Your Song

Part 5

~ Midnight Illusion ~

By: JC Maxwell-Yuy

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JC: Ah, yes… I am receiving the waves.

Van: This means another angsty chapter, doesn't it?
JC: Yes… YES, IT DOES! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Irvine: And in the end, I will be hated.

JC: Unfortunately.

Van: (hugs Irvine) I still love you.

Irvine: (happy sigh)
JC: Oh yes, someone liked my idea of a human Zeke. I personally didn't think it'd go over too well, but it did. Thanks Night! Now after you read this chapter, go read Night's story, 'Kidnapped'. Much thanks, I'm glad people like my ideas. And muchos gracias to all the loyal reviewers!

Van: Now, if you're done with promotions… wait, I take it back! Promote me back to reality and right into Irvine's bed! NOW!

JC: Can't do that… not yet… anyway. (grins evilly)

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Irvine woke up with the planet's most massive migraine that morning. He shifted in the sheets, stained with dried semen. The prostitute was gone.

'Damn…' Irvine groaned as he struggled to get out of the bed. His head was pounding, and he felt the strong urge to puke. Correction, he was going to puke.

'He was there… Van saw me… like…' His head swam after he'd emptied the contents of his stomach into the toilet. Desperately, fingers groped through his things, searching for aspirin.

'He probably hates me… good… now…' Irvine was about to swallow a pill when Fine burst into the room screaming, took one look at his naked state, and covered her eyes and began screaming again.

"OH SHUT UP!" Irvine yelled and rubbed his temples.

"VAN'S IN THE HOSPITAL!" Fine yelled back.

"S… What did you say?" Surprise, shock, irritation, anger, concern, and pain… Irvine collapsed.

Later…

"He's waking up." Moonbay announced.

"My… aching head…" Irvine moaned as bright lights glared at his tired eyes from the boring white ceiling.

"Well, maybe the next time you're debating whether to get wasted, you'll remember that gorgeous, pulsing pain in your cranium." Moonbay glared.

"Ughn… What… what about Van?" The man shifted uncomfortably in the bed.

"In a coma." Moonbay replied.

Later…

"I am SO sorry!" Thomas bowed his head before Fine for what seemed to her the thousandth and twenty-fifth time.

"It's OK, Thomas. It's not like you knew that Van was allergic to the sedative you gave him." Fine soothed as she watched over Van, who appeared to be sleeping.

"Why is that drug even authorized to be in the GF medical kit? It's a hallucinogen as well as a sedative!" The blonde man struck his fist against the wall in frustration. "I'm a total idiot!"

"Rrrr…" Zeke slumped against the wall, miserable.

"It's not your fault either, Zeke." Fine whispered.

"Well, I think Zeke may have helped Van." Dr. D suddenly popped into the room.

"Dr. D?" Fine looked up in surprise, and annoyance. The old man seemed to pop up everywhere nowadays.

"Now then, where's the patient?" The good doctor picked up the status report and murmured things as he read it.

"Well?" Thomas asked.

"Good news. Van's brain activity is in a state… like he's dreaming."

"But what does that mean?" Fine asked.

"Normally, that chemical puts people into comas, where their brain activity totally slows down, making it almost impossible to wake them up. However, Zeke fused with Van, and somehow managed to help Van's brain activity to increase." Dr. D nodded, impressed. "I'm not sure how he did it, but Zeke must have somehow connected with Van, and in a way, 'woken' him up… he may even be in control of the dream world he's in."

"In total control?" Thomas muttered.

"Total control… his desires, his fears… they all might be a part of what he's in now. If only we could dream with that control…" Dr. D said. "However, if the dream state he's in is exactly what I'm hypothesizing, he may or may not wake up."

"But why?" Fine turned her gaze from the doctor to Van.

"Because… he may not want to wake up."

'Not want to wake up…' The phrase echoed in Irvine's mind. He stood behind the slightly opened door, hearing every word. Guilt filled him.

"Is there anyway we can reach him?" Moonbay asked.

"Well, if we could get Zeke to fuse with Van again, he might wake up, but the question is, will Zeke be able to communicate to Van that he's in a coma?" Dr. D mused.

"…" Fine remained silent. Zeke made a sickly sound.

"If only we could get him to respond in some way…"

"Mmm…" Van groaned. His eyes were half-open, staring into Irvine's sleepy ones. It was morning, and Irvine's bed erection was rubbing affectionately against his upper thigh.

"Morning beautiful… Damn, is it just me, or are you even more horny at this time of the day? The first thing too." Van laughed.

"Uhm… But you're the one who does it to me, baby." Irvine laughed.

'Crap.' Irvine slumped back into his bed. He stared at the white ceiling, but the dull, featureless slab didn't register. All he could see was Van.

"How are you?" Fine's gently knocked on the door. When the man didn't respond, she cracked the door open. "May I come in?"

Irvine nodded, but his eyes didn't leave the ceiling. Fine entered and sat on the stool near the bed. The room stayed silent, the only sounds audible was Irvine's breathing and the air conditioner's gentle hum.

"Why Fine?" Irvine broke the silence.

"Pardon?" The girl snapped back, surprised.

"Why can't I seem to stop hurting him?" Irvine whispered. "Why can't I stop hurting Van?"

"It's not your fault." Fine sighed, almost half-heartedly. She seemed to be saying that a lot lately.

"It IS! Don't you see? The more I stay around Van, the more he gets hurt! Physically and emotionally." Tears started to form on the edges of the bounty hunter's eyes. "I tried to stop feeling the way I do, but I can't! And then… he… said it…"

'You're my most precious friend… I love you!'

"Wait! Where are you going?" Fine jumped to her feet as Irvine turned and slid off the bed.

"Away. Far away." Irvine replied as he tired his scarf around his head and reached for his clothes.

"I can't let you do that!" Fine ran and blocked the door. "What about Van?"

"Van will wake up, and move on without me." Irvine said flatly.

"That's not true!" the girl said firmly. "I know Van. He's not … he won't just forget his feelings for you! If you leave, that will cause unspeakable pain for him!"

The man stopped and slowly slumped to the floor.

"Tell me… Fine… What should I do?"

"Stop running! You'll get all dirty!" Van shouted as Zeke raced through the grass. Irvine began laughing as Van tackled the organoid, who squirmed free, causing Van to fall face first into a mud puddle.

"Irvine! You could help!" the boy shouted.

"He's your organoid! He's your responsibility!" Irvine leaned back and gazed at the blue, cloudless sky.

"Yeah, well I love you too!"

"Mmn… it's ok Zeke." Fine soothed. Night had fallen, and pale beams of moonlight fell through the window onto Van's unmoving body.

"I… I don't think this is such a good idea." Irvine whispered as Zeke growled at him menacingly.

"Oh hush. Zeke, you too." The blonde Zoidian glared at the two. Zeke pouted and Irvine glanced guiltily at Van.

"Please?" Irvine whispered. Zeke seemed to think it over before his chest plate opened and wires encircled Van and Irvine. The last thing Irvine saw was a bright white light that shrouded out Fine's worried face before...

"Where in the world am I?"

Darkness

"Van?!"

Silence

"Zeke? Fine? What's going on?"

Empty void

"What is this place? I feel cold."

Seclusion

"Am I … alone?"

Fear

"Irvine!"

=====================to be continued ======================

JC: I am SO sorry this chapter took so long to get out. School is just too much for me sometimes. (sighs)

Fine: All right! Now that we're more or less back on track… (preview music) Next time… Irvine's been pulled into Van's dream. But does… I can't say it!

Moonbay: Next time, 'You and I'. See you on the battlefield!