Author's Notes…which shall remain as short as possible.

You see, I wrote out the entire chapter of 11…my longest, most beautiful chapter yet…and then my computer died, destroying every document I ever had…I wasn't even able to back-up the chapter. The killer is I had tried to upload the chapter on here and it didn't upload because my breaking-down computer decided to be a pain in the ass. This is my attempt to recreate my lovely chapter.

Velvetina—thank you so much! It makes me happy to know that my OC is loved…here you are…a plushie Ryu to hug and make all better!

PurpleAjah—thank you, thank you, thank you for all the reviews! Especially thanks for pointing out that you liked one of my lines! I feel so special now + cries+ I don't know if I explained the plushie thing to you, so here goes. A friend of mine on here gives out "plushies" to everyone in her author's notes…it's just another way of mentioning those who reviewed, letting them know you appreciate the feedback.

…In This Chapter….+

-A new character is introduced that is connected to Ryu.

-I begin using songs as subplots, and will continue to do this for the remainder of the story.

-I include song lyrics and a link to hear the song(s).

-There is more medical terminology, I try not to bog you down too much though.

-Enjoy the angst (wink)

Takayashi-Sensei, Takayashi-Sensei, please report to internal medicine, room 210. Repeat, Takayashi-Sensei, please report to room 210.

"Ryu-Sensei?" I'm brought out of my vivid flashback by the sound of Ayame-San's voice. "I…I'm sorry…I shouldn't have asked." For once, Ayame-San actually looks serious, saddened, it seems that there's more to him then meets the eye.

"Ay…Ayame-San." I pause.

Takayashi-Sensei, Takayashi-Sensei, please report to internal medicine, room 210. Repeat, Takayashi-Sensei, please report to room 210 immediately.

"Ayame-San, please look after Shigure-San and Hatori-San for me. That's me they're calling for. Oh, and remember…no cell phones." And I leave the room, wondering what so direly needed my assistance. Actually, it is rather odd I haven't had any patients outside the Sohma these past few days…I walk into the room.

"Ryu, thank God you're here." I nod at Takeyume-Chan as I put on gloves and a mask. "The patient is an eight-year-old female, of both Japanese and European descent."

"How long has she been vomiting so violently?" I ask, taking the girl's file from Takeyume-Chan.

"About 30, no 37 minutes." I give into a slight smile at Takeyume-Chan's exactness.

"What seems to be the cause?"

"Food poisoning…sushi from a local restaurant."

"That's no fun." As gently as possible, I lay the girl down on the bed and insert an IV. Slowly, she stops vomiting and falls asleep. A nurse comes in to clean her up.

"You seem…more yourself now…" Takeyume-Chan tells me, handing me a rag so that we can clean up the room a bit.

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"You were never exactly cold with your patients, but you were always…detached. You wouldn't allow a case to affect you."

"What are you getting at?"

"Ryu! Look at you! You've hardly slept these past few days! I've been taking on extra patients in order to cover you, but you've got to stop this! This isn't what Sakura-Chan would have wanted!"

"But don't you see Takeyume-Chan—"

"Kimi."

I sigh, frustrated. "Alright, don't you see Kimi-San?"

"Kimi, just Kimi. You know you can call me that Ryu. It won't hurt Sakura-Chan if you do."

I look away.

"I'm sorry, that was low of me. We all deal with Sakura-Chan's death in our own way. I suppose detachment, formality, is one of yours. But please, call me Kimi. It hurts me to have you call me Takeyume-Chan."

"Kimi…" I pause once again. "Don't you see?" I start out quietly, but eventually my volume increases along with my passion. "This is exactly what Sakura meant! She told me that someday I would find someone like her and be able to save that person! Look at Shigure-San and Hatori-San! They could survive…this time she wouldn't die…we'd have a real wedding…"

"Ryu, listen to yourself!" Kimi yelps, bursting into tears. "This isn't about you and Sakura…this is another family, another love, another life. She's dead, Ryu…" her voice falls into a barely audible whisper. "She's dead."

"She's dead." I whisper.

"Yes. Please, Ryu, let me take up this case or something. This is destroying you! Sakura wouldn't want you to be like this…she would want you to be happy…at this rate…you'll…"

"I'll what? Worry myself to death?"

"Maybe!" She answers, crying anew.

"At least then I would see Sakura again. Besides, who needs me to be happy now?" I throw my rag away and leave the room.

As I leave, I swear I hear Kimi whisper… "me…I need you to be happy…I love you, Ryu." Feh, it must be my imagination.

On my way back to the Sohma room, I stop by the main desk and pick up the paperwork needed to admit Shigure-San as a patient.

I enter the room and find that Ayame-San has disappeared. In his place is a note on my desk.

"My sincere apologies, Ryu-Sensei. I have found that, once again, I seem to be breaking visiting hours. On top of that, I have shirked my duty and left my dear Mine-Chan all alone at my costume shop. I shall leave you now to join her in making precious gifts for my mabudachi. I hope that, when we meet again, you continue to regard me kindly.

Your humble, and ever modest, companion,

Ayame."

That man…truly is hard to understand…

Shigure-San and Hatori-San are still asleep, the room is in order…there seems nothing to do at the moment except brood over the conversation I had with Kimi. I search in my desk drawer for my old portable radio and turn it on.

"Hello once again! This is 89.7 FM, your Easter station with songs from the Western nation! If you're just joining us, you missed our classic of the hour—"Close to You" by the Carpenters. Next up is Misery by the Moffatts (a/n http/ an acoustic shortened version of the song). Please enjoy the next 60 minutes of commercial-free music, only on 89.7—the Bird.

I cry myself to sleep again tonight
'Cause I cannot hold you tight.
I wish I could see you again tomorrow
To take all this sorrow
Sorrow, I'm hollow

When I touch you
Can you feel It
When I need you
Can you give it
When I look in your eyes
Can you see me
When I fall
Will you catch me, catch me, catch meMisery
Is what I feel
When you're not around
So I can't heal
Misery
Is what I feel
Is what I feel

Misery
Is what I feel
When you're not around
So I can't heal
Misery
Is what I feel
Is what I feel

(Instrumental Break)

These tears on my face
Are for you
I wish that I could hold you
Touch you, feel you
My heart is bleeding
Can't you see
I wish that you could hold me
Touch me, feel me

(Instrumental Break)

Misery
Is what I feel
When you're not around
So I can't heal
Misery
Is what I feel
Is what I feel

Misery
Is what I feel
When you're not around
So I can't heal
Misery
Is what I feel
Is what I feel

(Instrumental Break)

Misery"

"Ryu-Sensei?" Hatori-San is awake and I quickly turn the radio off.

"I'm sorry if I woke you."

"No, it's fine." He replies. "I didn't know you liked Western music."

"Ah…yes…I'm a bit of an otaku when it comes to Western music, actually. I had a CD of that last group, but I haven't listened to it since…since my wife died."

"Ah…I…that is. My sincere regrets." He bows his head.

"Thank you."

"mmm…Hatori…Hatori stop it…you know we shouldn't…oh…but if you want to…"

Hatori-San turns beat red. "Shigure…Shigure, wake up, dammit! You're having a dream!"

Shigure-San yawns and wakes up, turning to Hatori-San. "Oh…Ha-San, you ruin all my fun!" He whines, but then laughs.

"Ahem" I clear my throat. "Shigure-San, I'm glad you're awake. I have some paperwork for you to fill out so that I can admit you as a patient." He accepts the paperwork. "Unfortunately, you won't be able to share one bed…" I wave off his signs of protest. "But this is a joint room so at least you'll be sharing a room, and what you do when no one's around is your own business…" I am not liking that look in Shigure-San's eyes. "However, remember that you are both EXTREMELY WEAK."

"Oh, yes, yes, of course." Shigure-San replies with a smile. He hands me back the paperwork and suddenly it's official. I have two Sohma as patients…in one room…and oh yes, they're lovers.

End of Chapter 11.

So, what did you think? Not too bad I hope. Remember that this was an attempt to re-write it at 11:30 at night. And please do not flame me about Kimi. Kimi has a long story of her own…well, I guess that's it this time around.

Good night and Sayonara!

Mokimo, 11:30 PM Central Time, July 10, 2006.