Disclaimer: Nu-uh. It's Hisaya Nakajo's. But I do own the ideas for the stories I post! Somehow, that doesn't help.

Once again, I thank Gin-Ryuko and sanja for their heart-felf reviews, they make me smile. If I didn't stress how much they meant to me in the last chapter. And when you smile, the whole world smiles with you. :D

Ch. 11: Compassion

"… We can expect a clear in the bad weather with sunny skies for the next few days, folks. Temperatures will be at a high of 75, with lows at a mere 60…"

The sound of the radio woke Umeda from his nightmarish dream. He turned, hitting the snooze button and allowing his eyes to adjust to the sunlight pouring in through his window.

"What happened last nigh—" Umeda paused mid-sentence, fingering an Ace bandage wrapped firmly around his neck. It felt like a collar. Uhg. "RYOICHI!" he screamed suddenly, coming to his senses and knowing his dream had been a reality. He tried to— Umeda shuddered. Kill me. His head dropped back against his pillow. But someone had saved him, he recalled vaguely. And now he was safe at home on this lovely Thursday morning… "DAMMIT! I have work!" the doctor leapt out of bed and stumbled dizzily. "Ok. Food first."

An hour later, the doctor sat in his office, checking to make sure his black turtleneck covered his bandaged neck. It was too hot to be dressing like this, but he would worry about that later when he could go to Ichijo-kun for answers. The lacerations on his neck stung and burned, but he ignored them, occupying himself with staying hydrated. He lifted his head as a familiar scream broke his train of thought.

"AAAHHH!! DOCTOR!"

"Ah, Mizuki-chan." He sighed. She burst in, still jumping up and down from some embarrassment.

"Ah! Doctor! Oh, Umeda, it was horrible! Sano! He almost saw my vest! If he found out, what would I do?" (A/N: He didn't actually see, sooo… where's her point?)

She paused. "You look terrible." She added as an afterthought.

"Gee, thanks."

"No, I mean you look sick. You're pale and aren't you hot in that?"

He shook his head. "So… what's the story, Wishbone? I could use a good laugh."

Reluctantly, uncertainly, she took a seat.

XP XP XP XP XP XP XP XP XP XP XP XP XP XP XP XP XP XP XP XP XP XP XP XP XP XP

The pain in his neck only grew worse as the day progressed. And after time, it became unbearable. The doctor tried taking some simple painkillers, but they didn't work. By now, the feverish feeling spread form his neck to his whole body. He shrugged off his doctor's coat, not daring to take off the sweater and reveal the Ace bandage wrapped around his wounds. The dizzying heat he would deal with.

Finally, it was time to go home. As Umeda closed the health office door, a strong pair of arms grabbed him from behind.

"Umeda-senpai!"

"Ah! Sexual predator alert! Sexual predator alert! Get off, you overgrown gorilla!"

Akiha released his grip to cup Umeda's face in his hands. His smile disappeared.

"I see." He said softly.

"See what?" Umeda demanded, irritably.

"Mizuki-chan told me you weren't feeling well. You look terrible and you're burning up."

"Thanks for the diagnosis, Doctor Pain-in-the-Ass."

Unfortunately, Akiha wasn't going to be cast aside that easily. Oh, no! It'd take better verbal (or preferably if it was Umeda, physical) abuse to do that!

"Why don't I drive you home?"

"Why don't you burn in Hell? I take the train."

"Why pay money? Besides, it's faster and you don't look well at all. Let me drive you, senpai, love."

"Don't. Call. Me. That." He growled with all the strength he still had.

Akiha sighed as his stubborn upperclassman stalked out of the building and into the courtyards to get off school grounds.

"W—wait!" the photographer cried.

"Screw you!" came a delayed, weak response.

Despite Umeda's burning anger, his fever was climbing higher, his pulse was throbbing in his neck, and blanking out for a second, he swooned. The blond saw this though he corrected himself instantly.

"Senpai! What's wrong?" he demanded, rushing over. The smaller man sat down on one of the benches, eyes distant.

"Go away." He said, as more of a reaction than a demand.

"No. I can see you're really sick. Should I drive you to a hospital?"

NO! His neck! If anyone learned Ryoichi's secret… With a burst of strength, Umeda grabbed the lapels of Akiha's jacket and pulled their faces close together.

"Listen, you," he hissed threateningly, "no matter WHAT the hell happens, don't you DARE take me to a hospital. Don't dare tell anyone about this or so help me, Hara, I will make you pay in the worst conceivable way possible. Got it?"

Akiha's chocolate-brown eyes widened in fear and disbelief. "Y—yes. But why?"

"That's none of your goddamn business."

"Ok." He whispered.

"G—good." He muttered as his head fell against Akiha's shoulders. Instinctively, he held the redhead tight.

"N—no. Let…go……of m—m-mmm." He tried to protest but could only sink further into the blond and fall into a deep sleep filled with unpleasant dreams.

XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD XD

Ryoichi must be carrying him; that much was obvious. He felt warm, safe arms holding him. But wait… Ryoichi's body was like cool stone. There was nothing warm about him. It felt like his entire body was on fire. Ryoichi simply must be biting him, because his neck was burning painfully. He tried to pull away; to escape the pain, but his body was too weak. He felt like he was in an oven. Everything stopped making sense.

"Ryoichi?" he whispered weakly. He opened his eyes. There was bright sunlight washing in through picture windows above him. He was in someone's bright, airy house… but whose? He shifted to face Akiha, head tilted, fast asleep in a chair beside him. Wait—sleeping Akiha-- pillow beneath his head—bed! Umeda lunged forward and gasped. No! No, no, no, no, no, no!

Akiha stirred, his sandy lashes parting to reveal his vivid, chestnut eyes. He smiled sadly.

"Relax, Umeda-senpai. It's not like that."

Umeda sat back down. Clearly, this was a couch, not a bed. "Then what the hell am I doing here?" he cried.

Akiha yawned. "I promised not to take you to a hospital. You made me, don't you remember? Oh, but Umeda-senpai… I really was considering it. You looked horrible. You were burning up—I—I thought I might lose you." The exhaust in the young photographer's face clarified he was telling the truth. He continued, "I carried you to my car and drove you home. Well—my home. You were drifting in and out of consciousness and I'm not completely sure where you live. I stayed up with you all night, trying to bring your fever down. You were dreaming, I could tell. You kept murmuring Kijima-senpai's name."

"…Oh." Even Umeda felt some remorse for the look of misery in Akiha's eyes as he mentioned the last part. Maybe the defeat meant he finally understood Umeda's lack of interest in him and his dedication to Ryoichi. Umeda's neck was still burning. He rubbed it, hoping to ease the pain when he realized his bandage was loosened.

"You took this off!" he accused, his voice rising in anger.

"No, Senpai! I wouldn't! Not after that time I asked about your neck… I loosened it and washed your neck with a cool cloth without looking under them. You were bleeding." In his voice, Umeda could hear the inquiry in the statement.

"That's none of you're business." He replied.

"Oh. I understand."

Yeah, right. Umeda lay back down. He still felt a little lightheaded. And the burning in his neck was getting worse. "Do you still have that cloth?" he asked. Akiha nodded. He hurried out of the room and returned seconds later with a cloth soaked in ice-cold water. He wasn't smiling anymore, the gravity of the situation had sunk in and he realized how hopeless his cause was. Umeda reached to take the cloth, but Akiha pulled back.

"Please, Senpai…can I… one last time?" his voice was so soft, so… little.

"You know what? Fine." Umeda tilted his head back and closed his eyes, allowing Akiha to dab the damp cloth along his forehead, cheeks, and neck. He went to pull away, but Umeda reached to Akiha's hand, gently pressing it back against his neck. Akiha's eyes widened at his touch.

"Relax, Akiha." The doctor murmured. Akiha nodded and smiled gently.

"Right. You try to get some sleep, Umeda-senpai." Softly, he began to hum a tune. It sounded like… Pachebel's Canon. Umeda drifted back to sleep, listening to the pleasant sound.

XD XP XD XP XD XP XD XP XD XP XD XP XD XP XD XP XD XP XD XP XD XP XD XP

When Umeda awoke a second time, Akiha wasn't there. He rose carefully, but felt much stronger. "Ok." He muttered to himself, taking a step. He entered the kitchen, the next closest room and found Akiha slumped forward at his table, fast asleep. There was a mug of coffee next to him, which Umeda took a sip of—and nearly gagged.

"Damn… want some coffee with your creamer?" he whispered in disgust.

"Umeda-senpai?" he whispered. "Are you awake?"

"Are you asleep?"

Akiha' s eyes flew open. "Oh, Umeda-senpai! You're awake, thank goodness!" he chimed, glomping his upperclassman. "And your fever is down." He added.

"Great. Now GET OFF!"

Naturally, since Umeda could now stand on his own two feet, he had lost his handicap and was promptly ignored.

For once, the doctor merely stood there, feeling the warmth from Akiha's body radiate into his own.

"Look," he finally said awkwardly, "I guess I owe you one, Ok? Thanks for helping me and not telling anyone."

Akiha peeped up, looking like a happy, praised child. "Of course, doctor! I would never betray you. You are my true love, after all."

Umeda glared. "Ok. Now, don't' be stupid."

"Stupid?" cried the blond, "But I'm telling you the truth."

"No, you're living a fantasy. Akiha Hara, you divorced your wife at a young age, and you're looking for love. You do not love me."

The photographer met his gaze head on, matching in intensity. "You're just upset because you'd rather beg at Kijima-senpai's feet than listen to me (or even acknowledge my existence). But don't ever doubt: I love you—"

SLAP!

Akiha was cut off from the last word as Umeda brought his palm across his face.

"Shut up, Akiha! You're an idiot! And don't you dare bring Ryoichi into this! He loves me! You have no idea what life is like for him! "

Akiha was slow to recover. He couldn't meet Umeda's gaze now, and his cheek was beginning to swell.

"Doctor… is Kijima-senpai… a…vampire?" he asked timidly.

Umeda gaped. "How did you…? Yeah."

"Oh." Akiha looked like he wanted to leave, but it was his own house. Instead, he continued. "You know what makes a truly gifted photographer? When I take pictures, whether it's endorsing clothing, people, or cars, I try to look into someone's soul. I bring out everything I see. People subconsciously… let their guards down around me. Even you, Umeda-senpai. You cling to Ryoichi… but he doesn't love you, does he? Because you also… fear him. Anyway, you can leave now," he changed the subject, "you must be dehydrated from loss of blood." He left the room quickly, leaving Umeda with his mouth hanging open in shock.

Ooh, another favorite chapter of mine. Maybe a bit over-dramatic, but it makes it fun, right? If there are any Ouran High School Host Club fans out there, I got the 'sexual predator alert!' thing Umeda says from Ouran Abridged on YouTube. Watch it, it's weird but funny. Pachabel's Canon, AKA Christmas Canon is one of my favorite classical pieces. Review, my friends, or Ryoichi will eat you on the next full moon. :D Ha ha ha!