A story about life, love, courage, and testing ultimate friendship. What happens to Beetlejuice and his friends when one of their own falls into despair and changes completely? Nothing will ever be the same. This story is an Alternate Universe set five years after Dark Shadows in the year 2008, and does not follow the intended story line. I repeat, this story does NOT follow the intended story line of the two stories (A New Beginning & Dark Shadows) included in my Beetlejuice Afterlife series, which is why it is simply titled "Mania" and not "Beetlejuice Afterlife – Mania". If I have someone ask me why I would put this as a sequel, I'll ignore them, because, right here it says: THIS STORY IS NOT A SEQUEL. This story was just bursting to be written, but I have no intention to make it part of my previous series. It just happens to use that series' events as a prelude. I hope there is no confusion.
Another long chapter. Get some popcorn or something. It'll be worth it.

Kyle's mad. Endri's crazy. Why do I do this to my own characters? ... Because I love them so.
Mania
Spencers13 – March 2003–March 2004
R – Drama – Angst


Chapter Eight – One and Two Makes Two

Sighing as he removed two slices of surprisingly fresh bread from its bag, Kyle twisted the tie back around the plastic to keep it fresh with a quick wrench of his hand. The next thing he went for was the peanut butter. He was glad that stuff took a long time to go bad. The reason he was so concerned with those things was because it was always a chore to find something that was actually edible around the Roadhouse since food went bad there amazingly fastor so he thought, anyway.

It had been quiet around the house for a few days now, something that was as rare as finding fresh food. Of course, he could be attributing that to the fact that Endri had holed himself up in his room and not come out for two full days.

Beetlejuice stepped into the kitchen and immediately crossed his arms, glaring in Kyle's direction. "I wanna talk to you."

Kyle pulled out a butter knife from a drawer beside the sink and stabbed it into the jar of peanut butter as he made his way back to the table, not looking at the new arrival. "About what?"

"You did something to Endri the other day. You upset him." The ghoul didn't sound happy.

The human rolled his eyes but made sure Beetlejuice couldn't see. "And you find that surprising? Everything upsets him nowadays."

"Not enough to make him stay in his room like this." He frowned even deeper. "What gives you the right to make him feel like that?"

"Feel like what?"

"Like shit, obviously!"

Kyle grunted and slammed the knife half-covered with peanut butter on the table. He turned quickly, a frown on his white brow as well. "How the hell do you know how he feels?! The man's insane! He could feel anything at any given moment! Frankly, I'm surprised he's let it carry on this long."

"Let what carry on this long?"

He turned away again, picking up the knife and going back to making his sandwich. "Nothing," he stated flatly.

Beetlejuice hated games. Guessing games were the worst, but emotional games ranked really high up there too. Something happened between those two that night Endri ran down the stairs and into his arms, crying like his world had shattered. Was it just as he had said—that Kyle told him he wished he hadn't become his caretaker? Or was there something more, something deeper beneath the surface. Man, he hated digging too.

"I want you to tell me exactly what you said to my son the other night to make him so upset."

"Or what, you'll zap me?"

"If I have to."

Kyle looked over. Beetlejuice wasn't kidding, and he knew it. His ass would soon be on literal fire if he didn't speak upnot that he was scared.

"He did something to piss me off, and I told him I shouldn't have agreed to be his caretaker because he was" he paused for a while, knowing what he wanted to say, but hoping the ghoul wouldn't get any wrong ideaseven if the idea was wrong to begin with, "because he was thinking too much into the care I gave him."

Beetlejuice gave the man a raised brow of confusion. "What do you mean—thinking too much into it."

"Just what I said."

"Dammit, Kyle, enough of these stupid games!" he exploded. Something was wrong with his son, something worse than his mental condition anyway, and he wanted to know what it was now! "You tell me why my son has locked himself away from everything and won't come out for nothing! And if you don't, Endri won't ever have a caretaker again," he growled darkly.

Kyle blinked at him, first in surprise, then with hardly any emotion at all. "So now you threaten me." He huffed a short laugh. "Why am I not surprised? You would take away the only thing your son truly cares about?"

Beetlejuice frowned darkly. "You think you're that special, do you?"

The human smiled almost sweetly, but there was a tinge of malice lurking around the corners of his lips. "No," he said simply. "Endri's the one who thinks that."

Beetlejuice was becoming beyond frustrated. Not only was that guy implying Endri cared more about him than his own faather, but the obnoxious human thought he could control the situation. How Endri got along with that man, he would never know.

"Open your fucking mouth and tell me!!" he screamed.

"Fine! He kissed me! Are you happy now?!" Kyle shouted back, anger ripping through his body so starkly, he lifted the butter knife he had been using to spread peanut butter onto his sandwich and drove it down into the table, embedding it deeper than he would later imagine he could.

Beetlejuice blinked and uncrossed his arms, staring at Kyle's back as he braced himself against the table and panted for a breath after that outburst. "Hekissed you?"

"Right on the fuckin' mouth. So, of course, I was angry about it, as any normal guy would be. That's what he did to piss me off, and that's why I yelled at him. Okay? Is that all you want? You want every detail of how it happened too? Every sordid detail of how his lips felt, his breath, huh?!"

The ghoul smirked at his back. "No, that's fine." He went silent for a moment, amused to no end that a simple kiss was what the whole ordeal was about. He stepped forward and leaned his backside against the end of the table a few feet away from the disgruntled human. "You know" he stopped there, distracted when Kyle yanked the knife from the table and took it over to the sink to drop it in, then found a clean one.

"I know what?" he grunted.

Beetlejuice smirked and said quite matter-of-factly, "You know, it doesn't matter here in the Neitherworld."

Kyle kept his eyes off of him as he went back to smoothing peanut butter over the other slice of bread. "What doesn't?"

"'It'."

Huffing, the human put down his knife, obviously not going to be able to finish his sandwich until the annoying ghoul left. "What? It what? Guys kissing?" He made a slight face.

Beetlejuice laughed quietly and nodded, but when Kyle gave him a confused look, he went a little further to explain, "Cripes, Kyle, this is the Neitherworld! Nothing matters here! Everybody's dead. Half the inhabitants of this world are so misshapen and grotesque, you can't tell if they're guys or girls. It's the way it's always been here."

The human blinked at him for a long moment before being able to utter, "Wellwhat about parts? Don't the parts count? Wouldn't that tell who's male and female?"

"Most of the time, even the parts are twisted beyond recognition. It's just whoever has something that can be put into someone else's something, and that's how they go."

Kyle's nose wrinkled in disgust.

"I can see how it would be unacceptable and gross to you, but when you die and come here, you'll figure it out for yourself."

"When I die and come here, I'd better not be one of those creatures you said aboutthat I see on the streets. I want to stay just the way I am, thank you."

"Well, that will all depend on how you lived your life."

"What?"

"Didn't you know that either? Geez, Kyle, and I thought you were supposed to be some kind of genius." He gave the man a sly smirk, his head turned just slightly away.

Kyle frowned at the owner of that remark. "I just never asked about it, and no one ever told me until now. You got a problem with that?"

Beetlejuice shook his head, still smirking. "Nope. But all this other stuff aside, I just think that you should talk to him. Maybe he's just confused."

"Yeah, he's confused, all right," the human grumbled, rolling his eyes.

"I mean about that kiss," the ghoul ground out, eyes narrowing. "You two are always together, and you're taking care of him all the time, doing things that could very well be misunderstood as intimate by him. Maybe he thinks you two are an item."

"Well, we're not and item. Never was, never will be."

"Do you think he understands that?"

Kyle fell silent for a moment, then recalled, "But he was talking about friendship when he kissed me. Saying that friends kiss, and he didn't think I'd mind because we were best friends."

"Well, then, maybe you shouldn't have minded."

"But he kissed me on the lips!" he shouted out, raising a hand in the air in exasperation. "Anywhere else, I woulda been a little weirded out, but it wouldn't have been that bad. And I told him that it wasn't right, and he understood that and said he wouldn't do it again, but then Iyelling at him." He trailed off, seeing the error he had made for the first time. He sighed deeply and lifted a hand to his face, cupping his eyes. "Shit"

Beetlejuice just smirked. "Talk to him. He needs you."

Kyle nodded, removing his hand, and left the kitchen immediately.

How could he have been so foolish? Just because he had been insecure about himself, he had hurt the one most important to him. He was heading straight for a warped body for that one, if he didn't right his wrong.

He jogged up the stairs and came to a stop in front of Endri's door. A hesitant moment was spent there as he stared at the worn wood, trying to think of something to say should he have to face his friend. Mustering up the courage, he lifted a hand and rapped the backs of his knuckles against the door.

"E-Endri? Heyit's me. Can we talk?"

Silence answered him. He waited for a while, just to make sure Endri wasn't hesitating himself.

"Come-on, 'Driplease? I wanna talk to you, okay? Justjust open the door."

The door did not open, nor did he hear anything from within.

"Endri" He sighed almost tiredly and turned his back, leaning against the door and sliding down to sit on his behind. "Look, II'm sorry for the other day, Endri. I'm sorry I yelled at you. I had no right. It's just that you did thatyou kissed me, and I thought you meant it as something more than it was. But you were just being friendly, and I didn't see that. I'm really sorry, okay? Please don't stay locked in there anymore."

His left hand drifted down to lay against the floorboards, his fingers pointing out behind him. He slid the hand back, pushing his fingers through the gap between the floor and the door as if waiting for someone to reach down there from the other side and take hold of them.

"If you come out, II'll even let you kiss me again. N-Not the lips, though!" he threw in quickly. "Justcheek or something. 'Cause we're pals right? We're best friendsand it'sit's okay for friends to kiss, like you said. I'm okay with that. Hell, I mean, foreign dignitaries even greet each other by kissing each cheek, right? Soso it's okay, 'Dri. I mean it." He fell silent, wondering if Endri had even heard him through the door at all.

After a while, and still, the door had not opened, and still, not a sound was heard from the other side, Kyle pulled his fingers from under the door and worked his way back to his feet, sighing deeply, saddened. "It's okay if you're not ready to come out yet, 'Dri. I can wait, then. I hope you won't take too long. II miss you, okay?" His voice tapered off to a whisper. "Miss you, Partner."

He turned, hands in his pockets, and went back downstairs to finish his sandwich at last. But as his body vanished down the stairs, he never saw the pale set of digits reach out from under the door where his fingers had been only a few moments prior.

Lying in bed, Kyle stared upward, watching the dark shadows swirl and play along the badly painted ceiling of his bedroom. It was night outside, and the glow from the ever–present moons cast those strange shadows over his entire room.

When he had first arrived in the Neitherworld and had spent the first few nights there, those same shadows had frightened him into leaving his bedroom and seeking comfort in his best friend's room. In the morning, he would adamantly deny ever being afraid of the dark, saying he had sleepwalked in and settled on the floor next to Endri's bed for the night. The ghost would just nod and offer some breakfast, letting everything slide. And he never mentioned the fact that Kyle never used to sleepwalk before they came to the Neitherworld, knowing the human was just making excuses. He never minded at all.

Kyle rolled over in bed and faced the wall, trying to sleep. But, try as he might, he could not. He had been lying there for hours now, going over and over what happened over a week ago. He just couldn't get it out of his head—that horrible mistake he had made.

Endri's been locked up in his room for almost a week now. He won't come out, he won't eat, he won't even answer when we knock on the door. I think I really hurt him by yelling at him like that. The human frowned, clenching his fists into the sheets near his face. Dammit, this is all my fault! If I hadn't gotten so damn pissed about everything He sighed. How do I fix this? Beetle can't help this time. No one can. Only I can fix this shit, I suppose. After all, I'm the one who triggered most of his outbursts and 'episodes'. But what can I do? I already tried apologizing, but he never acknowledged me. He won't let anyone in his room; he won't even acknowledge anyone's presence. Maybe if I demand he open the—

The door to Kyle's room flew open and Endri rushed inside, slamming it back shut again and leaning against it, bracing it. Sitting up in surprise, the human stared across the dimly–lit room at the ghost panting and holding the door shut as if his afterlife depended on it.

"Endri?!"

The ghost in question swung his head around in surprise. He looked as though he hadn't even known his friend was there. "Ky–chan?"

Frowning, Kyle reached over to click the bedside lamp on. The small light illuminated the room, but poorly, casting deep, tall shadows along the walls. "What the hell's goin' on?"

Endri visibly began to panic. "I–I'm sorry! I looked in a mirror!"

Kyle frowned again. "What?"

"I looked in a mirror and saw him again!"

"Saw who again?"

"H–He's after me!"

"Who's after you?!"

"Me!"

Kyle's eyes widened in alarm. Oh, no.

Something slammed into the door from the other side, and Endri barely managed to hold it shut. "IYA! Ky–chan, run! Get out of here! He'll hurt you!"

Another slam, and the ghost was thrown to the floor, landing on his back with a hollow thud. The door swung open, broken off one hinge, and in charged Endri's hardened, warrior side, Hidari, again wearing his old black outfit of a trench coat and pouches. He threw himself on top of his weaker counterpart and reared back to punch, holding the good side of Endri, Kenri, down by his throat.

Kyle leapt out of bed, wearing only a pair of grey flannel sleep pants. "Stop it! Don't hit him!"

Freezing, Hidari slowly turned his head, resting his angry gaze to the human.

Kyle gulped silently under the piercing gaze of those two different eyes.

"Well, hello. Fancy meeting you here. I've been waiting to get my hands on you for a while now, Kyle."

Kenri thrashed beneath his captor, both hands gripped to the one around his neck. "I–Iya! Leave him be!" he rasped.

Out through the doorway, running stomps resounded on the rickety wooden staircase.

"Endri?! Kyle?! What's goin' on up there?!"

Hidari hissed, glowering his eyes. "That old fool! He will not interrupt again!" He swung his free arm back, and simultaneously with the movement, the broken door slammed shut just as Beetlejuice reached it and saw his son had split into two again. The entire door vanished, leaving only a blank wall in its place.

Loud pounding erupted from the other side of the wall. "Dammit, no! Endri, pull yourself together!"

Growling, Hidari stretched his free arm to the ceiling and yelled, "Shogai!" His hand glowed a bright blue a second before the energy shot from it to hit the ceiling. All four walls, the ceiling, and floor glowed the same lovely blue for a second, then faded. The sounds of pounding and shouting from outside disappeared.

Kyle could feel the icy chill of fear run down his spine in the sudden silence. "Wh–What did you do?"

"No one will bother us. Not tonight. We can hear nothing of the outside world, and they cannot hear anything that happens in here. It's just us now." Hidari grinned maliciously.

The human swallowed with difficulty. "Now—Now listen to me, Endri. Pull yourself back together. You aren't meant to be two people. And you certainly aren't meant to hurt yourself!"

"Oh, but this is so much fun!" The rent ghost laughed hysterically, the sound sending more chills down Kyle's spine. "I've never been so fucking free! To just be able to move without being hindered by this no–account weakling is like a breath of fresh air!" He glared hatefully at Kenri, then cast his eyes back to the human. "And since I seem to be the dominant body in this room, and since we seem to have plenty of time on our handslet's have some fun."

Hidari stood, pulling Kenri up with him. He shoved the weaker part of himself toward Kyle, and they collided, crashing to the floor, Kenri lying half–sprawled over the human. Hidari was upon them in the next instant, pinning them both down.

"Let's play a game, shall we? I will slowly torture one of you, and it will be up to Kyle to decide which one it will be."

The human glared at him, but no matter how he tried, he couldn't hide the fear in his eyes. "You're sick."

Hidari grinned. "No, I'm insane. There is a difference. Though, it's a very fine line that separates the two. Now decide."

"No, I won't make such a ludicrous decision! This is crazy! Let us up!" Kyle struggled, trying to get his left arm from under Kenri as his right was being melded into the floorboards by a harsh hand. But the ghost couldn't move, also being pinned roughly.

Hidari smirked that famous Endri smirk all too easily, but instead of coming across as smug or handsome, it dripped with malicious intent. "Ah, Kyle, it pains me to see you like this—all helpless and yet hostile. You really know what appeals to my 'barbaric' soul."

The human only growled, feeling like a caged animal as it was.

"Decide, or I will beat him until he doesn't exist, and then kill you!"

Kenri whimpered. "No, pleasej–just do it to me. Don't hurt him."

The stronger of the two sides of Endri looked to his weaker counterpart, then back to Kyle. "How sweet. Do you see how much he cares about you? He's willing to sacrifice his own self for the sake of your life. How noble, wouldn't you agree?"

Panting lightly with both fear and anger, the human looked over to Kenri. The poor half ghost had tears in his eyes, but a smile was on his lips as he gazed tenderly at Kyle.

"Did you know that we share similar, yet opposite feelings, and that those feelings are multiplied in both of us now that we're separated? He feels nothing but pure, unadulterated love for you, while I feel nothing but disgusted hatred for you. Heh Put two and two together, and you get us as we normally are: showing only the heartfelt friendship that has tied you and I together for so long. But with me freemy rage is freeand so I crave to either utterly humiliate you or destroy you once and for all!" Leaning down, Hidari snapped his teeth threateningly near Kyle's neck.

The human jerked his head to the side in alarm, his blue eyes going wide.

Hidari leaned back up, grinning. "You don't want that? Does that mean you've made your decision?"

Kyle frowned, bearing his teeth in a snarl. "No! I don't want either of us to be hurt by you, you sadistic bastard! What I want is for you to get it back together!"

"Get back together with him?" Hidari paused to feign thinking. "No, that's okay. I'd rather destroy him so that will never be possible again."

"N—!" Kyle was cut off as leather cuffs appeared from nowhere and latched around each of his wrists, then dragged him across the floor to the wall next to his bedside stand. His arms flew up and snapped to the wall, pinned by the cuffs, and they pulled up on him until he was in a sitting position. It was lost on him then, but later he would realize that he hadn't even procured a single scratch.

Hidari gripped Kenri by the shirt and held him to the floor securely. "Now we have some fun, ne? I will take you apartbit by bitpiece by pieceuntil there is nothing but a stain on the floor to remind me of your sickening presence." With a feral grin, he reached up with one hand and dug his pale fingers into the collar of Kenri's white T–shirt, pulling up and ripping it straight down the front, opening it as if it was a button–up shirt.

The weaker ghost turned his head to the side and winced, whimpering.

"No, stop! Don't hurt him, please!" Kyle begged, pulling on his restraints. He desperately wanted to throw his arms around his poor victimized friend and comfort him, then pound the shit out of Hidari. But, since he was literally tied up at the moment, perhaps another approach would be at least a little helpful. "You said before that I was yours and would make a goodpet. If you don't hurt him, II'll do whatever you want."

Hidari frowned but released Kenri's shirt. He remained kneeling over his double, keeping him pinned down, and pondered for a moment. "Very well, Kyle. I've always had a hard time refusing you, even though I am nowhere near as weak as this little Kenri." He glared hatefully down at his counterpart. "I won't hurt him. In fact, I'll be very nice to both of you. Would you like that, little Kenri?" he asked sweetly, voice dripping with saccharine.

"P–Pleasedon't hurt menot like last time," he whimpered. "Don't hurt Ky–chan either. He's so innocent."

"Don't worry." Hidari leaned down, resting his elbows to Kenri's chest, and propped himself there in a thoughtful position. His finger tapped against his lower lip in contemplation as he stared across the small room at Kyle pinned to the wall. "Let's seewhat shall I train you to do first, my pet?" he wondered aloud. He felt his opposite swallow beneath him and looked down. He stared into his own eyes for a moment before becoming disgusted with how innocent and frightened they looked, then lifted one fist and bopped the back of his knuckles against the ghost's mouth, splitting his bottom lip.

Kenri grunted in pain and squeezed his eyes shut, but made no other move.

"You said you wouldn't hurt him!" Kyle shouted, yanking on his cuffs.

Hidari just ignored him, choosing instead to lean down and rake his tongue over the newly bleeding flesh.

The human widened his eyes in disbelief. He's a sadist!

The cruel ghost sucked hungrily on Kenri's lip also nibbling with his teeth, enough to make marks but not enough to puncture the skin anymore than it was. He pulled away slowly, a frown on his brow. "Ughso stale," he grumbled. "ButI suppose it's better than nothing at all." He looked up to Kyle and smirked. "Don't worry, my pet. I'll train you later. Right now, I need to punish my weaker half for always hindering my desires behind kindness and care. I forgot that's what I was doing to him before you and Father so rudely interrupted last time. My memory isn't the best as of late, you see."

Kyle bit his lip and thought quickly. "Umdo you really have to do this, Endri?"

"Eh?"

"Nani?"

He blinked, seeing both Endri's staring at him.

The darker of the two smirked. "Heh–heh. I am Hidari."

"And I am Kenri," the other joined in.

"While apart, we are not 'Endri'." Hidari leaned back down to suckle on Kenri's lip again, trailing along his cheek to his ear where he bit down and drew more blood.

Kyle swallowed. "Then, Heedrido you have to do this? I mean—"

"Hidari! Hee–da–ree! Dammit, you were never good with Japanese, Kyle. You always butchered what I tried to teach you." He pushed Kenri further against the floor firmly, then backed away to pull off his black trench coat. "Yes, I must do this. I've become so frustrated as of late. Now that I remember how good it can be to drink another's blood, beat on them mercilessly, and be just plain mean, I crave it. Even if I have to do it to myself. I have nothing better to do right now anyway, and little Kenri here needs a lesson. It's called 'Never Fuck With An Insane Ghost Or You Might Get Hurt'." He reached down, and with a quick wrench of his hands, pulled his counterpart's hair to the side and bit down on his neck savagely.

"Ah!"

"You said you wouldn't hurt him!" the human repeated, struggling anew.

"I knowbut it really can't be helped." He chuckled, slowly lapping Kenri's thick blood from the oozing wound. He leaned up again, gazing into his copy's eyes as he licked the blood from his lips. "You're mine now," he hummed almost, but not quite, seductively.

"I was yours to begin with," Kenri replied, his voice small and demure.

"Truebut now it's official. I just want to make sure you know who the dominant one is."

"I know."

Hidari grinned and licked his lips again. Hearing he was in charge was almost as good as enforcing it. "Who is your master?"

Kenri closed his eyes and let his head drift to the side, not wanting to look.

"Who, dammit?!"

"Y–You are," the weak ghost admitted quietly.

"Say it," Hidari hissed, clenching tightly to his counterpart's shoulders.

"You are my master, Hidari–sama," Kenri said louder.

"Who is the most powerful?"

"You are the most powerful, Hidari–sama."

"Who deserves to rule the Neitherworld with an iron fist?!" Hidari laughed maniacally, tilting his head back.

"Y–You do, Hidari–sama," Kenri answered again, appeasing his warrior side.

The dark side of Endri continued laughing insanely, pausing only long enough to say, "And as soon as I'm through with you and subdue Kyle, I will rule the Neitherworld!" His uproar died down suddenly, and he hissed through gritted teeth. "Everyone will pay for pushing me away! They'll pay for treating me badly simply because of my idiot father's reputation. Which reminds meI should do away with him as soon as I get the chance." He laughed again for a few seconds before turning another one–eighty and diving down to lock his lips to Kenri's.

The timid ghost didn't seem to be having as many emotional twists and turns, bumps and dips, and all around randomness as his counterpart, Hidari. The warrior side of Endri seemed to be both the most powerful and the most tipsy of the two, and his insane ramblings and actions seemed to be catching everyone off guard every other moment.

And Kenri was certainly caught off guard as he muffled a protesting cry against his assailant's mouth, the last half of it escaping as the powerful ghost pulled away and moved to suck up more blood seeping from his neck wound.

Kyle gulped again. Holy shit, it's like fuckin' twins! What the hell am I supposed to do?! Sit here and watch?! How much more psychotic can this get?! He yanked his arms forward, trying to pull away, but the leather cuffs seemed to be magnetized to the wall, holding his wrists securely. He wasn't going anywhere.

"Endr—I mean, Hidari, stop! Just let him go; you're hurting him!"

Hidari looked up, his lips and part of his chin covered in deep red blood. It almost looked like he had been eating his counterpart, but, fortunately, that wasn't the case.

"So, you want your training now, eh? All right," he said, licking his lips and wiping his chin.

"N–NoHidari," Kenri moaned, weakly holding his opposite's shirt. "Leave him be."

"I seem to be so popular tonight!" Hidari laughed, tugging his shirt from Kenri's grip and standing. He stared down at himself with an angry scowl for a moment before rearing his leg back and smashing his boot against his twin's side.

Kenri shouted in pain and curled into himself, rolling over to get away.

"Bastard! Leave him alone!" Kyle cried, struggling again with his restraints.

Hidari was upon him in a flash, putting himself and Kyle almost nose to nose. His two different eyes glittered evilly as he stared the human down, allowing silence and the stare to bore into the man's courage and leave him a quaking mess. Endri had never frightened him quite like that, and it was a horrific feeling to say the least.

"I want no lip from you, human," he hissed after a moment. "From now on, you will do what I say, when I say. Is that clear?"

Kyle swallowed, but made no attempt at answering.

Growling in anger, Hidari reached up and clamped a hand around the human's neck, but did not squeeze. "I saidis—that—clear?"

Kyle closed his eyes and welled what little courage he had left. Upon opening his eyes again, he glared at the one side of his rent friend and said in a rasping voice, "You won't hurt me."

Hidari bared his teeth in a snarl. "You dare to say such things. I could tear your head off right now and think nothing of it."

"But you won't," the human argued, tone quiet and meaningful.

"And why is that?"

"B–BecauseI'm your friend. I mean too much to you."

"HA!" Hidari laughed loudly, making Kyle's ears ring. "How presumptuous of you! I care about you. Don't make me retch."

"It's true," the human dared to press. "I'm the only one who's ever been there for you when you needed me."

"No, you were there for Kenri, when his weak little emotions became too much for him to handle."

"But it wasn't just Kenri. You and he were both together. So I was there for both of you. You're both part of one whole being who means more to me thanthan anything," Kyle admitted, realizing it was true. Endri did mean everything to him because he was the closest one to him—always there, always offering advice or a shoulder to cry on. He didn't exactly want to pick out curtains with the guy, but he couldn't deny he loved him like the brother he never had. "And I can't just take one part of Endri and like it, but not the other. I like all of Endri, which means I like you too, Hidari. You're my friend. You mean so much to me—just like Kenri, and just like the ghost the two of you make."

Hidari knelt before Kyle, one hand around his neck and his entire body motionless. He blinked only a few times as he stared the human down, letting himself think and consider. After a moment, a frown pulled his fair brows down, and he glared maliciously.

"Nice try. But I won't be fooled by the likes of you. It's because of you that Kenri has gained more power than he ever had before. He actually gained enough to suppress me almost completely because of that disgusting thing you two called a friendship. But fortunately, we, as a whole, had gone insane, and I've been able to pull away from his foul sweetness. I'm not going back to that! And I'm not going back to being forced to 'like' you, human. I am a Viking warrior! I have no friends, no family, no allies. I have only enemies to battle and destroy, and only weak people to dominate and control. You are nothing to me," Hidari spat venomously, glaring so hard, his eye with the red Mania rings twitched.

Kyle looked upon him with utter sadness. "Youdon't mean that. Endri would never say I meant nothing. I mean everything to you."

"You mean everything to Kenri over there!" the ghost growled, cocking his head back toward the other blonde curled on the floor and shaking. "Did you forget? He is the part that loves you. But I am the part that hates your bloody existence! Only when we're together does it balance out to the friendship you had." Hidari smirked evilly, ready to deliver the final blow to Kyle's heart. "It's just too bad I'll never join with him again. You'll never have 'Endri' again. Your pitiful best friend is no more, and never will be again!"

The human's head hung low, as low as it could for the ghost's hand still over his throat. It seemed hopeless. Hidari would never consent to getting back together with Kenri, so Endri was as good as gone.

Sadness ripped through Kyle's being, leaving sweating palms, glossy eyes, and a lump in his throat. Endri was gone—gone for good. It reminded him of when he thought he lost him a few years ago to the Limbo Drinker. No one knew, but he had cried for hours after he was alone and the weight of everything finally hit him. His best friend, stolen from him just like the rest of his family had been. And now, his best friend had fallen away from him again, slipping through his fingers because he wasn't strong enough to keep him together and hold on.

A tear glided down Kyle's cheek and dripped onto Hidari's wrist. The ghost recoiled like he had been stung, gasping and falling back onto his backside. The human looked up in surprise, seeing his rent friend shifting his gaze between him and his wrist with a look of utter astonishment on his face. A moment later, Hidari was shifting to sit before Kyle, suspicion in his eyes.

"Why?"

Kyle cocked his head a bit to the side.

"Why shed a tear? Why cry?"

The human sniffed quietly, trying to let the rest of his tears dry up before they had a chance to fall. "BecauseI feel" his face scrunched and another few disobedient tears dripped from his eyes, "so alone," he finished in a croak. Now that Endri seemed to be gone, he was alone—alone and empty just like so many years ago.

Hidari frowned. "That is the only reason?"

Kyle sniffed again. "No."

"Tell me."

The human let his eyes drift to the side, catching sight of Kenri rolling over to look up with concern not for his own condition but Kyle's. "I'm cryingfor you. Becausebecause of everything that's happened to bring you here. You don't deserve this. I wish I could've helped more. I wish there was something I could've done."

Hidari huffed. "Youyou've done enough as it is. I want nothing more from you."

Kyle's lower lip quivered. "But"

"Stop it!" the ghost growled. "Stop crying! I can't deal with fucking emotional Humans! One more tear, and I'll kill you!" he threatened, clenching his fist.

"Then do it!" Kyle shouted, letting as many tears as he could fall. That was it! He had had enough. "I'd rather you kill me anyway! I'm no fuckin' good! My wife left me, I can't find the rest of my family in this huge–ass fuckin' Neitherworld, I'm always havin' problems 'cause Ah'm a human, and now ma best friend is split up an' gone fer good!" he screamed, his very light country accent slipping through more pronouncedly every time he became so angry. "What the hell do Ah have t' live for?! Ah'd rather you killed me, dammit. It's a fitting death 'cause Ah wouldn't have it any other way th'n for Endri t' kill me. At least you look like him."

It was true—what he said. If Kyle was ever to die, he wouldn't want old age to creep up on him or any accidents to befall him. He wanted to die no other way than Endri taking his life for him. One day, when he got a little too old for his friends, he was going to ask the ghost to do him a favor and put his heart to rest. He couldn't bear the thought of becoming old and feeble while his friends remained so youthful and energetic. That alone would have broken his heart. He would never take his own life, not after his promise to not do so many years ago, so, the only other way was to have Endri kill him humanely. Besidesit just felt right to him. For some reason, it felt right.

Hidari blinked at him.

"What are you waiting for?! Finish me off!" Kyle shouted, struggling with his restraints in frustration. "Fuckin' blast me t' kingdom come! Wipe me outta existence!!"

Smirking, the blonde warrior relaxed into a casual position and loosed a small chuckle.

"What th' fuck are you laughin' at?!" the human shrieked, face burning red with anger and deep–seeded emotional turmoil.

"You knowif I kill you, you'll just become a ghost," Hidari replied matter–of–factly.

Kyle stopped squirming and froze in realization. A weary, sad sigh escapted his lips, and he let his head hang. That was right. Even if he died, he would still exist. How cruel, the Universe could be. Not even in death would he be able to rest in peace. When he died, whether killed or naturally, he would be around forever, just like Endri. Maybe he should go insane now and save himself the trouble later.

"Stop it, Hidari!" Kenri's voice snapped from behind. He sounded quite angry and surprisingly firm, considering he had always been whimpering in fear before. "Leave him alone! He didn't do anything to you. You don't need to be so mean."

Hidari scowled, still facing Kyle. "Yes, he did. He did do something to me."

"What could he have possi—"

"He got to me!" the angry blonde shouted, squeezing his eyes shut and jerking his body upward to stand. Like a predator prowling, he paced back and forth before the human, keeping his eyes—one red-ringed, the other normal—locked to him the entire time. "He was nice to me. He treated me like a normal person when everyone else would not. He was myfriend," the ghost spat disgustedly. "But I didn't want any of that! I tried on so many occasions to get him to leave me alone—to get rid of him. But he just didn't know when to quit! Always nicealways kindallowing you to grow and push me into the darkness!" Hidari shouted, whirling and pointing a finger at Kenri.

The innocent ghost just sat on the floor and blinked at him.

"You were just a child, nay, an infant while I was fully grown and running my existance the way it should have been. But then he came along and nurtured you—fed you positivity, and you spouted and grew without my ever noticing until it was too late...until you were suddenly strong enough to push me aside and lock me away." His twin turned around, showing his back to the other two males and held his arms over his chest almost protectively. His voice floated over, much softer than before. "It wasin that place. So cold And I could only watch from a distance as my good half began making the decisionsbegan doing everything I tried so hard to distance myself fromshowing emotions I had stowed away in a safe place so they couldn't be hurt. He was so quick to set free what could be hurt so easily.

"I shouted, I cried out, but no one heard me. I tried to warn himtried to tell him of all the times in the past that forced me to push those emotions away the way I did, but he didn't hear. So those emotions erupted in me—let loose by him. And the memoriesthe memories." Hidari sank to his knees, his hands clutching to his arms in a self hug for comfort. "It was all too much to bear! They flooded me, making me see what I had tried to hide away. The painthe tormentthe liesthe horrorsthe sadnessthe lonelinessthey all hit me without warning one day. And it didn't just hit memy good sidehe felt it too, though it was only a fraction of what I felt." He paused for a moment to shiver violently.

"It was likeburning fireyet stinging ice. It was almost as if everything in my past had swirled together and created a creature of unimaginable horrors. The thing attacked me full force, and I had been so weakened by Kenri's fucking sweetness that I didn't stand a chance. It practically destroyed me. It's still there too." Hidari lifted one hand and pointed a finger to his head in illustration. "And when I sat down and realized that I'll be around foreverto feel this anguish day after dayto be tormented for eternitymy last single shred of sanitymy Kenrisnapped. My good side was the only thing keeping me rooted into reality, but now that he too feels what I feelthere is no hope for either of usno hope for the ghost we both make when joined." He fell into silence, his speech finally done. Just sitting there, he held himself tightly, rocking very slightly, the most vulnerable that heartless, strong warrior had ever appeared.

Kyle stared at the distressed ghost's back, mouth slightly agape and eyes unblinking. So that was it. It wasn't just one or two things in the ghost's past that pushed him over the edge. It was everything that had happened over his 643 years of existence that drove him completely insane.

How utterly horrible!

"'Driplease, if you wouldtell me about your past?" the human implored softly. He just wanted to know. He needed to know.

Kenri crawled over to where Kyle sat pinned to the wall and took a seat before him, a little off to the side. "So much happened to me," he answered, "that to tell you in one night would be impossible."

"Something, though," the man pleaded, "anything."

Kenri looked down to the uneven floorboards at his knees and sighed, shaking his head. "Too much," was all he said before turning and scooting over to Hidari, still huddled around himself and rocking just slightly. The tender ghost sat next to his opposite and laid an arm across his shoulders for comfort, pulling the other blonde against him and holding him gently.

Kyle could only watch in amazement as, as a whole, Endri comforted himself. He waited for some time to say anything, giving the ghosts all the time they needed to pull themselves back together. It was almost sweet to see them holding one another, whispering soft words of comfort and understanding that could possibly have been the first time uttered to themselves.

Maybe now would be the turning point. Maybe now, Endri could finally start on the road to becoming sane again. Perhaps all he needed to do was resolve some issues between himself and—

"Get the fuck away from me, weakling!" Hidari shouted, shoving his counterpart away suddenly.

Kenri fell backward and skidded a few inches, a look of surprise on his features.

Kyle also looked quite surprised, not expecting such a turn of events. Perhaps he thought too soon. He should have figured things wouldn't be so easy.

"How dare you touch me and say those things!" Hidari went on, standing and clenching his fists. "It will never be all right—do you hear me?! Never! The Mania rages inside us both! There is no coming back once it's developed! Don't you realize that?!"

Kenri sat up onto his backside and lowered his head sadly, depression sagging his shoulders and making his arms hang limply into his lap. "I was just trying to help."

"There is no help! There is no hope! We are both gone, never to return again—do you understand?!" The warrior ghost shook. Whether it was from rage, frustration, or shattered nerves, it was hard to tell.

Kyle spoke up, trying to do something to help his torn friend. "But there's always hope, Endri. You yourself told me that."

Hidari spun on him, practically frothing. "Shut the hell up, human! You know nothing of our plight, so keep your filthy, obnoxious mouth closed!"

"Stop insulting him!" Kenri snapped, looking up with a deep frown.

"You shut up too!" Hidari barked, pointing a finger at him. "How bad is that that I'm sick of even my own voice?" He snickered to himself, suddenly finding what he said funny. His mirth carried louder and louder until he was actually cackling, a hand on his forehead and one on his stomach, holding himself as his hysteria ran wild. The insane laughter sounded eerily like his father's cackle, echoing through the scarcely decorated room, unable to escape the barrier around it.

Loosing his balance, Hidari stumbled backward and bumped into the wall. As soon as he made contact with the crooked, block patterned wallpaper, he slid to his knees and let the hand on his forehead slip down over his eyes. His laughter still rang clear, beginning to sound as though it was wrenched from his throat one heaved breath at a time. His limbs began to shake and sweat beaded off every piece of exposed flesh as he fell forward to his elbows. Thick locks of blonde fell to pool around his face when it dipped low to the floor, and he gripped into the floorboards so hard, he dug deep grooves with his fingernails. It was almost as if he was in extreme pain, yet only laughter escaped his lips.

Without warning, Hidari leapt up and slammed against Kyle, fingers digging into the human's skin at his shoulders and a snarl curling his nose as it came so close, it almost touched his friend's. "You! This is all your fault! If you hadn't come into my afterlife, I might still be sane! You are to blame, you worthless son of a bitch!"

Kyle's eyes were wide in fear, but as the accusations flew from his old partner's mouth, sadness replaced it, and he faced away, closing his eyes sadly. Maybe he really, really should have kicked Endri out of his bathroom all those years ago and bled to death.

"I won't let you do this to me! You will not turn away from me!" Hidari shrieked, reaching up to grab Kyle's face, forcefully turning it to make him look.

The man opened his eyes, trying not to let the fear shine through again, but not doing a very good job.

"You are to blame for my insanity. Every time you were nice to me, you tipped me that much closer to the edge. You won't get away with doing this to me, you bastard!" the ghost shouted, gripping tighter to the human's chin, just trying to cause pain. "I never should have taken pity on you. I never should have even drug your sorry ass home from that bar! I should have left you there to let that guy that was picking on you beat you until you died. That way, I'd never have to put up with your misery and self pity for so long. You disgusted me then, and you disgust me now, Kyle," Hidari hissed maliciously, snarling his upper lip to let his fangs show in a primal display of dominance and power.

Kyle twisted his face away, suddenly frowning. "So! Is—Is that what you thought of me—what you think of me now?"

His aggressor just grinned evilly.

"Wellfine!" the human shouted, masking his hurt with anger. "You bastard! I never should've done all I did for you either! Maybe I shoulda refused your help. Maybe I shoulda kicked you outta my house for good instead o' lettin' you back in. I just wanted to die then anyway, so why didn't you let me? Why did you try to save my worthless life if I don't mean jack shit to you now?! If I had known you'd turn on me like this, I'd never've agreed to take care of your insane ass! I woulda just walked away laughing, 'cause it's your own fault you're like this, not mine! You're the sorry excuse, not me!" Kyle spat harshly.

Endri rarely ever made him so angry.

"You d–don't like me?" Kenri's voice drifted over to the bickering friends, surprised at the turn they had made. "ButI thought we were best friends. You promised you'd always be there for me. You s–said you'd t–try to take care of me," he stuttered as the tears flooded into his eyes.

Looking over Hidari's shoulder at him, the human felt genuine regret. He forgot Endri's good side was still sitting over there, listening to all the harsh words he flung at his counterpart. That part of his friend didn't deserve to be told those things. "I know I said that, and I'm sorry. I thought that maybe I could take care of you, but it isn't working out that way. I care about you so much, Endri, butI don't think I can do this. This is just too much for me."

Hidari growled at him. "You don't realize what you're doing to us!" He pulled away and reached over to wrap a protective arm around Kenri, pulling him into his chest and almost cradling him there.

The placid side of Endri began to softly cry onto his counterpart's chest, reaching up to grip shaking hands into his white shirt. His tender heart seemed broken with the thought that his best friend didn't want to be so or take care of him anymore.

Growling, Hidari shouted, "You've made him cryagain! You're really pissing me off, Kyle!"

The leather cuffs around the human's wrists tightened, almost cutting the circulation off from his hands. He struggled, not quite feeling fear, but more anger at that point. "Why so protective of him all the sudden?" he grumbled, blue eyes glaring. "I thought you'd rather beat and mutilate him."

"He is me! I can do what I want with my own body, and believe me when I say his pain and heartache is mine as well!"

"Then why?! Why do all this?!"

"Because, you—"

"—are my friend," Kenri finished in a small whisper, curled up against his other half. "I want you—"

"—to suffer for what you've done to me."

Kyle looked between them as they spoke. He wasn't really surprised that they finished each other's sentences, but what did intrigue him was that Hidari could say nothing affectionate to him, and Kenri could say nothing hateful to him.

"And even though it sickens me to even think thisI can't deny how true it is," Hidari grumbled hesitantly. "Kyle, without you—"

"—I have nothing to keep me in this world." Kenri cried a little harder, fisting his fingers into Hidari's hair.

The half ghost leaned down and nuzzled his counterpart's cheek. "Shh Kenri. Don't worry. We won't feel such pain much longer."

Worriedly, Kyle asked, "What do you mean?"

Hidari glared over at him. "As if you would give a shit! Time after time, you mercilessly break his heart! Even I have respect for that! We've had enough of this torture! Without you—"

"—there is nothing—"

"—so we are going to complete what we started months ago!"

Kyle struggled against his restraints. "You stupid idiot! Wiping yourself out isn't the answer!"

"And what is the answer?! Staying in this divided existence where I am utterly miserable?!"

"You have to fight the Mania, Endri! Don't let it take you over! You're needed here!"

"Certainly not by you."

The human squirmed madly, fighting with all his might against his binds, only succeeding in rubbing the skin of his wrists raw against the leather cuffs. In his mind, he pictured what it would be like—what the world would be like if his best friend faded away. His quick–thinking brain took only seconds to make him feel what it would be like to never see Endri again; to never spend time with him again; never talk; never laugh; never give advice; never have or be a shoulder to cry on; never share another breathtaking Neitherworld sunset.

The pain, the absolute loss, was so great, his chest literally hurt.

Heart–pounding realization smacked Kyle in the face with a devastating right hook. "L–Let me go, now! Now, dammit!"

Hidari just growled and stared at him hatefully. "You'll just try to stop us. I'm not releasing you."

"Now! Let me go! I order you, dammit! I order you, Endri!"

"You can't just order me around! I take orders from no one! And my name is Hidari, you son of a bitch!!"

Just slightly, Kenri turned, looking out of the corner of his eye from the protective hold of his other half. Barely even moving at all, he lifted a shaking hand and twitched his fingers. Kyle's cuffs vanished, and he fell forward, free.

The second his bearings returned, the human was scrambling up, throwing his arms around both halves of Endri, panting. He clutched to both of them tightly, holding the backs of their heads to make sure neither went very far from his grip. "Endri'Dri, don't you dare take yourself away from me."

The angry ghost pulled away from his tenacious grip, growling. "You dare—!"

Kyle ignored any harsh words that could have followed, turning his attention to Kenri. He wrapped his other arm around the upset ghost's shoulders, hugging him as though he would disappear any second. The timid blonde responded immediately, wrapping one arm around the human's waist.

"No, Kenri!" Hidari hissed. "He's tricking you! To keep us from our goal! Stop!"

Kenri ignored him, releasing him entirely and leaning all the way onto Kyle. The human wrapped his arms around only him and held on tight, not letting his friend get away for any reason.

"Stop! He doesn't really care! H–He doesn't!" Caught between anger and desperation, Hidari trembled.

Kyle lifted his eyes slowly, looking over to his disturbed friend. "I do care. I'd never trick you, 'Dri."

Hidari only trembled more, trying with all his might to keep from harming his best friend or throwing his arms around him. "I c–can't let myselfbelieve you! You just saidyou didn't want to be there for me! Make up your fucking mind!!"

A hand snapped out and wrapped behind the ghost's neck, pulling him over. Kyle still cradled Kenri to his chest as he stared Hidari down with intense, blue eyes. "I have." He leaned in, grabbing the ghost's hand and lifting it to his mouth. Quickly, he sank his teeth into the pale flesh of the blonde's right palm and bit hard, drawing a steady but light stream of deep red blood.

Hidari hissed a little in pain and tried to jerk away, but Kyle held on.

The human lifted his own right hand to his mouth and bit into his palm. The pain stung and made tears prick his eyes, but he couldn't stop then. He had to keep going. When finally a large enough wound was bitten into his own hand, he brought Hidari's over and pressed their palms tightly together, smearing and mixing their blood between them. The ghost stared in shock and suddenly lost all will to move when he realized what was happening.

Kyle laced their fingers together and held Hidari's hand against his as he reached for Kenri's right hand, never wanting to leave him out. He bit into the soft skin of his palm and felt remorse at the sharp cry of pain, but he continued on, undaunted. He pushed Kenri's hand up toward the already clasping ones and parted them only enough to get the newcomer between them.

The human held the two pale hands against his own and smeared all of their blood together, bonding them all together as one—one blood, one family, brothers forever. All of their foreheads rested together, and their eyes closed in almost exhaustion, seated in the quiet room where only their breaths could be heard.

Hidari was the first to pull away and open his two different eyes, griping his fingers tighter around the other two hands against his own. His two companions drifted apart as well, their eyes looking from one to the other and light smiles etching over their lips.

"You're quite the daring one to do this, Kyle," Hidari grunted with slight amusement. "Bonding us as brothersI thought you would be too weak to pull it off, especially when I'm more than ready to rip your head from your shoulders."

Kyle frowned but held tight to both pale hands, determined to not let go—not that time and not ever again.

Hidari chuckled softly and lifted all three hands higher. Leaning in, he caught a little of the mixed blood on the tip of his tongue and swallowed it down. He hummed happily and closed his eyes in contentment.

The human gulped nervously, suddenly remembering Endri's warrior side enjoyed the taste of blood. What if the ghost suddenly wanted to relieve him of all of his blood. That wouldn't be pretty.

"Don't be uneasy, Kyle," Hidari told him softly. "Because of your brashness, I can't hurt you. Why would I want to harm my own brother?" He smirked. "I just wanted to taste our new blood to see how good we mix together. With your blood, mine doesn't taste as stale anymore. I think that's a good thing, don't you? It has meaning."

Kyle nodded, happy to see the usually very angry ghost passive.

"To a Viking, this kind of pact is sacred. You may as well have been born my twin—that is how fiercely loyal I am to you now, and that's what I will consider you to be from now on." He pulled the human forward and embraced him tightly, allowing some room for Kenri to lean in and join them.

Between the two sets of arms wrapping around and squeezing him tightly, he was able to get out, "As much asI like havingtwo Endri brothershugging meI'd rather onlyhave one."

Both halves of Endri pulled away just a little and looked into his eyes, speaking as one, their almost identical voices melding into one singular voice that much resembled the whole Endri's speaking tone. "I have no control over my combination."

"You mean you can't get back together?"

"I don't know how. My separation happened subconsciously."

"How did you get back together last time? In the bathroom?"

That time, only Hidari answered. "When Father punched me, it set off some kind of reaction. I was thrown back together with Kenri against my will."

"WellI don't want to punch you to get you back together. There must be some other way."

"Hmm" Hidari hummed in thought, absently squeezing the hands he still held. "Perhaps if we—"

"—put our heads together?" Kenri finished.

"Or maybe—"

"—put our hands together?"

Their pale hands drifted away from Kyle's and touched palms. Nothing happened, even as they pushed against each other.

"It's not—" Kenri began.

"—working. Maybe we should—"

"—try something else. How about—"

"—our energy?" Hidari suggested.

Upon the agreement, a swirl of misty, blue energy encased their clasping hands, emanated by both. The energies swirled and mixed, sparking brightly with the sound of wind rushing through a narrow tunnel. Rapidly, it multiplied, encircling the twins and masking out their features, too hazy to look through. The beautiful, twinkling energies flashed bright pops of light, forcing Kyle to shade his eyes against the intensity. Then, it was all gone. The brilliant light died away as well as the mists of blue, leaving a single entity in their wake.

Endri's form was still and quiet, seated only a foot from his friend, who had sat directly beside the entire show, staring with silent awe, feeling the humming tingles as the abundant energies washed over his skin. It was quite the rush.

With an exhaled breath, the ghost collapsed to the side into Kyle's arms, shivering and sweating as though he had a fever. His clothing remained the way they had appeared on Kenri, his white shirt shredded up the center, and several bruises forming along his cheek and exposed chest, not to mention the bleeding wounds on his lip, earlobe, and neck.

Kyle blinked down at him in surprise, honestly not expecting such a thing as combining their energies to work, especially so quickly. "EEndri?"

With a soft flutter, the ghost's eyes opened, and he looked around the room before finally leveling his gaze to the human's. "Kyle? Wha—?" A light chill shook his strong frame, and he looked down to see his chest exposed through a shredded shirt. Gasping, reached down to finger at the material. "What the hell? Wh–What's going on? Kyle?" He looked into his best friend's cerulean orbs, expecting answers.

"You really don't remember?"

"R–Remember?" Endri's green eyes scanned back and forth, unfocused, trying to think. "No, I don't remembersince I went into the bathroom."

"Nothing?"

"I–I rememberI wasn't supposed to look at the mirrorbut I did on accidentand thennothing!" He looked up, fear written plainly on his pale face. "Kyle, what happened to me?! Why is my shirt torn up? Why am I in your room? Why do I feel sotingly?" His body trembled with one errant aftershock of the power used to combine him—an event he had no idea he experienced. "Kyle, what's happening to me?!" Crystal tears flooded his bottom lids, and a few spilled over to trace light lines on his cheeks.

"Shh 'Driit'll be all right," Kyle soothed, drawing the ghost in closer and swiping his fingers down through soft, but mussed, blonde hair, cradling his friend like a child.

"N–No, it won't! I'm insane! I'm insane, Kyle! I'm so scared! I don't want to be insane! P–Please help me! You have to!" His voice dropped down to a frightened whisper. "You're the only one I trust now. I–I can't even trust myself anymore."

Kyle gazed into Endri's flushed face, watching his crystalline tears sparkle in the bad lighting of the room. He took in the ghost's mussed hair, his boyish face, his fearful look. "'Dri" he whispered. Slowly, trying not to startle Endri any more than he already was, the human reached up to run gentle fingers over his friend's cheek, softly wiping his thumb over the corner of one eye.

Endri swallowed with some difficulty, letting his friend swipe his tears away. In the back of his mind, he noted how unthreatening Kyle was trying to act, but didn't think he needed to do so. Endri would never fear him.

Kyle shook his head slowly, a smirk pulling his lips up on one side. But quickly, that uplifting motion fell when the human noted the look in his friend's eyes. It was that same look he had seen once before when Endri suddenly became aware of everything. It was a look of comprehension. And before that comprehension was lost again before he could get out what he needed to say, Kyle spoke up.

"Endriremember awhile ago when you told me how much I meant to you?"

The ghost nodded with several jerky shakes of his head as he tried to calm his breathing.

"Well, I never got to tell you how much you meant to me." The human paused for only a moment, feeling as though he needed to rush before Endri lost his concentration. "You told me you loved me. Well, I love you too. You're like my brother, 'Dri. And now, we practically are. See?" He held up his still bleeding hand to show the ghost where their blood had mixed, taking hold of his friend's hand as well and showing him the blood still smeared over his palm.

Endri voiced a small gasp and widened his eyes, but said nothing. His emerald irises slowly rose to his friend's face, clearly displaying his shock. With a heavy swallow, he parted his lips, trying to make his vocal cords work. "I–Is ittrue?" he rasped out. "Brothers?"

"As you sayhai," the man answered with a nod and a smile.

A strangled "H–ohh!" pushed past the ghost's lips in a forced exhalation, and he flung his arms around his best friend, hugging so tight, but not enough to cause harm. "Kyle, you're so wonderful! I've never known anyone like you! I've never known anyone as long as I have you! You are everything to me! I love you so much!"

The human hugged back just as forcefully, then slipped away to wipe some of the new tears that had trailed down Endri's cheeks. "I know. And I feel just the same." He leaned back in to hug him again, never really pegging himself as a "huggy" person before, but finding he liked to do it nonetheless. "Hey, why don't you sleep in here with me tonight? I would hate to send you to your room alone after all this."

"Y–Yesplease, I want t–to stay with you," the ghost choked out.

"Then come–on. But firstI need my door back."

The ghost looked up, his tears beginning to clear. "D–Door?"

Kyle chuckled, thumbing toward the blank wall where his door should be.

"I–I did that?"

"Mm–hmm."

The blonde blushed sheepishly. "Oh. Sorry."

Kyle stood, helping Endri up along with him. "You all right now?"

"A–AaI feelnormal."

The human grinned. "Good. Can I have my door back?"

A light smirk played over Endri's lips. "Aa."

He lifted his hand toward the wall again, forcing his energy into it until it began glowing a soft blue. The door reappeared only seconds later to be blasted inward. An explosion set off by a bright flash of yellow blew the door to splinters, and Endri quickly twisted to shield Kyle's body with his. When most of the wooden bits had floated to the floor, Beetlejuice raced into the room and stood among the wreckage, his eyes quickly locating his son near the left wall, but not seeing Kyle anywhere.

"Endri?! Kyle, are you all right?!"

"Yeah, Beetle, I'm fine," the human's voice floated over from where Endri stood.

Only then did the ghoul notice two pairs of legs there and not just one.

"Did he hurt you?!" Beetlejuice asked, stepping closer and rounding the two men enough to see them both.

"No."

A look of worry etched its way over the ghost's face. "Why would I hurt him?" Endri asked, tightening his arms around his friend and hugging protectively.

"'Cause you—!"

"Beetle!"

Beetlejuice shut his mouth upon seeing his son looking so skittish.

Kyle turned his head back to look up at his friend and reached up to squeeze his shoulder reassuringly. "You justweren't yourself, 'Dri. Don't worry, it's all right, though."

"I–I would never hurt younever." Endri shook his head slowly, staring almost trance–like at his friend. It seemed his awareness had left him once more, leaving him only a shell of what he once was.

That thought brought a sinking sadness to Kyle, but instead of letting it get to him, he smiled and patted the ghost's shoulder. "I know. And you didn't. Don't worry, 'kay?"

Endri swallowed and nodded.

"Everything'sokay?" Beetlejuice asked, clearly noting his son's torn shirt, bruises, and bloody bite marks, not to mention the blood on both their hands. The human told him to jump in and take control when things upset his son, butwas his son upset? And how could he jump in when things seemed to be already settled? How could he jump in, period?

Smirking, Kyle looked back over to him. "Just fine. Endri's gonna stay with me tonight, right, 'Dri?"

The blonde simply nodded, not uttering anymore words or sounds.

A slightly confused expression pulled at Beetlejuice's features. "Oh. Wellokay. Umso, Iguess I'llgo back to bed?" he asked, thumbing over his shoulder.

Kyle only nodded, patting Endri's shoulder, keeping him placid. Suddenly, though, the ghost leaned away to look at his father.

"Goodnight, Papa. Sleep well," he requested, reaching over to hug the shell–shocked ghoul.

Uneasily, Beetlejuice reached up and stiffly patted Endri's back. "Y–Yeah. You too, kid." He sighed, then, and relaxed the tension from his body, hugging his son tighter. "Love you, Endri," he whispered into the ghost's ear. He leaned back and gripped the boy's chin between his thumb and forefinger. "Got that?"

Endri smiled and nodded, closing his eyes contentedly.

"Don't you forget it either."

"I won't, Papa."

Beetlejuice pursed his lips, then let out a grunt of approval. He jerked his fingers away from the boy's chin, but came back to pat him on the cheek softly. "'Night, kid." He looked pointedly in Kyle's direction. "Take care of 'im, got it?" he ordered gruffly.

With a smile, the human nodded. There would never be another day when he wouldn't take care of Endri, that was for certain.

Beetlejuice turned and made his way out of the room, but halted in the shattered doorway. "Sorry 'bout the door." He exited snapping his fingers, and with a yellow flash, the door popped back into place, completely whole once more, as if nothing had ever happened.

Kyle chuckled, very used to seeing such amazing displays by now. "Sleepy?" he asked, his head of white hair cocked to the side a fraction.

"A little."

The human nodded toward the bed. "Let's lay down. It'll be like a slumber partybut more manly."

Chuckling, both crawled into Kyle's small bed after Endri shed his grey boots and torn shirt. The human situated himself against the wall, and the ghost laid along the other edge, leaving some breathing space between them.

Endri snuggled down, wrapping one arm around the pillow beneath his head and rolling to the side, facing his friend. "Mmthis is nice. Sometimes I don't like sleeping by myself."

The man chuckled. "I get like that sometimes."

A few moments passed in silence as the ghost quietly regarded Kyle across the small distance between them. When he finally summed up enough courage, he asked, "Kyle?"

"Mm."

"You're warm, right?"

The human chuckled again, cracking one eye to look over. "I tend to be."

"II'm notam I?" The ghost's voice was tinged with nerves.

"Nope. You're pretty warm too."

Endri smiled against the softness of Kyle's pillow. "Papa said it's because I have so much energy—that it makes me warm because I have aa what did he call it?" He thought for a moment. "A 'generator' inside me?"

"'Generator'?"

"Mm–hmm. I never knew until Papa told me. My heart makes all my energy, and the rest of the organs in my abdomen hold it, like batteries, until I want to use it. And because it's all stored up inside me, it makes heat."

Kyle smirked, thinking Endri sounded just like a little boy by the way he worded his sentences and saying "papa". Somewhere in the human's mind, he wasn't surprised, though. It was almost obvious that a small part of the ghost had never truly grown up. He still retained a piece of his innocence, and it was refreshing to see whenever it surfaced.

"Then I must be pretty damn lucky."

"Why?"

"'Cause I have such a powerful person as my best pal and brother. Kindathrilling."

The ghost only smirked in reply. He laid still, just watching and letting the rhythmic rise and fall of his friend's chest lull him into a state of drowsiness. After about the fifth time he yawned, Kyle turned toward him and smirked.

"I guess we should sleep-sleep."

Agreeing, Endri reached over and turned the bedside lamp off, then laid back to his original spot. After a little squirming and adjusting on both their parts, they finally settled for the night.

"'Night, 'Dri."

"Goodnight."

They each drifted off slowly, trying to bask in the quiet serenity not found so often in the Neitherworld at night. But Kyle knew, as he slipped into slumber, that the calm and peaceful nights would come more often now. He knew that every night, that peaceful atmosphere would be right there, all because he had someone beside him that was everything he never had during his lifetime: a partner, best friend, and brother. And seeing that, Kyle rested that night easier than he had in many, many years.
Japanese / pronunciation / English Translation:

shogai / sho-guy / barrier
nani / na-nee /