He was running along the footpath with his head down to hide the blood and tears. He thought back to the moment when his pain had been caused and pushed himself to run faster, the faster he ran the more he felt like he was leaving everything behind. He didn't know where he was running to but he refused to lift his head for fear someone would see him in his current state and look down on him with pity.

He pushed himself harder again just as he started to enjoy the feeling of the wind there was a loud screech and he was hit with a force so powerful he was thrown through the air and landed on the hard unyielding ground. There were screams and a car door slamming as everything went black and his vision disappeared...

He awoke in a starch white room with two familiar faces and one unfamiliar one. Out of the two familiar faces he saw his best friend, Hiro and his American manager, K. For once he didn't long for his lover's face. Hiro touched Shuichi's cheek gently and ran his fingers gently over the large bruise swelling over his cheek. His eyes slammed shut when he hit a sensitive spot and Shuichi flinched in pain.

'Hiro where am I?' Shuichi asked stoping Hiro's exploration of his face.

'In the hospital Shu. You were hit by a car.' Hiro watched the shocked expressions cross Shuichi's face, then turned to other two people occupying his room. 'I would like to have a private word with Shuichi if you don't mind.' The two nodded and left the room silently.

'Hiro who was that other guy? Why am I still here? I'm awake can I go home? Is something wrong with me? Oh my gosh am I going to die?' Shuichi's voice grew higher with each question.

'No my Shu you're not dying. That other man was the man who was driving the car that hit you. Your injuries weren't bad just a bad concussion.' Hiro sat in the chair next to Shuichi's hospital bed and a serious expression came over his face. 'I'm just concerned about your other injuries the doctor pointed out to me only after Yuki didn't come.'

Those words stung harsh in Shuichi's mind. 'He w...was probably just b...busy with his new book,' He let his head hang low. 'I'd hate to disturb his work.' It was barely a whisper from Shuichi's lips.

Hiro breathed heavily. The doctor informed me that some of the bruises weren't fresh; they were only 2 days old. Mostly he was concerned where this one,' Hiro traced his best friend's swollen and blackened eye. 'Came from. I myself would like to know as well. Why did you call in sick for the week 2 days ago Shu?'

'Like I said on the phone, I had the flu. But I'm feeling much better now. When I can leave the hospital I will return to work.' Shuichi stated to his best friend as if it was nothing more than the truth. Then he plastered his cheeky smile on his face and looked at Hiro. 'Really, I'm ok.'

There was a knock on the door and it opened to reveal a tall man in a white trench coat, no doubt the doctor. 'Good Evening Mr. Shindo. You are a very popular chap you've got a waiting room full of visitors.' The doctor laughed at his own lame joke then proceeded to do the necessary tests on Shuichi. 'You've had quite a day Mr. Shindo; you will need plenty of bed rest and care, not too much movement. Do you have a place to stay where someone can take care of you?'

'I have a place, yes.' Shuichi answered avoiding the full question.

'What about someone to care for you?'

'I have Hiro.'

'Oh really? Hiro here has just informed me that he and his fiancé have a planned trip to Australia in two days. Now Mr. Shindo do you care to tell me the truth?'

'I can manage on my own doc.'

The door creaked open but no one took any notice of who it was.

'I doubt that very highly...' The doctor started to argue but was interrupted by a male voice with a strong American accent.

'I can look after him,' everyone turned to the young man standing in the corner. 'I have no spouse to object, I have my own apartment with two bedrooms, no job to interfere and no commitments.'

So this was the man who ran me down, thought shuichi as he started at the young man. He was no older then Shuichi himself, well built with muscle, his hair was short and had an untidy cut which seem to suit him, his eyes were a deep Smokey blue, the sort of eyes that would pierce right through your soul and then pierce right back through again.

'Thank you for the offer but with all due respects I don't know you,' Shuichi answered coldly. 'And if Hiro was to be kind enough to give me a lift home then I will have a place to stay and a person who will help me when I need it.' Shuichi saw Hiro glare at him across the room, 'please Hiro?'

As Hiro stared into those big beautiful pleading eyes, he knew if he accepted that his best friend would go back to the man who'd just beat him. Closing his eyes he said simply, 'No Shuichi.' Then turned and left the room.

'Your only option of leaving this hospital is to leave with Mr. Muto and stay with him for two nights and three whole days at the least.' The doctor said with a hard tone in his voice.

'I would like to use the phone please.' Shuichi stated without answering the doctor.

Clearly frustrated with Shuichi he asked everyone to leave the room and handed Shuichi the phone next to his bed then left him to himself. Slowly with shaking fingers Shuichi dialled Yuki's mobile. It seemed to ring forever until finally on the last ring there was a mumbled answer.

'What?' he was angry and Shuichi could tell he had a hangover and was unwell.

'Yu...Yuki? Can you please come get me..? They won't let me leave.' He asked close to tears.

'Damn Brat. You woke me up for this this? Pathetic.'

'Please Yuki don't make me stay here?

'I'll be there in 30 minutes.'

'Thank you Yuki! Thank You! Than-' There was a click then dial tone. He put the phone back in the cradle and struggled to sit up. A surge of dizziness swept over him as he struggled to push his legs over the side of the bed and stand. Trembling all over he forced himself to put one foot in front of the other till he reached the door and gripped the handle. He used all his strength to push the door open, collapsing as the door gave way.

Strong hands were instantly around him and catching him right before he hit the ground. 'I've got you shuichi...' was whispered into his ear by a voice that sounded half protective and half scared. His eyes fluttered open to see those piercing eyes staring back at him.

'I don't even know your name.' Shuichi breathed in, inhaling his sweet scent.

'My name, Kazkui, Kazkui Muto.' For the first time Kazkui smiled at him. He lifted Shuichi back to his feet as everyone else came to his side.

'Yuki's coming to get me.' He told the doctor. He heard Hiro breath out heavily and walked out.

Kazkui saw the look of despair that crossed Shuichi's face. He waited outside Shuichi's room until he emerged with his street clothes on and a mobile phone in his hand.

He walked towards the check out desk where there was a tall blond man waiting with an un-lit cigarette in his hand. Shuichi turned to Kazkui and said 'Thank You for staying around and helping me.'

'The pleasure was mine,' Shaking Shuichi's hand. He watched as the young man made his way over to the tall blond. If he expected to see a happy reunion with hugs and greetings, he would be disappointed. The boy seemed to cower under the blonds gaze.

He heard the boy apologise as soon as he approached the man, 'Get in the car brat!' he heard the tall blond yell at the boy. He begged for the man's forgiveness and the man just grabbed the boy by his hair and dragged him into the car park. Kazkui ran out after them only to find they had already entered a sleek and expensive car.

He ran after the car and knocked on the passenger window till the car stopped and the window opened slowly. Kazkui pulled out a card with his mobile number and his home number in New York and quickly handed it to Shuichi. 'If you need anything,' Shuichi and Eiri both herd the underlining message attached to that anything, 'Call me.' With that he walked away from the car. And the car sped off doing a burnout and leaving rubbery tracks in its wake.

A/N: This is my first fan fiction ever and I'm sorry it's short but I've been writing it in-between classes. Kazkui Muto is an OC but I did take the name from a series called Buso Renkin. Also I'm going off the anime not the manga. I'm sorry if I made Yuki see a little bitter but I am going somewhere with it. Ok thanks for reading. Favourite and review.