"Matsuda?" you asked, jumping backwards to dodge the frantic investigator.
"Sorry, can't talk. Got a call that my mum fell down a flight of stairs and she's in intensive care at the hospital…" Matsuda shouted, not slowing down on his way to the front entrance.
Staring down the corridor in surprise, your resolve hardened and you sprinted after him.
Matsuda tried to pull the door closed as he spoke to the taxi driver, "Tokyo Hospital, please."
Realising he hadn't managed to succeed in closing the door, he looked to his left to see you holding on to the handle, a look of defiance on your face.
"Ahiru-chan?" Matsuda gaped in shock, loosening his grip on the door.
Wrenching it open in victory, you waited for him to move before seating yourself next to him in the cab. "What are you doing?" he asked, clearly confused.
"I'm going with you, of course," you said, your tone saying that it was obvious exactly what you were doing.
"Oh…" he said, looking down at the floor, "Why?"
"Everyone needs a shoulder sometimes," you said, feeling embarrassed as you gave him a small smile.
He returned the smile before turning to stare out the window, his expression seeming lost.
"We're here," broke in the taxi driver, staring at the two of you in the rear-vision mirror.
Breaking out of his trance, Matsuda paid the driver and walked into the hospital. You followed him, feeling slightly apprehensive. After he talked to the nurse at the front reception, you followed him into the lift and then to the door with the number 311 engraved on a plaque. He turned the doorknob and pushed on inside, his jaws clenched together. You followed him in, nearly gasping at the white-haired ghost lying on the bed. "Mum?" Matsuda croaked out, moving to his mother's side.
The ghost turned her head and blinked at Matsuda, appearing to not recognise her son. After a tense pause, a quiet whisper. "Ma-tsu-da?"
He looked up, his eyes hopeful. "Yeah, Mum, it's me. I came as soon as I got the call from the hospital…"
"You were always a good boy…and you've brought your girlfriend with you as well. It's so nice to meet you, dear. I'm sorry we couldn't meet in better circumstances…"
"Uh, actually-" Matsuda began, his voice nervous.
"It's nice to meet you as well, Mrs. Touta," you cut in, bowing in respect.
She nodded in acknowledgement, smiling slightly. A nurse bustled into the room, efficiently checking the IV and the heart monitor before speaking lightly to Matsuda's mother. The nurse then turned to the two of you and said, "It's actually time for Mrs. Touta's check up with the doctor. I'm afraid there seems to be…problems…"
"Problems? What kind of problems?" Matsuda demanded, stepping closer to the nurse.
You placed a hand on his arm, and he turned away from you, ashamed. "I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me…"
"It's ok, we can understand how you must feel," you said, before glancing at the nurse, "Can you please tell us what these complications are?"
The nurse nodded, wary eyes on Matsuda, "We will monitor her for a few days and then we can tell you what we have found."
The nurse helped Mrs. Touta into a wheelchair and then wheeled her out of the room, leaving the both of you to exchange uneasy glances.
"But Ryu-kun! You could save her!" you pleaded, unable to believe that the genius would not help Matsuda's mother.
"What would you have me do, Ahiru-chan? Call in the world's experts in medicine? I do not permit it. And neither do I permit you to do so, either," the investigator said, typing on his keyboard.
You stood in shock. You were certain that L would understand the situation and be willing to assist the people who gave their entire being to his cause. "It is an inefficient use of resources," he finished, declaring the matter at an end.
Mouth agape, you stormed off, irritated to no end by the logical thinker. "I don't think you should have said that, Ryuuzaki," Light reprimanded, steady eyes on his companion.
"She doesn't understand my position, Light-kun," L defended, placing a lollipop in his mouth.
"Is that so?" Light said, his blank eyes focused on his screen. 'Maybe you're the one who doesn't understand.'
"We have good news for you, Mr. Touta, Ms. Ahiru. Your mother has responded well to the treatment and she is well enough to return home, under supervision of course. A nurse shall be assisting her until she has recovered enough to get by alone. She is waiting for you in reception," the nurse informed, smiling as she delivered the news.
"Thank you! Thank you!" Matsuda said, completely overjoyed.
The both of you practically ran down to meet her. Over the past week, you had grown so attached to her, and thought of her as your adopted mother. As you reached her, she turned around and her face glowed with happiness. "Matsuda! Ahiru! Are you taking me home now?"
"Yes, Mum, you're alright now," Matsuda cried out, wrapping his arms around her frail form and twirling her around.
As he released her, you jumped in and threw your arms around her in joy. "Mama Touta! I'm so glad you've recovered!"
Her eyes twinkled as she replied, "Just anyone try and take me from my crazy son and my new daughter."
Those words meant more to you than anything in the world and you hugged her again, feeling your eyes prickle with tears.
"Bye bye!" you called over your shoulder, walking towards the waiting taxi with Matsuda.
"Bye dears! Come visit me again soon!" Mrs. Touta called back, waving from her place on the balcony attached to her comfortable unit.
"We'll come back tomorrow, Mum!" Matsuda shouted, climbing into the taxi.
"I'll cook a nice dinner for you both!"
"I'm so glad that your mum is better, Matsuda-kun," you said, smiling widely.
"Yeah, she's the best mother I could ever ask for," Matsuda replied, "When I was a kid, she used to bake cakes for my friends and I, and then when my dad left us, she would tell me that we were going to be ok and nothing could tear us apart…"
You nodded in understanding, feeling sympathetic towards your troubled friend.
"Hey, Ahiru-chan. Why don't you ever talk about your parents? Where do they live?"
A blanket was suddenly cast over your emotions and you turned to stare at your feet. "My parents died when I was small actually, Matsuda-kun," you admitted, jumping in as he opened his mouth, "No need to apologise. It was an accident, right?"
Matsuda closed his mouth and nodded, mutual understanding forming between you.
Desperate knocking flooded your groggy senses. "Huh? Who is it?" you croaked, rubbing your eyes as you sat up.
"It's Matsuda, you have to come quickly!" his voice carried through the door.
Eyes drifting over to the alarm, you frowned. "But it's 4am, Matsuda-kun, what could be so important?"
"It's my mother…"
Your brain cleared completely, and you held your breath as he finished his sentence. "She's had another heart attack."
Quickly paying the taxi driver, you sprinted into the hospital reception, dressing gowns billowing out behind you as your slippers skidded over the smooth tiles. "Where is she?" Matsuda demanded, his eyes wide with fear.
The doctor answered you, avoiding your penetrating stares, "I'm afraid that we have not been able to stabilise your mother's condition…this is no longer a heart attack, but has developed into ventricular fibrillation…I'm sorry, but we cannot save her…make your time with her now."
You stepped into the room, feeling the heavy atmosphere press down upon your shoulders. Swallowing, you walked up to the bed, afraid to look into her face for what you might see. A hand rose off the bed, and you took it, noticing how bright the veins appeared under the almost translucent skin. "Mum?" Matsuda asked, his voice cracking under the strain.
"Matsuda…Ahiru…you came to see me off one last time?" she said, her voice sounding dry.
"See you off? You're not going anywhere, Mum," Matsuda cried, taking her other hand.
Pained chuckles reached your ears, and you found it hard to withhold the tears. "I'm sorry, but it seems like something is finally going to take me away from you," she said, tightening her grip on your hands.
"No, Mum, you can't leave me!" Matsuda pleaded.
The proud mother smiled up at her son, glad that she had raised such a fine person. She then turned her eyes to the watery-eyed woman on her left. "Ahiru-chan?"
Finally, you looked into her face. Behind the tubes and the stretched white skin, you could still see the mother you had grown to love. "Yes, Mama?" you croaked, barely managing to keep your voice level.
"I knew from the beginning that you weren't in love with Matsuda. Allow an old woman her fun. I can see that you are in love with someone else. I must tell you…a man has been visiting me since I was admitted, he has been keeping me company when I've been alone. He has told me so much about you, and I can tell…he is in love too."
Shock shot up your spine, causing your eyes to widen. "What? Who?"
She only smiled up at you, her eyes telling you that this was something you had to figure out by yourself. "I'm afraid I've stayed too long…I have to leave you both now…"
"No, Mum! You have to stay with us!" Matsuda begged, tears dripping down his pale cheeks.
The heart monitor began to show erratic waves and you called for a doctor. "Don't worry about me, dears, you're strong people…you'll be alright…"
Your tears cascaded down, and you hugged her hand close to you, sorrow almost overwhelming you. "Don't leave us, Mama…don't go, we still need you…I still need you…"
Her hand clenched tightly around yours one more time before going slack, cold and lifeless inside your warm grip.
"Mother!" Matsuda shouted, acutely aware that he had just lost his most precious person.
A shadow stood in the doorway, watching silently as you wept over the body of your departed loved one.