and thus my writer's block has been overcome (for now, anyway.. dun dun duunn...)

slight warning, however: jaden has a little OOC fit. zane has a dream, and syrus... as usual, has major issues. also, yes, i'm mixing japanese honorifics with the english dub names. MUAHAHA! so i'm a little badass. bite me.

oh yeah, and have a nice day!


"Sy... I love you, you know that, right?"

"Sure I do, big Bro. You were only trying to help..."

"No, no, I mean... I was trying to help, but it's more than that. It's--"

"You wanted me to learn on my own."

"No. Syrus, please listen to me--"

"You were right, though. I know Jaden's going to go on and be someone, and I'm always just going to be... well... me. And so are you. Everybody's got to move on sometime.. Just promise me you'll remember me, though?"

Zane felt a faint smile forming on his lips at his brother's naivette, and place a hand on the younger boy's head.

"I could never forget you. And that's why I can't stay. I love you, Syrus. You're my brother and I love you and it's wrong for me to feel that way. I can't do this anymore."

"Can't do what?" Syrus asked, fixing him with those beautiful silver eyes. "You didn't do anything wrong."

"And I intend to keep it that way." He turned his back, only to feel Syrus clutch onto the back of his jacket.

"It's okay, Aniki, I caught you," the smaller boy said, a relieved smile upon his face.

"What... what did you call me...?"

"I love you, Zane." Syrus wrapped his arms around his brother's waist.

"No... Sy, please let go of me..." he backed away, but Syrus refused to release his grip.

He shouldn't be doing this. He shouldn't be anywhere near me.

With one final effort, he managed to push Syrus away from him. But the scene had changed. Why was Zane now facing the ocean, instead of turned away from it?

"No!"

Too late he realized what he had done, and he reached futiley for Syrus, who had fallen too far back now for him to do anything but watch him disappear under the black surface of the ice-cold water...

"Syrus!"

Zane lurched forward into a sitting position, resting his hands flat on either side of him. He felt streams of sweat pouring down his neck and his back, but he couldn't move to stop it from running into his eyes, mixing with his tears.

Instead he sat, shaking violently. His heart felt as though it were beating so fast it might burst. Bringing one trembling hand up to clutch his chest, Zane panted, "No... I... I can't... I... I'll... never... let you... fall..."


Alexis had never seen Jaden completely focused before, outside of a duel. Even then he still looked back to his audience, whoever happened to be watching him. He didn't seem like the kind of person who could direct all his thoughts, all his concentration, all his energy, into just one thing.

But as she sat watching him, he looked completely intent, with every fiber of his being, to break that damned door down.

"How is he doing?"

The nurse looked away, obviously bothered by Jaden's sudden reaction. Alexis stepped between the two of them.

"Please, calm down," she said softly. Reluctantly, he took a small step back, and in a softer voice, repeated, "How is he doing? I mean.. is he all right? He-- he's gonna-- live... right?"

Suddenly understanding, the nurse smiled gently and answered, "Yes, he'll be fine. He's got an infection, and a pretty bad cold, but nothing some antibiotics and plenty of bed rest won't fix."

Alexis hadn't realized she'd been holding her breath until it came out in a loud sigh of relief. So Syrus would be all right. And, she realized, there had been no mention of a mental institution.

The door opened slightly, and another nurse looked out into the hallway. Clearing her throat, she motioned for the first to come closer. They whispered urgently to each other, occasionally glancing back at the two teenagers, exchanging worried expressions. The first began shaking her head, the words "please, I don't want to say it" barely audible, as her protests became louder. Finally, she hung her head in resignation. "Fine, fine," she hissed, "I'll do it."

The other nurse disappeared again inside the room, and the first turned back to them. Alexis couldn't help but notice that she was trying to avoid making eye contact with either of them.

"Hm.. " she started nervously. "There's something... that I.. ah... need to talk with you about... "

Instantly tensing, Jaden stared hard at her. "What is it? Is something wrong with Syrus? I thought you said he was okay--"

"No, no," she said quickly. "Well... yes and no."

"What are you talking about? Is he going to be okay or not?"

"Syrus will live, it's just... " She sank heavily into one of the plastic chairs against the wall. "Please," she said, nodding to the seats beside her, "I think you'd better sit down."

Confused, both of them sat. Jaden turned to face the nurse, his hand gripping the back of the chair so hard that his knuckles began to turn white. Alexis shifted as far to the opposite edge of her seat as she could, but kept her eyes on him.

"So what's going on?"

"Well... listen, you two are this boy's friends, right?" They nodded. "You see.. " she sighed deeply. "As far as his physical condition, he seems to be all right. He'll be good as new in a couple of weeks. But I'm afraid there is something wrong.

"The doctors... found something.. and it concerned them. Tell me, have either of you noticed that Syrus seemed.. at all... depressed? Withdrawn, something like that?"

Hesitating, they both nodded again. What were they supposed to say? Alexis could feel her dread growing. She knew what was coming- it was written all over that woman's face.

"Yes, well.. did he seem like the kind of person who would ever... you know... hurt himself?"

And there it was. Alexis fought the urge to look away, as Jaden faltered and turned back to her, pleading silently for her help. 'Don't say anything,' his frightened gaze told her. She didn't.

Instead, she slowly shook her head. Flashing her a grateful look, Jaden turned back to the nurse. "No," he replied, with a deliberate shake of his head. "Sy wouldn't do that. Sure he's got a little confidence problem, but he wouldn't cut himself."

The nurse stared at him. "I only asked if he'd hurt himself. I didn't say he'd cut himself."

Quickly realizing his mistake, Alexis spoke up. "Oh.. we both must have mis-heard you. I could have sworn you said 'cut'."

"Oh, well, I'm sorry. It's just that.. well, it seems there were some cuts on the back of Syrus' wrist, and it seemed as if they might have been made... deliberately."

"I told you we found him in the woods, right?" Jaden asked flatly.

"Yes, you did."

"He probably got all scratched up out there. I'm telling you, there's nothing wrong with him. He wouldn't... I mean, ever...

The nurse smiled softly. "I understand. You two are pretty close?"

Jaden nodded, causing Alexis to grimace. 'Lady,' she thought, 'you have no idea.'

"Well, they say nobody knows you better than your friends. Tell me, does Syrus have a lot of friends?"

Confused, Jaden replied, "Well... not really a lot. But he has me, and Alexis, and Chumley, and--"

"I see. Is he very shy?"

"Kind of. He's not, like, anti-social or anything. He's just kind of quiet."

Alexis looked daggers at the nurse. She could see plain as day what the woman was doing. She was trying to get Jaden to make Syrus out as some kind of psycho. It was all just more reason for the doctors to get Syrus hauled off to some asylum.

Worse yet, Jaden, the one who had been so afraid of that, was completely falling for it.

"What he means is that Syrus is fine. He might not be all that outgoing, but he would never cut himself. He's perfectly fine."

Jaden twisted back again, with a puzzled look. She raised an eyebrow, desperately hoping he would take the hint and follow her lead. Suddenly, a small smirk played at the corner of his mouth, and he nodded once, his way of saying that he got the message. 'Go on, she's all yours.' Perhaps she could even detect a subtle 'thank you' there somewhere.

The nurse merely smiled and stood. "All right then. I'll just go find the doctor. I'll see about getting the two of you in to see your friend, okay?"

"Great!" Jaden exclaimed, voice betraying the flood of relief rushing through him. "Thanks."

"No problem." With that, the nurse turned and walked back into the room, leaving Jaden and Alexis alone in the hall.

"'Lex.. thanks."

"For what?" Oh, she knew 'for what', but it never hurt to hear it.

"You know... sticking up for Sy like that. For a minute I thought that lady was trying to get me to admit he really did it." He chuckled suddenly. "Pretty crazy, huh?"

Alexis forced a nervous little laugh. "Yeah.. crazy." They both fell silent. They knew what had happened, and that that nurse had gotten just a little too close to the truth for comfort.

"They can't take him away," he said softly, as if talking to himself.

"I know you don't want to lose him," Alexis answered. "But.. well, I hate to say it, but maybe it's... a good idea? Now, look," she added hastily, not giving Jaden a chance to protest, "I know he probably wouldn't like it at first, but what if they do put him in a hospital? They could help him Jaden. He would be so much happier. And think about it- you wouldn't have to worry about it anymore--"

"He doesn't belong in a hospital," Jaden replied through clenched teeth. "He's not sick, Alexis, he's sad. Pills and a straight jacket aren't going to help him. He belongs here, with us. They take Sy away from us, and he has nothing left. Nothing. You said it yourself, he needs me. I tried to help him.. I tried..."

"I know you did, Jaden."

"But they're trying to make him feel better, and they don't even know what's wrong. They can't help him at all."

"Well.. what if there's a way? You never know, maybe there's something someone can do. If we did tell them about Zane, maybe they could do some sort of family therepy or--"

"Are you kidding me?" Jaden snapped. "After everything he's done to Syrus, you're saying that some shrink can put them in the same room together and fix everything?"

Alexis clapped her hand over her mouth. Eyes wide with shock, she instinctively moved back, falling to the floor, her legs still hooked over the side of the chair. Jaden's blazer, which she had been absent-mindedly wringing over her lap, was now spread out onto the floor beside her. She felt her arm stiffen in an impulse to pick it up, but didn't dare move. Jaden finally stood to help her, and, though she first flinched at his proffered hand, she finally took hold of it and allowed him to pull her to her feet.

She hung in the silence that followed, waiting for an apology, but Jaden gave none. Instead, he cut his eyes at her and turned his back, sitting and keeping his gaze on the door. Realizing he wasn't going to look back at her, Alexis slowly reached down and retrieved the blazer, dragging it on to the empty chair between them.

The door clicked open again, and the nurse again appeared, though not venturing any closer to them than the doorway. "I'm sorry," she said, directing a sympathetic smile to Jaden. "But the doctor feels that Syrus ought to be getting some rest now. If you could come back tomorrow... "

Jaden didn't respond, except to rise to his feet. Not even glancing at Alexis, he grabbed his jacket without breaking stride and headed down the hallway.

She watched after him, and again felt the sting of rejection when he didn't look back.

Jaden had never seemed like the type of person to harbor injury or insult, but today he still hadn't looked at her. She'd dragged her feet getting back to the hospital after class, only to find him sitting there, starting unblinking at the closed door. He hadn't showed up to class, and she wouldn't be at all surprised if he'd been there the whole day.

He hadn't even looked up as she sat down beside him.

And so they waited. Jaden offered no explanation as to when they might be able to see Syrus again. She assumed he'd been told to wait for some kind of orderly to let him know when Syrus was deemed fit to have any company.

An hour passed, and still they sat. She hadn't taken her eyes off Jaden, and he hadn't taken his off that door. Hadn't moved at all. Alexis, on the other hand, couldn't keep still. She fidgeted nervously, raking the manicured nails of her left hand against the fingers of the right, only realizing what she had been doing when she felt the stinging of a raw nerve and looked down to see a few droplets of blood seeping through the tiny cut. Crossing her arms over her lap, she doubled over and fixed her eyes on the floor.

"Jaden Yuki."

Both students jerked their heads up to see who had spoken. That other nurse from the night before, leaned against the door frame, cradling a clipboard in one arm and tapping a pencil against it.

"Yeah?" Jaden rose stiffly to his feet.

"You're the one who brought him in last night, aren't you?" she asked, tilting her head backward to, one would suppose, Syrus' bed.

Jaden merely nodded. "Is he... I mean, can I see him?" For the first time in what seemed to Alexis like eternity, his eyes shone with hope.

The nurse shifted uncomfortably. "Ahhm.. you see..."

"What? Can I see him or not?"

She held the clipboard in front of her chest, as if for protection, and turned her head away so that she was only making contact from the corner of her eye. "I-I'm sorr-ry," she stuttered, visibly shaken by Jaden's tone. "But for right now, the doctor has decided to only allow relatives in to--"

"Relatives?" Jaden cried, now furious at the woman. "The only family he has here is his brother! You're telling me I'm not allowed to talk to him, but he is? You're a nurse, for cryin' out loud! Aren't you supposed to keep your patients safe?"

"Um.. yes... "

"Then how could you let Zane anywhere near him?"

"H-h-how.." the nurse stammered, "w-would that b-be a... problem?"

Jaden went dead silent, realizing that he had almost blamed Zane for Syrus trying to kill himself. And realizing that he had nearly admitted that Syrus had really tried to kill himself.

"Uh... ya see... " he muttered, racking his brain for an explanation.

"Jaden is like family," Alexis explained, trying her best to keep her voice calm. She hated to admit that she was beginning to get used to Jaden's temper. And she was really getting used to helping him make up for it.

From where she saw it, keeping Syrus out of a straight jacket seemed to be as much her job as anyone elses'. Wasn't it always, though, the responsibility of everyone in their little group, to keep each other out of trouble? Most of them had some sort of family or another, and friends back home, but they were miles away on the mainland, or wherever any of them had come from. Here on the island, they were all any of them had. They were a family.

And to each and every one of them, whether they admitted it or not, the thought of their little family falling apart seemed like one of those awful nightmares you're content to put away in the daytime, but always stays at the back of your mind, waiting to trouble your sleep in the night.

Did they all feel that way? Did anyone else ever realize that they wouldn't be together forever?

It was like standing at the edge of a pitch-black chasm, unable to go back to the safety of solid ground and unable to see what was ahead. What would she do without Jaden or Syrus? Without Zane? Without any nof her friends?

Wasn't that life, though? Making friends, losing them, making new ones and forgetting the friends before? She'd long forgotten her old friends from primary school, remembering only vaguely their names, and their childish vows to be friends forever.

Forever, she mused, only seems to be good for about a year or so.

And she'd done fine without them. They apparantly weren't as important to her as she'd thought at the time.

But their loyalty had never been tested. Alexis had never kept a more important secret for them than who they had a crush on. She'd never felt torn between a good friend and the guy she loved. Her ability to lie with a straight face had never meant the difference between a loving couple staying together and being torn apart.

The nurse peered at them over her glasses.

"They... uh.. they're room-mates," Alexis added.

"Hmm.. I see. Well, I'll see what I can do." And with that, she once again vanished behind the door, pulling it shut with a loud click.

The silence that she left in her wake allowed Alexis to notice the constant buzzing of equipment coming from the rooms. If the tension wasn't already giving her a massive headache, that noise would.

"Thanks."

"Huh?" She looked back to Jaden, recognizing his old voice, but hardly believing it. He still wasn't smiling, but he looked very close to it.

"I said... thanks." Jaden glanced down sheepishly. "Look, Lex... I'm sorry I was such a jerk to you earlier. I was just--"

"Worried. I know. I am too, Jaden."

"I know, this must seem so backward," he said hoarsely. "Everything we've been through since we got here, the danger we've been in, and I've still never been so worried than I am now. I mean, this isn't anything like that. If someone's life is at stake, it all comes down to just winning a duel to get them back.

"But this time, there's nothing I can do."

"Oh, Jaden," Alexis sighed. "He's going to be all right. You'll see."

"I know, but he's already come close to dying twice. And I don't know if there's anything I can do to keep it from happening again."

He closed his eyes. "What if I can't? What if I let my guard down for just a little too long and he tries it again? What if I don't get to him in time?"

Alexis cringed. It was a real possibility, and a terrifying one at that. She wanted to tell Jaden that it wouldn't happen, that Syrus could get the help he needed. But she knew that that would only unravel everything they'd tried to keep safe, everything they'd tried to keep secret.

It was more than keeping the secret, though. For Jaden, it would be like admitting defeat. He'd donewhatever he could to protect Syrus from everything--his depression, an asylum, Zane... And finally, he realized that he couldn't handle it on his own anymore.

What she didn't know, though, was that Jaden felr like he'd failed Syrus. He'd failed at being a friend, a protector, even a surrogate brother.

He was as much of a failure as Zane.


"Hello?"

Zane knocked, louder this time, and pressed his ear against the door. He could hear nothing. He knew there was no way Syrus could have gone to class after all that, and more than likely Jaden was keeping close watch over him. But shouldn't he have heard voices, some kind of motion, at least their breathing?

Feeling his fear grow, Zane tried the knob--respect could be ignored for now--and the door swung open easily.

He stepped inside the room. It was dead silent.

And completely empty.

Where could they be? Surely they hadn't gone to class... there was just no way. But what else could it be?

He ran his hand over the side of Syrus' bunk. His bed was still made, like he hadn't even slept in it. Here Zane was, torn apart inside, and yet how could Syrus be bothered to get out of bed and straighten it up?

He also noticed that Jaden's bed wasn't made. That wasn't anything out of the ordinary. He'd never struck Zane as the type to slow down long enough to do something so 'boring', and so unrelated to dueling.

Then again, what if Syrus didn't make his bed? What if he didn't even sleep... in.. it...

Zane shook his head from side to side violently, trying to rid himself of that thought. That was just disgusting.

Well, no more disgusting that anything else I've thought of.

No, Jaden wouldn't dare... He just didn't have it in him to do anything like that. He was too nice. He was the perfect boyfriend, as much as it pained Zane to admit it, for his little brother. Come to think of it, he was a better brother to Syrus, too.

No wonder Zane had been replaced.

You have no heart at all, do you? his conscience taunted. Your own brother, who you were supposed to be taking care of and teaching all the time, nearly dies, and you can stand to bother feeling jealousy? And toward the person who took over your job, and gave Syrus all the love and guidance he should have gotten from you?

"No!" he cried. "I tried. I didn't know... I just didn't know how bad it was. I only wanted to help him, but... I... I just don't know how... all I ever wanted was... was... to be a good brother..."

"Well, I think I know somebody who can give you a few ideas."

Startled, Zane spun around to address whoever had spoken.

"Alexis?" he panted. "What... are you doing here?"

"I came to get Syrus' clothes. They're letting him--"

"Syrus? You know where he is?" Zane demanded, trying his hardest not to sound so excited. After all, that just wasn't him.

Alexis nodded slowly, gathering a shirt and the small red blazer from the floor.

"We took him to the hospital--"

"Hospital?" His fragile little Syrus was in the hospital?

Suddenly feeling very ill, Zane steadied himself by grabbing the side of the second bunk. Yesterday... the sound of Syrus' wrist breaking, the look of shock and pain in his eyes... oh God...

"When Jaden woke up this morning, Syrus was burning up with a fever. I came by to check on them, since they weren't in class. And then we took him to--"

"Wait, after you came here? Why did Jaden wait so long?" How could someone who was so protective of Syrus that he had nearly shoved Zane off of the balcony not think to take him to a doctor as soon as he realized that the bluenette was sick?

Alexis stifled, turning her head.

"I... um... well, he was going to take him, it's just..

"Alexis, don't lie to me," Zane warned.

She looked back up at him, biting her lip. "Well, he didn't know what to do. He wasn't sure if he should get Syrus any help or not--"

"How could he not want to get him to a hospital?" Zane interrupted again. What in the hell was wrong with Jaden? He may have gotten poor grades, but he wasn't stupid. Even he should have known better...

"I can't tell you..."

"Lex, this is my brother we're talking about. If he's in a hospital, I want to know what put him there. And I want to know why Jaden wasn't going to take him there. Please," he said, more softly this time. "I have to know."

Alexis swallowed, stalling for time. If this was the way he reacted to Syrus having a fever, she'd hate to see what learning about him cutting himself was going to do to him.

But still, he was worried about Syrus. He was frantic to find a way to help his brother.

She could relate.

"All right, I'll tell you, but you have to promise me you won't be mad."

Zane clenched his jaw so tightly the motion was visible, but still he simply nodded and said, "Fine. What happened?"

"Well, you see...he... Syrus... he kind of... well, he cut himself." She closed her eyes tightly, bracing herself for whatever outburst was about to happen.

Instead, Zane only replied quietly, "I know."

Opening one eye, she asked tentatively, "You... did?"

"Yes."

"Oh. Well... um... " How was she going to explain this? "So you see, Jaden thought that if the doctor saw his arm, they might... you know... find out that he tried to... well, you know... and put him in some kind of... "

"Mental institution." he finished for her, impatient with her pause. The very thought of Syrus, alone and afraid in some padded cell, made his blood run cold.

"Yeah. But we decided that even if Syrus didn't like it, it was at least better than risking letting him get any worse. So we took him in, and they just let Jaden in to see him. They gave him some antibiotics, and they're going to let him leave later on today. So Jaden told me to get him some clothes to put on."

"He's all right?" Zane felt his knees begin to buckle. It was as if he'd just had the weight of the world lifted from his shoulders.

"Yeah, he'll be fine. But they did make him an appointment with the school psychologist."

"They think he's crazy."

"No, they just think he might be depressed. Jaden's really worried. He thinks they're just trying to get him to admit to cutting himself so they can lock him up."

"Who knows, maybe they are."

"I know you're probably worried--"

"Probably? Alexis, he's my brother. Of course I'm worried."

She smiled softly.

"You know, you said you wanted to be a good brother. I know you might not think so, but you really are a lot like Jaden when it comes to the way you feel about Syrus."

He swore he felt his heart stop. Did she know...? No, she couldn't possibly... could she?

"What.. um.. what do you.. mean?" he faltered.

"I mean," she said, giving him a puzzled look, "that you both really love him, you just show it in different ways. You tried to help him by not helping him. It's not that it was a bad idea, it just... well, it would work better for some people than others, and Syrus just isn't one of those people."

"If I had been a little more close to him, maybe I would have known that."

"Well, you tried your best. And Jaden... well, he's more direct. Way more direct," she added, and Zane couldn't help but detect a trace of... some kind of emotion, and an unpleasant one at that. But she ignored it and continued speaking, and so he ignored it as well.

"Well, you know what I mean, right?" she asked, practically begging him with that look to just come right out and say it. Zane would rather have avoided this subject entirely, and he didn't feel like wasting time stating the obvious when Syrus was laid up in the hospital. He sighed. Why did they have to discuss this now?

"Yes, I do."

"Well?"

"Well what?"

"What do you think?"

He stared at her. "What do you want me to think? I've gotten that impression for a while. At least since that tag duel. Maybe before that, when Jaden stood up to me and challenged me for Syrus. He's been there for Sy ever since the two of them got here, and I haven't. It's almost like..."

"Like you've been replaced?"

"Exactly. And I know Syrus did what he did because of me. And then who was there to pick up the pieces? Who did he go to?"

"Jaden."

"I'm the big brother here. His real brother. I should be the one standing up for him, not the one somebody else stands up to for him."

"You know what?"

He opened his eyes again. "What?"

"You couldn't help Syrus yourself. Jaden can't help him on his own either. Maybe... just maybe... Syrus needs both of you to be there for him."

Zane remained silent. Seeing Jaden and Syrus together didn't just make him jealous. It made him hurt, in a way he'd never felt before. Just knowing that Syrus didn't need him was painful. But knowing that Jaden, who hadn't even known him a whole year yet, was everything to him--that Syrus was his in every way--was almost unbearable.

"I know what it's like to feel like you've been abandoned," Alexis muttered. "It can be total murder on you. And having you around--seeing you, and having to remember that he thinks you don't care--must make Syrus feel the same way, maybe even worse. No, wait, it definitely makes him feel worse. He thought you didn't love him, and he didn't want to live anymore.

"Jaden is afraid that he might try it again, but I think that if he knows that you both love him and want him around, then he might feel like he has a reason to stay."

Zane still said nothing. He tried to remind himself that he had to stay distanced, that he couldn't risk getting too close...

His breathing arrested. He'd only just realized--when had been the last time Syrus had even crossed his mind, at least in that way? When had it even first started?

And then he remembered.

The last thing Zane wanted was for Syrus to leave. He wasn't worried that Sy would make it back to the mainland. He knew going out onto the ocean would be a death wish for his younger brother.

But he had to stay strong. Syrus wasn't quite as much a coward as he seemed to be, but he still wasn't that brave. No doubt he was only bluffing. He probably only wanted someone to try and stop him, to be forced to show that they cared enough to make him stay.

It was painful not to say it himself, but Zane knew better. It would only make all the effort of ignoring Syrus go to waste. All that pain he'd put them both through... it was too late to let it all come to nothing.

Syrus leaned over the remains of his broken raft, sobbing quietly, his slight shoulders trembling with each unsteady breath he took.

"How could you say that to your own brother?" Jaden shouted up at Zane.

The shock that came over Zane was well-concealed, but still almost palpable. Who was this trouble-maker to criticize him? He had no idea how Zane could say it, or why, and he was also ignorant to the fact that Zane himself wasn't quite sure how he could stand to treat the sensitive younger teen with such cruelty.

All he knew what that this Jaden kid was ruining everything.

Or, in hindsight, saving it.

"I need to see my brother."

He spoke with such sudden urgency that Alexis knew he'd changed his mind. Allowing him a gentle smile, she held the door open with her free hand. He left quickly, glancing back with a pained but grateful look, before out-pacing her and going ahead to the hospital.

She stood for a moment, looking back to the empty room, then to the empty grounds. Funny how she could feel so left out whether she was with them or by herself.

yay for inspiration! my writer's block is all gone now.

but for how long...? O.o

well, anyway, i'll just leave it at that for now. think about it: if i put everything in one chapter... well, that would be one long chapter, would it not? whoever said "always leave them begging for more"... well, you probably dislike them right now with great intensity at the moment, but trust me, you'll get used to it.

suspense. LOL

but fear not, for now that said writer's block has temporarily vainished from the face of the earth, there will be more exciting--and angsty--installments soon enough.

... i hope ...

/runs and hides/ don't kill me!