A/N: Sorry about not updating for a few days—my boyfriend was visiting and it was the last time I would see him before he has to leave for Korea (he's in the army), so I focused on spending time with him.

Generations:

Chapter Twenty-Two:

Breathing in deeply as he stared at the ceiling, Kessuke absentmindedly pulled at the bandages on his forearms—he didn't like being bandaged, but he had to be. At least the bullet wound had to be, and since he was in a hospital, the nurses insisted on re-bandaging the cuts on his arms.

'Where's Tohma? I'm bored. I thought he'd visit by now….' Kessuke shifted his gaze to the window beside his bed. 'I guess he's still with Toya….'

Sighing again, Kessuke closed his eyes barely registering hearing the door open—'Probably just a nurse coming to check on me…'

"Hello sleepyhead."

'Just go away…whoever you are…hey, that's a guy's voice, they've only been sending a girl nurse to check on me since I got here…'

Lips pursed Kessuke opened his eyes and glared at his visitor, his blue eyes gleaming as he tried to figure out if he knew him or not.

"Who are you?" Kessuke narrowed his eyes as he took in the blond hair and blue eyes of his visitor who looked close to his age. 'He looks familiar, but where have I seen him…?'

"Name's Michael. And you're Kessuke Sakuma-kun—my dad sent me here to keep an eye on you." The blond paused. "Something happened and Seguchi-san and my dad though it best for me to come here and make sure no one tried to get to you." As he said this he kept pausing briefly in thought, and when he finished he looked at Kessuke with a smile. "Did I say all that right? Japanese isn't my first language and I'm self-conscious 'bout saying everything right."

"You said it right…."

"Yeah, well I guess that's 'cause my dad knows Japanese and always tried teaching me…only recently did I actually try learning it…."

"…."

"…."

"…."

"You're not the talkative type, are you?" Michael stared at Kessuke who shrugged and looked away. "I'll just sit and be quiet then."

"…." Kessuke remained silent for a few more seconds before turning back to Michael. "Do you know when Tohma will be able to visit? Why isn't he here yet anyway?"

"To…Oh, Seguchi-san. Well, something happened and he has to deal with that…I don't know when he'll visit though…."

"Okay…so, what's this 'something' that happened?"

"Um…well…I'm not sure….But I think it has something to do with your father…."

"…my father…." Kessuke turned away; eyes narrowed blocking out everything else his visitor/bodyguard said. 'My father can just go screw himself.'

"...um….I…." Michael noticed the change in Kessuke right away, realizing that the teen wouldn't listen anymore—thus he just chewed on his lips and stared at the wall in silence.

-

"What? No, he…." Ryuu stared at Tohma, shocked as he listened to his friend's words. "Ta-chi still…? But he said…."

"Aizawa has…been beating Kess for a while…I…."

"But he said he'd leave Kess alone if I did what he said….he…I…." Ryuu grabbed onto Tohma's arm, trembling. "He said…he…that prick said….god…Tohma, he said he wouldn't hurt Kess…I didn't know…."

"I understand, Ryuu…." Tohma wrapped his arms around the man, careful not to hurt the newly washed and bandaged back. "I understand…Aizawa tricked you…I'm sorry I didn't realize it sooner…."

"I…Tohma…Where's Kess now? He's safe right?"

"Yes, he's safe…K's son's with him to make sure."

"Where is he? I want to see him…I need to…apologize to him for not realizing Ta-chi…."

"Yes…we can visit him, he's at the hospital not far…."

"What! Hospital? But…."

"Something happened at school between him and another student…I…." Tohma swallowed, remembering what happened to Toya. "I'll tell you about it on the way there…."

A/N: End chapter.

(Oh, while my boyfriend was visiting I had him read this story and review, but I was logged-in at the time so his reviews are signed under my penname—hah, hah, it looks like I reviewed myself. Well for his last review I was signed under a different name, so at least that one doesn't seem like I reviewed myself)