Hikaru stayed over at Kaoru's that night. It was a little sad to see his brother this broken and vulnerable, shaking in his sleep. Hikaru was sprawled next to him on the bed, lying completely awake, staring at the rising sun through window blinds. It was almost seven in the morning and the alarm clock would go off at any time.

Glancing at his brother, his frown twitched. Something had shaken him up, that much he could tell. Kaoru groaned in his sleep.

Hikaru sat up slowly, clicking off Kaoru's alarm clock before it had a chance to beep, and swung his legs off the bed. Then he did what his own brother, Zen, had done for him whenever he was down: he made pancakes. Well, it took a long time to find the ingredients in Kaoru's kitchen, and all of his pancakes turned out lopsided, but it was the thought that counted.

Hikaru loaded up a plate and dumped a healthy dose of syrup and butter on top, smiling to himself. "Kaoru!" Hikaru barked, grabbing the plate and a glass of milk before kicking in Kaoru's door.

Kaoru jumped, shaking the whole bed. "What the hell, Hikaru!" Kaoru shouted from the edge of sleep. He sat up abruptly and rubbed at his eyes.

"Pancakes. Eat," Hikaru commanded, shoving the sticky mess at the younger boy.

Kaoru lightened, snatching up the plate. Kaoru scooped up the fork enthusiastically and shoved a piece into his mouth. Hikaru set the milk down on the bedside table and chuckled. "Hungry?"

"Shut up, I haven't had pancakes in forever," Kaoru mumbled through a full mouth.

Hikaru grinned and mussed Kaoru long hair. "Hey!" Kaoru cried and swatted Hikaru's hand away, catching his own hair in his sticky fingers.

"Hurry up and eat," Hikaru said, heading to the door. "We're going to be late for school."

Kaoru shook his head as he gulped down milk. "Nope, not going to school today. I'm going to be at the hospital when she's released today."

Hikaru's hand hesitated on the doorknob. "Need me to come with?"

Kaoru cut another piece of pancake and shook his head a second time. "I don't need help walking the old woman home. It'll be easy."

Hikaru opened the door. "Well, I'm going to jump in the shower. Let me know if you change your mind."

Kaoru continued eating, not looking up.


Kaoru waved Hikaru off as he got into his car and drove away. Once Hikaru disappeared down the street, Kaoru let his arm go limp and he leaned heavily on the apartment balcony rails. He sighed, shaking away the tremors still barely visible in his hands. Hikaru had made him feel better… but he had not cured him of his nightmares.

Kaoru pushed off the rail and went inside, grabbing his shoes and shoving his feet in. He pulled a blue sweatshirt off the couch and grabbed the keys from the kitchen counter. He wasn't going to bother showering today; no one would see him anyways. He brushed a hand busily through his hair before stepping back out into the cool morning air.

After locking his door, Kaoru walked purposefully for the hospital. In his pocket was a small wad of bills; he would hail a cab to take his mother home. He didn't want her to freak out on the way home.

The walk wasn't long, not compared to the walk to school anyway. But when he arrived, he sighed in relief. Somehow, walking on the streets all alone was starting to scare him…

As Kaoru approached the building, Kaoru's phone rang loudly, giving him a start. Kaoru pulled it out and stared at it in horror. Akito. His hand trembled. "Hello?" Kaoru answered immediately, not taking any chances.

"Hello Kaoru, how are you this morning?"

"What do you want Akito?" Kaoru's voice was full of defeat.

"I just wanted to know where you are. You're picking up your mom at the hospital, aren't you?"

Kaoru stopped dead in his tracks and looked around him. "Where are you?"

"Oh no, Kaoru, I'm not following you," Akito laughed.

Kaoru turned back to look at the hospital. "Then, what? What do you want?"

"I want my debt paid."

Kaoru silenced, wrapping his arms tightly around himself.

Akito continued, "What do you think, Kaoru? Are you coming back?"

Kaoru scrunched his face up; he was in inner turmoil. "Hey kid, are you okay?" an old man asked from his seat on an outside hospital bench.

Kaoru nodded weakly before turning away towards the rising sun. "No, Akito, I don't think so," Kaoru whispered, resigning himself to despair.

Akito huffed in disapproval. "Kaoru, Kaoru, Kaoru. I'm afraid I'm going to take something from you… and you won't ever get it back. Are you willing to deal with that for your freedom?"

"Take whatever you want, you bastard, just leave me alone!" Kaoru cried into the phone. His face flamed in rage and his heart pounded forcefully.

Akito laughed, "I thought so." The line went dead.

Kaoru slowly lowered his phone. He didn't care anymore! He just wanted to live a normal life; he wouldn't—couldn't—go back to the drug ring. He tucked his phone away.

He entered the hospital in a haze and approached the front desk. Looking around, he didn't see his mother anywhere in the waiting room. He wondered if she was done checking out yet.

"Hello, how can I help you?" The front desk girl asked with a smile. She spun her pen around her fingers.

"I'm looking for Yuzuha Hitachiin. Did she check out yet?"

"Hold on a sec, let me check," she replied, grabbing her computer mouse. She typed a series of numbers into the pad before typing Kaoru's mother's name. Kaoru tapped his foot impatiently. She looked up with a sincere smile. "It appears that she has already checked out."

Kaoru bit his lip and looked around a second time. "Then where did she go?" he questioned more to himself than her.

"What does she look like?"

Kaoru's gaze snapped back at her. "What?"

"What does she look like?" the girl repeated.

"Oh," Kaoru said. "Well, she has red hair like mine-"

"I remember her!" the receptionist interrupted. "You don't see a lot of red-heads around here," she clarified.

Kaoru nodded. "Where did she go?"

"She left maybe ten minutes ago with tall boy with black hair. He was the sweetest thing; he brought her flowers and everything."

Kaoru's vision tunneled. "Akito." He turned and ran from the waiting room.


Only 4 reviews on the last chapter? I'm a failure. -_-