Author's Notes

This prologue takes place between episode 50 and the epilogue of Frontier. I didn't go into detail about the hospital stuff this time around. because that's not really important since he was hospitalised because of his tumble down the stairs. The detailed hospital scenes comes later on.

And this idea was bugging me for awhile, ever since I got sick during the school year and was forced to stay in the sickbay. But that's another story. Just where the inspiration came from; being unable to do anything is no fun at all.

Enjoy, and tell me what you think.

Sakura, Mono no Aware

He's always been in and out of hospitals. But that doesn't make it any easier, or more tolerable. Especially since he's going to be there for a while yet with hopes for recovery slimming – but at least there are friends and family to help him through...

Kouichi K & Kouji M

Rating: T

Genre/s: Drama/Hurt/Comfort

Prologue

He sat still, casted arm pulled tight to his chest and held there by a sling, while the Doctor fitted a strap around the other. The fall had resulted in a fracture below the left elbow (which was a bit of a problem since he was left-handed, aside from the expected complications), but aside from that and the slight concussion he had received from the fall, there was no other lasting damage.

Given his history though, the hospital was taking no chances. Hence he was stuck in the currently partially inclined bed until he was declared fit to leave.

And hence the examination he was going through at the current moment.

The strap was removed and the observations jotted down, before the Doctor rescanned his notes and gave an approving nod. 'You're free to leave Kimura-kun,' he stated. 'No extraneous activities for a week or so, and definitely no more marathon runnings because you were late meeting someone. You can go back to school the following week, but no PE until next month. Understood?'

He stared sternly at his patient, who nodded and lowered his gaze slightly. 'Hai,' he murmured. 'I'll take it easy.'

'See that you do. I don't want to have to see you here again till your next checkup.'

Kouichi responded once more in the affirmative, and Doctor Kawano Hajime exited along with his mother to sign the release forms.

Once he was sure they were gone, he looked at the slip of paper he held, containing the numbers and addresses of the best friends he had ever had, and hastily slipped to him before the Doctor had thrown them out of the hospital before his mother's arrival.

Then he smiled slightly and tucked it away into a pocket, before breathing a sigh of relief at the prospect of going home.

'He still doesn't know?' Hajime asked his colleague. Seeing as Tomoko worked at the same hospital, though her position was much lower, the two had a work-associated relationship, and as the said Doctor had looked after her son since he was born, he was rather familiar with the condition.

'No.'

'Tomoko-san, you will have to tell him someday. And it is dangerous, for him not knowing. The next time, he could very well die.'

'I know.' Her voice broke softly as tears worked their way upwards. 'I know his heart is weakening, that one day it will collapse under the strain, sooner if he pushes too far, but I can't take his freedom away from him! It means too much to me to see him happy to take that away from him.'

The greying man put a hand onto her shoulder. 'Is it worth his life though?'

She shook his head. 'But there is not much hope; there is no way I can afford it, and even if Kousei agreed, the risk is too great.' She paused for a moment, considering her next words, before uttering them. 'I'd rather he be happy though and life as long as he can, then lie still and wait for death to catch up to him in misery. He would hate that more than I would. There is too much of his father in him.'

'And of his mother too.' The stern doctor laughed slightly at the look he received. 'I've known you, whether as a patient, mother or worker, for long enough.'

'I suppose you have.' She gave him a watery smile in return, accepting the papers he held out to her and pulling out a pen from her coat. 'I want him to be happy,' she repeated softly, almost to herself as she signed her son out of the hospital. 'But I'm scared.'

'That is understandable. But it is a brave decision you made.'

'I hope he never finds out of this. I don't want it to take away his freedom...or his hope.'

'If he does, it will not be from us,' the Doctor promised. 'But what will you do if he does?'

'I just hope he will forgive me for keeping this from him...'

'I'm sure he will. You are his mother, and he cares deeply for you. And I'm positive he will realise that you had his best interests at heart.'

'I hope so Doctor. It's just a burden I wish he didn't have to bear.'

'So do all who bear it. All you can do is hold to hope.'

She wiped away her lingering tears and nodded, handing back the papers.

'Put a smile on your face,' Doctor Kawano advised. 'You don't want your son to suspect something.'

'He is rather insightful,' Tomoko sighed. 'I'm sure he has already noticed something. But he never asks.'

'He's a good kid,' the other agreed. 'Still, put that smile on.'

She did so.