Author's Notes

Still not quite back on track. And this is quite high on my priority list too. Only one more chapter and the epilogue left now, and then I have to decide which WIP will fill the empty hole…

This isn't necessarily medically correct, but Siamese twins are somewhat of a myth so it's not like there's a whole lot of proof anyway. :) Everything else is fine though. I didn't research anything new but I am studying life sciences so I have most of the background information on hand. That's not the important part for this short fic.

Please tell me what you think. I'm not getting a lot of feedback for my DF fics lately and that makes me sad…

Or tired. But that's more uni I think.

Enjoy.

All Things End with Home

'He always said I was going to die first.'-'Perhaps there isn't a reason for these things. - 'Perhaps there isn't a reason for anything.'-'I don't believe that. There has to be.' Char death.

Kouichi K & Kouji M

Chapter 3

White Snow Falls

'Shouldn't we wake him up?'

'We should probably let him sleep. I doubt he's been getting any decent rest.'

'He's not asleep to wake up in any case.'

'Guys? Isn't it rude to talk about someone in third person when they're right there?'

'Uhh…'

Kouichi lifted his head slightly, prompting two squeaks and a squeal.

A sheepish laugh, noticeably Takuya, followed.

'Yeah…well, we weren't saying anything…umm…bad or anything.'

'I know it still feels awkward,' Tomoki mumbled as Kouichi let his head fall limply again. 'When Yutaka onii-san talks to 'kaa-san and 'tou-san about me when I'm on the couch between them.'

'Of course,' Izumi finally spoke up. 'It would help Kouichi if you just sat up and talked to us.'

He just mumbled something.

The four who were in better realms of consciousness exchanged glances before the only female spoke up again. 'Did you and Satomi-san get any rest yesterday?'

Kouichi lifted his head and rested his chin on his arms. His hands though still clutched his brother's pale one. One cheek too, as if finding comfort in non-existent warmth.

'No,' he answered eventually, and rather tiredly. 'We tried, but just wound up watching some drama and burning the ramen.'

'You burnt ramen?' Takuya repeated. 'Or Satomi-san? Both of you can cook so-ouch!'

The brunette glared at Izumi, or specifically, the elbow poking his stomach.

'We…got a little distracted from the pot.'

Junpei leaned over to give the younger boy a closer look. The other still didn't look entirely focused; he looked far worse than they'd seen him last, a few weeks ago. He was always pale, but at that moment even Kouji, who'd lain unconscious in a hospital bed for more than a month, and their mother who'd drifted in and out of consciousness, had more colour in their faces than him.

'You're coming down with something.'

'I don't think so.'

The others leaned closer as well; it was a little hard to hear the elder twin over the soft whirring of machines.

'Well, you certainly look pale.' A hand pressed against the other's forehead, the other gauging against his own. 'You're cold. And clammy.'

'Its winter,' the other deadpanned, although a hint of frustration was detectable in his voice. His words were true though, despite the intent for which they were said; a thin layer of frost covered the windows despite the late morning.

'Then explain why we're not popsicles.'

'I'm not melting.'

'No, you're just freezing.' Junpei sighed, shaking his head. Sometimes, attempting to argue with the ex-warrior of darkness gave him a headache; it was tricky to catch him and most attempts backfired rather badly. Even when the other wasn't feeling well.

'I'm not freezing.'

Normally, a loophole like that would cause an internal jig; Kouichi had just given him the perfect opportunity. But it was hard to enjoy small victories with everybody worried, tired and strained…and Kouji like that.

They were all trying to follow the Doctor's orders though: to be natural, to talk as if nothing was wrong, to coax the other back…

None of the others had asked Kouichi to explain his expression at the order either; it wasn't hope, or reluctance, or really anything that could be expected. In fact, none of them could really place it; the closest Tomoki came was pity, but that made no sense at all.

'I'm tempted to call the Doctor in here.'

'I can walk into the in-clinic-'

'Good.'

Kouichi realised too late what he had volunteered to, and failed to form an audible protest by the time the other got him on his feet. That did not mean he was partial to the idea though as he attempted to twist out of the other's grasp and sit back in his seat.

He only managed the latter, which did nothing to help his case as the force which succeeded his action was rather questionable. But Junpei let him go anyway, letting the other take his younger brother's hand in both his own again, leaning into the touch with a dim expression.

'Is he warm?' Takuya asked, coming forward. Rationale told him it would be better to have both hands inside the coverlet; even with the central warming and his thick jacket, he was still a little cold.

'Warmer now.' Kouichi closed his eyes. 'He was much colder before.'

'You were warmer before,' Junpei scolded, before being elbowed by Izumi. 'What? I'm telling the truth.'

The blonde sighed. 'Try answering the questions of the universe while you're at it,' she countered sarcastically. 'In the meantime, stop pestering.'

'I'm not pestering. You're babying-'

'Uhh…maybe you guys should stop arguing like an old married couple.'

'I am not-'

That was physically speaking anyway. After all, curling up with a freezing brother was comforting in and of itself.

Takuya's little interjection went unheard for the two concerned, and in retrospect that was probably a lucky thing. Izumi for one would have given him a sharp right hook for even suggesting such a thing…although Junpei might have been pleased. It was difficult to know how far the crush had simmered down; no-one dared bring the subject up.

Tomoki it appeared was also quite hesitant in getting involved in the escalating conflict, but a hospital room really wasn't the place to be arguing, no matter how high-strung its occupants were.

'Guys!' Takuya yelled finally, and Junpei and Izumi both blushed at the awkward silence that followed. 'As normal as us arguing can get, it's normally me and Izumi or me and Kouji –'

No-one bothered to correct his grammar.

' – although it might wake Kouji up with a doozey of a headache.' It was more an attempt to lighten the mood than an actual hope; he seriously doubted Kouji would even let things get so far if he had an actual say in the matter.

It seemed Kouichi agreed. 'He won't.'

They all looked at him as he stood on his own accord. 'He'll either wake up when his body can take it or when he knows he'll die.'

His eyes were closed when he said that, and he barely opened them as he slipped past his friends and left the room.

Izumi and Takuya both made to go after him, but Junpei stopped them. 'Don't.'

The blonde opened her mouth to argue, but Tomoki cut in. 'I think Junpei's right. He's probably gone to visit Kimura-san and it's not our place to intrude on that.'

'No, it isn't.' Junpei took the vacated seat and felt Kouji's hand. It was cool and stiff, but dry unlike his twin. 'But now I don't know what to say or do.'

There was silence after that. Izumi opened her mouth, closed it, then opened it again. 'I don't think you knew before either. None of us did.'

'No…I guess not.' He sighed heavily. 'Sorry.'

Izumi just shrugged. Whatever else she was, she definitely did not believe in pointless apologies. And it was pointless; all of them were right and wrong…except perhaps Tomoki who somehow had the foresight to not say something stupid. Even the normally rational Kouichi hadn't…but that was understandable in itself. It was his parents and brother after all.

'Minamoto-san's out of the hospital now,' Takuya said suddenly. 'Right?'

Izumi nodded. 'He's on his crutches. Mina…err, Satomi-san's keeping a sharp eye on him though because he still gets headaches.' She'd bumped into the woman after she'd dropped Kouichi off at the hospital.

'Guys..?' Tomoki finally spoke up.

The other three looked at him.

'Do you think Kouichi wants us here?'

Blank faces greeted him.

'He didn't look happy. Maybe we're just in the way…'

Takuya thought a moment, before putting a hand on the young boy's shoulder. 'Maybe we are in the way,' he comforted. 'But we're all friends. Kouji's and Kouichi's. I think us being here means a lot to him, but he's going through a tough time too, and the people he'd normally lean on are both unconscious in hospital beds. His mother and his twin. Maybe he does want to be alone with them, but I think he appreciates us being here all the same. If he didn't want us around, he would have made it clear.'

'Are you sure?' Tomoki didn't look convinced.

Takuya grinned. 'Of course. Remember when we planned that surprise for Kouji, and Kouichi kicked him out of his own house. The rest of us had no success, but just "pow" and –' He made exaggerated hand motions; the entire story was exaggerated.

They all laughed anyway, and the atmosphere immediately lightened. The droning and whirring of machines prevented it from reaching the sky; the emotions remained like a white cloud stripped of its grey undertone, but still carrying that storming potential within.

'I –' Izumi began. 'I almost couldn't believe he didn't wake up when you ranted at him for a half-hour…you know?'

Takuya hung his head at that, a little ashamed. 'I couldn't believe I managed that.'

'You've all done better than me,' Tomoki mumbled quietly. 'I can barely come up with anything.'

'Maybe you all should go out for some fresh air.' A nurse had entered without their notice. 'Winter might seem grey and dreary, but there's no denying its air can be a blast on the face.'

It turned out the nurse had been right; the fresh air was rather…refreshing. But it was also rather chilly, and they came back inside in a hurry. Back in the room though, the four simply stared at each other.

'Oh,' Izumi exclaimed suddenly, before leaving.

'What -?' Takuya began, but the girl was already back with a bouquet of roses.

'I almost forgot,' she said sheepishly, going about arranging them in the filled vase, removing the dried up ones. Luckily, she'd brought them in water, elsewise the "fresh" lot wouldn't have fared much better. Every colour was there except red; none of them (except Kouichi) had seen the crushed mass that had been the roses Kouji had brought for his mother, but they had all heard about it. Adding red flowers to the vase was simply disturbing. 'One of these days, he'll complain about the smell of those roses.'

'I think he'll complain about all of us making ourselves sick with worry first,' Junpei pointed out. 'But I know I can't help it. I doubt even Kouichi, who's already watched someone die before his eyes, can help that.'

There was silence for a few minutes, and then: 'I don't think we're doing a good job at "visiting",' Tomoki mumbled finally. 'I don't like this situation.'

'None of us do,' Takuya responded. 'But you're right. Maybe we should-oh!' He had opened the door on reflex and backed away on instinct when it crashed into someone else.

Kouichi just stared at him, a little blankly.

'Whoops. Sorry buddy.' He helped the other up. 'Wasn't expecting you to just pop up like that.' He paused, looking at the other more closely. 'You look tired.'

It was the understatement of the century, but Kouichi just nodded. 'I'm going back to the house now. Would you guys like to come or should I just leave the address?'

He meant Ayame's home which she had graciously extended to his stepmother, recovering father and the friends that dropped by during their holidays. It was turning into a bit of a crowd, but there was simply no making do with the stairs in the apartment complex. Hence why he hadn't said home.

'We'll come,' Takuya said immediately. They had after all pretty much agreed beforehand.

'And don't you dare say sorry,' Izumi added, earning three odd looks in return. She may have been right though, as Kouichi lead the way without another word.

'Aren't you supposed to be sleeping?' Takuya asked, finding the elder twin leaning against the balcony. They'd had a quick lunch which Satomi had insisted on cooking, despite Izumi's and Junpei's attempts to help (Tomoki's had been easily shut down), but Kouichi had been sleeping. Or he had been lying down with his eyes closed.

'I was,' the other replied, almost silently. The wind could have swallowed up his words; they were just lucky it had died down to nothing. Kouichi closed his eyes. 'I'm sorry.'

'Huh?' Takuya blinked; that had come out of thin air. Quite literally.

'For making you all worry.' The balcony was all but supporting the elder twin. 'But –'

'It's not something you can help.' The brunet nodded. 'This is half your family we're talking about, and the half you're closest to to boot. Don't worry; we get it.'

'That's not it.'

'Huh?'

'The truth is, you can become desentised. To waiting. To watching people die. And we all watched a lot of digimon die in the digital world.'

'A human is different,' Takuya said quietly.

'Not really,' Kouichi countered. 'They live, they have a will and they die. In that basic essence at least, they are the same. Bodies are reborn. Ashes return to the earth. The cycle of life continues on; it's only the soul, and the memories, that fade away…' He looked up to the sky. 'The waiting hurts. It puts everyone on edge, and then when it's over, we wonder what more could we have done in the time that we had. That it's too short. Or they recover and the time is put away until it returns again – 'kaa-san at least has been like this many times.'

Takuya said nothing. The other's voice was quiet. Droning. He needed to talk, to say what he was feeling. Even if no-one did understand. Even if no-one could understand.

'I know that worrying and ignoring myself doesn't help, but that's something that can't be avoided. Each time it happens, it's like a little more time is taken away, a little less time I can see her, feel her warmth and embrace…'

No, he could never understand. Kouichi's relationship with his mother was something special, because for the longest time it had been only the two of them.

There was silence for a moment, before Kouichi spoke again. 'It's harder to hope she'll get better.'

The next silence stretched even longer.

'What about Kouji?'

He thought perhaps the other wouldn't answer his question, but eventually he did.

'That…is something I could never get used to.'

Takuya was hard-pressed to stop a third "huh" from escaping. He was starting to wish Junpei had checked the balcony instead of him. He was better at philosophy things. Takuya, he was just in the cheering-up department. But he could loan a good ear, which was all he was apparently succeeding at.

'Takuya…'

'Huh?' It escaped after all. He could have hit himself.

'Do you believe in Siamese twins?'

'Siamese twins?'

Kouichi opened his eyes and looked up. 'Twins whose souls are connected. Some say two parts of a whole.'

'Like the whole light and darkness thing with Lucemon?' He supposed, in that case…'And how you two always seem to know when the other's in pain or something? How could I not; you two are living-' It suddenly hit him. 'You mean –'

That explained why the guy looked like a living corpse…although the stress wouldn't have helped matters any.

'I know it was Kouji who was struck and not me,' Kouichi continued, almost to himself. 'But I felt it, even if I didn't realise it at the time. Ever since then, something has been in the back of my head. Every time I fall asleep, I feel this darkness stretching over me. Like a blanket; I want to sleep under it, but I –'

'But you want to spend as much time as possible with the people you love, and Kouji wants to do the same.' Takuya embraced the other, half supporting the wavering form. 'But if you collapse from exhaustion, that'll cut back on the time you can spend with them, right? And that will cut back on the time we can spend with all of you too. Even if we're completely useless…'

Kouichi leaned in slightly. 'You guys are never useless…'

'Well, that's good to hear –'

'Thank you.'

He almost missed it, but could have easily guessed in any case. 'That's what friends are for silly. Now let's get you some rest for real. And then we'll go visit again tomorrow. Properly. And who knows; your mother might just be awake again. And if Kouji doesn't look better, we'll cover his whole room in rosees.'

Kouichi said nothing; his eyes were closing of their own accord. Tiredness and something else ached in every bone and muscle in his body. He didn't think he could have moved from the balcony if Takuya wasn't practically carrying him.

But Takuya was right; if he collapsed, he'd lose time to both unconsciousness and sleep. It was cold, but it wasn't like that would kill him. And he could hope they'd be there tomorrow. After all, they'd been there every time he'd gone so far.

And Kouji had a promise to keep after all.

And so did he.

Because Kouji had promised him he wouldn't watch his little brother, his twin, die. And he'd promised to live his life till the minute his soul was written to depart. A pact between brothers, between yin and yang if one willed. One they refused to break, because it was that important to both of them.

He fell into the depths of his mind with that thought.

The others were worried when Kouichi didn't come down for dinner either, but all adults agreed to let him sleep – and he was asleep, so that put the childrens' minds at rest. When he slept through breakfast too however, Satomi (despite Ayame's protests to keep her in bed herself) crept into the bedroom.

Kouichi was definitely unconscious; the blankets were rather neat for one whose sleep was as fitful as his normally was. The previous night, she had been thankful for the respite, but she was sure eighteen hours was extremely unusual. It wasn't in fact until thirty-six that it was considered a medical emergency in itself, but that was for the healthy person.

And Kouichi, as much as he needed some rest, also needed some food.

She failed to wake him however. All she got from him was a subconscious mumble of protest.