Mamoru and Ami fled the ward before someone showed up to find out why the machines for some long-term coma patients were acting strange.
The miraculous wakening of a coma patient swiftly flew throughout the hospital. Mamoru was actually assigned to be one of the doctors in charge of his case. And Mamoru managed to get Ami assigned to him as well.
Even though he was still dazed from regaining consciousness, Zoisite gave his name as Sakurazuka Soichiro. The authorities searched but discovered that he didn't have any family. So, he was still considered a Ward of the hospital until it was determined he was healthy. Of course, after that, he was going to be on his own. Not that Mamoru was planning on letting Soichiro end up living under a bridge or something.
Soichiro ran his hand across his head. He hadn't said anything, but the habit made both Mamoru and Ami think that he was missing his long hair. "I wish I could tell you how I ended up in the park but I have no clue. I remember being in class but after that…nothing."
Ami patted the still thin hand. "It's alright. Don't force yourself."
His emerald eyes looked Ami's topaz blue ones. "I do remember you, Mercury. And what we did. To you, Endymion, and the others." He frowned. "How…how can you stand being around me? Let alone waking me?"
Ami wrapped her hands around his. "It's water under the bridge. The past. And the way I remember certain things, I wasn't exactly nice sometimes."
Soichiro eyed her. "Uh huh…" His tone clearly indicated that he couldn't picture her being mean.
Ami giggled.
"So, what's going to happen to the others?"
Ami sobered. "They're better than what they were but they're still not awake. The hospital has had withdraw their attempt to pull life support."
"Good." Soichiro shifted restlessly. "Have you told the other girls?"
"No." Ami looked down. "We're not sure how they will react."
"You have to take the chance."
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Makoto looked around the corridor. "At least this isn't some creepy ass basement you're bringing me to. Especially since you're not telling me why you want me here."
"I know. I'm sorry but you need to see for yourself." Ami walked faster. "Hurry, there's only so much time before someone else will come down and check things."
Ami led Makoto into the room. Makoto looked at the rows of people on beds, hooked up to machines. "What is this place?"
"The long-term coma ward. This way." Ami led Makoto over to a bed. Mamoru was waiting on one side.
"Ami, why…" Makoto stopped a meter away from the bed Ami was standing opposite of Mamoru. She stared at the man lying so very still on the bed.
She knew the man. To see the tall, vibrant man of her memories lying wasted and wan, hooked up to unfeeling machines nearly broke her heart. "Nephrite…" her whisper was broken and ragged.
"He needs your help." Mamoru's voice was quiet but unjudgmental.
Makoto looked at her two friends then her gaze wandered away and to the beds that were to the left of them. She recognized the two men lying there. She looked around for the fourth.
"Where's…"
"Upstairs." Ami said softly. "I woke him up a few days ago."
Makoto bit her lip. She moved to Mamoru's side of the bed. She picked up the hand of the man who, in another life, had been her lover. The strong hand with sword callouses was no more. It was as thin and pale as the rest of him. She reached out her other hand and traced the sunken cheeks up to his shaved head. "Oh, his hair…one of the few things he was more than a bit vain about."
A tear rolled down her cheek. She didn't look at her friends. "What do I have to do?"
"Pull out your Crystal, place it above his heart and think about the two of you."
Makoto nodded. Her Crystal appeared in her hand. She placed it over Nephrite's heart and concentrated.
Ami and Mamoru watched.
The Jupiter Crystal blazed brightly but, like the Mercury Crystal and Zoisite, it's light sank deep into Nephrite's body.
The monitors connected to him went wild as he opened brown eyes and looked into Makoto's peridot gaze.
"Sparky…"