A/N: HELLOOOOOO! I'm back! Sort of. This update is thanks to "Vicky," a guest reader and anyone else who keeps reminding me to write! HAHA! honestly, I realize it's been over a year since I updated this story and I've had the bulk of this chapter already on my computer. I've just been so busy that I haven't had the chance to finish it! ANYWAYS! Here is the long-awaited CHAPTER FOUR to Prince Charming. I hope you enjoy, and please leave me a review!

Chapter Four: Fate

For the first time in her life Asako Shibazaki was absolutely speechless. Nothing could describe the whirlwind of emotions that tore through her body the moment they stepped into the dimly lit hospital room. Grief ripped at her heart at the sight of her unconscious friend.

If life were like the movies, this would have been that happy scene at the end of just about every action movie. It would have been that scene where the protagonist, after kicking butt and saving the day, would wake up in the hospital all covered in bandages and surrounded by loved ones. The scene where the sun was shining outside the window and the hero would look up and say that everything was alright again.

But life is never like the movies.

Outside, the world was dark and thunder rumbled in the distance, the harbinger of an evening storm. In this room, Iku was lying on her cot surrounded by sickly white hospital sheets and the heavy smell of disinfectant. Here, she was wrapped from head to toe in bandages, her arms attached to various bags of fluids that hung from the racks above her head.

"Two cracked ribs, one broken rib, a broken right wrist, and one cracked right hip."

Those were Dr. Kawasumi's words.

Cautiously, Shibazaki lifted her gaze and examined the blonde's face, taking in each and every little scratch and bruise that marred her soft ivory skin. Her skin was pale and painted with ugly yellow bruises, the right side of her face was scraped raw and her bottom lip was split.

She was asleep, but there was nothing peaceful about it. There was no drool running down her chin or any soft grumbles of "Stupid Dojo." There was no soft snore or the sound of rustling sheets whenever she moved. No, only the monotonous beep of the heart monitor filled the air, along with the occasional grunt or painful moan. Iku was in agony, and there was nothing she could do about it.

This was not alright.

"If she's lucky, she might still be able to have a future at the library, but it won't be in the Task Force."

Without a sound, Shibazaki fell to her knees and wept.

Tezuka watched Shibazaki quietly from beside the door.

He had watched the anxiety build inside her when they listened to Dr. Kawasumi's report. He had felt the overwhelming sense of panic that radiated off of her as she rushed down the corridor towards Iku's room, and the rush of relief that flooded through them when they realized that she was going to be okay.

However, nothing could describe the pain he had seen in Shibazaki's eyes the moment she caught sight of Iku. She was distraught and overwhelmed and, as much as it pained him to see her like that, to not go to her, Tezuka didn't move an inch. He couldn't.

Much like Shibazaki, Tezuka felt overwhelmed and he didn't know how to act. He was still in shock over the news about Iku's accident.

At first, he'd thought it had been a joke, and was ready to ask what idiotic stunt she had tried to pull this time, like when she got a black eye from running into an automatic door during a raid. However, when an anxious and frantic Shibazaki burst into their squadroom demanding that he and Komaki come with her to the local hospital he knew something was very wrong. Only now, as he stood inside his teammate's hospital room, did Tezuka realize just how wrong things really were.

It was hard enough for him to stand there, to take in the ugly bruises and scrapes that littered her entire right side and the cast that encased her right hand, but to know that Iku still had several months to make it through before she could be transferred to their on-base facility, that was almost too difficult for him to swallow.

"If she's lucky, she might still be able to have a future at the library, but it won't be in the Task Force."

His hands curled into tight fists at his sides.

He'd never admit it but Iku was important to him. Yes, she was loud, boisterous, reckless, hot-headed, stubborn, and, at times, downright disrespectful and childish, but she was never self-seeking. She always acted with others in mind, not herself. She had suffered through her inquiry for his sake, to protect him from his brother, and had never asked him for anything in return. She was reliable, most of the time, and had an absurd sense of loyalty towards those precious to her. She was compassionate and understanding, never turning someone away or giving up on them, and she extremely dedicated to their cause, working hard to improve on her weaknesses and never backing down from a challenge, even when the odds were stacked against her. To say the least, over the years, from the time she pulled the "German Supplex" on him during training to her consideration of his relationship with his brother, Iku had grown on him.

Iku, much like himself, had big dreams and goals and he wanted to see her reach them. This accident, though, would set her back and it would potentially separate her from Shibazaki and himself. She didn't deserve this, she'd worked too hard to get to where she was now. She had forced him to accept her, to commend her for her strength, to admire her resilience and come to the conclusion that she was virtually unstoppable.

This Iku, however, the one lying unconscious and vulnerable in the hospital bed before him, bruised and looking worse for wear, was not the bright and enthusiastic Iku that he'd come to know and love (platonically, of course). This Iku looked frail, her right arm and leg covered in bandages, her complexion pale.

Tezuka felt his hands begin to tremble and he tore his gaze away from the battered blonde, his knuckles cracking and turning white as anger swept over him. He hated feeling so helpless, unable to do anything other than watch his friend suffer and fight yet another battle all on her own. Iku Kasahara was not weak, she was supposed to be invincible, bouncing back from whatever ridiculously stupid stunts that left her well-acquainted with the infirmary. Seeing her like this, though, it made him see red.

Luckily, however, before he could lash out at the nearest inanimate object, a swift knock on the door caught his attention. Grateful for the distraction, Tezuka let out a careful breath and spared a glance at Shibazaki before turning towards the door. Tezuka took another deep breath, reigning in his emotions, and placed his hand on the doorknob, his fingers wrapping around the cool metal bulb before he twisted the knob and opened the door. He was greeted by the sight of two nurses, one blonde holding a clipboard and a brunette wielding a bucket and a wash cloth.

The two women gave him quick, practiced bows before slipping past him and into the recovery room. Tezuka watched as the blonde scurried around the foot of Iku's bed and went to check the heart monitor while the other nurse placed a gentle hand on Shibazaki's shoulder. A few words were exchanged between the intelligence agent and the brunette before Shibazaki rose, picked her handbag off the ground and walked towards him. To his surprise, Shibazaki didn't look back as she strode out of the hospital room, grabbing his hand as she passed and leading him down the hall.

It wasn't until they were a good distance from Iku's room that Shibazaki's quick strides came to a halt and she turned around to face him. Tears clung to her lashes as she met his gaze, the pain and sadness in her eyes making his stomach twist painfully. Without a word, Tezuka pulled her towards him and wrapped his arms around her shoulders, letting her bury her face in his chest as she shut her eyes and let out a shaky breath.

"I knew something seemed off this morning, but I never imagine this would happen." Shibazaki shut her eyes, trying to will away the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks. She had to be strong; there was nothing else she could do. "What a horrible birthday present."

She'd watched Iku strive to overcome so many obstacles, from her inquiry to her parents. She'd seen Iku fail over and over again, and had heard her get yelled at by Dojo on more than one occasion. She had been with Iku every step of the way, watching her grow and seeing all of hard work pay off. It just wasn't fair for something like this to happen, and it pained her so much to see her normally bubbly and energetic roommate in such a state of helplessness. It made her want nothing more than to scream, to shout, to cry over the unfairness of her best friend's fate.

"This isn't right, Tezuka." She mumbled as she felt her throat begin to tighten and she tightened her grip on Tezuka's shirt. Try as she might, Shibazaki couldn't hold in her tears any longer.

"Why her, Tezuka?" She asked as she clutched his shirt and felt the words catch in her throat. "Why'd it have to be her?"

Tezuka frowned and gently lowered his head to rest on top of Shibazaki's as he tightened his arms around her protectively and she broke down before his very eyes.

"Under the tough exterior, she's vulnerable too."

"I'd ask how you're doing, but you look like hell."

Dojo scoffed, sparing his friend a sideways glance as he shoved his hands in his coat pockets and continued forward on the gray-brick path that wound its way all around the hospital courtyard. In the distance, they could hear the thunder rolling through the clouds, foreshadowing yet another heavy rain.

"You suck at this consoling business, Komaki." He replied dryly, shooting his friend a tired look before lifting his gaze towards the darkening sky.

They were on their way to the cafeteria to get dinner and, for Dojo, to help get his mind off of Iku. After Komaki had arrived with Shibazaki and Tezuka, he knew Iku would be in good hands, so he made up an excuse to distance himself from his guilty conscious. Komaki, however, obviously had other plans.

"Oh? Is that what you need? Well then, why didn't you say so earlier?" Komaki stopped and turned towards his friend, arms spread wide, a teasing smile plastered on his face. "Lay one on me, Dojo."

Dojo's brow twitched and he resisted the urge to punch the blonde instructor, settling instead for a heavy sigh as he turned around and walked away from his companion. Pouting, the blonde man lowered his arms and jogged after his friend.

"You're such a kill joy, Dojo." Komaki huffed as he fell into step beside the dark-haired Sergeant. The young instructor shot Komaki a sharp glare before turning his attention forward as they made their back into the hospital and taking a different route towards the cafeteria.

"And you're not being helpful, but do you hear me complaining?" Dojo shot back as they strode down white-washed halls, passing the beginnings of the nightshift as they exchanged greetings with their daytime co-workers.

For a moment, Komaki looked thoughtful before shrugging. "Yes."

"Damn it, Komaki." Dojo snapped, grabbing the soldier by the lapels of his suit jacket and shoving him against the wall. "Would you quit treating this like a joke already?"

Around them, hushed whispers spread throughout the hall as hospital staff looked on uneasily, hesitant to step between the two men but ready to take action if things got ugly.

Komaki held up his hands and glanced over at the concerned nursing staff and gave a small wave. "Please, don't mind us, everything is quite alright."

The hospital staff didn't look very convinced but no one moved any closer as Komaki returned his attention to the man standing in front of him. "Everything is fine, right Dojo?" he asked pointedly, nodding his head towards the uncomfortable medical personnel standing several feet away.

Dojo glanced over at the gathered health professionals and promptly released his friend before turning towards the uncertain group of men and women.

"Everything is fine, I apologize for making a scene." He said mechanically, bowing towards the hospital staff before straightening up and turning to face Komaki who looked sympathetic. "Let's go."

The whispers died down as they walked in silence, their destination several halls away. It was an uncomfortable silence, a very rare occurrence between the two men who had been together since they joined the force years ago.

"She has amnesia." Dojo said at last, breaking the tense atmosphere hanging between them as they entered the hospital cafeteria and scanned the room for an empty table. There was an open pair of seats at a small table by the window and the men set their course for it. "Her doctor said it should only be temporary, though."

Komaki simply nodded, taking in the new information as they approached the empty table and pulled out their chairs to sit down. He knew this was harder for Dojo than he was letting on, so earlier he had been trying to lighten the mood. His attempts, however, backfired stupendously and now he was forced to face the facts. Their beloved Kasahara was not in good shape and Dojo was a hot mess.

"Any idea how long it will take her to make a full recovery?"

"With a broken rib and a cracked hip, it could be a couple of months before she's even able to walk on her own again." Dojo replied sourly, hands clenched on the table in front of him as he glared out the window at the city streets two stories below.

"Hmmm, that is troublesome. Does she know yet?" Komaki could only pity the poor soul who had to tell Iku Kasahara that she'd be confined to her hospital bed for the next two months, save for routine physical therapy.

Dojo shook his head with another deep sigh.

"She doesn't remember who I am, so she may not even remember having ever joined the Task Force." The man replied sadly, rubbing his face with the palm of his hand. "I haven't gotten much time to speak with her, though. I can tell you more by tomorrow."

At this, Komaki raised a delicate blonde eyebrow. "Are you staying the night here?"

Dojo turned to look at his friend and nodded as if the answer should have been obvious. "Yes, I plan to."

Komaki nodded slowly as he examined his comrade with a critical eye. He was exhausted, the skin under his eyes sinking-in with fatigue, but there was look of determination in his eyes that Komaki hadn't seen in years. It was the look that meant he had made up his mind and there was nothing left to be said on the matter. It shouldn't have surprised him, Dojo had always been a bit overprotective and a little too concerned for their beloved female teammate, but there was something different about him today. Perhaps Iku's accident had finally made Dojo feel the need to take action in terms of his relationship with their favorite blonde Corporal.

"It's nice to see that you're finally taking responsibility of her." Komaki prodded lightly. He needed to make sure he wasn't reading too far into this, he didn't want to scare their resident love-birds while their love was in its earliest stages.

"And what is that supposed to mean?" Dojo really wasn't in the mood for the blonde's antics and stupid riddles, but he wanted to know just what his friend was getting at with calling Iku his 'responsibility.'

"Nothing really, just that I'm happy to see that you've finally decided to commit yourself to Kasahara, it took you long enough." Dojo shot his friend an exasperated looked before standing up and mumbling something about coffee under his breath. At the mention of the hot, caffeinated beverage, Komaki stood with the Sergeant and accompanied him over to the coffee pot sitting on the nearby counter.

"I don't know what you're talking about. I already spoke with her doctor about it earlier, I just want to make sure she's okay and to answer any questions she might have if she wakes up again."

Dojo also grabbed an apple and a granola bar off the counter and set down some money before turning back to return to their table with food and coffee in hand. He hadn't noticed it earlier, but he hadn't had the chance to eat anything the entire day and he was hungry. For now, however, he would have to settle for a small meal consistent of hospital cafeteria food. Sitting back down in his seat, Dojo took a bite out of his apple and shot Komaki another small glare.

"That sounds like a commitment if you ask me." The blonde replied with a shrug as he took a small sip of his coffee and glanced at his friend from over the rim of his porcelain mug.

"Then it's a good thing I didn't ask."

"Your words are so hurtful, Dojo. It's a pity, though; here I was thinking that you would finally confess your undying love for our wonderful little Corporal."

"In case you haven't noticed, Kasahara isn't exactly what most people would call 'little.'" Dojo replied, taking a sip of his coffee before biting into his apple again.

"Ahh, but you don't deny that she's wonderful. I wonder how Tezuka would feel if he heard you favoring one of them over the other." Dojo resisted the urge to roll his eyes at his friend's antics and took another sip of his coffee.

"Tezuka is a big boy, I'm sure he'd get over his devastation." Dojo responded, deciding to humor the blonde as he tried to peacefully enjoy his coffee.

"There's going to be a police investigation." Dojo looked up from his coffee to meet the serious, honey-colored gaze of the man opposite of him.

"I know. I already spoke to the police while Kasahara was in surgery. They're planning on coming back sometime next week once she's feeling better and hopefully has a better recollection of what happened."

"Do you think it'll go to court?" Dojo raised a brow at his friend but answered the man's question regardless.

"I don't think so. Kasahara doesn't seem like the type to lawyer-up."

"What about her parents? Have you called them yet?"

'Ah-ha, there's the real question.' Dojo thought to himself as he took another sip of coffee, looking for a distraction.

"Dojo, they're her parents, they deserve to know what happened." It almost sounded like Komaki was scolding him, but Dojo refrained from glaring at the man who was only trying to be helpful and considerate.

"I know they deserve to know, but how do I tell them that their daughter, the one whom I swore to protect, was hit by a car this morning because I didn't try to stop her? How do I tell those people that she's in the hospital and may not be able to walk on her own for the next few months? What do I do if they decide to take her back to Ibaraki?"

Komaki watched his friend carefully, taking in both his words and his expressions as he vocalized his frustrations and his fears. It had been a long time since he'd last seen the man so disoriented and it made him uneasy.

"You should tell them the truth." Dojo lifted his head to stare at the blonde like he'd suddenly sprouted a second head.

"What? That I could have stopped her from running out in front of a damn car?"

"You don't know that, Dojo!" Komaki snapped, glaring sharply at his friend.

"If you had tried to stop her, how can you be sure we wouldn't be here for the both of you? How do you think she would feel if she found out that you got hurt trying to save her? Have you even thought to consider that before throwing yourself this ridiculous pity party?"

"She's here because of me, Komaki! How would you feel if it was Marie in Kasahara's position and you in mine?" Dojo snapped back, watching as Komaki's eyes widened.

"You really do love her, don't you?" It wasn't a question, but Dojo let out a sigh and nodded carefully, his eyes never leaving his coffee.

"More than I ever imagined."