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PART III: NIGHT THOUGHTS
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Daisuke walked in awe, hand in hand with Ken, all the way back to Koushiro's. He felt shy, almost afraid of the other boy walking next to him, attached to him by interwoven fingers. It all seemed like a surreal sort of dream -- Daisuke found himself wondering if it was just a figment of his imagination, that he had just kissed and been kissed by his best friend. But the very real sensation of Ken's hand cradling his own and the very real memory of how Ken felt and tasted and breathed was imprinted on his keyed-up psyche. He licked his lips slightly, the breath catching in his throat as he tasted Ken once again on them. Pushing back his inhibitions, he stopped, pulling back on Ken's hand until the taller boy had tumbled into his arms. Ken blinked, then Daisuke slid his other hand up, pulling Ken's lips to his. After a moment, Ken's eyes flickered shut, and he dropped Daisuke's hand to encircle the smaller boy's waist with trembling hands and pull him closer.
"Oh, Kami-sama...I never thought...I could ever do this again..." Ken's breath was coming quicker now, his deep-seated love for the redheaded boy in his arms welling up in his eyes like tears. "I thought...I'd lost you forever..."
"Don't worry, I'm here..." Daisuke whispered, flinging his arms around Ken's neck and hanging on for dear life.
By the time they had reached Koushiro's apartment again, they were both out of breath from running. They dodged around lobby furniture and leapt into a steadily closing elevator, which proved to be another prime location for a lengthy kiss.
When they reached Koushiro's apartment, they found the door unlocked. The two Chosen Children took off their shoes, dashing back to Koushiro's room. Interrupting what appeared to be a very serious conversation, Daisuke immediately nabbed the desk chair again, causing it to roll back into the wall and almost onto Takeru.
"Err, sorry...?" Daisuke chose another spot on the wall for his chair, then noticed Ken standing forlornly near the door. The indigo-haired boy didn't want to take his old seat in the corner, but there was nowhere else to sit! Daisuke remedied the problem by grinning at Ken and patting his knees.
Ken smiled conservatively, clasping his hands behind his back. He walked over to Daisuke, and was about to sit delicately on Daisuke's lap when the other boy grabbed him about the waist and ungracefully tumbled him back. Ken scrunched up his face, dazed, as he hooked one arm around Daisuke's neck. Ken grinned, lightly blowing in the redhead's ear. Daisuke giggled.
"I see things are all patched up between you two...?" Hikari smiled sweetly, crossing her arms, as Daisuke and Ken became suddenly aware of the fact that the entire room was staring at them. Ken blushed, covering his eyes with one hand and burying his face in Daisuke's shoulder. Daisuke grinned at the room as a whole, his amiable smile turning a bit mischievous as he slipped his fingertips under Ken's shirt. Ken squeaked in a most undignified manner, practically falling off of Daisuke.
"Um, I thought we were discussing a way to get you home, Daisuke...?" Koushiro decided to take control of the situation once more.
The manner of both boys turned much more serious. Daisuke had almost forgotten that this wasn't his world -- that he'd have to leave. What he previously thought of as a hell was now the most treasured part of Daisuke's universe. He and Ken glanced at each other.
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Daisuke sighed, sitting cross-legged on the guest futon and closing his eyes. He let his head drop forward, prickly designs forming on the insides of his eyelids. He emptied his mind, concentrating only on a sparkling dot dragon that curled up through his sight.
"Daisuke, are you alright? Do you need anything?" Jyou peered around the doorframe, regarding the smaller boy with interest. It isn't often that someone just comes back to life.
"No, no...I'm ok. I'm just tired, is all..." Daisuke let his head hang, unable to lift it. "Thanks for letting me stay here. I guess it would have been bad if anyone's parents saw me..."
"No problem. I knew that after a while everyone would only want to be friends with me because I have my own apartment." Jyou smiled, crossing his arms and leaning on the doorframe.
Daisuke lifted his head slightly, peering at Jyou with one chocolate eye.
"Joke. It was a joke."
The smaller boy let his head drop down again. "Oh."
Jyou turned to go, then, as an afterthought, he leaned back in the room. "If you need to talk about anything, I'll be in the next room, OK?"
Daisuke just nodded slightly, trying to keep the image of violet eyes out of his lovelorn mind. He couldn't leave. Not now. Not after everything.
But the Ken in his world would be worried sick about him. He couldn't just leave the Ken he knew forever to stay in some fantasy world. But he couldn't leave this Ken either. I wish there were two of me... Daisuke thought childishly, pouting slightly as hot tears prickled against his eyelids. Oh, Kami, I love him...
Without even turning out the light or changing into the nightshirt Jyou had lain across the futon, Daisuke crawled beneath the covers, pulling the blanket over his head and wanting to die.
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END PART III: TO BE CONTINUED...
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