Touma sat on the chair rather uncomfortably like needles pickling the back of his neck, it was a feeling he did not like to experience however not easy to take his mind of it. Touma had his arms crossed tightly as he sat stoned faced against the wall behind him. Touma had half his mind on being 'uncomfortable' and the other on the red light above the doors. It had been 4 hours since the 'incident', it had been too long. Too worrying, and the reason was all because of a case and her.

There was another person sitting across where Touma was sitting, the rookie detective glanced at the person quickly. His name was Yukawa Manabu – Physic professor from Teito University. For Touma whose young past did not fancy collage life or the lecturers had a known fear towards the professor, books and examinations that he disliked. It was because of this lack of tolerance to studying; Touma dropped out from school at an early age. If it was not for his father who served as a police officer – the young man would not ever managed to be a detective.

Still, his fear of this professor stems from an intuition beyond profession; it was more than that.

It was his personality, to be nasty; Touma would describe him to be – 'unhuman'. How did Touma justify his judgement, through the conversation they had an hour ago.

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

An hour ago

The two man faced each other, both sizing their opponents.

"As a friend?" Touma questioned, the professor nodded.

Touman scratched the sides of his head, but decided not to challenge the professor's stand; Touma wouldn't have known Utsumi –san personal friends.

"It is a case that she have been investigating…" Touma finally said, he took a seat behind him and gestured the professor to follow. The latter obliged – it seemed to be a long story.

At the point where Utsumi came to meet disagreements with her department about the arrest of the suspect, Touma paused, he remembered the first time he had met her in the office. Without thinking much about it, Touma said 'It was silly. She insisting upon her opinion at that time; everyone else in the office was speaking ill of her. She could have stayed down at the moment rather than being reckless…"

The professor muffled a cough with his handkerchief. He stayed silent, not commenting just waiting. Touma wondered why he did not say anything. Most normal people would have…Wasn't it naturally to lie low if you have done something embarrassing, at least work quietly without kicking up a fuss?

"She even said something like 'there is always a logical explanation for everything'… before rushing out to investigate." Touma added on, building upon his previous thought.

The professor nodded, "Utsumi –Kun, have certainly done well this time." He said, catching Touman off guard and to a certain extent – his displeasure.

"But, why would you say that?" Touma confronted, he glared at the professor. "She kicked up a fuss, goes around with a stubborn streak and got herself hurt. What part of that is a job well done?"

Yukawa did not flinch, instead he smiled a little. Touma thought it looked rather creepy on him; it did not really suit his face. "It is precisely what you have said, that makes her a good detective." Touma gave a loud 'Tsk' under his breathe. "She caught the criminal. And did not give up when faced by a dead end, everything she have done is to pursue the truth to the case." Yukawa said, not realizing that Touma had a dark look on his face.

"Is truth worth being hurt?" Touma admitted that he had raised his voice a little louder at the moment, it was disrespectful but he could not stand the fact that people need to be injured in order to figure out the truth behind everything. He knows it was inevitable but can't comprehend the weight of 'Truth'. Sometimes, things can be hidden – there was not need to find out the truth.

"How did you become a police detective?" Touma snapped out from his trance like thoughts, he looked at the professor bewildered by the question posted.

"There is always a logical explanation for everything." Touma remembered those words – Utsumi –Kun learnt those words from him?

The professor faced him, his expression firm and cold 'Avoiding the truth is unforgivable, for scientist and even police detectives."

0o0o0o00o0o0o0o0

"Yukawa, you made it." It was a familiar voice, one that made Touma jump in surprise.

Touma glanced quickly to the left before standing up saluting to his superior. "Kusanagi –senpai!"

The newly arrived detective seemed to be out of breath, as he dismissed his junior and acknowledged the professor.

Yukawa nodded, and at the same moment, they exchanged quick glance with each other. Kusanagi looked at Touma, a thought seemed to have sipped in. "Touma, it has been a long night for you. Go back home, I am here."

Touma stared at him and then at the professor, he had noticed the pair exchanging glances but was that glance a message to get rid of him?

"I am alright, I can stay…" Touma injected hurriedly.

"Tomorrow morning, I need someone who understands the situation to report directly to the chief's office" Kusanagi said, in a firm but encouraging tone.

"I need you to do that for me and for her as well." Kusanagi added, gesturing to the closed doors behind them.

Touma was silent for a moment or so, and then he nodded. "Alright"

0o0o0o0o0o0o

"Well, the new detectives that enter the profession are really one of a kind." Yukawa mentioned offhandedly.

The two men, kusanagi and Yukawa strode towards the lift. Kusanagi punched the buttons.

"They are young and inexperienced. We all were once like that."

They entered the lift; Yukawa pressed the button for level 4, the left door shut with a respectful 'ding'

The elevator box slide up the chute smoothly, Kusanagi glanced sideways, "Did she tell you…?"

"No" Yukawa replied, before the detective finished his sentence.

Kusanagi looked away then back to the front; the lift was coming to a halt. The doors opened and the two men stepped out.

"Ward 47" Kusanagi whispered; he looked around for a sign board that most hospitals should have. Yukawa though was already ahead of him, "This way" he said, pointing to a corner that led away from the lifts.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o00oo0o0o

Kusanagi pushed the doors open, it was a private ward. There was no one else in there but the lady detective whom they knew so well.

She was lying in bed, asleep from the drug she was given earlier. Her arms and feet were wrapped in bandages; there were bruises, cuts and swells over her face. She looked as though she had been through the first part of a war.

The two men approached her; Kusanagi was the first to show uneasiness on his face. Yukawa on the other hand, felt his heart drop as he looked at the state she was in.

"What monster could have done this to a human…?" Kusangai spat out, he put his hands on the sides on her bed and gripped it. Injuries were common to any police man or woman, but to see it on her, a close friend. It disturbed him very much.

Yukawa did not speak instead, he came closer. Without thought, he placed his fingers gently on her shoulders. He could feel the warmness spreading across his fingers. When Touma mentioned of her getting hurt in the line of duty, he might have responded indifferently, but deep inside he was still human. Getting hurt especially to this extent must have been traumatising for her.

Kusanagi moved away from her bed, and picked up a file that was placed on the table nearby. It had a colour tag attached to one of the pages. Kusanagi's eyes raced through the doctor's words, and when he was finished. He found it hard to speak steadily.

To whom that may be concerned,

Patient Utsumi Kaoru, have undergone surgery on 19th March 2013. From our medical results, we found that the patient had suffered blunt force trauma to the back and the side of the head. Parts of the brain had temporary high loss of fluid/blood. Mild skull fractures and damage to the soft bones of the ears have also been brought to our attention.

Based on the evidence (attached behind), we come to a conclusion that Patient Utsumi Kaoru, will be significantly affected by her injuries. It may be lost of abilities such as hand eye coordination, hearing or sight.

For the patient's wellbeing, caregivers of the patient need to be aware that such a risk is possible and prepare the patient for rehabilitation.

"Yukawa, she has been hurt badly. The doctor said that the concussion she had may impact her somehow. We have to be prepared that she might not be the same…"