Shattered Glass
Part Two
12/03/06

"Enju...Enju...wake up...En-"

Ryoko's voice trailed off as Enju sat up with a groan. Ryoko looked to his friend with concern. "Are you okay?" Ryoko asked, not really needing the answer. Enju's eyes were bloodshot and his breaths came in uneven pants. His body was warm with fever.

"What? No... I'm... fine..." Enju muttered, holding a hand up to his forehead. Ryoko frowned until his eyes rested upon a vial lying on the ground. It held only a small amount. He blinked, and picked it up in his hand.

"...Enju? Did... you..." His question trailed off as his wide eyes stared at his friend, whose composure was slipping. Enju tilted his head up to glance at him. "Did I what?" He asked, before seeing the object in Ryoko's hand. Then his eyes widened in horror. Thinking back to last night, a barrage of unwanted images swarmed to him mind, overwhelming him. He gasped and clutched his head in pain. Vaguely, he realized that the potions contents were working through his body, like a menacing poison.

"Enju? Enju?!" Ryoko shouted, but Enju could only hear the faint calls and his sight began to blur.

"Enju, look at me..."

But he couldn't. Not only was that physically beyond him in his current state, but to look at him would bring back more unwanted memories. "I'm sorry," Enju murmured in a sort of shuddered sign, collapsing onto Ryoko's unsuspecting body.

"Shit!" Ryoko exclaimed, wrapping his arms around his friend out of reflex. Relieved to feel a persistent pulse coursing through Enju's body, he gently lay him down on the bed, concern filling his mind. Enju may have had a pulse, but his body was overtaken by a fever. His eyebrows furrowed as he glanced once again at the vial in his hand.

"What went wrong, my friend?" He muttered to himself, making a fist out of his empty hand.

Tsugiri arrived back home a few hours later, shocked to hear the news of his closest companion. "What?! Where is he?! I want to see him!" He shouted, running off. Ryoko found him leaning against Enju's doorframe. "I should have noticed... He seemed fine earlier. Ryoko, why did he..." The boy trailed off, distraught. Enju was always the calm one who helped keep everyone in high spirits.

"I don't know," Ryoko answered, running a hand through his wiry hair for the umpteenth time in the past hour. "He will be okay, however. If it hasn't killed him yet, it won't. It will just run its course through his system." Looking up, he saw Tsugiri's desperate face. "He'll be fine. Go get a glass of water or something. If he doesn't drink it when you get back, I'm sure your body wouldn't mind. You're as pale as ever."

Tsugiri mock glared at him before exiting the room. After a few moment of silence there was a stirring on Enju's part.

"Oh..." He took a deep breath and willed his whirring mind to slow to a stop. After a few moments he took note of where he was. "Ryoko..." He began, not sure what to say. Was there any way to cover this up with a smile? The stony look on Ryoko's face made him doubtful.

"Why?" Ryoko's powerful voice asked.

"I... it's nothing. I was foolish, that is all. I'm fine now," Enju replied, trying to turn up his lips with no avail.

Ryoko glared at him, making him certain that there was no way to erase this.

"When did you start lying to me, Enju?" Ryoko's voice was soft, a startling contrast to his complexion.

A while ago actually, Enju thought. But he chose his words carefully. "It was just a momentary lapse of thoughtlessness. I honestly cannot remember what I was thinking." Enju took his time, pouring every bit of sincerity he could muster into his testament. "Please, forgive me and let me forget this..." That statement took no acting and Enju found himself gazing helplessly at the other man. Ryoko stared at him, unblinking. If this had been one of the many romance novels Enju read during the deep of night, Ryoko would choose a rather interesting (but certainly not unpleasant) way of "helping him forget". Enju felt himself blush as a flurry of images entered his mind. Silently, he reprimanded himself. This was no novel, and the only reassurance he got from Ryoko was a curt nod as Tsugiri entered the room, fluttered and frantic.

"Enju! Are you alright? Here, drink this." Tsugiri buzzed around Enju, acting every bit the concerned little brother. Or sister, with his looks (not that Enju could say much). At this thought, Enju let out a genuine laugh. Tsugiri paused. "What are you laughing at?" He questioned, sounding almost truly offended. Enju chuckled more at this. He leaned forward and hugged the pouting kusabi. "Thank you," He murmured. If nothing else, he would always have Tsugiri to lean on.

The next few days passed without incident, though Ryoko seemed to keep his distance from Enju. It broke the man's heart, but he bore it with stride. He did not intend to have another incident like the last ever again. And this idea seemed to work swell...

...Until Ryoko confronted him.

He felt cornered, with Ryoko's eyes boring into his. The door to Ryoko's room swung shut. "R-Ryoko... what are you..." Enju stammered, dozens upon dozens of alarms going off in his mind.

"What is it? What are you hiding?" Ryoko demanded of him. His eyes were cold, showing no sympathy. He simply wanted answers. It was scaring Enju.

"I...please, Ryoko..." He needed to get out of here. He bit his lip. He could not let this happen! He could feel he mask he had built around himself starting to shatter. He took a deep breath, willing to compose himself. "What are you talking about, Ryoko?" He finally retaliated with an inquiry of his own.

"Enju, you know exactly what I am talking about." There was strain in Ryoko's voice, making it waver slightly.

"I'm afraid I don't. Ryoko, please, let's go somewhere else..."

"I'm talking about the reason you wanted to kill yourself," Ryoko said harshly, taking a step towards Enju.

There it was again. The eminent cracking. Enju felt his breath hitch. "It's... complicated..." He squeaked, backing up to fall backwards onto Ryoko's bed. He scrambled to sit up, his senses screaming at him. "Please... just..." He was frantic, eyes bolting around the dark room. Just then, the very woman he loathed became his savior.

"R...Ryoko..." Myobi called from out in the hall. Ryoko glanced at the door. Myobi sounded distraught, something odd for the alichino. Opening the door, Ryoko went to her.

"Myobi?" He questioned her, kneeling down to hug her.

"Ryoko... I...I..." She looked up to him, and if Enju didn't know any better, he'd have thought that tears were brimming her eyes.

"Ryoko..." She cried, "I'm with child."

---