All the Pretty Little Horses

There's a ranch called Golden Hope, filled with beautiful horses and lush forests…and they say…that if you ever get lost or wander off the path…a golden angel will guide you back…

Chapter 6:

He stared at the blood that dripped onto the floor, this was his blood…his diseased, cursed blood. It was dangerous, for once, the thought hit him with a huge impact, he was a hazard… The doctor came and bandaged it up, checking up on his illness before he left, he shook his head, "No one was around you at the time right? Or at least they didn't touch the blood right?" Krad shook his head, "Good, you're lucky you don't need stitches."

"Am I…a hazard here?"

"No, as long as you're careful."

When the doctor left, he sighed and headed to the main hall where the piano was. There was a phone hanging from the wall, he decided to call Riff.

"Are you alright?"

"Yea…hey Riff, maybe I should go home now…"

"Why? Is it because you're afraid of your disease spreading? If it is then I'll deny the request, you'll leave only when you're ready. Not out of fear, now Master Krad, please, be careful."

"I...will…"

Krad blinked and stared at the phone he had put down, he never thought that Riff would say no to him going home. Wonders would never cease to amaze him…he stared at the piano, seated himself down and began playing, he avoided stressing his arm though, in fear of opening up his wound.

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Outside Dark was grooming his horse, mind still whirling from what had happened in the morning. He heard the sound of the piano and relaxed a bit. He had been listening to that song for quite sometime now, he'd end up whistling it when he least expected. Did the blonde have hemophobia? He snorted, if the blonde was afraid of anything, it certainly wouldn't be his own blood. Then he felt something nip at his hair, he turned around to face his horse, "Hey! What am I? A carrot?"

The black horse just nickered agreeingly. "Yea, you're real nice. I know my hair's nice and all but you really don't have to go and chew on it." Again, the horse nickered, Dark sighed, he wasn't going to get an answer out of something that couldn't talk…in any known language to the world, "Well if ain't gonna talk, I guess I will. So…what do you think is wrong with him?"

A moment later he sighed again, "Don't know either? You're useless." The horse snorted.

"What? You're talking to horses now?"

The cowboy turned around, relief swept through him though he hid it quite well, "I see you're better."

"In some ways I suppose, couldn't be much better than your mental state at the moment."

"What? Take that back!"

"Why should I? You are talking to horses." The stallion whinnied happily.

"Don't you dare go on his side!" The horse trotted over to the blonde and ignored his tamer. "Get back here! Stupid horse! Stupid stupid horse!"

The blonde shook his finger, "And what did I just say about you talking to horses? Dark? It does nothing for your reputation."

Dark snorted, "So what? If talking to plants help them grow, why not animals?"

"Because half the time, you don't know whether they actually understand you or not, for example, your horse could be laughing at you right now and we wouldn't know it."

The black horse bobbed his head, "Laugh at me?" Dark pointed accusingly at the horse, "That does it! Don't be expecting any treats tonight!"

It tossed his head and whinnied complainingly to the blonde who in turned smiled and stroked its muzzle, "It's okay, you know Dark, I wouldn't be surprised if he were to accidentally make you fall one day…"

"Now who's talking to horses?"

"Hm? I'd have to say you."

"Fine whatever, just don't go filling the horse's head full of ideas."

"And why would I do such things?" The blonde asked quite innocently.

"I'm not sure why you do a lot of things-"

"Dark-san!"

Krad leaned against the fence petting the horse, hiding a scowl behind a grin, "Guess who's back?"

Dark sighed, "I'll be right back, I have to go and face hell…"

"Good luck with that."

The cowboy grinned and headed off with an extremely fake smile, "Risa-chan! You guys are back! How was the trail?"

"You should've been there!"

"Oh?"

"Yea! You should've been there! It's so much funner with you around!"

"You know I have a lot of work to do here…"

Risa pouted, "But…"

"Maybe next time, how about that?"

"Really?"

Krad sighed, listening to the girl throw herself at the other boy, the horse whinnied, "Yes?" The horse simply tossed his head and looked at his tamer then back to the blonde, "Are you trying to imply something? You know I can't, whether I want to or not I can't. Even if you didn't know, you know now, I can't. I'll probably have to leave soon anyways."

Dark had headed back and heard the last part of it, he couldn't help but feel upset that the blonde was going to leave soon, "Oh? Who's talking to horses now?"

The blonde snorted and placed his smirk back on, "Yes, in fact, your horse is great at conversations, much better than you I might add."

"So now I'm ranked below a horse? How nice."

"How was the worse case scenario over there?"

"Terrible like any worse case scenario would be?"

"I see…sounds terrible indeed."

Dark grinned, "Would you like to trade shoes for a day? I sure could take a break."

The blonde hid the bitterness of his laugh, "You wouldn't be taking much of a break."

"At least you don't have to deal with the mistress of hell."

At least you don't have to be dying. "True, but it doesn't sound like a very fair trade now does it?"

"No, I suppose not. How's your hand?"

"It's really not that bad."

"Need stitches?"

"You only wish."

"Krad…"

Golden eyes blinked and turned to the cowboy who looked semi-deep in thought, "Yea?"

"Never mind." Krad couldn't help but blush at the cowboy's serious tone, it made his heart speed up, was that why the girl fell for him? He shook his head, and looked down to hide his blush. "Krad? You okay?"

"Yea…" Then a certain horse's head went and ruffled up his hair, "Hey!" The stallion whinnied and snorted, the blonde sighed and untied his hair. Dark gawked, his long golden hair was gorgeous, he watched, mesmerized as Krad tied it back up again scowling under his breath. He glanced over at the cowboy who was staring at him with an unreadable expression, "…Dark? Mister Cowboy sir?" He waved a hand in the boy's face earning him a just-snapped-out-of-a-trance look.

"Yea?"

"You zoned out for awhile there…"

"Really? My bad."

Golden eyes blinked, "Is there something on my face?"

"…yea…"

Krad blinked again, "Where?"

Dark grinned and walked over, tucking in a strand of hair behind the boy's ear, "You have a little dirt on your cheek." He cupped the blonde's face and with his thumb, brushed the pale cheek which now tinted pink.

"Thanks…"

"No problem." He looked at the blonde realizing how close they were, a little closer and they would be…

"Dark-san!"

Mentally cursing in as many languages as he knew, he turned around and faced the girl with a wavering smile, "Yes Risa-chan?"

"Youraunt was calling you." She turned and glared at the blonde who merely blushed and looked down, "I think she has work for you to do."

Krad watched Dark leave with the girl on his tail, his heart was still beating out of control, something whinnied and nuzzled him, he stroked the horse's muzzle. He suddenly felt faint, like he was going to collapse, the horse whinnied again, "I'll be fine."

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He frowned, leaning against the wall for support, it was getting really difficult to keep himself up. At least he had made it to his cabin with little trouble, once inside, he let out a soft sigh and a cough. He probably needed to go soon, he didn't feel like leaving, not with Dark here…with Risa stalking him.

The blonde sat on the bed and stretched, he was getting tired already and the sun wasn't even down yet…maybe he was becoming nocturnal. Shrugging it off, he laid down and went to sleep.

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It was dinner time, Krad didn't show up, Dark went to go get him. He knocked on the door but no one answered, so he decided to simply go in. Inside, he found the blonde asleep, deciding that he didn't want to wake him up, he grinned and threw a blanket over him. "Good night, sweet dreams."

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Krad sat up and looked around, it was morning already? He looked down confused, he didn't remember getting a blanket…maybe it was Dark…snorting to himself, yea right. Stretching, he got up and headed outside, he probably missed breakfast but he wasn't hungry. The blonde frowned as a dizzy spell suddenly came over him, he looked up, it looked like it was going to rain soon.

He headed down towards the main hall when he was greeted by a familiar voice, "You're awake!" The blonde turned around to find a very energetic cowboy grinning at him, "I went to get you but you were asleep yesterday so I left you there, you hungry?" Krad blinked and shook his head, so it was Dark last night, he followed the other boy into the kitchen and caught a piece of bread that had been thrown to him, "Eat it anyways."

The blonde shrugged and took a small bite of the bread, "Aren't you supposed to be on the trail with she-whom-we-do-not-speak-of?"

Dark groaned, "Ugh, don't remind me, it's in twenty minutes. You gonna come?"

"And get in the middle of your wonderful conversation which involves her talking to you nonstop? …like every time she sees you? I'd rather not, that and the fact that she hates me!"

"She doesn't hate you…okay, maybe just a little, but still! It'll be fun! Come on!"

The blonde snorted, "Either way you're going to have to deal with her."

"Well, misery loves company."

"Aren't Daisuke and Satoshi going?"

"Yes, but they're too busy with each other to help me or to notice anything at all!"

Krad crossed his arms, "I don't see the purpose of me going." The cowboy just gave him the grin that he couldn't say no to no matter how hard he tried, "Whatever, I'll just go to watch you in your living hell, it ought to amuse me."

"I'll let that go today, but thanks."

"You owe me big time." Krad huffed, then he turned and headed for the stables. When he reached there he blinked, "I forgot to ask him about the horse's name again…"

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The trail wasn't so bad, with the exception of the nonstop talking from none other than, Risa, who talked endlessly to a very zoned out Dark. Behind those two, rode Krad and Riku who watched the two in front boredly, and in the very back, were the happy couple. Daisuke and Satoshi, riding side by side while holding hands, the blonde felt embarrassed to turn around, feeling like he was interrupting a somewhat private moment between the two, so he watched the two in front. Sighing, he asked the girl's sister quietly, not that Risa or Dark could've heard over him over her talking, "What's wrong with your sister?"

Riku returned the sigh, "I've been trying to figure that out all my life."

"Dark-san!"

The cowboy jolted up and looked around, "Y-yes?"

Krad smirked, as he turned around and shot him a desperate glance and mouthed the words, help! He turned around to face the other two, and shot them a smirk, gesturing at Dark, Daisuke smiled and nodded, "Hey, let's take a break here, it might start raining soon and it'd be better if we didn't go too far."

They tied their horses onto a tree and had spread out around the area. Dark headed to the blonde who was somewhat away from the group and leaning against a tree, "Thanks for the save."

"You looked like you were about to die."

"I was. What's on your mind?"

Golden eyes looked up, "Hmm? I was just wondering what you named your horse."

Dark blinked and scratched his head, then he said with a smile, "Actually, I haven't named it yet. Why don't you name it? I mean it seems pretty fond of you."

"Me?"

"Yea sure, why not?"

Krad looked back at the horse, the cowboy watched him, "Kokuyoku…"

"Black wings? Alright, Kokuyoku it is, better than what I had in mind."

"Hm?"

"I was actually thinking of something like Fluffy."

The blonde's lips twitched, "Fluffy?"

"Yea, I'm not exactly good at naming."

Krad broke out into a grin, "No really, Fluffy?"

"Oh get off my back! I named your horse!"

"Shiroi?"

"Yea, I named him."

"I suppose that's better than Fluffy…" He said, suppressing a laugh.

Dark's offended frown turned into a smirk, "Well, since you like that name so much, I might as well start calling you that, so how about it? Fluffy."

Krad blushed, "What?"

"Nothing, nothing, we'd better get going before it rains, Fluffy-kins." The blonde was about to protest but began to cough instead, Dark frowned, "Krad? You alright?" Krad nodded, "I thought you said you fever was gone."

"It is, it's just a cold." He lied.

"Well...don't push yourself, wouldn't want you bedridden again."

Krad couldn't help but notice how nice Dark was being, "Thank you…"

The cowboy looked away feeling heat rise to his cheeks, "Hn, no one wants you sick again."

The blonde gave a little smile, "Sou…ka?" That's a shame really, because I haven't really gotten better at all.

"Dark! Krad-kun! We're heading back now!"

"Yea! Stop making out and let's go!"

The two blushed but then Dark retorted, "Like you should be talking, creepy!"

"Shut up and come on!"

The rancher grinned victoriously, "Come on, let's go."

Krad nodded and followed him back, he found a smiling Daisuke, a grumbling Satoshi, Riku already mounting onto her horse and a very unsatisfied Risa. He felt something patter on his head, he looked up, "It's raining…"

Soon enough it began to pour, they all rode back in the rain. Krad shivered, he was going to be lectured for this, suddenly, a denim jacket was stuck in his face, he blinked before looking at the owner. Apparently it was the jacket that had been tied onto Dark's waist, "Here, I mean, you're still sick and all…"

"Won't you get cold?"

He grinned, "I'm immune to this remember?"

The blonde accepted the jacket, it was still warm, "Thank you."

"Hey, no problem."

Risa glared at the blonde, why did Dark give his jacket to him instead of her? Because he was sick, yea, that had to be the reason, she reassured herself. She continued to watch the two, Dark was smiling and it looked absolutely breathtaking, he never smiled at her like that around her! He usually just gave her that grin of his, she wished the blonde would simply disappear!

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It had been raining for a couple days now, the four had gone out on a trail again, not that he cared. He headed to the fenced area where the black horse was, the horse trotted over to him. Despite how wet it was, he stroked the horse's head, "Kokuyoku…" Lightning cracked above him causing him to look up.

Then he heard galloping, he turned around to find a horse running towards him, it reared onto its hind legs, golden eyes widened, he watched powerless to stop the horse from crashing down on him. The last thing he remembered was a panicked Risa getting off the horse before he lost consciousness.

Risa got off her horse, it had been terribly spooked by the lightning and she lost control of it. She saw the unconscious blonde on the ground and screamed for help. The first person to hear her cries was Dark, he came running over, immediately, Risa clung onto his arm, "What happened?" He glanced over at his very distressed horse; it tossed its head and whinnied angrily.

"My horse got scared by the lightning and begun to run then it reared and it hit Krad-san!"

Dark shook his arm free and ran to the blonde, he checked for a pulse, "He's alive, thank god…"

"Dark-san…" The cowboy threw her a glance, "I don't think he's breathing…" Amethyst eyes widened as he turned his attention back to the blonde, he swore, and took off his jacket, kneeling beside the blonde, Risa shrieked, "Dark-san! You aren't going to-"

"He's going to die if I don't!" Brown eyes widened, and she remained silent as he watched the cowboy try to save the blonde's life. Dark took a deep breath, the only thing that was on his mind was saving Krad, he took another breath then sealed the blonde's mouth with his own.

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Nya

Weeeeee! Dark's giving Krad CPR! XD More fluffiness to ensue! Fluffiness as in fluff and Fluffy (aka: Krad) :D I'll do the comments :O Just because I'm not out of time like last time XS Did I mention I'm starting on the next chapter already:) Thanks to Shimmering Solitude for the horsey's name! But still, I actually couldn't decide >.>;; so all the names will be used later in the fic because you're all awesome! XD I really have to stop saying awesome...

Hakudoshi-chan- Yup! Poor poor Dark, but yea, Krad's got his reasons...awfully good reasons too o.O Riff's just really nice :) -not counting the twist in Count Cain- But he's so nice, it just makes you go awww inside X3

Seylin- Aww...poor vampires...they don't have any safe food left... :S I think I learned that in class...and that's why doctors wear gloves XD Those inflatable gloves that people fill up with water and throw at each other XP

Les Scribbles- Don't worry, I enjoy torturing Krad...alot XP I see you've noticed, I'm sadistic...half of me went awww and the other half was laughing really hard when I typed this chapter :P But I love angst and it can't be helped :)

Cherry- Yes! And onwards to his death XP As mean as that sounded...it's true, and apparently, I'm too lazy to think of a nicer way to say it XD Isn't it if the other person has a cut the virus could slip through right away or something? I forgot everything I learned in class XD

dimonyo-anghel- That's what I thought, now I feel smarter than I actually am :P But did you know that you don't have to "do it" to get STDs? The horrifying things you learn in class o.O Although I think I was either asleep or laughing through it... :P

Mysterious Kaitou- Hmmm...will Dark find out? Will he? Will he? XD I don't know why I'm asking you but still... XP Just because Dark's somewhat stupid half the time doesn't mean he isn't somewhat smart! XD I'm just plain mean to Krad :)

Gabriel of Dreams-Yume Chan- He's dying! And I'm smiling for some reason XP Krad must be happy to know that there are alot of people who are and will be upset because of his death :) I know I would be :D

K-chan XP- Yea! Poor poor Kraddy-kins...always the victim in my stories...I tried a couple times...having him not being the victim I mean and somehow...it just didn't work out XP Okay...maybe I didn't try very hard but oh well XP

seena58- Yup...he gets hurt over and over and over again, and I'm still amused somehow o.O Dark's just plain clueless right now XP Kisses can't transfer AIDS, that's what I know! XD The blood loss is terrible...sorta :P

boeboebi- Oh yea...you'll be surprised over and over again XD Most of them are because I suddenly got an idea or changed my mind...and on the rare occasion, I actually planned it out XP Surprise surprise...-feels stupid- XP

Noroi Inu- Hello! Don't bite me! XD Especially if you're an animal o.O rabies...doesn't that somehow make you foam in the mouth? XP Eww...I've bitten people before too XD I don't know why I did it but yea...o.O maybe I'm a vampire...

chrnoskitty- It's because Krad looks so frail and feminine and prettyful X3 Dark's awesome in the outgoing and openingly good looking way XP I thought about making Dark sick but then he suited the cowboy thing so well... >.>;;

Krith- Demonic's awesome XD Wow...it's like I can't stop using that word...o.O Weird no? Demonic's going to be used later in the fic :) That sounds like an...must not use that word...a great name for a fast horsey! XD

archergirl14- Yea! My friend told me about that book >.>;; I haven't read it yet...oh boy...-scratches head- hmm...me thinks I should go and read it XP The ranch and disease thing was pretty much her (friend's) idea...-smacks head for listening to her- XP

-THE CITY DRIVE-- Ooers...more names which shall be used XD I might use all of them :) Just because I suck at naming things...Fluffy XP Another reason why I don't really make up my own characters...fluffy! XD

Daishi- Cool! I named one of my pets Kuro before :) -gonna use names in fic just because she's stupid- Yea...I learned that I suck at naming anything, especially if it's a living thing since they'll probably come back to haunt me for giving them a stupid name XP

kittenoftime- Awesomeness XD I would print out fics that I like but I think I'd get yelled at for wasting all the ink and paper... >.>;; Here's an update though :) Yea...it took awhile didn't it? Sorry about that...enjoy though :D

Kouseki Yume- Whoa...o.o now that's what you call drama...I can imagine it happening inside my head XD Actually...it's kinda amusing :P That must've been a miracle...no one died or anything o.o that's crazy XD

Chibi-Cloud- Sorry for the slow review! Shall I list my excuses? XP -mind goes blank- Umm...shall I list the excuses for not remembering my excuses? XD I'm an idiot...go Krad go! Fight the stupid disease although it's uncurable! XP

mad hatter- Luckily, Dark didn't touch it and he didn't take it the wrong way :) What a nice guy X3 It's one of those one good deed deserves another thing I guess XD Dark save Krad, Krad save Dark, Dark save Krad again :P

Shimmering Solitude- Thanks for the name! XD The horsey says thanks too! And I updated XD I'll get the next chapter up soon! -went on typing spree- My arms are tired now XP But that can't be helped...whoa it's past midnight...o.O -random-