Catch a Falling Star - 2 By: Liv

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or the anime itself here. I just own the fanfic and the idea. ^^;;

"K, kuso..." Shuichi pushed his upper body and looked around. The place had shrunken after the rocks fell. And it was darker. Fear slowly crept into him. *I have to get out of here fast.* He mustered all his strength to move his heavy body part but only let out a shout as he fell to a lie once more. He painfully at his right leg and noticed that his knee had a mean bruise on it. It was black and red and blood had come out. *Oh no...my right leg...*

It was the thing that was heavy and painful.

*I, I can't move...* Shuichi struggled but the pain was growing everytime he tries.

"Nakano! Nakano!!!" He called. But all he heard was his voice. A tear rolled down his cheek, something he didn't suspect. The fear in him was growing.

What if he never gets to see light, anymore?

What if he never gets to see his friends anymore?

What if he never gets to see Yuki anymore...?

*****

Yuki typed a few keys and finally saved his work. He looked outside to see the early evening sky. *I wonder what Shuichi is doing now...?*

His phone rang.

*Speaking of the devil...* He sighed and pushed himself away from the table where his laptop sat. He stood up and approached the phone and answered in a low voice. "Moshi moshi?"

"Yuki! It's Nakano!"

"Nakano?" Yuki asked. "And why would you call me?"

"It's Shuichi! He's stuck in the cave!"

Yuki's eyes arched in confusion.

"We had a lunch break and Shuichi and I explored the cave. He accidentally slipped and fell down into a deep area! Then rocks fell!"

Yuki was in deep silence. He didn't know what to feel. He was still confused. "Nakano, that's not a very funny joke. What did that clumsy idiot do again?" But his heart was already pounding and his hands were cold, his breath shaky.

"BAKA! Do you think I'd kid you in a time like this?! Shuichi might be dead by now!"

Nakano's words echoed in Yuki's mind. He had almost dropped the phone and had lost his voice. *Shuichi...dead? Masaka--*

"Yuki!!!"

"Where is that place?"

*****

Yuki came in the scene, jogging across numerous cars: police cars being most of which. His ride had to be parked faraway since there was no space, anymore. He saw reporters coming at him and didn't know if he could brace them, anymore.

If there was one thing in his mind, it was seeing Shuichi alive.

Luckily, before the reporters could gang up on him, K-kun and Fujisaki had come in to help. Yuki allowed the two men to drag him into the police area. When he was inside, he walked towards the cave and soon started to run, shouting Shuichi's name. But before he could go any further, Nakano had held him already.

"Yuki, he won't come out there like nothing happened!"

"Shuichi!!!" Yuki called on still. But he knew he had to stop, even if he wanted to see Shuichi walking out of the cave and running towards him, calling his name.

Nakano panted. "The authorities are doing everything they can."

"Then why isn't Shuichi out yet?!" Yuki turned to Nakano angrily.

"There is absolutely no light there! The flashlights are almost useless, their lights are too small! They can't see! One wrong move, they can die or cause some worse situation!"

Yuki only looked into Nakano's eyes. His next words had surprised even himself.

"You what?!"

"I said I'll go! If they don't want to do it, then I will!"

"What if you die in there?!"

"I don't care! All I want is to see Shuichi and to see him alive!"

Nakano was taken aback by these words. Half of him had expected it, half of him not. But he knew, from those words, there's no stopping Yuki.

"Then I'll come along."

Both heard footsteps coming towards them and turned to see K-kun (with a bandage on the cheek) approaching.

"OK, then." K-kun looked at the policemen who were discussing something. "I'll convince them."

*****

He didn't know whether it was him or it was real. The place was getting darker and darker. But Shuichi was sure of one thing, he was having a hard time breathing. His drowsy eyes looked around for any source of a probable foreign gas, but he couldn't see any. He didn't know if there really isn't any or he just couldn't see properly. His eyesight was blurry.

Shuichi was ready to give up. It felt like forever waiting for someone to save him down there.

*Iie...for Yuki. I'll stay awake for Yuki. I want to see him...see him walking towards me with those nonchalant eyes and calling me 'baka'. I want to hear his voice again...Yuki...*

"Yukiii!"

*****

"Ichi, ni...san!" For the third time, Nakano and Yuki tried to move a rock away. Their only source of light where on a rock near their eye level. But Yuki was having a hard time looking at the dark, already. And so was Nakano.

The rock had budged once more and luckily had rolled freely out of their way.

Yuki panted and approached the new space and called once more. "Shuichi!!" But there was no response.

Nakano slowly approached their flashlights and reached for it. His paining hands held the lights weakly as he approached Yuki and handed him his flashlight.

Yuki turned around to see the thing and looked at it. His red hand took one and held the flashlight in front of him as he slowly made his way down.

*****

Shuichi was smiling weakly. He wasn't sure whether he heard someone call his name or it was just his imagination. But hearing Yuki's voice...it should be enough...

"Catch a falling star and, put it in your pooocket. Never let it faade a- waayy..." Shuichi sniffled a cry as he choked on the last syllable of the song. Yuki was all he could think of and he missed him so much. Yuki was the last hope he can cling on to.

*Yuki...*

"Yuukiii!!!"

*****

"Yuukiii!!!" Yuki's ears perked as he heard the familiar voice.

Nakano had completely forgotten of his fatigue when he heard the voice. "Sh, Shuichi?!"

"Shuichi!" Yuki ran deeper into the cave and called on. "Shuichi!!!"

*****

"Shuichi...!!"

"Y, Yuki?" Shuichi asked. "Yuki?" He heard pebbles fell and his eyes widened. Could another cave in happen? "Y, Yuki??" He called louder hoping he would come out of nowhere and save him from death. "Yuki!!"

Rocks from where Shuichi fell gave in and rolled downwards. The boy could only hide his face behind his hands as the rocks continued to fall. When silence reigned once more, he opened his eyes and slowly looked up. He felt more comfortable, he didn't know why. He felt his chest go lighter and he could breath easier.

"Shuichi!!"

Shuichi's eyes widened as he saw the man behind the rocks. It was his hope, his one last falling star... "Yuki!!"

"Shuichi!" Yuki turned around and climbed down the rocks. Finally touching the floor, he jogged towards the lying boy and grabbed his hand which he outstretched. "Shuichi! Daijoubu ka??"

Shuichi's lips spread into a smile. "Y, yokatta...Yuki...I thought...I wouldn't see you anymore..."

"Shhh..." Yuki held Shuichi's cheeks and smoothed it with his thumb. "Everything's gonna be okay now...I'm here...and I won't go without you." He turned around to see Nakano waiting. "Nakano!"

"Nakano?" Shuichi smiled. "He's here, too?"

"We can't go out with Shuichi at this case! Get some help!"

"Wakatta!" With that, Nakano turned around and left.

Yuki turned to Shuichi and smiled. "Everything's going to be okay now. We'll get help..." He looked at Shuichi's body and noticed blood near his right knee. He winced in pain and crumpled his face. "Shuichi...you broke your leg..."

Shuichi closed his eyes and nodded. "Gomen nasai...it must have been my stupidity again..."

"Shhh...it's not, Shuichi." Yuki stood up and sat low beside Shuichi. He carefully inserted his arms under Shuichi and grunted when he carried the boy in a low height.

Shuichi winced in pain. But soon he was in a better position. His back was now on the cold ground, no longer his chest. He noticed he breathed easier that way. "Yuki..." He watched the blond man kneel beside him and lower his head. "Yuki?" He saw him bite his top and tear it open. Soon, his chest was almost bare.

Yuki stood up once more and looked around. He was panting as he looked around for a wood plank. To his luck, he saw one.

Shuichi noticed it was the plank that he broke. He didn't notice it was weak. He wanted Yuki approach and take it, then hurried over to Shuichi.

Yuki knelt beside Shuichi's damaged leg and hissed. How was he to do this? Carefully and slowly, he lifted the leg and inserted the broken plank under it, then let the leg go once more. He touched his body and looked at Shuichi's for any strap he could use. Then he saw his sleeves.

Shuichi's eyes widened as he saw Yuki bite his sleeve's cuff and tear the cloth into a strip while pulling it backwards. "Yuki..." He watched the man lift the wooden plank under his leg and insert the strip of cloth under it. "Mou, Yuki, dame da..."

Yuki was tying the strip of cloth into a knot around Shuichi's leg.

"That's your favorite top..."

Yuki turned to Shuichi and gave a small smile. "Daijoubu, I wouldn't care for my favorite top anymore if you're in danger..."

Shuichi's eyes widened and glowed. "Yuki..." He watched him set on to work until he was sleeveless and Shuichi's leg was secured on the plank. "Arigatou..."

Yuki stood and sat near Shuichi. He carried the boy's head to his lap and brushed pink locks away from his face. "Feeling much better?"

Shuichi nodded. "Mm." He remembered he was holding something and looked at it.

Yuki saw the smooth stone and watched Shuichi hand it to him.

"Koko."

Yuki took the stone and studied it, feeling the smooth surface.

"Gomen it was the least I could give you. But I did remember you saying you wanted a new paperweight..."

Yuki's eyes shook as he looked at the stone and heard what Shuichi said. He looked at the boy and saw him smile. He smiled back. "Arigatou, Shuichi."

Shuichi smiled wider. Soon, he felt Yuki carrying him and wrapping his arms tightly around him. Shuichi could only cuddle, cherishing the very moment. "I'm glad I could feel...Yuki again..."

Yuki's eyes widened as he felt Shuichi's body grow heavier. "Shuichi?" He broke the gesture and looked at the boy. "Shuichi??" He saw Shuichi's eyes closed, his face wearing a smile. "Shuichi! Shuichi, don't sleep! Shuichi!" He knew the boy needed oxygen badly, being stuck under the cave ever since lunch. He laid Shuichi down and pressed his lips on the boys and breathed exhaled into Shuichi's mouth. He pulled away and called once more. "Shuichi!!"

"Yuki, what's happening??"

Yuki turned around and saw more lights from outside. He squinted his eyes and covered it with his hand.

Nakano was holding the flashlight at Shuichi. "What's wrong with him??"

"He needs medication immediately! His leg is broken and his losing oxygen!" Yuki moved beside Shuichi as authorities and paramedics came in the area and started doing their work. Next thing he knew, he was in the ambulance along with Shuichi.

*****

"Shuichi-san's leg should do just fine. He did the right thing of not moving it and your first aid had just saved it, Yuki-san." The doctor reported. "Other than that, his fever had broken and because of that, he needs to stay in the hospital for a few days. He also suffered from a close encounter of suffocation, if you weren't there, Yuki-san, Shuichi-san wouldn't have made it."

"So he'll be okay?" Yuki asked softly and received a smiling nod. Relief surged into his heart. His hands are wrapped with bandages and so are some cuts he encountered on the rescue mission.

"If you would excuse me, Yuki-san."

"Matte," Yuki called. "Can I...stay with him?"

The doctor blinked. He adjusted his glasses and approached Yuki. "Yuki-san, the patient needs his rest."

"Onegai, Dokutaa..." Yuki's eyes were strangely pleading. "I'm not going to disturb him. I just...want to feel him close to me."

The doctor looked at Yuki's eyes. Finally, he sighed and nodded. "I trust you will not disturb him."

Yuki gave a small smile and nodded. "Arigatou." He watched the doctor leave and heard someone clear his throat behind him. Turning around, he saw Fujisaki.

"Anou...Tohma had you checked in a nearby hotel." Fujisaki reported. "Your room number is 76."

Yuki nodded and watched Fujisaki leave. He turned once more and went on his way to Shuichi's room. Along the way, he saw a green-haired man seated on one of the chairs attached to a wall, playing with a stuffed bunny.

"Sakuma-san." Ryuichi looked up to see Yuki. "Yuki-san!" He leapt to a stand and approached the man. "Shuichi ka? Shuichi wa daijoubu ka??"

Yuki nodded sleepily.

"Yokatta..." Ryuichi looked down to see Kumagorou. Then he handed the bunny to Yuki. "You're going to visit Shuichi, right?"

Yuki blinked and took the bunny.

"Tell him that Kumagorou will be Sakuma-san's eyes on him."

"Ha, hai..." Yuki watched Ryuichi yawn and stretch his arms. "...are you going all the way home?"

Ryuichi nodded and scratched his eyes.

"...Tohma...checked me in the nearby hotel, in room 76. Why don't you take it?"

"Heh?" Ryuichi looked at Yuki. "Dewa...where are you going to sleep?" He saw Yuki look at his right and looked there, too.

"I--"

"Kumagorou loves telling bedtime stories."

Yuki looked at Ryuichi and saw him smiling. Then he left waving, greeting him a goodbye and a good night. He could only wave back. When Ryuichi was far, he turned around and left for Shuichi's room.

*****

Only the sounds of machines could be heard. Yuki approached the sleeping body. He pulled the nearby chair and sat there, continuing his watch on Shuichi.

For him, Shuichi looked like a young angel.

A smile curved on Yuki's face. He looked at the stuffed animal and placed it beside Shuichi, then sat again. "S, Sakuma-san said Kumagorou will be his eyes on you. A, and um..." Yuki looked at his hands. "He said he loves telling bedtime stories." He looked back at Shuichi. For awhile there, he felt rather stupid. His hand moved to Shuichi's and smoothed the boy's hand with his thumb. Pretty soon, he fell asleep.

*****

Yuki squinted at the sun's ray running down to the room. He woke up with squinted eyes and looked around. He remembered he was in the hospital. Looking at the boy whose hand he held, he wanted to see wide bright violet eyes looking at him.

But they were closed, Shuichi's eyes were still closed.

Yuki sighed and returned to sleeping. He felt his hand move and opened his eyes once more. He lifted his head and saw Shuichi's eyes opening slowly.

Shuichi blinked a couple of times before he noticed he was in the hospital. He felt someone holding him and turned to see Yuki's green eyes looking at him. "Ohayo, Yuki."

Yuki gave a small smile. "Ohayo...Shuichi..."

+owari~+