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 7:
Dark frowned and breathed into the blonde again, finally, Krad coughed and rolled over, chest raising and falling slowly. The cowboy sighed in relief, "Thank god…" He picked up the blonde and said to the brunette, "I think you better get that horse back into the stables and go back to your cabin, it's raining cats and dogs, I'll take care of Krad." Risa watched him take the blonde back to his own cabin where there was a first aid kit.
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He laid the blonde down on the bed and grabbed the medical supplies, apparently the blonde had raised his arms just in time to avoid to have his skull cracked. Dark sighed again, the relief was overwhelming. Krad was going to have sore arms for awhile, and a bump on the back of his head. Dark looked at the blonde again, he was shaking and wet, "Crap…"
The cowboy got out a set of his clothes, "These better fit." Then he proceeded to change the blonde into dry clothes, frowning at how scrawny the blonde was. After awhile, he was still shaking, Dark shook his head, "It's not my fault, you left me no choice." He changed out of his own wet clothes and climbed into the bed.
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When Krad came to, he had one hell of a headache, not to mention his arms were in pain. He looked around groggily to where his clock would've been only to find that he wasn't in his own cabin, he continued to look around and sat up. The blonde was about to get up and leave when something tugged on his shirt, he looked back and was surprised to find that it was Dark, asleepbut tugging at his shirt nonetheless.
"Stay…don't leave, please…" Golden eyes blinked, the cowboy was talking in his dream? He couldn't help but wonder what or who he was dreaming about. Sighing, he laid back down and curled up against the boy. He couldn't help but snuggle against the warmness of the other boy.
Maybe just for tonight…just for tonight I can forget…
When Dark felt the blonde's slow breaths coming out, indicating that he was asleep, he whispered to the sleeping blonde, "I don't want you to leave…I want you to stay here…with me…"
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Morning came soon enough, Dark found himself hugging the blonde, he didn't mind, really, but he wasn't sure how Krad was going to react so he unwrapped his arms. But the blonde just snuggled closer to him, making himself more comfortable and warm. The cowboy flushed, the blonde looked cute like that, but it had to be done, "Hey Krad…wakey wakey…come on Fluffy…"
The blonde stirred and his golden eyes fluttered open, "Dark?"
"Yes?" He replied happily, he wasn't usually a morning person but something had set him in a good mood.
Krad yawned and rubbed his eyes, "What happened?"
"Well…you were hit by a horse so you'll probably find bruises on your arms, then you hit your head when you fell so you'll probably have a headache. Then I saved you, you weren't breathing mind you so yea…and I carried you back here and since you were wet, you're now wearing my clothes, and you were shivering a lot so let's just say I figure you'd get warmer faster if I went to bed with you, don't worry, nothing happened and yea, now you know what happened."
Widened golden eyes blinked, "…thank you for saving my life-YOU DID CPR?"
"Hey! I didn't have much of a choice now did I?" Krad brought his hand up to his lips, he was kissed by Dark…despite the fact that it was a life and death situation, he was kissed by Dark…not to mention the cowboy save his life-and he was kissed by Dark! "Krad? You okay?"
Krad looked up and blushed, avoiding eye contact, "Yea, whoa…you saved my life…"
Dark laughed in a not so modest way, "I guess I did. See? I so do know first aid!"
"Well…thank you…again."
As he got up and headed towards the door, he found a pair of arms encircled around him, it was Dark, he was suddenly serious, "Please don't go Krad. I don't want you to leave…can't you stay here? With me? I don't think I can bare you leaving, especially not any time soon."
The blonde blinked, "Dark?"
"Don't go…I like you, a lot. I can never get you off my mind and it's driving me crazy."
Krad blushed, he really wanted to tell the cowboy just how much he liked him back but remembered, he'll only get hurt if I tell him…why me? For the first time since he found out about his disease, he wished someone else had it instead of him. He felt like crying, why me? Out of all the people in the world…why me?
"Krad?" He kissed the blonde on the cheek, "Can't you tell me what's wrong? You always look so depressed…" I want to make the sadness in your eyes go away.
"Dark…-" He was cut off by the breakfast bell.
Dark sighed and gave the blonde one last peck on the cheek before letting go, "Sorry…I have to go help."
The blonde raised his head to his heart which was beating rapidly, he found himself telling no one in particular, "Dark…I like you too…but I can't…" He bit his lip, "I can't…I don't want to hurt you…" You deserve someone who doesn't have a time limit on their life.
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Breakfast was unusually quiet, Krad poked at his food, he kept glancing over at Dark. And while he wasn't looking, Dark watched him. They were the first two to leave the table that day, the blonde stepped outside and stretched, breaking the silent atmosphere around him.
He walked around to the front of the main hall and stood under the roofing. Then he noticed that he was still in Dark's clothes, he had forgotten. They were awfully comfortable…a pair of jeans and a plain white shirt, quite similar to what the cowboy wore himself. Maybe I should go return this back to him…
"Krad?"
The blonde gave a little jump and turned around, "Dark! I was just about to go change…I mean I'm still wearing your clothes and…"
Dark just gave him a lazy grin, "You can wear them if you want, I don't mind."
"Oh…okay, thanks…"
"You've been thanking me all day, did you know that?"
Krad huffed, "Fine, see if I'll ever show you my gratitude again!"
The cowboy chuckled, "I didn't mean it like that. You're cute when you're angry." The blonde blushed, Dark just grinned, "You look cute when you blush too, Fluffy."
Krad's blush deepened against his will, he decided to change the subject, "I can't believe it's still raining, there's nothing to do in the rain…" He said to no one in particular.
"But haven't you noticed that everything looks brighter not to mention newer after the rain?"
"I guess it does…stop being such a poet…wow you're right…"
Dark snorted, "I'm always right! Hey, check those two out." He grinned and pointed at the young pair of red and blue snuggling under the safety of the patio watching the rain. Krad sighed and sat down against the wall, leg's drawn up against him, Dark followed in a similar manner. "Emiko never assigns us work in the rain…at least not outdoor work, she's afraid that we'll get sick or something."
"Well you can't really blame her…"
After awhile of silence, the blonde felt something warm cover his hand, he looked, it was Dark's hand, he blushed and glanced at the cowboy, who looked away trying to hide a blush of his own. The blonde smiled softy and looked back out at the rain, letting their fingers entwine, "I can't wait until the rain stops…it looks too gloomy."
Dark looked at him and smiled, "Aa…"
So they sat there, hands entwined in silence, waiting for the rain to cease.
Maybe just for now…I can enjoy this, just for now.
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As the days went on, the rain didn't stop and Krad's health didn't raise the slightest. Instead, it dropped like a rock. He began to stay indoors more, he ate less and became somewhat…dead. Dark noticed the decline in the blonde's health, he couldn't help but worry, a lot. The coughing fits had become more frequent and he was so…dull compared to how he first met him, even his usual insults seemed forced.
He had tried to ask the blonde what was wrong but never got an answer, not with his stubbornness. Dark wished the blonde would simply tell him what was wrong…he missed the blonde's laughter…
Krad sighed and sat down on his bed, waiting for the dizziness to subside. He had just gotten off the phone, he had practically begged Riff to allow him to stay, even if it was only for a weeks. His eyes clenched shut, the room was spinning again, he tried painkillers, and aspirins, but they usually ended up making him drowsy.
He contemplated about going down to the stables but didn't feel like walking in the rain, let alone while feeling sick to his stomach. Dark dropped by a lot, sometimes with his meals since he didn't eat whether he attended them or not. It was because of the cowboy that he had literally forced a couple bites of food down his throat. The blonde didn't really like worrying the cowboy but there was little he could do about it.
I'm sorry…I'm so sorry, I should just leave shouldn't I? But I'm finding that I can't…not with you here…
Why did the cowboy have to be so nice and caring? If he wasn't so…kind, then it'd be a lot easier to leave. Krad sighed, "Why do you have to make everything so difficult?"
Everyone must've seen and noticed how they acted around each other by now. How Dark always looked out for the blonde. How Krad had grown dependant of the cowboy. Risa must've completely hated him, stealing Dark away from her. The blonde smirked at the thought.
Why me?
That was the same question that he found popping up more and more often, the same unanswerable question. Krad had mused about telling Dark about his disease, but couldn't bare to think about what might happen next, finally, he decided against it completely. Some things were better left a secret. He might as well enjoy the last few happy days of his life, maybe he'd tell him when he left, at least he wouldn't have to live much longer after being hated by Dark and everyone else.
Krad shuddered at the though, maybe not…
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As chance would have it, along came a fateful day, one that no one would or could ever forget. Krad woke up to a horrible feeling, the feeling that something horrendous was happening. For once he was grateful that he had been too tired to change to go to sleep. Slipping on his shoes, he ran outside into the storm.
There was smoke coming from the forest, realizing that there was no possible way for him to run there, he ran to the stables. Both his and Dark's horse were missing. He saddled a nearby chestnut horse and rode towards the smoke. The closer he got, the worse he felt, then he realized, the smoke was coming from the old abandoned church!
Krad frowned, something wasn't right…he could hear people yelling and horses whinnying desperately, unable to think straight, he galloped on. When he finally reached the clearing, nothing could've been done to prepare him for the sight before him.
The church, it was blazing, a large tree that had been struck down by lightning laid across it. He saw Dark yelling frantically, Daisuke right behind him crying and Satoshi hugging him close, eyes narrowed in anxiety. The blonde was confused, they wouldn't be upset over the church…then the whinnying caught his attention. Dark noticed his presence and ran to him, "Don't Krad!"
It was too late, Krad had turned around and what he saw would haunt him forever. Two horses, the two horses, his white one, and Dark's black stallion, dancing in flames. Their manes flared up with flames, as did their tails and slowly, it was starting to spread. They whinnied and reared, trying to put out the inferno. Wide golden eyes watched the horses' deep black eyes filled with fear as they continued dancing in the blaze.
Above all the noise, a click and a snap was heard, he turned to look at Dark who had a gun in his hands. "No…"
Pained violet eyes met his and turned away sadly, "Krad…go back to your cabin…please…"
"You're going to kill it…"
"I don't have a choice here Krad, they can't be saved no matter what we do! Go back…I don't want you to watch this…"
Golden hair clung to his face from the rain as he watched the cowboy take aim, he knew that Dark was right but couldn't help but wish he could stop it somehow. "Dark…"
The cowboy pretended as though he didn't hear the blonde, "Goodbye…Kokuyoku…it's been fun…" The gun gave off a blast, the white horse fell down mid-rev, his own black one soon followed. Slowly, the flames began to consume them, Krad just watched, somehow it felt like he wasn't there at all. He looked directly into the black stallion's eye, still as soulful as it was when he first saw them, it looked back at him sadly.
Then Kokuyoku gave a final sigh and its head collapsed onto the already dead Shiroi. Krad looked at them in horror, just like that…a life can be taken away…just with a pull of a trigger…everything can come to an end…
"Krad…are you alright?"
"They're dead…you killed them…" Dark looked down unhappily, "Just like that…they're dead…how can life be taken away that easily?"
"Krad-"
The blonde already took off running, he ran the whole way back ignoring his body's pleas to stop and rest. After what seemed like forever, he reached his cabin, slamming the door shut, his knees buckled and he collapsed, he couldn't breathe…his brain tried to calm him down but his mind was too busy replaying the scene where the horses danced in flames, their cries drowned out by the gun. Slowly, exhaustion took over him, he was still panting when he fell asleep.
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The next couple days there was no piano playing in the morning, no trails with the black and white horses. Krad stayed in his cabin for most of his time. Dark tried to call the blonde out but never received an answer, what have I done? The younger pair watched him worriedly as he paced around in the stables which now lacked a pair of horses. "Dark…maybe you should go talk to him…"
"I tried, he's not answering…it's almost as though he's not…there…"
Amethyst eyes widened in realization, he made a sudden mad dash to the blonde's cabin, no…he couldn't have…he wouldn't! He slammed the door open, he felt his knees weaken and buck as he leaned against the wall for support, the room was empty, it looked like no one had ever resided there, "Krad…oh gods no…"
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The blonde frowned, he had gotten a private jet back to where he had came from. He felt horrible for leaving without a word, to any of them, except for Emiko of course. He frowned as he looked out the window at the passing clouds, regret filled him, I should've told him…I'm sorry Dark…
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Rage filled him, how could he just leave like that? His fists clenched against the wooden floor, he stared at it sadly why? He continued staring at the room, finally, he pulled himself together and entered the cabin, there was a card beside the telephone, Dark blinked, anger slowly going away. On the card was but a single word…Sorry…
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Riff was there to pick him up when he landed, "Master Krad…"
"Hey Riff." He managed a weak smile.
"Are you alright?"
"Take me home Riff…I'm tired…" So tired…of everything…
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Dark picked up the card and read it over and over again, sorry? Why sorry? Why…the violet haired boy shook his head and stuffed the card in his pocket, then he went back to work with the blonde weighing on his mind.
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"Master Krad?"
"Yes?"
"Do you wish you could've stayed longer?"
Krad paused and looked away, "No." Yes.
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"Dark-san?"
"Yea?"
"Are you alright?"
Dark blinked and paused, "…yes." No.
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"We're home Master Krad."
"Home…" Golden eyes scanned over the house, it was so different from the ranch…yet it was home…his home…
Riff watched the blonde sadly, it wasn't hard to tell just how much he missed the ranch.
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"Did you hear?"
"Hear what?"
"I heard that Krad-san was sick."
Amethyst eyes blinked, "He was?"
"Well that's what I heard. And honestly I believe it."
"Why?"
Risa blinked and twirled a lock of hair around her finger, "Well…he has been in his cabin a lot lately, and last time he had a fever and-"
"Risa! Get over here!"
"Opps…err…I'll be right back Dark-san!"
Dark frowned and looked outside, if Krad was sick then it'd explain a lot of things…maybe that's why he didn't tell him anything…but he had no proof or whatsoever. He sighed and went back to work.
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It had been another couple days, Krad woke up and opened the door to his balcony as Riff stepped in, "Master Krad?"
"It's finally stopped raining…"
"Yes…"
"Everything looks brighter not to mention newer after the rain…"
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"Hey Dark…Dark?"
The cowboy blinked, "Yea?"
"You zoned out…"
"Oh, sorry…hey look, it's stopped raining…"
"Yea it did…"
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"I didn't tell them Riff…I didn't tell any of them…do you think that was a mistake?"
"It was your choice not to tell, you have the right to keep your secrets."
"Maybe…maybe they wouldn't have cared…" Maybe he wouldn't have minded…
"Master Krad…"
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Finally, curiosity drove Dark back to the blonde's cabin, there had to be something. Then he saw it, he didn't notice it before, but there was a flashing red light on the answering machine. Unable to think of anything else to do, he pressed play, there was a beep and the tape began to play…
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Nya
Bumbumbum! THE answering machine :O Hmmm...let's see >.>;; Dark and Krad are miserable and Dark's mad at Krad and lalala okay I'll shut up now XP Short responds because I'm sleepy! XD
Hakudoshi-chan- I was going to name him shiny, -personal name for Krad- but oh well...fluffy seemed more like a pet name XP Poor them...Risa always seems to ruin the moment no:O
Shimmering Solitude- Fluffy :) Just like this chapter...Dark's not the brightest person in the world with his naming skills XP CPR's awesome, it's like a life-saving kiss! XD
Kouseki Yume- Yup read it, they looked like they were gonna kiss XD I was inwardly squealing when I read it -over and over again- Yes! Fluff-kins lives:D
Mysterious Kaitou- Ouch, I'm crying on the inside :P Just because I'm mean and sadistic doesn't you can go and compare me to Risa XP You're pretty mean too, shall I start comparing you to her too? XP
Lillith- I'm really greedy XP I'm insatiable too..wait...that means the same thing >.>;; I keep thinking of more things I could've added to the chapter (after I post up) and it bugs me :P
dimonyo-anghel- Yea...we had this slideshow of sex ed in the gym and I was trying to sleep, which was hard to do when laughing XP They do this kinda stuff before summer just in case you get ideas >.O
hiya- Stupid edit program thingy won't let me do the facey thing :S Nope! It's the other way around! Dark confesses! XD And they kinda get together then Krad leaves and BOOM this happens XD
Silv3r MagiciaN- Cute purple rabbits! XD It can stand for alot of things :P cardiopulmonary resuscitation for the first aid things...not sure how you spell it though >.>;;
Seena58- I wanted to name Krad shiny! XD But even Dark's naming skills aren't horrible enough to name a horse shiny :S Well...at least you won't be awake to die from blood loss XP
Koway Oceshia- He's Dark, of course he'll do it! XD Anyways, he saved Krad's life with his daringness, and he confessed! I was going aww when I typed it out X3
Daishi- Yea, the new Harry Potter is very...interesting >.O Although I couldn't help but go ew at the Ginny and Harry part XP Apparenlty...this chapter's slightly sadder? -personal opinion-
Val- Awww it's okay, -hands over tissue- I rather enjoy writing cliffhangers, it gets me started on the next chapter just so I know what's going to happen...while others don't :P I'm so mean...
Gabriel of Dreams-Yume Chan- They get together and then Krad leaves >.>;; You will..patience is a virtue (that I don't have) XP Hmmm...what shall happen next... -grins-
berettaboy- That's very realistic o.o Well yea...unless if I suddenly create a magical cure for AIDS then yea...the inevitable will happen, sad sad sad indeed -sighs-
kittenoftime- Whoa...I was done half the chapter already but it still took me like a month to udpate this :S I'm horrible...but oh well...I updated now :D
kyo's little koneko- I was glad too XP (Me: Ha! Take that! He's kissing Krad in front of you! Ahahahahaha XD) Yes...I'm insane beyond measure :)
SeLeNa MoUsY- Yes! I feel so proud of myself XD I finally updated this one! I've been meaning to for some time now but I either kept forgetting or I kept running out of time :S If I had all the time in the world I wouldn't have this problem...
MacLee- I'm honored :D My dad would be asking me why we keep running out of ink for the printer if I printed stories out >.>;; Thank god for long long holidays :) Too bad it's summer...winters should have two month holidays too.. >.O
hittocerebattosai- That happens to me too! XD Usually because I think it's going to be one of those Dark and Risa fics, then someone goes and tells me it's not and I just feel like smacking myself XP I suck at summaries don't I:P
Ballad of the Iris- Risa was banished from hell apparently XP That'd make sense...yes, Dark's feeling super pissed because he STILL didn't get to kiss Krad, in a not so life-or-death way XP Poor poor Dark :)