Daydreamer: There isn't much to explain here, at least I don't think so. So...I guess I'll get right to it.

Chapter Three

Ren held the papers in his hands, his eyes going from Horohoro's picture to the title of the article, as if his eyes were decieving him. His mind felt blank but at the same time it felt like it was spinning in a craze of too many thoughts. After five minutes of staring, he looked up at everyone else. Even Faust's face was paler than usual.

"That's not all." Manta said as he was trembling. "Look at the date." As told, Ren checked the printed date. His grip tightened on the paper and he almost ripped it in half. The paper was printed a week ago.

"Let's at least go to the hospital. He might still be there." Yoh suggested and everyone agreed. The hospital wasn't very far, only a ten minute walk from their hotel. When they reached the lobby, they went straight to the counter where a nurse sat. She looked up at them and let out a small gasp.

"You're here to see Mr.Usui?" She immediately asked and the group nodded. They could tell she was a great fan if she could recognize them in their disguise. She got up and led them down the hall to the elevator.

"We usually get fans visiting, but only took there flowers and cards. We never let them in his room. For one, there's too many of them. And they're too noisy even for a patient in a coma."

"A coma?" Manta blurted and the nurse nodded, grieve all over her face. They reached the sixth floor and went down a hall again. They came to one closed door, and next to it was a name plate that read "Usui Horokeu". Yoh gave the nurse an appreciative smile that said they'll take it from here. The nurse sympathetically smiled back and went passed them. But Faust put a hand to her shoulder and she stopped.

"Can I talk to his doctor about his condition?"

"Sure, I'll call him over."

"Thanks." With that, the nurse went off. The four entered the room and almost thought they were in the wrong place. Flowers were everywhere and made the room look like a small indoor garden, filling the space with a light floral fragrance. And they noticed about five boxes of cards and letters. But they closed the door behind them when they noticed the curtained bed. Ren was first to willingly walk passed the flowers and move the thin white cloths out of the way. A lump formed in his throat and he almost forgot to swallow it. Horohoro paled a great deal since the last time he's seen him. And he's grown much thinner, his cheek bones bulking out a bit. His once smooth skin was scarred, scratched, and scraped. The more heavier wounds were bandaged. Tubes were taped to his nose and a misty breathing mask was put to his mouth. Both arms were bandaged and one had two I.V.'s. His chest was also bandaged, but had several wires. The wires were connected to a machine that quietly hummed, with a screen showing numbers and graphs that they had no idea of what they represented. From the same machine were also wires that went to the bluenette's bandaged head. They all stared at their limp friend, not even noticing the doctor who came in.

"I heard one of you wanted to speak to me?" All four turned their heads. Faust stepped up and shook hands with the doctor.

"Yes, that would be me. And is it ok if we talk somewhere else?"

"Of course." The two left Yoh, Ren, and Manta in the room. Yoh and Manta began to talk but Ren didn't listen. And he didn't care that Faust left. He was once a doctor so he probably would understand more than any of them. He could explain everything later. What mattered was Horohoro. The Chinese was actually having a hard time breathing as he couldn't tear his eyes away. Yoh and Manta's voices couldn't even reach him anymore. To think they'd meet again like this. In such an unsightly way. This wasn't the Horohoro he knew.

"Faust! What'd he say?" Manta's voice cut through Ren's thoughts and awoke him. The bassist came with a face that could tell no good news.

"We can't say he's in good shape. He was concluded raped when he was discovered and the police already arrested the culprits after a DNA testing on the semen and pieces of hair they left behind, there was four of them. It's practically a miracle that he survived the beating. That plus a stab in the chest and stomach, and twice in the back. And he hit his head hard, though they don't know if it's from falling or the rapists. It's possible that it's both." Faust's expression darkened and Yoh cringed. But what ran through them the most was the spite in their boiling blood towards the bastards who did it. But Manta, wanting to bring even a speck of hope, looked at Faust again.

"But he'll be ok, right?" Faust said nothing and fear struck through Manta. The bassist looked away from them, possibly lost in words. But Ren wasn't so patient and he spoke up for the first time since they arrived.

"Why don't you answer?" It sounded like a suggestion, but they knew it was an order. Faust nodded, and turned back to his friends.

"We don't know. They did all they could do. We can only hope for him to pull through." Silence settled in again. They knew what that meant and it made them all grow numb. Not a word could be said to make anything better.

"Should we...still have that concert tomorow?" Manta asked in a quiet voice.

"Yes." Ren immediately answered and all eyes went to him. Manta seemed to be in most shock. Obviously, that wasn't the answer he expected or even wanted. Ren looked back at him, his firm eyes showing his answer is solid.

"We can't back down now, we have people waiting and it'll hurt the band." Manta's mouth gaped open. Was he really choosing reputation over Horohoro? Apparently that's what it seemed and the manager clentched his hands into fists. But before he could say anything through his gritted teeth, Yoh spoke up in his calm but firm tone. The serious tone he barely used.

"I agree, we shouldn't cancel Manta."

"What? Why!"

"Ren has his points. But if Horohoro was awake, I think he'd tell us to keep going. He wouldn't want to stop us. And tomorow's the last concert of this tour, so we can stay at the hotel for a while when we're done since it's closer than our houses." Ren nodded, seeming content with the conclusion. Manta didn't look too happy with it, but he knew better than to argue any more with Ren.

"I'm sorry, visiting hours are over." A nurse came in and informed the four.

THE NEXT DAY

As scheduled, the stage was being set for the show and practice was held from morning. Manta insisted that they visit Horohoro again but Ren disapproved. In the end they followed with Ren, leaving Manta furious with the Chinese's great pride for the band and it's reputation. The manager's grumbles and mumbles were ignored as practice was held. But this practice wasn't quite like the others they've had before.

It couldn't be the same with Horohoro on their minds. Although it was Ren's idea to practice and not get distracted, he never felt concentration to be so difficult. He usually just thought about the show and pushed anything else out. But the best he could do today was push Horohoro to the back of this head. And keeping it there was a challenge. The image of the Ainu at the hospital frequently appeared when he closed his eyes as he sang. He would almost go off key when he tried to erase it. And because of such practice he got rather stressed and was in a bad mood even when the show was about to start. And it didn't get any better when they were performing.

Unlike when they practiced, Ren sang while having Horohoro on his mind. He sang with all he had and couldn't risk losing concentration from trying to do something else. That wasn't the Horohoro he knew. Not the most annoying bastard he's ever known. Not the stupid, big headed idiot. Not the clumsy, idiotic moron. Not the obnoxious, immature brat. Not the guy that always almost made him lose his cool composure for reasons he still didn't know, sometimes just with that naive smile. He wasn't the energetic guy with the free spirited nature. He wasn't the guy who was always so full of...life. No, that wasn't the Horohoro he knew at the hospital.

He could still clearly remember what he saw. He was so thin, so pale, like it was just merely a shell of the Ainu. And his face, he didn't look like he's sleeping, but more like life left him with barely anything to keep him up. And all those...things, it's as if they're supporting whatever was left in a life of a limp doll. And on top of all that, they don't even know if he'll...

Ren shook his head with the beat of the music. His mind was getting off track of the show. He opened his eyes and looked out at the crowd, listening to them scream and watching them move with the music. Their bodies moving as one and he could faintly hear them sing along. These were the moments when nothing else mattered, when he felt alive the most. But now he just felt like asking them why? They were fans of Oversoul, weren't they? Horohoro wasn't part of it anymore but they still loved him just as much anyway, didn't they? Aren't they aware of what happened to him? At what could happen any time? So how could they be here, smiling and having the time of their lives? But here they were and it disgusted Ren. He's never felt this way towards any audience at any show before. And he felt that way, swelling inside with thoughts of Horohoro, through the whole show.

My worries weigh the world
How I used to be
And everything (I'm cold) seems like a plague in me
And it's hard to say how I feel today
For years gone by
And I cried

TSUZUKU

Daydreamer: Ok, I have a bad news. Remember when I mentioned that I found this band on a website and put the url on this fic? Well I tried to visit it again, only to discover its been deleted! It broke my heart and almost made me cry! Im so sorry if I mislead anyone. I guess the only way you can find out anything would be to type in "spheredra" (the person who made Oversoul) and maybe you can find something about her. I apologize again.
I would also like to say that this was the most difficult chapter to come up with because I just had such a hard time figuring out what to write to fit with this part of the song. So yeah, huge writer's block there. And I know no one cried in this chapter, but thats ok right? And lets just say that the band never knew about Horohoro because they never kept up with the news and they did refuse all interviews. so ya, im sorry if this chapter wasn't very good. but review please, ok?