Clannad

The Lost Girl

Note: If any of you thought this chapter would be happy... Turn back down! ;I Anyways, Read, Review, and Enjoy!

Chapter Seven

Theater

The next day came quickly... And I found that I couldn't really focus on any of my classes. Once the last bell rang, I headed over to the Theater Club-room, expecting Ushio to be waiting there... But she wasn't. She must still be sick, I thought with a sigh. I told her that would happen.

I shrugged it off, and just walked home, thinking she would probably be there the next day...

...But she wasn't. Two more days came, and went, and I saw no sign of her. I guess I'll go check on her, I thought, wondering just how bad her condition was. When I arrived at the bakery, nobody was there, although the door was unlocked. "Hello?" I said, looking around, but there was no response...

Where are they at? I wondered. Just as I was about to leave, I saw a note sitting on the front counter. Picking it up, I moved over towards the door to get some light, and I could see that my name was written on the top of it. Underneath it, it said...

"Konoda-san, Akio and I have taken Ushio to the Bushian Hospital, because of her condition not being too good..." I read, I knew that you would come to check on her, but, for now, she needs to rest... There were a few stains on the note from what appeared to be tears...

-Sanae

I stood there for a few moments, speechless. She can't be doing too well if she's at the hospital...I thought, crumpling up the note. Ushio... I left the bakery quickly, closing the door behind me, and I quickly began to run to the hospital as fast as I could...

It only took me a few minutes of sprinting before I arrived. Once I stepped inside, I was panting slightly, tired from the run, and I could see Dr. Chaan standing at the front counter, a clipboard in his hands. "Dr. Chaan!" I said, walking up to him. He turned towards me, and said in a sort of grave voice, "Oh...Tokoi, wasn't it?"

I nodded, and looked around. "What room is Ushio in?" I asked, and I could see a flash of sadness come across his eyes. "Listen, she's in a bad condition..." he explained. "How bad?..." I wondered, and he flipped through the pages of his clipboard. "As of two mornings ago... Her grandparents couldn't wake her up," Dr. Chaan told me, "They quickly brought her here...But we have yet to be able to awaken her."

My eyes opened wide. "S-So...She's..." I tried to say, and Dr. Chaan nodded. "If it is as bad as we think... We may be dealing with a situation that could end up just like her mother." he told me, and I looked down at the ground, not wanting to imagine it... To go in a coma like that, and leave everything behind... I thought, There's no way I'll let that happen.

I looked up at Dr. Chaan, and asked him again, "What room is she in?" He shook his head. "You don't understand...The more rest she gets, the better-" he tried to explain, but I grabbed him by his tie and pulled him down slightly. "Just...Tell me!" I said, getting slightly aggravated.

Dr. Chaan sighed, and shook his head. Why can't he just let me see her? I thought, glaring at him. Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind, "D-Dad!" Turning my head, I was surprised when I was suddenly tackled to the ground. "What the..." I said, surprised. Looking up, I could see the familiar purple hair and eyes above me...

"N-Nyou?" I said, and she stood up and turned towards Dr. Chaan. "What was he doing to you?" she asked, and Dr. Chaan shook his head and sighed. "It's alright, Nyou." he said, putting a hand on her shoulder. He then bent over and reached forward to give me a hand, but I just knocked it away and stood.

I took the clipboard from Dr. Chaan's hands and looked at the first page, hoping to find the room number... Here it is, I thought, finding the floor and room numbers. Suddenly, Nyou ripped the clipboard out of my hands, and back-handed me, which took me by surprise.

"What's your problem?" she said, glaring at me. I glared back, and Dr. Chaan put his hand on Nyou's shoulder. "It's alright..." he told her. Then, turning to me, he said, "She's on the fourth floor... Room number 4-23." I nodded, and turned, saying, "I...I'm sorry." Dr. Chaan nodded, "It's alright." he said, and I walked away to the elevator, and ascended to the fourth floor.

Once there, I wandered through the hallways until I finally began to get close. 4-21... 4-22... 4-23. I thought as I reached the room that Dr. Chaan had told me. I gulped as I reached for the door handle. Turning the handle, I opened the door, not knowing what to expect...

...And when I stepped in, I could see Ushio laying their peacefully in one bed...And her mother in another bed beside her. Sitting in between them was Akio and Sanae, both with a sad look on their face. They turned their attention to me when I walked in. "Oh, it's just you, brat." Akio said, although his tone wasn't very lively.

I nodded, and walked over to Ushio's bedside. "I'm...Guessing you know." Akio said, and I nodded. He sighed, and looked down at the floor. "We told Dr. Chaan not to let you come up here..." he said, and I tilted my head slightly. Akio looked up at me and gave me a small grin, "But that didn't stop you, did it?"

I gave a small grin in return, and nodded, then my grin faded when I looked down at Ushio, who had a peaceful look on her face, as her mother did beside her. Sanae suddenly stood up, and looked at me, with a few tears in her eyes, "We were about to leave...To go prepare the bakery for tomorrow..." she said, wiping the tears away.

Akio stood up as well, and the two of them made their way to the door. "No..." I said, and they stopped, "I can do that if you want me to...You both can stay here." Akio walked over to me, putting his hand on my shoulder, and shaking his head. Sanae made her way to the door, and left.

"She's saying your name..." Akio whispered to me as he began to walk away, and I simply stood there for a few moments... Saying...My name? I thought. Turning, I could see that Akio and Sanae had left. I walked over to one of the chairs sitting in between the two beds, and sat down, looking at Ushio...

She'll be alright...Won't she? I thought, watching her in her peaceful state...

"Tokoi..." she whispered, and my eyes widened. "U-Ushio?" I said, but there was no response. Is she unconsciously saying my name? I wondered. "If you wish..." she began to whisper, "Would you like me to take you?..." I could remember her saying that three nights before...From her favorite play...

I felt a tear come to my eye as I watched her, unconsciously speaking... "To a place in the city where wishes come true..." she finished, and I couldn't stop myself from starting to cry... Sudden flashes of memory came through me... The nights I spent with Ushio and her grandparents...The time we first met under the large tree in the courtyard... Our hospital visit to her mother... Her smile that never ceased to gleam brightly...

"Look, Ushio, It's the Big Dango Family!" I heard Tomoya's familiar voice say in my head. I closed my eyes, and I could see what appeared to be a younger version of Ushio, staring intently at three, large dango-shaped pillows. "Big...Dango family?" she said, and Tomoya nodded, "They were your mother's favorite." he said, and Ushio smiled, walking forward and hugging the pillows. I could see Tomoya smile as he watched Ushio, and I could feel myself smiling as well from watching the scene...

Then...I could see Ushio and I as we sang beside Nagisa's bed... Opening my eyes, I looked at Ushio, and leaned forward...

...And I began to sing. "Dango...dango...dango..." I stopped for a moment to sob, "Dango..Dango...Daikozoku..." I looked at Ushio for a few moments... And I was surprised when I suddenly saw her lips begin to move, although no sound came out...

But I could read them clearly, and my eyes opened wide as I realized what she had said...

Thank you... Tokoi...

To Be Continued...

Next Chapter - Fathers

Note: I am aware that there wasn't much about Theater in here...But, well, it works out I guess. ;I Leave me a review if you will, since this chapter was kinda...Extreme. :O