Chapter Sixteen

He's a monster.

It was his fault.

His fault… The words echoed quietly inside his head as he sat on the plastic chair, anxiously waiting for the doctor. Beside him sat a worried Tom and over next to him is where Shinra and Celty were, both quiet and were fidgeting in their seats. They heard the news that Noelle was hospitalized, and they couldn't believe that it was because she got hit by a truck. Tom was the one who called them all since Shizuo didn't do a thing and merely sat there, his eyes unfocused and bleary with invisible tears. He has been sitting like that for the past three hours, and while Tom and Shinra tried to make him go home and get some rest, he refused to even budge. That was when Celty persuaded him and then gave him two more hours. If the doctor isn't here in two more hours, he will have to go home and leave it to them.

Tom went off to get them coffee except for Shizuo, who didn't say anything. It was rare for the strongest man in Ikebukuro to stay this quiet, but the three knew better; it's only natural that he would be like that over her, her, near death. They didn't believe for a second that it was his fault that she got sucked into this. But, 'they' isn't the problem. It's 'he'.

Just when Tom came back with their coffee and a bottle of cold milk for his friend, the door from the emergency room opened and out came a very exhausted doctor. He looked sleepy but he's trying his best to remain attentive. "Excuse me, Noelle Strife?" Immediately all four of them stood up fast, Shizuo being the first. The doctor's expression was rather grim, but the blond would not have it. "How is she..?" It was his first words for the night, his voice hard and hoarse.

"I'm sorry…"

"No, don't you dare say it..!"

"She's in a comatose state."

The hallway stopped the noise as it hung in silence. Shinra and Celty widened their eyes as Tom hung his head solemnly. The doctor also looked apologetic for them. "I'm very sorry." He only said when the bartender suddenly dropped down to his knees, ignoring the world completely. "We did everything we can, but her mind seemed to have shut down. All we could do is to wait." He couldn't hear him. He felt someone's hand grip his shoulder to stand up, but his brain is not working to his consent anymore. He could hear voices inside his head, repeatedly screaming the words:

Monster…

(Noelle… I… I-I…)

Monster. Monster…

(It's…my…)

Monster. Monster… MONSTER..!

(I'm sorry…)

MONSTER! MONSTER!

(I failed…)

2 Years Later

And now Shizuo is abandoning Izaya from their fight all because of a certain phone call from Shinra, stating that she's awake. At first, Shizuo was skeptical about it, but when the underground doctor insured him a 100% recovery of the girl, he believed it. He even left Izaya to look over his shoulder and wonder where he had gone off too. No matter, he thought to himself, the flea will eventually know that she's awake.

Shizuo ran in high speed throughout the streets of the chaotic town, toppling over cars and people who dared to stand at his way. It didn't matter to him if he might get hurt on the way; all that matters now is that Noelle's awake and that he will see her whether his friends like it or not. He ran down the highway in terrifying speed, creating a tornado at his back. People get blown away whenever he went past them and cars collided with each other.

But he doesn't care.

She's awake…

Suddenly, a van honked towards him. The blond looked up to see Kadota and his gang of misfits, Togusa, Erika, and Walker, waving up to him. "Need a ride to the hospital?" Kadota only grinned as Shizuo jumped in on them and seated himself at the back. "Let's go Dota-chiin!" Erika wailed in happiness, who also learned of Noelle's position, being her other friend as well. Togusa stomped on the gas and they accelerated in the highway, towards the hospital.

~0~0~

"Thanks Kyohei!" Shizuo ran again to the building as he looked over his shoulder to thank his group. Kadota sighed happily, glad to have helped his friend. It was only natural that the young man would have helped him. Shinra spread the word about the brunette's state and everyone's happy that she'll be back on her feet. Erika and Walker got out of the van and they both turned to him.

"Why are you so happy, Dota-chiin?"

"Yeah, do you have feelings for Strife-san too?"

Kadota wanted to glare at them if not for Simon, who appeared right around the corner. "Kyohei! Erika-san, Walker-san, Togusa-kun! How are you? Do you want sushi?" He then moved to his side as Izaya came into view. "So she's back now huh?" He smirked at their faces as he turned to look at the hospital.

"My, my, Noelle-chan does have a lot of humans who love her..!" Izaya's sneered at the comment when three figures came up from their right. "Eh? Izaya-san, Simon-san, Kadota-san and the others?" The black haired senior, Mikado looked at them in confusement. Beside him are the mother Slasher, Anri Sonohara, and the leader of the now-banned Yellow Scarves, Masaomi Kida. They look like that they too have just ran from their school to this place because of the leaked information about Noelle. The Russian sushi chef smiled at them. "We're here to see Strife-kun. Shinra said she's awake." The news seemed to wash relief over them, especially the bespectacled girl.

"Well, what are we waiting for then? Strife-san's waiting for us!" Masaomi flashed a wink at Anri, who was oblivious to it. Mikado and the others nodded, save for the informant and Simon. Together, Kadota and the group, the seniors, plus Simon and the raven haired sneak, then walked up to its doors to see their beloved doll who just woke up.

~0~0~

"Room 301, room 301, dammnit! Where was it again?!" Shizuo cursed as he rounded the hallway. Feeling lost, he gave up and began to search for the nurse's station to inquire her room. Just as he turned a corner, he spotted a flash of a familiar mouse brown hair coming from the opposite direction. It was Noel. He just came out from another room, his unkempt hair hiding his green eyes. Wasting no time, he marched straight towards him, only to stop at his words. "Best not to go inside yet, Heiwajima." His warning meant too much harm but he glared at him as so.

"Why not brat?" The psychologist snorted yet he didn't laugh nor smiled his sickening grin at him. "Do whatever you want. I'm out of here." Shizuo frowned at his statement as he watched him walk away with his head bowed low and his hands clenched. He didn't know what happened. Realizing that he looked like a dumbass just staring after the young man, Shizuo shook his head and finally entered the room.

The white walls are still too bright, the curtains were drawn apart, the machine was giving off steady beats, and she is sitting up on her bed, gazing dreamily out of the window. Standing beside her is Shinra, Celty (with her helmet on) and an older man what he assumed to be the doctor. The blond sucked in breath.

She really is awake…

She is sitting up on bed with her hands clasped above her lap, her head turned evenly so to the beautiful view of the window. Her eyes were bright and as green as emeralds, one which he missed so much. Her cheeks are still pale, but it still contained the pink tinge that was still cute on her. Her lips were curled into a pretty smile as she continued to look outside the window, oblivious to see her lover just by the door.

"Noelle…" He croaked out her name full of love and anxiety, and the group turned to look at them. He was a bit taken aback when Shinra and (what could have been) Celty stared at him horrified. "S-S-Shizuo! What are you doing here!?" The underground doctor sputtered as he moved between him and Noelle. This angered him again.

"Shinra, what the fuck's going on?!" He cursed, not fully taking note that the brunette girl just jumped in surprise at his rage. Just as he was about to rip the hospital door from its sliding case, Celty came up to him and typed, "Wait a minute Shizuo! We have something to explain to you first!" The blond stopped at this.

He doesn't understand. "What's going on..? What are you..?" He seethed but now he could feel the tension in the air. Now that he paid attention, he knew something's quite off.

Before the doctor could speak, Noelle voiced her statement first, "Excuse me, but do I know you?"

What..? Shizuo then moved his head to stare at her in horror. The words began to haunt his mind again.

…Do I know you..?

To ladyaqua99, Darth Zannah, and ultimatekaibafan, thank you so much for your reviews. The next update will come around shortly.