Chiaki entered his bedroom. He felt sick, like his stomach was doing flips, and his body was slightly shaking. He didn't know what was wrong with him. He was fine a while ago and suddenly, as he was left alone; his body was at his worst.

Chiaki made his way to his bed, taking his shirt off on the way. He stopped in front of a mirror and stared at his chest. Scars marred it, marks from previous battles that his Vampire healing couldn't heal.

Some of them he did on his own.

The first few days after he found Hayate's grave and finding out that he searched for him after he disappeared sent him into depression so acute he went crazy. Before Takano slapped some sense into him he was a cold bastard, killing any Vampire who came his way especially if it was Rouge. Sometimes he would get lost in alcohol. He was addicted to that the most. It numbed his pain and made life disappear for a while. He would soon crave it again and again.

He was a monster, he knew it, but he didn't care about it at that time.

Now…

He didn't know what he was anymore.

He turned around to his bed. Tomorrow they would leave the country in search for Hatori and Ritsu. He hoped that they were alright.

Chiaki lay on his back. He watched the ceiling as he thought about the trip. It was going to be a long day tomorrow that much he knew for curtain.

Sleep was soon claiming him and he closed his eyes.

"Don't forget me."

Chiaki's eyes popped wide open when he heard Hayate's voice. He was on top of him, his fingers crushing down on his neck, choking him.

Chiaki couldn't move his hands or his body as he watched Hayate strangle him. "Don't forget me!" Tears ran down Hayate's eyes.

Chiaki couldn't stand that. With whatever will he possessed he forced his hand up and stroked Hayate's cheek making Hayate freeze. "Never. I will always love you Hayate." Chiaki struggled to say.

"Chiaki…"

Tears ran down his own eyes as he brought up his other hand and cupped both of his cheeks. "I'm sorry…I-I'm so sorry. I left you alone…forgive me." Chiaki said in between sobs. He wanted to say this to him for so long. He wanted to apologize over and over again for all the worry he caused him and the grief.

Hayate eased his grip on his neck and said nothing as he watched Chiaki.

"I will never forget you. Never. I love you and always will." Chiaki gashed his teeth as powerful sobs tried to stop the words he needed to get out. "I'm sorry, so sorry."

"Will you come with me?" Hayate asked calmly.

Go to him? He would have said yes, anything to be with Hayate again, anything to be in his arms and surround himself with Hayate's love again, but…

A flash of Hatori's smiling face appeared in his mind making his heart beat to life for him.

Hatori…

He did love Hayate that would never fade, but the passion, the need, were gone. Every ounce of his passion belonged to Hatori.

His hope for the future-Hatori.

His reason for living-Hatori.

With the shocking revelation, it was as though a weight was lifted from him, a weight that had dragged him down, kept him in the dirt, unable to rise. Not wanting to rise.

"Please Chiaki," Hayate beckoned him. "Come with me."

Chiaki found himself dropping his hands from Hayate's cheeks. He knew this was only a trick, but what both sadden and thrilled him was the revelation that even if this had been Hayate; he would not have gone to him. That would be a betrayal to Hatori.

And he couldn't do that to Hatori.

He loved Hatori.

Dear God.

He had been punishing himself for two hundred years and he didn't want to do it any longer. He wanted freedom from the hate. He wanted to live. With Hatori.

"Hayate." He groaned. "Forgive me yet again." He was finally going to let him go when he vowed he would never love another. "Forgive me."

Hayate was still choking him as darkness consumed his vision. He smiled gently at Hayate. "I love you Hayate." Chiaki closed his eyes.

But not before he saw a gentle smile on Hayate's face.

-Ritsu ~Dreams

Ritsu dreamed he was choking under water again.

The man with dark grey hair was pulling him down. He reached up trying to find the hand that pulled him up but he saw nothing.

He watched as the sun reflecting the waters surface going further away from him as he was being dragged into the bottom of the ocean.

Ritsu struggled as much as he could but the man only laughed as he dragged him lower.

Ritsu struggled more.

Nothing.

The man kept laughing.

He was getting annoyed at this.

Ritsu kicked the man with his other foot right in the face.

The guy hissed as he slipped a little on his leg.

Ritsu did it again and again until finally the man let go.

Ritsu frantically swam up, reaching the light on his own.

He grinned.

Ritsu shot up awake, gasping for breath.

Remembering the man who was choking him he reached for his throat and winced at the pain. So the man was really here?

He looked around the room to find it empty.

What the hell? So was it only an illusion or was it real? The pain on his neck told him it was a possibility that the man could be here.

Ritsu rubbed his eyes.

He felt…good. Better than he ever felt before.

Frowning, thinking that it was a trick, he stayed still for a while. His body held no aches and pains except for his neck and he also felt like a fog was lifted from his eyes. Everything seemed so much brighter.

Ritsu got out of bed and went to the mirror.

There were marks on his neck.

Ritsu blinked. He didn't feel panic about them though. He felt eerily calm. Was there something wrong with him?

To tell the truth this was nothing.

He looked back at everything he went through in his short time being a Vampire and realized this was only an annoyance than anything else.

He was turned into a Vampire, he felt like he was being burned in the pits of Hell. He denied his thirst making him sick. He was stabbed and had poison that almost killed him. He was always freaking out on the small things. He killed and watched others kill in front of him.

And that wasn't even the half of it.

So this was nothing.

He looked around his room wondering if he could find bandages for his neck. He didn't want to alarm the others.

"Ritsu?"

Ritsu turned around to find Misaki frowning at him. "Hey Misaki."

Misaki gawked at him. "What the hell happened to your neck!?" He ran to him to inspect it.

"I'm fine Misaki-"

"Like hell!" He looked around the room and sniffed the place. He didn't smell anyone else that was in this room except Ritsu himself. "Come, we are going to see Miyagi." Ignoring Ritsu's protests he used his cloud to shift them to Miyagi's room.

-Takano

"Chiaki! Damn it, wake up!"

Chiaki blinked his eyes to see Takano's concerned face above. "What?"

Takano gawked at him. "What the hell do you mean 'what'? Look at your fucking neck!"

Chiaki frowned as he got up from bed and looked in the direction of the mirror. Red marks covered his neck. Was it when Hayate was choking him? Wait, wasn't that only an illusion?

"What het hell happen?"

Chiaki shrugged. He stretched his aching muscles, he needed to run or something, he felt confined in this empty room. He looked around with new eyes. It was too empty.

"Are you serious!?" Takano was shocked at Chiaki's calm behavior. He came in here to wake him up since it was already passed noon and he found him knocked out with claw marks on his neck.

"It's nothing to be concerned about Takano. I feel really good actually." He smiled which only made Takano stare in shock at him. It wasn't a forced smile as he seen for the past few days but a genuine smile that lit his face.

Yokozawa came in with bandages. "Sit down Chiaki."

Chiaki rolled his eyes at the concern in his voice and did what he asked. Yokozawa bandaged his neck as Takano observed him with narrow eyes. "Chiaki you need to tell me what happened."

"Just the poison again."

"The poison did this!?"

Yokozawa studied the marks with a frown. "Give me your hand Chiaki."

Chiaki raised his eyebrow as he gave him his hand. Yokozawa put it against his neck to find out that it was the perfect match.

"You choke yourself!?" Takano yelled out.

Chiaki laughed. So it was the poison after all.

Tears of happiness fell from his eyes. He has never been so happy in his life.

He wanted Hatori here with him now.

-Ritsu

Miyagi and Misaki watched him with wide eyes as his hand print was a perfect match on his neck. Ritsu tried not to laugh at their expressions. Apparently he choked himself.

But he didn't care. As long as Miyagi concluded by his blood that he was no longer poisoned he was happy.

"Ritsu are you sure you don't want to rest today?" Misaki asked in concern.

Ritsu shook his head. He had so much energy right now, he wanted to go out and do something, anything. He never felt so happy in his life. Like a weight was lifted off his shoulders and everything became clear.

Misaki looked unconvinced.

Miyagi leaned back in his chair. "Don't worry Misaki; Ritsu is actually really happy right now and too much energy to stay in his room."

Ritsu nodded, grinning at Miyagi.

"Well now." Misaki raised his eyebrows. He never seen a new-born so happy before. It was possible that Ritsu would be fine after all.

"Alright then." Misaki said slowly. He grabbed Ritsu's hand. "Everyone is waiting for us at the dining room." Ritsu let Misaki led him out the door with Miyagi following close by.

Hey! My cousins came to visit and that is why I haven't been able to type anything for the pass 2 days! They just left this morning and I only managed to write this since I have work coming up soon. I hope you enjoyed.

P.s. I freaken cried when I was writing Chiaki's story! XD I got too into it. XD Also I missed you guys! :3 So much!

But 2014! Whoohooo! Hope you guys are enjoying the new year! Much love!