*grins* It seems some of you like my little a/u. Poor Iryu… you just gotta feel sorry for the guy. He's been mostly dead most of the time Shiryu's seen him! *curls up happily in her nest of bishounen* But, I happen to like him, so I think I'll let him heal up some… maybe even get some of his memory back. Poor baby… I wonder what it is he does know?

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Soft comfort, warmth. Lids bruised from lack of sleep and good nutrition opened slowly, black on blue eyes darting frantically from side to side. Colored blurs, something dark coming toward him. He cowered into the bed, hearing but not understanding the words spoken to him. Nor did he understand the wave of sudden comfort when the dark shape finally took focus above him, a man with green-black hair and gentle eyes. His own eyes drifted shut again, feeling safe for the first time in forever.

Shiryu drew back, puzzled. His unexpected guest had been nothing if not terrified. Then, his eyes had bloomed with sudden trust before closing. What could have happened to the man? They had been almost equally matched - so what could have happened to reduce Black Dragon to the pathetic, mewling creature he'd become?

Shiryu drew back the blankets gently, checking the bandages he'd applied. Beneath the grime he'd cleaned away had been blood covering wounds that hadn't, or couldn't, heal. Two had needed stitched up. His feet had been a mass of blisters, blood, and frozen skin, it was a miracle that he'd been able to walk at all. His hands hadn't been in much better shape.

"Shiryu, how is he?" Hyoga's voice cut through his musings. He replaced the bandages that needed it before turning to the blond.

"He's… no better, but no worse," Shiryu replied. "I am not sure what could have happened to bring a knight such as he to this state."

"Knight?" Hyoga replied, startled, moving closer to examine the man burrowed deeply into the pillows, thick down comforter now pulled back up to his chin. "He's a knight?"

"Do you not recognize him, Hyoga? This is Dark Dragon, my double."

"I thought he died!" Hyoga yelped, his gaze suddenly more piercing. "I can… the hair, yeah. But… are you sure?"

"We are." Shun appeared suddenly, sitting on the edge of the bed to smile at Hyoga. "Shiryu would know best, but even I recognized him. It's his eyes, they're so… odd. Black on blue. And his hair… you combine the two and he can't be anyone else."

"Ah." Hyoga regarded the green-haired boy for a moment. "So… you gonna be helping to nurse him?"

Shun blinked, leaning back across the large bed and stretching. He groaned a bit, then nearly purred when a sharp 'snick' was heard. "Yeah," he replied, sitting back up, "I'll be helping. Of course! What are you staring at?"

Hyoga grinned. "You're an exhibitionist, Shun."

"Pth. Am not! Exhibitionism is what you do around my brother! I just needed to stretch. I've been going through all those books with Seiya."

"Gah! Don't remind me…" Hyoga groaned. "He's been at me to help him with those."

"Well, you should. Besides, he's got Ikki in there now…" Shun started laughing, Hyoga already gone. "He's really got it bad for my brother."

"The feeling is mutual, isn't it?"

"Oh yeah. Ikki thinks he's hot." Shun grinned, "He says he really enjoys watching the tough guy prepare his diamond dust because his poses make him look so delectable. Not that I told you that, of course," he added to the doubled over dragon knight. "Shiryu?"

The other's suddenly diffident tone sobered Shiryu. "What is it, Shun?"

Shun laid back across the bed, again carefully avoiding the injured dark knight. "It's… well…" He sighed. "Do you still want me, Shiryu? Now that he's here? I mean, you spent over a year just waiting for him… and now two months after we get together, he shows up. Do… should I leave you?"

"No!" Shiryu dropped to his lover's side. "No, Shun. I want you to stay with me."

Uncertainty, pain. Something wrong. Something wrong. Something holding him down. He whimpered, no longer feeling safe, his bandaged hands batting feebly at the weight over him. Movement to the side, frantic eyes took in shades of green. The whimpering grew louder, his efforts to escape more determined. Pain, erupting from his wounds, spreading throughout his body. He slumped, defeated, his whimpering silenced momentarily, tears running unchecked down his face.

The dark green moved closer, he recognized the man from earlier, but the feeling of safety was gone. He recoiled as much as he could, shrinking into the pillows, terror etched across his face. The voice was soothing, but he didn't believe anymore, his whimpers beginning again when the man touched him, barely understandable as words.

The bright green retreated, came back, holding something he gave to the other man. A strong arm slipped behind his shoulders, lifted him. A cup touched his lips, he finally recognized a word. "… drink? …" He wasn't sure what the rest was, wasn't sure the cup was safe, but it was being tipped, and he found himself drinking, suddenly realizing that he was thirsty, his hands reaching to keep the cup at his mouth, draining the last drop, not caring for anything but satisfying the dryness. And then the cup was empty, and he was at their mercy… and the mercy was real. He relaxed somewhat with that realization, not feeling safe, but no longer feeling threatened.

Shiryu lowered him back to the pillows, sliding from the bed with a frown. "Shun, could you make out what he was saying?"

"Not really," Shun replied, smiling gently at their visitor. "Should I go get something for him to eat?"

"Broth. I don't think he's up to eating." Shiryu spread the blanket over his guest carefully. "I don't think he's eaten for awhile."

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WAHHHH! Dad cancelled the cable. I've lost my Cartoon Network! No more Knights, no more DBZ, no nothing! I am so woe! As if losing my phone line wasn't bad enough! *growls* Okay, anyone doing a good fire&ice fic? And yeah, that'd be Ikki/Hyoga.