Title: The Promise

By: EsTeLweNadia

Summary: "I'm sorry. That's why, from now on, I won't trouble you anymore." Morinaga Tetsuhiro is a man of his word. Just how far he is willing to go to keep that promise for the one he loves? And how can Tatsumi Souichi try to tell Morinaga that it is okay to be dependent on someone? Sick!Morinaga Worried!Senpai. Two-shot.

Genre: Hurt/Comfort/Friendship/Angst

Warnings: Senpai and his mouth… But I'll try to tone it down.

Disclaimer: Characters afflicted are not mine, and will never be. Except in my dreams, maybe. ^^

Author's Note: Here is Part Two, written from Souichi's POV. Erm, I don't think I have much to say here, except… thanks for your reviews! I am so happy and grateful, so here it is! Please enjoy! ^^

Author's Note 2: Any mistakes seen are mine, and mine alone. I am not perfect, and I did the best I could. Reviews are immensely appreciated, so please have them coming! Now what are you waiting for? Get on reading! ^^

The Promise
(Part Two)

Souichi stared at his phone, stunned.

Did Morinaga just hung up on him?

And the coughing… it sounded bad.

Even the cheerfulness in Morinaga's tone… sounded forced and fake.

As if he was hiding something and didn't want Souichi to know, and worry.

Hiding something terrible.

Like a terrible fever.

Souichi strained his memories, rewinding to the time before he left Morinaga to spend the weekend with Kanako and Matsuda-san.

Morinaga did seem paler than usual; his eyes dull and fatigued, his movements sluggish and halting.

Souchi had chalked it up to Morinaga being stressed and tired.

Afterall, they had a rough week; with deadlines to meet, reports to finish, presentations to make.

And some rougher nights… Souichi blushed a deep crimson and tried to concentrate on matters at hand.

He had asked Morinaga about it, but typically Morinaga just smiled and told him not to worry.

Even then the smile was strained.

"Argh, dammit!" Souichi snarled, leaping to his feet and immediately snatched up a bunch of keys thrown carelessly on the television console. He patted his pants' back pocket to make sure his wallet was there, and he slipped his cellphone in another pocket before rushing out of the living room to put on his shoes.

"Tatsumi-san?" Matsuda-san's gentle voice almost startled him. "What is the matter? Where are you rushing off to?"

"Yes, Nii-san," Kanako piped in with a frown, emerging from behind the worried older woman. "It's quite late at night. What's wrong?"

Souichi tried to offer them a reassuring smile of sorts. "I'm really sorry, but I have to go back to my apartment tonight. Something urgent came up. I'll come back tomorrow or the week after to get my stuff, okay? Take care, Kanako! Thank you for your hospitality, Matsuda-san!"

Souichi didn't even wait for either of them to respond. He just spun around and immediately set out into a run.

How? How could he miss the fact that Morinaga hadn't been feeling well?

Granted, he had been busy himself, but that was no excuse to overlook Morinaga's well-being.

He had suspicions of the younger man's failing health, but Morinaga kept denying it.

And Souichi had believed it.

Good grief, why am I so stupid?!

Of course Morinaga had denied it… he wouldn't want Souichi to worry about him.

"I'm sorry. That's why, from now on, I won't trouble you anymore."

Stupid, fucking bastard!

Souichi didn't know to whom he was angry with; Morinaga or himself.

Panting and only slightly winded, Souichi finally reached their shared apartment…

Their home.

His home.

He wasn't surprised to see the place so dark; he was horrified.

Because whenever Morinaga's home, the house was always bright and welcoming and warm.

Just like Morinaga's smile, reserved solely for him.

Dark apartment meant bad news…

Either Morinaga had abandoned it (like he had done before, Souichi remembered with a scowl) …

… or something was clearly very wrong.

Souichi unlocked the door in record time and swung it open, immediately switching on the lights as he entered.

It didn't take long for his eyes to land on something lying crumpled on the floor…

"Morinaga!"

With a dismayed gasp Souichi reached Morinaga's side in an instant; carefully cradling Morinaga's head on his lap and gently shaking the younger man awake.

Morinaga blinked his emerald eyes owlishly, struggling to focus his vision, and when he finally did, his face fell, much to Souichi's astonishment.

"Sen…pai?" Morinaga whispered, his voice halting and weak. "Why… why are you here?"

Souichi could almost hear Morinaga say; "Seriously, Senpai? Why are you here? Your timing sucks…"

"Why can't I be here?" In spite of his worry, Souichi snapped. He had to admit that he was a little hurt that Morinaga wasn't too happy to see him. That was so unlike Morinaga.

"I… I don't want you to see me like this, Senpai…" Morinaga rasped. "I… I don't want you to worry…"

"I'm sorry. That's why, from now on, I won't trouble you anymore."

Souichi could feel his heart breaking then. He lifted Morinaga higher and cradled him in his arms, holding him closer to his chest in a tight, desperate embrace.

"Baka…" Souichi murmured. "Morinaga, you baka!"

"Sen…pai?"

For a long while Souichi didn't say anything; he just held onto Morinaga and began to rock slightly.

"How many times must I tell you that you are not a burden, Morinaga?" Souchi continued in the same hushed tone, as though speaking to a child. "That you are not a trouble? You are never a burden to me, Morinaga, so please, please at least understand that much."

"Sen…pai…"

Souichi clutched his kouhai tighter. His kouhai. He could feel the unnatural warmth radiating from Morinaga soaking into his clothes. "You are not alone anymore, Morinaga. You have me now, right?"

At this Morinaga gave a startled gasp.

"So that's why… that's why it's okay… to let me know if you have anything that troubles you, if you have any problems, if you are not feeling well… anything! Because that is what friends are for, right? Because that is what lovers are for, right?"

Morinaga tensed slightly at the word 'lovers' and still Souichi pressed on.

"You also promised that you won't hide anything from me… You are a not burden to me, but if you hide things from me, that's when I'm worried! Why can't you see it? If you are hiding things from me, you are making me worried! You don't want me to worry, right? So don't hide things from me! Baka!"

"But…"

"Please, Tetsuhiro…" Souichi's voice started to crack. "Please don't do this to me! I'm begging you… please…"

I'm not strong enough to handle this kind of pain. I don't want to go through such a thing again, so please…

"I'm very sorry, Senpai…" Morinaga muttered. "I guess I forgot… that I'm not alone anymore…"

Souichi let loose a weak chuckle. "You are really… such a baka."

"I guess I am… ne, Senpai?"

"Hmm?"

"Can you call me that again?"

"Call you what? Baka?" Souichi smirked.

"No!" Morinaga's voice was surprisingly strong in spite of the fever raging through him. "Not that. The other one!"

"Ah," Souichi feigned realization. "Well, you heard me the first time."

Morinaga pouted. "I want to hear you say it again!"

"I will only call you that…" Souichi drawled slyly," … if you stop being an idiot."

"Senpai!" Morinaga wailed. "You're so mean!"

Then before Souichi decided to sock him regardless of fever or not, he heard Morinaga say, "But I love you anyway."

Souichi felt his face softening. "That's why you are really such a baka… Tetsuhiro…"

But I love you anyway.

- The End -

Finally done! Woohoo!

Another story out of my system! I'm so happy!

I hope you are too!

Alright, thank you for reading!

Good night, and please don't forget to review. It'll keep me writing! ^^

See you soon!