Chapter 8

The lights in the room were dim, to allow him to awaken without being overly disoriented. The curtains were drawn for privacy against the chaos outside and to deter any possibility of someone recognizing the millionaire. In the background was the steady, rhythmic beeping of Sojiro's heart monitor and the occasional overhead for a doctor to the nurse's station.

Yuki sighed, leaning over the hospital bed and laying her head on the hand without an IV drip, relief

washed over her at the earlier words of the doctor.

"Nishikado-sama sustained a minor concussion and needed 14 stitches, however we have no doubt he will make a full recovery,"

'Why did you save me?' she whispered into the mattress, she didn't expect the unconscious Sojiro to answer her, "It would have been better for you to let me die...why did you put yourself in harm's way?"

As she sat there beside him, the night that put her in this predicament came drifting back from the recesses of her mind. Yuki put herself back in the person she was three months ago, that sheepish girl screaming inside for change and finding the one boy who could do it. The one boy who could break her out of her shell, as she had done to him with Sara. She remembered their wonderful night, the way Sojiro made love to her as though she was the only woman in the world, but there was more than that. There was that knowledge, through the tangles of limbs and sweat, through the ecstasy there was always that little window that showed them who they really were. It never hurt Yuki that nothing more came out of that night (relationship-wise anyway), she thought with all of her heart that they were not meant to be. Their love was like a short chapter in an even bigger story...but then...why where they here together again?

It happened; that light, fluttery jump in her chest. It had been so long she scarcely recognized it, but once she did she shake to her core. Yuki sat up and pressed her fingers to her chest. Her heart was jumping for him, the way it did all those months ago.

"Oh no..." she whispered through a smile, "Not again..."

Akira paced the waiting room, his cold hands shoved under his arms for warmth. Blast these cold hospitals! His heart had slowed with the news that Sojiro was doing fine, but would not rest until he saw him for himself.

"If Yuki will ever let me in!" He muttered, the image Yuki left him burned in his mind, infuriating the boy to no end, what was she getting at, soothing him like that when she was the exact reason Jiro was even in this position.

"Akira,"

The curly haired boy turned to see Yuki standing in the entrance of their private waiting room. She looked tired for the most part, probably the baby and everything that had just happened, but something was in her eyes, something that made Akira very nervous. She looked like she had a secret.

He swatted the thought away like a fly, "Where's Sojiro?" he asked.

Yuki pointed down the hall to the first door on the left, "You have 15 minutes before visiting hours are over,"

'Gee, thanks,' he spat in his mind. Wasting no more time, Akira brushed past Yuki and nearly flew to the room Sojiro was in.

As soon as he saw him, Akira breathed a sigh of relief. Sojiro was asleep, but at least he wasn't hooked up to a tube or anything like that. Akira took a seat next to him and grabbed his hand. "You idiot," he whispered, pressing the hand against his cheek. Once again he felt that electric connection, further calming him down. He couldn't, nor did he try to stop the tears, he missed Sojiro like nothing he'd ever felt before.

Sojiro must have felt the connection as well, a few moments later he began to rouse. His eyes blinked open with great effort, then looked around the room before resting on Akira. He smile was weak and brilliant all at the same time, "What's up?" he asked.

Akira reached over the side of the hospital bed and threw his arms around him. Kissing the boy fervently, "You idiot!" he cried, "Why did you do that?"

"I couldn't let Yuki get hit," he said, wiping Akira's tears away, "You would have done the same thing and you know it,"

Akira crossed his arms over his chest, "I'm not so sure now," he said with an angry smirk.

"Why? What happened?"

Akira's face fell as he developed a sudden inability to look Sojiro in the face, "I couldn't be there for you..." was all that Sojiro could make out, "She wouldn't let me be there for you..."

Sojrio grabbed Akira's shoulder, "Hey-,"

"THERE SHE IS!"

"THAT'S THE ONE!"

"QUICK, GET THE CAMERA!"

The peace of the room was interrupted by a loud cacophony of voices, flashing lights and the shadows of people running in the direction of the waiting room. Akira rose to his feet and walked over to the window, peeling the curtain back ever so slightly.

Sojiro managed to sit up, "What's going on?" he asked. The curly hair boy shrugged and started to make his way to the door. No sooner was it opened was Yuki pushed into the room with a wave of reporters. Nurses and security guards were at the outskirts of the mob, trying in futility to get everyone out. In the scuffle, Akira had once again been pulled away from Sojiro and thrown to the wayside.

"Akira!" Sojiro shielded his eyes from the blinding shutter lights, microphones were shoved into his face as questions reigned down on him.

"HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN DATING YUKI-SAN?"

"ARE YOU GOING TO GET MARRIED?"

"WAS THIS PREGNANCY PLANNED?"

"My word, this is too easy! Ahahahaha!"

Argh! This story managed to get away from me again! Damn my job and all it's jobiness :( Here's the beginning of all the wonderful drama. The first rift between Sojiro and Akira and Yuki's mushy feelings of love. Who leaked the info? How will they get together now? TRA LALA