Wow, I really hate to say this, but this is the last chapter of Break Me Apart, Rebuild Me Again. I just seem to have met the point that I wanted to get to, so I'm going to end it here with this lighter chapter. Just so you're aware, dear reader, this chapter is a bit more suggestive about Daisuke and Dark's relationship, but keep in mind that they are not lovers, just very very close. After being a part of someone for a while, you probably couldn't help it! Anyway, enjoy, and please review one last time for me!


Chapter 9

Daisuke petted the flowing violet hair over his lap, tears still in his eyes. Dark's breathing was strained and soft, his face pained as he slept. The redhead sighed slightly, taking a deep breath to clear his eyes of tears. He was sitting on Dark's bed, the thief's head in his lap while he slept. Dark had been exhausted, and Sara had told him to sleep as soon as Daisuke had told her that he had 'woken.'

Even though Dark hadn't technically been awake for months, he hadn't truly slept in all that time, and needed the emotional and physical break. After he had slept for a while, Sara had told Daisuke that she would come back with some soup; something easy that Dark would be able to keep down.

Dark hadn't really spoken much after waking; he had been too out of it. Daisuke's name was about the only thing that escaped his lips, and his hands had been weakly scrabbling for the boy's, desperate for the contact that he had been deprived of for almost a year.

Sara came into the room at that moment, carrying a steaming bowl. "How's he doing Daisuke?"

"Still sleeping, but his breathing seems to be getting worse. Is there anything we can do for that? It's so hard for him to breathe, I hate listening to it…" Daisuke murmured, shaking Dark's shoulder gently.

The thief's eyes fluttered open, dull and a little confused, but alive for the first time in months. It made Daisuke smile just looking into those violet orbs. "Daisuke…"

Daisuke smiled. "Hungry, Dark? Sara's brought some soup for you."

Dark nodded, and Daisuke helped him to sit up when the thief failed to do so on his own, his limbs too weak to support him. After leaning Dark against his chest, Daisuke held the soup in front of him, raising the spoon to Dark's lips. The thief drank the soup slowly, pausing often to breathe for a moment.

"I think I can get some asthma medication, but until he's well again I'm a little afraid to give him too many medications. We'll wait till he puts on a little more weight, and then I'll start him on basic asthma meds, as well as an inhaler." Sara said, watching Dark eat.

Daisuke smiled. "Thanks Sara, we appreciate it a lot."

The bowl of soup was finished in about 15 minutes, Dark having to pause for breaths as well as to keep his stomach settled. Even though Daisuke had been feeding him for the past few months, he hadn't voluntarily taken it in, and so his stomach was protesting now.

Daisuke handed the bowl off to Sara as the woman took a step forward, and Dark leaned back against his chest, resting his head against Daisuke's shoulder. The redhead frowned, reaching up to touch the thief's hair gently. "Dark? Are you alright?"

"Daisuke…" Dark whispered. "Daisuke…"

Daisuke frowned. "Please Dark, you're worrying me. What's wrong?"

"You… you found me… I didn't think you would ever find me…" Dark murmured, and Daisuke could hear tears in his voice.

Daisuke sighed, wrapping his arms around the thin body resting against his. "Easy Dark, I'm here now… I never stopped searching for you. I knew you would come back to me, as long as I kept looking for you."

Daisuke knew well that Dark was talking about the time he had been trapped within his mind, that he had been lost in that darkness, that depression, waiting for Daisuke to find him and bring him out again.

"I was so scared…" This time there were tears streaming down Dark's sunken cheeks, soaking his hair and shirt. "I was so alone… And that man was there… so much pain… He… he kept trying to kill me Daisuke…"

Daisuke rocked the thief slowly. "I know Dark… But it's okay, you're safe now, and I've got you. I'm never going to let anyone hurt you again, and that's a promise. I'll never let anyone take you away from me."

Dark put his cheek against his other half's neck, feeling safe for the first time in about a year. "Thank you…"

Sara smiled, moving to slip from the room and go tell Daisuke's family the good news, that Dark was awake and aware, and that he was on his way to recovery.

There was silence for a moment, and then Dark spoke again, his voice soft and wavering. "I… I love you Daisuke."

"I love you too Dark. You and I are one, we always will be, no matter if we are separate. Nothing can change this bond that we have, and I never want to lose you again." Daisuke stroked the thief's hair, and Dark slowly fell asleep, into a deep, true sleep that started him on the road to healing.


"Come on Dark, you're doing great!" Daisuke encouraged, holding out his arms for the thief tottering in front of him. Dark bit his lip, struggling to stay on legs that were still weak from his long period of bed rest.

Dark let out a sharp cry as his knees gave out on him, but Daisuke was there to catch him, hoisting him into his arms. Dark pouted, crossing his arms. "Man, I almost had it this time!"

Daisuke laughed, setting Dark down on the couch. "Oh come on, be positive for once! You're doing wonderfully according to Sara, she says that you are making very excellent progress, and all you keep doing is looking at the bad side of things!"

Dark glared at his other half, but there was a smile tugging at his lips. "I just want to be able to walk again, leave me alone."

Emiko laughed as she walked by. "You two, fighting just like brothers."

Daisuke grinned at his mother. "Well technically we're allowed to fight like that; we were part of each other for a long time."

The woman shrugged. "Yes, I suppose you're right. Now, are you boys hungry? I just finished dinner!"

Dark nodded happily. His appetite had returned with a raging power not long after his awakening, and he was already approaching the weight that he was supposed to be only two months after the whole incident was over. Sara had given him a few drugs to help him gain the weight because he had needed it so badly.

Dark had been so malnourished that for the longest time he had been unable to stand, breathe correctly, or really stay awake for long periods of time. Sara had started to grow worried, and had given him a few medications to help him put on weight, and they had helped immensely. Dark had been taken off of them not long ago, and been put on a healthy diet that had been issued to the entire family, making them all much healthier.

Dark put up a hand to reject Daisuke's help when he offered it, pushing himself to his feet on his own. "I can do it."

Daisuke walked behind him just in case he fell, his arms stretched out on instinct. Dark made it to about the kitchen before his breathing became a little shorter, and Daisuke examined the skin right around Dark's neck, seeing it sink in with each breath. The redhead swore, calling for his mother.

Emiko didn't even need to ask, she came running in with Dark's inhaler a moment later. Dark tried to push her off, but a stern look from Daisuke made him quit. Emiko helped him breathe in the medicine, and after a moment his breathing had calmed again.

Daisuke sighed. "What have I told you Dark? You need to stop pushing yourself, you keep triggering asthma attacks."

Dark sighed, but nodded. "Sorry Daisuke. I just want to be well again."

Emiko shook her head. "Sometimes I wonder about you Dark. You can't get well again if you keep doing this. It's not good for your lungs or your body."

Dark nodded. "I know. Sorry."

Emiko sighed, and then grinned. "Enough of that. Let's eat something, the food going to get cold."

Daisuke grinned, reaching out to hold Dark's hand, giving him support as well as comfort. Dark tangled his fingers with the boy's, a smile coming to his face. Daisuke turned to look at him, and the look in Dark's eyes was plain and easy to read.

'Thank you…'


Yup, that's all folks. I would like to thank all the people who stuck it out with me and kept reviewing, even after my whole incident with Sakura. Thank you all, I love you! -gives out strawberry pocky and Dark and/or Daisuke plushies- Thanks again!