Ariana: Yes! It's finally here! The moment you've all been waiting for! The last chapter!

Daisuke: Took you long enough.

Ariana: Do you want to survive this story?

Daisuke: ::whimpers:: Sorry.

Ariana: Good. Sorry this took so long to get out but I hit major writer's block, so I'm really not incredibly happy about this chapter. But if I didn't get it out now, who knows how long it would be before I updated. So I decided it was better to get a not so great chapter out now then to wait till Christmas for the next chapter to be out.

Takeru: You should really confirm with other people before you decide things like that.

Ariana: Shut up or you shall ever remain evil.

Takeru: On with the story.

Daisuke: If Ariana owned Digimon, she wouldn't have to worry about how she was going to pay for college. The world would also be a less safe place.

Ariana: What's that supposed to mean?

Takeru: Story!

The ride to the hospital was the worst Takeru had ever felt. A thousand thoughts and emotions went through his mind. Shock, anger, disgust, sadness, pain, guilt. He now sat in the waiting room, reflecting. No one had said anything since they'd found him. Why hadn't he seen it? Why didn't he recognize how low Daisuke had gotten? But he was fooling himself by asking these questions. He didn't see what was going on because he was too busy trying to ignore the other boy. But why?

He was barely aware of a girl running into the room. If he had given it enough thought he would have realized it was Jun. But he was trapped in his own thoughts. He vaguely heard crying, but it might have been his mind. Because he felt like doing so much more. He wanted to scream, and cry, and fall, and apologize. Apologize for what? For treating Daisuke the way he had. For getting drunk at Yamato's party. For jumping to conclusions that morning. For not allowing Daisuke to explain himself. For avoiding him like the plague. For ever making Daisuke feel bad. For denying this for so long.

Denying what? Oh, there was the real question. There was the question that had been plaguing his mind for he didn't know how long. What was he denying? Oh, he knew what it was all right. He knew exactly what feelings he was trying to ignore. The real reason he had wanted to avoid talking about that morning. But the question was, was he ready to admit it yet.

He mentally slapped himself. His friend was lying in the emergency room because he had slit his own wrists, and here he was trying to figure out if he could admit something. He could lose Daisuke. He had no idea what was going on back there, and he could be dying this minute. What would he say? What would he tell him if it was the last thing he could say to him?

I love him.

He didn't even have to think about it when he put it like that. The answer was automatic. He loved him. That was what he had been trying to deny so long. He didn't just have a crush on the red-head, he loved him. Was he ready to admit to this feeling? Did it really matter how ready he was when the person he loved could very well be dying?

I love him.

He would have cried, but he was all cried out. He had no more tears left to give. He vaguely heard someone call his name.

I love him.

Someone was talking to him.

I love him.

It sounded like his brother. He shook himself out of his thoughts and looked at the person next to him.

Ken stood up as Jun ran into the waiting room. She spotted him and hurried over. "What happened?"

Ken blinked back the tears that had been threatening to fall. He would not cry, especially in front of Jun. "We found Daisuke on the floor when we got there. He...he cut his wrists."

Jun stared at him in shock and then placed her hand to her head. She collapsed onto the nearest chair. "How is he?" she asked.

Ken shook his head, surprised that she was taking it so well. "The doctors won't tell us anything since we're not family."

Jun nodded, and for a minute Ken thought she was going to be okay. Then she started shaking. Ken sat down next to her as she began to sob. He took her into his arms and held her.

He silently cursed all the people that had caused his friend enough pain to do this. He cursed Daisuke's parents for never being there. He cursed all of Daisuke's so-called friends, all the digidestined. He cursed them for teasing him relentlessly, until the point that he couldn't take it. He cursed Daisuke for deciding to take the easy way out. He cursed him for not realizing how this might affect everyone else. He cursed himself for not seeing that it was getting this bad. And for not confronting him about the bracelets, and the cuts that he had correctly guessed were under them. And though somewhere inside he knew he shouldn't, he cursed Takeru most of all. He cursed him for teasing or ignoring Daisuke, for flirting with Hikari, for jumping to conclusions about the morning after the party and not letting Daisuke explain himself, and for just being an all around idiot.

Then he remembered the fit that Takeru had had. After handing Ken the towels, Takeru had thrown up right on the carpet. Yamato had rubbed his back to get him to stop coughing after that. Then he had let out the most heart-wrenching scream Ken had ever heard. Even Yamato couldn't get him to calm down. He finally stopped from lack of oxygen or because his throat had given out, Ken wasn't sure which one. Then he had just collapsed into Yamato and cried uncontrollably. He was crying so hard he couldn't even breathe. He had been in the middle of his fit when the ambulance had arrived. They had had to put him in an oxygen mask just to get him to calm down.

Ken knew then that Takeru was never going to be the same, and he suddenly couldn't blame the blonde anymore. He was probably hurting more than anyone here, and not even he realized that. If Daisuke didn't make it.... But no, Daisuke would be fine, because he had to be. Too many people relied on him being okay. Ken realized that he was still holding Jun, and that he was actually doing it to try to comfort himself. Ken held Jun tighter and finally let the tears fall.

He didn't know how long they stayed like that, but at some point a doctor came into the waiting room. "Are you guys here for a Motomiya Daisuke?" They nodded. "Are any of you family?"

Jun stood up. "I'm his sister."

The doctor nodded. "Well, Mr. Motomiya is stable now. He lost a lot of blood, but is otherwise okay."

"He's going to live?" asked Jun earnestly.

The doctor smiled gently. "Yes, he's going to be fine. You can visit him now if you'd like, but we'd prefer if you kept it to two at a time."

Jun looked at Ken and he nodded. He turned and looked at the two blondes. Takeru didn't seem to register anything that was happening. Ken shook his head in sympathy. Yeah, he was upset with Takeru still, but the blonde had nearly had a breakdown when they found Daisuke. He just hoped he wasn't blaming himself. He shuddered at the thought of having to deal with that. "Yamato?" The blonde waved them off. He would stay with Takeru for now. Ken turned back to Jun and let her take his arm. They walked down the hall together.

Yamato watched as they walked away. He turned to his brother, concerned. He hadn't even moved since they'd sat down. Yamato knew he was taking it badly. Ken was obviously upset, it was his best friend after all, but Takeru had just gone into hysterics.

"Hey Takeru?" he called softly. Takeru turned to him. "Hey, are you okay?"

"I love him."

Yamato blinked. "What?"

Takeru shook his head and finally looked at his brother. "What?"

"You just said you love him." Yamato searched his brother's face as Takeru turned pale.

"Who do you love?" Takeru looked away. "Daisuke?"

He heard footsteps and sighed as he turned to the doorway. Ken was supporting Jun in the hallway. Yamato stood up and helped Ken sit her in a chair. Ken looked like he was fighting back tears.

"You can go see him now."

Yamato nodded and went back to Takeru. "Hey kid," he said gently. "We can go see him now if you want?" Takeru seemed to debate this, and finally nodded. Yamato helped his brother up, and they walked down the hall together.

When Takeru had thought he couldn't cry anymore, he had been wrong. Seeing Daisuke tied to all those machines, barely breathing, sent him over the edge. As soon as they had walked into the room, Takeru collapsed. He felt Yamato catch him and sobbed into his shoulders.

He remembered being hooked up to an oxygen mask as he started gasping for breath and tried to calm himself. It probably wouldn't do to pass out in a hospital. Although this would probably be the place to do it, seeing as there were a million professionals on hand. But his brother would probably flip, and he didn't want that.

He took deep breaths and rubbed his eyes. He slowly stood back up and looked back at Daisuke, clinging to his brother. They both walked over to the bed. He looked so fragile. He would've looked peaceful if not for the fact that his face was so pale. It hurt Takeru so much to see a boy who used to laugh at everything and had so much energy, now lying in a hospital bed, looking like...Takeru didn't want to finish that thought.

At that moment Takeru realized that he couldn't deny it anymore. He loved him, and he would tell him so as soon as he woke up. Sure, he might be rejected, or even laughed at. Or Daisuke might not believe him. But it was worth it if it meant Takeru would never have to see his friend lying in a hospital bed again.

He felt Yamato shift slightly. "What were you talking about in the waiting room? Do you really love him?"

Takeru closed his eyes and nodded. "Yeah, I do. I really think I do." He didn't want to see the look on his brother's face, so he kept his eyes closed.

He felt Yamato's arms tighten around him. "I'm glad you finally realized it." Takeru looked at his brother in surprise. "I just wish it hadn't taken this for you to see it."

Takeru looked back at Daisuke and nodded. He squeezed his eyes shut as tears threatened to fall. For the third time that evening, he cried into his brother's shoulder.

Takeru must have fallen asleep at the hospital, because the next morning he awoke in a bed with no memory of how he got there. He suddenly had a disturbing feeling of déjà vu and bolted upright. He looked around the room and relaxed as he recognized his brother's bedroom. Some one cleared his throat from the door. Takeru looked up to see his brother. "What happened?"

"You fell asleep so I brought you home. Ken and Jun stayed overnight at the hospital."

Takeru rubbed his eyes. "Any word on Daisuke?"

Yamato smiled softly. "Ken just called. Daisuke's awake and they're letting close family visit him." Takeru nodded. Suddenly a towel hit him in the face. "Well, don't just sit there! Go take a shower and get ready."

Takeru looked at his brother in confusion. "Huh?"

"You want to go see him, don't you?"

Takeru struggled to figure out what his brother was saying. Morning was really not his time of day. "But—I thought..."

"Jun asked the doctors to let us see them and they agreed."

Takeru grinned and hopped up to take a shower and get ready.

Ken and Jun were still there when they arrived at the hospital. Jun was spread across the chairs, asleep, and Ken had bags under his eyes. Takeru took a deep breath and walked over to Ken. Ken looked up as he approached. "I'm sorry," said Takeru. He took another deep breath. "I'm sorry that I've been such an idiot. And I'm sorry that I didn't see all this before. And I'm sorry that he...that he decided to take it this far. If only I had...if I hadn't been so stupid, and actually talked to him about...about that morning, none of this would have happened." He looked down at the floor, awaiting Ken's reaction.

Ken sighed. "I really hope you haven't gone and blamed yourself for all of this." Takeru looked at him. "I mean seriously, that would be kind of arrogant don't you think. That his life revolved around you and that if it weren't for you he would have been fine. Sure, it makes you feel important, but how realistic is that." Takeru was hurt. He tried to apologize and he gets it thrown in his face. Did Ken really think that's what he thought.

Ken must have noticed his reaction, because he changed tones. "Look Takeru, it's not your fault. I won't lie to you, you probably had a lot to do with it. But it was Daisuke who made the choice to do what he did. No one else was holding that knife. It was Daisuke who decided to keep everything in and not talk about it. He decided to let all those things hurt him instead of letting them go. So you are not to blame. And you're not doing anyone any good by thinking you are." Takeru nodded slightly. Ken placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'm serious. Now go down and see him. I told him you were coming."

Takeru looked at Ken again. "You told him..." He shook his head. "How did he take it? I mean, is it okay that I came? How did he react?"

Ken paused for a moment. "He was...shocked. I think that's the best way to put it. And yes, it's fine that you're here. Now go."

Takeru looked at his brother who gave him a thumb's up. Here it is, Takeru, he said to himself. He was going in there and he was going to tell him. When he reached the right door, he knocked gently and opened it. He put his head through the crack and peeked in. Daisuke was staring at him with an unreadable expression. He motioned for Takeru to come in and he obliged. Daisuke was still hooked up to a bunch of machines, and he looked tired, but some of the color had returned to his face. Takeru was glad for that.

He walked closer to Daisuke's bed and sat in a nearby chair. Daisuke continued to stare at him with the same expression. He finally opened his mouth to speak. "Why?"

Takeru looked at him in confusion. "Why what?"

"Why are you here?" Takeru felt his stomach tighten up. He knew he shouldn't have come. "I mean, you ignore me for the past two weeks, you pretty much tell me you want nothing to do with me, and now you willingly come visit me in the hospital? What is this?"

"Why wouldn't I visit you in the hospital?" asked Takeru softly.

Daisuke glared at him. "You've made it pretty clear that you don't like me very much."

Takeru look up sharply. "Daisuke, I have always considered you a friend. I may not have always expressed that in the best way, but I've never hated you."

Daisuke looked at him, and Takeru could tell he was holding back tears. "Then why? Why did you say the stuff you said?"

Takeru put a hand through his hair. "You mean why did I refuse to talk about that morning?" Daisuke nodded. He sighed. "Honestly, because I was afraid. I was afraid of what waking up next to you meant. Ken talked to me." Daisuke nodded again. "I honestly feel like a horrible idiot. I should have given you the benefit of the doubt and allowed you to tell me what happened. I mean, I made such a big deal about it and nothing even happened. I'm sorry that I didn't trust you."

"Would it be so bad if something had?" Daisuke mumbled softly.

Takeru was sure he wasn't supposed to have heard that, but he did. And he was shocked to say the least. This whole time and Daisuke had felt the same way? Now he really felt like throwing himself off a cliff for being such an idiot. Okay, bad analogy. Needless to say he felt extremely stupid. But now was his chance and he was not going to let that comment slip away.

"No, it wouldn't have." Daisuke looked back up in shock. "But that was exactly the problem. I had these...these feelings that I couldn't explain and didn't want to admit. When I woke up that morning, next to you, those feelings came rushing in and I just knew they were wrong. I wasn't really running from you, I was running from myself. It just took me a long time to realize that." He looked at all the hospital machines. "Almost too long."

Daisuke looked at Takeru for a long moment. "What are you saying?" he asked quietly, almost as if he was afraid to voice his thoughts aloud. "Are you saying you like me?"

Takeru shook his head. "No Daisuke, I don't like you." He saw disappointment and hurt settle on Daisuke's face. He smiled softly. "I love you."

He watched as what he just said sank in. Daisuke's face changed from hurt, to shock, to disbelief, happiness, and back to disbelief. "What did you just say?"

"I love you," repeated Takeru. "I have for awhile. I just wish I had realized it sooner. Then we would have never had this mess."

Daisuke stared and Takeru a little longer, and then grinned. "You love me?" Takeru nodded. Daisuke grinned even wider, and then suddenly dropped. "What about Hikari?"

Takeru bit back a sigh of frustration. What could he do to make him believe him? He stood up and walked up to the bed. His hands were shaking and he scolded himself for being so nervous. He took Daisuke's face in his hands and kissed him gently on the lips. He stared into Daisuke's eyes and repeated, "I. Love. You."

Daisuke stared at him and then broke into tears. Takeru held him tightly as the redhead sobbed into his shoulder. But he wasn't worried. He knew by the look on Daisuke's face that these were tears of every kind. Tears of bitterness, frustration, concern, hurt, and grief. But they were also tears of relief, forgiveness, joy, and possibly even love. Takeru let his own tears fall. He had screwed up what fate had initially thrown at him, but somehow he knew that there'd be many more mornings after to make up for it.

The end.

Ariana: Wow, what a sappy ending. I didn't think I was capable of that. Anyway, it's finally done. I'm sorry if this wasn't exactly what everyone was hoping for, but I finally got it out.

Daisuke: Perhaps you should take a vacation.

Takeru: Yeah, like a permanent trip to Far Away.

Daisuke: And leave me and Takeru alone!

Ariana: Now you know comments like that get interpreted as challenges.

Takeru: You had to open your big mouth.

Daisuke: You too!

Ariana: I need new muses. I'm going to go find my real muse. Now where did that stupid cat go...

Daisuke: Thank you to everyone who kept up with this story.

Takeru: Yeah, if it weren't for you, this story may have never been continued.

Daisuke: Or I might have died.

Takeru: ::nods emphatically:: Well, we gotta make sure Ariana doesn't try to write anymore crazy stories about us!

Daisuke: Please review!