"Kouji!" The brunette cried, his heart jumping into his throat as his lover's body fell to the concrete, his skull making contact with a resounding crack.

He fell to his knees at his side, cradling Kouji's limp body in his arms, choking on a sob as the blood began to stain Takuya's tanned arms and clothing. Leaning down, he gently brushed midnight blue strands, whispering soft words, his attention fastened to the teen in his embrace.

Dakota watched the unscathed boy, his touch loving as the other teen's life fluid pooled onto the unforgiving cold floor. The icy metal that his fingers clung to fell to the concrete, snapping him out of his dream-like state. Swallowing hard, his mouth suddenly dry, the man's body shuddered as his tragic mistake dawned on him.

"Wh-what have I done?" he gasped, clutching at his stomach as it threatened to tear him apart.

Bitter tears cut paths down his cheeks as he turned to leave, staggering. The sound of Takuya's own cries rang in his ears along with rushed footsteps belonging to the men he had hired for this whole scheme. A quick glance through tear-laced lashes confirmed that the other boys were free to go as he stumbled down the stairs.

His foot caught and he fell to the second floor landing, a groan pulled from his gut as the wind rushed out of his lungs. He laid there, listening to the sobs that clung to his conscience, no longer giving a damn about what happened to him. He had just shot the boy he loved... and that was unforgivable in his eyes. Gasping to catch his breath, he shuddered once more as the pain overtook him, causing the man to break down and cry aloud.

.x.

When Takuya raised his head to cast a look on Shinya and Tomoki who were stopped dead in their tracks, he realized Dakota was nowhere in sight.

'So, he ran. Fucking coward.' he thought to himself as his sorrow-roughened voice asked for a cell phone.

His little brother pulled out Kouji's cell from the shopping bag that seemed to be stuffed with their possessions while the other boy clung to Anabelle as his chocolate eyes settled on the bleeding teen.

"Will he be alright?" Tomoki asked softly, shaking as Takuya dialed for an ambulance.

'I hope so,' the oldest brunette replied silently as he began to relay their situation to the woman who answered.

Their exact location was sketchy, and he stumbled over the description of the building they had been held captive in. It seemed the gods were looking down on them, for the woman recognized the building as a gang hideout and immediately sent an ambulance and two police units on their way.

The minutes dragged by as they waited with bated breath, Takuya's eyes never leaving Kouji's face. The boy was still breathing, and the flow of blood had slowed thanks to the pressure applied by the brunette's hand. His fingers were stained crimson as the emergency sirens shattered the night.

The actual events of that next half hour were lost on Takuya as he walked through it in a daze. The younger boys were shooed into one of the police cars as Takuya attempted to answer all the questions an overweight cop shot at him. Thankfully, a paramedic in turn shooed the man away, telling him that the teen was in no state to be answering such things. He was helped into the ambulance, and clung to Kouji's hand once more, as the sirens ripped apart the silent night with their cries.

Upon arriving at the hospital, Kouji's still body was rushed into the emergency room, leaving the other three to test their patience in the robin egg's blue waiting room with matching plush armchairs and couches. Shinya and Tomoki eventually fell asleep curled up on a couch together; Anabelle snuggled under the younger Kanbara's chin. Magazines provided little distraction as time continued to crawl by. In an attempt to ease his own mind, he walked to a payphone, dialing a number he knew by heart.

A drowsy Kouichi answered, a bit of irritation detectable in his voice. As soon as the brunette explained the early morning call, however, Kouji's twin flew into a fury, asking questions rapid-fire. Takuya was about to relate the story to the anxious teen, but stopped as he felt a light tap on his shoulder. He turned to find a nurse looking at him expectantly, and he quickly hung up after asking Kouichi to tell his mother. In silence, Kira, as the nurse's nametag boasted, led the diminutive teen through the winding halls to his lover's room. He bowed in thanks, not trusting his voice as he grasped the handle and stepped into the room.

Dim lights lit the pastel-hued room, doing little to ease Takuya's nerves as his gaze settled on his best friend. Wires connected to various machines seemed to claim every visible inch of Kouji's ivory skin, save for his expressionless face; the sight of his lips wrapped around a breathing tube gave the brunette a chill as he drew a pale lime armchair next to the hospital bed.

Lovingly, Takuya took his lover's fever-flushed right hand into both of his own, mindful of the IV tube embedded in the back of his hand. His chocolate eyes stayed riveted to Kouji's face as he spoke soft nonsense, tears stinging the backs of his eyes. Leaning down, he brushed his lips against their joined hands, apologizing for what seemed like the hundredth time.

A man cleared his throat, causing the brunette to jerk in surprise, turning his head sharply to appraise the being that dared to interrupt his precious time with his lover. His eyes took in the crisp white shirt, khaki slacks and then the well-worn tennis shoes, finally coming to rest on the plastic-sheathed nametag. A small headshot of the man was set above a line of text that simply stated his name: Natsuto Kuri. His name was fitting, for he had chestnut hair that glowed even in the half-light. He held a clipboard in his hands, and actually seemed a bit nervous.

"Yes, Natsuto-sensei?" Takuya asked, his tone oddly flat.

'Why do I suddenly feel like an adult?' he wondered as the doctor stepped further into the room, closing the door behind him.

He came to stand beside the armchair that the teen had claimed, and smiled reassuringly. "I have come to inform you of your friend's condition. He's suffered a mild concussion, and the wound from the bullet is nothing serious. He should awake in the next couple days, but in the meantime… is there anything you need?"

The young man tilted his head thoughtfully, his mind returning to the fact that his little brother and friend were out in the waiting room fast asleep. He mentioned this to the doctor, who smiled and nodded, assuring the boy that he would arrange the pair to stay in an empty room.

"You may stay here with your friend, if you like," Kuri added, a knowing look in his unusual citrine eyes. Takuya graced the man with a brilliant smile, thanking him for his kindness. The doctor shrugged it off, a helpless grin on his own features as he departed, leaving the brunette alone with his lover once again.

A soft sigh escaped Takuya's lips as he shifted his arm to make it into a mock pillow for his aching head. After everything he and Kouji had been through earlier that night, he wasn't surprised that his head was pounding or that his eyes refused to focus. He kept his dark-haired beauty's hand clasped in his own, and slowly closed his eyes, relinquishing another sigh as he let his body go limp, praying that sleep would come soon.

.x.

Takuya was abruptly dragged from his dreams when he felt the body next to his squirm. In the faint light of dawn, he saw that Kouji's eyes were squeezed tightly as if he was in pain, his frail body thrashing, getting himself even more tangled in the wires and sheets. The brunette teen moved a hand to the other's chest, gently but effectively pinning the boy, while leaning forward to whisper soothing words into his ear. In moments, Kouji was still once more, a content look on his unconscious face as he returned to a peaceful slumber.

With hooded chocolate eyes, the brunette watched his lover drift back to the protective grasp of Morpheus, wishing he knew what had plagued him so. Asking would have proved fruitless since, though Kouji may have been able to hear him, he was incapable of answering. He whispered another apology, kissing their joined hands once more before sleep claimed his exhausted body, putting his ragged mind to ease for the moment.

.x.

Kouichi thanked the nurse and left the waiting room, wandering down the halls until he came to room 285 – his twin's room. He glanced down at the lilies cradled in his arms, smiling faintly to the flowers as if they could comprehend how much Kouji loved white lilies. Taking a deep breath, he placed a slightly shaking hand on the door handle, and let himself into the room.

It took him a moment for his eyes to adjust to the dimness of the room, which was due to the curtains being drawn against the morning sunshine. The reasoning was evident as his navy eyes settled on the two teens still locked in slumber, Takuya's face buried in the crook of his arm, while his hands clasped one of Kouji's. A smile touched his lips as he watched them for a few moments, almost regretting that he would have to shatter the beauty that lay before him. On silent feet, Kouichi came to stand beside Takuya's chair, tapping the brunette lightly on the shoulder.

Chocolate eyes fluttered open at the gentle touch, blinking a few times in an attempt to wake his sleeping mind. Turning his head, Takuya smiled at his lover's twin, his motions stiff as he stood slowly. He stepped into Kouichi's arms, careful not to crush the lilies as he hugged the boy. The dark-haired teen returned the hug, placing a soft kiss on his friend's cheek before he could step out of his embrace.

Without a word, Takuya crossed the room, parting the curtains to let some light into the room. He searched the scenery for answers to questions unasked, his mind seeming to go numb as his eyes absorbed what lay outside the window. Slowly, he turned to face Kouichi once more, noticing for the first time just how miserable he looked. Deep purple smudges bruised the skin under his eyes, and his eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep and obvious crying. They stood in silence, watching each other sadly, before their gazes moved to the unconscious teen lying on the ivory bed.

Takuya returned to his armchair, beckoning for Kouichi to pull up the other one. "How is he?" the sleep-deprived boy asked softly.

"The doctor says he should wake up soon. None of his wounds are fatal, so as soon as he wakes up, it should be a full recovery – physically anyhow. Emotionally, who knows how he's going to be after this whole ordeal."

Midnight locks covered his dark eyes as he bent his head down, biting his lip as he let the news sink in. "And, what exactly happened to my brother, Takuya?"

Though the brunette knew the question was coming, he sighed softly; wishing locking the events away in his heart was an option. But since miracles aren't handed out with such ease, he squirmed in his armchair before relaying the story, forcing himself to spill every last detail. As the words poured from his lips, his mind kept going over the exchanges between Kouji and Dakota, attempting to make sense of what could have led to the bitterness he had witnessed.

The teens returned to silence, Kouichi's face unreadable as he avoided Takuya's eyes, looking at his brother instead. He stood without a sound, and crossed the short distance to Kouji's bed. Leaning down, he placed a tender kiss on his twin's forehead. The beeping of all the machinery filled the awkward void as the short haired boy set the lilies in a blue crystal vase, bringing a touch of innocence that the room seemed to lack. Turning on his heel, he bestowed a single glance upon Takuya, one that spoke of pain, sorrow and possible hatred.

"I'll take Shinya and Tomoki home, and stay with them until Kouji is better," was all he said before leaving the sunlit room.

Under his breath, the brunette murmured, "I'm sorry it had to be this way… I failed you, I'm sorry."

.x.

Three days passed in slow succession, each seeming to blend into the other. All Takuya could remember were the words he whispered to Kouji, praying that the boy would open those navy eyes soon. Dr. Natsuto came once a day to check on his patient, and the nurses were in and out so often that the teen barely acknowledged their presence anymore. His mere existence seemed to rely on the boy who was trapped in darkness and nothing else mattered to him.

.x.

Night found Takuya sleeping with his head upon his arm once more, his hands still gripping Kouji's lifeless one, waiting for the moment when his lover would wake up. And it seemed tonight was his lucky night, for pressure was applied to his hand, jerking him out of his own slumber. Blinking a few times to make sure his eyes weren't deceiving him, the sore teen's face broke into a smile as he saw piercing navy looking right at him, their owner smiling faintly in return.

"Kouji…" Takuya whispered, his voice full of emotion as he continued to stare.

The boy tried to talk, but found himself unable thanks to the breathing tube shoved down his throat. Not even thinking about the consequences, the brunette carefully removed the tube, tossing it aside with a look of disgust.

Reluctantly, he released his lover's hand to pour him a glass of cool water in hopes of easing his parched throat. With a touch as delicate as a spring breeze, Takuya brought the glass to Kouji's lips, tilting it just enough so his eager mouth could lap up the precious liquid.

After he drank his fill, the brunette set the glass back on the bedside table, immediately forgetting about it as he took in the sight of his best friend. His ebon-blue locks were disheveled, barely covering the bruises on his face from being shoved against brick. Kouji struggled to sit up, causing the sheet to pool at his waist, revealing a bandaged torso that made the brunette wince in memory. He pushed the other boy forward a bit, supporting him with a hand as he adjusted the pillow to bring some comfort.

Kouji settled back against the pillow, his head tilted back against the wall, exposing the graceful ivory arch of his neck. A mischievous smile danced on the other boy's face as he moved to sit on the edge of the bed, placing a tender kiss upon his lover's lips. He opened his navy eyes, a soft light dancing in them at the sight of Takuya being so sweet. Glow from the streetlights outside filtered through the parted curtains, illuminating the room just enough to see by.

"Where are the boys?" the patient asked, his voice still slightly rough.

Explaining in earnest, the young man informed his friend that Tomoki and Shinya were staying with Kouichi in their apartment, and his twin had stopped by a few days ago with the lilies. A smile tugged at Kouji's cracked lips, wondering how his brother was holding up. He supposed Junpei was over to assist with the younger teens, so all would be well. Returning his gaze to his still chattering lover, he noticed a brilliant grin adorning his face.

The dark-haired boy let his eyes travel over the contents of the room, resting on the dawn-kissed sky outside his window. "When can I go home?"

His words hung in the air as the brunette found himself unable to give the answer he know his friend wanted to hear, "Soon, I hope. Since you're awake, I'm sure Natsuto-sensei will let you come home…"

The way he trailed off worried the half-naked teen slightly, but he dismissed it as he felt a wave of fatigue wash over him. Slumping back against the pillow, he sighed. Takuya reached out, gently moving the lithe body so its' owner could lie down. Kouji buried his head into his pillow, but reached out with a blind hand to pull his lover next to him. Without a word of protest, the other teen climbed onto the narrow bed, curling up next to his friend and lover, wrapping a comforting arm around his waist.

.x.

Morning was giving way to afternoon when the boys awoke to the muffled giggles of a group of nurses who had gathered at the door to watch the sleeping pair. They scurried like mice when they noticed the two raising their heads, glaring half-heartedly through bleary eyes. Ready to go back to sleep, they were denied the chance when Dr. Natsuto knocked unnecessarily on the open door before stepping into the room.

"Ah, I see you've finally decided to join the living," he said with a crooked smile, not failing to notice how tenderly Takuya's hands moved in helping his friend to sit up.

The brunette slid off the bed, squeezing Kouji's hand before releasing it to cross the room. "Thank you for everything you've done, Natsuto-sensei. Can he—''

"Yes, he can go home. I was just waiting for him to wake up. Now that he is, I will be more than happy to release him into your care, Kanbara-kun." The chestnut-haired doctor smiled at the two boys. "Just take this paper to the front desk, and he's free to go." He placed the paper in Takuya's hand, winked, and then left.

Takuya blinked in mild surprise, then shrugged, turning to face Kouji who was sitting on the edge of the bed, his feet dangling. A nurse came in moments later to remove the IV from his hand, and handed a small paper bag to the standing boy, leaving just as suddenly as she had appeared.

Peeking in the bag, he discovered rolls of bandages, a small bottle of painkillers, and some antibiotic cream. A slip of paper was tucked in with the bandages, but Takuya didn't bother reading it, as he closed the bag, folded it and shoved it in a pocket.

Walking over to his shirtless boyfriend, he held out his hand, "Ready to get out of here?"

Kouji nodded, a smile touching his lips, "Yes."

He took his friend's hand, squeezing it affectionately as they walked slowly out of the room, hoping to leave the tainted memories behind.

.x.

The sun still shone brightly overhead as the pair walked home, Kouji still missing a shirt. People stared, but neither of them cared, as they paused to let the injured boy rest every now and then. By the time they made it to their apartment, blood had begun to stain the pristine bandages. Takuya opened the door swiftly; glad his keys were still with him as he led the taller boy to the bathroom. A note caught his eye as they passed the coffee table, and he grabbed it absently.

Forcing Kouji to sit on the closed toilet, the brunette read the note from Kouichi, saying that he and Junpei had taken the boys to the movies and would be home for dinner. He relayed the message to the twin as he removed the bag from his pockets, emptying its contents on the counter for later as an idea made itself known. Looking over at the slightly shivering teen, he decided to follow through on his impulse, and set to preparing a bath.

Dark greasy locks obscured his face as he watched Takuya through lowered eyelashes. His chest ached something fierce, and without looking down, he knew the wound had reopened and was oozing blood. A bath didn't sound like a bad idea though; he felt disgusting and wanted the sins committed against him to follow the soon to be dirty bathwater down the drain. He felt soft hands take his own, lifting him to his feet slowly. Those very hands lowered the sweats that the hospital had provided, helping him step out of them and into the waiting bath.

An involuntary moan passed his lips as he felt the heat melt his bones into putty. His lover was lighting the various candles claimed most of the counter, and soon the soothing scents of lavender and vanilla filled the air.

He watched through half-open eyes as Takuya freed himself of his own clothing, revealing dirty skin and angry scratches. Nevertheless, he still looked magnificent as he ran a careless hand through his greasy and tangled hair. With a resplendent smile, he took two short steps, and slipped into the tub with his best friend.

Gentle hands began to unwind the bloody bandages from Kouji's chest, though their owner had his chocolate eyes locked with depthless navy. Takuya's warm breath fluttered over the newly exposed skin, drawing a gasp from the other teen, as those same hands tossed the linens onto the floor.

Picking up a cotton washcloth and dipping it into the already discolored water, he proceeded to gently wash the filth from Kouji's thin body. Soft noises of pleasure were coaxed from the boy as nimble fingers continued to play across his skin, doing a very through job of cleaning. On a whim, Takuya leaned down, his slightly damp hair tickling his lover's chin and throat as his pink tongue darted out to lick the edges of the bullet wound, extracting a muffled cry as Kouji bit his lip.

Their eyes met briefly, swimming with emotion, before closing to enjoy the sweet kiss that Kouji inflicted upon his lover. Starting out slow and tender, but soon turning heated, the dark-haired teen realized he had forgotten how well their bodies fit together. The dirt-tainted washcloth fell into the bathwater, sinking to the bottom to be forgotten until the bath was drained some time later.

In the meantime, the young lovers kissed and exchanged gentle touches, the brunette being mindful of his friend's injuries. To Takuya, this meant the world; he was attempting to make up for his mistakes in Dakota's domain, hoping he could ease the trauma Kouji had endured.

The bath had long since lost its warmth, and found the boys cuddling in spite of the chilled water. Reluctantly, Takuya pulled away from his boyfriend, moving to drain the water, and then set to refilling the bath so they could resume getting cleaned up. He finished bathing Kouji first, his hands still as gentle as possible. As those navy eyes watched, he washed himself quickly, barely letting the shampoo sit in his hair for more than five seconds before dunking his head back underwater.

He placed a soft kiss on the inside of Kouji's right thigh before coming up for air, and smiled at those wide eyes. Letting the dirty water rush down the drain again, he pulled the other teen out of the emptying tub, wrapping a fresh towel around that frail waist. Not even bothering for a towel for himself, he set to bandaging Kouji's chest, singing softly to the drowsy boy.

.x.

Around 7pm, Kouichi let himself, Junpei and the younger teens into the apartment. Tomoki and Shinya were chattering endlessly about the flick they had seen, and Junpei was right in there with them. The short haired twin rolled his eyes, setting the keys on a table as he wandered into the living room only to stop dead in his tracks.

Lying on the couch was none other then Takuya and Kouji, that beautiful curtain of ebony trailing over a bare, bandaged torso encircled by tan arms. A swift gesture to the chatterboxs silenced them effectively, and pointing to the sleeping lovers brought a smile to everyone's face.

"Why don't we make these two some dinner, to celebrate the gang being back together, ne?" Junpei suggested, already heading for the kitchen with the teens in tow. Their voices lowered as they plotted, and Kouichi left his friends on the couch, glad his brother was home and safe.

Roughly an hour later, the aromas of terakyi chicken and rice danced in the air, filling the entire apartment. Once Tomoki had set the table and Shinya had poured the drinks, Junpei's lover returned to the living room, perching on the coffee table gracefully. Leaning forward, he lightly tugged on his twin's hair, chuckling softly as he squirmed and tried to bury his bruised face deeper into the crook of Takuya's neck.

"Kouji, it's time for dinner…" he cajoled, his voice gentle, "We're having your favorite…"

In response, the boy groaned, still unwilling to move from the warmth of his lover's body. His movements brought Takuya to consciousness, and he tightened his arms around Kouji briefly before sitting up slowly, bringing the boy with him.

"Did I hear something about dinner?" the brunette asked, kissing his best friend's ebony locks fondly.

"Yes, terakyi chicken and rice. If you're interested, that is," Kouichi replied with a crooked grin.

They stood in unison, Takuya helping Kouji walk into the dining room/kitchen with an arm around his waist. Extra chairs had been put at the heads of the table, making room for the six teens as they all sat down to the delicious meal. Comfortable conversation shattered the silence in between bites, along with the scraping of silverware on the cornflower blue plates.

Shinya and Tomoki volunteered to do the dishes, leaving the older teens to talk amongst themselves over soothing cups of green tea. They avoided the risky topics with ease as they chatted, wondering idly what the rest of their lives would have in store.

When Kouji's eyelids began to flutter, and he rubbed at them with a careless hand, Junpei proposed taking the boys off their hands, leaving them to a peaceful evening alone. The slightly older twin jumped in, saying they could rent movies to keep them entertained, and insisted it wouldn't be a problem when Takuya began to open his mouth.

With a shrug of mock defeat, he agreed, pretending that it didn't matter either way, though deep down, he was happy that he would get a chance to be with Kouji, in the same bed, without interruptions.

'No twittering nurses here,' he thought with a smile.

The clock was striking 9 when they gathered in the front room to say goodnight. Takuya hugged his kid brother, making him promise to behave while under Kouichi and Junpei's care. He also hugged Tomoki, placing a soft kiss on the boy's forehead; remembering how much he had been reminded of Shinya whenever he had looked at the boy in the Digital World.

Smiling at his older friends, he bowed slightly in thanks, his chocolate eyes full of mirth as they returned the half-bows. The younger teens grabbed their overnight bags, bouncing down the steps, and chattering furiously about their plans to watch movies until dawn. Junpei and Kouichi gave small waves, closing the door behind them as they followed the energetic brunettes.

Hand-in-hand, the tired lovers climbed the stairs to their bedroom. A sense of tranquility bathed them as they stripped down to their boxers, tossing their sweat pants in the general direction of the hamper. After brushing their teeth, Takuya quickly checked over the bandages to make sure they would stay in place until morning.

Satisfied, he retired to their queen-size bed, slipping between the sheets with a happy sigh. Kouji joined him moments later, his movements slower thanks to the painkiller he had taken during dinner. The brunette pulled his drowsy lover into his arms, kissing him softly.

"I love you, Kouji," he whispered as he closed his eyes.

"I love you too, Takuya," he slurred, snuggling closer to the boy's bare chest.

He felt the inevitable pull of sleep as the medications began to take their toll. But before he surrendered, he swore he smelled white lilies on Takuya's skin.