Beyond The Emergency Room Doors

I open my eyes after resting for a while. What time it was I didn't know, because a little while ago I didn't really care. I glance at the clock beside the hospital window. It was 8 o clock at night. My head was pulsing, and there was a soreness going down my back. but I guess when you fall down a flight of stairs its gonna hurt like this. the only time I've ever been in a hospital before was to see my grandmother, who told me about my brother, Kouji. After that she died. I never expected that I would be in the hospital a few weeks later. I had an IV in both arms. Its weird...I never liked needles, and I found it a little odd that I woke up and had needles in both my arms and me not know about it.

~I wonder what mom is thinking about now...... if she's even here......her job....it always keeps her out late......I bet someone told her I was here...but her boss wont let her go.~

I sigh, knowing that I'm gonna spend the night in the hospital alone. I then started to wonder what happened after I woke up.... and how I woke up. all I remember after being scanned was thinking I was so thankful I met my brother, even if it was only for a little while. then I felt dizzy and blacked out and I woke up and there Kouji was....standing over me, crying. I started to cry too, I didn't think id ever see him again. Then the doctor told them to leave. As they left, Kouji didn't say a word. I guess he was just relieved. but I wish he could have stayed..... and then the doctor gave me some medication and I fell asleep.

Just then I heard a knock at the door.

~who would that be?~

"...Come in.."

I was expecting a nurse, but instead I heard a familiar voice.

"Hiya Buddy!!"

"...Takuya-?"

Takuya comes in sheepishly, I guess he was a little nervous. ( Maybe cause he was alone?? Oh well. I'm not in his inner circle anyway.) He points to the door.

" Kouji and the others are coming.. they just wanted to go home first."

"Why are you here? I thought it was your little brothers birthday," I ask.

"And what, not worry about my friend in the hospital?"

That was kind of comforting, and I smiled a little. he walks over to the window and looks out into the night.

"Kouichi-San. . *sighs* I'm glad your ok. Kouji was really nervous after we left the emergency room... he wanted to stay here. . . . but then he remembered your dads anniversary. He said he'd come as soon as he could." Takuya said.

I thought probably would have been nervous too, if this was an opposite situation. I close my eyes for a brief moment.

"Your not falling asleep on me are you?!" Takuya said from the window. My eyes shot open.

" No! I'm just . . . . a little tired," I replied.

Takuya smiled, still looking out the window.

" I see them! They're coming, " Takuya said.

I smile. A first experience... in the real world....with my brother. Outside the Digital World. My head still hurt like crazy, but I thought I could hold out for a while.
Sure enough, a couple minutes later, there was a knock on the door.

"Kouichi?" It sounded like Kouji.

The door opens and in comes Kouji, Zoe, and JP. I noticed Tommy wasn't there, but has only a little kid, so I didn't expect him out by now. Kouji smiles.

" Hey Kouichi." He said.

"Hey Kouji." I said back.

" Are you feeling better?"

". . . not really, honestly."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be."

Zoe looked around the room.

"How long do you have to stay?" she questioned.

"I don't know....I've been asleep. But. I think it will be a while."

"That means you have to miss school," Takuya said.

"It doesn't matter," I said." I'm sure Naoki will get my assignments for the days I miss."

"Naoki?" They said in unison. ( That kinda gets on my nerves, by the way.)

"Naoki-Chan, she's one of my best friends," I said. ~My ONLY best friend.....really my only friend besides them.~

I look at Kouji.

"How was it with dad?" I asked.

"Well....He wondered why I was late....I told him I would be back at 6:30, but since I came here straight after getting off the elevator, I ran off a little..." Kouji replied.

"...You mean you didn't tell him?" I said point blankly.

"...No."

"He's gonna have to know sometime, Kouji-San," JP told him.

" I know that already!"

He looked upset. I didn't say anything, not wanting to make him more upset than he is. then I realized. I had to tell mom, too...about Kouji.

" Just....*sighs* Its not that simple, JP."

"...It really isn't." I said in agreement,

"I just think....that... in a situation like this...." Kouji said, looking at me.

"Its best to wait," I said.

I saw out of the corner of my eye Takuya's expression turn pale.

"Takuya, are you ok?" I asked.

"Does your mom have long black hair? Tied back, like Kouji's?" He said blankly.

My eyes widen.

".Yes.....Why?" I said, not really wanting to know the answer. ~PLEASE....Don't say she's coming. Not now. ~

Takuya turned to me.

"Because she's here."

~HOLY CRAP! ! ! ! ~


I knew Kouji wouldn't have time to get out of the ICU without mom seeing him. Things are too chaotic now. I hope Kouji understands,

"Kouji, there's a bathroom down the hallway outside my room. Hurry up and get in before she sees you," I pause. " But.... if she sees you, don't look at her." I felt dizzy, because of all this intensity, I guess. I close my eyes, trying to keep myself from throwing up.

" I'll get you when she leaves, Kouji, Just GO!" Takuya said impatiently, pushing him out the door.

I don't know what happened after that with Kouji. I was feeling really sick a that moment. The pain just got worse by the second, Now I understand why doctors tell visitors not to stress the patients, cause it just makes the patients feel worse.

" Kouichi-Kun doesn't look too well..." JP said in a worried tone.

"OH!! I bet we've stressed him out..." Izumi said. "I'm sorry, Kouichi-San."

"Its ok........" I said weakly.

"We'll wait outside for Kouji-San, then go home." Takuya said.

"It was nice seeing you, Kouichi," Zoe said with a smile.

I smiled faintly, eyes still closed.

" I'm glad you came......I really am." I said.

"Anytime, Buddy." Takuya said with a smile.

I heard them leave quietly. My room was a few floors up. And mom never was good at finding rooms in a hospital.... it took us a half hour just to find grandmas room last time. The thought of it made me laugh, but weakly. A few moments later I heard the door open and slam shut. I winced from the shock of the slam.

" KOUICHI!!!"

It was mom all right. I opened my eyes, and tried to put on a straight face, but I felt horrible. I just wanted to sleep. but I got to reassure her first.

"Hey mom..." I said.

"Oh, Kouichi! I would have come sooner, but-"

"You boss held you back, I know."

"Are you all right?! What happened to you?!"

"Mom, please don't shout...."

She seemed to calm down a little.

"I'm sorry baby. Its just...." I could see the tears in her eyes. I felt as tears formed in mine. " I don't want to lose you, Kouichi. Your my only child, and I don't know what I would do if I lost you,"

~LIAR. BIG FAT LIAR. I am NOT your ONLY child.....unless you forgot about him, like dad forgot about you. And me.~


At that moment I was just glad that I was home. That mom was here. Tears fell down my face.

~I wonder.....what would have happened if I didn't wake up....what would happen to mom? And Kouji? Would he feel too ashamed to meet her? Would she go on all alone....and Kouji....knowing that he only knew his brother for a short amount of time, would he shut her out, just for my sake? I don't want to think about that right now.~

"How are you feeling?" She asked. ( I have a feeling I'm going to be answering this often.)

"I just want to go to sleep." I said.

She ruffles my hair.

" I wont bother you. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

I fell asleep rather quickly.

* * * * *

When I opened my eyes, The sun was shining in my eyes. I shield my eyes and look overate the clock and it said 11 o clock.

~11. Takuya-San and the others are at school. ~

The door opens quietly. I look and see a nurse come in.

" Mr.Kimura?" she asks like I'm not awake.

"Please.... call me Kouichi. I have a thing about being called Mister." I answered. ( I really do. I don't know why, but it just bugs me.)

"...Kouichi....We have to get a CAT scan done this morning."

~A CAT scan? ...I guess this will become the norm for me for a few days.....~

"Can you sit up without pain?" She asks.

I attempt to, but the throbbing pain shot up my back. I lay back down. It hurt. A lot. I bit down on my lip to keep from yelling. I shake my head. I've never hurt this much before....physically. Emotionally, yes, but not physically.

"I'll have to wheel you in then," She said.

~Wheel me in...but how long will it take for me to get better?~

* * * * * *

Hospital food is crappy. I'm gonna get straight to it. It makes rotten fruit look good. Well, after I choked down that crappy food, they gave me more medication and I fell asleep (again, that stuff's better than Niquil) when
I woke up a while later, I adjusted my bed and watched TV ( Its not all that fun, believe me. I was so bored >< ) Then I heard a knock on the door.

"Come in."

I clicked the TV on mute. My friend Naoki came in with my books. I smiled.

"Hey Naoki." I said. I was a little surprised, I haven't talked to her and asked her to do this. Believe me I was going to but I guess I forgot. -_-; (Baka Kouichi-Kun!)

She smiled. " Hey Kouichi-Kun! I got your stuff." She set it down on the stand beside the bed. " I'm glad your doing better."

I gave her a weird look. She laughed.

" You thought I was going to ask you how you were feeling, didn't you? I know that gets annoying when people ask you those kind of things."

" You know me too well, Naoki."

Naoki's father died of a heart attack a year ago. Back then she didn't have any friends, and then she transferred to my school. We've been friends for a long time ( if you count 7 or 8 months a long time at the moment I cant remember)

"How did you know to bring my stuff?" I asked.

She smiled slyly.

"WELL...............I got a phone call before I left for school.....actually, two. One was from a boy named Takuya, and....one from Kouji."

She knew about the whole Kouji situation. I confide in her. things I don't tell my mom I tell her, and vice versa.

"so you finally met him?" She said.

"Yeah...."

" OOOOOHHHH!!! I WANNA MEET HIM!!! he sounded concerned when he called me....HEY... How did he get my number?!?!?"

I shake my head.

" Its called a phone book, Naoki."

She slaps her forehead, " I KNEW THAT!!!"

"Sure you did." She is so funny sometimes. But she's a good listener.

She looked down at the ground.

"Kouichi....I'm serious....when I say that I'm glad....." She looked up at me, an I saw tears in her eyes. "I'm glad...your all right, Kouichi-San. Your the only friend I have. It'd be like losing my dad all over again..."

~I could imagine it would......it took her forever to get over that.~

I hold out my arm.

"Naoki-Chan, Come here." I said.

She did so. I hugged her as she cried. I know what your thinking. NO I don't like her like that. She's my friend. I'm there for her, and she's there for me. Can a guy have a friend that's a girl and hug her IN A FRIENDLY MANNER without being suspected as a couple?! )

"Its ok, Naoki-Chan, I'm not going anywhere..." I said, trying to make her feel better. Then I had a thought.

"Naoki?"

"Uh huh?" she stands back up, wiping her eyes. I smiled.

" Stay here for a little bit. Kouji and the others will be here soon." ( I KNOW THIS CAUSE I GOT A TEXT EARLIER FROM KOUJI XD)

"That ok with you? I mean, Takuya did mention about the stress..."

"No, I'm alright. I feel a little better than I did yesterday. Just as long as you don't shout."

she knew I was picking on her.

" I'll try to contain myself." She said, smirking.

* * * * * *

Two weeks pass. Finally I'm able to go home. I'm not allowed to do anything athletic related for a month, or a lot of strenuous work, but I never was the athletic person anyway. Of course, despite my condition, mom still had to go to work. I hate her boss. With a passion. He's a big jerk, making her work so hard like that. anyways, I'm stuck on the couch for another week, but thank god I get REAL food. My heads a little sore, and my back aches, but ill be going back to school next Thursday.
Kouji and I still haven't told mom or dad we know each other. JP said that when I got better we should " SWITCH PLACES FOR A WHILE AND SEE IF THEY NOTICE..." (Naoki moment...) I don't see that happening. Hair doesn't grow that fast and I highly doubt Kouji's willing to cut his hair.

~I know its wrong to keep this from mom... but I guess that's how she feels. I've gone almost all of my life not knowing I had a brother. but I cant blame her. If it were me.... I probably would have done the same thing. I bet she was going to tell me when I got older....but I'm glad things turned out this way. Today, Kouji and I have to act like strangers a little longer......but I cant wait until the day that we can all be together. THAT is something I'm looking forward to.