My beloved reviewers! Thank you for all the cyber chocolate and reviews you sent, as well as being cyber overweight I was joyfully inspired! At last, here it is, the final chapter! Enjoy!

CHAPTER 6 – THE LAST DELUSION

The light burnt Rikuo's eyes as they soared through the strange fire that had surrounded Kazahaya. The smaller teen had had at long last been released from his pain and had passed out, now looking perfectly peaceful. Rikuo rather resented him for that. What in hell had made him kiss him? Now things would be awkward and Kazahaya would probably ask questions or get jumpy around him and… and now he had tasted him, now he knew how those soft lips felt, knew what it was to become utterly lost in a pleasure he had craved far more than chocolate, now he knew what it was to feel that heartbeat pounding beneath him, that slim frame trembling... having given in and taken these things, would he be able to stop himself taking them again?

For how long would Rikuo be able to live with Kazahaya, knowing there was always the possibility that this carnal instinct might take him over at any minute? But back in Kazahaya's room, as he had pressed him down, tangled in his t-shirt on the bed and touched that deliciously soft, creamy skin… At that time Kazahaya hadn't resisted, he hadn't struggled. He had lain still, eyes wide and unsure, but not hostile.

Running a hand through his dark hair, Rikuo closed his eyes against the light and allowed himself a deep sigh.

"Dammit. He's going to realise before long, even he's not that dense."

"No. he's not."

Opening his eyes sharply Rikuo found himself lying on a sofa opposite Kazahaya, his hand entwined in his, the splinter of wood pressing harshly into his bruised flesh. The anxious but smiling faces of Kakei and Saiga were bent over him and as Kakei eased his stiff and aching hand out of Kazahaya's, Rikuo breathed a sigh of relief.

"Will he be okay?"

"He just needs plenty of rest."

Saiga grinned down at him and Rikuo nodded before passing out himself from mental and physical exhaustion.

XXX

Rikuo opened his eyes again and found himself staring at a familiar ceiling. Shifting slightly he realised he was back in his own bed. There was a smell of butter and eggs drifting under the door. Kazahaya was cooking. Kazahaya. Suddenly sitting up he ignored the dizziness that threatened to topple him, threw back the covers and strode to the kitchen. There stood Kazahaya, his hand free of its cast, cheerfully cooking breakfast, humming tunelessly. Gathering up a plate he turned, oblivious to Rikuo's presence until the last minute.

"ARGH! Rikuo! Don't do that!" Eggs tumbled onto the floor, unnoticed by the chef. His shock was replaced by an awkward smile, accompanied by an equally embarrassed, "Hi."

"Are you alright?"

"Yes."

"Thank God." Rikuo slumped to the floor and buried his face in his hands.

"Ah, um, I made breakfast."

Rikuo tried not to glance at the eggs cooling on the floor and settled at the table opposite his roommate. They ate in silence and carefully looked at other things; Kazahaya seemed very interested in his eggs and Rikuo frowned down at his own. Once the short meal was over Rikuo went to shower, his head buzzing. This felt strange, so surreal. Were they still trapped in Kazahaya's mind? Was this another memory? But Rikuo didn't remember this and Kazahaya's hand was slightly scarred and very pale as a result of spending weeks in a cast.

This was going to be difficult. How was Kazahaya feeling? Did he still hate him? Had he forgiven him? Had he already realised? Did he understand? Pulling on a pair of clean jeans and t-shirt Rikuo made his way back out to the living room, towelling his hair dry.

Kazahaya was sitting cross legged on the floor and looked up as he heard the telltale door creak as his partner entered room. His face was set determinedly in a manner that suggested whatever he was going to say next had better be agreed with or much yelling would ensue.

"Rikuo, Kakei-san said we should... we should talk. About what happened."

Silently Rikuo joined his roommate on the floor, his green eyes boring into Kazahaya's, his anxiety making him moody and his habitual frown well settled into place. Kazahaya did his best to explain.

"Right. Well, um. The wood from the doll went into my hand when you broke it-"

"I apologised."

"I know! Don't interrupt! Anyway, the woman, memory, thing, Kakei-san said she was some kind of spirit, trapped me in my head and took over my mind. She wanted to kill me so that she could take over my body but Kakei-san said he didn't realise that until I came back after I ran away. So he sent you in to fetch me but I... I didn't trust you anymore, because, because one minute you're always there, whenever I'm stupid or in trouble, and then you hurt me and acted like I'd driven you to it and I thought that you really didn't care and that I was just a nuisance and that was why I'd left. And even though you came to get me, you just behaved as if the whole thing was another side job we'd been sent on and-"

"Alright, alright, stop rambling. So, how come we're out now? What did we do? I thought you were going to die at one point."

"I, ah, realised something and the memory couldn't use my fears or doubt to control me anymore so she just... left."

Oh, crap.

"And that's it?"

"Yeah. Pretty much." Kazahaya rose hurriedly and headed towards his room. Leaving Rikuo sitting there, feeling rather annoyed.

"Hey, where are you going?"

"Kakei-san's given us the week off to recover and Saiga-san's covering for us so I'm going for a walk. See you!"

Kazahaya grabbed his coat and scarf and headed for the door, pulling them on as quickly as he could but putting his arm in the wrong sleeve in his haste. Rikuo scowled. He's be damned if he was just going to let it go like this. He surged up and marched towards his partner, analysing the panicked look, almost rolling his eyes at Kazahaya's inability to subtly conceal his discomfort.

"Well, I'll be back soo-" His words were cut short as Rikuo pulled him back, shut the door and pinned him to it. The scarf and the coat slithered from his grasp and dropped to the floor and a pink faced Kazahaya glared up at his partner with all the fire he had. The fire vanished when Rikuo leaned down and whispered in his ear.

"That wasn't a proper explanation."

"Ah... oh. It... it wasn't?"

He was trembling. This was better, this was a familiar situation. Rikuo smirked and leaned down again to whisper, "Why don't you tell me what it was you realised?"

"Oh, it was nothing really… just that, I, ah..."

He was trembling, fingers tightening on Rikuo's arms where he'd grasped him in an effort to heave the bigger teen off. But Rikuo's face was so close and his gaze was so intense... it was impossible to think straight. Rikuo read those heated, hazy eyes in an instant and once again watched them close in silent bliss as he silenced the stuttering teen the best way he could think of. His mouth moved slowly over Kazahaya's, and almost grinned when he received a tentative response. The hotness within surged up, the desire to possess, to own and to ravish him senseless rose hot and strong. Feeling unsure fingers tangling in his hair, Rikuo kissed him harder until Kazahaya was breathless and clutching him, dizzy with need for air and flushed with desire.

Rikuo smirked down at him. "Did I explain it better?"

Kazahaya looked mildly annoyed and then his expression changed to a mischievous grin of his own.

"No, I still think I can explain it better." And much to Rikuo's surprise, Kazahaya kissed him, knocking him over backwards so that Rikuo lay on the floor with a very flushed and desirable looking Kazahaya on top of him.

"Oi!" Rikuo exclaimed, annoyed at this turn of events. He rolled over, pulling Kazahaya under him. "That's better."

"Hey, how come you get to be on top?"

Rikuo grinned down at him. "Because." He kissed him again and Kazahaya decided he really didn't have much reason to protest.

XXX

Several floors below, Saiga lay with his head in Kakei's , enjoying the feel of his lover caressing his hair.

They both looked drained, neither having had much sleep since their spazziest employee had vanished.

"It looks like they're going to be alright." Saiga's voice was not as heavy as it had been.

"Yes."

"The kid got beaten up pretty badly while he was lost, though he says he doesn't remember how it happened."

"My guess is that while he was hovering between this world and the other, his dreams seemed so real that his body reacted as it would in reality. I blame myself, I should have recognised that spirit for what it was."

"She was powerful and they beat her in the end. Besides, it's settled a lot of his fears too."

Kakei sighed. "Yes, he'll be alright. And I think that Rikuo will start to heal too, now that he's not battling inner demons regarding Kudo-kun anymore."

"Do you think we'll ever be able to find Tsusiko for him?"

"We shall have to see. But for now, it's enough that they know they have each other."

Above them Rikuo and Kazahaya lay sleeping, tangled within each other's arms, Kazahaya's face pressed against the warmth of Rikuo's chest through his t-shirt. Somewhere deep within Rikuo's dream, the guilt stirred and the sound of bloodied bones snapping and a shrill scream startled him into wakefulness. Shaking, he glanced down at the sleeping teen beside him, soft hair tousled on the pillow, features calm. He entwined a finger in Kazahaya's green cotton t-shirt and his eyes closed again. The guilt and the memories might take a lifetime to erase but, for now, just to have him here beside him, it was enough.

XXX

You know that I care what happens to you
And I know that you care for me
So I don't feel alone...
Or the weight of the stone.

And that's the end. A huge thank you to my beta, Katca Mcadar, and to all of my lovely reviewers. Thanks again for reading and please tell me your thoughts!