Chapter 106

Even in the darkness, Rin could see how drastically Len's facial expression had transformed in the span of a few seconds. His blue eyes were wide and he seemed frozen, almost, gaping at the cell phone in his hands and trying to form words.

"She...she what?" He croaked.

"Her injures are life threatening, and she's at the hospital, currently asleep. If you wish, you may visit her, but she is in extreme pain," the doctor's voice was empathetic. This was the woman's son he was speaking to, after all.

Len nodded slowly. "Okay," he whispered, "T-Thank you."

He hung up and looked out into the darkness at Rin's silhouette. It shuffled out of the sheets and approached him. Len was finding it harder and harder to hold his tears back.

"Len, what happened?" Rin looked down at him, "Who was that?"

"My mom's...," Len choked on his words, "She's in the...hospital..."

As soon as he said this, Rin fell into his lap and pulled him close into a hug. Her shoulder was soon wet with tears as the blond boy whimpered softly and she stroked his hair.

"Is she...," Rin began, afraid of how to word her question.

"She's alive," Len mumbled into her shoulder, "But she's in pain...asleep and really badly hurt, I...I have to go to see her, Rin."

Rin pulled away and met Len's eyes. "I'll take you," she whispered, "Come on."

She got up and helped Len to his feet, pulling his pyjamas off and redressing him in his old clothes. He seemed dazed and absolutely out of it, his mind focused somewhere else and not in the present.

"Len, wash up," Rin instructed calmly, leading him into the bathroom, "It's going to be okay."

Rin quickly pulled her nightdress off and put on a long skirt and a shirt. She peered into the bathroom, watching Len as he blankly splashed water across his face. She walked in, turned the tap off, and pulled him back out.

She took his hand and headed downstairs with him, knocking on Doris' door. The brunette opened the door and looked at Rin and Len with sleepy eyes.

"Doris, we need to go somewhere," Rin said quietly. Doris responded with a confused look, but she nodded.

"Okay," she said, and then dared to ask, "What's the matter?"

Rin glanced at Len. He was beginning to snap out of his spell of blankness.

"My mother got in an accident," Len mumbled. Rin pulled him close. He didn't cry, but he was just barely managing to hold it back.

Doris' eyes grew wide. "I'll get the car out," she answered, stepping out past the two teenagers, "I'm bringing it to the gates, okay?"

Rin nodded and led Len out. He pulled his shoes and socks on and they left the home, crossing the garden and leaving the gates. Doris had the car idling, her hand on the wheel and the back door open. The two got in and Rin pulled the door shut.

"Hospital?" Doris asked. Len nodded.

"Northtown Hospital," he said, resting his head on Rin's shoulder.

Rin sighed as the car began cruising down the streets. She twiddled her thumbs and glanced Len's way. His eyes were empty, and while his gaze was fixed at the view outside, he seemed to be looking somewhere beyond there.

"Len, are you okay?" She ran a slow hand through his hair and he shifted in his spot slightly.

"I don't know," he answered flatly, "The doctor said her injuries are life threatening, Rin..."

"I'm here," she whispered, "Don't worry; they've got her in the hospital, and the doctors are probably working on her right now. She's alive, Len. That's the silver lining."

"I know," Len whispered, "I just..."

"You never see it coming, right?" Rin leaned downwards slightly and kissed him on the mouth. Ren had left her less than a week ago, and now, without warning, the mother of the boy she loved was in the hospital.

Rin thought back to when she was sobbing against Len's shoulder after finding out about her late father. She remembered how he comforted her, and how it seemed as though he would crumble as well, just like her, but he didn't. If he broke down back then, who would be there to comfort her?

I have to stay strong, Rin thought to herself. She couldn't fall apart because he had. She had to stay calm and composed, for Len's sake.

"Rin, we're here," Doris stopped the car in the parking lot and Rin glanced out the window at the hospital building, lights twinkling inside.

Somebody was being born, and somebody was dying. Some people hung between life and death. People were praying, and people were crying, some out of happiness and others, out of sadness. Rin could sense it all, just sitting in the car with Len.

"Come on," Rin tugged Len's arm and he left the car with her. They walked into the hospital briskly, with Len almost running. Rin held his hand and they nearly bumped into a tall man wearing a long, white coat and circular glasses.

"Sorry," Len mumbled before moving aside. The man put a hand on Len's shoulder and held him back.

"Wait, are you Len?" He asked. Len turned and nodded.

"I'm Dr. Kiyoteru," the man offered a small smile, "Your mother had a photograph of you in her purse. Come with me."

"Len...," Rin held him back as the doctor continued down the hall.

"Rin, I need you," Len said suddenly, squeezing her hand, "I won't be able to see her if you're not with me."

Rin blushed. He was looking her in the eye, holding back tears.

"I need you," he repeated. Rin nodded.

"Okay," she whispered, "Let's go."

They headed upstairs to the second floor of the hospital, where they stopped and were led a few rooms down. The doctor had his hands in his pockets and he glanced back every now and then at the two blond teenagers.

"She's doing a lot better now," he explained, making Len's heart skip a beat, "She might be asleep, though."

"What happened, exactly?" Len asked as they stopped in front of a door that was just as white and clean as the halls. Rin put a hand on his shoulder. Kiyoteru frowned, furrowing his brow and pushing the door open.

"You should take a look at her first," he said slowly, leading the boy in. Rin stood, stationary, hands hanging lamely by her sides, watching as Len walked in. As soon as the doctor opened the door entirely, Len had stumbled in, dazed, his hand slipping out of hers.

Len. (Because screw it, this story works best this way. Er, pardon my French...)

I took a few steps forward, past the doorframe, Rin's hand no longer in mine, and suddenly, I felt almost incomplete without her skin against mine. There she was. My mom, with a drip feed close by and beeping displays flashing everywhere, a nurse pacing back and forth, meeting my gaze, offering a weak smile; that was the best she could do, after all. People aren't machines. You can't get new parts and fix everything.

"M-Mom," I staggered forwards slowly, unsure of whether I could even trust my own two feet. Everything was breaking inside of me. This had to be a dream.

She opened her eyes slightly, though I'm sure she was trying hard to open them as much as she could, because she winced, the corner of her mouth twitching, half closed dark blue eyes wavering against my gaze.

"Len...," she groaned and I hurried up to her bedside, examining her up and down, trying to find a place that I could pat without hurting her. One arm was in a cast, and her head was bandaged. Her legs were being held up and were covered in a blanket.

"Shh...," I swallowed my tears and put my hand over her free, unhurt hand, "It's okay, mom...I'm just..."

"Len, I love you," she said between groans and the nurse approached us.

"She should rest," the nurse said to me. I nodded quickly and looked back at my mother.

"You're not going anywhere, mom," I said with a small smile, glancing out past the door and at Rin, who looked back, "Y-You're going to be fine; the doctor said so..."

"If I...if I wasn't...," she strained to speak and I shook my head, squeezing her hand.

"No, no, mom," I whispered, "You're here. I'm here. You're alive. You're going to be okay..."

I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder and I turned to see Rin looking at me and then at my mother, who had closed her eyes and was breathing slowly. Her blond hair was pooled over the white sheets and cushions, spilling down one side. I gently took some of it and put it beside her. She shifted slowly.

"Rin, I'm just glad she's alive," the words were heavy but they spilled from my mouth like water, "She's okay."

"Yes, she's going to be okay," this was Kiyoteru, standing behind Rin and me. He nodded, a notebook and pen in his hands, "Her injuries are severe, extremely severe, and it will take months for her to fully recover, but she'll make it. Your mother's quite the fighter, Len."

I nodded, thinking back to the stories my mom used to tell me about what she did after Ren left her. She really was a fighter; nothing could stop her, and it was because of her hard work that I had a roof over my head, food every day, and a proper education.

"Yeah," I answered, exhaling slowly, "She doesn't give up."

Kiyoteru smiled. "You two should let her rest."

"C-Can't I stay here?" I was louder than I should've been, but thankfully, my mom was still sleeping soundly.

"I'm afraid not today," the doctor answered, "Visiting hours for her are from five pm to eleven pm. You're welcome to come by tomorrow."

"How long...," Rin began, looking at me and then at the doctor, "How long will she be here?"

Kiyoteru's expression became sullen. "At least a month," he said in a low voice, "But probably more than that. Don't worry, Len. She'll be fine."

"Right...," my gaze slithered to the ground, "Okay. That's fine. I'll...okay."

Rin pulled me towards her as the doctor left. She looked at me with wet eyes, her fingers digging into my wrist.

"It's okay," she whispered, "Take your time."

I shook my head. "I'll break down if I stay here," I mumbled, hesitating but then turning back to kiss my mom's forehead quickly, "Let's go."

As we left the room, I spotted Kiyoteru again. He was talking to another doctor.

"How are her scans?" He asked in a low voice, so low that I could barely hear him. He turned, caught my gaze and then briskly pulled the other doctor away. He continued to talk, now out of earshot, his eyes dashed with concern, darting back at me every few seconds.

"Is something wrong?" Rin turned and looked back in my direction. I shook my head.

"Just...I'm just thinking about her," I answered. I pulled my wrist out of her grip and interlocked fingers with her.

My mom wasn't leaving me, and neither was Rin. I should've been thankful, I guess.

You guys, I am so, so sorry for switching back and forth like this with my POVs. I'm sticking to first person alternating now. It's my story, and I'll write it the way I want, right?! Sorry, that sounded so self-centred...I just meant, I don't care anymore. I will write it the way it works best! This story is made up of so many stories happening at once, and they form a bigger story, and the best way to tell it is using first person alternating POVs.
Anyway, I'm stupid. My rant was stupid. I'm sorry for sucking so bad, you guys, and for dragging you through this. Screw it, I need to to shut up...
Anyway, see you next chapter.