A/N: I couldn't help it… I needed a break from "Sakura Snows", though I am by no means not working on it. I wrote this in a single day, so I didn't lose much time. I hope you like it, it might be a bit off my normal style, but I thought I'd try it anyway.

Disclaimer: I don't own Furuba. I'm not making any money either…

Ratings: PG

Genre: Angst/Romance

Warnings: Shounen-ai

Main Characters: Sohma Akito and Sohma Hatori

Additional Notes: I know, I know. AkitoXTori. I don't care. Heh… One note before we begin. I'm pissed. WHEN I SAID I DISREGARDED THE SPOILER FOR AKITO, I FRICKIN' MEANT IT! AKITO IS MALE! Unless I specify otherwise, Akito is always male in my stories. Thank you. I'm sorry for being...a little short. I've been stressed lately. Forgive me.

Always Near

He's sick. I have never before known him to be, but it is true; the dragon is sick…and I am at fault. I fear the blame for the deed rests solely on me, though it was an unintentional side effect of a fevered and terrified mind. But I suppose that I should explain myself first, ne?

Very well. It was nearly two months ago when she began to work with him at the clinic. Sohma Kana was her name; the very sound of it cause him pain now…but I digress… She came to him two months ago, as I have said, and it slowly became apparent to everyone on the estate that, despite the juunishi curse, she loved him, and he, her. It was inevitable really.

I was not surprised, then, when two months later they came to me, asking for my blessing. They wished to be wed… The feeling I felt at that moment was beyond fear, it was something quite different entirely; a burning, searing fear entwined forever with a rage beyond all others—I could not allow her to take my love!

I say love, but I exaggerate. I suffer many ailments, but by far, the worst is unrequited love. It is a pain I have suffered for years but have bared as silently as I could in light of my various other diseases. Simply put, I am in love with Sohma Hatori, though he is mercifully, painfully oblivious to the feelings he stirs within me.

When he asked if they could wed, a terrible fear and hatred, the likes of which I had never known, consumed me. In my blind rage, I grievously wounded my love, stealing away the sight of his left eye. And Kana? She fell apart as I screamed that is was her fault. She couldn't even find the courage to help and comfort the one she said she loved…

Shigure took my love away, to treat his wounds and I was left alone, restless and exhausted. But above all, worried. Would my love hate me ever more? Would he try to leave me, as my Yuki had done? Or would he simply avoid me and cower in fear? I do not think I could have bared any of these…

Kana was never the same again. She blamed herself and grew weaker and weaker. She was pathetic, self-centered. Oh how my love suffered watching her suffer… So I attempted to repent for my transgressions… I ordered him to erase the wretch's memory and release her—and him—from pain.

In the end it only caused him more anguish.

He returned to the estate, his mind a tangled web of guilt and self-loathing, his soul tortured by her last words to him, by her suffering. This wasn't how it was supposed to be…the guilt was to be mine, and mine alone! I didn't care what happened to the wretch, Kana, but only for my love. How I hated to see him in pain!

But there was nothing else I could think of to do…

He resting now, sleeping in the haze the medications created in his mind—I, for one, know this feeling well. I slip silently into his room, padding on cat-like feet to his side as he lays on his futon. His pale face is beaded with sweat as his fever rages in his once-strong body. I bite my lip to keep myself from crying out and gathering his trembling, tormented body in my arms.

How I so dearly wish and long to caress his cheek, his face, him. I would give anything to take away this pain, this unbearable sadness he was forced to carry, the unhealing scar on his heart.

But there is noting I can do…

I watch him in the silence, as I know he's watched me so many times as I lay, chilled to the bone and burning alive with fever. He stays, he watches, he heals.

I do not know how to heal any of his wounds, but I can stay and I can watch.

And I will…

I will give him at least that one comfort in his suffering; he will not be alone. I will not leave his side until the fever that wracks his body breaks, though I shall stay in the shadows, observing, protecting, comforting, in the quiet twilight, the hollow night that fills the corners of the rooms.

He shifts in his sleep, midnight hair falling softly in his closed eyes. The edges of my mouth curve up in a soft smile and before I can stop myself, I am running my long, pale fingers through his hair, gently stroking it, brushing it away from his closed eyelids. He whimpers in his fevered dream and I gently kiss his warm forehead, holding his head in my lap.

"It's all right," I whisper softly, another lovers' kiss. "I will always be here to hold you…always here for you…my love…"

He settles and I close my eyes.

For a moment, I can imagine that we are lovers, not whatever it is we are now, quietly reveling in the constant presence of one another; his soft hair flows through my fingers as I absently stroke it. I will not be here when he wakes, I will be hiding—hovering just beyond the shadows, just beyond his sight…

But I will always be near…always near to him—my love…

/Owari\

A/N: There—thethird installment of "Black Roses". I hope you enjoyed this…or at least liked it a little… In any case, the stories in "Black Roses" will be random, but will all involve Akito as at least one of the main characters. They will also all be one-shots, unfortunately. Please, review!

To My Most Wonderful Reviewers:

flute4ever330- Thanks! I hope you liked this one too! Please, keep reading and reviewing!

Asrua Omni- Forgive me in advance. Damn you! I didn't want to know that! Okay. I'm done yelling now. I just didn't want to know that spoiler, though I kind of guessed it was coming. But thank you for the review anyway... Please, I hope I haven't driven you away. I really do value your opinion. But I did know about Akito being a girl. It was the other part that bugged me. But, really, thank you for the review and for taking the time to read my story.