Yeah so I'm not dead. I'm still breathing. I've honestly had this chapter written for forever I just never got to posting it cause I'd fallen off the K Project band wagon for a second. But I just started Seven Stories this week and it got me inspired. I've got like half of the next chapter written as of right now. Considering how long I've been out of the game I'd love some feedback so I know everyone's still on board! Prepare to be in your feels this chapter.

"Thank you for helping me today Anna."

Umeko squeezed the little girl's hand lightly as they walked leisurely back home. Umeko adjusted her grip on the bag of groceries she was holding with her other hand as they stopped at a crosswalk.

"Will you help me make dinner tonight?" she asked as the light changed and they crossed the street. Anna nodded and the older girl smiled at her. It was unseasonably warm for late autumn but Umeko still shrugged further into her sweater. Unconsciously, she started to hum a light tune under her breath, and after a while Anna started to quietly hum along with her. Umeko turned and looked across the street so that the young girl wouldn't be able to see the smile on her face.

They went another block before Umeko couldn't help but say, "You have a very lovely voice Anna."

Anna blushed and started to thank her went she felt a hand wrapped around her arm. Umeko whirled around as she felt Anna's hand rip from hers.

"Anna!" she shouted as she dashed into the alley. She dropped the plastic bag and the groceries scattered across the sidewalk.

"I'd stop moving if I were you."

Umeko froze as she watched the man place a knife against the pale skin of Anna's neck. She was trembling and looking at her with panicked eyes.

"You know who we are of course right hun?" one of the other two men asked.

Swallowing thickly the small woman nodded, "You're Sharks."

A wide smirk stretched the one's face, "Very good. And if you know who we are then you must know why we're here."

Giving a shaky nodded, Umeko's eyes focused back on Anna.

"Oi!"

The knife on Anna's throat pressed harder and Umeko looked back up at them panicked.

"Look at us you little bitch," the man holding her hissed.

"Your clan," the one who hadn't spoke yet started, "decimated almost all of our organization."

The smirk that came onto his face made her nauseous.

"And we're here to avenge their deaths."

Umeko started to pull energy into her hands but at the sight of the flames igniting on her palms, the one holding the child hostage tightened their grip.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you. You touch us and she gets it."

The feeling of dread increased in her as she let the flames in her hands go out.

"You murdered my friend, that's why my clan came after you," she whispered.

"Che, such an attitude, I guess you don't care what happens to this girl then," he shouted as he pulled the knife back.

"Wait!"

They all smirked as the arm she'd raised started to shake, "You can take me. Just let her go and you can teach me a lesson."

Umeko wanted to cry; she hadn't spoken this submissively since HOMRA had rescued her from her father. The group of men grinned at her and exchanged looks before shoving Anna towards her. Umeko caught her before she could hit the ground and steadied her before grabbing her shoulders and kneeling down.

"You have to run away now okay? Don't stop, don't look back, just keep running till you're safe alright?"

Anna gave her a terrified look before Umeko shoved her towards the mouth of the alley.

"Run!" she managed to shout before she felt a hand wrapped around the back of her neck and throw her into the brick wall.

"Just make sure to keep it down will ya? We don't need anyone else showing up."

When Anna came crashing in everyone jumped.

"Anna!"

Everyone rushed to her as she fell to the ground panting. The sleeve on her dress was torn and a bruise was starting to form at the base of her neck.

"Anna? Anna! What happened?" Tatara asked as he pulled her up.

"Sharks."

A chill fell over the room at the name that came out of her mouth.

"Where's Umeko?"

Everyone stilled at the sound of Mikoto's voice and the killing edge it held. The shake of Anna's head was all it took for everyone to leap into motion. Tatara picked her up and moved her to the couch as everyone else rushed off.

He pulled her in as she started to shake, "There there it'll all be okay somehow."

And he dearly hoped that that was true.

Umeko cried out at the final kick they delivered to her head before they finally stepped back and walking towards the mouth of the ally.

"Serves you right bitch!" they called before disappearing to the right.

She curled in on herself as she finally started to absorb the pain. It was excruciating, and she felt her mind sway in and out of consciousness as it tried to handle the agony.

"Umeko!"

She knew that voice, she knew she knew it; still though she didn't move or try to call back. She was getting dizzier by the second and she finally felt herself black out just as figures appeared at the entrance of the ally.

The group rushed towards the body on the ground. Umeko had curled into a ball, covered from head to toe in blood.

"Shit," Kusanagi cursed as he stopped. Mikoto knelt down and placed two fingers on her pulse point. Everyone held their breaths as they waiting for him to speak.

"Get the car," Mikoto placed his arms under her shoulders and her knees and stood up. As soon as he moved her though a pained scream escaped. Except something was off about it, like she had water in her mouth. He clutched her to his chest as he moved out of the alley and to the car parked in front of it. He laid her down on the backseat before moving up front next to Izumo who took off as soon as the door was closed.

They raced through the streets in silence until Umeko started to cough, that same wet sound with it. Mikoto's brows furrowed as he tried to figure out what it was.

'It's almost like her lungs are filled with-'

He twisted back and flipped her over so her head was over the side, and immediately she started coughing again. But this time, a thick mix of blood and saliva dripped out.

"Fuck," Izumo cursed as he watched through the rear view mirror. "Check her ribs," he swerved around a car before looking back. Mikoto turned her on her side, eliciting more whimpers, before gently prodding around her ribcage. It didn't take long for her to scream again, and Izumo felt every last shred of hope leave his body.

'One of her ribs must have punctured a lung. She's drowning in her own blood.'

Pushing down even harder on the gas, he cut across the street into the hospital. He screeched to a halt in front of the ER, and immediately a team of medics swarmed the car. He got out and ran around to stand next to Mikoto. A nurse opened the back door and poked her head into the backseat.

"We need a stretcher," she shouted, and someone wheeled one over.

"Is she okay to move?" the male nurse asked, not even looking at the pair.

"No," Mikoto barely got the word out before they started to pull her out and another scream came from the unconscious girl. The team hoisted her out and placed her on the gurney before taking off inside. Izumo glanced quickly at Mikoto before they both took off inside. They followed them until they came to an auditorium and the gurney disappeared behind the swinging doors. Izumo grabbed the back of the red head's jacket before he could go through the doors, and was barely able to avoid the fist thrown at him a moment later.

"You can't go in Mikoto!" he shouted as he grabbed his wrist. His eyes dulled, "There's nothing we can do."

It was quiet for a second before Mikoto yanked his wrist back and walked over to the adjacent wall. With a 'thump' he threw himself back against it, eyes gluing themselves to the pair of shining doors. The blond sighed before walking over and leaning back next to him, a tense silence setting in soon after. The rest of the clan showed up a few minutes later, but no one dared talk. Almost an hour had passed before a nervous brunette nurse walked over,

"Excuse me, I'm sorry but I'm going to have to ask you to come and sit in the waiting room."

She squeaked when Mikoto gave her an icy glare, but a solid grip on each of his shoulders, courtesy of Kusanagi and Totsuka, forced him to move anyway. It was hours later before anyone came to talk to them again. The doctor walked in with stiff steps, pausing in the doorway of the lounge in surprise before composing himself and asking, "May I speak to a spouse or relative please?"

Mikoto stood up, surprising and at the same time no surprising a few of the clansmen, and for the safety of the doctor Izumo and Tatara stood up as well.

The doctor nodded at the trio and walked back into the hall, leading them past the ER into one of the long hallways lined with identical looking doors leading to identical looking recovery rooms. They stopped in front of room 357, before the doctor turned to look at them solemnly.

"She's alive."

Tatara released a breath.

"She was battered. Trauma to the head, fractured ankle, dislocated shoulder, serious blows to the spine, five broken ribs, and bruises and cuts ranging in size and severity that contributed to the blood loss; most concerning though was that one of the ribs had broken back and punctured her left lung. We set the bone, drained the lung and repaired it. For now though, she's stable. I must say she's a very tough girl."

Izumo sighed in relief as Mikoto's shoulders relaxed and he responded, "She is."

"But," a sad look came over the medic's face, "I'm very sorry to say this-" Again he paused and looked nervously at the intimidating red head, "We were not able to save the fetus."

A chilling silence settled over the group as Izumo froze and Tatara's jaw dropped, their eyes flying over to Mikoto's rigid body.

"What?"

The doctor tried not to shake at the tone the stiffening man took on, instead focusing on keeping his voice steady, "Yes, she was just about two months pregnant. Did she not know?"

"Shit."

The word had barely left Izumo's mouth before the door to the room was closing and Mikoto was gone.

"Shit!" he jumped for the door and wrenched it open, following him in.

The doctor turned to go and get them but a hand on his shoulder stopped him. He looked back at the blond, who starred solemnly at the door,

"I wouldn't go in there if I were you."

He snapped his mouth shut at the tone of the shorter man's voice and cast a look at the door.

"I can't do anything else here can I?"

Tatara shook his head and released the doctor's shoulder, watching as the medic walked away. Now alone, he tried to let himself absorb the situation before walking in. The idea of Umeko being pregnant, more so with Mikoto's child, seemed alien in and of itself. Not necessarily bad, just odd. The more he thought about it, the more he could picture it. He could see her, it would've been a her Tatara was sure of it, with her dad's hair and eyes but her mom's nose and freckles. She'd grow up to be beautiful and smart and strong and kind, just like her parents. But now she was gone, and he could only imagine what that fact was doing to his king right now.

Swallowing nervously, he pushed open the door and stepped in. It was much calmer then he would have expected. Umeko was still asleep, and Mikoto was just standing next the bed, face blank and eyes emotionless. Izumo was hovering behind him nervously, ready to grab him before he could do anything. The taller man's eyes skipped over to Tatara as he stepped up, panic clear in the orbs even through the dark sunglasses. The younger man tried to smile, but could only grimace. He looked back at the girl in the bed and felt his expression deepen.

Her face was covered in bruises, her nose was broken, and there were stitches over her left eye where the skin had been cut open. And those were only the injuries he could see. No one moved for a few minutes, and Tatara was debating saying something when he heard the sound of sheets rustling and watched as hazy cinnamon eyes blinked open.

"Mikoto? Izumo-kun? Tatara-kun?" her eyes squinted as she tried to focus on them, and her hand twitching as if to try and reach for them. Dread filled Tatara as Mikoto just stood stationary, not moving to grab her hand, eyes just looking at her emptily. Stepping slightly closer, Tatara reached over and grabbed her hand, "We're here Umeko-chan."

A small smile crossed her split lips and her eyes drooped closed again, "Thank you."

"Both of you out."

The calm that had been inching into the room vanished as Mikoto finally spoke, and Tatara gripped the hand holding his nervously.

"I don't think that's such a-"

"Now."

Izumo snapped his mouth shut, shivering at the intense heat that filled the small room. Umeko's eyes opened again, and she looked nervously at the red head. Her eyes flew to Tatara's as he let go of her hand, eyes filling with sympathy as Izumo began to pull him out. When they left the room, a heavy silence settled.

"Mikoto what-"

"Shut up."

Umeko swallowed thickly, "I don't understand-"

"Bullshit," he finally looked up and she was shocked by the pure hatred she saw burning in them, "You never even told me you were pregnant."

Umeko choked, looking at him in utter confusion, "But I'm not-"

"The fucking doctor just told me you were."

"Were?" she already knew what was coming but it still hit her like a bullet all the same.

"You lost it."

She brought her hand shakily to her mouth, muffling the sob that ripped out of her. Her eyes flew to his, wide and desperate, "Mikoto I swear I didn't-"

"Liar."

She stopped, tears still streaming down her face as she looked at him. He was staring at a spot over her head now, not even looking at her face.

Her heart broke as he turned and started to leave.

"Mikoto wait!"

But he didn't, he just walked out of the room.

The group quickly cleared a path for their king to pass through as he walked back towards the elevator. They watched him until he disappeared around the corner, at which point they finally picked up on the sound of quiet sobbing.

Tatara glanced at Izumo before rushing into the hospital room.

Umeko had her face in her hands, knees curled up. She looked so small.

"Umeko-chan," he whispered.

"What have I done? Oh god Tatara-kun what have I done?"

Tatara felt his heart go out to her and walked into the room till he was standing next to the bed. Putting a hand on her head, he sat down and right away she turned and latched onto his shirt.

"I didn't know! I swear I didn't know!"

"Sh. It's fine, it's fine. It'll all work out somehow."

After a few minutes they heard the door open and saw Izumo slowly enter the room, shutting the door firmly behind him.

"I sent them all home," he gave as explanation.

Tatara nodded but kept gently stroking Umeko's head. Izumo looked at her trembling body and knew that she hadn't done this on purpose. It just wasn't in her nature. Still, he had to be sure.

"Umeko," he started carefully, "did you really have no idea?"

She let out one more loud sob before sitting up a bit, casted an apologetic look at Tatara and the large wet mark she had let on his shirt. He just gave her a small smile and a nod to continue.

"I just never saw the signs," she breathed shakily. "I knew I was late this month but I've never been consistent, I miss a month all the time."

She bit her lip and looked down at her lap, trying to remember any other details.

"And the vomiting I thought was just from the bug that was going around. We were all sick at the same time and I guess I never thought that it could've been anything else…"

Umeko felt tears start to pool over and run down her face.

"I was so stupid. I should have just put two and two together instead of brushing it off."

"Umeko-chan you didn't know. All the symptoms you were having you thought were related to other things that made sense at the time. You can't blame yourself for this," Tatara soothed.

'But Mikoto can,' she thought to herself. A picture of his face flashed to her eyes and all she could see was the raw anger and hatred it showed.

"My god he hates me," she whimpered, bringing her hands up to her face again as the sobs returned.

"I doubt that. He just needs some time to process then he'll be fine," Izumo replied.

"But what if he doesn't calm down? What if he can never forgive me? For Christ's sake I killed his child! He hates me I could see it!"

"Mikoto could never hate you," Izumo said firmly, "he's just overwhelmed and needs a little while to figure this all out."

"And Umeko-chan," she looked at Tatara, "that baby was just as much yours as it was his. This is affecting you just as much as it's affecting him."

'Your baby.'

The thought alone made her nauseous; she had killed her own child.

The pair didn't stay much longer, just until Umeko stopped crying and had faded to sleep.

The car ride home was silent. It wasn't until they had parked outside the bar that Tatara finally spoke, "He'll forgive her won't he? It's not her fault."

"I know," Izumo sighed, "he just needs time."

The next few days were both incredibly slow and a blur of motion. Mikoto didn't come out of his room except to eat and even them he'd usually take it back upstairs. Most of the members stopped coming after the first day. The atmosphere was so tense everyone was uncomfortable and besides, no one was talking.

Tatara and Izumo visited Umeko every day for an hour or so and each time it was the same. They'd walk in and she would turn towards them hopefully until she realized whom it was and her eyes would dull. They would try to talk to her but all she really did was nod her head and shrug every few sentences.

The bruises on her face were fading quickly but she still looked just as weak and frail as the day she'd entered the hospital. If anything, she was even paler and thinner. That and the dark circles under her eyes were testimony to the lack of sleep and food she'd been getting.

After two weeks, Tatara decided that he needed to do something.

Izumo watched him stand up from the bar stool and walk towards the stairs.

"Are you sure that that's such a good idea?" he asked. He trusted Mikoto but when he was angry he could be uncontrollable. Unless it was Umeko, then he always seemed to be in control.

"Don't worry, it'll be fine," he called over his shoulder as he disappeared up the stairs.

"King?" he knocked lightly, "I'm coming in."

The room was dark and it took Tatara a minute to find Mikoto on the bed, starring blankly at the ceiling with his arms crossed behind his head.

"What do you want?"

Tatara took this as a sign to enter and shut the door although he didn't walk any further in.

"King," Tatara started, "I think it's time that you went and saw her."

He was careful not to say Umeko's name, not wanting to push it anymore than he already was.

Mikoto didn't react except to narrow his eyes more at the ceiling.

"She's not doing well," Tatara gulped when he saw Mikoto stiffen, "she's not eating it seems. Or sleeping for that matter."

Still Mikoto didn't move.

Tatara sighed and turned to leave. He'd been hoping for at least some sort of reaction, but clearly he wouldn't be getting any. He was halfway out the door when he paused and said, "Don't forget it was her baby too."

Shutting the door, he walked back down.

"How'd it go?" Izumo asked as Tatara walked back into the room.

"Nothing, he didn't do anything."

Izumo sighed wearily as he dragged a hand down his face. "Those two are absolute wrecks when they're apart."

The two lapsed into silence as Izumo went back to polishing the glass he was holding and Tatara stared blankly down at the bar top.

They both jumped when they heard footsteps come down the stairs and straightened when Mikoto entered. But instead of him going to the kitchen he made a beeline for the door.

"Oi Mikoto, where are you going?" Izumo called.

Mikoto paused with his hand on the door before turning his head back to look at them, "Hospital."

The pair shot each other looks before scrambling after the red head.

Striding up beside him, Izumo put a hand on his shoulder, "Then I'll drive."

Tatara got a bad feeling as soon as they pulled into the parking lot. The feeling only got stronger as they entered the lobby, and it became almost nauseating by the time they were in the elevator.

No one said anything as they walked down the hallway and stopped in front of room 357.

Mikoto reached for the door nob and it took everything in Tatara not to rip his hand back.

He regretted not doing just that because when they opened the door the room was empty.