Chapter 22: Devil's Black Robe
It had taken forever, but at last Tatsuya had gone home. It had taken Narumi beating him up non-stop with a pillow, and a really really determined nurse but at last they had won the war.

Amazingly Ryuichi still hadn't awakened from his sleep, but Narumi couldn't be happy about things. She just couldn't let Ryuichi become involved in her problems. Especially not a problem as dangerous as this one was. She leaned back against the cushions and watched him sleeping he just looked so peaceful. Gently she brushed his bangs away from his face. His hair felt so silky to the touch...

What was she doing!

Still... somehow... the feel of his hair against her fingertips it made her feel... lighter somehow. A small smiled tugged at the corners of her lips. He really was adorable when he was sleeping.

Shaking her head in order to clear it she knew what she needed to be doing, and it wasn't admiring Ryuichi.

She had to get out of there!

Being as quiet as possible, she slid her feet over the side of the bed. Still something stopped her. She could feel something tugging at her arm as she tried to move it but it just wouldn't go any further. Looking back over her shoulder she could see that Ryuichi was clinging onto her pajamas stopping her. He was still lying down but his eyes were very much open. His blue eyes were locked with hers and his face was as serious as it had been that day out in the rain.

Had he been faking?

"You shouldn't get up you need to sleep right now." He murmured.

Ryuichi tugged at her sleeve again. With his free hand he took her hand in his and pulled her back into her hospital bed. Carefully he pulled the covers back around her and adjusted Kuma so that he was sleeping right next to her.

"You're still sick. Until the doctor says it's all right you're staying in bed. If you need something tell me. I'll get it for you." Narumi felt as though she was going to melt.

He sat himself back down on his chair, and gave her a comforting smile. He didn't really know what was wrong, but somthing inside of him told him that whatever it was could only be labeled as important. Whatever it was he didn't like it one bit. She needed her rest, and to get better. She shouldn't be doing anything else. He wouldn't let her do anything else.

If this was the only thing he could do to help her than he would make sure that he did it right!

Narumi felt so very guilty about this whole thing. Ryuichi obviously cared a great deal. He thought of her as a friend she knew that for sure.

Did she have the right to call him a friend though? If Aoi had found her they were all in danger. She had to leave. There was no way she could stay. It was her presence that was putting him in danger.

"Ryu-chan... I... I need to tell you... something important... but I..." This was just too hard. Why was it that every time she tried to say it she felt as though it was ripping a piece of her heart out?

"I told you to rest. You need to get better in time for the concert. I'm going to make certain that you're there next week no matter what. You have to be better by then."

Ryuichi's smile was so gentle and caring, and his expression was just so serious... she could feel her heart pounding in her chest. She knew what she had to do but she just couldn't do it. She didn't want to hurt him by not being there for the concert he was throwing just for her, but with Aoi being so close by... it wasn't safe!

Narumi could feel tears welling up in her eyes. She did her best to hold them back. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

She couldn't see the slowly dancing shadows against the wall changing their shapes. She told herself that she had to do her best. She had to tell him.

"Something happened where... hmmm..."

Was that sound the pounding of her heart?

She had to tell him!

Narumi opened her eyes and met Ryuichi's straight on. Determination was welling up in her very soul. There was absolutely no choice.

Light reflected off of an object. It was over Ryuichi's head. A knife! Masami Aoi!

"Kyaaaaaaaaaaa!"

Chapter 23:

Oddly enough I just felt like doing a double this week, but I really really wanted to be evil and cliffhanger it. You know in the spirit of what Sunday will bring us. Don't worry I'll get the cliffhanger fixed soon. Have a happy Halloween!