A/N: I'm sure all of you may have gotten a bit confused with the way I named the characters. So I've decided to make a character reference for those that have made an appearance in the story so far:

Chichiri – Chichiri Iwata (the protagonist, a police officer)
Hikou – Hikou (Chichiri's first partner and best friend)
Kouran – Kouran (Hikou's wife)
Mitsukake – Mitsukake Sumisawa (The Chief/Boss at Chichiri's precinct)
Tasuki – Tasuki Mizuta (Chichiri's newly assigned partner)
Tamahome – Tamahome Tanaka (The 50 year old dead victim of the latest case file)
Miaka – Miaka Yuuki-Tanaka (Tamahome's wife and key witness)

I hope that helped.

Chapter 5

"Sorry I took so long." I greeted Kouran on the 8th Floor of Konan Hospital. Still panting from my five minute sprint, my breath quickened as she suddenly clutched my shirt at each side. She was seeking consolation, something that I was afraid to give her. I let her continue to hold on to me. Her auburn hair bathed the front of my shirt as she placed her head against my chest.

"Oh Chichiri, I'm so worried. I don't know what to do." That was the first hint of speech that escaped her lips since the greeting.

"Please - - tell me what happened." I held her by the shoulders urging her to give a response. But all she did was look up at me with tear-filled eyes, each drop as precious as diamonds. My heart ached for her and I feared the worst.

She released her grip on me and led me to a waiting area where there were a few vacant benches. That was when her resilience shattered. "Hikou is currently in the Intensive Care Unit," she explained between sobs. "I came to visit him and he seemed to be doing fine. He was conscious and aware of his surroundings. Everything looked so hopeful, especially when he gave me that smile of his, the one that I had not seen in a long time, the one when he tilts his left eyebrow up teasingly to provoke me. And then suddenly, that's when it happened. His lids slid shut and he just stopped breathing. The way it happened, it was weird—and horrifying. I don't know what I would do if – if Hikou dies." Her voice died down to a weak whisper as her tears began to flow more freely. My awkwardness in trying to console her began to annoy me. I prayed she did not notice my reluctance.

If only she knew how hard I had been trying to negate those feelings I had suddenly sprung for her. From since that last encounter during Hikou's visit, even though it was wrong of me to do so, I was avoiding her. It was situations like these that had gotten me into that mess in the first place. 'Like what she's doing now' I thought. 'Digging her nails into my back softly, her freshly shampooed hair smelling sweet of citrus.' I wondered if she did that intentionally, draping herself all over me unaware of the arousal she was causing. I sighed lightly trying to resolve myself of the situation.

"Miss Kouran?" A tall, slim man approached us. He looked middle-aged and had a unique look of sophistication that was not found in most doctors. His face was expressionless, a gifted trait from the field that I longed to harness one day. It was hard to read him whether his news was to be good or bad.

"If you'd excuse us please sir," he diverted his attention to me. "I would like to speak with Miss Kouran alone…"

"No, it's okay," she assured him. "He is my husband's best friend and they've been partners ever since he joined the police force." She stood up to greet him and I followed with the same action. "Whatever you say in front of me can be said in front of him as well." I placed my hand over her shoulder to show her my support.

He gave an expression of reluctance before nodding his head in approval. "Okay." He lifted his hand to the side as a gesture for us to follow him and he led us close to the nurse's station. "I'm Doctor Tanner," he shook both of our hands as he continued on in conversation. "I've done most of the surgeries on your husband and have been monitoring his progression daily. Unfortunately, I'm sorry to say that he has had a relapse. The bullet wounds he had received caused more damage than we imagined. Although, the operations performed were deemed successful, recovery is another issue…"

"I'm sorry," Kouran cut in. "But I don't understand what you're saying. Where are you going with this?"

"One of the bullet wounds that your husband received cut close to his heart," he explained. "Fortunately, he was rushed to the hospital in time and I was able to do constructive surgery. However, a successful surgery does not always guarantee a successful recovery or a speedy one thereafter. As in this situation, Hikou appeared to be progressing okay. The only setback is that his heart was under an extreme amount of pressure. Right now I'm sorry to say that he has fallen into a coma. His blood pressure dropped tremendously and in addition, not enough oxygen was getting to his brain. It affected a few of his cerebral functions."

"So will he survive?" Tears resumed streaming down Kouran's face as the doctor's words began to dawn on her.

"The good news is that there is a fifty percent chance that he will recover from the coma. However, once he does he won't be able to do the same activities he once did on an intellectual level, which includes his profession as a Police Officer."

"Not forgetting the other fifty percent chance that he may remain a vegetable for the rest of this life," Kouran lamented. "Chichiri what am I going to do?" She became hysterical and I wrapped my arms around her hoping she would calm herself down."

"I'm sorry ma'am," the doctor apologized and he dismissed himself from our presence.

"Wait!" She shouted behind him. "Can we visit him?"

"Not while he is in ICU. No. You'll have to wait until he stabilizes and is transferred to a room. Have a good day Miss Kouran." He never turned around once as he continued to walk away.

"Come on Kouran." With my arm still draped around her shoulder I motioned her back to the waiting area. I knew how she felt. With Hikou being my best friend and hearing that news, I was also more than devastated. Testosterone was the only thing keeping me from shedding a tear. I relaxed a bit surrendering myself to her clutches seeking some form of consolation myself. I was trying my best to be strong for both of us but there was only so much I could take.

"Let me take you home," I suggested to her. "It's highly possible that they will keep him in ICU overnight. You should get some rest and return to the hospital tomorrow morning to visit him."

She raised her palm to dry her eyes and looked up to me with an expression of compliance. We bypassed the waiting area and headed for the nearest exit.

"Mitsukake came by the hospital earlier," she struck up a conversation as she walked alongside me one block down to where I parked my car. "He told me that you have a new partner now." She looked at me intently expecting that I would oblige her with a response. I indulged. "Yeah," I replied. "His name is Tasuki Mizuta. I was not too thrilled about it but he turned out to be a very cool guy."

"There's my car," I pointed to the silver Chrysler relieved that I was able to serve a distraction. I signaled off the alarm and we both jumped in. And as I drove to her house there was nothing but complete, awkward silence.

"Turn here at this corner. My house will be the second building on the right as you make the turn." I almost thought we were sworn to silence relieved to hear the first sentence said in a while. I parked the car at the curb quickly then walked her up to her front door. As we were about to say goodbye she said something that went straight through me.

"So this Tasuki, will he be permanently replacing Hikou. I mean - - you're not going to eventually forget about him are you?"

"Of course not!" I could not believe she made such a statement. "Hikou is my best friend. There is no one out there that will be able to take his place beside me. Ever."

She bowed her head in embarrassment and immediately apologized. "I'm so sorry. It's just that I'm so emotional right now and I – I don't know what came over me..."

"I understand," I calmed down and pulled her close to me. "You can calm your fears. I promise you that I will never forget about him." I kissed her forehead softly and urged her to go inside. "I'll see you at the hospital tomorrow."

"Wait." She grabbed at my right hand startling me. "Please, if you don't mind, I would like you to stay with me."

I stared at her hoping that she was joking, but the way she stared at me so intensely, my heart raced as I fumbled with a response. "I – ahem—I don't think that would be a very good idea Kouran."

"Please Chichiri," she sensed my reluctance. "The house has been awfully quiet without Hikou and I just don't want to be alone. Not tonight." Her voice died down to an almost inaudible whisper.

She was still very emotional so maybe it was best that she had the company. So I obliged. And I prayed that I made the right decision making a promise to myself to never succumb to my feelings. I followed her inside obediently and I closed the door behind us.

B r e a k

A/N: Thanks to all of you that reviewed the last chapter. I will be certain to continue writing the story with the support I have been receiving.