AN/ sorry it took so long for a short chapter, but please stick with me! Better parts are coming! I actually got around to writing this because my father was recently in an accident that gave him quite similar injuries... He had ten drips and a blood tube... These things are mentioned in this chapter/

It wasn't the same as he'd read it in countless mangas before, where the protagonist would walk into their loved ones hospital room and their heart would race as they met that precious persons pained and desperate gaze, then race to their side and embrace them. No, this was nothing like that.

As soon as the door to Ritsu's room was slid open, Takano's heart stopped, as if broken by the sight he was met with. The man lay among a sea of white sheets, his skin,where it was not bruised a grotesque purple, matching the snowy tone. His usually bright green eyes now glazed and half lidded as he stared seemingly into space, not so much as twitching as the new arrivals approached. Chords and tubes protruded sickeningly from both arms, allowing god knows what to enter the small figure's wounded body.

That wasn't even the worst of it. From the side of his chest, only just visible through the gap in his hospital gown, was a tube at least a centimetre thick that dripped access blood from the body down into a canister that seemed unnaturally full at that point in time. Ritsu was an absolute mess, and as much as Takano wanted to hold the man in his arms and never let go, he couldn't. He looked so fragile he could break with so much as a touch.

"Fuck..." The word slipped out under Takano's breath as he moved slowly towards the bed. "Ritsu... Fuck... You look like shit.."

The words were quiet but obviously loud enough for Ritsu to hear, as he seemed to jump at the sudden sound, only to end up gasping helplessly at the pain of the movement.

Takano made a start, ready to rush to his lovers aid but before he could act on that urge the doctor was at Ritsu's side.

"Onodera-San, please calm down." He implored. "There's nothing to be so worked up about. A friend of yours is here to check up on you."

Ritsu calmed slightly and turned his head slowly towards Takano, who could do nothing but stare wide eyed down in shock.

"T-Takano." Ritsu rasped, empty eyes staring right into the others. "Why are you...?"

"Idiot." Takano's mouth moved independently from his clouded mind. "You idiot... You fucking idiot!"

Ritsu winced at this and the doctor looked more than a bit bothered by the outburst. Takano ignored both of them, pushing past the older man to stand by Ritsu's bed. Gently, he took up the others hand in his own.

"I'm here because there's no other place I could stand to be... If I wasn't here waiting for you I think I'd have gone crazy." Takano clasped the hand as tightly as he could without risking hurting Ritsu any further. His chest felt tight and for the first time in years he thought he might cry. This was his Ritsu, lying there in obvious pain, despite all the elixirs being shot into his body by all those horrid tubes. It was almost too much to stomach.

"I'll leave you two alone for a while..." The doctor said rather awkwardly then hurried to the door. This neither of the remaining two really noticed.

Takano pulled the bedside chair closer and sat, still grasping Ritsu's hand lovingly. Ritsu either didn't mind or lacked the strength to protest. Either way Takano had no intention of letting him go. No, he would never let this man go ever again. He wouldn't be able to cope if he ever lost him. There was no doubt about it. Ritsu was his everything.

"I'm so sorry Ritsu. Please, just this once let me be close... I thought I would loose you, now you're right here in front of me and... Just let me have a moment." Takano spoke out desperately, both relief and worry cornering him in his mess of emotions.

There was a stretch of thick silence before Takano felt Ritsu squeeze his hand softly. He looked up quickly and saw a small smile gracing Ritsu's pallid lips, catching Takano by surprise.

"You know..." He all but whispered. "They called my parents a while ago, but they couldn't be bothered to come."

"Then their bastards." Takano spat "if I got a call saying you'd been hurt I'd be here in a heart beat, just like I am now. If they are that self centered then who gives a fuck about them."

"They aren't as bad as all that..." Ritsu's eyelids flickered tiredly "but, I'm still happy I'm not alone. I never really liked it here..."

Takano wasn't sure exactly what the last part had meant, but he chalked it up to Ritsu being exhausted and semi-incoherent. He did seem just about ready to pass out on the spot. He gave a soft smile and stroked the younger mans hair lovingly. "You've had a tough day. Go to sleep, I'll be here when you wake up."

Ritsu gave a small nod and closed his eyes, allowing Takano to continue stroking his messy hair as he drifted off to sleep beside him.

In all honesty, the visit thus far was doing little to put Takano at ease. Of course, he was glad beyond belief that Ritsu was alive at the very least, but now he couldn't stop thinking of all that would come after this for the injured man. Things like this didn't heal over night. Likeliness had it he would be in pain for a long time to come. Obviously returning to work would be out of the question for quite a while and it wouldn't be exactly practical for Takano to remain with him until he was healed. He would have to choose staying with him or keeping his job. Tough choice. Ritsu would deffinately tell him to keep his job, but the thought of Ritsu home alone in his injured state didn't sit too well

Takano let out a sigh and looked down at Ritsu. Who knew one guy could cause so much trouble in his life? It wasn't as if Takano minded, though. In fact, he was happy for any time he got to be by Ritsu's side, no matter how stressful it was.

He wasn't sure how long he sat there, but it couldn't have been too long. Takano was still deep in thought when the doctor returned to the room looking uneasy.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, Takano-San, but it seems there's someone at the front desk looking for you." The doctor spoke softly, mindful of his sleeping patient.

Takano raised an eyebrow. "Who is it?" The only people who knew he was here was the rest of the emerald editing department and he couldn't imagine they would come so late after work.

"I'm not sure, I didn't take there name. If you come with me I could show you to where he is waiting?"

Takano cast a quick glance down at Ritsu. He didn't seem like he was going to wake anytime soon, so stepping out for a little while wouldn't hurt. He turned back to the doctor and gave a curt nod, finally letting go of Ritsu's hand and standing to follow the older man out of the room.

The trip was silent, neither of them saying a word as they made there was to the ground floor. There really wasn't all that much to be said, after all. Both had better things to be concentrating on in the long run.

"Masamune!" A familiar voice had called out the second the elevator doors opened on the ground level.

Takano gave a bewildered look. "Takafumi? What the hell?" He walked out of the metal box and spotted his old friend approaching him.

"Masamune, you idiot! Are you alright?" Takafumi asked seriously, lookin Takano up and down.

"I'm fine. What the hell are you doing here? How did you even know I was here?"

"I asked the guys from you're department where you were and they said there was some accident and you were at the hospital! I thought you'd been seriously hurt!"

"Idiot! I wasn't even in the accident!" Trust Kisa to improperly convey an important message like that.

Takafumi blinked "Then what are you doing here?"

Takano sighed in exasperation and worry as he was put back on the thought of his injured lover. He looked up and ran a hand through his hair. "I wasn't in an accident, Onodera was." He answered in a stressed tone.

Takafumi fell silent, looking shocked and all in all speechless. Takano didn't blame him, what exactly is the right thing to say in a situation like this? Even he didn't know the answer to that question.

"Well," Takafumi began uneasily. "How's he doing?"

"He's alive at least, but he's a mess. I haven't really been told much about the process but he's not going to be in a working condition for a while. It'll be a miracle if he can even stand before too long." Takano explained, shaking his head.

"He will get better Masamune. You shouldn't overthink it unnecessarily." Takafumi assured helpfully. "How have you been holding up?"

"Fine, it's just," Takano groaned in annoyance and clenched his fists at his sides. "I just hate this whole situation! I hate that he was hurt and I couldn't protect him! I hate that he's in pain and I can't ease it! And I hate that I almost lost him again and I was completely helpless to stop it!" He looked down, his teeth clenched tightly.

He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up in surprise. Takafumi gave him a stern look.

"Don't blame yourself for this. You may not have been able to prevent this, but it's not your fault and he knows that just as well as I do. I may not like him, but even Onodera isn't that stupid. If you don't want to feel helpless, then help him. Simple as that. He's going to need it.