A/N: Wow, it's been long since I updated. I forgot about the story and I forgot my log in details until I found them earlier this morning. Sorry for keeping you hanging! Without any further ado, I present to you, the fourth chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon or any of their characters. I do own Lily, and my other background OCs.

CHAPTER 4

LILY'S POV

Touko had been out for nearly two hours. She still wasn't back yet, and I was getting slightly worried about her. I remember hearing Alicia telling her friends Cassie and Melody something about a plan. I, of course, didn't bother to listen to their plan because I figured it would be about something stupid – Not like they talk about anything of worth. Now was a different case. I was scared. That was a lot coming from me – Hardly anything got me nerve wrecked. Still, something was rather fishy about this and I intended to find out what it was.

I pulled on my clothes and a sweater that adorned a small Dango pattern on it. Touko and I had gotten them together back when we had gone to the anime festival. Gripping my bag in one of my hands, I swiftly dislodged the keys from the hook and exited to house. I remember having heard her say something about going to Tutti Fruitti. I ran as fast as my legs could carry me – Which was pretty fast, considering I usually made first place during the track meets.

As soon as I neared the building, I peered inside. Colorful shelves and lights were displayed in the store, but I saw no sign of familiarity of the people. She had probably gone home. Biting my lip in anxiety, I scuffed my grey converse on the ground before turning around, walking around the area to scope out any signs of her. Coming to a crossroad, I looked in both directions before cautiously making my way across the street.

Something seemed to be in the way, hence why my shoe had accidentally kicked it in the process. The object was heavy and slightly squishy as I placed my sneaker onto it. I bent down to take a closer look, and what I saw was what no human wanted to ever see. A limp body covered in crimson red.

I screamed at the sight and grabbed my phone to call an ambulance, along with the police. I had no idea when this happened, but the body still seemed to be fresh. Warily staring towards the body, I push the locks of bloody brown hair aside from the victims face. There were burn marks on the girl's features. I look closer at her, and I realize… This is my friend I am looking at.

XXX

The ambulances had arrived an agonizing fifteen minutes after I called for them. With one hand, I clutched onto her hand, her head lying on my lap. I had wiped off most of the fluid that covered her face, and she twitched softly with every movement I made. I followed the paramedics onto the ambulance. They informed me that Touko's parents had already been called and were on their way. I continued to cling onto her limp fingers with shaky digits as I spoke quietly to her.

"You're going to be okay Touko. YOU. ARE. STRONG."

Truth be told, I honestly doubted my own words. Even though she was still breathing, alive, there was no guarantee that she would be fine. Hot tears fell from my eyes – They were probably all swollen and red from all the crying that I had done. As soon as we arrived at the building, I was greeted with a sea of depressed and gloomy expressions. Everyone was present - Natural, my parents, and Touko's parents. I joined them along the side of the chairs, slumping down in the plastic seat.

TOUKO'S POV

All I felt was complete, brutal pain. Strangely enough, all of that washed away when I entered the world of darkness. There was nothing here. It was nothing but a black screen. I watched as scenes of my life replayed before me. All of the happy times I had with my new friends, my old, and my family. I gripped onto my shirt tightly, trying hard not to sob and break down. Was this it? Was I dying? It sure felt like it.

XXX

"Touko… Touko… Wake up! WAKE UP! WAKE UP!"

I heard nothing but a faint voice calling me. It slowly grew in sound, louder, louder, until it was all I heard. The scene of Natural and I hugging shattered before me, breaking into a million pieces – Like glass. Nonetheless, the vocals continued to scream. I couldn't place who they were, but they were definitely familiar. I can't remember at all what happened. Trying to think made my head pound.

A light flashes into my eyes, causing me to squint, trying hard to rub them. It hurt too much to lift my arms. I felt like something was stabbing at my abdomen, and as if someone was taking a lighter and burning away at my face. I heard a series of people screaming, "She's awake! She's finally awake! Thank god she's okay." The only thing that lingered in my head was that I was in a hospital, and vague people surrounded me.

Someone different opened their mouth to speak, "She has suffered significant damage. We are going to have to operate on her immediately. She can choose whether she wants to do the surgery. Her head and heart have suffered immense damage. If we don't repair it now, she'll still be able to function, but it will change her paths drastically in the future."

All pairs of eyes turned to me. The doctors… My family… My best friend… Natural…

"I'll… I'll do it. All my life I have been known for taking risks. It wouldn't be me if I chose not to do this surgery." My voice came out raspy, but I managed to utter the words.

LILY'S POV

I wanted to kill myself. I wanted to slap myself a million times until I died. Why wasn't I there for my friend? If I didn't choose to be ignorant, then I could've found out if it really was Alicia who was behind this. All I knew right now was that Touko deserved none of this… She was having it at the worst right now, and she was risking her life again.

XXX

They were operating on her for such a long time. Eight hours. We all sat there without motion for a total of eight hours - But that's okay, if it was for her. After all, this all could have been prevented if I had just gone with her in the first place. I tried to refrain from sobbing as I whispered my prayers along with the others. "Touko, I haven't known you for long, but I pray, that you will be okay."

Natural sat next to me - He did not have tears, but I could tell that he was trying to hold them back. His face was emotionless, while his eyes seemed to be hollow. He placed a single hand onto my shoulder, gripping it tightly. "Touko is going to be alright. We all know her. She is strong and determined; she will make it through."

XXX

In the end, Touko indeed made it through the surgery with no problems. We all rushed into the room to see her at once. A nurse shot us a stern look, "She needs her rest, please do not stay too long."

We nodded our heads in acknowledgement, and allow Touko's parents to be the first to speak with her. After a few minutes, we were granted access into her room. I, as her best friend, asked for some alone time with her. I sat down next the bed. It pained me to see her like this. She was hooked up to all these machines, wires strewn everywhere and inserted into her arm. Her heartbeat was playing a strong beat in the background. I placed my hand on her cheek.

"Are you okay, Touko?"

She gave me a confused stare, tipping her head to side, "Do I…. Do…. I know you…?"

Eyes widening, I felt my heart clench right before it practically broke apart. My breathing became ragged and uneven. "I-It's me… LILY. Your BEST FRIEND. God… Tell me this isn't happening…"

Touko blinked her eyes a couple of times, seeming to be thinking deeply. Her ocean blue eyes travelled around the room before meeting mine.

"….I don't believe I know a Lily… I think you have the wrong person."

I had the greatest urge to shake some sense into her, but I knew that it wasn't the time or the place to do such a thing. I could tell that I was indeed stressing her out, and it wouldn't do any good for her mental stability. It would make her recovery process even longer than it was already. After failing to get Touko to get to remember me, I walked outside, face pale. The green haired male shot me a concerned glance.

"What happened?"

I felt my knees fall apart under me, falling to the ground, only using my hands to support my weight. I struggled to get the explanation out of my mouth. They sounded jumbled and mismatched and this felt like nothing but a dream – But I knew it was far from that. Perhaps I was just receiving karma for leaving her to go out there alone. It was my fault – All my fault.

The boy stood up, blank. He walks into her room in a daze. After a few minutes, he returned. He too, had tears. I looked up at him as if to ask if he had sparked any recognition in her mind. He simply shook his head in response. He shoved his hands into his pockets before sulking away. He was never the person to show what he was feeling deep down, but the impact of the event had even gotten him shaken.

Touko's parents had returned with the surgeons. I demanded an explanation from them. They told me that it was a flaw that could not be avoided. I covered my ears, screaming. I refused to believe any of this happened. I wanted to open my eyes, and wake up from this nightmare.

A/N: Well? Was that what you expected? Liked it? Completely hated it? Tell me what you think in the reviews and I will try to get to Chapter 5 as soon as I can!