Advent '09 [17/25]
Advent 09
December 17th - 8 days to go
Kanae had arrived back late last night when Kyoko had already gone to bed, still exhausted by the events of the past week. But now she was re-energized and had Kanae right where she wanted her.
Namely in her room.
"Kanae," Kyoko asked quietly, "have you heard anything about Sho?"
Kanae grimaced slightly and turned her head to face the wall, not wanting to meet her friend's eyes. Kyoko felt her heart speed up at the lack of answer and lack of denial.
"Kanae?" she asked again, needing to know.
"There was..." Kanae started, swallowing sharply. "That is...the doctors wouldn't really tell us much because we weren't family or his guardians."
Kyoko's eyes widened, "What does that mean?"
"I - I don't really know," Kanae admitted after a while, "I mean, I don't think he's dead..."
Kyoko's face paled and the room seemed to tilt slightly.
Kanae, seeing her friend was about to pass out, rushed forward and helped lay her down on the bed.
"W-what?" Kyoko asked shakily, "Was he really that bad?"
Kanae bit her lip. "Kyoko," she said eventually, "when I first saw you, you were in a bad shape. And I mean really bad.
"And we all know that Sho was so much worse off than you..." she trailed off, not knowing how to really say what she was thinking.
Kyoko seemed to get it though, by the helplessness that washed over her face as she closed her eyes. "So, you think he's d-d..."
"No!" Kanae protested vehemently, "I mean, I'm pretty sure that he's not. There would be news stories about it and I haven't seen any so far..."
"News stories." Kyoko said dully.
Kanae shifted uncomfortably before giving up any pretences and lying next to Kyoko on the bed and staring at the ceiling. "Well, you were big news." She said dryly, "If there was any chance that one of you...took a turn for the worse...then I'm pretty sure that the media would jump on that."
"Why would they do that?"
"It's publicity. Death and natural disasters get more space because destruction sells, and that's what the media is after in the end - a profit."
Kyoko wanted to cry, she could feel the tears pricking at the back of her eyes and her throat was clogged up. Kanae patted her on the arm.
"If you wanted, we could ask President Takarada and see if he knows anything. Lord knows the man seems to collect information like this."
Kyoko sat up, her eyes bright. "Do you think he would know anything?"
Kanae just shrugged, "There's a chance."
-/-
Unfortunately, when the girls cornered Lory in the hotel restaurant, he didn't know anymore than they did.
"I'm sorry girls. But I haven't been keeping up to date with all the things here. I've been focusing on Kyoko and sorting out the mansion. Not to mention there seems to be a bit of an uproar back home about something that is being shown on news channels that I need to try and sort out before it gets blown out of all proportions."
"So, you really don't know anything?" Kyoko asked, upset.
Lory paused, then reached out and patted Kyoko on her wrist, mindful of her freshly bandaged hands.
"I'm sorry Kyoko-chan, but no. I don't. But, if I may ask, why do you want to know so badly? I thought you didn't really get along with Fuwa-san."
Kyoko opened her mouth to reply when she realised that she had nothing to say. She hadn't liked Sho very much before all this. But then the incident on the mountain where they had both thought they were going to die but Sho wouldn't let her give up hope, always trying to protect her...
And the ease at which she had forgiven him once she had truly weighed up her options...
And the way she had kissed him, even if she wasn't entirely sure that he had been conscious for it.
She ducked her head, looking at the table she was sitting at. She knew all this, but she didn't want anyone else to know just yet. It was her own secret, and she was still unsure about just what exactly her feelings were towards him.
She just knew that she needed to know.
Kyoko sat silently, her head bowed and it hurt Lory to see her like this - so obviously distressed over someone. She had grown, he knew this.
He also knew that this was the reason she was in the Love Me section in the first place.
With that thought he smiled brightly. "Don't worry too much, Kyoko-chan. I've decided that we shall phone the hospital to inquire as to his whereabouts and health!"
"Will they let you do that?" Kanae asked, a little sceptical.
Lory turns wide eyes on her and she quickly realised her mistake. "I mean," she said, holding her hands up, "that sounds like a plan! What are we doing still sitting here then?"
-/-
The group quickly found a phone that they could use in the reception. However, the hospital wasn't forthcoming at all about how Sho was doing. Lory had even tried to explain in broken Italian just why he was phoning but they still wouldn't budge.
It had gotten to the point that even Lory had to concede that they weren't going to get any information this way.
Kyoko looked almost heartbroken at the news, which only served to strengthen Lory's resolve.
"Well," he said decisively, "this means that we'll just have to go to the hospital in person and visit his rooms to find out how he's doing."
"Really? Can we do that?" Kyoko asked, a spark of hope shining in her eyes.
"Of course we can! I'm President Lory Takarada!"
"I don't think it works like that..." Kanae muttered under her breath.
"Do you hear that Moko?"
"I heard." Kanae agreed.
"Are you coming then?"
Kanae wanted to say 'No', because of the bad memories she had from that place but one look in Kyoko's eyes and she was a goner. "Yeah, I'll come."
Besides, she tried to reason with herself, Kyoko might need some support if it isn't good news.
-/-
They arrived at the hospital within the next hour and Kyoko really wanted to run in and just demand answers, but she couldn't run in her condition. It hurt just to walk!
So instead she had to hold in until she got to the receptionist at the front desk.
"Excuse me," she asked politely, "I'm looking for Sho Fuwa's room."
The receptionist just looked at her apologetically and said something in Italian.
In despair Kyoko turned to look at Lory, who quickly took over the reins, questioning the receptionist in his broken Italian again.
Kyoko, feeling tired all of a sudden, went to sit down on the hard plastic seats that lined the wall. Kanae sitting down beside her to keep her company.
"Do you think everything will be ok?" Kyoko asked quietly, not daring to look at her friend.
Kanae took a moment to answer. "I'm sure everything will turn out fine in the end." She said, reaching out and gently clasping Kyoko's hand.
"I hope we can get Sho's room number."
Kanae rolled her eyes, "I'm sure we will, after all, we have President Lory Takarada on our side."
Kyoko chuckled and Kanae thought it was a job well done to be able to elicit any positive emotion from Kyoko right now.
The atmosphere wasn't to last however, when Lory turned back to face them with a grave expression.
Kyoko's breath hitched in her throat. "Oh God," she whispered, "What is it?"
"I don't know." Kanae whispered back, worriedly.
"Girls." Lory said seriously, kneeling down until he could look them in the eye as they sat. "I'm afraid I have some bad news.
"I was talking to the receptionist and it seems that they have no record of a Sho Fuwa at this hospital. When I asked them to check back they receptionist only said that he had 'departed'."
"But," Kanae said, "That's impossible! We know he was brought here! The doctor wouldn't tell us anything!"
"Yes," Lory sighed, "yes, I know."
"Then why wouldn't he be registered..." Kyoko started to ask before the realisation hit her and her eyes widened. "You mean...? Departed? He could be...?"
"It's a possibility," Lory said. "I'm so sorry Kyoko."
"But it can't be! I refuse to believe it! Sho can't be dead!" Tears began to fall down her cheeks, "It can't be true!"
"Kyoko." Kanae whispered, wrapping her arms around her friend's shoulders.
Kyoko broke down in the arms of her best friend.
-/-
It seemed to take less time to get back to the hotel than it took to get to the hospital.
The journey was long enough to cry herself out in though. As the tears dried on her cheeks she sat silently in the back, doing nothing but staring out of the window at the steadily darkening horizon.
Eventually, the hotel pulled into view and the occupants of the car just sat for a moment, looking at it.
"Kyoko..." Kanae started to say.
"I think I'm going to go to bed." Kyoko interrupted, her voice dull.
Kanae pressed her lips together but made no move to argue with her. "Do you need any help?" She asked instead.
Kyoko shook her head and opened the door of the car. "I just want to be alone right now."
Kanae and Lory watched as Kyoko made her way slowly up the front steps of the hotel and through the door.
"I'll stay with her tomorrow." Kanae told Lory.
"I think that would be a good idea."
Kanae nodded and opened her own door. "Thank you for taking us, Sir."
Lory watched as she followed the same path Kyoko had just taken. "You really shouldn't be thanking me." Lory mumbled to the empty car before he got out too.