Author's Note- Alright, here's the thing…I have been waay busy lately because of an anime con I attended in Winnipeg recently (YEAH)- BTW- it was freak'n awesome!!! Samurai Champloo, Scrapped Princess, Full Metal Alchemist, ROD, the list of awesomeness goes on and on (bought a freakin' sweet Saiyuki pencil case)…So this was on the back burner for a while…sorry about that. Plus, I just started college up again…so I APOLOGIZE!!!! I AM SORRY! Also, wrote a quick on shot of Full Metal Panic-so if you're a fan of the show-check it out! One more note, because I wanted to get this out, I didn't read it as carefully as I usually do…sorry…also I KNOW I said this would be the last chap…but I was wrong…sorry.

Disclaimer- Happy 15th anniversary CLAMP!!! You make the world a better place!

Warnings- Violence…maybe some language..

Chapter 6

Breakdown

Ferio looked at his computer screen, vainly trying to focus on the words splashed across it. Resisting the urge to beat his head on the desk, he brushed a loose lock of hair out of his vision and eyed the piece of mail with scrutiny. He couldn't believe it. The memo was about the new memo writing procedures… he deleted it after reading the first sentence. Talk about ironic. Deeply sighing, he leaned back, and raised his arms over his head as a yawn filtered through his body. Sleep tugged at the edges of his conscience, slowly pulling him deeper and deeper into a lethargic state, and he fought the losing battle half heartedly. Stuck doing paperwork today, he suffered through each hour with only one thought on his mind. As soon as it was over he would be on his way to Fuu.

This morning after regretfully untangling himself from Fuu, he had trudged over to the station in an aggravated state, the scent of her hair and the feeling of her skin stuck firmly in his mind. The shower had been long and cold, and afterwards Hikaru had been merciless. She questioned him persistently until finally he blew up at her, exclaiming that whatever he did or didn't do with Fuu was between the two of them. Hikaru's eyes had immediately gone cat-like and her speech that followed had been twenty minutes long and left Ferio with a blossoming head ache and telltale blush.

He knew that he had a responsibility to protect Fuu, and that not telling her about the escaped man was according to Hikaru a 'stupid mistake,' but did she really need to lecture him about how to make a woman happy? Just how fast did she think he was? Didn't she realize that him and Fuu were just starting a relationship, and no matter how much his libido screamed he wasn't about to try and seduce Fuu before she was ready and willing-more than willing. And why did Hikaru seem to think he needed help in that area of his love life?

After finally getting to his desk he had immediately started to try and track down the escaped criminal- and after apologizing to Hikaru she had helped. Several hours later, both himself and Hikaru had been frustrated and with no new leads. The guy hadn't been in contact with any of the local junkies or criminals that the police force had a 'connection' with. The guy had seemingly disappeared. Hikaru had left for an errand with Lantis, and Ferio had been stuck in the office- bored, frustrated, and Fuu needy.

Ferio glared at the clock in the corner of his screen. Ten minutes…he could survive ten minutes. Picking up and tapping a pen against his desk he frowned at numbers. Could time go any slower? He shuffled through the loose papers on his desk, and sharpened a pencil. Thirty seconds felt like forever. Abruptly he stood up and grabbed his coat, already halfway to the door. Several police officers glanced up from their desks, having heard Hikaru's earlier lecture- smirks covered their faces. He grit his teeth and ignored them. Another minute in this place would be an eternity. And eternity without Fuu would be hell. He put in enough overtime, for once he was leaving early- Hikaru would just have to finish her paperwork with Lantis. Not that he thought she'd mind.

Stepping out of the building and onto the street, he turned his collar up at the cold air. Anticipation coursed through his veins, and the feeling he had resolved earlier with a cold shower, slowly took root again-fast. Just thinking about Fuu was enough to drive him crazy. He couldn't wait to spend more time with her. Ferio wouldn't be satisfied until he knew every small insignificant detail about her. What she liked, hated, every thing that made her tick. He stopped at an intersection, waiting for the walk sign impatiently. Her smile left him dizzy, her words spoke to him like no one's ever had, and her soul was blindingly pure. She was perfect.

Jamming his hands into his pockets, he strolled onto the next block, glancing at a nearby vendor. Should he pick up something for Fuu? Some sort of snack? He shook his head and continued down the street. An idea suddenly occurred to him. Fuu had been cooped up all day. A romantic dinner, with a winter night carriage ride in Central Park would be wonderful. He grinned at the idea. Just the two of them under the winter sky, cuddling close to preserve warmth, Fuu's cheeks rosy with the cold and excitement, gushing at him for the splendid night he had planned, and a long sweet kiss goodnight under the eave of her apartment building. Her arms wrapped around him, her body pressed tightly to his, a moan in her voice, her lips- Ferio shook his head. He really was turning into a seventeen year old. Closing his eyes, he banished the impure thoughts of Fuu from his mind, and instead concentrated on creating a perfect evening for her. She deserved nothing less.

Stopping at the exclusive Italian restaurant between there and Fuu's apartment for reservations would only take a few minutes. Trying to remember the quickest route to the restaurant, he let his eyes focus on the street in front of him. A car rushed by and an old newspaper blew across his feet.

Letting his eyes sweep over the city he called home, Ferio's eyes settled on a figure two blocks down. Wrapped in a thick navy colored coat, the person waited patiently for the crosswalk sign. Hair blew haphazardly in the wind, and Ferio squinted his eyes at the familiar way she smoothed her honeyed colored locks back. A man approached her from behind and tapped her pointedly on the shoulder. She turned toward the man and Ferio realized that they were probably meeting-until she tensed up. The girl froze even as the man snatched her arm and dragged her into a nearby alley. Ferio assessed the situation quickly, as he checked his shoulder holster for his gun and jogged at a steady speed toward the alley. By the look of it, the con was probably trying to get away with either burglary or rape, and he wouldn't either happen.

Standing flat against the edge of the building closest to the alleyway, Ferio listened intently, careful not to rush the rescue without knowing if the conman was working alone. Having come across similar situations many times over his years on the police force, Ferio knew that the element of surprise was something he shouldn't give up so easily.

"Listen here…"

The voice of the criminal was low and scratchy. The voice instantly raised hairs on the back of Ferio's neck, and he felt his anger rise at the tone of the man's voice. He drew his gun, unable to understand the precognitive feelings of danger and fury, but more than willing to act on them. Something about the woman and man tugged at his mind to be recognized, but to focused at the task at hand, he gave up and instead tried to think of the best solution.

By the sound of it, the man and woman were on the right side, no more than twenty feet from the mouth of the alleyway. Hearing the girl moan in pain, he turned the safety off and made his move, the girl's voice finally making the situation clear.

Stepping into the alley, he drew the gun and aimed it at the man's head. The face instantly registered. It was the escaped bank robber. Ferio didn't stop the anger from rushing to his face. He had a clear shot if needed, and he wouldn't hesitate to shot the bastard. Letting his eyes flicker over the woman he had against the side of the building, Ferio felt his world burn in white hot rage. Fuu. The bastard had Fuu.

Hair disheveled, a lens cracked, coat torn, already he could see the bruises on her face and neck.-the man had dared to touch her, dared to hurt her. Watching as the man quickly ripped her from the wall and in front of himself as a shield, Ferio realigned his gun, watching in slight alarm as the man pressed a rusty blade to her neck. Fuu blinked wildly, before her eyes focused on him, and Ferio saw fear in them, then recognition and something else. He wouldn't let her down.

"Release the girl, and lie face down on the ground." he was surprised at how calm his voice sounded.

The robber flinched at Ferio's voice and gripped Fuu's body tighter. Alright, maybe he didn't sound that calm.

"No." the robber whined. He sounded like a four year old trying to disobey his bedtime. Ferio didn't really feel like giving him a spanking…maybe a pistol whipping would do instead…

The crook slowly made his way deeper into the alley, Fuu's body forced to follow. Ferio weighed his options carefully. To rush the crook could put Fuu in danger, but the longer he had Fuu in his custody, the greater the chance she would get hurt. Going with his instincts, he raised his hands, pulling the gun out of its position. He would appear harmless.

"Let her go please." Putting the 'please' at the end of the sentence, Ferio hoped to lull the man into a state of false control.

Of course, saying that six letter word was infinitely harder than Ferio ever imagined. The man's scared face turned triumphant….and Ferio smirked inside. Bingo. The crook got more cocky, sneering at Ferio. He ran a dirty hand down Fuu's face, before dragging the knife across her neck. She gasped in pain as a trickle of blood oozed out of the shallow cut. Ferio growled low in his throat. He would kill this man. There was no doubt in his mind, it he lost his life today- it would be by Ferio's hand.

"That's right. Your scared for this little thing, aren't you?" the man snickered even as he cut her again. Ferio saw red and let his eyes wander to her, worried about how she was handling the situation. Her eyes, though teary, glimmered with trust and love.

She smiled slightly, then did something that shook Ferio to the core. Through her tears, she winked. What could she possibly be thinking? What was going on? Fuu made a painful moaning noise, her eyes rolling back into her head. Shaking slightly, her eyes closed, even as her body began to slump. The robber's grip on her began to fail, and he fought in vain to keep her up in front of him. She had fainted. Ferio watched as the crook finally gave up, kicking her body slightly as it fell to the ground. Fuu didn't even flinch, she was a great actress. This was the chance he needed- and he wasn't going to let it go to waste.

Raising the gun as quickly as possible, he didn't hesitate pulling the trigger. Caught in the shoulder, the man stumbled backwards, blood spattering the walls and ground of the deserted alley. Ferio smirked as the bastard hit the ground with a thud, a small pool forming around his body. He groaned in pain and Ferio couldn't help but frown, part of him wishing that the bullet had hit a few inches to the right. Fuu was the only one who could evoke such dangerous feelings in him. Walking carefully forward, he kept an eye on the man while kneeling down and checking Fuu. Rolling her over, he waited for some sort of response.

"Fuu?" he shook her lightly, slightly afraid that she hadn't been faking. Her eyes opened, a sea of green and a window to her soul revealed. She smiled at him. Ferio's breath caught in his throat, and his chest constricted painfully.

"I love her." the words were spoken softly, Ferio unaware that he had said them out loud.

She shifted on the ground, her hand reaching up to cup his cheek. His eyes shut, the simple touch filling his already overflowing heart. All he needed to be happy was her. All he needed to be complete was her voice, her scent, her smile, her touch.

"Ferio-" her voice was packed with emotion, "Ferio, I lo- LOOK OUT!"

Fuu's eyes were filled with terror, and Ferio turned his head quickly, his gun following. The bastard was still alive, and coming fast. A sharp pain filled his upper body, and he pulled the trigger point blank into the man's chest. The man fell away, a look of surprise on his face, and Ferio turned back to Fuu, a numbness engulfing him. There were tears streaming down her cheeks. Looking down at his chest, he saw the hilt of the now dead man's knife embedded in his body.

He had been stabbed. Finally feeling pain, a sharp gasp echoed through the silent alleyway, his body slumping over. He laid on the cold concrete, hot sweat seeping out of his body. Shutting his eyes, he tried to control the feeling of helplessness that overwhelmed him. The knife was fully entrenched in his chest, and he could feel the blood pooling around his body with each heart beat. His head was lifted gently, then set on something soft. Feeling wetness on his face, Ferio opened his eyes, Fuu's tears were cool.

"Help!" Fuu called out in a broken voice, "Someone please help us!" She was practically sobbing.

"Fuu."

"Help!!!"

"Fuu."

"Please someone!!!"

"FUU!" He finally snapped her out of her stupor. She met his eyes with her own, and Ferio could read the terror in them, "It's okay." He could taste blood in his mouth, "I…there wont be enough time."

He could feel it already. Sticky with blood, pulse slowing, a struggle for each breath, this was it. The last moments of his life. Funny, his chest no longer hurt. He sensed Fuu leaning over him, her hand once again on his cheek, her forehead resting against his.

"Ferio. I can't live without you." she hadn't stopped crying. He could taste the salt in her tears. He tried to answer, but couldn't. His vision was going dark, "I need you Ferio… I love you."

Despite the circumstances, a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. She loved him. He tried to take another breath, but couldn't, his eyes sharpening with the realization that he had taken his last breath. Ferio watched Fuu, his eyesight nearly gone, glad that he had saved her, glad that he had met her, thankful that he was given the chance to love her.

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Fuu cried, her forehead touching Ferio's. This wasn't happening. The last fifteen minutes were nothing more than a bad dream. Ferio had not been stabbed, Ferio was not bleeding to death on the dirty street. They were still snuggled warmly in her bed. She pulled her head back slightly, intent on calling for help again. Nothing was certain, there could be time. Her eyes focused on Ferio. His eyes were open, unblinking.

"Ferio?" she shook him gently. He didn't move. She shook him again, this time harder. There was no response. Her world fractured into a million pieces.

"Please no….don't leave me…" Her body rocked back and forth, hands cradling his head. This was a nightmare. She wouldn't be able to take it. To have happiness snatched from her after only just finding it, she'd been alone for so long, "Please, no…anything, but not this….please…Ferio…"

To say that she loved him was understatement. From the moment she had seen him, she had felt a connection. When it began she felt afraid, unsure, and had ran away. Ferio had been persistent however, and in a few short days he had become her rock-her lifeline. Without him she would be alone, utterly, truly, and completely alone. She pulled him tighter against her, her hands clutching at his still frame. Fuu didn't want to be alone…having it snatched away for a second time would be her undoing.

Looking down at his chest, an irrational idea came to mind.

Taking off her coat, she set it beneath his head gently, taking a moment to brush a stray lock of hair from his forehead. Moving to the side of his body, she ripped her gloves off, the cold barely touching her. This had to work. Gripping the handle with her hands, she bit her lip hard and pulled the blade out. Blood sprayed from the open wound, splashing on both her face, her body, and the lenses of her glasses. She disregarded it. Putting her hands to his bloody chest, she pressed hard and released her power. Not holding anything back, she poured all that she could into the man she loved. Muscle healed, flesh stitched, bone mended, but still his heart wouldn't beat. Watching his face, she let more of her energy go, a tightening in her chest telling her that she was reaching her power's limit. She ignored it.

He twitched beneath her, and Fuu felt her world come alive. He grimaced, still unconscious, still in trouble… and she gave more. Pain blossomed in her chest, and she felt blood trickle between her breasts. It was warm. She had never used her power to this extent, never absorbed an injury to this degree. Closing her eyes, she pulled deeper, taking the wound with love. Anything for Ferio. He was her world, she was only alive when he was with her, and she would give everything to see him smile again. Black spots clouded her vision, and her form hunched over, unable to hold her weight. Still, she gave.

"A little more, just a little more…" her voice was scratchy.

He moaned softly, and his eyes fluttered. She tried to grin, but instead grimaced. The pain had become unbearable. Blood pooled in her lap, and flowed over her thighs. His eyes began to focus, and Fuu finally decided to rein in her power. Stifling the flow, she slumped completely over. Taking deep shaky breaths, she put a hand to her chest. She could feel the blood oozing from her body. Trying to stay conscious was becoming impossible…

Peripherally, she saw Ferio start to sit up, confused at his surroundings. She took a deep breath, the pain overwhelming, and let her body slip forward onto Ferio's.

"Ferio." the words were both a sigh filled with love, and an expression of the pain she was feeling.

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He stared at the white wall, a numbness encasing his body. This wasn't happening. He didn't know how it could be happening. Ferio had been dead…he knew that without a doubt. A knife had been lodged in his chest, he had taken his last breath. He had been dead, and Fuu had been hurt- but alive. And now… He couldn't even cry, a deadness engulfing his very soul. What had he done to deserve this? What had Fuu done?

"Fuu." he didn't recognize his voice, "Oh God…Fuu…"

He slouched forehead and rested his head in his hands. His insides were torn apart. A nurse walked by, and he ignored her. Light music played in the background, and an intercom occasionally broke the stillness. He didn't notice. He ignored everything. Strung as tight as a violin, he sat and waited…waited for the best or worst news of his life. Why had she done that? How could she think that he was more important than her? He bit his lip hard, and suppressed a sob. Fuu.

Three hours he had been sitting there, four hours since he had been reawakened. Running to the hospital, her cold bloody body in his arms, the image played out again in his mind. He should have ran faster, harder, should have done something different. She hadn't said anything after his name, and her breathing had gotten steadily slower and shallower.

Someone sat next to him, and he felt a hand cover his. Pulling himself away from the memory, he turned his eyes on the person that had dared to intrude on him. Emeraude sat next to him, her large doe like eyes brimming with tears. Zagato stood farther down the hall. He remembered the frantic message he had left on her machine, minutes after Fuu had been taken out of his arms. Looking down at his jacket, he noticed that the blood stains had finally dried. Ferio couldn't recall what he had said in those minutes when his brain had stopped functioning, but knew that the words had nearly caused a complete breakdown. Shutting his eyes, he leaned forward and let his head rest on her shoulder.

Not saying anything at first, she held the back of his head tightly to her. Emeraude's words were barely more than a whisper.

"I'm sorry brother, I'm so sorry."

He felt it then, the tears he hadn't been able to shed earlier. Starting slow, they soon turned into a river, coursing down his cheeks and onto her jacket. A sob shook his body, and he finally let go of the pain he had been holding. She rocked him softly, not loosening her grip on him even when his crying became almost violent.

"Why Fuu?" his question came out angry, "Why?"

She didn't say anything, just held him tight. After an indeterminate amount of time, Ferio finally reigned his feelings in, taking deep breaths to steady himself. Pulling away, he gave her a small smile of appreciation. She smiled back, traces of her tears evident. Feeling a presence in front of him, he gladly took the cup of coffee Zagato offered, thankful that he didn't say anything. Zagato handed another to Emeraude before sitting next to her, and sipping on his own.

Ferio drank the black coffee, relishing in the bitter hot feeling that burned his throat. Anything right now to take away some of the pain. After finishing the cup, he took a deep breath and looked expectantly at the doors that lead into the heart of the hospital. Shouldn't there be some sort of news by now? Standing up and walking over to the garbage, he threw the cup away halfheartedly, wishing that he had another.

"Ferio," Emeraude's voice was strong, with just a touch of steel beneath it, "we brought you some clothes to change into."

He looked down at the blood caked clothes he wore. It was Fuu's blood and his blood that stained his uniform and coat, dark red blood that they both had shed. So why wasn't he in there too? Why was he stuck outside waiting and waiting, why she was the one who may not be present tomorrow? Why-

"Ferio?" his sister sounded worried.

Taking off his jacket, he took the bag from her. He didn't want to worry his sister. She smiled a little broader, obviously pleased. Looking around for a bathroom to clean up in, he instead changed his mind. Noting that the waiting room was empty, he simply slipped off his shirt and slid on a new clean one. The pants would have to wait for later. Emeraude bit her lip, but didn't say anything…and he was grateful. He too had seen the dark purple bruise that nearly covered his torso. Fuu didn't have a bruise like him…she had something much worse…something that he should have had. His chest tightened up in pain again.

A door swiveled open and Ferio pivoted, his eyes searching. A surgeon in his mid-forties approached them, and Ferio's heart clenched in fear. A mask around his neck, and a blue smock with blood on it were tell tale signs of where he had come from. His face was neutral. What this one man said would either restore Ferio, or destroy him utterly. Everything in that moment faded, Emeraude, Zagato, the nurses, the music, everything was no more except the one man standing less than two feet away. Sweat broke out on Ferio's brow, and his heart beat speed up erratically- time slowing suddenly and painfully. He was afraid. He was so afraid he didn't know what to do.

The doctor stopped in front of him, resting a hand on Ferio's shoulder. He held his breath.

"Son, I have some important news for you."

Ferio's world stood still.

-------------------------------Alright, I know I said this chapter would be the last chapter, but I was wrong…I'm sorry!!!! One more, but to be honest it might be awhile-sorry, just wanted to get this out though….before someone killed me…