Disclaimer : I don't own Detective Conan
Apologize for any grammatical errors
Vaguely, between conscious and not, while holding back the pain that was getting worse in her stomach, Kazuha could hear the hustle and bustle around her. Weakly, Kazuha looked around her.
This place ...
The brightness of the lights ...
The distinctive smell of disinfectant ...
The sound of sirens coming and going alternately ...
No doubt, now she is in the hospital. How can she get here, she doesn't know, since it looks like she had fainted before. But most likely Heiji took her here.
Speaking about Heiji ...
Kazuha's eyes searched for her husband until she finally found the figure she was looking for.
There he was, standing not far from where Kazuha lay. He's talking to someone wearing a white robe. A doctor. Kazuha's forehead furrowed as she saw Heiji's face which she couldn't describe with words. He looks tense, anxious, panicked, all together at once.
He looks ... broken. And desperate.
Why? What's going on? What did that doctor say?
Hey, wait a minute. Anyway, it seems like she forgot something important ...
Kazuha gasped when she suddenly remembered what had just happened. She had just experienced a terrible event. And then ... My God! Her children! Hiro and Kana, are they all right?
"Ukh!" Kazuha groaned as her stomach, again was hit by pain.
"Heiji! He-i-ji ..." Weakly, Kazuha called her husband. Her hand reached for empty air until Heiji's hand finally held it.
"Ukh!" Another wave of pain again hits her pregnant stomach made Kazuha squeeze Heiji's hand, hard.
It feels like Kazuha knows this pain.
Her stomach ... is contracting, like she is about to give birth.
But, wait, this doesn't make sense! She was only six months pregnant! There's no way she'll give birth now, right?
Right?
"Ukh! He-Heiji ..."
"Mr. Hattori, I'm sorry but ..." The doctor who had just spoken with her husband turned around with a concerned face towards Kazuha. "I'm afraid we don't have time anymore. Your decision, please?".
Now it was Kazuha's turn to feel Heiji squeeze her hand, but gently, as if encouraging her.
"Doctor, if-if I really have to choose ..." Heiji paused to see Kazuha "Please save my wife!" he kissed her palm.
Kazuha felt numb. Her eyes widened, not believing what she had just heard. She knew what that meant. She knows exactly the continuation, just like the scenes in the movies or soap operas she used to see.
No! This is not real! This is not happening to her! She just watching one of her favorite soap opera. Or dreaming. A nightmare!
This can't happen to her!
"Don't! Doctor! My babies! Save ... ukh ... my babies!".
The doctor seemed to have predicted this, he now anesthetized Kazuha. "Calm down, Mrs. Hattori. Don't worry, everything will be fine!".
Kazuha cried softly, when she felt the anesthetic began to work. She can't save her babies!
"No ... Don't ... Please, don't kill my babies ... Doctor ... Please ..."
"Don't worry, Love. You'll be fine!".
Hearing Heiji's words, instead of being happy, Kazuha was furious.
You'll be fine ...
Somehow, Kazuha was sure Heiji only mentioned her. Not plural. Not her and her babies. Their babies, actually. But how could he? These are his babies too! Doesn't that mean he will kill his own children? Did he realize that, hello?
Too bad she's in pain and has no more energy to fight.
"Heiji, please don't! Save our ... ukh ... babies ..."
Kazuha saw Heiji smiling sadly as he once again kissed her palm before she was taken away. "I'm sorry, Love. But I can't lose you. You'll be fine, I promise. I love you!".
"No! Don't! Doctor, please!" Kazuha is still fighting the drugs that slowly put her to sleep.
My babies ...
Kazuha cried softly while falling asleep.
I'm so sorry ...
"Daddy? Will Mommy ... Will Mommy be alright?" Kana's small voice broke Heiji's empty mind, while Hiro, who was now lying sleepy in Heiji's lap, blinked his two small eyes, to shake off his sleepiness when he heard his sister ask. He also wanted to know how his mother was now. They've been waited for hours in front of a closed room, where their mother was brought in until now.
For a moment Heiji was stunned, unable to answer, before finally he gently stroked his daughter's head, because he himself was actually still in shock.
But before he answered, Shizuka Hattori, his mother, who was called here by his father to actually bring Hiro and Kana home, preceded Heiji by replied "Your mommy is fine. Remember, she is very strong! Why don't we go home now and get some sleep? You two must be tired, aren't you?".
"E-eh? Don't want to, Grandma! We want to wait here!" As predicted, Hiro and Kana immediately protested.
"Your grandmother is right! You better go home and take a rest ..."
"But Daddy ..."
"We don't want to ..."
"Hiro! Kana!".
The twins immediately flinched when they heard their father use that tone. A commanding tone that seemed to say 'I'm your father and I don't want to hear any protests or you will sleep outside'. It sounds cruel indeed, but sometimes Heiji does use it for his children. It is very effective and strangely, only works for Heiji who uses it. Heiji himself prefers to call it a disciplinary tone since his children are sometimes uh ... lose control.
"Yes, Daddy" Without another words, obediently Hiro and Kana took Shizuka's hand. But before they left, Heiji stroked each of his children's heads and kissed their foreheads.
"I love you guys. Don't be naughty at home and obey your grandma!".
Hiro and Kana seemed hesitant for a moment.
"Daddy ...?" Finally Hiro ventured to ask.
"Hmm?".
"I ..." he then yawned widely, then a second later followed by his twin sister.
Heiji smiled a little and then softly ruffled their hair. "See? You are sleepy! Go home and get some sleep! Don't worry, Mommy is fine!".
"You too, Heiji!" Hearing his name mentioned, Heiji looked up at his mother.
Shizuka Hattori smiled at her son. Smooth wrinkles appear on her still beautiful face even at the age of half a century. For a mother, a son is forever a son. Likewise with Shizuka. Even though Heiji has now become a husband and father, he's still her little son.
Shizuka knew, Heiji himself was actually frantic and chaotic. He just made an extraordinary decision for his family. It takes great courage and toughness to make such decision like that.
"Don't worry Heiji! Everything will be fine. You've made the right decision!".
Heiji suddenly felt inferior "I ... I don't know. I mean, I ..." Heiji swallowed nervously. "Did I really make the right decision?".
"Will you choose another then?".
"No!" Firmly, Heiji immediately refused. There's not the slightest doubt in his voice.
The other choice, that means Kazuha will ...
No! That's not even an option for him.
Hearing Heiji's firm answer, Shizuka smiled "So, that means you have made the right decision!".
Heiji looked at his mother, his eyes desperate "I'm a terrible father. Kazuha, she ... She will hate me ..."
"Ssh!" With her eyes, Shizuka glanced at her grandchildren, giving Heiji a silent code, which was immediately understood by him.
Cleared her throat, Shizuka answered anonymously "I'm sure, she will understand. You will be fine, trust me. Come on Hiro, Kana! I'll make you takoyaki for dinner!".
"Yay! Takoyaki!" The two children cheered.
"Say goodbye to Daddy!".
"Bye, Daddy!".
"Bye, Daddy!".
Heiji still waved slowly, even though his children and his mother had started to become small in the distance.
He chuckled a little. When it comes to food, the twins forget everything, just like him. They already argue if the takoyaki will be filled with octopus or squid, Heiji even hears Kana want to try takoyaki with chocolate flavor! Seriously?
Heiji sighed and then sat back in the chair where he had been sitting. He remembered his conversation with his mother.
You've made the right decision.
He doesn't know. Apparently, for Heiji, currently there is no right decision.
Will you choose another then?
Once again Heiji trembled at the thought of what was the opposite decision. No! No way in hell! He won't choose the opposite!
So, that means you have made the right decision!
He doesn't know. God, he really doesn't know!
But strangely, the words actually grew stronger in his ears.
That means you have made the right decision!
Amen!