Welcome to the next chapter, 'Rising Heart'! Things are almost at the finish line, and I'm ready to go! Please enjoy the rest of my story! I hope I do a great job on the finale! ENJOY MY WORK OF SELF-DISCOVERY, ANGST AND MORE ANGST! I'm going to try really hard on this chapter; I hope I do a good job with Tohma and Eiri!

I've planned a sequel for 'Kakumei'. I can't wait to get started on the future!

Theme of 'Rising Heart': 'Evacuating London' from Narnia OST

Note: Eiri's question was inspired by 'Unsent Letters', a masterpiece written by AZnEyes. The entire chapter was inspired by that work of art.

The storm had finally died down.

The room was still cold, but silence was flowing through its seams peacefully. The silence was tainted by the melody of uncertainty, but the flow of it was certainly a lot easier to handle than the chaotic flow of several hours ago. Both of the room's inhabitants were drenched in silence; one was dressing the wound of the other, and both of their hearts were filled with fear. Tears were streaming down the nurse's face, and his body was shivering from the room's low temperature, but he was determined to care for his beloved charge.

Eiri Yuki's eyes were focused on the nurse's face. The novelist's eyes were filled with perpetual pain, sorrow and embarrassment; he bore the face of a guilty, timid child that had just committed a crime. His mouth was closed, but at the moment, words were not necessary. His eyes were vivid, eloquent paintings...and they possessed a depth of power that shamed the human vocabulary. He looked as if he had just attempted to rob a bank; his face was tight from sadness, and he was unable to speak. His silence failed to annoy Tohma Seguchi, though.

It just made his pain stronger.

Ten eternities passed between the two of them, and then Tohma lunged into a river of speech. The softhearted Seguchi's eyes took on a life of their own; they became articulate, poignant flames of emotion. His voice was a swift, frantic river, and it was only rivaled by the qualities of his eyes.

"I still can't believe you tried to take your own life! What were you thinking? I can't leave you alone for five minutes! You scared me half to death, Eiri!"

Tohma was in the role of a frenetic mother, and Eiri was the silent, guilty child. The novelist's eyes were filled with a heart-rending level of sadness, but he didn't regret making an attempt on suicide. He truly felt as if he no longer deserved to life, and no longer had the strength to do so...for his bright star was nowhere near him. The world was a dark, empty oblivion...and he didn't want to linger in it.

"You can't see Shindou-sama again if you're dead, Eiri-sama! I simply cannot leave you alone! I feel as though I'm watching over an infant!"

Eiri held his silence. There was nothing to say; words were useless. He had spent most of his life as a novelist, but...words no longer meant anything. The basics of human life were sickening to him. The very concept of life sickened him.

Life had no meaning...without Shuichi.

Tohma finished the fourth dressing of Eiri's wound. He had spent the last couple of hours fussing over him...the way an anxious mother would have fussed over a newborn infant. The gentle Seguchi was hysterical for the first hour; his frame of mind crumbled as soon as he saw Eiri on the floor, and so breathing was an excruciating task. After the expiration of that hour, however, he regained the ability to think and gave proper care to his companion's wound. In the true fashion of a mother, he dressed it with unnecessary attention and showered the novelist with even more attention. Silence made its descent upon them after a while, and led up to the wound's fourth dressing.

Eiri Yuki's condition was astoundingly unstable. It was a lot worse than Tohma had predicted it to be. The novelist had locked himself in a world of silence again, and his eyes were filled with emotions that penetrated the definition of humanity. His emotions were simple, yet deep and strong...strong enough to break the boundaries of reality. The Seguchi never thought he would witness such strong emotions in a human, but they were right in front of him, and they were frightening him. He had cared for Eiri several times in the past, but those times were walks in the park compared to his current service term.

"Honestly, I wish you'd refrain from such exercises! I know your heart's under a lot of pressure, but you must hold on! I know Shindou-sama's out there, somewhere!"

"Tohma?"

The sound of Eiri's voice made something painfully clear; Tohma was dangerously on the brink of insanity. He wouldn't have been surprised if he had jumped at his own shadow.

"What is it, Eiri-sama?"

"What's it like to be human?"

For a moment, the Seguchi's heart stopped. Its decision to cease its beating caused Tohma to clutch his chest, and the temporary loss of a heartbeat almost brought him to his knees. The question Eiri had given him would have been expected from a five-year old...but it certainly wasn't expected from the novelist. The look on Eiri's face told Tohma that he was dead serious about the question, and there was no way to avoid the heartache that came from it.

The Seguchi's voice was quaky, but he gave him the best answer he could give. His eyes took on the aura of a brokenhearted sage, and he was placed into the role of a schoolteacher.

"Well...humans are susceptible to a countless amount of things. The world they walk upon is filled with many elements, and each human absorbs them in their own way. Emotions, experiences and dreams are just a few of those elements...and they each bear their own power. Their hearts can shed tears of pain, and their souls can conjure endless possibilities. Dreams are crafted within the hearts of humans, and they rise to meet the sun as soon as they're made. Many dreams are filled with greed, others are filled with pain...but there are dreams that are filled with hope, love and guidance. Those dreams are the true gems of humanity. I believe they carry the true spirit of humanity.

Humans experience all kinds of emotions. Love...sorrow...fear...anger...all of them are known to human kind. Emotions tie us together...and make us stronger."

Love...

Love...

Eiri's voice was a soft, fragile murmur. It was radiant with its natural nonchalance, but it was filled with the sorrow of brokenhearted kitten.

"So...I'm human..."

What happened next almost caused Tohma to fall into loud, vibrant sobs.

An ethereal light descended into Eiri's eyes, and it brought a miraculous depth of beauty to them. The light awakened every part of his heart; it awakened the innocence of a child, the broken expectations of a tormented soul, and the dreams of a hopeful star. The fragments of his soul united as one, and brought their unity into his eyes. The celestial ray of translucent humanity bloomed in his eyes, and soared through his chilled body. It brought forth an emotion Tohma never experienced before; true, unbridled happiness. The light was an unrestricted, pure light...one that wasn't tied to the past, or even the present. It was tied to the future, and it held the promise of endless dreams.

It was the light of true love.

Tohma had never seen such a pure light within Eiri's eyes. He had witnessed Eiri's past as a timid, shy child...but he had never witnessed such a miracle before. The light within the novelist's eyes held the true depth of humanity...and his eyes were...beautiful.

There was another question at the podium, and it was ready to be delivered.

"What do you live for?"

"That's easy." Tohma said softly, his face beaming with immoderate sunlight. His smile was painfully tight; it was so tight that it was almost excruciating, especially since he had spent the last couple of days creating fake smiles.

"I live for the light of love."

Silence returned to their room, but it was a type of silence they had not heard for many eternities.

It was the type of silence that created hope.

"Last question. Do you think he'll listen to what I have to say?"

The smile on Tohma's face became brighter. Holding up such a huge smile was difficult, but the difficulty didn't annoy him at all.

"Of course he will. I didn't just say that to please you, Eiri-sama. I know he'll listen to you. Shindou-sama will hear what your heart has to say, and he'll accept it. His heart bears incredible warmth. Don't you worry about anything."

Eiri's face took on another first-time expression. It took on the emotions of a sweet, shy child that was in the process of digesting a lesson on life. His eyes scanned the room for a moment; it was as if he was searching for another question to ask. When he failed to find another, soft contentment filled his eyes, and restored the embarrassment that had once been there. That entire process caused Tohma's heart to melt.

"Eiri-sama, you're simply adorable!"

The novelist gave him one of his 'don't touch me, jackass' glares. The glare didn't faze Tohma, though; the gentle Seguchi launched himself onto the novelist and wrapped his arms around him.

"You're so cute! I think I've fallen in love with you!"

"GET OFF OF ME, UNLESS YOU'VE GOT SOME TYPE OF DEATH WISH!"

"That's the Eiri I know I love! Oh, you've returned to me! What a joyous day this is!"

"I said get the hell off of me! You make me sick!"

"Oh, I know that translates into 'I love you too, Tohma'. You're simply adorable!"

Tohma kept his arms around Eiri for another eternity, and savored the sunlight within the room. Both of them had spent so many days lingering in pain...but the light of hope had finally returned. Eiri had recovered his soul from the depths of despair, and was evidently ready to continue down the path of life. Tohma's decision to rescue him made something clear; he was ready to bring the truth to the light. Both of them knew Shuichi was drifting somewhere...and he deserved the truth.

The Seguchi spoke after the blissful silence, his voice radiant with pristine bliss.

"Now that you've finally recovered, why don't you and I warm each other?"

Eiri's trademark emotions brought themselves forth. His cold, hard exterior exposed itself...but there was something new. That exterior was filled with the warmth of his interior.

"Why don't you go and screw yourself. I'm saving myself, so beat it. I wouldn't warm myself with you if you were the last person on Earth."

"So! You've finally given your soul to Shindou-sama!" Tohma proclaimed joyously, enjoying the warmth of the newborn miracle. "You're giving up the life of a playboy, and you're giving yourself to your one, true love! How beautiful!"

The look on Eiri's face betrayed the emotions within his eyes. His facial expression was a firm, stern one...but his eyes were warm, and filled with the hope of a newborn eagle. "Ugh." he said, his voice filled with playful scorn. "You really are an idiot."

His eyes scanned the room once again, and after a minute, disgust poured itself into his eyes.

"Where's the food you were supposed to bring? Don't tell me you forgot it."

Tears of rapture filled Tohma's eyes. Eiri had refused to eat anything ever since the beginning of their search...but now...he was hungry.

"Why Eiri-sama, I believe that was hours ago. I believe the food is long gone by now-but I'd love to locate more."

What happened...?

"Wait a minute. I thought you didn't have any more questions to ask me?"

Eiri delivered a look that would have killed a dragon, but it brought even more tears to Tohma's eyes. The one he knew loved had finally returned...and he was happy to have him back.

I missed him so much...I thought I was so close to losing him. But I wonder...what happened?

Silence walked back into the room, and it tied them close. It tied them into a bond they had never fallen into before; a bond of true, everlasting loyalty and devotion. They had found each other in the past, but now they were ready to face the future...with their hearts held high. One was ready to expose the truth of his heart; the other was ready to accompany his companion. During the silence, Tohma took Eiri's hand and squeezed it, his face beaming with the aura of endless hope. Bearing a smile about his own face, Eiri squeezed it even harder...and felt their hearts fall into a newborn utopia of prosperity.

Tohma broke the silence with his gentle, tender voice. Tears were still streaming from his eyes, but they were tears of happiness.

"May I ask you a question, Eiri-sama?"

"You just did."

"You know very well what I mean."

"Go right ahead."

"What are you living for?"

The answer brought a fact to the light.

Eiri Uesugi had finally emerged from the darkness. Eiri Yuki was no longer in existence.

"I'm living for a dream. The dream I should have followed from the start of my pitiful existence."

"What dream is that, pray tell?"

"The dream of true love."

Silence returned, but only for a moment. Firm, unyielding courage filled Eiri's face, and it bestowed a golden richness to his voice. His eyes became the stars from a moonlit dream...they took on a surreal appearance, and filled Tohma's heart with even more joy.

"Someone out there is calling for me. His heart's calling out to mine...and I intend to answer him. When I find him, I'll tell him everything...and I'll ask for nothing in return. There's only one thing I want, and that's his happiness."

Sobs of joy fell into Tohma's body, and they racked his heart intensely. Tears overflowed from his eyes, and each tear shimmered with the light of a newborn dream. The novelist had finally regained the heart he had from the past...but it was filled with the strength he had created over the years. He looked like a warrior...

...he looked like a prince.

A tiny smile fell on Eiri's face.

"And, if for some reason I don't find him...I'll tell him anyway. I'll let him know everything, because after everything he's been through, he deserves an explanation."

Emotions exploded in Tohma's chest, and caused his chest to become tight. More oceans fell from his eyes, and his tender voice became hoarse. "You really do love him, don't you?" he asked Eiri softly, and received a wink in return.

"I've always loved him. I can't tell you how much I want to see him again, Tohma. I can't tell you how much I've wanted to hold him...I can't even tell you how much I've wanted to call out his name. I love him...more than words can say. I want to hold and protect him. My heart wants to drink in his smiles...and my soul wants to hear his voice. I want him near me...because...my heart wants to fall into his. He means everything to me. Without him, life doesn't mean much. It's just...one empty hole."

Tohma's facial expression caused embarrassment to fall into Eiri's soft eyes.

"I must've sounded like a dumbass. I guess I've written too many sappy novels. Sorry about that."

"No. You misunderstood my expression. You didn't sound ridiculous."

Tohma's voice was filled with shock...and immortal sunlight.

"You were beautiful. You shouldn't be afraid to express the truth of your heart."

"Thanks for putting up with me. I know this hasn't been a picnic for you either."

"Don't mention it, Eiri-sama. You know I'll always treasure our friendship."

The passage of time brought upon even more peace. The cessation of an hour found two hearts in slumber. One heart was falling through newborn bliss; the other was walking upon a newborn road. He had found his purpose in life, and now had the strength to answer the call of destiny. He had spent so many years drifting through pain...but now it was time...for him to capture the essence of life's true meaning.

It was time...for a prince to answer the call of a young heart.

-I know I just posted 'Thunder', but I had a lot of free time today, and I'm really excited about my little story! I'm excited about being here! I've read so many fics; they're all so hard to keep up with! I'll have to update my profile soon...waaah...too much work...

I hope the interaction between Eiri and Tohma worked. I wanted to stay true to their characters, but at the same time, I wanted to add my own touches to them...to strengthen the theme of self-discovery. I really hope it worked! ANOTHER UPDATE WILL FOLLOW TOMMORROW! THANK YOU FOR READING!

If you enjoy 'Kakumei', you may enjoy these fics. 'Love Means' by NintendoNut1, 'Unsent Letters' by AZnEyes, 'Lies, Deceit and Unwanted Pain' by my pal Dejichan444, 'Why?' by kyogotmilk and 'Leaving Affections' by the Great LaDiDaanifan.

Hee hee! I thought it would be fun to add my own recommendations. Have fun, and happy trails to all! May love bloom forever! Until tomorrow, I'm out!