Disclaimer: Still not owning.

Author's Note: All right, this is it, my friends. It's been a LONG road to the end, but we're finally here. I want to thank each and every one of you who read and will read this story. I hope you enjoy the last chapter. Happy Readings!

I dozed off in the car, for sleep was all too attractive right then, and I wasn't even aware we had come to a stop until Kai gently shook me. I yawned and regarded him with slightly dazed eyes.

"We're here," He said.

I tilted my head. "Where?" I asked.

He smiled slightly and leaned forward to brush some bangs from my eyes. I closed my eyes, enjoying the sensation of his touch. So perfect.

"The hospital," he answered. "Max doesn't look so good and, frankly, neither do you."

I opened my eyes and glanced in the back seat to where Max was lying. He still looked so terribly frail.

"What . . . did they do to him?" Kai asked, his voice sounded soft, as though he wasn't even sure if he wanted to know.

I shook my head. "What's the worst thing you can think of, Kai?" I asked, not wanting to say it myself.

Kai's eyes darkened.

"What if Max . . . isn't, well, what if he isn't the same, again?" I asked, voicing my absolute fear. Tears welled in my eyes again. I felt so childish, but I couldn't stop them. " . . . And it's my fault," I whispered through trembling lips.

Suddenly, Kai pulled me over to his side of the car and into his lap. He hugged me close to his body, and I reveled in the warmth as shivers of calm went through my body. We stayed like that for a moment until I pushed away.

"Let's go," I suggested.

He nodded. "Okay."

Kai and I removed ourselves from the car, and Kai retrieved Max from the back of the vehicle. A moan escaped Max's lips at the sudden movement. Together, Kai and I walked into the hospital. The bright lights slit through my eyes, which had recently been so accustomed to the dark. The atmosphere looked fairly dead as we entered.

We approached the front desk, and Kai cleared his throat to get the nurse's attention. She looked up to Kai and glared.

"Oh, you're back Mr. Hiwatari, I thought you . . . oh dear!" She exclaimed, having just seen the poor state of Max in Kai's arms and me standing next to him. "What on Earth happened?

"I don't think that's important right now, nurse," Kai said, voice stony.

She nodded. "Of course, I'll call the doctor."

And true to her word, she contacted the doctor who came rushing out. He tended to Max first, as he was obviously the worst off. They took him away to some room to assess his injuries, and I was led away soon after. They did some routine things like checking my temperature and asking how I had acquired the gash on my head. I wasn't going to lie, it seemed like a waste of energy, and I didn't have much right then anyway. So, I told them it was the result of a window accident. Ya know, the guy tossed my head and misfired right into a window. But things like that happen all the time, ya know?

They didn't pry too much further, and the verdict came out that I needed stitches. No big, only six or seven, but that didn't stop me from holding Kai's hand when they were doing the procedure. So, what? I had never HAD stitches before, and I was nervous!

After I got all sewed up, the doctor told me I was free to go, but I didn't want to leave and asked him about Max. He simply said that Max would be okay. He thought he might need some blood, but mostly sleep, antibiotics for his cuts, painkillers, and a lot of rest. Still, I was concerned about his mental state, which I also asked the doctor about, as he was all ready aware of Max's . . . particular condition. The doctor said it couldn't be determined yet. I felt guilty, but I was ready to go home and take a shower and sleep. Anyway, the doctor wouldn't have permitted us to stay with Max.

On the way to Kai' place, I told Kai everything from beginning to end as I recalled it, and he immediately called Mou to relay the information about the location of Vamp's hideout. He also called Tyson at my request. Naturally, Tyson had wanted very badly to come and see Max right that night, but it wasn't a good idea, and we convinced him to come the next morning. Afterwards, I fell asleep in the car once again. When I woke up, I was being carried bridal style in to the large house. I didn't mind at all. Kai carried me in the house, up the stairs, and into his room where he laid me on the bed. He proceeded to lie down next to me and then take me in his arms. I liked that too.

He buried his face in the juncture between my neck and shoulder. I stroked his soft hair, and I was so glad to be with him once more.

He lifted his head then, and beheld me with soft eyes. "I was so afraid that I wasn't going to see you again," he whispered.

I smiled and gently kissed his lips. "I'm always going to be here," I said.

He laid his head down again, and we fell asleep like that. So much for my shower.

Morning came earlier for me than I had hoped; it was still rather dark outside. I untangled myself from Kai's arms and finally managed to fit in a shower, a luxury that I really enjoyed. It was half way through my shower that Kai appeared and climbed in with me. Nothing happened except for a few playful kisses, some sensual caresses, and he helped me wash my hair. I think we both felt very good by the time we got out of the shower.

We dressed, and I wore my clothing from the last time that I had been at Kai's house. They had been washed and everything, so why not? A light breakfast followed, and we were off to the hospital to see Max. I still needed to properly apologize to him.

The morning was promising. It sported a blue sky and a bright sun that shone down radiantly on the earth. We drove with the windows open and soon arrived at the hospital in fairly good spirits. We checked in and went straight to Max's room.

Upon nearing the slightly cracked door, my sensitive ears caught the sound of voices. I peeked inside and saw Tyson sitting next to our blonde friend. He was holding Max's hand in his, and Max was smiling, which was something that warmed my heart. I had hope for him.

Kai nudged me, impatient as usual. He looked ready to say something, but that would have blown our cover.

"Sh! They're talking," I whispered.

Kai rolled his eyes. "Then we shouldn't be listening," He whispered back.

I scowled at him. "You don't listen then, do you have any idea how long I've waited for something to happen between them?"

Kai shook his head and propped himself up against the wall out of sight. With him out of the way, I was free to listen in on a most delicious conversation.

"I realize now, Maxie, that I wasted a lot of time dancing around it," Tyson said.

Max squeezed Tyson's hand. "No," he said quietly. "I was too afraid to hear it, Ty. I'm still afraid, but after everything, I'm more afraid of not experiencing it."

"We don't have to go fast. We can take it as slow as you want, but I have a feeling about you, Max. I don't think whatever we start will end, but even if it did, I'd still always be there for you. No matter what, you'd never be alone again."

Max's blue eyes seemed to sparkle. "I was never alone before, I know that now. I want to be with you, I think, Tyson, and down deep I always have."

Tyson's smile was priceless as he gently lifted Max's pale hand and kissed it lightly.

Max accepted the innocent gesture, but his smile faded slightly. "Tyson, you do realize that I'm not . . . um, well . . . untainted," he said.

Tyson's eyes darkened. "It wasn't your fault, Max."

Max nodded. "I know that."

"I don't care. I love you," Tyson said. His voice was so strong with that last statement, so sure. There was no doubt in his mind.

Max looked at him with wonder in his eyes. Then, his blue eyes became glassy with tears. "I . . . never knew it could sound so good," he said softly.

There was a brief pause, and suddenly Tyson leaned down and hugged Max carefully but firmly. Max's tears streamed down his cheeks as he raised his arms to wrap them around Tyson.

In the meantime, I flew in to girlie mode and was on the verge of a squeal. I looked over to Kai who was smiling, having obviously caught the conversation. I could wait no longer and threw open the door.

Max and Tyson separated in surprise.

"Good morning," I greeted brightly.

Kai followed me in with a less obtrusive entrance.

I grinned knowingly at Tyson, who winked at me. I looked to Max who smiled as well. God, I was so happy. It looked like he was going to be okay!

I approached him and grabbed a chair to pull up to his bedside. "Oh Maxie, I'm so glad you're okay. And I'm so sorry." I said honestly.

He nodded, understanding. "I know you are. I don't blame you for what happened, Rei."

"I'm sorry for what I said, too."

He nodded. "I forgave you for that the moment you said it."

"And thank you for your words and for caring about me. You were right, Max. It's much better when you let someone love you," I whispered.

He stared at me for a moment, looked to Kai, looked back to me, and smiled.

We spent the rest of the day together. Max was released from the hospital two days later and went home much happier, because he knew that Tyson was waiting for him.

Tyson performed amazingly in the play Romeo and Juliet, but there was one problem. When he was reading his lines, he wasn't looking at Juliet; he was looking at Max, who was sitting in the first row, blushing like mad.

Mou and Anderson arrested almost everyone involved in Vamp's little business. Oddly enough, they never found Vamp. All they found was a lot of blood and some shreds of what they assumed was his shirt. In the end, I was glad Mariah and Lee had gotten a hold of him instead of me. I wouldn't be able to live with the grief of killing him, despite everything.

As for Kai and I, we started living together. I pulled out of Max's apartment and my old apartment. Sam was sad to see me go, but I told him I'd visit. Kai and I lived together in a romantic paradise for about three weeks before we started fighting, broke up, decided to see other people, and I moved out. Two days later, I got caught cheating on my 'other person' with Kai, who was also caught cheating on his 'other person' with me. One hour after both people had broken up with us I moved back in and, aside from frequent arguing, we lived happily ever after.

Love is such a weird, difficult to understand thing, but once you get it, you've got it forever. How it used to be, isn't how it is. And you know what? I like it this way.

-Owari