SlippingSanity : Hello all readers and reviewers! Sorry this took so long, but I was debating on which type of ending I should make it. I still can't decide, so here's the deal. I'm writing two different types of endings, a sad one and a happy one. (That way people won't have to say "Oh my God! You killed Jaden!" "You bastard!") The choice of endings is yours to choose from, okay? The happy ending will be up soon, unless you like this ending here.

Disclaimer : I do not own...

Chapter 12 : Whom It Is You Love (Sad)

It's been a day, give or take a few hours, since they saved me...and since Jaden's been in the hospital. It's not looking good for him either. It turns out the wound was deeper than predicted, and alot of blood had seeped from him. I can still see his red blood stain my hands, and the blood that marked the trail I walked on as I followed Zane, who was carrying Jaden towards the police. I shake my head, clearing my thoughts on the crimson liquid.

"Jaden?" I whisper to him from my seat near his bed.

He doesn't respond, though I really wish he would. He would wake up. He could tell me how he's feeling, about how it felt to be sliced by cold metal, and laugh it all off, saying "Hey, I'm still alive, aren't I?", or something to that extent.

But he's not responding, and he's not gonna wake up like magic.

It's just that I really don't like how Jaden looks now. He fainted from the blood loss, and now he's unconscious from the anesthesia they gave him before they operated to close the wound. His chest is covered with bloodstained white bandages, the outline of a row of sutras raising the wrapping slightly, creating a slightly odd line.

I raise a hand, clenching one of Jaden's tightly, biting my bottom lip so as not to sob. Jaden's skin was so cold and moist, and so pale. He looks like a maniquin or a doll or something. Jaden just doesn't look real at all. And his skin, I feel as though I'm about to throw up. It's so slick and cold!

'It-it's frightning,' I yell in my mind, clenching Jaden's hand tighter, a sob escaping, 'Seeing him like this...I-I can't! It's too hard!'

Maybe I'd just go to my brother's room. Zane was in there, comforting Alexis because she couldn't stand to see Jaden like this. Chumley had left to, claiming that he needed some air, even though I could tell he couldn't take it either. Bastion and Chazz had come to see Jaden, but left to get me some food when they saw my appearence. Maybe I should go to the cafeteria and eat, or something?

I shake his head from side to side, willing away all thoughts about leaving. Jaden would stick with me if the roles were switched! Jaden was just that kind of person. He'd stick with you through thick and thin, and now was my turn to be there for him.

I hold one of Jaden's pale hands in both of mine, lacing the fifteen fingers together. My hands seem to close in prayer while Jadens' cold fingers seem to loosly grasp the air.

'It's my turn to be strong. For the both of us.'

"Jaden," I speak to him, closing my eyes, feeling the tears form at the corners of my eyes, feeling my stomach turn from the feel of Jaden's cold, clammy hand. It felt like he'd been in a frozen, as he held tightly onto an object, and being removed from the freezer before the sweat from holding the object could freeze. "I'm here for you. I'll be right here when you wake up, okay?"

It's silent for a heavy minute, the heart monitor beeping the only audible sound to the human ear. Unspoken words drifted around the room, filling every crack of the room. Silent, unspoken pleas were shouted, prayers for Jaden to return to good health and soon echoed all around to two in the clean, white room.

My eyes landed on Jaden. His skin was fair, the aura around him used to be filled with some type of magic that prevented anyone near him to feel down. Now, however, his skin tone could give a snowflake competition, and the aura around him weighed heavily of de--

"No!" I yell at myself, squeezing harder on Jaden's hand, "He'll be fine! He's gonna live! I know he is," my voice drops. I lie my head down on his arm, willing some of my body heat to flow into Jaden and somehow revive him. "I know he's gonna live."

I crawl into his hospital bed with him, feeling the cool of his pale skin, watching as his chest slowly rose and fell with his breathing. I shift and look into Jaden's face. Scary how he looks so peaceful. A sick, morbid peaceful expression. I-I hated it! How could he look so peaceful? How dare he? Does he not realize how deadly pale he looks? How sad it is to see him in such a state? Doesn't he realize that? No! He just sleeps, unaware of everything everyone else is feeling!

...maybe this wasn't the Jaden I knew. Yes! Of course! He wasn't my Jaden! The Jaden I knew would scare me nor his friends nor anybody else like this! The Jaden I knew would sit up in bed, smile, and walk out this hospital bed as though nothing happened!

I glared at the boy in bed. He wasn't Jaden; He was some imposter, a person in disguise or something! Or perhaps this was some candid camera show on television that had come to the island, and I was the one unlucky enough to get picked on. Yes, that was it.

"Jokes over," I found myself saying, snatching my hand way, though never rising from the bed "You can get up now. I know you're not Jaden."

Nothing happened. No smile crossed on Jadens' lips. No camera crew or director walked out from hidden places in the hospital room, saying "That's a wrap!" and thanking me for participating in some crackpot prank. No, nothing happened. Jaden still lied in the hospital bed, wires on him, his eyes still closed. No one popped out of unexpected places. It was just...quiet.

I sighed, slightly flushed, embarassed with myself. Guilt weighed heavily down on me, crushing me for my words and thoughts.

"I shouldn't have said that. I mean- you are Jaden." Yes, this was my Jaden. This was the Jaden I knew. The one lying here next to me, practically on his death bed, was -indeed- my best friend...and the one I love.

I huddled closed to Jaden, wrapping my arms around him, careful to avoid putting alot of pressure on the wound and the sutras.

"I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For--"

(End Syrus P.O.V.)

Gray eyes stared at the wall before them in shock. Was that really-? Did he really hear-?

Syrus slowly shifted in the space available on the bed, hesitantly craning his neck towards Jaden's face. A cry of happiness got caught in Syrus' throat when his gray orbs met chocolate brown.

"What are you apologizing for?" Jaden spoke, though his voice was cracked with dryness, a smile on his lips exposing his top row and part of the bottom row of his teeth.

Tears of happiness and relief spilled rapidly out of the corners of Syrus' eyes, his hands covering his mouth in shock. Butterflies filled his stomach and fluttered about rapidly. Syrus' body trembled as he laid paralized with joy.

"J-Jaden?" Syrus choked out, one hand slowly removing itself from Syrus and gently onto the others face, "A-Are you-?"

"Am I what?" Jaden spoke, his voice a little less cracked.

"Y-You are!" Syrus cryed, wrapping his arms around Jadens chest, burying his face in the taller boy neck, wetting his skin with hot tears.

"Jaden I-I was so-so--" Syrus tried but couldn't finish, continuing to choke on sobs.

Jaden smiled at the other boy, turning on his side, pulling Syrus as close to him as possible, patting him softly on the head. Screw the wound, it could always be closed again later. This moment was all about Syrus. Syrus was the most important above everything.

"Jaden," Syrus whispered, looking up into Jaden's eyes. "I was...I was so scared."

"Why? You know me! I'll always make it through!" Jaden smiled, looking Syrus in the eyes, their faces barely inches apart.

"Yeah," Syrus smiled, though tears still fell down his cheeks. A yawn escaped Syrus' mouth.

"You're tired?"

"Well, I haven't been sleeping all that well these past days, and since you were...well..."

"You mean you stayed up the entire time?" Jaden asked, his eyebrows reising in shock.

Syrus nodded.

"Well then go to sleep." Jaden replied.

"But--"

Jaden placed his index and middle finger over Syrus' lips, whispering for the other to sleep. Syrus didn't really want to. He wanted to stay awake, but his body didn't seem to want to follow through with his wants. Slowly Syrus' eyelids met and sleep began to claim him. Syrus buried his head in Jaden's pillow.

"Jaden," Syrus whispered, his mind almost completely gone into the hands of sleep, "I love you."

The brunette's eyes opened wide at the others words. Syrus loved him? The thought kept Jaden awake long after Syrus was asleep.

'Syrus loves me?' He repeated for more than the millionth time in his mind, watching the others long lashes and parted lips, listening to the bluenettes rhymic breathing. Happiness filled the dark room, the emotion hanging in the air from Syrus' words and from the emotions from his friends when they had come to visit him. They hadn't stayed long, but they had expressed their joy for Jaden being awake.

A tear fell down Jaden's cheek as he recalled his friends and their words. Jaden hadn't said anything, but he had a bad feeling, and he still hurt on the inside. As horrifying as it was to think it into words, Jaden knew something was wrong...and that he was going to die.

Jaden hiccoughed softly, tears twinkling down his eyes, glittering in the moonlight from the window. He turned towards Syrus and wrapped his arms around the other boy, pulling him closely, basking in the warmth radiating off of the other.

"Syrus..." Jaden cried in a soft whisper.

He slowly moved his hands upwards, softly cupping Syrus' cheeks in his palms. Syrus' eyelids fluttered open partway, half of him awake, half of him asleep.

"Jaden? Wha-?"

"I love you too."

Jaden covered Syrus' lips with his own, savoring the gentle feeling of Syrus' warm lips against his own. He pulled Syrus' body closer into his chest with one arm, the hand of his other arm running through the light blue strands of Syrus' hair.

Jaden pulled away abruptly, covering his mouth with his right hand, deep hacking and coughing echoing. Syrus gently patted Jaden on the back as the other boy coughed, his face full of worry. Jaden soon breathed easier, the coughing stopping, though his breath was comming in as wheezes.

"Jaden, are you okay?"

Said boy didn't reply instantly. He held out his hand, the hand cupped as though something were inside of it. Slowly, Syrus brought his gray eyes to Jaden's palm.

'Blood?' His mind identified the liquid even in the darkness. Through his mouth Syrus inhaled sharply, panic flowing through him as Jaden went into a fit of coughs once again.

Syrus looked around the dark room, a small red light catching his eye. He picked up the item emiting the red dot, grasping it tightly in his palm. He slid his thumb on top of the button. Just a press and a nurse would come for Jaden. However, Syrus' hand was grasped by two foreign, trembling hands. Syrus met Jaden's eyes, a look on his face both asking what Jaden was doing and telling him to let go. Jaden shook his head in objection.

"What are you doing?" Syrus cried frantically, trying to remove Jaden's hand from his own so he could call for help.

Jaden fell against Syrus, his head burried in the nape of Syrus' neck, his hands still preventing Syrus from pressing down on the call button.

"You know what's about to happen Sy," Jaden breathed lowly, inhaling deeply.

Jaden could feel Syrus trembling. He knew, even without looking, the other was crying.

"T-Then why won't you let me call?" Syrus cried, his breathing hitching somewhat as he spoke. "Why won't you let me get you help?"

"Because," Jaden wheezed, wrapping one arm around Syrus, the other holding Syrus's hand down, easily weighing down on Syrus' desperate attempts to press the red button. "I don't--" Jaden coughed a little, blood falling between his lips, before continuing, "It's just a feeling, but I..." Jaden paused, "I know I won't make it."

Syrus didn't reply, sobs forcing their way past the hollow ball in his throat that prevented him from speaking. Syrus wanted to yell at Jaden, to tell him that what he felt was wrong, and that he would live.

'Feelings aren't always right,' Syrus thought, hot tears sliding down his cheeks, 'Feelings aren't always right...except if those feelings belong to Jaden.' As was something Syrus knew very well.

"Why...why can't you ever be wrong?" Syrus whispered in a desperate whimper, his voice cracked. His face felt hot, the tears sliding down feeling like lava. "Why do you have to be right?"

The brunette didn't reply.

"Jaden?" asked, fearful the other was already dead.

"Syrus," Jaden spoke, rising off of said boy's shoulder.

He placed a kiss on Syrus' lips, the other boy returning it. Syrus let go of the call button and wrapped his arms tightly around Jaden's shoulders. Jaden wrapped his arms around Syrus' waist, pulling them as close as they could get to one another. Love, sadness, fear. These three emotions went into the kiss, the three more identified than the other emotions that ran through them. Their tears seeming to intwine and fall onto the covers and bedding beneath them.

Both seperated with quivering lips, wishing for more time, though knowing it couldn't happen.

Syrus sat on his knees in the hospital bed, Jaden's head lying on his thighs, brunette strands of hair covering his facial expression. Syrus hiccoughed as he tried to breath, tears falling on the boy curled up in his lap. Fear and sadness hovered around Syrus as he watched Jaden cough up blood, then lay peacefully back down on his lap. His lips shook, his body freezing over with the fear of knowing that soon his boyfriend wouldn't be around. The fear and sadness of knowing he'd never be able to see Jaden smile, hear Jaden's voice, feel Jaden's touch anymore...

Syrus cried outloud, his tears increasing their flow down his cheeks.

"Syrus..." Jaden spoke, pushing past the knot in his throat. The though of never being able to see the rising sun with Syrus, or Syrus again for that matter scared him beyond words. The fact that he could - no, would die at any second was just to much.

He wrapped his arms around Syrus' waist, hugging him tightly.

"Syrus, I love you."

"I love you too, Jaden," Syrus managed to force out.

A smile of happiness grew on the brunette's tear streaked face.

A loud wail was heard along side of a loud, long steadybeeping.

-Later it was concluded that Jaden had died of internal bleeding. A sliver of the knife was undetected and stuck into Jaden's lung.-