[THANKS FOR THE REVIEWS EVERYONE. PLEASE POUR IN MORE REVIEWS. IT WOULD BE NICE IF YOU GIVE ME SOME MORE IDEAS AS TO HOW I COULD IMPROVE IT.

PS: THANKS NEHA!]

Three months passed by peacefully, with business flowing in as usual in the 'City Hunters' lives. But with sunshine, rain and thunder comes by too. And similarly even in the 'City Hunter' duo's lives, a tempest was close by, to striking them soon.

It is a normal summer day in the month of June. After a long day of shopping for groceries around Tokyo, Kaori Makimura went over to 'Cat's Eye', to grab a cup of coffee and to visit her friends, Miki and Falcon. Miki and Falcon were delighted to see the auburn haired young woman, after a long time.

Miki: "After such a long time. How are you Kaori, and how's Saeba san?" she asked after welcoming her guest.

After having kept her groceries bag on another chair, Kaori replied "Doing just fine and that idiot of a sweeper is doing as usual. A cup of coffee, please, Umibozu san?"

Umibozu nodded his head and headed off to make coffee while the two women chatted away. After sometime, Falcon returned with a coffee cup in his hand and said "Here's your coffee" with a stoic-like expression on his face. While Miki and Kaori continued with their chatting about daily affairs, Falcon continued doing the dishes in the kitchen. Kaori was about to take a sip from her coffee cup when suddenly she lost consciousness and fell from her chair, with a thud on the ground.

"Kaori!" exclaimed Miki as she watched the young woman fall in front of her eyes. Falcon rushed to the scene, only to notice Kaori unconscious and bleeding. Kaori suffered a cut on her forehead, from the sudden fall.

Falcon: "What's wrong?" reacted Falcon; on seeing an unconscious and wounded Kaori.

Miki: "I don't know, we were talking, when she suddenly fell..." replied Miki with a shocked expression on her face.

Falcon: "Its ok" he said as he lifted her up "I've got her. You'd better make a call to that buffoon! Hmph"

Miki and Falcon immediately rushed to her aid. While Falcon tended to the wound she received on her head, Miki called up Ryo.

Meanwhile at their apartment, Ryo killed time by reading magazines with lusty content, when suddenly the phone rang. At first, Ryo hesitated to receive the call and continued to giggle and fantasize away over the girl's photos. But when the phone rang for a second and third time, Ryo got irritated and went over to receive the call.

Ryo: "Hello" he said, expecting Kaori to be on the other side.

Miki: "Saeba-san? I..." replied Miki, but before she could say anything, Ryo flooded with a host of questions and greetings.

Ryo: "Oh Miki, it's you! How are you? Is that octopus bugging and boring you to death? May I be of any assistance of entertaining you tonight? Sorry, I didn't know it was you. I thought it was Kaori." he said, with a lecherous grin on his face.

Miki: "Look, can we keep the chit-chat, for later? Right now, you have to help me. Kaori, she's hurt and injured and needs immediate hospitalization. Although, Falcon is helping her but..." she explained.

Ryo: "But how?" asked Ryo as his expression changed from lecherous to serious

Miki: "I'll explain later. Can you contact a few good hospitals, right now? It's urgent" she replied and hung up the call.

Soon after, Ryo fished out a couple of numbers from the telephone directory, kept close beside the telephone. He called up a few hospitals, after which, a female receptionist of a popular hospital received the call. When Ryo enquired about the need for an ambulance, the receptionist transferred the call to the emergency unit. Once Ryo explained the whole situation and gave the address to one of the members of the emergency unit, he hung up the call.

A few minutes later, Ryo called up Miki again and assured her that the ambulance will be there within half an hour and he'll be at the hospital, as soon as possible. Ryo rushed off with his car within an hour to take care of the entire issue. While driving, he thought to himself, as to what happened in Cat's eye.

Ryo's POV: What just happened? I don't get it. Kaori was fine in the morning. In fact, she's fine every morning. What happened to her now? Could it be appendicitis? Hmm. She was complaining of stomach ache and headache. And of late, she did have a loss in appetite. Hmm. But what does this have to do with this freak accident today?

As thoughts continued to plague Ryo's mind, he parked his car and rushed towards the hospital to get an idea of the whole issue. Ryo enquired the receptionist about the patient, to which a pretty nurse guided him down the hallway to the gynaecology section, where Kaori's room was. On noticing Miki and Falcon, waiting on one side of corridor, Ryo went over to ask Miki about the freak accident.

Miki: "Saeba-san, I'm glad you're here" said an over-elated Miki, on seeing Saeba.

Ryo: "What happened?" asked Ryo

Miki: "I don't know. We were chatting over a cup of coffee, when she suddenly lost consciousness" she said.

Falcon: "We healed to her head injury, before the ambulance reached and we helped her get admitted" added Falcon to her reply.

Ryo: "Thanks. But where is she? And is she awake?" said Ryo with a smirk on his face.

Miki: "Unfortunately, no. But I guess the doctors might be able to provide us any details" replied Miki, thinking about Ryo's protective and sheltering nature towards Kaori. But before she could complete, she heard a woman shout out "Pervert!" and noticed Ryo resuming his 'usual' antics, even in the hospital.

Ryo: "Thank god!" he said as he happily chased after a cute nurse.

On seeing Ryo continuing his lecherous activities, even in the hospital, Miki felt disgusted about Ryo's nature and said angrily "That guy! Sheesh! He never changes! And here I thought he was worried about Kaori!"

Falcon: "Leave let him be. He's just as worried as we are, the difference being, he doesn't show it" said an undeterred Falcon.

As Ryo continued with his antics, an older female nurse tapped on his back and said with a sweet voice "Are you related to Ms. Makimura?" to which Ryo jumped behind with joy, expecting a pretty lady, and said "Yeah, sort of". Unfortunately, the lady's voice didn't quite match her facial features, which left Ryo eventually disheartened and he thought to himself "God! For once, I thought she was a bomb! But I guess her face defused me out!". "Hmm, did you say anything, sir?" she asked with a smile on her face. "No" he replied. "Alright, then please follow me. Dr. Nitta wants to talk with you over an important matter regarding Ms. Makimura" said the nurse.

"An important matter is it? Well, I hope at least the doctor's more interesting and pretty than the nurse. Besides gynaecologists can't be guys! In fact, she might be real hot stuff. Then maybe she and I can have some 'fun'" thought Ryo with a lecherous grin, as the nurse led him to the doctor's chamber. But the doctor didn't quite match up to his thoughts and expectations, for he was a man and Ryo, as usual, was expecting a lady. Dr. Nitta was 50-something year old man with salt and peppery hair and beard. Although the man with a deep gravely voice, appeared to be serious and professional, he had quite the sense of sarcasm and humour.

Nitta: "Have a seat" he said as he took a look at the file records for Kaori and added "Mr. Saeba"

Ryo: "What's the matter, doc?" he said as he took his seat

Nitta: "Lately, have you noticed anything unusual, Mr. Saeba?" he asked with a hand on his chin

Ryo: "Except for Naoko-chan, whom I didn't see today in the hospital today and Tomoko-chan from the front desk, I don't think anything's unusual" he said with a smile.

Nitta: "No, I mean, Ms. Makimura. Did you notice anything unusual changes in her and her health?" he asked with a sarcastic expression on his face.

Ryo: "Oh! Kaori?" he said and added "the only change I think I noticed was the loss of appetite, stomach ache and headache, I guess"

Nitta: "Alright. Oh and by the way, what kind of relationship do you share? Are you married or living in, any chance?" he asked

Ryo: "Kaori and me? Why do you ask and why do I have to share details about my personal life with someone like you?" he asked as Nitta noticed Ryo losing his cool

Nitta: "'Why', do you ask?"

Ryo: "Yes why?" he asked as he got up and turned away to leave the room

Nitta: "Because you're going to be a father, in a period of less than five months and now you have to decide what's best for you and her as well. And oh yes, one more thing, it's too late to go for an abortion right now, as it might put her life in peril" he said

A long endearing silence continued, after which, Ryo asked with his back turned to the doctor "Where is she? Where is Kaori, doctor? I want to meet her"

Doctor: "She was awake but I don't know whether if she's still awake now. You see, Ms. Makimura had to undergo a test for which we had to give her a couple of sedatives. So I don't know whether she's awake or-" said the doctor, but before he could complete, Ryo interrupted him.

Ryo: "I don't care. I want to meet her. I'll wait" replied a calm but desperate Ryo.

Hearing the desperation in his voice, the doctor called in the nurse and asked her to take Mr. Saeba down to Ms. Makimura's room. "This way" said the nurse as she guided Ryo towards Kaori's room. He treaded down the hallway expressionlessly in silence without a single word on his lips or a smile on his face.

As tension and distress wafted over Ryo's life, Miki and Falcon waited below to get wind of some good news regarding Kaori's health.

Miki: "It's almost over an hour but Saeba-san's not here. I wonder if Kaori's alright" said a worried Miki

Falcon: "Don't worry. I guess she'll be fine" assured Falcon.

Miki: "I hope so" she said with a distressful look on her face.

Meanwhile, Ryo contemplated and regretted over his past mistakes, as he kept on worrying about their relationship.

Ryo's POV: It's all, my fault. If it hadn't been for that night, she wouldn't have been in this 'state' now! But, I still don't get it. We 'did it' only once. How could she get pregnant in one shot? I guess I must hand it over to my 'mokkori', strong and sturdy, as ever. And I also guess it was alcohol. No, but what the hell am I thinking? The main thing right now is, how am I, going to solve this mess that I'm in right now! And more importantly, will she forgive me? While I tried to seek for a solution from my jumbled mess of thoughts, the nurse led me to Kaori's room. On entering, I found my partner happily asleep, unaware of the tempest in our lives.

Nurse: "Oh dear, she's asleep, till now. But I could have swore-" said the nurse, before Ryo interrupted in between her speech.

Ryo: "Its ok, miss. I'll wait till she wakes up" said Ryo.

Nurse: "Alright" replied the nurse as she left Ryo alone in the room.

Ryo's POV: The nurse smiled at me and left the room. I stood close to the window across the room, near Kaori's bed, staring at a sweet sleeping face. If not beautiful like every swimsuit model, she was definitely looking like an angel. And that's why I loved her! I claimed myself to be a playboy, a flirt, a lady killer and a Robin Hood who stole every pretty lady's heart. But here I was standing in a hospital room, finally admitting defeat in the hands of my not-at-all a babe, tomboyish and foul mouthed partner, whom I fortunately and unfortunately fell in love with. It's not that I don't want to be a father but it's just that I'm scared. I'm scared for the kid as well as Kaori. And moreover, I don't want the kid to grow up in an atmosphere of guns and fear. I don't want the child to go through what I went through.

As Ryo ran his train of thoughts which plagued him every now and then, Kaori finally woke up, only to notice a cool and calm Ryo, waiting with his back turned towards her. Kaori kept silent for a long time for she knew the truth, since the time she gained consciousness in the hospital. She wasn't sure as to what to do but she knew something very clearly. She wanted to bear the child but continue being with Ryo as well. But somehow she knew that was not possible. And for that reason she was sad. She continued thinking about the next decision when Ryo turned towards her, and was surprised to find her awake but silent and sad.

Ryo: "Oh Kaori, you're awake?" asked a surprised Ryo

Kaori: "Yeah" she replied hiding her sadness with a fake smile.

Ryo: "I'm sorry. Look, I know I don't have any right to speak. But I lied to you that morning because I was scared. I didn't know what to do or how would it affect our friendship. Punish me in whatever way you want to. But I'm really-" said Ryo with downcast eyes but before he could complete, Kaori interfered.

Kaori: "It's ok. I don't want to look back and regret for our past mistakes. But can you promise me something?" she asked with imploring eyes

Ryo: "What is it?" he asked with a surprised look on his face.

Kaori: "Promise me that you'll stay beside us, especially through these five-six months. I know I made a mistake by getting pregnant, and you might want to fire me because of that. But can you at least stay beside me for these few months. No matter what, you won't leave me. You see, I want our child to see his dad's face, even if it's only once. After bearing the child, I promise I'll go away. I'll find a way to survive. I know we can't have children. But now that we're finally going to have one, can you at least stay beside me, for these few months? Can you?" she asked

Ryo didn't answer. He was apparently angry over Kaori's proposition. He did not want to be with her, only during good times, but even during the worst of times. Instead he hit her on her cheek. He knew it was wrong to hit a woman, especially if it were a woman whom you love and care for. But this was simply intolerable.

Kaori: "God, that hurts! What was that for? What did I do? If you really didn't want to have a kid, you could have at least told me the truth, four-five months ago! I could have at least done something back then! What's the matter?" protested a hurt and offended Kaori

Ryo: "Just stop it, al right! What were you expecting? Were you thinking that I would stick with you only during the best of times and back out during times like these? Look, I know I'm a loser and a flirt, but not that irresponsible, that I would abandon you. Besides I promised your brother I would take care of you. I know it's my fault. But at least make it up to you. I might be a terrible partner and a man, but at least give me a chance to be a good father?" he said with a smile, giving Kaori a clearer hint about his feelings towards her.

On hearing these words, Kaori's face lit up with a smile. She knew Ryo would be beside her always and especially at times of need. But she never expected this skirt-chasing, childish sweeper to be so committed and responsible towards her. She was happy and delighted on hearing Ryo's decision. But somehow she was sad. Sad since she didn't know what lay ahead in the dark and distant future.

No matter how much she tried to hide it she felt a separation was inevitable.