A/N- Unseen Watcher- Uh….

Thanks- To Ssjgoddesschico- Sorry this took so long. Just read and find out what happens ;-)

To spacemonkey- Wow, that's so nice! Of course I'm going to continue.

To Calen- Bloody bung. New one! I'm counting on you to tell me my many typos in this one, too.

To Yume Maxwell-Yuy- Sorry I didn't update soon. I feel bad. Glad you're still with me on this!

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A Shadow Reborn- Chapter Eight

As soon as Akito dropped the gun, Hatori was at Yuki's side, and Kyo, after glancing briefly in the direction Akito had run, joined him. Kyo's mind was on auto-control. They laid Yuki flat on his back, and Kyo stripped away his shirt, seeping with blood. His heart sank when he saw his cousin's erupted innards, and the blood that now ran freely down his side. Giving Hatori room, Kyo sat back, feeling sick.

Hatori began checking the wound, his movements rushed. "Abdominal puncture," he muttered to himself, then translated- "Went straight through the stomach" -Kyo cringed- "He's losing too much body fluids. Call the doctor, Kyo." He looked at him. "We don't have much time." He looked down to apply pressure with the torn shirt, but looked up sharply when Kyo hesitated.

"Call the Goddamn doctor!"

"You are the Goddamn doctor!"

"Call another one! You think I can handle this myself, right here?!"

Kyo was not responding well to pressure. "Right. Okay…so, wait. Where's the phone?"

Hatori was ready to shout in frustration. "I don't care; go find one!"

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Ayame was almost to the Main House, and it was starting to rain. The woods echoed the sound of water droplets on the leaves overhead. His clothes were becoming increasingly damp, and parts of his hair began to cling to the side of his face and get in hi eyes.

Out of breath, tired, and wet, Ayame knew he had made good time, but now he had to rest. He leaned against a tree and looked up through the leaves above and into the sky, while the raindrops continued to splatter his face. He was almost there.

Suddenly Ayame was aware of a growing noise- rustling and crunching, and he saw a figure coming at a quick speed towards him. The man was almost upon Ayame before he could make out who it was.

"Akito?"

Ayame watched as Akito ran straight past him, not answering, with barely even a glance. Ayame was surprised.

"Where's Yuki?"

Akito looked unaware and detached, shaken up. He continued deeper into the woods, still not acknowledging Ayame. Ayame stared speechless after him, before turning and racing again to the Main House and his brother.

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Yuki was not focused on what was happening around him. He recognized the hard voices above him, but didn't try to follow them. All he knew was the searing pain beneath his ribcage, that burned with every forced inhale. He was beginning to feel lightheaded, and he had to struggle to keep the red haze that hung over his vision from going black.

He was cold and thirsty at the same time, but felt he could hardly attempt any effort to ask for anything. He desperately wanted to know what was going on, where the source for the blood he felt sticking all around his front and side was. But as insensibility fought to claim him, he closed his eyes and focused on breathing.

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Hatori had been prepared for some sort of physical assault, but he had not expected a gun. He knew there wasn't much he could do. He heard Kyo in the next room on the phone. More capable help was on the way, but it was up to Hatori to keep Yuki stable until they arrived. But what else was there to be done in the meantime? He knew better than to try to remove the bullet from Yuki, and he had done everything he could to slow the blood loss.

Hatori knew he should be talking to Yuki- try to keep him calm. But what do you say to a seventeen-year-old that's just been shot? Yuki was breathing; that much was apparent. But his pulse was faint, and quickening. Hatori studied his cousin. Yuki looked up at the ceiling, his eyes watering from the pain. His chest rose and fell unevenly as he gasped for air, but Hatori didn't know how to help there.

Kyo appeared in the doorway again. "Paramedics are on their way. Hopefully Ayame is already on his way back home. I'm about to call his cell." He turned to leave the room.

"Wait."

Kyo turned back around. "What??"

"Not yet." Hatori had not even considered Ayame. What would he think of what Hatori had let happen to his younger brother? He had left him to see to Yuki's safety, and after giving Ayame all that crap about responsibility, Hatori couldn't even do that. Still, they'd have to call Ayame. We can at least wait until he's in more stable condition. His thoughts were interrupted.

"Hatori….what's happening?!"

Hatori looked down. Damn. "He's going into shock."

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Horrified, Kyo stared at his injured cousin. Yuki was shaking violently, and his skin was clammy and pale- almost white. His eyes, which had been expressing so much agony just seconds ago, now glossed over and slid out of focus. His faced relaxed from the pained grimace into a completely vacant expression. Somehow, this scared Kyo even more.

Kyo knew nothing of situations like this. He had successfully kept himself from thinking of how this could all turn out, but now the dread finally set in. What if Yuki actually died? Kyo was apprehensive of the prospect. Kyo's strong opponent from the past seven years in no way resemble the vulnerable, injured, boy in front of him now. This is all Akito.

Hatori was spreading out his jacket over Yuki and re-checking his pulse, but didn't report any condition to Kyo. Akito's gun lay on the ground at an angle, forgotten. Still standing, and averting his eyes from Yuki's face, Kyo wondered aloud, "Should we give him water or anything?"

Hatori looked up as if Kyo was stupid. "Of course not. Abdominal injury?", as if it were obvious.

Kyo sounded anxious. "But, then what do I do?"

Hatori started to answer, but suddenly they heard something sliding behind them. The rapping of the rain outside grew clearer, and they both turned around to see Ayame in the doorway.

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For what seemed like a very long time, Ayame stood, drenched, taking in the scene. Hatori kneeling on the floor, Kyo standing, the gun several feet away on the floor, and Yuki convulsing uncontrollably, his middle covered in blood.

Hatori launched into a full explanation. Akito…the gun…Yuki's condition. Ayame, with a disbelieving look of horror, was instantly beside Hatori, looking over his brother. Hatori spoke again.

"The paramedics will be here soon." Ayame nodded; he had not spoken a word since he arrived. He and Hatori were knelt over Yuki, and Kyo stood. Feeling useless, concerned, and slightly detached, he asked again, almost angrily, "What do I do?"

Hatori seized Yuki's wrist, checking up for a third time on his pulse. "Hardly any improvement," he said quietly, more to himself than anyone else. Then he addressed Kyo's question.

"There's not much we can do now but wait for help. He does need space, though. The last thing he needs now is three people crowding in on him."

Ayame stood up, but Kyo wasn't satisfied. They want me to sit here and do nothing?

"What about Akito?"

Hatori looked at him. "Well that's hardly our priority now, is it?"

"Well, I know. I just-"

"Kyo, not now. I don't know what we're going to do about Akito, alright? But we'll have to take care of it later."

"Sorry. Geez." Kyo was frustrated. Nothing to do, no one to help. For a few minutes, no one said anything. The only sounds were Yuki's uneven breaths, the rain against the roof and windows, and Kyo as he began pacing. All the sudden he stopped and looked up, as if a thought had just hit him. But Ayame spoke, grimly.

"Paramedics sure are taking their time, aren't they?"

"How long ago did you call, Kyo?" asked Hatori over his shoulder. When Kyo didn't answer, Hatori and Ayame turned from Yuki and looked around the room.

Kyo was gone. So was the gun.

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A/N- Sorry this took so long. I'd say my Muse deserted me, but I don't think I have one. Please read and review, and I'll get my next chapter up sooner.

Next Chapter- People get mad, hang out, and go on guilt trips. And other stuff that I haven't thought of yet.