Sorry it's been such a long time! So much school work but it's almost summer so hopefully lots of updates then :)

Rin lay on his bed, knowing he should get up and clean himself after his jog but Nitori was currently in the shower and had been since he'd returned to the room. He took deep breaths and listened to the sound of the running water as he tried to steady his breathing.

His moment of relaxation was soon interrupted by a harsh banging to the door, as he wasn't expecting company he chose to ignore the visitor in favour of lying still on his bed. But the banging never stopped, in fact it seemed to get more persistent.

"Nitori!" The mysterious knocker shouted, Rin automatically recognising the voice causing a scowl to appear on his face.

With a groan Rin pulled himself off the bed and stalked towards the door, his eyebrows furrowed still as he thinks about the boy on the other side.

"He's in the shower." Rin announced, pulling the door open and displaying his annoyance.

"Oh right, sorry." Kai said, flashing an insincere smile. "It's just we had plans, so."

"Well, like I said he's a little occupied." He said, flashing a fake smile of his own before starting to close the door.

"Can I come in and wait?" He asked, slamming a hand down hard on the door.

"If you must." Rin groaned, pulling the door open wide enough for him to enter.

Kai walked inside and stood awkwardly in the middle of the room, rocking from foot to foot as Rin glared him down. Something about the older boy didn't sit right with him and Rin always trusted his instincts.

The other day he'd hurt Nitori, Rin knew that. Whatever they had fought about had upset Nitori a lot, got to him to the point where he shook with sadness. Nobody should be able to cause that sort of pain to someone as caring as Nitori, he was so selfless that he'd apologised for the fight despite the fact he hadn't done anything, Rin was sure of that. Nitori could never hurt anyone.

So that was why he disliked Kai so much, not just because he was Nitori's boyfriend but because he wasn't treating the boy the way he deserved.

"So, Ai tells me you're on the swim team together." Kai said as a desperate attempt to get rid of the tension in the room.

"Yeah." Rin replied shortly, he wasn't going to do the other boy any favours, he didn't deserve it.

"He says you're very good, always going on about it in fact." He said, a hint of anger flashing in his eyes that Rin was quick to pick up on.

"Sounds about right." He shrugged, as if Nitori complimenting him was a regular occurrence, which it was before Kai showed up.

"So you two are good friends?" Kai asked, standing up taller, using his extra inches as an intimidation tool.

"You could say that. We're very… close." Rin smirked as he watched his cryptic answer hit a nerve with Kai.

"Listen here you little shit." He hissed taking a step towards the red haired boy, his eyes dangerously narrowed.

Rin felt his eyes widen in shock, was he that quick to lose his temper? Did he act like this around Nitori? Did the poor boy cower while Kai screamed at him for his apparent wrong doings?

He prepared himself for attack when suddenly the bathroom door flew open and Nitori appeared in a cloud of steam, towel still wrapped around his waist. The smile quickly falling from his face when he noticed the two boys in the room, stood chest to chest, their hands tightly clenched by their sides, their breathing heavy.

"What's going on?" He asked, his gaze nervously flicking between the two.

"Nothing. Just having a little chat." Kai said with a smile, ruffling Rin's hair and taking a step back.

"Okay." Nitori nodded, his eyes clearly showing his disbelief.

After a beat of silence Kai strode across the room and quickly gathered Nitori up in his arms, possessively pressing his lips against the others. The silver haired boy's eyes widened at the unexpected display, his body going slack in the other boys hold. He felt embarrassed as Rin watched the awkward encounter, he always felt that intimate moments should be just that, reserved for two people not flaunted in front of others.

"Ready to go?" Kai asked, releasing Nitori who stumbled from the lack of support now surrounding him.

"Erm, sure. Just let me get dressed." He said, reaching to grab the clothes on the back of his chair before retreating back into the bathroom.

"We're watching a movie." Kai announced, despite Rin never asking about the plans he and Nitori shared.

"What about practice?" Rin questioned, there were due at the pool less than an hour from now.

"Well he'll just have to skip it won't he?" Kai shrugged as if he didn't really care about Nitori's own schedule.

"He's part of a team, he can't start skipping." Rin growled, taking a step closer to the other boy. He knew there was nothing Nitori loved more in the world than spending time with his teammates in the pool, surely he wouldn't give that up just because his boyfriend asked him to.

"Look, you're not his keeper. He can make his own decisions." He said, shooting him an icy, cold glare.

"Ready." Nitori announced, soon noticing the tension in the room.

"Let's go Ai." Kai told him, grabbing his arm and pulling towards the door.

"What about practice?" Rin called after the pair, Nitori freezing slightly forcing the older boy to stop.

"Like I said, one day won't kill him." Kai answered for him.

Rin couldn't help but notice that Kai tightened his hold on Nitori's wrist until the skin around his fingers turned white, poor Nitori wincing slightly but trying to hide it.

"Nitori?" Rin asked, his voice softening as he saw the pain in his friend's eyes.

"Kai's right, one time should be fine." He said, his voice strained.

"There? We all happy?" Kai groaned, pulling Nitori from the room with such force the small boy yelped as he stumbled backwards.

The door to their dorm slammed harshly, leaving Rin stood alone in a sudden silence. He couldn't shake the hesitation in Nitori's eyes from his mind. He hadn't wanted to leave, whether it be because of missing practice or because of being alone with Kai he would never know but the hesitation had still been there.

Part of him wanted to chase after the pair but what would he do when he got there? Forbid Nitori from going off with Kai? Insist he stay close by at all times? He had no right to try to control Nitori's actions, as much as he hated it he had to make his own choices.

Even if at times it seemed he makes the wrong ones.

The walk to Kai's room was uncomfortably silent, Nitori noticed his eyes were set forward, barely blinking, a hint of anger in them. He wasn't sure what happened while he was in the bathroom but he knew it was enough to really upset Kai.

Once they reached the older boy's dorm the door was harshly thrown open, neither one making any attempt to step inside.

"I'm sorry about Rin." Nitori tried, hoping that everything could be forgotten.

"Get in." Kai growled, pointing inside the room.

With a brief nod Nitori stepped inside, closely followed by Kai breathing down his neck the whole time. Kai gently shut the door, leaning against his arms on the wood, taking deep breaths to calm himself.

Nitori bit his lip as he watched the muscles in back remain tense, he wished he'd calm down, he wished he wouldn't lash out at him, he wished he wouldn't get the blame.

"How could you leave me alone with that… that dick?" Kai cried, spinning to face the other boy.

"I... I didn't know you disliked Matsuoka-senpai." Nitori stuttered, taking a step away in reflex.

"Of course I do! He gets you when I can't have you!" He shouted, quickly pacing across the floor until they were toe to toe.

Nitori closed his eyes, he'd seen it in Kai's expression, he knew what was about to come. Sure enough the blow came, harshly across his face, causing him to stumble slightly on his feet.

"I hate it, it drives me crazy!" Kai screamed, dragging his fingers through his dark hair.

"I know, I'm sorry Kai." Nitori took a step closer, attempting to wrap his arms around the other boy in an attempt to calm him but it only worked in getting him angrier.

"Get off me!" With a push Nitori fell to the ground, his body shaking to the bone from the impact.

"Sorry!" He cried again, at a loss for words not sure how to make the situation right again, to take away Kai's pain, his insecurities.

He wanted his happy boyfriend back, the one who laughs at his small blushes, the one who spoils him just because he can, the one who lovingly holds him when they're together.

"He says you're close, as if he thinks there's something special between you." Kai shouted, supporting his point with a kick to his stomach. "And who can blame him when you flaunt yourself in nothing but a towel!" Another kick, this time to the shin, a strangled cry leaving Nitori's throat from the contact.

Slowly Kai dropped to his knees, Nitori swallowing thickly at the sight. It was worse when he was at his level, when he loomed over him his face was blocked out, he could pretend it was someone else hurting him, not the boy that was supposed to care for him. But up close Nitori could see his eyes, see the look of affection replaced with cold hate.

"Do you often do that?" Kai asked, dragging Nitori up by his hair to meet his eye. "Tease him, parade yourself around like some cheap slut?"

"It wasn't like that Kai, I swear." He promised but the other boy just scoffed at him.

He released his hold on Nitori's fair, causing him to drop his head harshly back to the floor with a thud. Kai stood up again, predatorily stalking around the small boy as he lay on his side on the floor.

"It didn't look like that to me, looked like you were giving him a little peep show." A quick kick to his back, tears seeping out his eyes as the pain shot through his body.

"Rin doesn't see me like that!" He cried. "Trust me."

Suddenly Kai froze in his walk, Nitori realising in that moment that he'd said the wrong thing.

"And how can you be so sure of that?" Kai asked, his voice eerily calm once again.

"I… I just… Ah!" Nitori screamed as Kai pressed his foot down against his ankle.

He wriggled to free himself from the pressure but it was no use, he was completely trapped.

"You've tried haven't you? Thrown yourself at him like the little tart you are." He whispered, rolling his foot forward, Nitori's ankle crunching under the movement.

"I would never do that." He whined, praying for the moment that Kai would finish.

"Good!" He shouted, lifting his foot. "Because I don't want him ever touching you!"

He kicked Nitori once again in the back.

"Stop! Please!" He screamed but it fell on deaf ears, Kai continued to release his anger using the small boy as his punching bag.

"He doesn't deserve you!" He cried, each point reinforced with a blow to his back. "He doesn't even deserve to see you like that! Nobody does! You're mine and nobody else!"

Nitori kept reminding himself that this wasn't about him, Kai was upset with the others not him. He didn't want to lose Nitori that's why he was acting this way. He loves Nitori so much he didn't know how to handle his emotions, he could forgive him for that. They were both new to this kind of relationship, they were both learning in a way.

He knew it wasn't Kai's fault, Nitori shouldn't let him doubt himself then he wouldn't have to resort to this, he needed reassurance that he was loved to be happy. Nitori could understand that.

As suddenly as it all began it stopped, Kai stepped over the boy on his floor as if he was nothing more than a discarded shirt to reach his laptop.

Nitori stayed where he was, his body shaking with sobs, each cry tore through his aching body like a dagger. He wanted to get up and regain what little dignity he still had but he found he was unable to move. His body felt weak, as if he couldn't support his weight if he tried.

"Are we watching this movie or not?" Kai asked, turning back on Nitori who only nodded feebly in response. "Then get up."

When there was no attempts at movement from the other Kai growled, delivering a swift kick to Nitori's stomach, the boy coughing out what little air he had left in his body from the blow.

"Get up!"

Pushing himself onto wobbling wrists Nitori sat up, bringing a hand up to his eyes to wipe away the tears still pouring down his face. Satisfied by the movement Kai walked over to his bed and dropped down on the soft mattress, expectantly looking at the other boy.

Slowly Nitori stood, grabbing the desk for support as he tested his injured ankle, it wasn't broken but he didn't doubt that the bone was badly bruised. It would put him out of commission for a couple of days, he supposed he should be relieved as bruises on his back would surely develop and he wouldn't be able to cover them up in just his swimsuit.

He limped over to the bed, wincing every time he put pressure on his ankle, once close enough he gently sat down, making sure to keep a few inches between them as the anger was still coming off Kai in waves.

Part way through the movie Kai spoke up, his voice softer than earlier, holding a hint of what Nitori hoped to be regret.

"Ai?" He tentatively asked.

"Yeah?" Nitori replied, turning slightly to look at him.

"I'm sorry." He said, his eyes filled with guilt as he thought back to what he'd done in a fit of blind rage.

"I know you are." He sighed, scooting across the bed to hold the other boy.

"I don't know why I keep doing this." Kai cried, burying his head deep in Nitori's shoulder. "I don't mean to hurt you."

"I know Kai, it's okay. I forgive you." Nitori reassured, rubbing his back soothingly.

"It's not. It's never going to be okay." He whispered, his hands tightly gripping Nitori's shirt. "I love you so much Ai, I don't want to drive you away."

Nitori gasped at his confession, they'd never said anything like that to each other before. On some level he knew Kai loved him, that's why he got so jealous, so possessive because he cared so much. But Nitori wasn't sure if he loved him back, part of him felt something for the boy, what it was exactly he couldn't know, but another part of him was still scared, still cowered whenever he did the smallest thing wrong.

Was that love? Nitori didn't think it was.

"You won't drive me away, I promise." Nitori said, pressing a kiss into his hair, not being able to bring himself to say the same words in return.

Rin walked down the corridor, listening as the sounds of splashing and shouting grew louder and louder. This walk had never seemed so long before, so lonely. He was used to having Nitori with him, filling the time with his chatter.

Once inside he took a deep breath, letting the smell off chlorine fill his lungs. He hoped that swimming would provide a distraction from his missing roommate.

"Matsuoka! You finally made it!" Seijuro called out, making his way over to the other boy.

Rin glanced up at the clock to see that he was in fact 20 minutes late, Nitori was far better at time keeping than he was.

"Where's Nitori?" He asked, looking behind Rin as if he was going to suddenly burst through the doors, apologising profusely for being late.

"He had other plans." Rin mumbled, crossing his arms.

"Did he now?" He questioned with an amused smirk.

"Yes."

"Seems like you need to keep a better eye on your boyfriend." Seijuro laughed, slapping Rin on the back before walking over to some other members of his team.

"He's not my boyfriend." He grumbled, knowing that his captain was well out of ear shot by now.

Rin strode across the tiled floor to the starting blocks, quickly snapping the elastic of his goggles before climbing a top of one. Without waiting for the go ahead he dove into the pool, pushing his body through the cold water.

He tried to forget Nitori, tried to forget his eyes as he left the room, his wrist the practically snapped under the pressure of the older boys hold. The water carried him, saving him from his own thoughts until he reached the end of his lap.

Then he was reminded of everything all over again when there was nobody stood there timing him and offering him a towel.

Nitori stared at his own door, hand on the handle but never pushing down. It wasn't late, probably only about nine but he prayed Rin was asleep, prayed that he'd turned in early for the night.

There was only so much he could hide but with his limp and slightly swollen lip he knew Rin was bound to ask some questions. He's just have to lie, cover it all up like he always did.

With a deep breath Nitori opened the door, a bright, false smile plastered across his face to avoid any suspicions.

"Good evening Matsuoka-senpai, did I miss anything important at practice?" He asked as he entered the room, hoping to draw focus away from himself.

"What happened to you?" Rin asked, looking up from his book as Nitori limped across the room and dropping heavily on his chair.

"Oh this? Nothing really. I just tripped over and twisted my ankle, even managed to bite my lip as I went down." He laughed, hoping Rin would believe his story.

"Seems like you're having a lot of accidents recently." He said, placing his book on his mattress and sitting up on his bed.

"What can I say? I'm a clumsy person." He joked, wishing he could just be honest with Rin, ask his senpai for advice in a situation he found himself completely lost in.

Rin leant forward on his elbows, clearly processing something. Nitori watched him with bated breath, wondering if Rin was piecing it all together to make the correct conclusion, part of him hoped he did but a bigger part of him dreaded Rin ever learning the truth.

"Nitori, if Kai was…" Rin sighed, not really wanting to say the words on the tip of his tongue. "If Kai hurt you in any way you'd tell me right?"

"What makes you say that?" He asked, unable to bring himself to deny it.

"It's just I'm worried about you Nitori. Kai… he doesn't seem right for you, he's manipulative and possessive. Then he has the audacity to act like he owns you." Rin groaned, running his fingers through his hair.

Nitori's eyes widened at the action, it was exactly the same as Kai right before he snaps, before he becomes a completely different person. But this wasn't Kai, this was Rin. He may have a short temper but Rin never hurt him, he never lay a finger on him.

"He was just upset today, he's not normally like that." Nitori muttered, whether he was reassuring himself or Rin he wasn't entirely sure.

"I saw the way you flinched when he was around, are you happy with him Nitori?" He asked, looking right into Nitori's eyes, hoping to read his emotions, detect any lies that spewed from his lips.

The other boy thought hard about the question. Was he happy with him? Most of the time he was, when he wasn't that monster he was extremely happy. Kai made Nitori feel loved, feel like he was worthwhile, that he could have the sort of the romances that he used to read about in his mother's books.

Then sometimes Kai made him feel pathetic, made him feel like everything little thing he did was wrong, made him feel completely worthless.

But, as he kept reminding himself, nothing was happy all the time, everything had its sour points and this relationship was no different.

"Yes, I am happy." He finally answered, the beginnings of a genuine smile on his face.

"Then I guess that's all I really needed to hear. As long as you're happy I'm happy." Rin rubbed the back of his neck, his cheeks flushing slightly at the comment. "Or something like that."

"Thank you Matsuoka-senpai." Nitori giggled at the older boy's embarrassment, "I think I'm going to head to bed now."

He got up and slowly limped towards his bed, wondering how he was going to manage the ladder with his foot.

"Hey Nitori, take my bed." Rin said, lightly holding his wrist.

Nitori stared down at his wrist, it was the same place Kai had held him a few hours ago, the finger prints still etches on his skin. But his hold was gentle, it was soft, it was caring, it wasn't demanding like Kai.

"Saves you messing your ankle up further." Rin explained, letting go of his wrist and beating him to the ladder.

Nitori smiled as he watched the older boy climb up to the bed, he may try to deny it but he knew deep down Rin cared for him, Kai may hurt him but as long as he had Rin to pick up the pieces he knew he'd be okay.

Quickly, Nitori changed into his pyjamas, making sure to not put any weight on his ankle for extended periods of time. He flicked the light off and crawled into the bed, taking a deep breath as the smell of Rin surrounded him.

He dreamt of being with Rin, dreamt that the boy held him as slept, protecting him from everything cruel in his world, dreamt that he placed soft kisses to his skin for every tear Kai had made him cry.

And, although he'd never admit it, in his dreams Nitori was the happiest he'd been in a very long time.

Hope you liked it :)