A/N: I do not own Love Hina, or anything that is associated with Love Hina. However, the plot and characters are my own.
I hope you liked the last chapter, because I know I enjoyed writing it. I hope you will like this chapter.
Now on to the chapter
Chapter 6: A Fake Reality?
The EMTs quickly drove up to the emergency drive way, and swiftly brought him into the hospital for treatment. Suddenly a doctor approached him and asked for his status. "He was just hit by a drunk driver. He has been unconscious since then. Other than a few broken bones, I think he will be ok," the EMT said. "Quick, bring him to ICU stat!" the ER doctor commanded. "He is in critical condition!" the doctor assessed. "His collar bone is shattered, he has a compound fracture in his arms and legs, and suffered a terrible concussion to his head. Worst of all, he's in a coma without anyway of getting him out," the doctor said to himself. "This kid sure was lucky that he survived. He has some glass from the car lodged inside of him. I will have to perform surgery on the man for him to survive," the doctor said to his nurses, while they slowly took him to the cold operating room.
Minutes later, Naru ran through the emergency room, exhausted and ready to pass out from the long run. She was crying as she ran through the sliding doors that might be the last place he visits. A combination of emotions ran through her head as she ran into the hospital. Confused at what had really happened since everything happened in a matter of seconds, upset that she put him through this, fearful for his life and well-being, happy to see his face again, and hating herself for always being so stubborn, Naru didn't know what to do. Frightened and so scared, she wanted the best for Keitaro. She only wanted to know that he was all right and out of danger.
The nurse at the sign-in table quickly noticed Naru, panting and on the verge of crying again. She approached Naru and said, "Hey what's wrong? Apparently, you must have a loved one in here. How can I help?" Bringing herself together, Naru said, "Kei… taro… Where is … Keitaro…?" "Keitaro what miss? I need to know a last name," the nurse replied. "Ura… shima… Kei... taro…" Naru said in reply as tears started to go down her cheeks. She was in major distress. She couldn't think of what to do first, whether she should go home and tell everyone what happened, or wait in the hospital, alone, to wait for Keitaro's health to return. She decided after a few minutes to stay in the hospital, no matter what. She took out the card that Keitaro had given her and she read over the part where he said he would wait forever for her to return. So she decided to wait for him, no matter what would happen, she would wait for him.
An hour passed by. The nurses and the surgeon were sweating as they performed the surgery that might be able to save Keitaro's life. As they worked with the utmost care, they made sure that they would not have a victim, but a survivor. Suddenly, Keitaro's heartbeat started to drop. Eventually it became dead, and for a few seconds, everyone in the operating room could hear the deafening and morbid sound of nothing. The surgeon quickly commanded the nurses to get the defibrillator and to return his pulse as soon as possible. "Clear!" the doctor said as he pumped hundreds of volts into this heart to jump-start it. The doctor kept on shocking his patient until he had a pulse, but there was no response on the heart monitor. Bleak thoughts of death filled the operating room. The doctor regretfully asked the nurses for his victim's file. "Time of death, 3:19 pm," the doctor said to himself while he was filling out a death report. Slowly everyone in the room started to clean up the operating table and return to the normal flow of the hospital.
While the operation was going on, Naru awaited for good news from the doctor. She started to walk around the hospital to get some thoughts off her head. After a few minutes, she found herself at the newborn room. She saw all the new born girls and boys, lying in their incubators, silently resting. She remembered the time back in the train to the Mejiro Station, on her way back to her parent's home. She closed her eyes, and remembered her dream.
She opened her eyes and she saw the entrance to the Hinata Sou. She remembered the same smell and the bliss in the air. It was so soothing to her, and she walked in like last time. She remembered where she walked in her dream, and decided to walk that same path again. Slowly finding her place back into that room, she saw that the crib was still there. She saw her little baby girl there again, sleeping silently. She looked closely at her, and noticed how it was truly her own baby. She noticed how her nose and ears looked just like her, and that her mouth and eyes looked like Keitaro. She wanted to pick up her own baby so much, but she did not want to wake her up from her slumber. She enjoyed the peace and calm around the room. Eventually, she left her child alone and at peace, and looked around for her future self and her future husband. She walked around the inn for a few minutes and found the former manager room. She opened the door and walked inside, hoping to find "her" bedroom. She found her room and decided to look around. Looking at photo albums both from the past and future, she found one that caught her eye. She read the cover of the album, and it read, "A Wife, a Daughter, a Sister, a Mother, and a Best Friend. Thank you Naru." Quickly she flipped the album open, wondering what the title meant. To her shock and dismay, she found old pictures of everyone and Keitaro having great times in the past, pictures of their wedding, pictures of their honeymoon, and pictures of their life together with Sakura. She loved watching her future unfold before her through the photo album. She loved watching herself so happy with Keitaro. There was one page that had caught her eye. She took out that old note she wrote to Keitaro two years ago, when she promised him that she always wanted to be with him forever. She made a paper plane out of it again, and threw it in the air. She watched it float and fly through the air for minutes until it landed onto her lap. After tossing the plane for a few times, she put it back into the album. After going through a few more pages, she realized that in the pictures that Keitaro was in pain. As she looked at more pictures, the expression on his face became more and more filled with pain and agony. Every page took more and more effort to turn, and at the last few pages, Naru could not hold it in anymore, and she began to cry. She got to the last page, and it took her a few minutes before she had the strength to turn to the last page. Once she flipped to the last page, she saw but one picture, and a caption. The picture was the picture Keitaro took with Naru in the photo booth the first day he arrived in Tokyo. It said underneath, "Naru, I never wanted you to see me in pain. I never told you I had cancer, since I never wanted to see you unhappy again. Thank you for being a wonderful wife and my best friend. I love you, and I will be waiting for you always. Urashima, Keitaro: 1978-2013." After she read those words, she leaned back onto the wall, slumped down on the floor, and wept. She had just seen her husband tragically been killed by cancer, and she could not do anything about it. She loves Keitaro so much, and is willing to give her life up for his well being, but cancer was a foe that she could not defeat.
It took her forever to get up. She was so exhausted already from running away, and yet she had to get up for Keitaro's sake. He did not want to see her unhappy, so she tried to put a smile on, and return to the emergency room desk.
"Nurse, where is Urashima Keitaro?" Naru asked, while trying to hide her anguish. The nurse said in reply, "Let me see." She quickly went through the filing cabinet, and looked for his file. After going through a few files, she found Keitaro's file. "He is in surgery right now and should be out of surgery in about three more hours. His file was only created about an hour ago. Are you a friend of his?" In deep sorrow, Naru said, "… Yes, I am a friend of his," while trying not to cry. She said thank you to the nurse and decided to call the inn.
She knew Kitsune would be awake, drunk as always, and should probably pick up the phone. She dialed the number, hoping that she would at least pick up. It rang a few times before Kitsune picked up.
Yawning, Kitsune answered and said, "Hello?"
"Kitsune, it's me, Naru. Keitaro was just hit by a drunk driver!" Naru shouted.
"WHAT?" Kitsune replied.
"It's true; Keitaro was only trying to save me from my carelessness and pushed me out of the way from the drunk driver. I'm here at the hospital, waiting for him to get out of surgery," Naru explained.
"Ok I'll be right there," Kitsune said. "Just stay right there, I'll get everyone there."
"No, don't get everyone up. I just wanted to tell you. I just need someone to talk to," Naru said.
"Alright, I'll come there alone. Does that make you feel a little bit better?" Kitsune asked.
"Much," Naru answered.
Kitsune hung up the phone and started getting ready to come to the hospital. "Who was that on the phone?" Motoko asked, upset that Kitsune woke everyone up with her yell. "It was Naru, Kitsune replied, "she is at the hospital waiting for Keitaro to get out of surgery. I don't know many details, but I know that she is greatly upset. I'll be back in the morning." "Well, I'm coming too. I can't go back to sleep now, now that you woke me up," Motoko said both worried and irritated. Sighing, Kitsune said, "Alright, but hurry up. Naru is really upset and needs someone to talk to." After a few minutes, Kitsune and Motoko left the inn for the hospital, while Su and Shinobu slept quietly.
A few minutes later, Kitsune and Motoko came through the hospital doors. They met up with Naru and started talking. "So what happened?" Kitsune asked. Naru was silent as Kitsune and Motoko were throwing questions are her left and right. A few minutes passed by, then Naru spoke up, "Hey, let's go get some coffee. Keitaro won't be out of surgery for another hour or two." Seeing how Naru was not in a mood to argue, Kitsune and Motoko agreed to join her for some coffee down the street. They arrived at the coffee shop, and ordered a few Mocha Lattes. Naru wanted to get more thoughts out of her head. She just experienced Keitaro die, almost twice. She didn't understand why fate was trying to tear them apart. She knew that she had to confess everything to him. Maybe that was what fate wanted, she was thinking to herself. Kitsune noticed Naru's gloomy face. She knew that she was very depressed nearly watching Keitaro die for her. Downcast, Naru was really thinking to herself while drinking her mocha latte.
'Why did you do that for me Keitaro, why?' Naru thought. 'I am such a selfish girl, why do you love me so much. What did I do to make you love me?' She couldn't find an answer. She thought some more silently, 'Are you really going to die from cancer? Is there nothing I can do?' Suddenly, a loud voice broke her concentration. "Hey Naru, Keitaro only loves you. He chose you out of all of us, isn't that enough for you?" Kitsune said. Agreeing with Kitsune, Motoko nodded her head while she drank her tea. "Just explain what happened, okay?" Kitsune asked.
Naru nearly broke down crying. "Keitaro only wanted me to be happy. He didn't want to see me hurt. I ran down the street to meet him when the drunk driver drove down the street." With tears rolling down her cheeks, she continued, "Keitaro pushed me out of the way so that I wouldn't get hit. It all happened in a second. Keitaro didn't want me to be hurt, but I am so hurt already. He jumped in the way so that I would be safe. He didn't know that I would be hurt knowing that he is not safe. He is in surgery, and he is in a coma. I don't even know if he will survive. I don't think I can live my life without him. He means too much to me, yet I am so helpless." Tears started gushing from her eyes, "Just a few minutes before you two came, I had a vision. In my vision, I was reading through a photo album titled, 'A Wife, a Daughter, a Sister, a Mother, and a Best Friend. Thank you Naru' and I thought it was a photo album that one of you sent me in the future. As I was reading it, I slowly saw Kei's expression in every picture become an expression of anguish and pain." At that moment, Naru embraced Motoko and Kitsune screaming, "Keitaro is going to die of cancer." Motoko and Kitsune looked at each other right away. They too were devastated at the news. They comforted Naru and said, "Naru, it was only a vision. It doesn't mean that it will come true. Remember, Keitaro's body is invincible after all the torment we put him through." Naru, still crying, couldn't let go. She was far too fragile at the moment. She had seen her love get hit by a car, taken away in an ambulance unconscious, and she saw in her vision that he would die of cancer and leave her all alone. She didn't want to accept that fact yet. So much has happened to her in the past 24 hours. Both her body and mind were too weak to handle anymore pain. She cried it all out. All Motoko and Kitsune could do was let her cry it out. After a few minutes, the girls finished up their drinks and decided to go back to the hospital.
They arrived at the hospital, eager to find out Keitaro's condition. Naru walked up to the desk and asked, "Is Urashima Keitaro out of surgery yet?" The nurse at the desk said, "I believe he just got out of surgery. They are placing him on a bed, but I do not think we can allow any visitors just yet. Give him about 2 hours until we can start accepting any visitors."
Kitsune and Motoko decided to go back to the inn to tell Su and Shinobu what happened. Naru, on the other hand, decided to stay behind and wait for Keitaro to come out. She sat in the lobby area, waiting. Seconds turned into minutes, and minutes turned into hours. An eternity passed by before she realized that only ten minutes passed by. She could not endure the long wait. Fifteen more minutes passed by, she was restless. She had to step outside so she could stop thinking about him. Pacing back and forth, she wanted the two hours to pass. She only wanted the reassurance that he was okay. Five minutes later, a nurse stepped outside and called her in.
"Miss, Keitaro's doctor wants to see you," the nurse said.
Nodding her head, Naru followed her to the doctor's office.
"Are you Mrs. Urashima?" the doctor asked.
Blushing at the thought, Naru reluctantly said no. She said, "I am Keitaro's fiancé though." The doctor continued, "I am sorry to tell you this, but Keitaro has lost most of his memory. I am afraid that when he was unconscious, the blow to his head gave him amnesia. I believe that there is almost no way to recover his memories." Naru started to cry, she knew something like this would happen. "There is more," the doctor continued, "Keitaro's brain function is nearly cut in half. During the surgery, his heart had failed for about 4 minutes. Those 4 minutes were enough to destroy a large part of his brain. Keitaro will not be able to live his life as a normal person. He will need to get some therapy so he can remember some of the basic functions of life, such as eating and walking. Keitaro is out of surgery right now, and he is asleep still, but you can see him now if you want." The nurse could see the anguish in Naru's heart. Naru was so torn apart with this news that she just wanted to die. Fate is slowly breaking them apart, and she was completely helpless. The nurse said, "Miss, please come with me." Clearing the tears from her eyes, Naru followed the nurse to Keitaro's room.
Looking at Keitaro in a body cast made accepting what he did for Naru even harder. The doctor gave her terrible news, but watching Keitaro lying there, helpless, was even harder. The nurse quickly pulled up a chair for Naru, and left her alone, closing the door behind her.
Naru started yelling at her unconscious lover, "What is wrong with you? Why did you have to do that for me?" She knew that she would never get an answer from him. With tears rolling from her eyes she started talking about the past. "Hey, remember the first time we met? I know I do. I was so careless. I walked into the onsen, not knowing that you were in there. I thought you were Kitsune at first. I can't believe that I showed you my boobs. I really needed to get contacts then too. Anyways, remember how we threw you out for being such a pervert? I hated you back then. You did nothing else but peep at me when I was changing, yet I loved you more. I remember the day when we took our first picture, even though it was a sticker picture. You walked up into the picture machine, alone like usual, and I came up behind you. I was so reluctant. Getting alone with a pervert like you was something I really didn't want to do. Though I said I wanted you out of my life, I still wanted you to stay. Grandma Hinata made sure that you would become manager. I hated it, but something compelled me to accept it." An hour passed by, and it was nearly dawn. "Remember this New Year's Day and how I was so depressed? Well, I have a confession to make. Before I met you, and before you changed my life, I wasn't always that perfect girl. I had my flaws and mistakes too. Anyways, one night, when I was still young, I got drunk at a party. I made a huge mistake. I went upstairs with some guy, and did it for the very first time. It was so stupid. I didn't know what you would think if I had told you." Tears started to come out and she continued, "If it weren't for my selfishness, you wouldn't be in this bed without your memories. It's all my fault. If I had just told you, I would have caused so much drama; why do you love me so much?"
Suddenly, a voice from no where started talking. "Naru, Naru, get up…" Someone was trying to wake her up. She had fallen asleep on Keitaro's bedside. She rubbed her eyes and woke up. "Keitaro? YOU ARE OKAY!" Naru exclaimed while tears rolled down her face. "Is your memory intact, are you fine?" Keitaro was completely overwhelmed by Naru's happiness, he said, while wiping the tears from her face, "Naru, I'm ok. You were having a bad dream and talking in your sleep, but it's okay now. I understand." Naru started to speak again, but Keitaro put his finger on her lips. "There is no need to explain, I love you, and that's all that matters." "Kei," Naru said, "are you really okay?" "Well I am almost in an entire body cast," Keitaro said jokingly. "Alright,' Naru said while she was remembering her dream in the Hinata Sou.
The doctor entered the room, "Ah, I guess you are awake. How are you feeling?"
Keitaro said in reply, "I'm doing much better. Arigato1."
Naru stepped out of the room while the doctor examined Keitaro. Relieved that Keitaro was better, she said to herself, 'Thank you Keitaro, I now know why you love me so much.'
1. Arigato: Means "Thank you" in Japanese.
A/N: Well, that was one long chapter .;; I hope you guys enjoyed it. Please read and review.
I would also like to dedicate this chapter to all the patients and victims of cancer. Two of my best friends died of cancer, and another one was just diagnosed in January. Thank you.
Ms. Naru.
