A/N: I can't seem to stop writing. I think the story will end soon though… (by the was, this chapter was thought out before your review, beriath-san… so I guess that you may have an idea of what will happen, ne? and sorry for making her sound dead. ^^) charz, thanks for reviewing!
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"I'm so sorry… Your granddaughter is in a coma. We were able to save her, but we weren't able to wake her after the surgery, and a coma's aren't something that we can predict. I'm very sorry, for she can stay in a coma for days, weeks, or even years. I hope she will get well soon, for her sake as well as yours."
"Is there any way to speed up her healing process?" Ryusaki-sensai asked.
"No, I'm afraid not…" the doctor replied.
After a round of questioning from both Tezuka and Ryusaki-sensai, the doctor left, answering the page to get to the next patient he needed to treat. He said, as he got out of sight, "Come visit her occasionally, I've heard it was good for the patient. I'll see you for an appointment about her condition tomorrow. You can go see her now. She's in room 314, floor 3."
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It was like a maze. Tubes were snaking in and out of her body, completing almost any task you could imagine. It smelled so much like death, he wanted to turn away, to get out of the room, and pretend that nothing had happened. He forced himself to look at her face, at her body. He was scared. Her once vivacious features were blank, cold, and emotionless. A healthy skin tone had turned into a pasty white. The doctor said she was okay, but she didn't look it… He strained to breathe. She looks like death. What if she never comes back to me?
None of his fears showed on his face. He brought over the plastic chair sitting by the doorway beside the bed. He motioned for Ryusaki-sensai to go sit there, but she didn't move, so he guided her to the chair. He watched with bated breath as she took Sakuno's hand into her own, and started to cry. She did not sob, there were only small tears that leaked out of her eyes. She was talking to Sakuno, but her voice was too soft for Tezuka to hear. Occasionally, he could hear her say a word or two, and he wondered if he should leave. But I don't want to… I want to stay with her… And so, he stayed.
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Ryusaki-sensai had left the hospital room, and Tezuka was alone with Sakuno. He was about to sit down on the chair, when there was a soft knock at the door. A nurse came in, carrying a few items on a tray. At first, he thought it was medicine, but when she came closer, he saw that they were some personal items of Sakuno's.
"We found these items with her when we were preparing her for surgery," the nurse said as an explanation. "We were planning to give them back after the surgery, but with everything going on, we didn't realize that these were still there until just now. Gomen."
She placed the items on one of the bedside tables and left. Tezuka tried to fight off the curiosity, but in the end, it won him over. Carefully, he looked at what was on the table. There was a handbag, a hairclip and some loose change. He thought it amazing that with the head injuries that Sakuno had suffered, her hairclip being unbroken was ironic. He was about to turn back to Sakuno when he saw a piece of paper under the handbag. Something made him take it out from under the handbag. Slowly, he took the piece of paper closer, recognizing the feel. He dared not hope, but yet, he did. The paper was slightly crumpled, and ceased from a lot of reading, but the words were still visible.
Dear Sakuno,
You have been a part of me since you first walked into my life.
He did not need to continue reading. He recited it from his head.
Words alone cannot describe how you make me feel, the joy it brings me when I see your smile, or the pain it causes me when I see you cry. I wish you could love me as a I love you, but I know it will never be. I want to wish you the greatest happiness in life, and please, keep the picture, because I want you to see your beauty.
Carefully, he put the paper into her handbag and got up. Leaning over, he gave a soft kiss to Sakuno on her right cheek. Don't leave me. I can't live without you. He held her hand for a split second, and said those same words aloud. And then he left. A single tear lid past her eye, but she did not awaken.
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Weeks went by, and every day after school, Tezuka would go and visit Sakuno. He would bring her a different flower everyday, and if anyone thought it odd that he was visiting Sakuno so often, they never said. Although Sakuno was not very popular, she had many friends. Flowers and cards would be sent to her room, and Tezuka's small tokens would seem lost in all the other gifts, but still he came. Every visit though, she stayed in her coma, never moving, never opening her eyes. Even through this Tezuka remained faithful, and would still visit her everyday. At times he would feel depressed, but he pushed the feeling out. He lived by tennis and Sakuno. That was his life, and he was not the type to give up so easily. And so, he remained hopeful, until the summer came. The first day of summer was one that he would never forget…
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A/N: Hope that was a good chapter everyone! Reviews... Oh how I love reviews!! ^^
