Rubi stayed in Hizaki's room for a day. The pretty vampire brought food for the human and cared for him. When Rubi felt better, he got out of Hizaki's bed."Are you feeling better?" Hizaki asked. Rubi just nodded and headed for the door."Where are you going?"

Rubi sighed softly."I'm going to Kamijo." He was still very upset about what happened, but he didn't blame Kamijo.

"You're going to him? After he hurt you?" Hizaki was clearly worried.

"It was my fault." After saying that, Rubi left Hizaki's bedroom and went to Kamijo's room. It was almost noon, so he hoped Kamijo would be in there. When he got there, he opened the door and saw Kamijo sitting on the bed."Kamijo.." he spoke shakily.

Kamijo looked over at Rubi and could see the tears building up in his eyes."Rubi.." The bruise on Rubi cheek was fading but still a little visible. His wrist was also lightly bruised from when Kamijo had grabbed it."Rubi, I.."

Rubi stepped over and dropped to his knees in front of Kamijo."I'm sorry, Kamijo.." His tears began trickling down his cheeks."I'm sorry.."

The vampire was shocked. Why was Rubi apologizing? Kamijo was the one who needed to apologize."Rubi, why are you sorry?"

"I'm sorry..for not doing as I was told.." Rubi trembled as he spoke, his voice quivering."I'm sorry..for being curious.." The mortal began to cry, which made the old vampire feel terrible."I learned my lesson..Being curious is bad..I won't let it happen again.."

"It's okay.." Kamijo tried to think of a way to comfort his crying lover.

Rubi shook his head. His lover tried to reach toward him, but Rubi flinched and panicked."I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Please don't hurt me. I'm sorry." His words all came out quickly.

Kamijo was heartbroken when he heard those words."I'm..not going to hurt you.." He put his arms around the boy and pulled him into a tight embrace."Don't apologize to me, Rubi..I need to apologize to you.." The old one kissed the human's forehead."I'm so sorry, Rubi..I'm so sorry for hurting you.."

The human boy put his arms around Kamijo."It's alright."

"No, it's not." Kamijo's body shook a little."I lost control. I shouldn't have hurt you. I was wrong."

Rubi tightened his arms around Kamijo."I forgive you..You taught me a lesson..I'll obey now..I'll obey.." Kamijo couldn't make Rubi stop saying these things. He couldn't make the human see that he had been the one who was wrong. He couldn't make Rubi stop blaming himself.

~X~

"I think..he might be broken." Kamijo was sitting on the sofa in the den. Masashi was seated in a chair across from him."He follows me around. He barely speaks, doesn't smile." He was talking about Rubi, who was waiting in the hall by the den's door."He gets frightened whenever I try to touch him. And he hasn't asked me a single question." Kamijo sighed."He won't allow himself to be curious."

"I see." Masashi was worried about Rubi as well. Everyone was. Six days had passed since Rubi returned to Kamijo. The human would not do anything without Kamijo's approval."He's scared. He does not want to get in trouble or make you angry again."

Kamijo glanced at the door, knowing Rubi was waiting for him."What should I do? You understand emotions and behavior better than I do. So, please tell me what I should do to help him return to the way he used to be."

Masashi sighed and placed his hands on his lap."Show him that it's okay to be curious." he instructed."Be very gentle with him."

"I'll try." Kamijo got off the sofa and lightly pat Masashi's shoulder as he passed him, heading to the door. When he opened the door and stepped out, the vampire lightly grabbed Rubi's hand, feeling the human tense at his touch, and placed it on his arm to escort him."Are you hungry?" he asked the human. Rubi didn't answer. Kamijo sighed."Come on." The old vampire led Rubi in the direction of the kitchen."Let's get you something to eat." Kamijo didn't know what to do. He had to think of a way to show Rubi that everything was okay. He needed to show his human lover that it was okay to be curious.

Rubi looked up at Kamijo."What do you want me to do after eating?" he asked. He didn't make his own decisions anymore. He only did what Kamijo told him to do.

"You can do anything you want." Kamijo told him. The vampire didn't like the way the boy was acting.

The mortal shook his head just slightly."I want to do whatever you tell me to. How else am I supposed to make you happy?"

Kamijo seated Rubi in the dining room."You can make me happy by just being yourself." He sighed and gently pat Rubi's head."I'm not happy with the way you're acting. I want you to be the way you were." Before anything else could be said, the vampire went into the kitchen, coming back minutes later with a plate of food. He set the plate down in front of Rubi."Please eat."

~X~

Hizaki wandered through the halls late that night and was a little startled when he rounded a corner and bumped into Teru."Oh, Teru. What are you doing up this late?" he wondered, though the same could be asked of him.

Teru looked at Hizaki with tear-filled eyes."Hizaki, Masashi doesn't like me!" he whined cutely.

Hizaki blinked a couple times at the younger vampire."Why do you say that? Did Masashi say that?"

The younger one shook his head."I heard him talking to Yuki. Yuki asked Masashi if he ever thought of being with me, since I follow him around all the time. Masashi said I'm just a kid compared to him and that there was no way he'd ever be with me."

The beautiful male pulled the other into a comforting hug and gently rubbed his back."It's okay, Teru. You know what that means, don't you?"

Teru shook his head a little."What does it mean?"

"It means you have to try harder." Hizaki said with a sweet smile."Don't give up so easily. You love him, right?" Teru nodded a bit."So, do whatever it takes to show him how much you love him and win his heart." Hizaki pushed back some of Teru's hair."Okay?"

"Okay." Teru smiled slightly."Thank you cheering me up, Hizaki. You're great."