A/N: Have any of you guys ever been in a mood where you're so happy that you could cry? XD B/c I- at the request of a friend- somehow found my way into the Pirates of the Caribbean fandom and stumbled upon Jack SparrowxDavy Jones. WTF? XD That really exists? *blinks* Wow. XD For some reason this amuses me greatly. (You can love it all you want, Stairsin but no...just no.) And instead of reading something I'm sure would blind me forever it made me want to write. So you can all thank her for another update. XD

I'm not afraid of you Team Gaigun! Threaten me all you want but I will not give in to your demands! DX
(Why do I say things like that? XD)
And I haven't been contaminated by U-DO either! XD Seriously what is wrong with you guys?

Also for those of you who have sent me your questions:
They Are Golden! XD *hugs* This is going to be fun.

I do not own Xenosaga b/c I wouldn't want to own something else that could possibly anger Team Gaignun. XD

Conflicting Numbers
Chapter 38
Trust

Gaignun! Gaignun stop! What are you doing? Jr. sent, struggling with all his might to breathe. His attempt at communication only earned him a impossibly tighter grip and a violent shake.

"I've killed you once already and I can do it again."

Gaignun...!

"I don't care what you have to say to me. I don't care if you tell Yuriev, in fact tell him! I can't live like this anymore!"

I don't know what you're talking about. Stop!

"That's not going to work! You're not Jr.!"

Jr. tried to work out what Gaignun had just said so that he could defend himself but he was getting weaker. Black spots invaded his vision and his body slowly become limp. Gaignun could feel the struggling lessen and knew that just a few more painful seconds and this nightmare would be over. A flash of energy coursed through his extended arm in a vice-like grip. When he looked down for the source he was surprised to find a ghostly gloved hand wrapped around him. Another flash caused him to release his hold on Jr. The boy coughed and spluttered harshly against invading oxygen and hurriedly made his way off the bed.

"Albedo?" Gaignun muttered.

Lay another hand on him, on us, Nigredo and I will not hesitate to destroy you. Albedo hissed angrily, leaning down so that Gaignun could be sure of his threat. His frown shifted at the corners into an evil smile. No, I would find much pleasure in such provocation.

Gaignun stared in amazement at him. "Nice trick, Father. I thought you'd programmed the imitation to say things like 'Albedo doesn't exist in this world'. When did you change your mind?"

Albedo's smile grew wider then. You still believe that you are trapped? The fact that I didn't exist in whatever hell you resided amuses me, brother.

Albedo felt tugging on him and he turned back to look at Jr. The boy held a hand around his bruised throat, shaking his head furiously.

Leave him alone, he's just confused.

Then I shall straighten things out for him. Albedo threatened venomously.

I mean it Albedo! Stop it. Go back to sleep. I'm fine. He won't do it again.

Albedo pulled back, scowling at Gaignun the entire way. I will not be able to properly rest.

Then be restless about it I don't give a damn!

Rubedo...

Just please. I just need to talk to him. You don't have to sleep just be quiet and come back. None of that ghost-being crap, alright?

Albedo grudgingly obeyed, constantly alert and warning Jr. that if Gaignun tried that again it'd be his last attempt on their life. Jr. tried to collect himself as best he could. He rubbed his neck and took a few steps away farther from the bed, pulling the chair back with him before sitting in it and looking up at Gaignun.

"Whatever you're going to say is not going to sway me. I know this is a trick."

Gaignun checked his surroundings, eyes falling on the IVs placed in his skin. He frowned at them. "How I got here I'm not particularly sure of but..."

"Gaignun."

Gaignun's attention turned toward the boy. His eyes accusing. Jr. ignored it and took a deep breath.

"Gaignun, what's the last thing you remember?"

"As if you don't know."

Jr. frowned, "I've been waiting three weeks for you to wake up and this is how you say hello? By trying to kill me? That doesn't exactly live up to what you told me earlier and it's not really nice. Hell, as go as far as to say it hurt my feelings."

"You never had any."

That seemed to really upset him from where Gaignun was but he didn't care. It was an imitation after all.

"Wow," Jr. said, surprised, "Didn't know you could be such a bastard. Thanks for helping me realize. I'll need that for future reference." He chuckled to himself, "I'm glad you're awake though. I was afraid that I'd screwed something up with the sudden link collapse. By your memory loss I guess that only proves it but..." He threw his hands up in frustration, "Hell, I don't know. I'm sorry I guess? I'm not sure what I should say to you because I have a feeling you're going to throw up everything I say, right?"

They were both quiet for a moment before Gaignun decided to speak.

"You've really almost got me believing you're really Jr. I hope he's alright and you're not gaining his mannerisms from the fact that you've been spending time with or hurting him."

"Look, what do you want me to do, Gaignun? How am I supposed to prove it's me? I mean Albedo freakin' threw himself at you like an attack dog and you still don't think it's me?"

Jr. stood up and gestured to the mass of nothingness beside him, "Albedo. You know? The guy you decided to stick me with for the rest of my life? Don't you remember any of that?"

He walked back toward the bed despite Albedo's roars of protest. "I don't know what dad did to you, Gaignun. I do know that this is the second time you've tried to kill me and with anyone else that'd be two too many. But I love you and I know you love me or the real Jr. whatever. How can I prove it's me? What do I have to do?"

"Get away from me," Gaignun said, trying to push himself up and out of the hospital bed.

"I'm not going anywhere!" Jr. shouted, fed up. "This is real. I'm real. You are being stupid. I know you're sick or hurt or whatever but here's what happened: Dad's dead. Albedo got rid of him. You threw Albedo into my body to put us together, make us complete, I don't know why you did it. You almost died in an attempt to ride out and make sure dad got sent to where ever and I collapsed the link to save you. You passed out and you've been in a coma for the past three weeks. Any of that ring a bell?"

It must have been because Jr. caught a sight of realization in Gaignun's green eyes. "That shit really happened. Believe me. I'm Jr."

"I want proof," Gaignun whispered, but Jr. could tell he was winning. "Give me some sort of proof that it really happened and I'll believe everything you say."

"Albedo's not enough?"

Gaignun shook his head, "If Yuriev won he would want to keep me quiet. Albedo would have to be a part of you if I remembered."

Albedo, you're completely useless. Jr. joked grimly.

Jr. searched his memory for something. He pulled off his jacket and ripped off his shirt.

Rubedo, I hardly think now is the best time to strip for your beloved Death.

Shut up, Albedo! It's not like that.

Jr. finally pulled the offending shirt off. "Look," he said, pointing to a bandage covering his chest. He peeled it off, slowly wincing slightly at pain the action brought. When he finally peeled it off he gave a relieved sigh. Gaignun's eyes widened at the wound. The skin on the left side of his chest was charred a dark black color, specks of red flesh dotted in places but it seemed as if most of it was beginning to heal. The sight sickened the buisnessman. "Jr..."

"Nasty, huh? Dad did that. Motherfucker shot me right here." He frowned down at it, "Still that bad after three weeks and I have another right here." he said, patting his left hip.

"Or actually it's your fault," he smirked, "So I think you should believe me now. I took two lasers, a dislocated shoulder, a few busted ribs, and now strangulation for you so I exp-"

Gaignun grabbed his arm and very gently pulled him up. Albedo protested but Jr. kept him quiet. His touch wasn't threatening this time. When Gaignun had finally pulled him up high enough, he looked him over, eyes running up and down his small body.

"Tell me..." he said, keeping his voice gentle so as not to frustrate the new fire. "When was the first time you told me you loved me?"

Jr. was confused at the sudden change in topic. It seemed sort of random and misplaced. Something in Gaignun's eyes desperately wanted an answer though and if it made Jr. real then why the hell not? It couldn't hurt. "The day those Federation idiots came and took me away. Why?"

A dazzling smile spread across his face and Gaignun carefully pulled him into a hug.

"It really is you."

Jr. sighed into the touch, thankful that his answer hadn't earned him a painful outcome. "Yeah. It's really me."

Gaignun pulled back. "Jr. I'm so sorry."

"You should be."

"That wound's horrible."

"I know, Gaignun, I can feel it."

"We have to cover it back up."

"No we don't."

"Yes we do."

"No," Jr. smiled, "We don't."

"Why?" Gaignun said, worry thick in his voice, "We need to cover it before it gets infected."

"No." Jr. said, smile growing.

"Jr." Gaignun frowned, "I'll call a doctor or nurse or-"

"And tell them what? That I was trying to prove to my boyfriend that I was real so I ripped it off?"

Gaignun grinned and shook his head. "Jr.," he laughed. "Definitely Jr."

"Gaignun I--" Jr. started, a bit embarrassed at what he was about to say. Gaignun caught his thought. And as much as he loved the ever-rare blush creeping in a thin line across Jr.'s face along with the way he seemed absolutely tongue-tied, he said it for him.

"I've missed you, Jr. So much," Gaignun said. So very carefully, so that he wouldn't pull him forward too far and scrape the wound on his chest, he placed his hand on the back of Jr.'s neck and brought him closer. He felt his heart swell at the darkening color on Jr.'s cheeks. He couldn't remember how long it'd been since he'd been so close to Jr. The real Jr. His Jr. But as he brought Jr. closer to him a different color on Jr.'s skin began to bother him.

"Jr.," The older boy looked up at him, blinking out of his trance.

"Yeah?"

Gaignun ran a thumb over the bruise he had made. Jr. noticed what he was upset about and rubbed his arm comfortingly. "It's ok."

Gaignun shook his head, "When I got you back after Albedo hurt you I swore I'd never let anything bad happen to you again and here I am causing you pain. I almost killed you...not once but twice...And we might as well count every move Dmitri Yuriev made against you as my fault as well."

"Or-Or--!" Jr. said, climbing up further to sit on his abdomen, careful of the wires. "We could blame the bastard who was controlling you and start where we left off."

"No, Jr. That's something I'll never be able to forgive myself for and..." He traced a finger down the front of his chest. "What if I forget tomorrow or the next day? What if I go crazy and can't control myself?"

Jr. shrugged, "Well then I guess that's something I'll have to deal with."

"That's something you shouldn't have to deal with."

"You're right, I shouldn't."

Then Gaignun said something that surprised him, "I gave you Albedo. You don't need me."

"Gaignun..." Jr. said, not even trying to hide the angry shock. "You really tried to kill youreself, didn't you? And Albedo, he was supposed to be your replacement?!"

"I'm dangerous." Gaignun murmured quietly.

"And he's not?!"

"Not to you. He just saved you from me."

"And you've saved me from him."

"Not enough."

This whole talk was pissing him off. Angrily he smacked Gaignun upside the head. "Ow, Jr--"

"Shut the fuck up right now!"

"You're right. I probably deserved it."

"Damn straight! I'm tired of this, Gaignun. I'm not a scoreboard and I'm tired of being tossed back and forth between the two of you!"

He gave Albedo a strong mental kick and knocked him out of their body. He needed to hear this too. "I know what's best for me." Jr. said, pointing to himself. "I'm twenty-six. I'm a grown man...on the inside at least and I think like a grown man!"

Jr. snapped his head back to Albedo. "I think therefore I am."

Albedo grinned at that. "I'm the leader," Jr. continued, "I'm the leader and I'm the oldest and I'm not going to take this anymore."

He took Gaignun's face in his hands and forced him to look at him. "I love you and I know you love me so don't sit there and pretend that the thought of Albedo and I doesn't upset you."

"I love both of you." He emphasized, "You're my brothers and there's no way I'm not going to but I'm in love with you, Gaignun."

He pointed towards Albedo, "YOU are going to go to sleep because you haven't slept but for a few measly hours in years. I'm not going to walk around tired all the time because my other half decided he was going to stay awake for the next two thousand years." Jr. dropped his hands away from Gaignun's face, "Bitch about it if you want but that's how things are going to go," he announced to both of them. He nodded to himself, proud that he had put his foot down. He waited for one of them to say something but neither of them did.

"Well?" Jr. said, crossing his arms but jerking back when his arm scrapped against his wound. "Anything from my subordinates would be nice."

Albedo and Gaignun smiled softly at the same time which bothered Jr. They were talking to each other and apparently it was funny. "What?" he asked, finally.

"I'm sorry, Jr." Gaignun said, "It's just really hard to take you seriously when you have your shirt off."

Jr. blushed and Albedo's hysterical laughter filled the room.

"I'm not a woman! What does it matter?" Jr. shouted.

You are Death's little bitch boy, Rubedo! Albedo sent, trying to stop his fierce giggling. Your shirtless form is just as appealing.

Masculinity effectively shattered Jr. began his usual tactic of furious ranting which started with one of his most favorite curse words, "Goddammit, Gaignun! You are not getting off to a good start with me and Albedo I swear to God if you don't shut your damn mouth I'll kill you. Yeah, that's right I said it. I'd willing commit suicide to get that noise to stop! Then what are you going to do, Gaignun? I'd be dead and it'd be all YOUR fault because Albedo wouldn't be making that noise if you hadn't said something so fucking stupid! And if either of you ever refer to me as a 'little bitch boy' again I'll kill us all!"

"Alright, ok, Jr. I'm sorry." Gaignun said, laughing. "I won't think anything like that again."

Albedo's laughter rang out again making Jr. all the more angry. Before he could make his anger audible, however, Gaignun grabbed him and pulled him into a passionate kiss. Jr. tried to stop his melting because he was supposed to be mad but it wasn't working and when they finally pulled apart Jr. tried his damnedest to say something insulting. Again Gaignun beat him to it. He leaned in again, "You're terribly cute when you pout."

Rubedo. Albedo said, distracting the pair. He walked over to them and stared warningly at Gaignun.

I will sleep but the moment Nigredo decides to pick up his scythe I will be there to rip him apart.

"He won't."

Gaignun frowned and averted his gaze from Albedo's. "He won't." Jr. said, frustrated that he had to command Gaignun to trust himself.

Because I could not stop for Death he kindly stopped for me. The carriage held but just ourselves and Immortality. That is the image of Death I hope will be maintained. Anything less...

"Albedo, he'll be good. You can kick his ass if he misbehaves. There. Stop being so fucking dramatic and go to sleep."

Rest sounds pleasant. Wake me up, sometime. I'd love to talk with you, dear Rubedo.

"Sure you would," Jr. said, winking. "But I'm not sure if I'd want to talk to you. I mean..."

Albedo rolled his eyes. Dramatic?

"Bonne nuit, Albedo."

Albedo smiled contentedly at the sound of his favorite language. He chuckled and shook his head, "Goodnight, Rubedo."

Albedo returned to his other half happily. Jr. shivered at the strange feeling. He was definately going to have to get used to that. He yawned and stretched.

"Wow, Albedo's got me sleepy too."

"He must have been really tired."

Jr. nodded, "Really really tired. He stayed up to watch you the few times I slept so he could wake me up when you opened your eyes. So I guess I never really slept since we're connected."

"I didn't hear you cursing as much," Gaignun said softly.

"That's because I was too scared to threaten you awake. I'm glad you're not dead though," Jr. yawned again and rubbed his eyes, "That would've sucked."

"For you, yes."

Jr. sighed, a dreamy smile on his face. "Keep it up Gaignun, and I'll have to kill you." He shook his head in an effort to keep himself awake.

"Jr., why don't you sleep now?" Gaignun questioned, rubbing his back. "I'm awake so you don't have to worry."

"No," Jr. said, shaking his head, "No. I"m not sleepy."

"You fight sleep like a child."

"You accept it like an old person."

Gaignun laughed and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. Jr. groaned, "Fine. I'll sleep but only if I can sleep up here with you."

Worry made its way onto Gaignun's face. "Nothing bad's going to happen. You've got to get over this. We're moving on."

Gaignun started to object but he had to admit that he'd missed sleeping with Jr. The bruise along his neck and the wound on his chest kept reminding him of how dangerous he was to his "little" brother, however and he almost couldn't stand for Jr. to be so close to him. Part of Gaignun wished Jr.'s common sense would kick in while the other was rejoicing at the thought that Jr. still wanted him. Jr. could guess at the thoughts in Gaignun's mind and hated every single one of them. Finally fed up with whatever was hiding behind his expression, Jr. opened a link and scattered all his thoughts.

Stop it.

Jr.

Gaignun. See? I can say your name too. Now if you're done playing Idiocy, I want to sleep.

Jr. shoved his way over onto Gaignun's left side, pushing his arm and wires out of his way. Gaignun didn't stop him as he pushed his way into a comfortable position.

"Jr., what about your wound?" Jr. shrugged and placed a hand on Gaignun's chest, coaxing him to relax.

"What about it? It's not bleeding."

"When has there ever been a time when you weren't hurt during our sleep?" Gaignun wondered aloud, eyes still connected with the burned flesh.

"Never so why should we break tradition? You're not exactly undamaged yourself. Now shut up and lay back so I can sleep."

Gaignun gave in and slid down carefully, a strange feeling in his back alerting him to something. He was about to ask Jr. but decided it could wait seeing as how the little red-head was already asleep. He smiled fondly at the sight he'd been deprived of for so long and bent down to place his lips against Jr.'s forehead before closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep himself.

A/N: Finished. C: So we've got about two more chapters to go before we're actually done. Or at least I think so. I had originally planned this story to end 20 chapters ago. XD I don't know what happened. Right, so two more. And there is no reason that I should be killed by Gaignunists this chapter! XD Albedists...eh, maybe. But he's not dead! *points* Reviews are my muse so inspire it up people. CX