This has two so-called 'scenes,' both too short to be a chapter on their own. (Plus, I like cliffhangers.) So excuse the little scene-change, and let me present the seventh chapter…

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Chapter Seven: Obscurities

An unspecific question had nagged at Yuki from the back of her head since Kyo had run out of the examination room. It was something about what Kyo had done, or why, or how he had ended up holding her.

Yuki's face grew hot from just remembering. It had been mortifying enough, fainting in front of the two. She'd had attacks before, but at least during those she had been conscious some of the time, and could remember the choking feeling.

All she could recall now was the gripping fear, and then she saw Kyo's furious expression turning to a strange look of embarrassment and disgust. He'd set her on the table and then left, leaving Yuki to wonder what had happened in the short time she had been unconscious.

From the blood on the edge of Hatori's lips, she could guess, but the why remained unclear.

Now, as she sat in the back of Hatori's car, all she could process was the humiliation of the situation. Because of Kyo's slip—unintended, most likely—Hatori had pressed questions, making her explain how she had become female. But she couldn't explain, which left Hatori in the uncomfortable position of calling in a female doctor to examine her.

It was all completely unneeded; after all was said and done, the two doctors had come up with the conclusion that nothing was physically wrong with her. The inability to walk would wear off in a few hours and was most likely caused by emotional trauma.

Yuki had cut off answering his questions at that point. She had had enough shame put on her for one day. Hatori seemed to understand, and had let her off the hook with a quick, 'Alright; tell me later.'

Actually, Yuki knew he said that only because she insisted on asking him if Kyo truly punched him. Hatori wasn't the type to admit letting his guard down.

"Yuki, we're here."

Yuki's eyes shot open, startled at the closeness of Hatori's voice. He was standing beside the car door, offering a hand to her.

"You fell asleep," he explained. "It's to be expected after a person is put under a great deal of stress."

"Great," Yuki groaned, shoving herself out of the car. Hatori bent to lift her but she pushed him away, using the car's siding for support instead. "At least let me get in the door by myself!"

Considering for a moment, Hatori shrugged, grabbing the shopping bags before starting toward the house. He was a few paces away when he realized that Yuki wasn't following.

She was still against the car, gritting her teeth slightly, her knuckles white from where they clutched the bumper.

"Are you com—"

"I'm trying!" she growled, throwing him a look. "Go inside without me!"

Hatori didn't move an inch.

Yuki closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, willing herself to move. No matter how she concentrated, her legs wouldn't walk.

"Come on," Hatori said after watching her for a minute or two. He went closer, putting all the bags over one arm, picking her up rather roughly with the other. A foot from the door, he set her down again and then knocked.

"Finally!" Shigure said, throwing open the door. "Kyon-chan won't tell me anything!" He stepped aside, letting them through the door.

Hatori set the bags just inside the room, watching Yuki closely. She was stumbling much like a newborn fawn, holding the walls, struggling to keep herself upright.

"Yuki," Shigure said, also noticing.

"I'm tired," she snapped over her shoulder, clawing at the stair railing. "Hatori, can you bring the bags upstairs?"

"Sure—"

"To your room?" Shigure gawked at the other two. "I was under the impression that those were for our lovely flower."

"I'm wrapping them," Yuki snarled, trying to get from the second step to the third.

"Why? Did we miss her birthday?"

"No—it's a thank-you project for school," Hatori answered for her. "He told me about it on the way here. Now, go make yourself useful. Put on some tea—I plan on staying the night."

Shigure muttered something, scuffling into the kitchen while Yuki whispered a quiet "Thank you," to Hatori.

"Don't think you're getting out of explaining it to him later," the doctor answered, grabbing the bags and Yuki's arm, dragging both up to her room. "I'm just concerned for your heath. Your dignity is a wholly other matter."

By the time the car pulled up to the house, Kyo had collapsed on the floor, a pillow over his face. He couldn't stop fidgeting. The knot in his stomach kept him uncomfortable, tightening and tightening, driving him out of his mind. He had tried to keep a clear mind about everything, but for some reason, the only thought his mind could harbor was the split-second image of Yuki falling limply to the side in Hatori's office.

And every time he closed his eyes, it played again. When his eyes were open, he could still hear the quiet, frightened voice telling Hatori to stop. It became a mantra; Stop… stop… stop… stop…

Kyo pushed the pillow against his face, seeing Yuki fall again and again. He felt trapped—and music hadn't helped, either, with keeping her voice away. The louder the stereo was, the louder Yuki was.

Kyo sat up, throwing the pillow at the wall. He could hear a clunking noise on the stairs and sighed. What is that damn writer doing now?

He reached for the door, about to open it when Hatori's voice made his blood run cold. "…wholly other matter," he finished.

"Dignity?"

Kyo's senses heightened at the sound of Yuki's voice. He felt his breathing become shallow and his pulse quicken, his eyes blurring dizzily.

"I can't walk two steps without falling," she continued. Kyo could hear her door open, and her voice fade. "What dignity do I still have?"

Kyo couldn't even process what was happening. His mind was whirring in his ears now and he felt a tremor run though him, sending spikes of pain through his neck. He put a hand on the wall to steady himself, swaying drunkenly. He blinked in an attempt to clear his eyes of the haze, but a fuzzy grey fog was settling across them, driving a skewer of pain into his head.

The thing in his stomach convulsed, making Kyo do the same. He doubled over, mouth open, failing to gasp in breaths and instead letting out a silent cry.

The fog filled him now, turning the room grey. His body felt heavy; he couldn't move it, not even to take himself from the torturing blades that were cutting his head apart.

Kyo felt himself falling blindly and tensed his muscles, going rigid, unconscious before he slammed into the floor.