Tohru lay in the white gown of a hospital, within the white sheets of a hospital bed, surrounded by the white walls of the white hospital building of the city. Her eyes rested closed peacefully, and if not for the frightening pallor of her skin, she would appear to be only asleep. Her arms and hands, placed immobile atop the blankets, were bound with bandages. Above the brace that surrounded her neck, another bandage wrapped about her forehead. Steadily beeping machines were stationed near her head, and wires and tubes trailed from her body like vines.
The seven Sohmas who had been so close when the accident occurred sat or stood in various places throughout the small room, guilt stricken. Kisa and Kagura, sporting bandages on their arms and knees from their rough fall, looked on the verge of tears after only recently having become too tired to cry any more.
Yet another person in a white lab coat swept into the room, followed by two others. Their first glance was for Tohru, but it quickly moved to include her observers. Hatori's eyes narrowed when they landed on Kisa.
"Kisa," Shigure spoke softly but firmly. "Why don't you go wait outside." It was not a request.
Looking like she wished to protest, Kisa slowly nodded. Hiro took her hand and led her out of the room.
"You should have known better than to allow Kisa to see Tohru in such a state," Hatori reprimanded them halfheartedly.
They nodded, knowing he was right, but their concern was Tohru.
Hatori moved to take up Tohru's chart. Ayame shifted to stand beside Yuki. Shigure stood aside, casting worried glances around the room.
Several tense moments of silence followed as the doctor examined the papers and then checked the monitors.
Yuki shifted uneasily in his seat. With a glance at his brother, Ayame spoke. "How bad is it, Ha'ri?"
Hatori released a small, strained sigh, and bent beside Tohru to remove the neck brace. "Thankfully, nothing was broken, though she did suffer some cuts and bruises." He paused. "It seems she hit her head, hard."
Momiji asked softly, "Ha'ri? Is—is Tohru going to be okay?"
"She's in a comatose state at the moment," he replied sadly. "There is no way to estimate when she will wake."
"But she will wake up, won't she?" Momiji asked. The seven looked at him nervously.
Hatori felt torn between telling the truth and giving reassurances. Finally, he answered, "Medical technology is not advanced enough to ensure that a coma victim will awake. But," he grasped for the right words, "I believe, knowing Tohru, she will not give up so easily. She will come back."
Kyo's fist struck the wall beside his thigh. "Damnit!" His head was bent, orange bangs covering his eyes. "Why'd she have to…" He pounded the wall a second time. In his voice could be heard the tears threatening to spill. He suddenly pushed himself from his position leaning against the wall, and exited the room. The only one unaffected by Kyo's outburst was the object of it.
"Tell us what happened," Shigure finally said.
Kagura released a gasping sob, and looked at the adults with watery eyes and a tearstained face. "Kisa and I were running across the street to meet the boys. I bought this cute stuffed animal I wanted to show Kyo." Her smile appeared forced, at best. "I didn't see the car. Neither did Kisa. It was going so fast."
"We saw it too late," Hatsuharu stated quietly.
Kagura continued, "Tohru pushed Kisa and me out of the way, but…but…" She burst into fresh tears. Yuki and Shigure did their best to calm her. Kagura eventually left to join Kisa, Hiro, and Kyo.
"There's nothing we can do," Hatori said sadly, "except talk to her."
So they did. All ten Sohmas came to visit Torhu every day. Kisa and Kagura cried often. Yuki and Hiro had adopted emotionless, blank masks. Kyo and Hatsuharu were constantly on edge, lashing out at anything and everyone. Ayame, Shigure, and Ritsu remained subdued, even depressed. Hatori even more restrained than usual.
Shigure informed them that the rest of the family had agreed to postpone the banquet. The three adults knew the others would not go without Tohru.
Miss Kata and Mr. Maro came to visit Tohru together. The Sohmas had been relieved to discover that Tohru had been correct. Miss Kata was very wary of Mr. Maro. The two were capable of managing the restaurant until Tohru recovered.
At one point during the visit, Mr. Maro reached out to touch Tohru's pale cheek. The Sohma males in the room—Yuki, Kyo, Hatsuharu, and Momiji—stiffened. As if sensing the threat, Mr. Maro's hand froze in its journey, and he pulled back. With one last look at Tohru, he left. Miss Kata followed him like an overseer after saying a hasty farewell to the Sohmas and casting Torhu a concerned, motherly glance.
Employees of A-Dozen-and-One Stars sent flowers and small gifts to Tohru, and a few came to visit once or twice. To some, the gesture may have appeared selfish, but the Sohmas saw true concern in the eyes and messages. Tohru was a well-loved manager.
Days became weeks, and weeks threatened to become months. Tohru still had not awakened. Her vital signs were slowly, but steadily, becoming fainter.
The younger Sohmas were informed that the rest of the family was tired of waiting, and the banquet was to be held in two days. Their absence was not acceptable, no excuses.
Kagura had remembered to grab the bag containing Tohru's dress before the ride to the hospital. It now rested alone in a corner of her hospital room, a painful memory, perhaps nothing more.
miko: Thank you for reviewing! Yes, this is a drama. The story is almost done.
dreamcaster555: Thanks for the review! As for whether Tohru ends up okay in the end…you'll just have to wait and see.
Helbaworshipper: I will. Thanks for reviewing!
SelenityPotter: I am glad the last chapter was worth the wait. I got this one out sooner.
Defafaeth Mechqua: Too good to be true, wasn't it? Nice foresight. Thank you for the review!
goldfishlover73: Thank you. I hope you continue to enjoy the story. Almost finished!
Dark Inu Fan: Yes, indeed she is. Thanks for reviewing!
lhuntathraeil: Yes, I agree with you, an very unoriginal idea. But having a plane fall out of the sky and hit her would have been a bit extreme, don't you think?
Beloved Rose: I hope this update was at a decent pace for you. hands tissue
Dooley: Thank you very much! I am happy you like it.
elena: You are very persistent. This story is coming to a close.
kortni: Pairings are unlikely. I am no romance writer. I read "Finally". Very well done. Continue writing. Thank you very much for the review!
Nika Phoenix: You shall find out soon. Thank you for reviewing!