I'll Protect You- MatchaBlossom

Chapter 2- This Isn't Him

I turn the handle and push the door open slowly. I close my eyes as I walk in, not sure I want look at him. After crossing the room, I finally open my eyes to find a chair, but I still don't look at him. I pull the chair up next to his bed and sit down, my eyes locked on the ground. I reach out and grab his hand in mine. It's cold. I put it between both my hands, and hold it gently. I lower my head and kiss his hand softly, before finally lifting up my head, and looking at him.

When my brain registers what I'm seeing, my eyes widen and start to tear up. Before I know it, the tears are flowing down the sides of my face in a stream.

"Kaoru," I breathe out.

A large bandage is wrapped around his head from the surgery. He's no longer in his bloody kimono, and instead in a white hospital gown. The blood that was on his head before is gone. His eyes are closed peacefully. Then that's where the peaceful and nice-looking stuff stops. There's many bruises lining his face and arms. His lip is split, and his mouth hangs open slightly. His Cherry-blossom pink hair is sprawled out messily against his pillow. It sticks to the side of his face, and hangs in front of him as well. He's pale, extremely pale, and looks so incredibly fragile, like if I were to touch his face he would simply shatter into a million pieces.

I hate seeing him like this, knowing this isn't him. The real him has extreme OCD, is kind, short-tempered, caring, a neat freak and perfectionist, extremely handsome, and a talented painter. This isn't him in the slightest.

The thought makes me continue to cry, and this time the tears splash into his hand that's still in mine.

"Kaoru, please wake up soon. We need you," I sob out.

~Cherry POV~

I listen to Joe crying beside me, and all I want to do is to yell at him to stop because I'm right here. I want to open my eyes, or move my hand, something to let him know I'm here and I can hear him.

I listen to him cry for at least an hour. It's so bad I just want it to stop. I can't stand listening to him cry without ever being able to do anything. I've only ever heard him cry a few times, and each time it was just as bad as this, except I was actually able to do something then. Now, I'm so useless. I can't do anything to help.

~Joe POV~

After about an hour of crying, I finally stop. I remember to update everyone on Cherry.

Me- Cherry's condition isn't good. They took him to surgery, and afterwards he ended up falling into a coma. I'm with him now.

Reki- Oh my god

Miya- Is he going to be ok???

Me- I don't know

Shadow- Is he ever going to wake up

Me- I don't know that either

Langa- Are you ok?

Me- Yeah I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?

Langa- Because we all know how much Cherry means to you

Me- Well I'm fine

Langa- Ok

Shadow- Keep us updated and let us know if you need anything

Miya- Yeah we'll all come by and visit soon

Me- Ok. His room is #326

I shut off my phone and throw it down onto the floor. I stretch my legs all the way out, and throw my hands behind my head. Then I lean forward, hold onto Cherry's hand again, and lay my head next to his lap while closing my eyes.

I watch over and as Cherry gets hit in the face with Adam's skateboard. It gets replayed over and over again, like its on TV, and I'm watching the instant replay. He won't stop. He's gonna kill Cherry. I run as fast as I can towards Cherry. I see him laying on the ground. I run even faster. I reach out for him, but I fall into an infinite abyss.

And then I wake up, gasping desperately for air. A tear rolls down my cheek, and I wipe it away.

After a minute or two, I finally catch my breath and start to calm down. I look down at my watch to see it's nearly 2 in the afternoon. After rubbing my eyes and realizing I slept for nearly 3 hours, I grab Cherry's hand again, and kiss it gently.

"I'll be right back, I'm going to go get some coffee," I say quietly to him.

I get up from my chair, and walk out of the room, heading towards the lobby of the floor. There, I grab a cup of coffee.

On my way back, I hear someone say my name. I spin around, and see a person with bright blue hair and red eyes staring at me with a smirk.

I drop my coffee and charge straight at him. I pick him up by the collar of his shirt and slam him backwards against the wall. A few people in the lobby with us gasp or scream.

"What the hell are you doing here, Adam!" I yell in his face.

"I just came here to see someone. Someone I love," he replies.

"Bull shit!" I shout back. "You're the one who did this to him, you bastard!"

"Did I now?"

"Yes this is all your fault!"

"Says the one who pushed him to join the tournament in the first place."

"You don't have any room to talk! You nearly drove him to insanity because you abused him when you were together! You made his life a living hell! I'd die before I let you see him!"

Two pairs of arms wrap around my shoulders and begin pulling me away from Adam. I drop his shirt from my grip and let him fall onto his feet again. I don't resist the people restraining me, but I do swing and get one good punch in on Adam's face. He shuffles backwards into the wall and holds his nose as I see it begin to bleed. I smile, satisfied with myself, and allow myself to be pulled away and sat down in a chair. Someone goes over to help Adam, while the two people who pushed me away from him begin to question me. Adam then walks away towards the elevators, and presumably out of the hospital.

I'm allowed to go back to Cherry's room, so I do. I sit back down in my chair, take his hand in both of mine, and begin blabbering to him about what happened as I started crying softly.

"He was right Kaoru. I was the one who pushed you to do the stupid tournament because I wanted to try and beat him. It's all my fault. I'm so sorry."