Chapter 2: Your Lightest Touch...

Hiroki stopped by the pediatrics department on his way out of the hospital to meet up with Nowaki. He wondered if Nowaki wanted to accompany him to lunch which was why he went there in person. When he spotted Nowaki placing a child down onto the floor, Hiroki leaned against the door. One of the children notified Nowaki he stood there. Hiroki kept his mouth shut, the child already informed Nowaki he stood there, he didn't need to speak. This child wasn't there when he hit Tsumori over the head with his bag, he recognized a few of the children who were in the room. Their terrified faces were hard to forget.

She got up from her spot and walked toward Nowaki and pulled on his sleeve. Nowaki smiled down at her, she pointed at Hiroki who had his arms crossed over his chest. Nowaki's smile grew as he patted the child on the head and walked to Hiroki's side. Hiroki saw the worry in Nowaki's eyes, this normally annoyed Hiroki because he didn't need anyone fussing over him. He had the same reaction toward his parents when he was younger. Then again, he did accompany his student to the hospital and no one cleared Nowaki that it wasn't him who got hurt but his student.

He grasped Hiroki's arm tenderly as he checked the bandage with a frown on his face. "Are you feeling dizzy? Although you ate the cookies and drank the orange juice we can't be too careful. I don't want you fainting anywhere on me." Nowaki asked him. "Are you hungry at the moment Hiro-san?"

Hiroki turned his head at another direction, a slight blush appeared on his cheeks. "I..might be a little hungry I guess.."

Nowaki pulled Hiroki closer and touched their foreheads. Hiroki bit back his commentary at the forwardness but he was lightheaded enough to let this pass.

"Then should we go out and eat, my shift is almost over anyway. What would you want to eat?"

"Don't take me to a fast food place, the grease isn't what I want right now."

"Anything for you Hiro-san." Nowaki told him.

"This has been bugging me ever since I got my blood taken out of me, Nowaki I need to ask you..."

"Yes?" Nowaki inquired as he leaned down to kiss Hiroki but missed when his lover moved out of the way.

Hiroki asked him bluntly. "Why did those people ask me questions about the Takahashi brat? I am not his family, I don't know him intimately enough to be associated with him, I barely know his brother at all."

Nowaki answered. "To be honest, I haven't the slightest clue as to why they would ask but it might be for precaution measures. Do you want me to ask the people who attended you? Maybe you might have been mentioned in acquaintance to Misaki once..."

"Do you really think I would be involved in this guy's life? He's just some student in my class who is almost failing out because of lackluster work and disruption like most of the other students. He's Takahiro's brother, I won't be called back again if he's hurt."

"You never know Hiro-san; you did protect Misaki before the ambulance arrived."

Hiroki scoffed at him, Nowaki was close enough when he saw the smirk, it was small but visible. "I'm sure he's dead scared of me, I noticed it the whole time I was in the room with him. He won't have a reason to talk to me after he gets out of the hospital when he recovers."

"Well...look at it this way, he might improve in class to show his appreciation while at the same time realize every single thing you do in class is for their benefit."

Hiroki whacked Nowaki's shoulder with his hand. "Where the hell did you get that bull crap from Nowaki!"

Nowaki pouted as he rubbed the bump on his shoulder, this meant Hiroki still had his strength through the blood transfusion after all. "Hiro-san you don't have to hide it, I know you care about your students."

"I don't, there hasn't been one particular student who has changed my view on the rest of them." Nowaki was about to open his mouth when Hiroki interrupted him. "Alright I admit it, there has been a few in every semester but it doesn't mean they didn't disrupt my class at the start."

Hiroki's stomach growled out of nowhere and it was loud enough that even Nowaki heard it. "Damn it...stupid stomach growling at a time like this."

Nowaki laughed as he placed his hand on Hiroki's back and lead him down the hall. "How about we go to the new diner down the street? I have heard from the other nurses it's the best place to eat in the morning, not too many people to hear us talk."

Hiroki was sold by the mention of people not overhearing their private conversations. He hated when strangers eavesdropped on something that was none of their business.

"Let's go. I don't want to get there during lunch hour."

"Of course, I have to change out of this and then well go." Nowaki told him as they entered the elevator and the doors closed in front of them.

A nurse passed by the elevator doors just in time, she saw Nowaki bend down and kiss Hiroki on the lips. Kana smiled lightly and giggled when she heard Hiroki yell at Nowaki, a lack of anger was missing from his voice while doing so. She didn't get why the man was so shy but it meant all of the comments Nowaki made about him being cute were true.

Nowaki left out some of Hiroki's true personality when he saw Kana was indeed interested in meeting his Hiro-san. He wanted Hiroki to have someone to talk to when he waited for him in the hospital and she seemed to be the best one to handle Hiroki, besides him of course.

He had a small fear that Hiroki would scare Kana like the last few nurses who bothered to talk to him.

She was oblivious to that and she couldn't wait to meet Hiroki in person. Nowaki promised they would be introduced in the near future. Kana skipped forward to the children's playroom and waved at all of them when they noticed her by the door.

The first thing Misaki noticed when he started regaining consciousness was the hand caressing his face. Light touches causing a shiver all throughout his body, a good shivering of course. A soft hum reached his ears; he relaxed onto the hand which cupped his cheek. This hand was so warm and comforting. It was as if he felt no pain from the injury to his head but there was still soreness in a few spots.

He groaned as he opened his eyes, they accustomed to the brightness of the room in time and saw a pair of purple eyes staring down at him. The familiar silver hair sticking out in different directions on his head made his mood rise at the hilarity of it.

Misaki sighed in relief, he would never admit this to Akihiko when he was fully healed. He needed Akihiko here by his side. The effects of being near Professor Kamijou outside of classes did a number on his psyche. Not that Hiroki was a bad person but he felt nervous by being in the same vicinity as him. The man hit him with various objects from his time spent in his class, whether he deserved some of them or not.

Hiroki saved his life and he didn't have to ask him to do so. It might be a teacher's duty to help their students but he went beyond and donated his blood to him when needed. Misaki had to find a way to say his absolute thanks to his professor, it wasn't right to delay it because he was a little fearful of him.

He stared at Akihiko's blank expression; he wanted him to smile or even smirk. It didn't matter to him right now.

In a strained voice Misaki croaked out with a small smile on his lips. "Usagi-san..."

Akihiko kissed his forehead when he said. "I'm glad you're okay my Misaki, when I heard of the accident from Hiroki's lover I drove here as fast as I could. The police almost pulled me over but I had to explain everything and I got off scotch free, didn't know how I managed it but nothing can stop me from seeing you."

Misaki blushed from the kiss but he had no voice to reprimand Akihiko for doing it, he muttered. "Who's Hiroki?"

"My oldest friend, but to you he's Professor Kamijou. Sound familiar?"

"Eh!" Misaki tried to shoot up from his bed but a sharp pain ripped through his ribs and he cried. "Ow..."

Akihiko chuckled, relief painted on his face when he commented in light humor. "Now I know you're okay, your reaction is all I needed."

Misaki glared at him as he grumbled. "How was I supposed to know? You never tell me anything."

"I thought it would be obvious, how do you think I know most of your movements at university? Those are the times I go visit Hiroki and borrow a book from him for research or return one it doesn't matter." Akihiko explained as he scooted his chair closer to Misaki, a conscious Misaki he can talk to was making him so happy.

The whole time he sat next to Misaki was pure torture; he didn't want to believe his dearest one has been injured to this point. He almost walked out when he first saw him, thinking that Nowaki played the cruelest joke on him and it wasn't funny. The doctor told him sitting and talking to Misaki while he was unconscious helped, a familiar voice to guide Misaki from unconsciousness.

After those words were uttered, he diligently sat next to Misaki. Only to be forced into breaks by the staff, Hiroki, Nowaki and even Aikawa told him to leave Misaki's side. This was why he wasn't going away by his own free will, now that Misaki was fully awake.

Misaki pouted his kissable lips, which Akihiko wanted to kiss at that moment. "I'm sure he says my grades suck in his class."

"Yes he does, in detail to be exact." Misaki frowned when he saw the smirk on Akihiko's face. "If you needed help all you had to was ask me Misaki."

"I am the one taking the class, so I'm going to do my own work. Even if it does have mistakes I only realize are there after Professor Kamijou corrected it, it doesn't mean I'm going to use you to write them for me."

"It doesn't hurt me to help you in your homework, you are in the hospital I will take it upon myself to work on your term papers." Akihiko declared as he continued to cut off Misaki's outburst. "I will be happy if you fully recover and we get the bastard who did this to you, I have a private investigator doing a separate investigation from the Japanese police."

Misaki moved his head, slow enough to prevent a headache. "You don't have to Usagi-san; I don't want to cause any trouble."

"There will be trouble when I get my hands on the fucker, but," He held Misaki's hand in between his cold hands. "If you don't want me to catch this man then I will call it all off."

Misaki smiled at him and whispered. "Can you come closer Usagi-san?"

Akihiko obeyed him; he was his beloved Misaki after all. "Yes?"

Misaki pecked his lips and leaned back onto his pillows, he turned his head away from Akihiko. "That was all ...o-okay ..."

"Misaki I want to make you mine right now."

"Usagi-san!"

"What? You just behaved so cute I have to show you my appreciation but," He winced when he saw the injuries covering Misaki's body, he hated seeing those bruises on Misaki. "It will have to wait until later or unless you are clear on your ribs." He would switch places with him if the option was possible.

Misaki sighed in relief; he heard a knock on the door when he saw Takahiro holding a bouquet in his hands. "Nii-chan?"

"Misaki! I'm so glad you're okay!" Takahiro rushed inside and didn't notice Akihiko sitting right next to Misaki as he carefully held Misaki. "Yesterday you didn't wake up and I thought you would be in a coma from what the doctor told us."

Misaki was shocked at the revelation and Akihiko noticed it as he said. "Takahiro, what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at work?"

Takahiro chuckled when he saw Akihiko. "I didn't see you there Usagi-chan sorry about that. I told my boss I needed to visit you to see if you woke up yet or you are able to be discharged."

"But you said I might be in a coma...how is that?"

"The doctor told me and Hiroki-chan this when he was getting his blood taken out." Takahiro responded as he placed the flowers on the desk next to Misaki's bed. "Speaking of Hiroki-chan, where is he?"

"He left to see Kusama-sensei a few hours ago, um...what time is it Usagi-san?" Misaki asked Akihiko, he remembered Hiroki's lover's last name but he had no mental image to compare him to.

He got curious to know about this man who caught Hiroki's heart, maybe he'll get to see the man when Hiroki came back.

Akihiko checked his cell phone as he answered. "12:45."

Misaki counted the hours in his head back to when he was first awake. "Then three hours ago is when he was here."

Takahiro sighed. "That's a relief; though he is a good friend he sort of scares me sometimes. He isn't going to come back right?"

Misaki shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know, he didn't say when he would be coming back."

The chime of a cell phone caught their attention as Akihiko answered it. "Hello? Ah...Hiroki, I still have to thank you by giving you some of my new nove- There is no need to get snippy with me but I will not pay attention to your attitude since you saved Misaki's life."

From Misaki's bed, he heard Hiroki yelling into the phone and Akihiko just nodded him off. "Lunch? Oh you are bringing us lunch, alright wait one second...Misaki are you hungry?"

"Um...I guess I am I haven't eaten since yesterday."

"Yes he's hungry," Akihiko almost laughed when he heard Nowaki say: "You are so kind to bring Misaki some food Hiro-san." The sound of Hiroki snapping at Nowaki broke Akihiko into laughter.

"Usagi-san, what's going on?"

Akihiko tried controlling his laughter when he told Misaki. "I'll tell you later..."

Takahiro asked in confusion. "Why not now? Is it that bad or something?"

"No, no, nothing like that..." Akihiko assured his friend, after being with Misaki for so long he wanted to tell information to the younger man to make him feel special.

Also...he wanted brownie points to further seduce Misaki in the near future.

Misaki's heart swelled in glee, he wouldn't admit it like many other things he had on his mental list but it meant a lot that Akihiko started to become more open to him. Onto having little secrets in between the both of them, the biggest one: their relationship. They didn't want to risk an over the top reaction out of Takahiro when no one knew if he would support their relationship.

Akihiko assured Misaki it was fine but Misaki felt that it wouldn't turn out so easy.

His brother was everything to Misaki, a bad reaction and having to pick between his lover and his own brother would be too much for him. His mind was barely conforming to the fact he was in love with Akihiko, he was willing to fight anything in his path.

He moved the subject onto something else, he wanted prevention onto the tense atmosphere that was forming. "Nii-chan, why didn't you bring Manami and Mahiro?"

Takahiro's frown turned into a smile when he answered. "I didn't want to scare Mahiro again if he comes along again, he saw you on the bed with all of the things that he got scared and Manami had trouble putting him to sleep yesterday."

"I don't want to scare him... I guess its okay he didn't come."

"Glad you understand Misaki, a child cannot be scared so much."

"Can I at least talk to him on the phone?" Misaki asked with a small smile. "I feel guilty for causing him to get so scared for what happened to me."

"Not such a good idea,"

Misaki questioned him. "Why not? He will get even more scared when he doesn't know I'm okay, hearing my voice will make him happy I'm sure of it."

Takahiro answered him in a cold tone. "Misaki he doesn't need to be exposed to such things as accidents at an early age, what happened yesterday was a mistake."

"What?"

"I didn't need to concern Manami and Mahiro when I got the phone call, I didn't have time to leave them at home when I was coming over here."

Misaki looked another way and hid his saddened face, what was wrong with his brother today? A few days ago he seemed to be so happy and even hugged him tightly when they met at a restaurant to discuss his living arrangements.

Takahiro insisted he had to go and live with him. His home was nearer than Akihiko's apartment and he won't be tired out by taking care of Akihiko all of the time. Misaki didn't mind being a housekeeper, by now it would be weird to be taken cared of instead of making dinner or hearing Aikawa yelling inside of the house.

He denied his brother's request in a polite way, this way there were no hard feelings. Takahiro didn't seem to mind, he just praised him of being such a thoughtful young man who liked caring for others.

Now the disappointed expression in Takahiro's eyes made Misaki's heart drop...it wasn't his fault he got hurt and his older brother could understand that at least.

"But what happened to me couldn't be helped."

"Then you must had gotten clumsier the last time we met Misaki because you should know to get out of the way of an upcoming car. Did you not see it?"

Misaki snapped. "I was tripped! I know I was! I almost made it in time; I felt something I didn't see on my foot which made me fall onto the car!"

Akihiko asked Misaki. "Why didn't you say this to the doctor earlier? This wouldn't be called accidental but intentional and we can get the other person to be imprisoned like the driver!"

Takahiro stood and stared at how concerned Akihiko seemed towards his brother, a little too concerned to be normal. He felt no jealousy, Akihiko hadn't showered him with attention lately... no not at all.

Misaki told Akihiko. "My mind is still fuzzy...but I do remember feeling something in my path when I tried to run away from the car's path. I think...there was another person involved..? I don't know but...Sumi-sempai was walking down the street with me when it happened."

Akihiko growled. "HIM. I told you to stay away from him Misaki; I told you he was bad news!"

"I know."

"He is just usi- Wait...you know?"

Misaki nodded his head. "After re-thinking on everything he has done, I don't really see him as friend at this point. You won't have anything to worry about seeing him near me in the near future."

Akihiko wanted to plant a good kiss on Misaki for finally trusting his judgment but Takahiro was still in the room, he restrained himself as much as it pained him.

"I didn't know you haven't been listening to Usagi-chan's advice Misaki, he has a better view on other people why didn't you listen to him about this young man?"

Misaki stared at his brother in shock, where was this passive-aggressive behavior coming from? Though his brother meant well or was frustrated of this situation he was in and tried venting out his anger about the person who caused his pain. It didn't mean his words weren't hurting him on the inside.

"N-Nii-chan...What?"

"Usagi-chan is your caretaker and you have to listen to him all of the time, are you being rebellious? Have you been doing anything which might make someone hit you with a car? What type of friends do you have that think it's okay to get you hurt?" Takahiro fired questions at Misaki at a fast rate; the young man couldn't answer them quickly enough.

Takahiro berated Misaki's inability to follow adults when they have his best interest. Misaki blinked and tried to prevent the small tears from forming in his eyes.

"Takahiro, how long is your visit going to be?" Akihiko asked, easily cutting in when he saw Misaki's visible distress.

"I guess I'm going now then," Takahiro's face went back to its cheery state and he waved to the both of them and said goodbye.

Akihiko led him out of the room; he turned the corner and peeked back inside and saw tears coming down Misaki's face. He wanted to go back in there and comfort Misaki but he needed to keep the facade. It would be beneficial for Takahiro not to come back when Misaki was injured and dulling everything on his body to be this vulnerable.

Nowaki entered inside of Misaki's room and saw him sitting there watching the TV in the corner of the room. "Hello Misaki, Hiro-san and I bought what we could since we don't know what you like."

Misaki turned to Nowaki and he wiped his face, Nowaki noticed the remnants of tears but he kept the commentary to himself. "Thank you so much, you really didn't need to do this."

Nowaki walked inside and handed Misaki the plastic bag. "The doctors don't support bringing in outside food but we went to a good restaurant where everything is healthy. You are going to need to eat a good amount every single day to rush your recovery, I'm sure Usami-san will want you home as quickly as possible."

Misaki bit his lip and nodded his head. "Yes. He told me he wanted me back since he gets lonely when I'm not there."

"That's good; everyone needs one person to be less lonely." Nowaki smiled as he said. "I have my Hiro-san after all."

Misaki took his opportunity to ask, "Kusama-sensei," Nowaki gave him his full attention, something Misaki knew Hiroki would glare at him to shut up about it or hurry up with it. "What is your relationship with Professor Kamijou?"

"I'm his lover of course!" Nowaki answered cheerfully, "The one I love the most in the world, why the question?"

"N-No reason! I was just curious because..."

"Hiro-san doesn't seem like the type to be in a relationship, is that correct?"

Misaki nodded his head carefully, he thought he made Nowaki mad but was surprised when he heard him chuckle. "You're not the first to think that of Hiro-san, it's only because he doesn't like to show his vulnerable side to anyone. Don't mention this but," Nowaki cupped his hand to his face and whispered into Misaki's ear. "When he was drunk, I found out he lost someone very dear to him when he was young and blames himself for it, he wouldn't tell me the name but I think it's someone in the family."

"Lost? You mean...d-dead?"

"Nothing like that... I think, it seemed the boy was taken from them when they weren't paying attention and the family never found the boy, making Hiro-san have immense guilt."

Misaki frowned, he felt bad for the 'Demon Professor', it slightly changed his perception of the demon persona he knew from class. "Is this why...he's stricter on rules?"

Nowaki shrugged his shoulders. "I don't think so, he's naturally like this, I met his father some time ago, he's almost an exact replica of Hiro-san. When this time of year comes along he becomes tense, the boy's birthday is around this week I think?"

"Oh..."

"It doesn't mean he dislikes you for having the same birthday this week, I don't think he knows about it anyway." Nowaki took out a container and opened it to reveal chicken curry and white rice. "Do you like mild flavored curry?"

"Yes I do."

"Good, Hiro-san made the right choice when he ordered then. He picked the mild flavor curry, any hotter and he hates it."

"He chose this?" Misaki asked in surprise, he thought Nowaki picked everything that was inside of the bag.

"It's one of the few things before he left the restaurant when I commented on how cute he was." Nowaki gushed out loud and Misaki didn't believe the cute remark Nowaki just uttered. He must be so delusional in love with the devil to not see anything more than what he wants to believe.

Nowaki jumped when Hiroki stated. "What the hell are you doing telling one of my students I'm cute? I'm too old be called cute!"

He whipped his head around and ran towards Hiroki to hold him in his arms; he nuzzled his face onto Hiroki's lavender scented hair. "But you are!"

Hiroki told Nowaki as he pushed him away from holding him too tightly. "When we leave, you are going to sleep to get rid of your fantasy ridden mind."

"I'm not in a fantasy mindset right now."

Only because you are like this all of the time. Hiroki noticed Misaki staring at him with wide eyes. "And you, why aren't you eating? If you want to get the hell out of this hospital then you have to eat and rest."

Misaki snapped out of it, he panicked. "I-I was just talking with Kusama-sensei so I got distracted through what he told me."

Hiroki glanced up at Nowaki. "And here I thought you meant the well-being of a patient."

"Hiro-san talking with someone lifts up their spirits more than leaving them alone in their room." Nowaki pointed out, Hiroki opened and then closed his mouth, there is no point arguing in front of someone else.

"Whatever, listen Takahashi," Hiroki growled as Misaki sat up and stared at him in fear. "Until the doctors give the clear, you will get no assignments from me. Be lucky everybody wants you to recover and your memory to become clearer without any added stress."

Misaki nodded as Hiroki walked out while balancing Nowaki holding onto him. It was so comical the way Hiroki went out but Misaki couldn't bring himself to even smile, he didn't want another injury when he was already hurting so much.

When he was sure they were both a good distance away, he chuckled...no he laughed hard enough to stop when his ribs throbbed in his chest. His spirits lifted a sustainable amount; he started to take bites of the curry left behind.

He was surprised to see a large soda hidden in between everything. The sugar in it wasn't healthy but at least it wasn't the vegetable juice to build up his strength. He remembered whenever he was sick Takahiro would force him to drink it. Misaki remembered the nasty taste and it made his face scrunch up.

TBC