Chapter 3

Setagawa was running in the darkness. It was so dark he could barely see ahead of him. His whole body ached, his breath short and he felt a sticky liquid trail down his face. Suddenly he was held in a chokehold by a tattooed arm. He felt the breath leaving his lungs and gasped wildly trying to pull away.

Where was Kousuke? He was with him earlier wasn't he. Had Kousuke realised how helpless and weak he was? How he couldn't defend himself? That he was undoubtedly undeserving of his gentle smile, his affection and love.

Kousuke had left him. He wanted him back even though he felt he didn't deserve it. He felt the punches landing on his body, the pain and fear consuming him. Suddenly he was left lying on the cold hard ground alone.

They left. Even they saw him worthless to be beat up on. He was less than trash. He was all alone. He could see a tv screen playing in the darkness. A hero in a cape and a mask, swooping to save a young girl from being kidnapped. He believed heroes didn't exist, but he believed Kousuke. How he wished Kousuke would swoop in?

He saw a figure. Was that Kousuke? He wondered. He tried to crawl after him pathetically. "Kousuke" he called out weakly. He felt hands grabbing him, pulling him away from Kousuke.

"No" He said loudly "Kousuke, help"

"Don't leave me" He shouted when the figure seemed farther away. "Kousuke, please" He started to cry, and suddenly heard a familiar voice.

"Masahiro...Masahiro" It was Kousuke, no doubt about it, calling him. "Wake up, you are having a nightmare" Masahiro tried to respond, but he still felt trapped in darkness.

Kousuke, was sitting beside Masahiro's bed in Nowaki's clinic. Nowaki had cleaned up Masahiro's wounds with Kousuke sitting next to the patient on his bed, Masahiro's hand still clenched in the fabric of his shirt. He had refused to let go even in his painful slumber, whimpering weakly everytime he felt Kousuke move away. So Kousuke stayed by his side sitting close to him as much as possible while giving Nowaki space to bandage up his lover. Every once in a while he would stroke his hair, and placed his hand over Masahiro's when he groaned from the pain that made itself know periodically, soothing him.

"It's okay, Masahiro. Sleep. I am here. You are safe" He would tell him softly, regularly to settle his lover as well as to settle his own nerves. He had come so close to losing Masahiro tonight.

He looked at his phone. Kensuke had sent a message, after hearing Masahiro was safe with Kousuke and healing in Nowaki's care.

Brother, take good care of him. I'll come with Hasekura to visit tomorrow. We'll get his favourite snacks too!

Kousuke chuckled lightly, at his little brother's innocence. How so grateful he was to that day, his brother brought home a stray cat, no two stray things, Sasa and Masahiro. Masahiro's innocence, undivided loyalty and his eagerness to become better than a delinquent, the need for a mentor and a savior and someone to love Masahiro, saved Kousuke in so many ways from going down dangerous roads when he was lost in life himself.

He stroked his hair as Nowaki tied the last of the bandages round his ribs, the discomfort making itself felt to Masahiro. "It'll be alright, Masahiro" He whispered softly. Masahiro settled next to his hip from where he was seated at the head of bedside and mumbled inaudibly, asleep.

"Let me bandage your knuckles too" Kousuke suddenly remembered his own wounds he'd gained from using Honda as a punching bag and grinned lightly at the memory. His anger had been taken out on those two scumbags. Nowaki cleaned up the knuckles with some cotton and water, then bandaged them lightly. Nowaki was well aware about Kousuke's former affiliations with gangs, and his tendency to get into fights and such a knuckle injury wouldn't have bothered Kousuke much, but still as a doctor he felt obligated to take care of it.

"There's some water and some sandwiches on the table next to you. Hiroki made them. They are really good." Nowaki grinned. Hiroki was his live-in boyfriend. "I'd better go. Hiroki's probably getting lonely" He joked. "There's a spare couch in the living room, adjoined to the clinic room. You can sleep in it, if you wish. The chair ain't all that comfortable, nor is Setagawa-kun's bed big enough"

"I'll stay with Masahiro"

"Yes. He doesn't look like he'll let you go anytime soon" Nowaki glanced at Setagawa's clenched fingers in Kousuke's shirt.

"I've given a dose of painkillers, he'll fall into a deeper sleep, as it contains a bit of morphine. Nothing to worry about, it'll help to reduce the pain, and he can sleep in peace" Nowaki added.

"Thank you, Nowaki" Kousuke said "For taking care of Masahiro"

"No problem. If he wakes up and is in pain or needs something, call me. Otherwise he just he needs to sleep and heal." Nowaki left and closed the door, leaving Kousuke and Masahiro alone.

Suddenly, Kousuke's phone rang. He looked at the caller ID, it was Houjou.

"Hey Kou" Houjou greeted. "Called to say that the two rascals have been processed and are in the prison hospital. You really did them good." Houjou tried to joke.

"Yeah. I lost control for a moment there. Sorry" Kousuke apologized. Rarely, had he gone so far in his fights. He normally incapacitated them with bruises and minor injuries. "If it hadn't been for Masahiro, I would have probably killed them" he confessed knowing Houjou wouldn't hold it against him.

"Yeah. i know, Kou" Houjou sighed. "They'll receive the worst punishment for assault and attempted murder of a kid."

"Good" was all Kousuke had to comment.

"Take care of that kid. He's something for you. You have changed a lot since meeting him." Kousuke smiled. Houjou was just as perceptive as ever though he acted like an oblivious Kensuke at times.

"Thanks, Houjou. Thanks for being there and yes I will take care of him" Kousuke said. "See you later" he ended the call. He stared at Masahiro for sometime, lost in the face that was sleeping holding onto his shirt, so vulnerable with him, trusting him to protect him and love him and to keep him safe.

Masahiro started to whimper, and tossed around suddenly leaving Kousuke's shirt. Kousuke was surprised as he tried to discern what was wrong. Kousuke held his arms as he tried to thrash around to prevent him from further injuring his ribs.

"No" Masahiro shouted. "Kousuke help" . Kousuke realized he was having a nightmare, as tears started running down his face and he thrashed weakly in his hold.

"Masahiro..wake up. I'm here. Masahiro.." Kousuke said urging Masahiro to wake up.

"Don't leave me" He shouted "Kousuke, please". Kousuke shook him lightly mindful of his injuries.

"Wake up. I'm here. Nothing's going to hurt you. Please wake up" Masahiro frowned as he tried to rouse himself but continued struggling.

Kousuke decide to try a different approach. He shifted further onto the bed, lifting Masahiro into his arms gently, and cradled him with his head on his shoulder and held him tightly but gently.

"Masahiro, wake up. You are with me. You are safe" Slowly, Masahiro's struggles died down, in Kousuke's embrace. His tears dried up. Kousuke continued speaking to him.

Masahiro, felt the familiar scent around him, the warmth he associated with his lover, and felt the fear slowly drain away. He tried to blink the sleepiness away, and everything looked hazy as he tried to regain sense of his surroundings. One thing he was certain of, was that he no longer was alone, or afraid. He was safe, warm and held in an embrace that meant protection.

Regaining some of his vision, he stared at Kousuke's slightly blurry face. He could make out a smile and soft gaze looking at him as Kousuke waited patiently for Masahiro to wake up. He gripped Kousuke's shirt tightly with both hands, and snuggled further into his chest. He was loved.

"Kousuke.." Masahiro mumbled "I..What happened?"

"We took you to Nowaki's clinic where he bandaged up your injuries" Kousuke explained slowly looking at Masahiro's still unfocused eyes. And smiled more softly. "You just had a nightmare. There's nothing to be afraid. I am here, I love you, Masahiro" He stroked his now clean hair.

"I..I love you Kousuke" Masahiro mumbled back "I..I am sorry. I couldn't fight them off, I was so weak. You don't deserve me, being so helpless and weak" Masahiro, started to tear up, regressing back to his self-castigating state.

"Stop" Kousuke shushed him gently, by placing a kiss on his lips, mindful of Mashiro's bruised jaw. "You were brave. You ran off in another direction to avoid my little brother and Hasekura, being attacked too in case they struck. You knew, you'd be alone, but still you made that decision"

Masahiro eyes widened. He stared at Kousuke, hardly believing the words. Me, brave?

"Yes" Kousuke said, as if he heard his thought. "Masahiro, what was that you once said. Heroes can have flaws too. You were Ken and Hasekura's hero. You kept them safe despite the danger to yourself alone. Ken and Hasekura may have tried to help you, but you knew they'd still get hurt as the odds were against you three. You took on the beating and held on bravely, long enough for me to come and get you. And if it hadn't been for you, I would have crossed a line."

"You were beaten up badly, yet you didn't want me to kill them for hurting you. You are strong in a different way. You have strength in kindness and your heart is the biggest strength of yours." He continued.

"I..I" Masahiro gazed, shocked. For the first time in his life, he felt he could be strong.

"And you were mine. You always have been my saviour." Masahiro smiled shakily at Kousuke's final sentence, remembering Kousuke's letter and lost the battle with the tears that had formed in his eyes. He hid his face in his Kousuke's shirt and cried, hiccuping now and then.

Kousuke. I love you. My hero always no matter what.

"Thank you, Kousuke" Masahiro said shakily, when he had a semblance of control over his tears. And continued nestling into Kousuke's shirt. Kousuke rested his chin on top of Masahiro, stroking his hair.

I love you, Masahiro. You have been my hero too.

Author's Note: I couldn't figure out a name for the doctor, and after watching Junjou Romantica, Nowaki's name popped into my head, and when there's a Nowaki, you can find a Hiroki too.

Junjou Romantica characters and Hitorijime My Hero, characters are in no way related.

Do review, and feel free to drop me in prompts if you like my writing. Thanks for reading!

Cheers!