Disclaimer: Yo no poseo Xenosaga.

Chapter VIII: Recovery


(Sakura's POV)

All I could remember was the fear. It froze me in place I couldn't move. The car's intense headlights blinded my eyes. I remember the desperate cries of my friends. But I felt trapped. Like a frightened deer. Memories flashed before me.

Then came the pain. It was so intense I think I was knocked unconscious. I heard someone scream. Several voices clouded my mind. I remember being held gently in somebody's lap. Warm liquid was pouring from my body. The rest of the events were a blur.

xXx

I was walking in the thick mist. It was so heavy I couldn't see. But I could hear faint whispering voices. They grew more distinct as I went closer to them. Suddenly the haze thinned slightly and I could see Rubedo sitting on the porch at my house.

"Rubedo… Rubedo?" I called but he didn't respond. Finally he looked up at me apologetically.

"I'm sorry Sakura, but I'm with Momo now." The fog cleared completely. And Momo appeared holding hands with Rubedo. My Rubedo.

"Momo how could you?" I said hurt.

"I love him Sakura and he loves me too. He doesn't feel anything for you now that you broke up with him."

Broke up with him? "Momo what are you talking about?"

She shook her head sorrowfully and they begin to disappear.

"Where are you going? Momo! Rubedo!" I cried out then everything faded away.

xXx

(Narrators POV)

"Rubedo!" Sakura cried out. She woke up with sweat forming on her skin and breathing hard.

Thank god…that was just a dream, she thought relieved. Then she turned to observe the room she was in. All the walls were painted white. Beeping sounds of machines could be heard. She saw an IV needle strapped to her wrist. Bandages were covering her head and limbs. She wore plain blue clothes and was sitting up in a hospital bed—

Wait hospital? She thought. Did she get injured?

A few moments later a nurse came in the room to see the patient awake and bewildered.

"Ms. Sakura Mizrahi is it? I see woke up from your coma. A bit earlier then expected."

"What are you talking about? My coma?"

"You were in an accident. The coma must have made you forget."

"Accident…" Sakura trailed off. The memories of the previous evening filled her mind.

"How long was I in a coma?" she asked.

"About a week. 7.5 days to be exact."

"Did anybody come to see me?" she asked hopefully.

"Yes, there was a brown-haired woman and a pink-haired realian—"

"That must be my mother and Momo."

"Yes I believe so. There were also three U.R.T.V's in particular a red-haired—"

"Rubedo, Nigredo, and Albedo." She said. "Anyone else?"

"Several other students with MSS insignias on their uniforms came to see you. Everybody was quite worried about you." The nurse finished.

"I see. But what will happen to me? When can I come home?"

"It maybe be another week at the least. You have had a serious coma. It was unlikely you would wake up. Your left arm and right leg was broken but that was easily fixable with nanomachines. However there may be brain damage. Anyhow you should rest until the doctor runs a diagnostics test."

"Okay, but please tell me if anybody comes to visit me."

"I will make sure you are informed. If you need anything please this button at your bedside." The nurse pointed to a small red button on the headboard before checking a few things and leaving.

xXx

Mizrahi Residence

Momo ate breakfast blandly not savoring the taste. Her mind kept repeating the events of last week. Sakura still hadn't waked up from her coma. She was worried sick about her. She couldn't sleep the past few days due to insomnia.

If only I had tried to save her…she thought regretfully.

Juli looked across the table to her stressed daughter. She wished there was something she could do to ease her pain. She couldn't bear it if another death of a loved one occurred. It had happened to Joachim once; she didn't want Sakura to have the same fate.

At least she would be with her father then, she thought hopelessly. Please Sakura, you be strong.

Suddenly there came a call from the U.M.N. It was from the hospital.

Juli reluctantly answered. "Hello? This is Juli Mizrahi. Is my daughter okay?"

The secretary nodded. "We have called to inform you that your daughter is out of her coma."

A wave of relief spread over them. "Can we see her?" Juli asked.

"Yes. She appears well."

"Okay we'll be right over. Thank you so very much."

"Your welcome. It is our pleasure to bring good news." The secretary finished before closing the connection.

"Come on Momo. Let's go see how Sakura is doing."

"Okay." She replied joyfully. "But first I have to tell her friends."

xXx

Yuriev Institute

"When will he come out?"

"Yuriev's gonna get mad if he doesn't."

"He's been in there for a week."

"Why is he in his room so long? Wouldn't he be dead?"

"Maybe he is. Should we tell Dmitri?"

"NO!"

"Out the way, blondie!" Albedo and Nigredo pushed their way through the mob of U.R.T.V's.

"Variants…" One U.R.T.V muttered as the crowd dispersed.

"Open up, Rubedo! It's us Albedo and Nigredo."

"Go away." A mumble came from the door.

"We have good news about Sakura. She's out of her coma." Nigredo said.

Footsteps came to the door. "What did you say?"

"Sakura's alive you dumbass! She's awake from her coma." They said irritated.

"She's al—" The door opened and Rubedo scooped the two up in a bear hug. "She's alive!" He shouted in delight.

"Please Jr. Save it for your girlfriend." Nigredo groaned.

xXx

At the hospital

Sakura was gladly welcomed by her mother and Momo. She had begun to get bored from the shows on TV. Although the hospital food the nurse brought in from the cafeteria had been good.

"Hey sis, how are you?" Momo greeted.

"I'm fine."

"It is good to see you awake, Sakura." Juli said.

"Yes. It is mom."

Momo noticed Sakura wince in discomfort.

"Are you feeling okay?" Juli asked.

"Somewhat. My head still throbs a bit."

Momo did a quick scan of Sakura. Her body was functional yet she was still healing.

Suddenly a hasty knocking came at the door. "Sakura are you there?" A familiar voice questioned.

"Rubedo!" Sakura exclaimed happily.

"Who?" Juli asked.

"He's a friend from school." Momo explained.

The door opened. "Hey Sakura! How are you? I brought these flowers to make you feel better." Rubedo said shyly blushing slightly.

"Oh Rubedo, these are beautiful!" Sakura said clutching the bouquet of roses in her hand. Then she noticed Nigredo and Albedo standing at the door. "Nigredo, Albedo it's good to see you as well. Please come in."

The two boys sat on a futon next to Momo. While Rubedo sat on the foot of Sakura's bed. Juli sensing their need to be alone went to the cafeteria for lunch. Momo, Albedo, and Nigredo however stayed in the room.

"When are you leaving the hospital Sakura?" He asked.

"The doctor said I should stay for another week for therapeutic purposes."

"Aww man…then I won't be able to see you at school for a week." He complained.

"Jr., The doctor is right. That accident she had was probably very traumatic." Nigredo said.

"Besides it'll give her time to recover properly." Albedo chimed in.

"We can also visit my sister after school or on weekends, Jr." Momo said smiling. How could he say 'no' to her shining face?

"I guess your right…but that's the week the rose exchange festival begins." Rubedo said.

"The rose exchange festival?" The two sisters said in chorus.

"Since when did you get so interested in that, Rubedo?" Albedo questioned.

He ignored him and clarified. "The rose exchange festival is when people give roses to those they have romantic interest in. If the person likes them back they respond with another rose."

"I see. That seems like fun. Doesn't it Momo?" Sakura asked.

"I guess." Was her simple reply. Momo hadn't really thought about love before. She wasn't sure if she really liked anybody. She blushes often around Jr. and her heartbeat increases. Her palms get sweaty and she beings to stutter when she's with him. But she just thought that was a malfunction in her systems. Maybe it was actually something else.

But I can't do anything about it. He's with Sakura isn't he? I don't want to betray my sister.

Then she remembered the week before, as she was uploading her data for the day, Momo saw herself with Jr. at the carnival. How on the roller coaster she clung to him in childish fear and he just laughed it away good-naturedly. She remembered the warm feeling she felt when he held her hand. She even secretly did a scan of him to see if he had similar 'symptoms' but none came up.

Jr.'s probably just being nice to be since I'm Sakura's sister. She thought dismayed.

Momo also remembered sleeping on him on the Ferris wheel. She didn't do that on purpose though. She was just really tired. At the end of the ride she felt someone gently tap on her shoulder. 'Momo wake up. The ride's over.' He said. Momo opened her eyes to see Jr. looking amused at her.

'Did you sleep soundly?' He asked.

'What do you mean?' She said.

'You seemed pretty peaceful sleeping on my shoulder.' Jr. said.

'Really? I'm sorry. Excuse me for doing so.' Momo apologized embarrassed.

'It's okay. People snooze on me all the time. I must bore the heck outta everyone.' He teased.

"—a yellow rose mean's 'no thank you.' A white rose mean's 'yes.' A red rose mean's 'would you like to get together?' Jr. explained.

"I see. Maybe we should try it too, sis. Momo?"

She snapped back into reality. "Uh…what? Yeah sure. That's a great idea."

"Momo are you feeling okay? You've been acting weird lately." Sakura asked.

"I'm fine. It's probably just the weather or something." Momo made up an excuse.

Sakura blinked. "But the weather's good today Momo. It's been sunshine all day."

"Maybe I have some sort of virus or something. Um…I'll go check it out with mom. See you later." Momo rushed out the door.

"Well I feel kind of tired now. Maybe you should see what's wrong with Momo." Sakura suggested to the Yuriev siblings.

They nodded and left the room for her to rest.


A/N: If anyone's interested, I made a xanga (weblog) dedicated to my fanfics and certain video game. Currently it's Xenosaga. I'm still working on it, but the link is: www(dot)xanga(dot)com/thequietgenius

And if anybody knows which manga I got the rose exchange idea from, I'll dedicate a chapter to them. ) (Hint: It's by Yu Watase.)

Review Replies:

Devilman666: Thanks for the comment.They'reofgood qualityeven though it's only my first fic. The story is comming out better than I excepted it seems.

Kos-mosMomo: That would be a sight. (lol) Seeing Sakura jump off the roller coasterI mean. Maybe I can use the idea sometime. grin