Theresa paced the waiting area of Pearl Harbor Medical Center. The others merely sat in chairs, worry reflected in their eyes. She couldn’t believe what was happening. Aoshi Shinomori couldn’t die. He was a strong man. He’d faced a lot of adversity in his life. This wouldn’t kill him. This couldn’t…
She wrung her hands nervously, glancing at the clock. By some miracle, the chopper that had arrived to transport Aoshi had gotten to the hospital in less than thirty minutes. He was currently in surgery, having the bullets removed from his chest. Theresa would never forget the sight of him lying on the ground, pain in his eyes. And yet, there had been a quiet acceptance in those eyes. Before she left Kona, she had called Commander Saitou to let him know what had happened, and he volunteered to contact Misao.
The FBI had taken Anderson, as well as Martin's employees in for questioning. It was out of NIS' hands. They had only served to assist. The FBI did most of the cleanup work.
Theresa glanced at the clock again. Misao was probably still in school. She didn't even know what school she went to. Funny how she knew the officer in charge so well, but she knew next to nothing about his personal life.
A doctor stepped into the room, dressed in blue scrubs. He appeared to be in his forties, with the wisdom and experience of someone twenty years older. He looked at them with kind blue eyes.
“Are you Lt. Commander Shinomori’s colleagues?” he asked.
Theresa walked up to him, nodding. “Yes…”
“I’ll be honest with you…” he began and the others rose to their feet. “He’s…in very critical condition…We've transferred him to intensive care so we could have him monitored twenty-four-seven.”
Theresa closed her eyes for a minute and took a deep breath. “I see…”
“I can't say when he'll recover. It’s up to him, now,” the doctor said gently. “Does he have any family and have they been notified?”
“I…” Theresa blinked. Misao.
“Ma’am?” the doctor prompted.
“He…has a daughter. But…” Theresa straightened her shoulders. “She's probably still in school, and we have no way of contacting her. I don't even know what school she goes to...”
The doctor nodded. “I see.”
"Can we see him?" Theresa asked.
"His physician is only going to allow family to visit,” the doctor replied gently.
"But we-"
"I understand what you're going through," the doctor responded. "But that's our policy. Once he wakes up and is transferred out of ICU, you'll be able to see him."
Theresa swallowed. “Thank you, Doctor…” Theresa took a deep breath as he left. Then she looked at her teammates. “Those bullets was meant for me…”
Luke said gently, “If it had been the other way around, you would have done the same. Any of us would…”
She nodded, wringing her hands. “I think…he wanted me to say something to Misao. He never really told me what it was…”
Silence.
"Come on, guys," Luke spoke up. "We need to clean up. Let's all go home and rest for a bit then come back here. Maybe something will change..."
"They never got to the dance last night?" Megumi held the phone closer to her ear as she leaned back in her office chair.
"No...Aoshi had to go to work," Kaoru responded.
Megumi sighed. "Poor Misao..."
"She's pretty angry," Kaoru replied. "I tried to talk to her, but she won't listen to me..."
"I don't blame her," Megumi said softly.
"I just can't believe Aoshi dropped everything..."
"It's nothing unusual. Do you remember how many anniversaries and birthdays Kenshin missed while he was in the Navy?" Megumi reminded.
Kaoru coughed. "Well..."
"You know Navy life, Kaoru," Megumi said. "That's the way things are..."
"I know..."
"Where is Misao now?" Megumi asked.
"She's in class," Kaoru answered. "She's staying with us until Aoshi gets back. He thinks she needs some time to cool off, so Kenshin and I told him we'll take care of her. I dropped her off this morning at school just before one of my classes began. One of her friends is dropping her off back here because I have a class to teach..."
"I hope they resolve everything..." Megumi sighed. "They seem much happier now...At least they did..."
"Yeah. Hey, you want to come over for dinner tonight?"
"Sure, I-"
"Dr. Takani," a voice accompanied by a knock on her open office door reached her ears.
Megumi looked up. "Hold on, Kaoru...Yes?"
The hospital technician smiled. "Dr. Wheeler's little birthday celebration starts in five minutes downstairs."
"I'll be there," Megumi promised before the technician left. "Kaoru, I have to get going, one of the doctors is having a miniature birthday party..."
"Ok, sure. Just come by the place around six."
"I'll see you tonight."
Megumi made her way downstairs to the break room, where Dr. Wheeler and other colleagues would be waiting.
She spotted Tokio conversing with her husband, Hajime Saitou. Tokio, looking very serious, motioned her to come forward. Megumi frowned slightly, wondering what could be the problem.
“Megumi, you remember Hajime, by husband,” Tokio gestured politely to her husband.
“I remember,” Megumi nodded slightly at the intimidating man.
“Do you know where I can find Misao Makimachi?” Saitou asked quickly. “Tokio mentioned that Lt. Commander Shinomori is acquainted with you, and I’ve been trying to contact his daughter. Would you happen to know where she is?”
“Yes…She's still in school,” Megumi hedged. “Is…something wrong?”
Tokio and Saitou looked at each other. Then...
"Shinomori was wounded on his latest mission," Saitou said, gesturing towards ICU. "He's in there right now..."
Megumi took a deep breath. "Oh my..." She whirled around and pressed a large button on the wall to open the doors to intensive care.
"Megumi..." Tokio called out in hushed tones.
But she ignored her. She hadn't been in the intensive care unit for a long time, not since her residency. She remembered that it hadn't been the highlight of her residency. It was a place where patients needed constant monitoring. There were times she had gone home, only to collapse into Sano's arms after a patient had died. And other times, he hadn't been there. Megumi smiled faintly. He had been good to her, and she was looking forward to attending his wedding. And she had made it on her own, focused on her goals.
Megumi went to the desk, scanning the names on white dry erase board posted on the wall behind it. Bed number 7...LTCMDR Shinomori. Megumi took a deep breath. The charge nurse glanced at her but didn't say anything. She and Megumi had worked together before during her residency, so even if it was unusual for Megumi to be in this section of the hospital, she said nothing.
Megumi quickly but quietly walked over to his assigned bed. The unit had ten beds, all partially obscured by curtains for privacy purposes. Megumi slowed her steps as she reached the curtain blocking her view. Taking a deep breath, she peered around the cloth, stopping at the foot of the bed. An overwhelming sense of fear, loss, and sorrow washed over her.
"Oh no..." she whispered.
Megumi stepped closer, sinking into the chair by his bed, her eyes never leaving his face. His raven-black hair was a strong contrast against the white sheets, his complexion lost its healthy tan, and a gray exhaustion lingered around his eyes and mouth.
"Aoshi..." she spoke softly. "What happened to you...?"
She didn't really expect him to answer, but she took the sight of him in. He looked so different than the man she was accustomed to seeing. She carefully extracted his chart from its holder on his bed, flipping through the notes indicated on the paper.
Three gunshot wounds at varying parts of the trunk. Patient was admitted into PHMC approximately thirty minutes after wounds were inflicted. Patient was reported to have lost consciousness within several minutes after receiving wounds. Bullets, two located in the abdomen and the other at the thorax, one nearly colliding with rib number...
Megumi closed her eyes and put his chart down. She couldn't read anymore.
"Dr. Takani?" a low voice called out.
Her eyes flew open and she looked at the physician who had served as her mentor...and who was listed as Aoshi's physician. "Dr. Nielson..."
He smiled faintly. "It's been a while. How are you?"
"I was doing fine," she answered honestly.
He nodded sympathetically. "Do you know him?" the doctor asked.
Megumi turned away, feeling her eyes fill. She swallowed, needing a moment to compose herself. "He...He's a friend..." she answered softly. "What's going to happen...?"
"I'm not sure. It's really up to him..."
"Misao..." Megumi whispered. "She...She doesn't know..."
"What?"
"His daughter...she...she doesn't know he's here..." Megumi turned quickly. "Dr. Nielson, tell Dr. Wheeler I can't make it...I have to find Misao..."
She quickly ran out of the unit and dashed through the hallways. Please...he can't die...not when he has so much waiting for him here...
"Megumi!"
She stopped at the sound of her father calling her name. She hurried over to him, throwing her arms around his neck.
He seemed shock at her behavior, especially at the workplace. "Megumi, what-?"
Megumi swallowed. It was times like these she was grateful that she had her father. Losing her mother had been a sad time for her family. She breathed deeply, feeling the security in his arms. I don't know what I'd do without you, Father...no matter how difficult it’s been between us…I'm glad you here... When she looked at him, a thin film of tears shone in her eyes. Sorrow for Aoshi, as well as relief that her father was here with her, caused her to tremble with emotion.
"You're shaking, Megumi...what's wrong?" he asked urgently, apparently seeing the water in her eyes.
"Aoshi...Shinomori...is in ICU," she whispered.
"What?" Ryuusei Takani's eyes rounded. "What happened? What-?"
"I don't know," Megumi replied, swallowing fiercely. "He was on a mission, I think...and something happened...I...I have to find Misao. She's at school, she doesn't know what's going on...I-" She moved away, only to be held back by her father.
"Megumi, you're in no condition to drive to her school. I'll drive you-"
"No," Megumi interrupted, taking a deep breath. She closed her eyes, breathing deeply. When her eyes opened, determination and spirit shone in them. "I'm all right. I need to find Misao right away."
He studied his daughter for a moment before letting her go. "All right. I'll see you later..."
She turned to leave then turned back. "Father..."
"Yes?"
"I love you," she admitted.
Something swum in her father's eyes. He swallowed before saying, "I love you, too, sweetheart."
After telling her supervisor that she would be clocking out early, Megumi used speed-dial on her cell phone to call Kaoru.
"Hello?"
"Kaoru, it's Megumi."
"Hi!"
"I'm getting off work early...I need to pick up Misao...Aoshi's in the hospital."
"What?"
"Aoshi's in the hospital," Megumi repeated calmly as she entered the parking lot. "It will only take me about seven minutes to get to Honolulu High. She's going to need a lot of support...can you make it to the hospital?"
"Of...of course...I'll...I'll call all my students and tell them an emergency came up..."
"I'll see you soon..."
Misao twirled her pen in her hand, trying to absorb the chemical formulas on the board. She was still bitter. But what else could she do? Both Aoshi and Jiya were in Naval Intelligence. It's not like she chose her guardians.
Aoshi. Her jaw tightened. Work. They were like hand and glove. He had lived to work. She was almost positive he didn’t have time for anything else. Like…friends and family. He doesn’t understand how important they are. He never did. No wonder he had so few friends…
It had been so nice to stay with the Himuras. It had been so different than her time with Aoshi.
Misao started to doodle in her notebook.
"Mr. Michaels, could you please send Misao Makimachi to the administration building? And tell her to bring any necessary belongings?" the secretary in the admin office spoke over the public announcement system.
Everyone looked at Misao in curiosity, and she merely shrugged. It's not as if she knew what was going on.
"Misao, you got the homework?" Michaels smiled encouragingly at her.
She nodded and exited the building quietly, feeling her classmates' eyes on her. She wondered if something was going on. Ooh, she hoped she wasn't going to get suspended...she kinda cheated on last week's English quiz. She didn't need to stop by her locker, so she headed straight towards the admin building, crossing the amphitheater. When she opened the heavy brown doors that led to the center of the school's operation, she was surprised to see Dr. Takani sitting in a chair, cross-legged, staring pensively out the tinted window.
The doctor looked like she was coming from work, judging by her white cap sleeve blouse and gray skirt.
"Dr. Takani?" Misao spoke up.
That seemed to break her out of her thinking spot. "Misao..." she smiled briefly.
But Misao had known her physician for a while. That wasn't a real smile...
"What's going on?" Misao asked.
Megumi sighed and gestured for them to sit. A dreaded feeling began to creep into Misao's stomach. But she obliged.
"It took quite a bit of convincing to get you down here," Megumi said with a faint smile. "Thank goodness you had me listed as your primary physician..."
"What's going on?" Misao repeated.
Megumi took a deep breath. "I might as well say it...I'm not exactly sure how to..."
"Doc, you're really starting to scare me..." Misao whispered.
Megumi closed her eyes for a moment. When they opened, Misao could see sorrow and fear in their depths. What could possibly be going on?
"Aoshi..." Megumi trailed off.
It didn't even register to Misao that for the first time, Megumi called him by his first name. It was her tone of voice.
"...checked into intensive care earlier this afternoon," Megumi continued. "He...suffered from three gunshot wounds while he was on his last assignment..."
"Oh my god..." Misao's chest expanded as she took a deep breath.
"He...hasn't woken up yet...or...showed signs that he would be waking up," Megumi said softly. "All we can do is wait for him. But..." she stopped as Misao jumped to her feet.
“It’s not true…he…can’t…I…I just saw him Saturday!” she exclaimed.
Megumi bit her lip before saying, “I saw him earlier…”
The teenager shook her head. “No…it can’t…”
“I’m sorry…” the doctor replied helplessly.
Misao sank into the chair next to Megumi. Aoshi? No…Deep down…she knew it was true. Why else would Dr. Takani be here? She took a deep breath as the shock wore in. This can’t be happening…She felt numb inside. Hollow…trying to grasp reality but yet…
“Do you need anything before we go to the hospital?” Megumi asked.
“What?” Misao blinked.
“Several changes of clothes…something to read…?” the lady doctor prompted.
Change of clothes…? This is real… “I…I’m going to be there for a while, aren’t I?” Misao whispered.
“Only if you want to,” Megumi answered. “There is an area outside ICU for you to rest if you want to stay overnight…”
Overnight…
Twenty minutes later, Misao tightly clutched her duffel bag to her chest as she looked outside the window of Megumi's Lexus. Her eyes kept filling with tears. She glanced at the signs on the road. Pearl Harbor was only five minutes away.
“There’s nothing wrong letting it out,” Megumi said softly.
“I can’t…a…part of me…can’t…think…can’t…” Misao swallowed. She didn’t want to think about the worst. And if she were to break down now, she’d never stop. “So…You…you said you saw him?”
Sadly, Megumi nodded in answer to her question. "He doesn't look like himself..."
Megumi was the type of physician who held very close relationships with her patients. Misao recalled that none of her previous doctors were like that. At a closer look, she could see the worry and tension on her doctor. She’s really concerned, Misao thought. Even if they didn’t get along.
Misao took a deep breath, her attention outside again. Looking back, she had felt lonely when Aoshi had gone away on assignments. But this was the first time that she truly felt alone.
They pulled into the parking lot and headed inside the hospital. Misao held her bag tightly against her, her eyes widening as Megumi pressed a button to open the doors to ICU. They passed the waiting room, where several exhausted family members slouched in cushioned chairs. Megumi nodded to the desk nurse and led Misao to one side of the unit.
She tried not to look at any of the patients. ICU was supposed to be a quiet place. Anything could happen to patients in this unit. It was a very depressing and stressful place to work. Stella’s mom was a nurse. In her younger days, she had done a year in intensive care and quit because it became too much for her. Misao could see why. She felt as if a cage was closing in on her.
Misao began to slow her steps as she noticed that Megumi began to stop. From her vantage point, all Misao could see was the silver railing at the foot of a bed and two lumps beneath white and blue blankets. Feet. Aoshi’s feet.
Megumi motioned for her to come closer. Misao trudged forward, looking around the curtain.
And felt her heart drop to her feet. He looked so different. Tired, weak, his skin paled and gray-purple tones lingered around his mouth and eyes. And he was hooked to every single machine positioned behind the bed. A breathing mask was placed on his nose, his left forearm contained an IV needle and pads on his chest monitored his heart rate, sending the information to a little black and green machine behind and to the right of him.
A nurse was at his bedside, taking notes. An eerie beep indicated his heart rate. Misao didn’t know much about hospital equipment, but she knew that his heart rate wasn’t normal.
“Hello, Lillian,” Megumi greeted the nurse with a rueful smile. “Misao, this is Lillian, one of the nurses here. She and I went to the same high school…This is Misao, his daughter…”
If she was surprised at someone as young as Aoshi having a teenage daughter, she didn’t show it. Misao was used to the surprised expressions, but she appreciated the woman’s poker expression. It wasn’t as if people knew she was adopted, in some way, shape or form.
“Hello,” the dark-haired nurse smiled encouragingly at Misao.
Misao hesitantly smiled back before setting the bag down. Then she slowly made her way to the bed.
“How’s he doing, Lillian?” Megumi asked quietly.
Lillian sighed. “No change so far. He’s in a very deep sleep…I can’t say when he’ll wake up…”
Misao studied him from head to toe, her throat clogging with emotion. This can’t be real…this isn’t happening…she thought wildly. He looks so lifeless. Almost…dead. She choked on a gasp.
“Ex…Ex-Excuse me…” Misao quickly turned away to exit the unit, but not before she caught the light of concern in Megumi’s eyes.
Misao blindly walked through the halls of the hospital, uncaring who she ran into. She stopped abruptly when she reached the hospital chapel, its dark interior with lit candles offering a peaceful refuge. While she didn’t share the belief of people who normally came to a place like this to worship, it did make visitors feel as if there was a place for them. Before she even settled in a chair inside the room, she lost it.
Misao held her face in her hands and began to cry.
