"Van? Van, hunny, open your eyes."
With extreme effort, Van opened his lids and stared into the bright, clean room. There were several people surrounding the bed he was laying on and his eyes travelled around the circle, trying to pick out someone he knew.
A young woman with pink hair sobbed quietly into the shoulder of a tall, blonde haired man. He patted her back gently and whispered to her. An older woman with dark hair came into Van's view and clutched his hand tightly.
"Van! Oh, Van; thank God you're awake! You've been unconscious for the last three weeks! The doctors said brain activity was going up and you could wake up at any time. We've been here 'round the clock so you wouldn't be alone when you did."
A man with salt-and-pepper hair came up beside the older woman and put an arm around her shoulder. They both beamed down on the young man in the bed who had no clue who they were. When the woman moved in closer to hug him, he caught a whiff of her perfume. His mind was thrown back to what he could still remember.
"Don't cry dear. It's just a scrape. I'm sure Hitomi didn't mean to push you off your bike..."
After a moment he opened his eyes and whispered, "Mom... Dad."
A half sob, half sigh came from Mrs. Fanel as she turned to her husband who wrapped her in his arms once again. "They said -" she sobbed, "They said that - that you might never remember anything. Oh, thank the Lord! You remember - you remember Merle and Allen?" she questioned as she gestured to the blonde and pink haired couple. "Dryden, Millerna, and Dilandau couldn't make it, they were busy." She was careful not to mention the runaway bride. "Well, we'll just leave you three alone for a while."
Both of Van's parents leaned in to hug and kiss him gently before saying their goodbyes and leaving. The pink haired girl was still sobbing almost silently.
"Van," she choked out. "Oh, Lord, Van! I thought you were dead when I got the call! Never, never, do that again!"
"Hey, Merle! How's Rome been treatin' ya?"
"It's awesome Van! I love it here! But I miss you guys. How's 'Tomi?"
"Good! We move in a couple weeks!"
"I remember," gasped Van. "I remember. You were in Rome. I was moving... I don't know why though."
A couple other memories hit Van then: The graduation photo being taken. Their time on the beach. The party the night before his accident. Them in their earlier years of high school, fighting over petty, little things.
He was so sure he could hear seven different voices. But he was sure his mother had only mentioned five others. With him, that was only six. Not wanting to bring up the seventh voice, he turned to his friends that he could now remember a little of.
"Allen?"
The tall blonde nodded. "Van, dude, we've all missed you a lot. It was weird seeing you like this." He turned his head to the ground and wiped a hand across his eyes. Merle reached out to rub a hand gently across his shoulders.
"The nurse said you would probably be out of here by tomorrow, Van! Dilly, 'Lerna, and Dryden said they'd come up with us tomorrow morning. I think visiting hours are over," she looked out the doorway to see people walking towards the exits, "so we should go. But we will be back tomorrow. I love you Van," she said and she bent down to kiss his cheek and hug him gently.
Van and Allen just clasped hands before the two of them exited the room, leaving the raven haired beauty to try and sleep, still hearing the voices of his past echoing in his ears.
* * *
"Jesus!" Hitomi cried as someone ran into her and almost made her drop her platter of food. She gave the man a quick, mad glance and hurried on to deliver the food to the assigned table.
After doing that, she went to take and order. Her stomach started its familiar tossing as she wrote with a pencil on her small pad of paper. Ignoring it, she finished the order and went to deliver it so the food could be prepared. Before she could do that, her stomach gave a huge, warning lurch and she ran to the bathroom and into a stall.
Moments later, she was leaned against the wall of it, wiping her mouth on the back of her hand. This was the second week in a row she'd been sick like this! Thinking it had to be where she worked, she stood up and smoothed her skirt over her thighs. As she washed her hands in the sink, Hitomi looked up into the mirror. The circles under her eyes betrayed how she still wasn't sleeping well.
After her shift, she walked to the drugstore, having a sneaking suspicion that something was very wrong with her. She picked out some pills and tests she could do at home for basic illnesses. Hoping nothing else was wrong, she moved to the front of the store where she could buy them.
It only took her ten minutes to walk to her newest apartment; one room with a shared bathroom down the hall. Her landlords were an older couple who she loved and seemed to realize she was down on hard times. She was grateful to this and made time to speak with them every time she went in.
On her way up the stairs to change so she could check for sicknesses, Hitomi head spun and she pitched forwards. Putting both hands on one of the stairs and taking deep breaths, she mentally shook herself, telling her she needed to take better care of herself.
* * *
Van was dressed and ready to go the next afternoon. His parents had granted him permission to go home with his friends. He could remember little things about each one of them, but it still seemed like something was missing. There was a gaping hole when the six of them were together.
Van picked up some cards and knickknacks from the table beside his bed. He saw a ring that must have been removed from his finger just after the accident. Picking it up, he was thrown back again.
"Er - yeah, so, what are you doing after we're finished school?"
"I'm not really sure. I'll go to college but I'm not sure where I'll stay or anything."
"Mmm. Can I, uh, ask you something?"
"Yeah, of course."
"Well, um, see - it's like this: I love you a lot. More than anything really. And well, I can't, uh, picture not having you with me and, er, well… Will you marry me? I know we're young. We're not even legal yet but, uh, we can have a long engagement if you want and -"
"Yes. Yes."
"Wha - what?"
"Yes! I'll marry you!"
"Oh, my God! Oh, my God! We're getting married!"
"Will you wear it?"
"Of course I will!"
"I love you Van Fanel."
"I love you too Tomi."
Van's heart lurched in his chest. "Allen. Allen?" His blonde friend walked over. "Who was she?" he asked as he held up the ring.
"Um... Van, I really don't think now is the best time. And I'm not really the best one to be answering that. Maybe you should -" Allen stopped when he saw the glare on his friend's face. "Fine. She was amazing. Someone you knew since you were a kid. You guys got together just over a year ago. You were made for each other." He sounded weary and like he was unsure he was supposed to say this.
Van swallowed. "Thank you."
As all this went on, thousands of kilometres away, Hitomi lay crying on her bed, clutching something and holding her stomach.
"Van! VAN!" she cried. "How could we do this? How? I can't do this alone! I need you! I CAN'T RAISE A BABY BY MYSELF!!!"
(A/N: And I think we'll stop there. Woohoo, this is awesome. I hope you guys liked it. I figure you should Review now. Pwease? For me? Review, dammit! Or else there's no more updates! Muahaha! Thanks guys, you rock! Oooh, and the theme song for this story is I'll Be Missing You by Puff Daddy:
Seems like yesterday we used to rock the show
I lace the track you lock the flow
So far from hanging on the block of dough
Notorious they got to know that
Life ain't always as they seem to be
Words can't express what you mean to me
And though you're gone
We still a team
Through your family I'll fulfill your dreams
In the future can't wait to see
If you'll open up the gates for me
Reminisce sometime
The night they took my friend
Try to black it out but it plays again
When it's weird feelin' it's really hard to conceal
Can't imagine all the pain I feel
Give everything to hear half your breath
I know you still livin' your life after death
Every step I take
Every move I make
Every single day
Every time I pray
I'll be missing you
Thinking of the day
When you went away
What a life to take
What a bond to break
I'll be missing you
It's kind of hard with you not around
Know you in heaven smilin' down
Watchin' us while we pray for you
Everyday we pray for you
Till the day we meet again
In my heart is where I'll keep you friend
Memories give me the strength I need to proceed
Strength I need to believe
My thoughts big I just can't define
Wish I could turn back the hands of time
Bust in the six hop for new clothes and kicks
You and me taking flicks
Making hits stages they receive you on
Still can't believe you're gone
Give anything to hear half your breath
I know you still livin' your life after death
Every step I take
Every move I make
Every single day
Every time I pray
I'll be missing you
Thinking of the day
When you went away
What a life to take
What a bond to break
I'll be missing you
Somebody tell me why
One day morning
When this life is over
I know
I'll see your face
Every night I pray
Every step I take
Every move I make
Every single day
Every step I take
Every move I make
Every single day
Every time I pray
I'll be missing you
Thinking of the day
When you went away
What a life to take
What a bond to break
I'll be missing you
Thanks guys! Until my next update...)