Author's note: soooooooooooooo sorry that this took so long. Gomen, scuzi, forgive me, no siento, entschuldigung, het spijt me, pardonne-moi,… checks Sorry of Madonna for more 'sorry' terms me'h, you get the picture. I was planning on making this chapter longer, but it just seemed like the right time to cut it off. So, angsty Raphy in this chappie, last part is a bit cute Mika-Raph interaction. Hope it was worth the wait.

Disclaimer: you know the drill. I no own, you no sue.

When Raphael walked into the room he immediately noticed that Michael was nowhere in sight.

"Mika-chan?"

He heard a soft growling.

"Go away…"

"Mika…" Raphael walked toward the sound of his little friend's voice.

"I said. Go. Away!"

Michael was sitting in a corner. His arms were around his legs while his head rested on his knees.

"Mika-chan? Are you okay?"

"Oh! So now you care? Now you're concerned."

The angel of fire got up. His wounds were bleeding; the blood had already seeped through the bandages.

"Mika… What are you doing? You're bleeding. Let me help you."

"NO!"

Raphael took a startled step back while his friend advanced on him.

"Don't you touch me! You didn't think it necessary to help me when Setsuna attacked me so I don't need your help now! Some friend you are. You just stand there gawking instead of helping me when I'm getting the shit beat out of me. Thanks a lot Raphael! And don't call me Mika-chan, only my friend Raph could… but he disappeared when you just stood there and didn't help me. I. HATE. YOU!"

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Raphael shot up in bed just as dream Michael yelled the last three words. He shook his head.

"No, Mika-chan would never say that to me, he would never hate me, he would never…"

The archangel stopped talking when he noticed something wet running down his cheeks, gently he lifted his hand to his face. The trail led up to his eyes.

/I-I'm crying…/

He jumped slightly when he felt a hand on his shoulder, when he looked up he saw Gabriel.

"You're right; Michael would never hate you… He'll understand why you didn't help him; you simply did not have the time. Besides, no one helped; we were all to shocked to react. You are not to blame, Raphael, no one is, not even Setsuna, but we can't have you breaking down… We need your help in defeating these creatures."

Raphael hung his head, ashamed that someone had seen him cry.

"I know, but I still feel guilty. When I needed him the most… Mika was always there for me, no matter when… and even though it sometimes caused my house to have an extra window… in his way… he was always there for me. And now he needs me, and now is the one time I can't help him. It just feels so bad."

"You just go back to sleep, knowing Michael doesn't hate you. Go check on him first thing in the morning, you'll see, he'll be happy to see you. Goodnight Raphael." Gently Gabriel gave him a kiss on his forehead and walked out of the room. She stopped in the door at the sound of Raphael's voice.

"Thanks Gabriel,… I mean it."

"I know you do." With these words the female angel left to her own room.

Raphael laid back down on his bed, drifting to sleep with Gabriel's advice running through his head.

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--The next morning--

The sight that greeted Raphael that morning in Michael's room was definitely a better one than the one in his nightmare. Michael was struggling to get his shirt on, one arm wouldn't cooperate. Michael turned his head, grinning, his red hair ruffled because of his battle with the shirt.

"Hey Raph, how ya doin'?"

Raphael let a smile grace his features.

"Better already, here let me help you with that."

Michael took a step, and looked at Raphael with a hint of distrust in his eyes. Before the latter had a chance to panic, the little angel spoke.

"Promise you won't tell anyone?" When looking at the pouty look on his best friends face the wind angel could do nothing but laugh.

"I promise"