Author's Notes: Bad me, getting behind on this. Okay, I'll save the sob story and just say- hey, anime conventions take up more time in regards to preparation than you think.

Oh, and just to note- the purple haired teen that Naraku is with in this chapter is a bit of an inside joke. Perhaps if you've browsed my artwork you'll know which purple-haired man I have with Naraku :D

Anyways- as always- please read, review and enjoy :)

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As I once again found myself hugging the toilet, I heard soft footsteps behind me and silently prayed that it wasn't Hiten. Explaining this to him was hard enough, but having to do so while feeling so pathetically weak was another story all together.

"Bankotsu."

I tensed for a moment before registering the typical calm tone.

"Sesshoumaru?" I questioned, nervously turning towards the voice.

And sure enough, it was the Ice Prince himself there to save my day. Me- the poor princess too weak to tell the kingdom of my secret affair and the cold-hearted prince would be the one to pick me up and help me out.

I laughed inwardly at my little joke, it figured I'd be making a mockery of my own queerness sooner or later- and the analogy of myself as a princess was surely just the beginning of that.

His hand on my shoulder drew me out of my self-mockery and crashing back to reality.

"Hiten?" He questioned, obviously surmising that it wasn't just a standard flu behind this.

"Sorta…" I muttered sitting with my back against the cold wall.

Sesshoumaru frowned slightly and I couldn't help but smile at knowing that somewhere in that frozen labyrinth of his mind that there was at least a tinge of friendly concern for me. He extended a hand down and I stared at it a moment before processing that he meant to help me up.

I was pulled to my feet and staggered forward; my short figure leaning up against Sesshoumaru's tall form.

"Explaining this positioning could prove troublesome," He cooly remarked.

I just smirked- half amused at the thought of someone seeing it, yet partially bitter.

"Explaining things is never easy…" I mumbled back.

He said nothing but I had a feeling if I looked up I'd catch him with the slightly thoughtful expressions he gets now and then.

"I'll move in a minute…." I continued, my head gently resting against his chest and my body seeming to be in suspended animation for the moment.

The room fell silent until Sesshoumaru finally replied.

"It reminds you of his presence?"

Not sure if admitting that would cause him to shove me away or not, I gave him an avoidant answer he would have tried himself.

"I miss Jakotsu."

Then I felt him shift slightly, his hand coming to rest lightly against my back in the loosest of embraces.

"I know," He said softly.

And at that- I broke down.

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Chapter 6: Like a Crack in the Picture Frame

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Naraku's frown told all as he approached the now empty table. He'd seen Bankotsu run off awhile back, then after waiting and seeing that his friend wasn't returning- Hiten had followed.

Sitting down his tray, the brown-haired teen sighed.

"Either he finally spilt the beans or panicked trying to… But whatever that was, now I'm stuck all alone for lunch."

Skimming the cafeteria with a casual gaze, his eyes fell on a table over by the small windows.

"Unless…" His smirk widened into a plotting grin as his noted the purple-haired young man sitting down at the table.

"Score, he's alone too!" Naraku muttered to himself, then after making sure that no one was watching his movement he stood and went to join the other boy.

Putting on a confident air, he casually flipped his hair over his shoulder and spoke, "Mind if I join you?"

The teen looked up, an equally calculating smirk on his face, "Oh no, not at all."

And with that, Naraku plopped down and shot one glance back towards the door.

"Sorry Bankotsu, I gotta look out for my own plans now and then…"

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Bankotsu wasn't sure how long he'd stood there. A few tears spilling down his face as he cursed his own weakness.

"Someone's coming," Sesshoumaru's voice broke through the haze of Bankotsu's mind.

"Huh?" The braided young man muttered, his brain not fully comprehending what had been said due to his current state.

"I assume you'll want to wash your face," He explained, gold eyes darting towards the door.

Nodding in understanding, the black-haired teen pulled himself away from his friend and stumbled over to the sink. His shaky hand turned the facet on just as the door opened and Hiten entered.

"Bankotsu?" His voice was rushed, and obviously concerned.

Slowly the teen brought himself to look up, his blue eyes shifting from Hiten to Sesshoumaru but his voice refusing to let him speak.

"Are you okay, man? If you're sick- you should go on home. I can get your homework," The other black-haired boy said, taking a few steps towards Bankotsu.

Not wanting him any closer for fear he would see the remnants of the tears on his face, Bankotsu took a step backwards- his body sending out warning signs of his impending collapse.

"No. I'll be fine. It's just…" He winced to himself, "It's just because I can't let you know what I am…"

With that, his knees buckled beneath him and his vision began to turn to black.

And the last thing he remembered was Sesshoumaru catching him before he hit the ground.

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"Mr. Asazuki? Mr. Asazuki…" The voice seemed far away, but he could discern a familiar tone to it.

Opening his eyes and blinking at the bright lights, Bankotsu found none other than Akitoki staring down at him.

"Where…am I?" He muttered, a bit thrown by his current surroundings.

"The Nurse's office. Mrs. Wakana is out for the moment, but school is almost over and she told me to make sure you got up."

"Shit- I blacked out from lunch 'til…" He shot a glance to the clock to confirm his suspicions.

Akitoki's eyes widened, "You'd…been here since lunch hour? What happened? Are you all right? It isn't because I ran into you this morning is it? Because if it is I'm really really sorry Mr. Asazuki, I didn't mean to…"

"Akitoki. It wasn't that," Bankotsu said, trying to hold back a laugh at the sophomore's conclusion.

"Oh. Then…what was it? He asked, his eyes wide with interest.

"I um… well I just have a lot on my mind and I guess it's really stressing me out," He sighed, "I suppose it just got to me and I collapsed."

"Did…something bad happen?"

Bankotsu frowned, "Just a bad feeling that something might. Impending doom or something like that…"

Akitoki frowned as well, wondering what could have possibly gotten the older boy so upset that he collapsed like that. Then, it hit him.

"Is it something that happened to that friend of yours in Japan?"

Blue eyes went wide for a moment as they just stared at the other boy. Sure, they entire baseball team knew that Bankotsu had a best friend studying in Japan, they just didn't know much more outside of that.

Holding back the wave of emotion that hit him full force at the question, Bankotsu nodded weakly, "I'm just worried about him coming back…"

Eagar to comfort the senior he idolized, Akitoki smiled, "Don't worry Bankotsu. I'm certain he'll have a safe trip back home and that everyone here will just love him. I mean- if he's a friend of yours, I will certain give him the same respect that I do you!"

Even though he doubted the optimism, the black-haired boy smiled as well. "Thanks Akitoki."

"Oh um… Mr. Asazuki?" He said hesitantly.

"You really don't have to call me that, Akitoki."

"Well um… Bankotsu then…well, I don't want you to get mad. I really didn't mean to…"

"Mean to…what?"

Like a child caught stealing from a cookie jar, Akitoki slowly handed over the wallet.

"How did you…" Bankotsu withheld his confusion and the tinge of anger when he saw the other teen bite his lip.

"I think I saw something I wasn't supposed to. I was looking for a name to call your apartment to see if your roommate could come pick you up, before realizing that the office probably had that information…but… but…"

The room froze, and Bankotsu could have sworn that even the ticking of the clock on the wall ceased for those few moments as it dawned on him what exactly had happened.

He'd seen the picture.

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Suikotsu pulled into the busy parking lot, students pouring out from the building as the last bell of the day sounded.

"He collapsed at lunch and has been sleeping since? Oh god, what happened Bankotsu? Did something go wrong when you were trying to tell someone about you and Jakotsu?"

Turning to the black-haired female with him, he smiled lightly.

"We'd best get inside. I'm sorry to have not explained his condition further, but I think some of it is to his discretion," Suikotsu explained.

She nodded politely opened the car door to follow him inside, "I just hope the situation isn't as bad as you are making it out to be…"

"Me too, Kikyou. Me too…" He sighed.

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"I'm…I'm sorry Mr. Asazuki. I didn't mean to pry into your personal life like that," Akitoki rambled on seeing the senior frozen in shock.

"Akitoki," He slowly replied- his voice almost mechanical and devoid of most emotion, "Do…do you hate me now?"

His light-brown hair fell forward into his face for a moment as he looked down.

"Well, I know that there are some people out there that…that don't like things like that," His voice was low and his tone was serious, "But… I think that's stupid."

Bankotsu's head snapped up, his eyes watching Akitoki closely.

"Love is just an emotion. People love lots of things- sports, colors, and other people… and if you truly love that person then, well," He slowly looked up then, his eyes locking with Bankotsu's, "Then I have no right to hate you for that."

"Akitoki…"

"I think my only disappointment is that I can't ask you for advice on girls," Akitoki said, a light laugh in his tone.

And at that Bankotsu's smile returned in full force. Not his false smile from before, but his real one that had been buried.

"Thanks Akitoki. I owe you- big time."

"Don't worry about it, Mr. Asazuki. And I won't tell anyone if you don't want me to," He replied.

"For now, let's just leave it between us, all right?"

He nodded, "Okay, Mr. Asazuki."

Bankotsu sighed, "You can use my real name…"

"Sorry Mr.….I mean, Bankotsu."

The room fell quiet again, but this time it was a pleasant feeling.

Finally, Bankotsu paused, "Hey, why are you in the nurse's office anyways, Akitoki?"

"Oh! I um…" He looked sheepishly down to his arm that was covered in gauze, "I kinda hurt myself when I tripped during gym class. Mrs. Wakana had gone to see if any of the teachers or the main office had anymore gauze."

Shaking his head, the braided teen sighed, "I'm not sure if I'm up for practice today…"

"I can tell Coach that you were sick and went on home," Akitoki piped up, "I've got to stop by and tell him about my arm anyways."

"Well…"

"Oh and your friend…um…that white-haired senior, he dropped by your backpack and homework before he went home."

Bankotsu looked over to where the pile of his belongings sat on the chair, "Thanks Sesshoumaru, I don't have to worry about accidentally running into Hiten getting it from my locker now…"

"Bankotsu- you in here?" Suikotsu's voice called out from the doorway.

"Yah, I'm in here. They called you up?" He questioned, slowly moving his legs over the edge of the small cot.

"Left a message on the answering machine. I came as soon as I got home from classes," He said walking over quickly and putting a hand to Bankotsu's forehead, "What happened?"

"Long story made short- I stressed myself out the entire day and ended up throwing up and collapsing around lunch."

"Did something go wrong when you were…talking to people about Jakotsu?" Suikotsu asked, choosing his words carefully.

Giving a weak smile, he shook his head in the negative, "I'll explain later. I just want to go home."

"That's understandable," Suikotsu moved over and helped him up, "Should we wait for the nurse to return?"

"I'll let her know," Akitoki said from where he sat.

"Thanks Akitoki, and tell Coach that I'll try and come early for the game tomorrow to make up for missing practice," Bankotsu replied.

"Okay. I hope everything works out Mr. Asazuki. I can't wait to meet your boyfriend."

He said it so naturally that Bankotsu couldn't help but smirk slightly underneath his surprise at hearing it.

Suikotsu's eyes shot back to the black-haired young woman that waited near the door.

"Um about that…Bankotsu, you might want to fill in Kikyou when we get back…"

Turning slowly and seeing his roommate's girlfriend, the braided teen sighed.

"Okay, I've got to get around to telling Hiten this weekend…Akitoki might slip again at this rate…" Running a hand through his bangs he frowned, "Why can't this get any easier?"

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Preview for Chapter 7:

They say absence makes the heart grow fonder.

But in situations where the standards of life are slowly changing, can that love prevail?