his cracked skull. Nothing. All I can do is stand here while he lies there covered in bandages and has tubes sticking out of his fucking head!!!

There was a sniffle next to him. "I'm sorry, I have to go. I'll wait for you in the waiting room, Tatsuha."

"Ryui-" but the singer was gone. Tatsuha sighed softly, squeezing Yuki's finger that rested on his shoulder. "Don't worry, Aniki. Shuichi will pull through. He's a strong person and not someone who gives up."

Yuki rested his head on the glass next to his hand. "I sure hope so."