Chapter 10

Forgiveness

((Satoshi's POV))

Krad! Why did you do that! I—

"I regret it." What? He regrets something?

! …You do?

"Yeah…"

Why? Krad, that's not like you.

"Are you worrying about me?"

No. I'm hoping with all my heart that this is real and you're a decent person. And also doubting it.

"..."

Never mind that, I have to find Niwa-kun!

I raced out of the room he had landed in, going back the way he came. I ran as if my life depended on it. But this was more important than that. This was Niwa-kun's life.

Hang in there…

Finally, I arrived at the hotel. I still had a key, as I had left without most of my belongings, and had it brought there by the staff. I ran up the stairs three at a time, completely out of breath.

Finally, I came to the door. I paused briefly before opening it, steeling myself for a gruesome sight. And it was definitely gruesome.

He was lying on the once-white sheets, mangled and nude. Though he was obviously unconscious, his pupil-less eyes were still open, and still crying. He was still thrashing in the bed, trying to all for help with a hoarse throat.

I felt a single tear run down my cheek. "Niwa-kun…" I walked over to him. Krad was abnormally silent. I reached down to pick him up, but hesitated before touching him. I didn't deserve to touch him. Even now, ruined, he was still too perfect to touch.

I wrapped him in sheets before attempting to pick him up. With the sheets, he was slightly heavier than he would have been, but if he thrashed around much longer he would be using strength he didn't have.

As I carried him down the corridor, a few drops of blood fell to the floor, absorbed in the cream carpet. I wished I could kill Krad.

When I reached the lobby, everything was thrown into chaos, just like the first time. But this time, he really was about to die. I could have never imagined that I could cause such a terrible chain of events, such a terrible twist of fate.

He was rushed away from me, to the hospital. I caught a cab to follow them. But this time, I didn't stay in his room. I stayed in the waiting room, praying to all the gods I could think of for his safety.

I felt Krad woke up and went into my mind, opening my mouth to yell at him.

"I'm sorry."

You better be! He might die, because of you! And your precious Dark would die, too! I threw the words at him spitefully, not realizing that this was definitely not the same Krad that I knew. He was kinder, and knew where his heart was.

He waited for me to finish my ravings. "I apologize. I didn't know that he meant so much to you." I glared at him coldly. This sort of play-acting was terrible. As if I would ever believe that!

"Satoshi, what do you think love is?" Huh? Why was he asking me that? He never asked for opinions. Especially not of matters he said were for weak souls, things he denounced as being stupid and inconsistent.

It's when the life of someone else matters more than your own. When you really care about someone, and want them to be happy, even if you can't be. In other words, something that you'll never feel.

"…"

((Krad's POV))

He's so spiteful, now. I know that it's my fault, but I just want yell at him to become himself, emotionless. But maybe this is what he's really like.

Love… Is that what I feel for Dark? I thought it was lust, but that can be solved by less kind means. Like rape. But I can never bring myself to rape the thief. I don't really want to.

But do I care more about him than myself? I don't think so. That would be stupid. Yet, maybe do. After all, I could have killed him during battle, or caught him during the chase. I never do, though. Is that love? Maybe it is.

((Dark's POV))

Daisuke! Wake up! He's gone, now! You can stop squirming! He didn't hear me. What could I do? If I touched him, he would think that I was Krad, and that would make his nightmares worse.

I walk over to him, but don't touch. Dai-chan. Wake up. Everyone is worried about you. Takeshi, Keiji, me, Satoshi, the twins, your whole class and a few other people are here waiting for you. Krad is gone. He won't come back. Everything is okay. No one is going to hurt you anymore.

His irises flickered back. I smiled. It was helping. I wasn't just talking to myself. Daisuke. They're waiting for you.

He looked around wildly inside our mind. "Where—"

He's gone now. Everything is okay.

"Dark…"

It's okay. Wake up, now. They're waiting for you.

"They…?"

Your whole class, plus a few people around town. They're all worried about you. Go on.

He blinked and took control of the body.

((Daisuke's POV))

I focused my eyes on something. It was… Riku?

"Daisuke! We were so worried about you! What happened?" I ignored her and tried to sit up.

"Agh!" I winced and lied back down. Was it even possible to hurt this much? Riku stopped babbling and looked alarmed at me. "Daisuke! Daisuke! Say something!"

"Shut up…" I muttered at her. She was making my headache worse. She looked at me funnily. "Satoshi…"

I murmured weakly. I needed to see him, and make sure he was still alive. I didn't want him to disappear again. Riku stormed out of the room to get him.

A few minutes later, Satoshi came in. He looked like he thought it was all his fault. Why would it be, though? I needed to talk to him, alone.

I somehow got to look into his eyes, and I think he got my message. He glared at the others, and they left, leaving us in peace, except for a single doctor. "Will you be needing anything?" he asked. I shook my head no.

I motioned for Satoshi to sit down on the edge of the bed. I had missed him. I knew now. It didn't matter what my sexuality was. As long as I had him.

I looked at him. He looked ruffled, like he had run across town, and there were a few drops of blood on his clothes. His usually perfect hair was a mess. He seemed thinner than when I had last seen him, and his eyes had dark smudges under them, as if he had grown older over the past three days. His head was down, and he was tensed up, like a dog that knew it would be kicked soon.

Seeing him like that, added to my already high stress, and I started crying.

((Satoshi's POV))

He motioned for me to sit down, and I did. I waited for my punishment, and wished that I could erase this trip. I got to kiss him twice, but that didn't make it worth it. He had almost died twice, because of me. I knew he wouldn't forgive me.

He watched him for a moment. Why didn't he just slap me already? I deserved it, after what I had done. I deserved death.

He started crying. I instinctually put my arms around him. "I was so scared, Satoshi!" He cried. Why didn't he hate me? It was my fault. "I thought he was going to kill me! I thought you were dead! I was so worried…" He was worried about me? Why? "I was so scared. So scared…" He wept quietly onto me.

"Gomen nassai, Niwa-kun." I said quietly. "I didn't mean for it to happen." He looked up at me with wide and confused eyes.

"But it wasn't you." he said. He didn't know? I guess he didn't have his full memory back, yet. "It was that man… Krad."

I looked at him, my heart aching, and told him everything, quietly. I knew there were tears running freely down my cheeks, but I didn't care. He listened, still quietly sobbing.

"Then, you love me?" he asked, when I was done. I guess I did imply that, didn't I? Well, I was going to tell me anyway.

I nodded, bracing myself for the slap that was sure to come. I peeked at him out of the corner of my eye. He was raising his hand. I tensed.

But instead, he gently put a hand on my cheek, making me look at him. He was smiling? "Satoshi, I'm not going to hurt you." Why not? He smiled weakly. "Even if I wanted to, I doubt I could, in this state. But that's beside the point." What was he getting at? Whatever it was, I didn't deserve it. "I forgive you, Satoshi."

My eyes widened. Why was he forgiving me? I had almost killed him twice, if not on purpose. I couldn't accept that… I—

He kissed me. Without giving myself permission to, I kissed back, embracing the smaller figure on the bed. The crimson angel of my dreams.

Hmmm, that would be a good ending there. But not yet. Two more chapters, and probably fluffy ones. After all, Daisuke IS dating Riku. And cheating on her, by the look of things.

The voting so far:

Hiwatari – 0

More than a Fever – 2

Birthdays – 5

The voting is still on. I'll tell you what one won in the next chapter, and hopefully post it and the next chapter on the same day. Please review.

StickmanRVR Yeah… He'll get better, though.

monchi I hope the ending doesn't seem out of sync with the rest of it. Going from worst to great in three chapters isn't exactly easy, but I'm bubbling over with ideas for the sequel. (Which will focus on Dark/Krad.)

Sango-maru Glad you like it. I'll write both, don't worry. I'll just write whichever one wins first. .

Daishi Glad you like it.

Sakuya Hiwatari He did have it coming, I have to admit. Besides, it fir the story perfectly, even if it was evilly cruel.

hitocerebattosai Well, I'm trying to make Krad a better person… He has to be softened a bit for the sequel. Bash his head in on your turn! I'm renting him right now!

KupoWrath Wow! What a long review. Thanks!

I agree with that. The Riku from Kingdom Hearts is the only person keeping me from hating that name.

Krad will seem better in the sequel. I have plans for him…

Go ahead; I'd be glad to have it there. The first chapter is up. I'll do that… When I figure out how… XD

Last chapter? That not for a while, now. I told you, 12 chapters! Sorry that my talk of a sequel confused you. But I wouldn't kill Daisuke.

You're contradicting yourself. In one sentence, you say it's the last chapter, and then you say you can't wait for an update, which just happened. XD

There. A long reply for a long review.

Snapix Yeah… He woke up.