Chapter 4

Gomen for not updating! My computer got sick, and I just got it fixed… *clears throat* Anywho, congratulations to AnimeLoverNumber1 for guessing correctly! *hands you a cookie and a Masky plushie* Here you go!

Disclaimer: Still own nothing, not even Masky.

The darkness was suffocating. Masquerade was disoriented and lost. He didn't know where to go.

"Masquerade!" Hal-G's voice was loud and harsh, grating at his ears. He covered them in an attempt to block him out, but Hal-G's voice was in his head, as well. "I need you to do something for me."

"Shut up." Masquerade whispered shakily. "Get out of my head."

"What's wrong?" Hal-G melted to the visage of Naga, who was sneering at him. "Little Masquerade can't take it anymore?"

"I said shut up!" The blonde howled, sinking to his knees.

"Tsk, tsk. I thought you were stronger." Hydranoid commented. Then he became Dan. Then Klaus. Then all the people he had manipulated. Masquerade's shoulders trembled as the figures from his past began to verbally assault him.

"Stop." He murmured weakly. "Stop it."

"Masquerade!" The voice that stilled the others was very familiar and effeminate. Masquerade looked up to see Alice in the distance, looking worried as she ran to reach him.

"Alice?"

"Wake up, Masquerade!" She cried. "You can't die on me!"

Die…?

~(EE*33)~

The constant beeping of the heart-rate monitor had long ago become Alice's lifeline. Hearing the beeping reminded her that he was still alive, that he still had a chance. She gently grasped the hand that wasn't wrapped up and pressed it to her forehead.

"I'm sorry…" She sobbed quietly. "I should've believed you. If I hadn't have stormed off…"

"Knock knock." It was Shun, leaning against the door frame. "Hey, Alice. How is he?"

Ever since she had slipped, the gang had been adjusting to the fact that Masquerade was back. Surprisingly, Shun was the first to forgive him, volunteering to sit with him so Alice could have a break.

"Hi, Shun." The girl sighed tiredly. "There's been no change…" The raven-haired boy silently placed a hand on her shoulder.

"He'll pull through. I promise." A small smile graced his lips, instantly causing Alice to feel better.

"Thank you, Shun." She murmured. "That means a lot to me." Shun ruffled her orange hair affectionately.

"I'll sit with him, if you want." He offered.

"Thanks, but I'll be fine, for now." Alice mustered a smile.

"If you say so…" Shun shrugged and headed out of the room, pausing at the door frame. "Call me if anything changes."

"I will." Alice turned back to the motionless boy on the hospital bed, pale and unmoving. "Believe me, I will." The door shut quietly, signaling Shun's departure. The heart monitor still beeped consistently, causing Alice to sigh and gently squeeze Masquerade's hand. "Please wake up." She whispered, receiving the shock of her life when there was a faint squeeze back.

"A…lice…?" The blonde's voice was hoarse as his blue eyes squeezed shut tighter before carefully opening, squinting in the brightness of the room.

"Masquerade!" Her voice was so quiet, but so joyful. Tears trailed down her cheeks in streams. "You're awake!"

"Yeah…" He cleared his throat. "How…long has…it been?"

"It's been almost a week now." Alice sniffed. "The doctors said you might never wake up again. And that scared me." Her dark eyes widened, glimmering with the tears she had yet to let go of.

"Shh…" The blonde mustered enough strength to lift his hand to gently wipe away tears that had just begun to fall. "Don't cry over me; I'm fine." A weak smile was sent her way, causing her to laugh at the irony in his statement.

"Oh, Masquerade." She shook her head in dramatic anguish. "Whatever are we to do with you?"

"Maybe…let me kiss you?" His words, once spoken, hung in the silence that had suddenly developed, Masquerade looking uncomfortable while Alice hid her flaming face.

"D-do…you really m-m-mean that?" She whispered, not meeting her gaze. The bed creaked as Masquerade pulled himself into a sitting position, ignoring Alice's squawk of protest.

"Of course I do." He murmured, stroking her cheek with the backs of his fingers. "I wouldn't have said it if I didn't." His blue eyes showed no signs of malice or deceit. Her breath caught in her throat as he leaned forward and gently pressed his lips to hers, eyes slipping shut. Alice was still before she responded, carefully draping her arms around his neck, moving her lips against his in silent affirmation of his actions.

A loud "Ahem" resounded in the silence, causing the two youths to spring apart, faces red.

"Sorry to interrupt," The nurse began. "But we need to do a check on his condition now that he is awake." She smiled softly, eyes crinkling at the sight of them.

"R-right." Alice stood up, face still red. "O-of course." She slipped out of the room and came face-to-face with Shun, who was in the hall right outside of the room. "Sh-Shun! What're you d-doing here? When d-did you get back?"

"Never left." He shrugged, a teasing grin on his face. "I knew you'd probably forget to call after Masquerade being out this long that I stayed and waited outside the door."

"Shun!" Alice's face turned darker with the realization that the raven-haired ninja was right, that the thought hadn't even crossed her mind. The grin remained on his face, even when Alice smacked him upside the head. "You conniving little brat!"

"You're mad 'cause it's true." He smirked. Alice sighed.

"I know." She admitted. "But I'm not mad at all." She flashed him the first real smile he had seen since the accident. "Embarrassed, yeah. Mad, never."

"Um, excuse me," The nurse called, stepping out of the room. "Mr. Xavier is asking for you, Alice."

"O-oh! Okay." The nurse smiled warmly before heading back to the nurse's station, allowing Shun and Alice to enter the room, where Masquerade lay propped up in his bed.

"Alice, what is he doing here?" Masquerade asked, uncomfortable with Shun's presence in the room, considering what the blonde had done to the Brawlers. Alice shot him a reassuring smile.

"Relax, Masquerade." She murmured, sitting on the edge of the bed while Shun took the chair. "Believe it or not, he watched over you plenty of times when I couldn't."

"She's right, you know." Shun added. Masquerade fell silent, a hesitant look still on his face. Alice gently threaded her fingers through Masquerade's to comfort him. "But I'll leave if you want…"

"No." The response was clear. Masquerade breathed in and out deeply, eyes resting on Shun. "You can stay."

"Okay…" Shun raised his eyebrows and looked at his phone for the time. "Crap!" He muttered. "Sorry, I have to go." He stood up and waved a goodbye to the blonde and the redhead. "Take care, you two." The raven disappeared at a ninja-like speed. Alice laughed and shook her head.

"He never changes." She mused, turning to Masquerade and noticing how tired he looked. "Maybe I should let you sleep…" She moved to get up, but Masquerade gripped her wrist firmly.

"You're definitely staying." A teasing smile lifted the corners of his lips as her pulled her to rest comfortably at his side, a squeak escaping her lips, face red once more.

"Masquerade, stop it!" She whispered.

"But why?" He smirked. "I'm injured; can't I do what I want?"

"You're an idiot."

"But you love me for it." He sighed dramatically, eyes sliding shut.

"Shut up and go to sleep."

"Whatever."

All right, guys! I thank you again for your extreme patience with this lowly author. Here is chapter 4! I think I might do one or two more chapters and an epilogue… Unless you guys want more? *raises an eyebrow* If you do, give me ideas! I'm (sadly) not a mindreader! So please, R&R, leave your ideas, and I'll see you next update!

P.S. I still own nothing. Obviously.

-HeroofTwilight'sgf