. [ # 10 ]
"Mama . . . What happened?" Haru asked groggily through her dried throat as she struggled to keep her eyes opened. "Where's . . . Haru at? Haru's head . . . throbbing . . . it hurts . . . "
The anaesthesia effects had finally wore off and Haru had finally woke up. She looked up to Risa, who was dressed in the PPE for ICU, with her tired eyes. "Mama . . . eyes . . . cried ? Don't . . . cry . . . Mama . . . "
Risa nodded her head, not speaking words. "How's Haru-chan feeling? Are you feeling pain anywhere?" Risa asked as she brushed away the fringe from Haru's face. Haru shook her head in response.
'We had administered painkiller for her to reduce the pain and uncomfortableness she would feel after the operation.""Mama. . . smile. . . "Haru whispered softly. Risa forced a smile on her face, which in turn resulted in a weak smile to appear on Haru's face.
"Silly girl." Risa muttered under her breath as she ruffled Haru's hair lovingly. The smile on Haru's face grew wider and the gently ruffle of her hair.
Haru's eyelids drooped down tiredly for a short moment before she struggled to keep them open again. "Is Haru-chan tired?" Risa concerned lovingly.
Haru nodded her head absentmindedly before continuing in a weak and hoarse voice. "Haru's a little tired."
"Go to sleep then." Risa stroked the side of Haru's face. "Mama will stay with you for the night." Haru nodded her head lightly before closing her eyes. A soft knock on the glass window caught Risa's attention. She turned around and saw Eri standing on the other side of the window, signalling Risa to get out of the room.
Risa caressed the soft locks of Haru's hair for the one last time before peeling herself away from the bedside and out of the room. She took off the hair cover the moment she got out of the room and proceeded towards where Eri stood. "What are you doing over here?" Risa asked quietly.
"To see how are you doing. I can't leave you alone. You know that." Eri replied shortly.
"Thank . . .you."
"You don't have to. . . " Eri added on as she kept her eyes on Haru.
'So . . . She biologically related to Takahashi-san . . . I never knew. . . But how? Why? She doesn't seemed like someone who do thing that is against the law. . . .She always carries the word of justice with her. . . I . . . .just can't fit everything into the picture.' Pushing away the contradicting thoughts, Eri swallowed a mouthful of saliva before continuing. "Did Takahashi-san . . . "
"Have you file in the document?" Risa interrupted, not allowing Eri to finish her question.
"I - I did right before I left the office. But why, Risa? Why the suddenness?" Eri questioned.
"She doesn't deserve the chance. She doesn't even deserve to be a human."
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Ai stood before the mansion at the end of the empty street. The faint street light illuminated the gates of the mansion, allowing the name tag on the left pillar which wrote 'Tanaka Residence' to be readable.
'What are you doing over here, Ai? Didn't you swear that never in your life, you would want to meet that bastard again. He's the one who had caused all your suffering all these years, together with the responsibilities of the irresponsible and corrupted police officers. But . . . Right now . . . He might be the only one . . . who can save her . . . It's your responsibilities, Ai. You are the one who had left her there. . .' Ai thought in her mind as she clenched her fingers into a stone fist by her side.
'Guilt . . . the guilt . . . the thought that . . . she . . . ' 'She's gone . . . Where is she?' Ai wandered around the alley where she had been 4 hours before. 'Could it be?' Tears brimmed at the edge of Ai's eyelid. 'You are a murderer. . . you are . . . ' Ai instilled into her mind as she dropped onto the grounds, with her knees coming in contact with the hard concrete. 'How could you . . . how could you . . .But. . . she's . . . she's . . . her father . . . he's the . . .'Ai felt fresh tears paving their way down her flawless cheek.
'As much as she's . . .the part of the memory that I want to forget. . . She's still innocent. . . She had nothing to do with this. . . She deserves a chance to stay alive, Ai. You had made a wrong decision 7 years ago. . .it's the time for you to make up for the mistake you had made . . .' Ai swiped away the lone tear left on her cheek.
'You can do this. . . ' Ai mustered the courage she needed and brought her right hand away from her side and towards the door bell beside the name tag.
'You will have to control your emotions. . . you need to . . . . you need to. . .' Ai bit the her bottom lips nervously as she pressed the button. She closed her eyes as she waited by the entrance.
"Who are you?" A distinct voice echoed. Ai opened her eyes and saw the guy, the guy who had changed her life, making his way through the driveway.
Ai made no response to the question. Instead, she just stood there and stared at the person.
"Who are you?" Juncho asked again. "Come on, speak." Juncho demanded when Ai chose to remain silence. "Wait. You looked familiar to me. Have we met before?" Ai continued her silence. "Ah. . . you are . . . " Juncho smirked. "What are you doing here? I thought you hated me."
"I have something to ask from you." Ai used her calmness tone, which was the exact opposite of her current emotion, and replied.
"That's rare of you. The famous Takahashi Ai from Keio was known to be someone who never asks from people." Juncho insulted. Ai kept her lips tight as she clenched her fist by her side. "I'm curious what are you going to ask from me. Let's get in and we shall discuss about this PROPERLY in the mansion." Juncho continued as he unlocked the gates and swung it open for Ai's entry.
And when they were in the living room of the mansion, Juncho flunked himself onto a red cushioned couch. "Have a seat." He invited. Ai, however, did not bugged to moved. She remained at her position before the table, which stood many different glassware of different historical background. "Fine, if you insist in not sitting, I have nothing much to force you. So, what do you want? Revenge? Still unable to be convince by the fact that I got away from the charge 8 years ago?"
"No." Ai took a deep breath before replying. "I would like you to save someone."
"Save someone? Aren't you a doctor? Oh, I had forgotten. Someone was being expelled from the medical school."
"That was not what I meant." Ai gritted between her teeth.
"Then what?"
"Someone . . . who was borne due to your doings. . . "Ai continued as a sharp pain ran down her arm to her fist. "She needs a liver - "
"Wait! Are you claiming that you were pregnant with my child. Stop the accusation! I was proven innocent then. There's no way that could happen! I can charge you for defamation."
"Whether or not that could happen, you yourself should know yourself." Ai raised her voice. "It's not an accusation." The pretentious acts of Juncho irked her.
Juncho raised up from his seat and charged towards where Ai was standing, pinning her between himself and the table behind Ai. Ai shivered in fear as she felt the closeness of their distance. Ai tried to free herself, but failed, only to have her arm pierced by the fragments of broken glass as she swung her left arm onto the glass ornament. Deep red fluid were making their way from the exposed flesh from the cuts.
"Onii-sama, stopped it." A petite figure standing at the stairway spoke up before Juncho could start doing what he had intended to do. She stomped forward and pushed Juncho away from Ai.
"Reina, don't poke your nose into my business." Juncho retorted.
"Let’s go." Reina grabbed onto Ai's uninjured hand and headed towards the entrance, totally ignoring Juncho's demand for her. "Are you alright? Do you need to go to the hospital?" Reina asked Ai when the two of them had reached back to the empty and dark driveway.
Ai shook her head gently.
'In the end. . . .there's nothing much I can do to help her . . . ' "I heard the conversation from my room. Is that really the truth?" Reina asked suddenly, shocking Ai with her statement. "I remembered something briefly like this from 8 years ago. Onii-sama had claimed that he didn't do it."
"I - I have nothing to say. I'm leaving . . . Th-thank you for what you had did inside."Ai replied as she began to walk away from Reina.
"Wait!" Reina shouted out after Ai.
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"Takahashi-san. We had received orders from the police department about you involving in a case of baby abandonment 7 years ago. Team 4 would like to speak to you about the case. And also, due to you involvement in a legal suitcase, we are sorry to inform you that you are temporary suspended from work, until the final verdict is out." The voice of the chief echoed in Ai's mind as she packed her belongings into her handbag.
'Face it, Ai.' "Kamei-san, I had put you to be in-charge during my period of suspension." Ai stood before Eri's desk and informed. Eri looked up from her work, only to catch Ai's disappearing back view. "Takahashi-san?" Eri trailed off.
'Why had she placed me to be in-charge. She knew that I was the one who had helped Gaki-san with the report, didn't she?' -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"What is Mama doing here? Mama doesn't have to work today?" Haru asked in a slightly energetic voice. She had awaken from her sleep from last night, only to find Risa still sitting by her side.
"Hmmm." Risa shook her head. "Mama had taken some time away from work to keep Haru accompanied." Risa replied with a smile.
"Why? Isn't Mama busy with her work?" Haru asked again and winced a little when she tried to speak out louder.
"Nothing matters more to Mama as compare to you, Haru-chan."
"Ah. . . " Haru yelped excitedly. "Onee-chan. . . " Haru continued as she bit her lips, hoping that that would counter the sharp pain she was experiencing at her abdomen.
"Onee-chan?" Risa repeated as she glanced slightly towards the glass window.
Ai hid behind the wall beside the glass window when Risa turned to face the window.
'She has woken up. That's a good sign. Her complexion looks good as well.' Ai nodded mentally at the features of Haru she had just saw.
"Pretty Onee-chan. . . Haru saw her standing outside. . . "
'She is?' Risa wondered in her mind as she stared frivolously at the window. Even thought Ai had tried her best to hide herself behind her wall, the slight reflection on the window had betrayed her.
'Why is she here?' 'Hopefully . . . she can help her . . . ' Ai thought in her mind as she stole one last glance into the room.
'I'm glad that . . . she was the one who had found her. . .she's a good mother. . . better than what I could be. . . ' Ai thought painfully in her mind. She turned away from the room and began to take one step away, only to be stopped by a tight grip on her left arm. She winced silently in pain at the sudden contact. Before she knew it, she was being dragged further away from the room and nearer to the elevator - which was her intended destination in the first place.
"Let go please." Ai requested with her cold mask as she felt blood oozing out from the cut. Risa did what Ai had asked her to and let go of her left arm. Ai drew her trembling left arm back to herself and hid it behind her back.
"What are you doing here? I thought you don't give a damn about the life and death of Haru-chan?" Risa retorted angrily.
"I wasn't visiting. I was just passing by." Ai lied through her teeth. And as Ai tried to leave, Risa stopped her once again by grabbing her at the same place she did moments ago.
"Let go." Ai flinched.
"I don't understand you. I really don't understand you." Risa started. "Who are you? Which personality of yours are the real you? Can you please enlighten me?" Risa continued as she tightened her grip, hoping that Ai would turn around and face her, hoping that she would find the real Ai from her eyes.
"If you don't understand, then don't bother. It doesn't matters at all. Just let go of me." Ai grunted. The fresh blood caused by the pressure had oozed its way through the thick layer of bandage that Ai had did herself.
"Haru says she wants you to be inside. She's very happy to see you. Please." Risa toned down.
"I won't." Ai replied as she tried to ply Risa's fingers off her arm. When she did, she was relieved.
Risa noticed the tinge of blood that she had picked up from Ai's dark clothing.
'Blood?!' She pulled Ai's arm back into her possession and dragged the long sleeve up, revealing the blood-stained bandage that was once pearl white. "What happened?" Risa questioned.
"It's none of your business." Ai retorted as she tried to pull her arm back from Risa.
"This wasn't there yesterday." Risa stated.
"Why do you even care? Don't you hate me?" Ai rebutted.
'Why do you even care?' The question echoed in Risa's mind.
'Why do I even care?' "Niigaki-san! We had found a suitable donor!"Aya came down the hallway and informed. "What happened to your hand, Ai-chan?" The calmness in Aya's voice was gone the moment she saw the blood-stained bandage around Ai's arm.
"Really?"
"It's nothing."
Risa exclaimed at the good news while Ai pulled her arm back to herself.
'Indeed . . . Reina-san . . . Thank you . . . ' Ai thought gratefully in her mind.
Risa grabbed onto Aya's shoulder. "Is that true?" Risa asked anxiously.
Aya nodded her head in response. "The lady had passed the preliminary tests and is now undergoing secondary assessments. The team had too decide that it's time to put Haru-chan on immunosuppressant treatment in preparation for the transplantation." Aya explained.
"Thank goodness. . . " Risa muttered.
"Ai-chan?" The tone in Aya's voice change. That was when Risa had realised Ai was gone. Ai had taken the chance to sneak away during when Aya was explaining the details to Risa.
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Ai winced in pain as she removed the bandage and began to clean up the cuts again.
'Thank goodness. . . ' -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Makoto, how's the investigation on the series of sexual assault going on?" Hitomi asked as she entered into the office of FID.
"No improvements." Makoto replied dejectedly as she leaned back against the back rest. "No viable evidence to pin point on possible suspect."
"Continue to work on it. Maybe you can get back to the respective victims again to see if they remembered anything distinct since then." Hitomi ordered.
"Hai! Wakarimashita!" Makoto responded as she packed up her folders into her backpack and exited the office.
'Takahashi-san's case . . .' Hitomi thought worriedly in her mind.
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"Niigaki-san, please meet Tanaka Reina-san, the matched donor. Tanaka-san, meet Niigaki Risa-san, the mother of the recipient." Aya introduced the two in her office.
"Wait. You are the mother?" Reina asked defensively.
"Yes. Tanaka-san, I really thank you very much for deciding to donate, even though we do not know you." Risa replied politely.
"I thought Takahashi-san was the mother. Sorry, I think I'd gotten the wrong person then." Reina continued bluntly, resulting in a shocked response from the other two. "Did I said something wrongly?" Reina asked quietly after noticing the change in the atmosphere.
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Ai stood outside the sterile room Haru was in, watching the little girl as freely as she could as she knew that the people she would want to avoid are all in the other room for an important meeting before the commencement of the major operation.
'You can do it . . . little one . . . You will make it through . . . ' -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"You knew the truth?" Risa broke the silence evidently as she directed the question to Reina.
"The truth?" Reina was lost, but not as lost as Aya was.
'Takahashi-san? Is this Takahashi-san the same Takahashi I knew?' Confusion eroded Aya's mind.
'Since when Ai-chan's a mother? Why? How?' "That Haru-chan's . . . biological mother is that thing." Risa continued unclearly.
"You mean you are not the biological mother of your daughter? What that thing?" Reina asked in confusion.
"Why. . . How? Why did you came over to take the test, Tanaka-san?" Risa changed the topic, knowing that that would get her to the answers she wanted.
"Wait!" Reina called out after Ai. "Takahashi-san! I can help . . . if you want me to . . ." 'She went to look for help . . . . . . She had went to look for help . . . ' Risa thought as the information was registered in her mind.
"Excuse me." Aya had finally spoken out after her long moment of silence. "Is - is this Takahashi-san you two talking about by any chance. . . is by the name of Takahashi Ai?"
Both Risa and Reina nodded their head simultaneously.
'You're kidding me. . . Ai-chan . . . A mother? How? ' ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I was right when I said I can't write well when I'm at home . . . .I had near to zero productivity . . . .
Hahahahah.
@ alwaysYou : hahahah. . . .did your mind cracked after that?? hehehehe you were half correct!!!
hehehehe I wouldn't be that horrible to make Ai go through the same thing all over again!! ^.^
@ rndmnwierd : hehehehe .
hmmmm . . .basically . . . since Risa had made Eri to file in the document, she couldn't pull back the charges . . . as it had already invovled the criminal justice system . . . hmmmm. . . .
@ Bamtai : Yupps . . . hehehe. . . . EHHHHHH . .. . . let's just say. .. . she's someone who will not let her emotions to betray herself . . .so Ai had chose to be as ruthless and emotionless as she could. . . Haru . . . .Will she survive ? hehehe =X
@ Kikk4r : Yes .. . she do . . . but in her own special way of doing it . . . THANK YOU!! hehehe.
Bad productivity and bad quality . . . I can't even catch up with what I was writing in this chapter .. .
I apologise for that . ..
De Wa~
Until the next chapter then!!
Topic: SEARCH [ . C #28 + Epilogue ] 31 December 2011 (Read 44051 times)