A/N: I think I meant to update this on Friday...but with so few people reviewing, I guess I just...forgot. Hehe. Oh well. Since the next chapter will be the longest one in the story (and there are only nine) I might wait a while to post it. But I'm not sure yet. Reviews could change my mind...

The King of Hell
by Lamenting Fox

Chapter Seven: Confession

The door to Kotarou's room opened with a barely audible squeak. Kotarou turned his head to look at the door, but the hall light flooding into the darkened room left the person at the door a mere silhouette. Still, he knew instinctively who it was.

"Kotarou? Are you awake?" came Tatsuki's soft voice.

He sat up in bed and threw back the covers. "Yeah."

Tatsuki stepped into the room and closed the door gently behind him. He hesitated, then walked over to the bed. Kotarou scooted over so Tatsuki could sit down. He had gauze wrapped around his forehead, bruises darkening his throat, and a sling supporting one arm. It hurt Kotarou to see his cousin so battered, and he wondered for the hundredth time why Kazuma hated him enough to attempt murder.

After a moment, Tatsuki spoke, his voice even quieter than usual, and lacking the harshness Kotarou had become accustomed to. "We need to talk."

Tatsuki did most of the talking for a while. He told Kotarou about the power he'd unknowingly triggered, and how this power had tormented him through his childhood--how it had kept him from having friends and made everyone think he was a freak. He told Kotarou what it was like for him when he entered jails or hospitals, and how Udou-sensei had "helped" him and his warning to Tatsuki. He even told Kotarou about Koutari's head games. And when he finished, a heavy silence hung over the room.

Kotarou's head reeled. Emotions, memories, and thoughts went spinning about, colliding into one another and exploding into a thousand fragments, only to reform and begin the cycle again and again. Things that used to make sense suddenly didn't, and other things that had once confused him were all at once so clear that it made his head hurt.

He had a weird psychic touch that affected people in strange ways. At least now I know why everyone's always touching me.

Yuuto could see people's emotions? That's a little creepy. What if I don't want him to know what I'm feeling?

And Tatsuki...

"You get too close, and I won't be."

Kotarou understood now. It was his fault. All of it.

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Tatsuki finished speaking and avoided Kotarou's eyes. He'd basically just killed a small part of his cousin's innocence. He didn't need Yuuto's power to tell him that right now Kotarou was feeling guilty. He wished he could take back everything he'd just said, but he knew it was useless to think such thoughts now. A part of him was almost glad that Kotarou was hurting, and that part of him made him hate himself.

A sniffle beside him made Tatsuki turn his head. Tears were streaming down Kotarou's face, half obscured by his hair as he hung his head forward in shame.

This isn't Kotarou's fault, a snide little voice whispered in his mind. It's yours. You're responsible this time.

"I'm sorry," Kotarou said brokenly. "I didn't know. If I'd just--I could have--" he faltered. "I'll move back home. I'll pack tomorrow, and I'll--I'll--" He hiccupped and his words dropped off into nothingness.

Tatsuki felt as if he'd been slapped. "No," he said before he could stop himself. "You're not going anywhere."

Kotarou raised his head in confusion and surprise. "But I've caused you so much trouble. And I hurt you--"

"No more than I've hurt you," he retorted, looking Kotarou squarely in the eyes. He couldn't stop the words from pouring out.

Tears still leaked from Kotarou's wide eyes. "But I--"

"I don't want you to go," he said honestly. "Besides," he added, "Udou said you were the one who could help me with my powers."

"He did?" Kotarou looked hopeful. "How?"

"I don't know."
Kotarou looked crestfallen, and ready to cry again. Tatsuki made up his mind. He put one trembling arm around the blonde's shoulders and pulled him closer, hoping Kotarou would understand what he couldn't say in words.

I need you here, Kota. It hurts to touch you...but I'll take the pain rather than risk losing you.

Kotarou clung to him and sobbed, and Tatsuki knew he understood.

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A/N #2: Sorry for any OOCness. I try.
Now...review! Review review review review review!