Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to any of the characters in Princess Nine. The OC's are not modeled after any real person, so don't ask me to hook you up with them.
This was a tough chapter to write. I did a lot of research on spinal injury, but wasn't sure how to present it that didn't sound too dry and technical. I decided to give just a glimpse of what someone would go through in an emergency room. If any medical people spot a glaring error, let me know, and I will fix it. I'm really unsure of the direction this story is going, so please review.
Be Brave Yuki
As Izumi and the others were relating the night's events to her mother, their evening winding down, Yuki arrived at the hospital, her evening far from over.
The ambulance backed up to the door of the emergency room. The attendant opened the back doors, as the driver ran to assist him. They wheeled Yuki into the lobby, where medical staff met them.
"Yuki Azuma, age16, blunt force trauma to the lumbar spine, no movement, with limited sensation. She complains of pain at the site of injury. Her vitals are steady, and she's remained conscious the whole time." The attendant said walking alongside the gurney.
The head nurse spoke up, "Exam room three is open. Someone page Doctor Kanazaki! Hello Miss Azuma, don't be frightened, there's going to be a lot of people trying to help you, so it's going to be very chaotic for a while. We need you to relax, and to let us move you ok?"
"Yes ma'am, I understand. You're afraid I'll make things worse if I try to move by myself."
"What a bright girl!" She said smiling. "That's exactly right! Once we stabilize the area of you injury you'll be able to, but for now relax."
They rolled up next to an examining table. Undoing the straps holding the board to the gurney, they lifted it to the table, and rolled the gurney away. Then undoing the straps holding her to the board, they unwrapped the blanket she was in. "How did you get injured?" The nurse asked as she held a clipboard, ready to record the information.
"I was hit by a guy fighting with my friend. He was going to hit her from behind, and I jumped on her to knock her down, and got hit instead."
"So, you were struck with a bat?"
"Actually, it was a piece of pipe." Yuki said looking over at the man who had just come in the room.
"Miss Azuma, I'm Doctor Aoki, I'm going to start an IV in you to help keep you hydrated. It'll also have a drug in it that will help reduce the swelling at the injury, and help to minimize the secondary damage. Dr. Kanazaki is the attending neurologist, and will be here shortly. You're doing very well staying so calm."
"Thank you, my friend Izumi told me to keep calm. She sat with me until the police came. Um, what did you mean by secondary damage?"
"Spinal injuries are terribly complex events. After the initial injury, the spinal cord swells, causing more nerve tissue to be damaged. This swelling can make an injury appear worse than it actually is. We're giving you what's called a corticosteroid."
"Steroids? Aren't those dangerous?" Yuki asked concerned.
"You're thinking of anabolic steroids that promote muscle development. Corticosteroids work on inflammation and maintain the integrity of the cells in the area of the injury. They have been using this drug since 1990, and it has proven very effective."
"Miss Azuma?" The head nurse asked, "We need to contact you parents, can you give me their number?"
"My friend was going to do that. Her mother is the chairperson of our school. We were going to her house when we were attacked. Do you still need it?"
"Yes, we may need to do surgery, and because you're a minor, we'll need their permission."
"Ok, I understand." Giving the nurse the information, she squirmed a little.
"Miss Azuma, stay still!" Dr Aoki said harshly.
"I'm sorry, my back is really sore."
"Let's sedate her. Miss Azuma, you're going to be on this board for quite a while yet. We're going to give you something to make you sleep, so you won't feel uncomfortable, ok? You have my word, we'll do our best to help you get through this."
"Ok, I understand." She felt a poke in her upper arm, and soon felt her eyes grow heavy. She heard the doctor order X-rays, and then she drifted to sleep.
-
Ryo ran up the steps to the hospital. Hiroki has been just about to leave for the night, when the coach called. They had called a taxi, and headed straight over. They saw Koharu, Mao, Hikaru, and Yoko standing at the reception desk. "Hey, what's happening? Has anyone told you how she's doing?"
"They said it's too soon to tell for sure." Koharu said downcast. "It could be two days before they know for sure how bad her paralysis will be."
"I can't believe someone would do that to Yuki." Yoko said with tears in her eyes. "She such a gentle person."
Mao said with a dark look on her face, "I'd like to get my hands on the creep who did this. I'd show him how to treat a woman!"
"Calm down, Mao." Hikaru said putting a hand on her arm. "Breaking the guy's neck won't help Yuki."
"Where's Kanako?" Ryo asked looking around.
Koharu answered, "We called her to see if she had heard, and she said she was going to look through her medical textbooks to see if she could find anything that could help."
"What good would that do?" Hikaru said sarcastically. "The doctors have already learned everything she could find in those textbooks."
"What are you girls doing here?" Coach Kido asked walking up. "I called to let you know, but you didn't need to come rushing down here. Any injury like this is a waiting game. You girls need to go to school in the morning, go home. I'll stay here and man the fort. If there's any news, I'll let you know."
"But coach, we should be here. Yuki would be disappointed if she learned we didn't stay. We owe it to her as teammates." Ryo argued.
Looking at Ryo, he put his hands in his pockets and said, "About that, depending on how her injury turns out, Azuma may not be your teammate anymore. If she can't play, she can't go to Kisuragi. That's why I'm here. Ms. Himuro asked me to come down and monitor the situation. Now, I'll hear no more arguments, go home."
"You're wrong coach." She said intently, "It doesn't matter if she never plays baseball again. She's still our teammate." Then turning, she led the other girls towards the door.
Smiling at the coach, Hiroki shrugged and said, "That's my Tofu."
"Don't call me that!"
-
The MRI scanner growled and banged as Yuki cowered inside, as the sedative they had given her two hours before had worn off. Somewhere along the way, they had removed her clothing, and now, covered in only a thin sheet, she was lying in this cold, cramped, noisy machine, jumping at every new sound. "I've got to be brave, I told Izumi I was going to be brave." She said to herself. Then she made a scared squeak at an especially loud bang. The machine began winding down, and Yuki breathed a sigh of relief. As the table exited the tube, she saw the technician looking at her sourly.
"Miss Azuma, please stop jumping at every little sound, the movement is blurring the image."
"I'm sorry, it's just so scary in there." Yuki said with tears in her eyes.
You have nothing to be afraid of. There's nothing there that can hurt you. We have to redo the entire series, please try to stay still. We don't want to sedate you again, so try to be brave."
"Ok, my friend told me this is my chance to be more confident, so I'm going to give it my best. I just wish it wasn't so noisy in there."
"It's only sound, Miss Azuma. We've given you ear plugs to safeguard your hearing, so relax and stay still."
"Yes ma'am." She said as the table moved back into the tube. "I'm going to be brave. I'm going to be brave. I'm going to be brave." She whispered this to herself until the first bang. "It's only sound. It's only sound. It's only sound." She kept this up for the next thirty minutes until they finished.
When the table emerged, she saw the technician smiling at her, "Well done Miss Azuma. That was much better. We were able to get some excellent shots. Now while the doctors examine them, we'll get you out of there and into the ICU where we'll fit you with a brace, and you can rest."
Two orderlies lifted the board and set it on a gurney. As they wheeled her through the door, she looked up at the younger one by her head, saying, "I'm going to walk again!"
Surprised she'd spoken to him; he looked down and said smiling, "I hope so, a girl as pretty as you should be able to dance at her wedding."
"Oh, I'm not worried about that. I'm going to do this for my teammates. I want to help them get to Koshien!"
"Koshien? Are you from the Kisuragi Girls' Baseball Team? We watched last season, and were cheering for you to make it. You girls were incredible!"
Blushing, she replied, "Thank you. This year we have an even better chance! We have another pitcher, and she's just as impressive as Miss Hayakawa."
"Well, I'll be sure I watch this year's championship too." He said, pushing the call button for the elevator. "What position did you play?"
Yuki noticed he spoke in the past tense and became disheartened. "It doesn't really matter, does it? Even if I walk again, I won't be able to do sports, will I?"
Realizing what he said, he tried to recover, "NO! No, that's not what I meant. I was talking about last season. Players change positions all the time. Right Kentaro?" He asked the other orderly.
"Sure, sure, players change positions all the time. Miss, don't be discouraged; they're coming up with new treatments and therapies for spinal cord injuries all the time. So don't give up hope."
"Sure. I think I'll be quiet now. I'm feeling a little tired." She closed her eyes as tears started rolling down her cheeks.
The elevator arrived, and they wheeled her on, feeling guilty.
-
Kosuke Mugen was in a bad mood. He had sat in the E.R. for two hours before he saw someone about his broken collarbone. They kept apologizing, saying there was a bad accident on the highway from the rain, and that there were other patients in worse condition than him. Then they would rush away before he could say anything. He had tried flirting with some of the younger nurses, but they were busy, so they ignored him. Most of all, he was mad at Toru. The bastard had set him up. 'It'll be easy money,' he said, 'we just need to break some bones so she can't throw a ball.' And he had couldn't just do it and get it over with. Oh no, Mr. 'I hate all foreigners', tried to get some sugar from her before hand. Now they were the ones with broken bones. Plus, they had put that other girl in a wheelchair. "Damn that Koji! What was he thinking? The cops are going to be all over us now." They had finally sent him up to pediatrics to have his break set. He felt humiliated, having to sit with those annoying kids. The doctor apologized, but he still felt slighted. He stood waiting for the elevator, wanting to get out of there and give Toru a piece of his mind. The doors opened, and two orderlies got off pushing a gurney. It was the girl! Stepping back, he let them pass. Luckily, her eyes were closed. He noticed tear stains on her cheeks, making his stomach knot. Such a pretty girl, and they had destroyed her life. "I should have gotten out when he gave me the chance." Then, feeling even more miserable than before, he got on the elevator, shoving his good hand in his pocket as the doors closed.
-
Ryo walked into her mother's restaurant. "I'm back mom."
"How is she Ryo?" Shino said, looking up from handing the captain another bottle of sake. "Will she be all right?"
"It's too soon to know. They said it could be two days before they know how bad her injury is."
"What are you two talking about Shino?" The captain asked. "Who got hurt?"
"Some of Ryo's teammates were attacked tonight, and one of them is in the hospital with a broken back. She may not walk again."
"Those rotten bastards!" He said, his face twisting in indignation. "What dirty lowlifes would do that to a young girl? Who got hurt Ryo?"
"Yuki Azuma, our left fielder. This is a nightmare mom. Things were looking so promising with Amy coming. Now we lose Yuki. Why did this have to happen?"
"Were any of the other girls hurt?"
"No captain, Amy was fighting them off, when one tried to hit her in the head with a piece of pipe. Yuki jumped in the way to save her."
"He was aiming at her head? Are you sure? That sounds like he was trying to kill her." He said with wide eyes. Then, looking into his cup, added, "That's going too far."
"That's the story the coach got from Seira." She said walking towards the back. "I'm going to bed mom, I feel really tired."
"Good night dear. Why don't you ask your father to look out for Yuki before you go up?" Shino said with a reassuring smile.
"Sure mom, that's a good idea." She replied quietly. After closing the door, she went to stand before the small Shinto shrine to her father, where she offered a silent prayer, then said, "I don't know if you can do anything dad, but if you can, help Yuki be strong through all this." Sighing, she turned and went upstairs.
-
Ms. Himuro stepped from her car and climbed the stairs to the hospital entryway. Walking up to the receptionist, she asked, "Excuse me, I'm here regarding the condition of Yuki Azuma, the girl brought in with the broken back earlier tonight. Is the doctor assigned to her case available?
"One moment ma'am, let me check the computer." The young woman said. Punching a few keys, she continued, "That would be Doctor Kanazaki. He is in radiology looking at the girl's MRI results. I'll contact him. May I ask who's inquiring?
"My name is Keiko Himuro. I'm chairman of her school, and her designated guardian while she attends. I've notified her parents, and they should be here within the hour."
"Thank you ma'am. If you would have a seat next to that gentleman who was also inquiring about the girl, I will contact Doctor Kanazaki." She indicated a row of chairs with distaste. "Don't feel you need to sit right next to him ma'am." She said quietly, waving her hand in front of her nose.
Looking over, she saw Kido slouched on a chair, head back, snoring loudly. Perturbed, she made her way over to him, and cuffed him on the back of the head.
Startled, he woke abruptly, scowling menacingly. When he saw it was Ms. Himuro who had hit him, he relaxed. Yawning, he said, "Why'd you do that Keiko? I wasn't hurting anyone. I'm not wearing my coach's uniform, so I didn't embarrass the school. I think I deserve an apology."
Looking at him coldly, she said in a controlled voice, "Kido, I asked you to come down here and monitor the situation. Specifically to make contact with her parents when they arrived. How can you do this, sleeping off a binge?"
"Lighten up Keiko, it was just a little nap. It's too soon to know anything definite about Azuma, so why get so antsy? Her parents live over an hour from here." Looking at his watch, he continued, "They shouldn't be here for another fifteen minutes."
Her expression unchanging, she responded, "What if I had decided not to come down here? You would have slept through their arrival. This is going to be brought up in your review. Don't plan on a raise any time soon."
"You really know how to hit a guy where it hurts. Well, I needed to cut back anyway." He said leaning back in his chair. Closing his eyes, he said, "Wake me when they get here."
"KIDO!" She yelled. When she was sure she had his attention, she continued in a deadly tone, "You will not brush this off as a minor incident. One of our students is lying up there with what is probably a life altering injury. Get up, get yourself some coffee, and try to make yourself presentable. In your uniform or not, you are still a representative of Kisuragi Girls' High School. Old friend or not, if you want to be one tomorrow, I suggest you do what I tell you to do."
Surprised by her raised voice, and daunted by her completely serious expression, he got up and headed to the bathroom to wash his face.
"Kido, one moment." She said rummaging in her purse. Producing a hairbrush, she handed it to him. "Use this. Don't come out until you're presentable."
"Boy Keiko I've never heard you yell like that. I'm sorry I let you down. I'm not taking this lightly. I just don't see what sitting here worrying will accomplish. Her injuries aren't life threatening like Hayakawa's were, and I've been assured by the team, that she won't be cast aside. I'll be back in a little bit."
Ms. Himuro watched him walk away, and then smoothing her hair, and brushing off her suit, she took a seat to wait for the doctor's arrival.
-
Yuki was resting in her room. She had been fitted with a brace that resembled a Victorian corset, immobilizing her injury, and then placed in a special bed that would help prevent pressure sores from developing. She was currently lying on her back, watching a TV in the ceiling.
"Good evening Miss Azuma," The nurse said as she came in the room. "My name is Shinobu. I'm afraid I'm going to have to interrupt your TV time. There's a nasty job no one's seen to yet. It's time to drain your bladder." She said walking up to the bed holding a catheter.
"But I don't need to go!" Yuki said panicking.
"It's been over three hours since your injury. How soon did you go before that?"
"At the pizza shop, probably two hours before the attack." Yuki said realizing the nurse was right. "I've lost control of that, haven't I?"
"It's quite common for a spinal injury to do that, its nothing to worry about. We'll leave this in and replace the bag every four hours or so. I'm sorry, but if we don't do this, it will affect you kidneys and may cause other health issues. You understand don't you?"
"Yes ma'am. Um, what about the other…"
"When the time comes, we'll give you some laxatives to help things along. It's nothing unusual. Now let's get this over with." Pulling back the sheet, and folding back Yuki's gown, she spread the girl's legs.
Yuki noticed she wasn't much older than her. "Excuse me, I know I'm rude for asking, but how old are you?"
"I'm nineteen. I'm a student nurse going to Tokyo University nursing school. Don't worry, I've done this lots of times." She said as she cleaned the area.
Yuki blushed at the intimacy of the act, but said nothing. A few minutes later, the nurse held up a bag so Yuki could see. "Over five hundred ml, if you had sensation, you would have been miserable."
"I'll need to do this for the rest of my life?" Yuki asked quietly.
"If your condition doesn't improve, yes." Taking off her gloves, Shinobu stroked Yuki's face with her hand, saying, "You aren't the first person this has happened to. I know it's a small comfort, but you're not alone out there. A lot of people are living productive lives after a spinal cord injury. This isn't the end Miss Azuma, so don't give up."
"Thank you. Um, Shinobu, would you call me Yuki?"
"Sure, Yuki, did you want to watch TV some more?"
"No, I think I'll try to get some sleep. I feel really tired all the sudden."
"Now that the pressure's gone from your bladder, the rest of your body can relax. Let's change your position before you fall asleep. Grabbing hold of Yuki's behind, she helped roll her onto her side, pulling her legs up to help maintain that position. Then opening a cabinet in the corner, she took out a thin blanket and spread it over her new friend. "Good night Yuki. I go off duty at midnight, but I'll be back tomorrow afternoon." She left, turning off the lights. Yuki was asleep before the door finished closing.
-
Kosuke stood outside the group's hangout. His anger at Toru had diminished, replaced with disgust for the way they'd treated those girls. Climbing the steps, he knocked on the door and waited. He had had enough, and he wanted out. A pair of eyes appeared in the security slot, and the door was opened. Seeing the group sitting around like nothing had happened, he got angry all over again.
"Hey Kosuke, welcome back bro! How's the shoulder?" Koji asked smacking him lightly on his good shoulder.
"Don't touch me you moron!" He said pushing him away. "Look at you all! Sitting on your asses like you don't have a care in the world. We seriously hurt someone tonight! You're acting like it's no big deal. You all suck!"
"Hey, what's got up your ass? It's not like we haven't tossed it down before. We've messed plenty of dudes up." Koji said getting in his face.
"Never anything they couldn't recover from. Those guys came looking for trouble, that girl didn't do anything to deserve what you did to her! What the hell made you grab that pipe anyway? The rest of us faced her friend without a weapon. Are you that big of wimp you couldn't?"
"Screw you, I got this same lecture from Toru. It's that girl's fault for jumping in the way. She got what she deserved. What's the problem? I'm sure her juicy bits will still work." He said looking back at the group grinning. He turned back as Kosuke's left fist met his chin. Sprawled on the floor, he looked up, fire in his eyes.
Kosuke, face red in anger, said pointing at Koji, "Don't you dare blame her for this, and don't talk about her like she's some piece of meat. You didn't see her in the hospital, strapped to that gurney with tears rolling down her cheeks. I'm done hanging with you; you all can burn in hell. Tell Toru he sucks too!" Turning, he strode through the door, slamming it as he left.
-
Ms. Himuro looked up as a middle-aged couple came running up to the reception desk. "We're were told our daughter is here. Her name is Yuki Azuma!"
The receptionist smiled reassuringly, saying, "Yes she is admitted here. Please calm down. While she is injured, she is in no immediate danger. If you would join the lady seated there. Her doctor will be arriving shortly."
As they approached, Ms Himuro stood. Bowing, she said, "Mr. and Mrs. Azuma, It's nice to meet you. I am Keiko Himuro, Chairperson of Kisuragi Girls'. We spoke on the phone earlier."
Bowing, Mr. Azuma said, "A pleasure, Ms. Himuro. I'm Hideki Azuma, and this is my wife Yuna. Have you heard anything more? We came a quickly as we could."
"I'm sorry, but I'm waiting to hear as well. I've only arrive twenty minutes ago, and was told the doctor was reviewing her MRI results."
Mrs. Azuma spoke up, "We want to thank you again for giving Yuki a chance at high school. After her delusional episodes in junior high, we thought no high school would want her."
"She is a remarkably sweet girl. She has grown so much this past year. It breaks my heart to think she might not walk again."
"That's not going to happen!" Mr. Azuma spat. "She will walk again. She has to!"
"You passion surprises me." Ms. Himuro said, as her eyebrows rose. "When I contacted you about Yuki playing for us, it was like you couldn't get rid of her fast enough."
"She needed a change in her life, to break her out of that stupor she was in. She was becoming an embarrassment. When she came home for Christmas, she was a normal girl again. I won't have my friends see her in a wheelchair. We would be ridiculed for having a defective daughter again. I won't have it!"
Ms. Himuro stood stunned for a moment, and then let the man know how she felt. Her gaze never wavering from his eyes, she said, in a voice dripping in contempt, "Is that why you're so concerned? You're worried about your image? Sir, you are despicable. Your only child is lying in a hospital with a major injury, and your worried about what your friends will say? You don't deserve to have a sweet girl like that for a daughter. She was injured saving the life of a friend, a true friend who is concerned for Yuki's well being. In good conscience, I could not allow Yuki to live a life being forever made to feel guilty about something she had no control over. If she does not come out of this whole, you won't have to worry about her. I will take care of her. You'll never be embarrassed by her again!" Turning, she stalked over to the window, looking out, fuming.
Kido chose that moment to return. He had heard Ms. Himuro's rant at Yuki's father, and thought he should try to smooth things over. "Good evening folks, I'm Coach Kido. I'm sorry we had to meet under such trying circumstances. Your daughter has been a joy to have on the team. She has given one hundred percent to everything she's done."
"Thank you Mr. Kido," Mrs. Azuma said, looking away from her stunned husband. "You've been so good to our daughter. She was so proud of how their team played in the championship last year."
"With good reason, they played wonderfully." He replied motioning to the chairs. "Let's sit down and wait for the doctor to arrives. Ms. Himuro, will you join us?"
She silently returned, taking the seat on the other side of Kido. Sitting ramrod straight, she looked down the hallway, refusing to make eye contact.
Fortunately, the doctor chose that moment to make his appearance. "Mr. and Mrs. Azuma?" He asked, not sure which couple were the parents.
They stood and approached. "How is she Doctor?" Mr. Azuma asked. "We've been so concerned. Will my daughter walk again?"
Ms. Himuro made a derisive sound, earning a sharp look from Kido, "Be nice Keiko." He said quietly. "They are her parents."
The doctor looked between the two, trying to figure out what was going on, before giving up and saying, "We've examined your daughter's injury, and after looking at the X-rays, CT scans, And MRI scans, we feel reasonably sure her paralysis will not be permanent. This isn't a guarantee, and the next forty-eight hours will tell us for sure, but her spinal fracture is clean, so there are no loose chips to worry about. Her MRI shows no compression of the cord either. Given the location of the injury, and the minimal injury to the cord, we feel she has suffered a spinal concussion. Like a cerebral concussion, a sharp blow to the area, with a sudden change in direction, causes it. Things get shaken up, and need time to recover. It will mimic the symptoms of a more serious injury, but will usually resolve itself in at most seventy-two hours with no long-term effects. She does still have a broken back, and will need to wear a brace for as long as twelve weeks."
"That's wonderful news Doctor, thank you!" Mr. Azuma said. Then turning, he hugged his wife.
"Doctor, a moment please." Ms. Himuro said rising. "How certain are you of this? Her teammates are anxious for her, and I would like to relay the good news."
"Like I said, we're reasonably sure, but it may be premature to get hopes up. Twenty-four hours, and we'll know for sure. If we're correct, she should get some movement back by then."
"Then I will forgo telling them at the moment. The one girl is feeling responsible for her injury, and I wanted to lessen her anxiety, but I will have to wait. Now that we've been enlightened to her condition, with things looking promising, I will bid you all good night. I have a house full of teenagers, and the devil knows what they're up to." Walking out the door, she climbed into her car, and was driven away. When she reached the house. She walked in expecting to find everyone sitting around waiting. She was surprised to find everything dark, with everyone apparently in bed. Looking at the clock in the entry, she decided to join them.
-
The rain had intensified, beating against the window of Izumi's room. Amy slept fitfully, whimpering as she dreamed...
"All right, that's it for today. Everybody hit the showers." Coach Clark yelled. "Amy! I'd like a word with you please."
"What's the matter coach?" She said running up.
"How's the shoulder doing?"
"It's good coach. Why, aren't I throwing ok?"
"You're doing great, but you're only fourteen, playing varsity ball. That's a lot of strain on a body that's still developing."
"I'll be fifteen in June." She reminded him for the fifth time. "Dad's been working with me doing conditioning drills, so don't worry coach."
"That's good." His face became somber. "Are they still giving you a hard time?"
Her smile disappeared, "Some of them. They don't like a girl playing with them, or that I'm a freshman that's better than some of them. Corey and Cody are keeping them in line though."
"That's good. I'd hate for some of their pranks to get out of hand and you get hurt."
"Thanks for worrying coach. I'm going to hit the shower."
"Have a good night Amy. Rest that shoulder."
She walked into the school building, making her way to the girls' locker room. Looking up, she saw Cody Johnson leaning against the doorway. Smiling, she walked up to him. "Hey Cody, How'd I look out there today?"
"Great," He said smiling. "You were getting some good movement on your sinker. No wonder coach made you a starter. The newspapers are all about how good you're doing. Keep it up."
"That's thanks in part to you. You kept me from pushing myself too hard. I would have blown my shoulder out if you hadn't stepped in."
"Five hours straight of throwing fastballs would do anyone in. You just needed someone with experience to show you how it was done."
"Thanks again, and thanks for watching my back with the team. I think you and Corey are the only one's I trust out there."
"Better make some friends kiddo. Corey and I are graduating next year. What are you going to do then?"
"I love baseball, but if it's too bad, I'll quit. I can always join the softball team."
"You're a pitcher Amy. You'd be miserable playing any other position. I've got to go, see you later."
"Ok Cody. I'm going to take a shower. Bye."
She walked into the locker room, and after undressing, entered the shower. Turning the water on high, she let the spray scrub her skin. She stayed like that, letting the water massage her neck and shoulders. Hearing a noise, she looked up. "Nothing there, something must have fallen in the locker room." Closing her eyes, she ran her fingers through her hair. Turning around, she reached to turn off the water when something slammed her hard against the wall. A weight pressed against her, pinning her. She could feel someone's ragged hot breath on the side of her face as they ran their hand up her thigh. "Don't do this, please." She said her voice trembling.
"Too late little girl. Should have thought of that before you stole my glory."
"Cody? Why?"
"Told you before you need someone with experience to show you how it's done." Then grabbing her hair, he viciously pulled her to the shower floor.
She landed hard, hitting her head. Dazed, she felt her attacker fall on top of her. "Stop this!" She said pushing against his face. Then she yelled, "Help me! Somebody! Rape!"
"Shut up!" He growled at her. "The boys locker room is two hundred feet from here. No one's going to hear you."
"I don't care, I'm not going to be quiet." Then she yelled louder, "HELP!"
"I said shut up!" He said pulling back his fist.
The blow landed on her jaw. Searing pain raced through the side of her face as her grabbed her hands, holding them over her head.
"Let the good times begin." He said softly in her ear.
"NOOOOOOOO!!!" She screamed, sitting up in bed.
Seira, startled from her sleep, fell off the other side. Izumi turned on the lamp by her bed. They looked at Amy, curled into a ball, crying hysterically.
"Amy!" They said together, rushing to her.
Seira kneeled by the bed, next to her face. "C'mon Amy, we're here, so stop crying; we know you're tougher than any dream."
Izumi sat down next to her, pulling her into her arms. She stroked her hair, making shushing noises, rocking her gently. "Amy, it's all right. It was a bad dream. You're safe. Calm down, please."
A knock on the door diverted their attention. Ms. Himuro entered looking concerned. "What happened? What was that horrible scream about?"
"Amy had a nightmare mother, and it must have been a bad one. We can't console her."
Corey entered, looking around the room for trouble. Seeing Amy, he quickly went to her side. "Amy, it's Corey, clam down. It's all right. You're ok. He's not here; he's way on the other side of the world. C'mon sis, you're safe. Ms Himuro is looking at you. You're embarrassing yourself."
"Corey!" She said, throwing herself at him. "When will it go away?" Then she began crying into his shoulder, her body shaking.
Holding her gently, stroking her hair, he waited for her to cry herself out.
Her eyes puffy, she looked at all the concerned faces in the room. "I'm sorry I woke everyone. I haven't had that dream in over two months; I thought it was safe to spend the night. I guess everything that happened tonight brought it all back."
"Brought what back, dear?" Ms. Himuro said sitting down next to Izumi on the edge of the bed.
She looked to Corey for assurance. Smiling gently, he nodded his head. Her face ashen, she said quietly, not meeting their gaze, "My secret; the thing I didn't want any of you to find out. Ten months ago, I was raped."
"Oh Amy." Izumi said softly, her hand over her mouth. "I'm sorry. I treated you so horribly, never realizing you were carrying something like this with you."
Seira knelt down next to her, and took her into her arms. "Emma told me a hug could make you feel better. I hope this helps. God, am I even doing this right? I've never dealt with something like this."
Amy laughed through her tears, saying, "You're doing fine Seira. This does make me feel better, knowing you're not ashamed of me."
"Why would we be ashamed of you Amy?" Izumi said putting her arms around both of them. "You were the victim. I'm sure the friendly, thoughtful girl full of integrity I know would never lead some guy on. Did they catch him?"
"Yes, he was one of my teammates, and Corey's best friend. He betrayed both of us." She said her voice calmer.
"He's lucky the police got to him first." Corey said scowling.
"Did he get you pregnant?" Seira asked, looking embarrassed.
"Fortunately, no he didn't. If he had, I wouldn't be here. I'd be home taking care of my baby."
"You would sacrifice your dreams for a child of a rape?" Ms. Himuro asked. "That is a testament to your character Amy."
"The baby didn't do anything wrong. Why terminate it? It deserves a chance at life just as much as any other baby."
"He never got to finish." Corey said his hands clenched, "The janitor had heard Amy's screams and brought the coach, who took the bastard down when he tried to run, the rotten coward. They had to rush her to the hospital. He broke her jaw trying to quiet her, and he fractured her skull when he threw her on the ground. She had a concussion, and was in the hospital for nearly a week, all because he was jealous of her. She missed a lot of school this year because of panic attacks. When she did go back, everyone treated her like crap. The guy was a popular athlete; a lot of people thought she was some upstart freshman who led him on, just looking to get him in trouble. You can figure out how her normal day went."
"Corey, it's all right, relax." Amy said looking reassuringly at Corey. "He was so sweet to me, I trusted him completely. If he'd waited until I was older, I might have given myself to him."
"You were in love with him?" Seira asked, amazed.
"I wouldn't call it love, more of a crush. He was like a brother to me, taking care of me when Corey wasn't around." Hugging herself, she added, "That's why it was such a shock when he did it."
"Contrary to what people believe," Ms. Himuro said, looking at Amy warmly. "Rape isn't a crime of passion. It's an act of violence intended to submit another for the purpose of gratification. There are no warm feelings in the heart of a rapist. Be assured, Amy, he held no brotherly love for you."
"I know that, and that makes his deception that much harder to bear. He and Corey were best friends for nearly the whole time we've lived in Michigan." Amy sighed, standing. "I need to use the bathroom, please excuse me."
"I think we should all try getting back to sleep. It's only just past one, and you need your rest." Ms. Himuro said standing and walking toward the door. "Amy? I have some sleep aid tablets. Do you need any?"
"No, I'll be ok. Actually, it's a relief to have this come out. I've been worrying how you would take this. Now I don't have to. Good night, Ms. Himuro, I apologize again for waking you."
"Good night dear, pleasant dreams."
'I guess I'll get going too." Corey said getting off the bed. "Good night everyone." He said walking through the door.
"Corey, wait, please." Seira said running after him.
"How can I help you Seira?" He said flatly, his back to her. "Do you need something?"
"Corey." She said, anguish in her voice. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you."
"Well you did." He said. "I thought confessions of love were a big thing over here. I guess I was wrong."
"It was a big thing. So big it scared me to death." She said, moving to him. Hugging him from behind, she continued. "After you left, I felt so horrible. I swore I wouldn't do anything to hurt you, but when you told me you loved me, my defenses just kicked in. I responded to your feelings the only way I seem to know how, I ran. I'm scared, Corey; I afraid to let myself love you back. I still feel like this is happening too fast. I accept one level of our relationship, and you jump two levels higher. I'm not ready to go there yet. I need more time to sort this out. I don't know what else to say…. I'll let you get to bed now." Letting go of him, she turned back towards Izumi's room.
"Seira, will you ever be ready?" He said turning around. "I can be patient, but I need to know if I'm wasting my time. You're a wonderful girl; believe in yourself a little more. Sleep on it and let me know tomorrow." Then he turned, heading down the hallway, disappearing into the darkness.
Head down, Seira walked into Izumi's room and climbed back into bed. Amy climbed in the other side, and seeing her expression asked, "Seira, are you and Corey still not connecting?"
"He told me he loved me tonight." She said softly. "I all but gave him the finger in response."
"Oh Seira," She said, putting her hand on Seira's shoulder. "Why didn't you tell him? We know you care for him. The anguish on your face when he walked out of the pizza shop said it clearly."
"I don't know." She said, dejected. "Amy, what's wrong with me? How come I'm so scared to tell him those words? I know he loves me, so why can't I let go of these fears and tell him that I love him too?"
"Do you Seira?" Izumi said from behind them. Turning, they saw her sitting on the back of the sofa. "Do you really love him? If you do, tell him before it's too late. I missed my chance with Hiroki. The night before our game with Kisuragi Boys', I met him in the park near Ryo's house. I told him I had loved him for a long time, but I knew it was too late. She had already claimed his heart. He told me if I had said those things earlier, it would have made him very happy, and things would have been different. Corey's a wonderful man Seira; he deserves a woman who isn't afraid to love him. If you don't want him, I do!"
"WHAT!" Seira and Amy said together.
"Where did this come from Izumi?" Amy asked dumbfounded. "I didn't think you'd go for a country boy."
"Stay away from him, Izumi." Seira said glaring. "This is hard enough for me without worrying about you stealing him away."
"Or you'll do what? Beat me up? Or will you run and cower in the corner like a frightened little rabbit? It seems like that's all you know how to do when it comes to relationships." Izumi said standing with her hands on her hips. "I can understand Amy being scared of men, but not you Seira. You're stronger than this. I've seen you grind it out on the field more than once, so step up to the plate girl, it's your turn at bat." Then softly, she added, "The whole team is cheering for you Seira. We've seen how happy you are around Corey. Let him know how you feel. He won't abandon you."
"But that's exactly what he's going to do!" Seira yelled, and then added bitterly, "In three days he's leaving. How can I let myself love someone I'll see maybe three times a year when he comes to visit his grandparents? My therapist said we could keep in touch, but that's not enough. I can't see his face in a letter, or feel his touch, or hear his voice. If I keep him at arms length, maybe it won't hurt so much when he leaves. I'm still dealing with my mother leaving; I can't take someone else I love leaving me alone too." Tears were forming in her eyes as her lower lip trembled.
"And so the truth is revealed." Izumi said quietly as she walked around to Seira. Sitting next to her, she took her into an embrace. "You needed to be honest with yourself before you could be honest with him. Tell him what you just told us. He deserves to know why you've been treating him like you have. If nothing else, come out of this as friends."
Amy scooted next to Seira, looking her in the eye, she said, "I love my grandparents. It makes me sad to leave them when I go home, but it makes me look forward to seeing them that much more the next time. Whether you tell him or not, won't change the fact that you love him. It will only make him feel miserable. Corey's pretty resourceful, who knows, he might come up with something."
"Do you think he'll understand? He has a mom that cares for him still around. He doesn't know what it's like to hear his mother say she never wanted children." Seira said looking at her hands.
Amy's voice became sad as she said, "He would understand better than you think. Corey rebelled when he learned the truth about his mother. Mom told you she died shortly after Corey was born. What she didn't say was that she killed herself."