AN: Good morning! You might've gotten an email super early saying that I posted my ch2. It's true. However, I noticed too many typo's, I was missing some dialogue (I uploaded through my phone) so I took it down just to fix it up.
Tbh, I think I did a good job on this chapter, the plot twist didn't even come to me till I was actually writing the actual scene. Anywho, enjoy!
"Next stop, Tonan Medical Hospital & ER."
Naoki's eyelids parted open wearily, looking out of the subway's window. Dark colors zoomed past his eyes rapidly, shifting his eyesight to the watch strapped in his left wrist.
7:30 AM.
With a sleepless night and a lack of breakfast, Naoki felt like complete and utter shit. The weary man snorted at his blunt thoughts. He didn't care about anything at the moment, highlighting how he refused to acknowledge the woman next to him, sending him flirtatious and promiscuous glances. It was seven in the morning.
Too early for this nonsense.
Folding his arms together, he mentally prepared himself for this taxing day. Two surgeries, five hours in the clinic, and a handful of check-ups was all he had to do to get home. Feeling the familiar halt, he stood up, grabbed his suitcase and headed out. The sun pierced his eyes harshly, causing him to squint as he quickly paced to the eight-story building. The familiar smell of chemical cleaner and sanitation spray invaded his nostrils as he looked around. Today looked exceptionally busy; mothers held screaming children, people were writing the information on the medical sheet, and nurses looked busy and overwhelmed. He had a feeling that he wasn't going to leave on time today.
"Thank you Doctor Irie. Have a good day." The elder woman murmured cheerily as she exited the clinic room. Bowing, Naoki murmured a thank you and farewell, while pulling out the next patient's file. Taking a sip of the cold and bitter coffee helped him somewhat focus; three hours in his shift and he was being more stoic than usual. When his rest goes south, so does his attitude; curt responses and his eye-rolling didn't help matters either.
By noon, everything went from decent to downright horrible. Hordes of patients swarmed the hospital, taking doctors and nurses left and right. Due to the chilly weather, people were showing up with the all- too familiar symptoms of the flu.
Kotoko was processing and filing the new medical files that were written down today; so far half the nurses were stuck doing the clerical work since it had to be processed first before the actual consultation. Other than that, it was a really, really, long day. Switching rounds with the other nurses helped Kotoko begin her quest to find her beloved doctor. After a great night, she felt energized by the extra sleep and ahem...sexual activities that wore her out. Humming merrily, she skipped on, pushing the cart of injections and bandages to its next victims.
However the pediatrics department was a different story; various nurses were taking on double their patient capacity, there was only him and another doctor available, and he himself felt unfamiliarly overwhelmed. Massaging his temples, Naoki hummed with annoyance; his head was beginning to throb with a vengeance. Obviously it was due to the lack of sleep and actual food. Thankfully, he'll have a break in half an hour.
"Doctor Irie. May I have a word?"
Turning around, the Chief Nurse gave a small smile as she handed him a steaming cup of coffee. Nodding and thanking her for the coffee, he pulled up a chair for the intimidating woman.
"First of all, great job with picking up the emergency case from that foreign woman. Christine-san? Its a relief that you calmed down her husband. I wonder how she's going to be tomorrow. Second, I noticed that Kotoko-san has really improved on her work! I'm excited that her studying has begun to pay off."
"…Oh really? I'm quite glad." Naoki mumbled, slightly guilty that he helped on almost every aspect of the report.
"However, have you had some sleep lately? You seem very ill-rested." Chief continued, eying him with a look of concern. It wasn't natural for the prodigal doctor to be so introverted; normally he kept to himself, but today he was so closed off and curt, almost like an island. The dark bags under his eyes didn't help matters either.
The lanky man shrugged. "I've just had a few sleepless nights. After my shift, I'll be home and well-rested."
Smiling in reply, the chief excused herself. Might as well let Kotoko know about his sleep deprivation. No one values Naoki's health more than his scatterbrained wife.
Nursing two sets of freshly-packed lunches, Kotoko skipped to the lockers to change into her uniform. Earlier, she quickly went home and prepared a lunch for her and Naoki as to eat together after his surgery hours. Since Chief Nurse had given her the news of Naoki's condition, she decided to make some food for his shift. Changing into the sterile uniform gave Kotoko power of authority and positivity. After this little hump, both of them would have the rest they deserved.
Today was going to be a good day.
"Irie-kuuuuuuuuun!" Kotoko chirped brightly, searching for him in the OR department. She'd been informed that the Nishigaki/Irie operation was over. Currently, she bad the two hefty bento's of food in one arm and had a bag of bottled drinks and candy in the other. Skipping past the wing, she looked around. No handsome doctor in sight. Sighing dejectedly, she began to descend the main staircase.
"Kotoko?" a familiar voice greeted.
Honey and happiness and all the sweetness in the world entered her heart and everything was right in the world again. Her descending didn't slow down.
"Irie -kun! I've been looking all over for you! I made us some yummy Lunch so your strength can build up and I even brought desse-!"
As the world screeched to a microscopic speed, Kotoko stared as her husband's face slowly morphed into shock and fear, as she tumbled down the stairs. Each tumble to the floor wasn't even registered in her brain as the shock set in. Suddenly, she felt the familiar arms encircle the back of her head and waist and she knew they'd be alright.
However, life wasn't so forgiving.
An almighty crack, resonated through the hallway, sounding too loud for her ears. Everything was still fast and yet too slow.
She felt wetness on her cheeks.
After a few seconds, it was all over. There was no yelling, no thuds, nothing. Feeling the weight of Naoki's body cocooning hers comforted her at the very least.
"Ah my head...are you okay Irie -kun?" mumbled Kotoko, as she opened her eyes. Naoki looked peaceful, almost as if he was asleep. He didn't have any indents on his forehead from concentrating or from his usual frowning whenever she did something crazy.
He looked fine...aside the fact that his hair line was beginning to seep with blood.
Drops splashed on her cheeks, marring her porcelain skin with crimson.
Naturally, she screamed.
The blood-curdling scream echoed through the hospital as she dazedly sat up and began to sob.
"No Kotoko, he needs you! Keep calm!" The little voice in her head resonated quickly, stopping her hiccupping sobs.
Laying him upright, she tried coercing him awake.
"Irie -kun wake up! Wake up!" She begged as she slapped his cheeks with quick succession, earning a slight frown from his face. Seeing his face come to life again set her heart beating again. Yelling for help and assessing him was no easy task.
Taking his flashlight pen, she opened his eyes and flashed light into them. His eyes were still dilated, not contracting in the slightest. He must have a concussion. His leg was bent at an awkward angle, signaling that his long leg may be broken. Straightening him out, took his pulse and continued to slap his cheeks, hoping he wouldn't fall asleep.
"..Stop…. It hurts.." his voice bit out shakily from the floor. She breathed a slight sigh of relief.
"Please stay up Irie-kun. What is your name honey? Who are your parents?" She questioned shakily, trying to get an answer. As long as he was busy thinking, he'd be alright. Hearing the multiple feet running towards her, she began to quickly report to Dr. Nishigaki what had happened and what his symptoms were.
As he was being lifted to the stretcher, he murmured into the oxygen mask. "Irie... Nao-ki. My parents are Noriko... and Shigeo Irie. I'm a senior at Tonan High-school…"
The swirling and chaotic memories of Irie Naoki came to an abrupt halt as this world turned black, wiping everything clean.
AN: Hope you guys liked this chapter! I'm having like plot babies from this prompt tbh. I hope it left you all on a cliff hanger tbh. Till next time! Review if you have any comments or if you just wanna complain. I love it.
