Chapter 7:

Aiko sat by Tatsuha, a worried frown creasing her forehead. It had been horrible to watch the doctor fixing Tatsuha's nose back into place, but she had steeled herself. She slipped one of her hands into his, praying to every god she could think of for him to be ok. She hadn't called anyone yet…she'd been too busy getting him to the doctor at the san. And now she didn't feel like leaving his side even to call his family. "Please be alright…Tatsuha-chan. Please be alright." She whispered fiercely dashing away a tears forming in her eye.

She felt his hand squeeze hers slowly. She sighed and looked up at him intently. His eyes fluttered open. "I'm fine…don't be worried." She smiled at him. "What makes you think I'm worried? I'm not…I just didn't want my best friend becoming an invalid, I have enough to worry about with the baby coming." Her voice was casual, but her eyes betrayed the inner turmoil she was going through. "Anyway. You're going to be fine. What happened?"

Tatsuha looked away his grin slipping off. "Nothing. I slipped and fell in the lake." Aiko looked him in the eye. "Yeah, I believe you Tatsuha. The lake broke your nose and blacked your eye…or was it the fishes? So when did Jake catch you?"

Tatsuha stared at her. "When I was coming back home. I had been to the store to get something and…" "So you got drunk at store huh?" "I was not drunk! I just got taken by surprise…" "So that's why the doctor told me the alcohol level in your blood was very high huh?"

He looked away, not able to face her. Aiko looked away too, staring at the wall before letting out a deep sigh. "You're to come here every week for a check up. If your drinking doesn't stop, the doctor was talking about rehab. I don't think you'd like rehab…you're strong enough to stop, by yourself." She stood up. "Would you like something to drink? We'll be staying here for tonight; I'm going to get some coffee. Want some?"

"Yes please." Tatsuha noticed she still wasn't looking at him. She nodded and left not looking back.

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Aiko waited for the guy to hand her the coffee. She didn't want to think about the fact that Tatsuha had been assaulted by Jake…she didn't want to think of the fact that Tatsuha was becoming an alcoholic. She nagged the fist on the counter. "Shit!" she wondered what she had done wrong…she was his best friend, she was supposed to be there for him, when something went wrong…where had she messed up? And why had she messed up enough to let him take to drinking? She should have found out…she should have tried to find out what's going on harder.

She realized she was the cause of him being in the hospital today…if she had not been his friend Jake would have left him alone! A voice at the back of her head told her not to be stupid. She would have to lead a friendless life if she had to protect everyone from Jake. She could still feel the fear and shock from the time he collapsed at her room. Seeing Tatsuha all bloody had done something to her. She was feeling different; she gave up trying to put her finger on it after a while. She had top take the coffee back.

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Tatsuha sat up in bed. His nose felt awful…Aiko handed him the coffee. She smiled. "You look awful." He knew she was trying to change the subject, but he wanted to talk to her. "Aiko…I…." "God, that cafeteria guy took so long, I thought I would fall asleep. Actually I am really sleepy Tatsu-chan. Do you want anything more?" she sat on a bed opposite, half way down on it. He realized that she did look tired.

"No…go to sleep, Ai." He watched her try to curl up a bit. She was asleep as she hit the pillow. He watched her pretty face for a while…she looked so young when she slept. 'It happens sometimes you know…just because you spend time with people you think you're in love with them' Tatsuha tried to get those words out of his head.

The phone buzzed, it was Ryuichi. This time he picked it up. "Hello."

"Tatsuha, why don't you pick up your phone? I need to meet you. Please don't hung up just meet me somewhere ok?" Ryuichi's voice came through the line.

"Ryuichi, I…" "Uesugi-san. Would you please lift your sleeve up? I'm going to give you a pain killer and then you must go to bed. You'll feel a lot better in the morning." A nurse interrupted him.

"Where are you?" Ryuichi's asked worried. "Painkiller? What happened? Are you alright?"

"I'm fine…ouch…fine I'll meet you. Aiko and I have to go to a frat party on Saturday. You can come with us. And we can talk there…not that I want to waste my time listening to your voice!" Tatsuha hung up. He lay on the bed…the pain gradually left him and he slipped into a deep sleep.

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A/N: another short chapter. Next one is longer and better alright? Will up load soon!