(Sheepish grin) Uh…hi everybody. I'm uh…back…

Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry! I feel like such a damned hypocrite – I said to myself that I would keep updating this stupid thing and I wouldn't be like other selfish authors who went out and got caught up in real life and, and…

I'm just so sorry. To tell you the truth, I forgot all about my friends on but I found a couple reviews and even a few messages asking if I was all right in my inbox and…and they gave me a wake-up call. Special thanks to those who worried enough about me to check, you know who you are and you are the ones who saved this story from eventually being deleted. Please forgive me everyone, if you're even bothering to read this. I know I don't deserve your eyes…but I'm gonna start up writing again anyway. SORRY!

Also, I notice that I've been getting couple of similar complaints on things…and I want to thank you all for being so honest with me. You guys actually care enough to help me improve my style and story – I'm going to make an effort to get on with it and resolve your problems with Nana, I think I can justify her actions. This is one of my first attempts at writing and my style could use some improvement, now that I think about it. Any other helpful critiques would be greatly appreciated. (On that note…I know I haven't given you all replies for your reviews but now I've lost track…please don't think I'm not the kind who gives replies – I'm going to try my best to give comments on any feedback I get for this.)

Disclaimer: I don't own Elfen Lied…and I'm totally sorry.

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"Nyuu…when are you going to wake up?"

"…"

"I…I know that you're tired…but if you could just…help me understand…"

"…"

"Why did you come back? Did you really have to leave in the first place? Then this…this could have never happened…"

"…"

"You don't even need to say anything…just open up your eyes so I can…so I can know…"

"…"

All of Kouta's softly spoken pleas fell on unhearing hears. The comatose girl lying on his bed gave no responses, save the tiny sighs that accompanied the rising and falling of her chest. Even though his questions went unanswered, Kouta still found comfort in the sound; it made him feel sure that, at any minute, the eyes that had remained shut for almost a week would crack open.

In fact, he held no doubt in his mind that Nyuu would be okay - It was amazing how good she looked, considering. Most of the horrid red that had coated her had come away with the gentle sponge baths Yuka had given, revealing the remarkable figure underneath, but she hadn't washed the unconscious girl's hair too hard for fear of irritating the injuries concealed in the dirty mass. Because of this, the hair was still slightly matted in some places, the deep burgundy of the blood and the bright pink of her hair had become almost one; inseparable.

Other than that, however, Lucy was just as clean and healthy looking as she ever was. Her horribly pale skin had started to get color back in it and all of her minor cuts and bruises had healed up. Even her horrible head wounds had scabbed and didn't worry anybody much anymore, although fresh bandages were still wrapped around them frequently. It was remarkable how fast she seemed to be healing.

Yes, she would wake up soon…she had to. Kouta wouldn't even recognize the possibility of her staying asleep for much longer. But what he would do and say when she did rise…he tried not to think about it. Nothing ever came. And that was what scared Kouta. He didn't know what he would say or what Nyuu would say or what would happen…it made his stomach churn.

Instead of starting on that depressing thought again, he focused on the fact that she was here; she was actually here, lying where he had spent many a sleepless night thinking of her. And she was everything he had remembered.

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Nana watched sadly from the doorway, unnoticed. She felt really bad for Kouta. She didn't know why, but he had spent almost every free moment of his time sitting next to Lucy's dormant body. He seemed aloof and faraway when he was around everybody, like his mind was always here…Admittedly, he had been like that before Lucy came back, but at least he had talked to her every once in a while, at least he had been more real. Now he wouldn't initiate anything and if he wasn't going to the bathroom or showering he was in his room, watching the girl on his bed. Like she was the most important, fragile thing in the world. Like she wouldn't make it if he wasn't there to make sure she didn't crumble like Nana's baked goods. He should know better by now, it would take more than the scratches she had to do any real damage to Lucy. Her horns were missing and Nana didn't know what that would mean, but she would make it through okay.

The second heartbeat in the back of Nana's head had grown strong, stronger than she would have liked, actually. The past week had been good to the hornless diclonius. And Nana had worked hard to get her in the good shape she was in; she wanted to talk to her rather badly. She had actually taken charge somewhat the day Lucy collapsed in the front lawn. Both Yuka and Kouta seemed to be in a state of shock and were acting rather stupid in Nana's opinion; moving her this way and that or just staring at her with eyes big as saucers, but with the naïve diclonius ironically filling the steady and sensible role, they had wrapped up Lucy's head and brought her to Kouta's bed, on his insistence.

And then Kouta began to slip away…Nana knew he didn't mean it, Kouta wouldn't deliberately do it, but he was.

As important as her talk with Lucy was, Nana also felt she needed answers from Kouta. And not just for herself either; Mayu and Wanta had grown sullen and quiet because of Kouta's demeanor, making the inn a much less interesting place to live. But how would she talk to him? She didn't understand how she could make Kouta understand with just words…she doubted he would speak with her seriously anyway.

Like an answer to her question, her other guardian began marching down the corridor, a look of resolve on her face.

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Yuka took a deep breath as she turned towards her cousin's room, completely missing Nana in her single-minded determination. She had dreaded this and put it off time and time again in favor of some chore that needed doing, but she had finally hardened her resolve enough to go through with the talk she needed to have with Kouta.

Well, one of the talks I need to have with Kouta… she thought, forlornly. Honestly, could there be a bigger idiot on the face of the earth? For what seemed like an eternity Kouta had mourned over Nyuu, ignoring his family for the most part but Yuka had let him, she was mourning as well, and Nyuu deserved that much at least. But now that she was back, alive and well, Kouta was even worse than before, completely disregarding everything in favor of…just sitting in front of the comatose girl. Sure, Yuka was worried as well, but from the amazing recovery the girl had shown, she knew everything was going to be okay. Nyuu certainly couldn't be left alone for long, of course, but if what Kouta was doing was because of concern, he was being ridiculous.

The thought of it being anything more than concern troubled Yuka greatly and she cut that train of thought short.

Perhaps she was just getting flustered from the whole thing, but Yuka felt like Kouta couldn't care less if she was alive or dead. Which was nothing new, she spat bitterly to herself, but not talking to Mayu and Nana, not even responding to the dog was worrying. He would respond in the technical sense – he would move his mouth and say something, but it was never him; he wasn't there anymore… he was always with her…and she was asleep!

Laying her eyes on him, the anger and most of the frustration melted from Yuka's body. His shoulders were slumped and his long hair was unkempt, she noticed, things that Kouta normally never let happen. But her frustration began to build back up when she saw what his unwavering gaze was resting on. It wasn't Nyuu's fault at all, she was the victim here, after all, but Yuka couldn't help but feel annoyed at the unconscious one in Kouta's bed.

"Kouta…you've been watching her for hours now…" Yuka suddenly whispered, unceremoniously jolting Kouta out of his little world. She wore an expression that lay somewhere between apprehension and sympathy, and she shook her head a little when she felt Kouta hastily bring back his 'I'm-okay-so-don't-worry about-it' charade. He rubbed the back of his head a little bit and stretched his mouth into a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Really? I guess I kinda…lost track of time." He made an attempt at a chuckle, but it came out sounding pretty pathetic, like he was trying to laugh at a joke he didn't get.

"You've been losing track of time a lot lately…" Yuka said, trying not to sound too worried. That would only make Kouta up his defenses.

"Well, yeah, I guess. Well, with Nyuu and everything I've kinda… y'know what I'm saying! It's got my head all screwed up; I still can't believe it's her, y'know? Can't wait until she wakes up!" Kouta continued his upbeat farce, but he was unfortunately a horrible actor. Yuka cringed at his obvious cover-up, he didn't sound like himself at all.

"But…she isn't going anywhere, y'know?" Yuka made her own attempt at humor, copying his tone to the best of her ability. But her heart wasn't in her joking either – it fell flat and gave birth to an awkward pause. "Um…I mean, you don't have to sit here the entire time…she'll be okay without you for a few minutes…"

"…Sure." Kouta had only half-listened. "Yeah, okay." Kouta got up from the chair he had set up and turned away from the girl on the bed.

Physically anyway.

His mind was still on Nyuu as he turned his head towards the doorway.

Yuka knew what was going to happen next: Kouta was going to wander aimlessly for five or ten minutes, maybe grace somebody with a few words, and then find his way back to his room. She wasn't about to let that happen again.

"Stop Kouta…" She reached out a hand and grabbed his shoulder. "Please." He turned around, the look of confusion evident on his face.

"But…didn't you just tell me to go?" He questioned skeptically.

"That's the problem Kouta, don't you see?"

"What?" Kouta hadn't seen this coming. And he was starting to sweat. Yuka's 'talks' were never something he enjoyed.

"You only left because I told you to, and you only went through the motions. You'll be back in here before I blink." She stated, shaking her head.

"Well, I might check on her again soon, yes, but what's the matter with that?" Kouta was becoming wary with his words, if he wasn't careful; he knew he could set Yuka off.

"There's nothing wrong with checking on her Kouta, but you don't just check on her." Yuka said, letting her frustration seep out. "You plant yourself here!"

"All right, I watch her, I still don't get your point, Yuka." Kouta said, his eyes glancing over her shoulder for a second so he could see Nyuu again. Unfortunately for him, Yuka saw him do it. And she nearly lost it.

"My point is… Kouta…" Yuka said, trembling slightly, " There is a woman standing right in front of you, talking to you, and you are looking over her shoulder to look at SLEEPING BEAUTY OVER THERE!" The last words were yelled and bounced around in the inn's halls – even Mayu faintly heard them and she was playing with her puppy in the back yard. The birds that had taken residence in the nearby trees and bushes flew away, startled.

Kouta didn't say anything – nobody did for a long time. Nana had silently slinked away from the doorway after the outburst. Yuka hadn't meant to do that, but she felt a lot better for it, venting her frustration like that seemed to have lifted a weight on her.

Yuka finally managed to calm herself down enough to continue. "…Kouta there are other…"

But a tiny rustle behind her cut her off.

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And Nana's breath caught in her throat. The second heartbeat had begun beating erratically, like nothing she had ever felt before. It was faster and stronger than she had ever felt it and it was constantly switching tempo between a powerful THUMP to a faster, yet softer thump-thump. One would be louder and last longer than the other for a moment, but it would soon be replaced; it was almost as if the two beats were…fighting each other…trying to take dominance…and both were startlingly familiar to the tiny diclonius.

The slower, more powerful beat…it held the power of intimidation. She felt it in the graveyard…when she lost her limbs…

The faster, softer one…it seemed more compassionate, if a heartbeat can be called that. She felt it while playing carelessly with her family…

Nana didn't know what it meant but she had a feeling that she would get to have her long awaited talk with Lucy…"

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So…tired…

(Yawn) Nyuu…

I have to…get up…

Nyuu!

Wha - I can't…something isn't letting me…

Hmph. Nyuu!

I have to do this. I have to see him…There's no telling how long I've been out…

Nyuu…Nyuu Kouta!

I have to get up. Let me get up…Kouta...

Kouta… Nyuu.

Let me up.

Kouta…Nyuu!

Why can't I…I can't get up…

Nyuu…Nyuu turn! Nyuu turn!

Your turn? This is more important than a turn.

Yes!

Then you understand?

Yes!

Then let me go.

Hmm…Nyuu nice.

…what?

Nice!

Stop that. You're making me sick.

Not nice.

Stop holding me down. I swear I'll find a way to get rid of you…

Get rid? Of Nyuu?

Yes, I'll get rid of you, I'll find a way, if you don't let go.

Get rid Nyuu! Nice!

…Listen you filthy insect. You're getting between me and Kouta. And that is the worst possible thing you could do. I've killed people over much, much less.

Not nice. Nyuu's turn.

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Kouta and Yuka both leaned over the twitching form of their friend and held their breath. Her eyelids were closing tighter and her slender fingers clutched at the thick blanket over her as if she was in the middle of a nightmare. And as suddenly as the wounded diclonius had stiffened, she relaxed again, her skin seeming rosier than before. And it might have been crazy, but Kouta thought he saw a tiny smile on her face.

Nana felt the struggle end, with the feathery, nimble heartbeat unmistakably being the victor. Nana felt strangely relieved; but also disappointed. If she was right in her thinking…maybe the chat would need to be postponed.

The young, pink-haired, de-horned diclonius opened her eyes and rejoiced, because she saw sunlight, and heard birds, and felt warm air. Her large red eyes took in everything around her and she breathed deep as she could to get her fill of the sweet smelling air. She made a slight grimace at the taste in her mouth, she hadn't brushed in quite awhile, but she smacked it away best she could, she wouldn't allow it to hinder her happiness.

She saw Yuka staring at her disbelievingly and gave a squeal of delight; she saw Nana shyly inching back in the room and jumped out of bed in a flash; she heard Wanta's tiny yip from the yard and spun around like a ballerina.

She laid her sparkling eyes on Kouta and tackled him.

"Nyuu!"

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Okay, I know I'm not a reliable guy. AT ALL. But please believe me when I say I'm going to try my damnedest to finish this fic. My updates might be rocky and slow, and the chapters I post might be…microscopic, but I'll finish! I promise you all on pain of slow, excruciating death that I'll finish.

But, ah…I might forget that promise if I don't get some motivation…Review pweeze. That's the only reason I came back and started again. A few thoughtful reviews and messages. It's a wonderful thing, feedback. I know I don't deserve it but…give it to me anyway.

One last sorry. Sorry.