Endless Love ("Neiko")

Hospital Days

Natsumi had driven to the hospital with Ayumi and Yoshiki after receiving a call from Ayumi. They were all waiting in the waiting room; waiting for news on Naomi and Seiko.

The girls were sitting next to each other, while Yoshiki was pacing around in front of them. A doctor had walked in and approached Natsumi.

"Excuse me, Miss, but did you come here with Seiko Shinohara and Naomi Nakashima?" He asked.

Natsumi shot up from her seat and locked eyes with the doctor when she spoke, "Yes, are they going to be okay?"

At this point Yoshiki, Ayumi, and Natsumi were all waiting for a response.

The doctor shifted uncomfortably under their gaze, "Well, Seiko had woken up right after we brought her to the room with her friend. Although, Naomi hasn't woken up yet. Seiko has a bruised back and a bruise on her head, but she should be fine with a little rest. Naomi, on the other hand, has a broken rib and a severe concussion." The doctor sighed, "She has been asleep this whole time. We don't know when she might wake up. I won't know until then, but you can come with me to go see them."

Natsumi nodded and the doctor motioned to follow him. Ayumi got up from her seat and trailed behind Naomi's mother alongside Yoshiki.

"Do you think Naomi'll be okay?" Ayumi asked Yoshiki.

Yoshiki looked down to Ayumi and gave her a small smile, "I'm sure she'll get through it."

There was definitely a waver in his voice, but Ayumi trusted those words either way.

The doctor stopped in front of a door after walking for a couple minutes. He motioned for them to walk in. Natsumi nodded, slowly and quietly she opened the door and stepped inside along with Yoshiki and Ayumi.

Natsumi looked at Seiko with a smile, but it quickly faded as she fixed her gaze on Naomi. Natsumi felt tears well up in her eyes as she saw her daughter's seemingly lifeless body lying on the bed. Naomi's head and entire torso were wrapped in bandages, her body hooked up to countless machines. The only noise in the room was the depressing sound of a heart monitor and the quiet whimpers coming from Natsumi.

Ayumi sat by Seiko's bed, while Natsumi situated herself next to Naomi's.

As Natsumi looked at Naomi she took ahold of her hand. She couldn't hold back anymore. Natsumi started sobbing at Naomi's bedside. Soflty whispering things to herself between gasps and hiccups.

Ayumi had started to tear up as she watched Naomi's mother. She started crying as well. Ayumi stood up and walked out of the room, trying to stop herself from crying at all. Shortly after Yoshiki followed Ayumi into the almost empty hallway.

Seeing Ayumi cry honestly broke Yoshiki's heart. Ayumi hadn't noticed Yoshiki until he placed his hand on her shoulder. She looked up and saw Yoshiki standing in front of her with a saddened look on his face.

"Shinozaki, please don't cry. It'll be okay, trust me. They'll pull through this and so can you, right?"

He gave Ayumi a slight smile, making her smile as well. Ayumi wiped the tears from her face. She suddenly hugged Yoshiki, obviously shocking him.

"Thank you...Yoshiki..." Ayumi whispered.

It was the first time she had called Yoshiki by his first name. Yoshiki hesitantly hugged her back.

After Ayumi had let go, so did Yoshiki.

Ayumi jabbed a finger at Yoshiki's chest, "Tell anyone I called you Yoshiki or hugged you like that and you'll be needing this hospital."