Hello my readers. I know lots of you were upset about the fact I left it on a major cliff hanger. So, this chapter pretty much tells everyone all they've wanted—demanded—to know, What happened to Ryuu? Does Natsume have liver cancer? Is it going to be a happily ever after? Stay tuned to find out!
Disclaimer: I don't own Gakuen Alice.
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"Well, Ryuu…" The doctor trailed off, rubbing his arm.
"Ryuu what?" Mikan asked slowly, nausea building up in her stomach. She didn't know what would happen is something was wrong.
The doctor swallowed and Natsume spat, "Out with it."
"Unfortunately, something went wrong with the surgery," Mikan chocked on her sobs, "he's alive, but, during the surgery the hypertension wasn't fixed properly. We had a slight altercation, and sadly to say the least, your son won't be able to walk ever again."
Mikan stopped breathing. It felt like a clammy hand closed over her head and was squeezing tighter with every second. She felt faint.
Natsume's jaw tightened, "You told us you could fix him!" Flames flashed behind his ruby eyes, and Mikan was too far gone in shock to do anything about it.
The doctor rubbed his chin, "No, I said I had a fifty percent chance of either fixing him properly or him being paralyzed. Like I said, I would contact a lawyer and get this case sorted out. Take the men who hit your son to court."
Izumi cracked his knuckles, "Can we at least see him?" The doctor's eyes shifted between Mikan and Natsume.
"Only the child's parents can see him for now." The doctor said solemnly, gesturing to Natsume and Mikan. Izumi swallowed thickly, and Tsubasa gently rubbed Mikan's head.
"I'm sorry, kid." Mikan ran her tongue over he cracked lips and nodded. Tears fell freely from her red rimmed eyes, as she sniffled.
"Let's go, Mikan." Natsume whispered to her, his voice barely there. He turned her around, his fingers brushing her lower back and the doctor led them to the recovery room.
Both Natsume and Mikan froze at the prospect of seeing their son. The doctor muttered something in Natsume's ear, something Mikan wasn't able to quite catch.
"You can go in. He should be awake but the pain-killers will be in effect." The doctor turned to leave, giving them a small smile. "I am sorry."
"Can we really go in there, Natsume?" Mikan breathed, voice stalling as if she wanted to say more.
He didn't answer her, but instead gave her a slight inclination of his head. He placed his big hand on the door handle, but Mikan could see it shook slightly. Mikan rested her hand on top of his and he gave her a look of surprise.
"We'll do it together, ne Natsume?" They opened the door together.
Mikan's heart leapt into her throat. Ryuu lay on the cot with the thin white blanket strewn over him. He had an IV attached to his arms and the heart monitor beeped soundly, telling Mikan he was alive. Ryuu looked so tiny on the bed, and it reminded Mikan he would always be smaller than other boys because he'd never be able to walk.
The hazel eyed women stepped forward, lacing her fingers with the man behind her. "We can do this." She said, more to herself then to him.
At the edge of the babe's bed, Mikan perched there, and gently brushed a raven strand from his tiny face. His eyes fluttered, and for the first time in two days, Mikan saw his gorgeous ruby eyes, a complete replica of Natsume's.
"Mommy?" He whispered, pain-killers slurring his voice, "what happened?"
Her eyes watered, and she blinked back the tears, remembering her self-promise not to cry. "Ryuu, what do you remember?"
His face twisted into a thoughtful expression, "We had dinner with daddy and I was looking at a rock across the parking lot. I heard loud noises and saw bright lights then everything went black." He explained so animatedly, that you'd think he was just in an accident.
Natsume walked around the bed to the other side and sat there as well. Ryuu turned his face towards Natsume.
"What happened, daddy?" Emotions passed over Natsume's face, finally settling on, conflicted. Mikan made eye contact with Natsume, and he swallowed.
"Well, Ryuu, we have some good and bad news." Natsume said, ruby eyes flickering uncertainly.
"Good news first." Ryuu managed, his eyelids drooping slightly, and Mikan brushed another strand of hair from his face.
"Well, you're alive, and you'll being going back to school in two weeks." Natsume replied his voice trailed off at the end. "But, Ryuu, that bad news is, you won't be able to walk again. Ever."
Ryuu's eyes snapped open, his face betrayed his emotions. He was heart breaking, completely shattered. "What?"
And her promise was broken. Mikan began sobbing, "I'm so sorry baby, I'm so sorry." Natsume reached over and rubbed her shoulder sympathetically and tears welled in Ryuu's eyes.
"I can't play soccer anymore?" Ryuu whispered, "I can't play soccer with Dai anymore?"
Mikan shook her head, still crying heavily, "No sweetie, I'm sorry."
Natsume touched Ryuu's cheek, and tears rolled down the mini-Natsume's face.
The doctor popped his head in, "I think he's had enough visits for the day. Leave him, he needs his sleep." The parents stood up and walked towards the door.
"No! Mommy, daddy, don't leave me!" Ryuu screamed through his tears, and the doctor forced them out of the room when Mikan hesitated.
"We can't just leave him!" Mikan argued, trying to get away from the doctor to get back in the room.
"You might upset him further, Miss. Yukihira! He needs to rest. Your parents and your brother are in the waiting room. First, I need to speak with both of you. We got the results back from Mr. Hyuuga's tests." Mikan's mouth fell open into an o shape, tears still streaked down her cheeks.
Natsume stiffened and Mikan reached out, lacing their fingers together. The doctor motioned for them to follow him back to his office. The doctor sat behind his desk and shuffled through some papers.
They hesitated at the door for a moment's breath than sat in seats opposite to him.
"You know obviously why you're here right? Both of you?" The doctor asked casually and pulled a folder marked in black sharpie, Hyuuga Natsume.
"Tch." Was Natsume answer and the doctor nodded thoughtfully, pulling a slip of paper out.
"Well, the good news is, the tests showed no signs of liver cancer." Mikan let out a sigh of relief, not hearing the but in his tone—but Natsume did. Her tears dried up, and she roughly wiped her face.
"But…?" Natsume prompted and Mikan's relief was sucked from her.
"Unfortunately, we have a problem." The doctor shifted his papers, "Like we discussed earlier about Type 4 and all that comes along with it. Natsume's case is rare; I'm surprised he's lived this long with how viscous the disease is. His insides are being chipped away at, and he's astonishingly lived. I'm wondering how much time he has left. Also…" Mikan swallowed, remembering how it was hereditary. "During surgery with your son, we regrettably found that he too has Type 4. And now that he's paralyzed, Ryuu's life is in a fragile state." His life is in a fragile state? For god's sake! He's only two! Mikan's mind spun.
"What the fuck?" Natsume snarled, "Not only do I have Type 4 but Ryuu does as well?" The doctor sat back and rubbed his temples.
"We're talking about you here, Mr. Hyuuga. From the research we've done about your body as well at Type 4 we've guessed you have until your little over forty before you eventually die." Just over nine years to live, the thought came into Mikan's head before it left.
She spoke up, "So what you're telling me is both Natsume and Ryuu will eventually die."
The doctor nodded, "Yes. Going back to what I told you, I suggest you call your lawyer and get a case going, as the bill for Ryuu's surgery and hospital stay is quiet extensive." The doctor slide the bill over the desk top.
"I'm a nurse at Sino-Japanese Friendship Hospital! I have health care, and insurance, shouldn't that be enough?" Mikan asked, and her jaw dropped when she saw the bill. 562263.93 Yuan*. Her insurance didn't even cover half that amount. She didn't know anyone with that kind of money, and she didn't think the people who hit Ryuu did either. That amount of Yuan was just for the surgery. Why didn't I get a price before we went through surgery? No, I can't think like that. We had to try no matter the cost. "What about for the hospital stay?" Mikan showed Natsume the bill and his jaw tightened.
The doctor pursed his lips, "Well over 62473.77 Yuan*." Mikan heart slowed. They were really going to need this lawsuit.
"Do you have any more questions?" he asked and they shook their heads. "I wish you luck then." Mikan left the room, the bills clutched in her fingers with Natsume in tow.
"Why is life so cruel?" She asked to herself and they met with her parents in the waiting room.
"What's the verdict?" Izumi asked his arm securely around Yuka's waist. Tsubasa stood behind them, hovering uncertainly.
Mikan hiccupped, "Ryuu's paralyzed, the surgery failed. And, we now have this." She gave her father the bills and his eyes widened.
"Where are we going to get this kind of money?" Izumi muttered, showing Yuka who blanched.
Natsume pulled away from the family and pulled out his cell phone, "Yeah, hi, listen, I need some help." Was the snippet Mikan heard before he was out of ear shot.
"The doctor suggested we have a lawsuit against the men who hit Ryuu. We could get payment for the bills as well as pain and suffering and damages that come with him being paralyzed." Mika said, sighing and running her fingers through her hair. She pulled a rubber band she somehow had around her wrist and tied her long hair in a bun.
Natsume returned, "Good news. I got us a lawyer who will help us for no cost. No catch. They'll be here soon."
"I don't see how there couldn't be a catch." Yuka said, furrowing her eyebrows.
"I have connections." Was his answer and Tsubasa glared at him.
"How the hell do you have connections?" They glared at each other for a minute.
"Stop it! We have more important things to do then fight." Mikan snapped and Tsubasa and Natsume looked away. Tsubasa was ashamed but Natsume's was face was unreadable.
They sat in silence in the waiting for twenty minutes, the sounds of the buzzing hospital around them.
The doors opened, and a gorgeous young woman walked in. She had short raven black hair with longer strands in front of her face. She had shocking bright crimson eyes framed by long thick black lashes. She was dressed in a grey pinstriped jacket and skirt. She looked so much like Natsume it gave Mikan the chills.
Natsume gave her a small smile, "Aoi, good to see you." They hugged. Mikan felt a spark of jealously, but suppressed it. Barely.
"You too, onii-chan." Aoi grinned and pulled away, "Although I'm still mad at you. How dare you not tell me you have a son?" So this is his sister?
He shrugged and turned to the rest of them, "This is my sister, Hyuuga Aoi. She's a prodigy lawyer. She's won every case she's had, even murder cases, being the youngest lawyer ever at twenty-two."
Aoi punched his arm, "Stop it, onii-chan, you're making me blush." Mikan could tell they got along fabulously, like her and Tsubasa.
"So you're Aoi. You're going to win this case for us aren't you?" Mikan asked and Aoi smiled at her.
"So you're my nephew's mother. Don't worry, Mikan-chan, I'll win this case for you guys even if it kills me. No cost, I mean, your family now."
Mikan smiled, "Thank you."
Aoi's face fell into a serious one, and she cracked her fingers, "Well, talk to me. Give me all the information you can, and I'll get you all the money you deserve plus more."
So, here's what happened. Bad news- Ryuu's paralyzed and has Type 4 and Natsume also has Type 4. Although, he's going to die in 9+ years. Good news- Both of them are alive and Natsume doesn't have liver cancer! It was just the Type 4 affecting his body. 562263.93 Yuan is equal to 90, 000 Canadian Dollars and 62473.77 Yuan is equal to 10, 000 Canadian Dollars. Now for reviews.
RingoTart~ wow, thank you! I didn't know it made people that eager to read each new chapter. So I just wanted to say thank you.
kookiie~ Well, in a sense, both Ryuu and Natsume are okay and probably will have a happy ending. I hope I don't add too many more problems though. I'm glad you love this story!
akjupiter~ I did dare. I should have made you wait longer… haha just kidding. I love cliff hangers. This one wasn't so bad. It wasn't even a cliff hanger.
Vegie-1526~ I updated :D
pinkpocket23~ Well, now you know. Sadly, it's not a great outcome for either Ryuu or Natsume. I'm really glad you liked the chapter. Still don't know what's going to happen next. Stay tuned!
Soapy Sophie~ He didn't die! Just… paralyzed. And he'd accepted Natsume. So you don't have to hunt me down and kill me just yet. Who knows what will happen with Natsume? What about Mikan? So many unanswered questions.
Ayee-Its-Vanessa~ I hope I haven't given you a heart attack because of this. So, this is what happened.
Demonic-Angel's-Light~ WAH! I'm sorry it's so depressing! It's the Hyuuga gene, I swear!
Reality Romance~ I'm glad I got you to like it…? But thank you anyway! My gratitude.
Without you guys (I mean, I would still write the story but) all your support has kept me motivated to keep updating whenever I can. :D Review, favourite, and alert!
~Emerald~