EPILOGUE

The clouds were dark and heavy, stubbornly clinging on the air in it's thick form. No sun or sky could peek through, shadowing the Earth below as the rain drenched it in all it's merciless glory. The cold drops pounded on the window, wet trails rippling as they made their way down the clear glass, distorting the world seen through it.

Yoh turned away from the window...the view was somewhat depressing. He looked at the man sitting next to him, his golden eyes fixed on the still figure lying in the bed in front of them. Neither of them has said a word since they arrived which wasn't long, only about thirty minutes. The silence wasn't pressuring nor was it weightless. It was strange but at the same time comfortable. And through it all, those amber eyes never averted from the Ainu in front of him.

It was clear to Yoh that he's changed.

It wasn't much of a surprise when Faust arrived at Yoh and Manta's hotel room without Ren, yesterday morning. The Chinese usually awoke the earliest and there were times when he'd go on morning walks. They assumed that yesterday was just one of those days, they weren't worried. But it was most unexpected to get a phone call from him from the hospital.

"Hello?"

"Yoh? I-It's me."

"...Ren?" Yoh furrowed his brows when he recognized his missing friend's voice, which for a moment he thought it stuttered. Faust and Manta listened attentively, though they weren't quite sure of what's going on. Neither was Yoh.

"Ren, where are you?"

"At t-the hospital."

"The hospital? But it's not even visiting hours yet." Manta and Faust exchanged dumbfounded glances, then turned back to Yoh who also looked baffled.

"H-He...His...H-He's..." Yoh's brows frowned as he began to tense a great deal. Ren didn't sound like he was crying but his voice was shaking way too much for himself. He's never heard the vocalist sound so restless, trembling so much that he couldn't even make a sentence. It's like his voice couldn't keep up with his mind that obviously wasn't in it's usual composed state. It was apparant that something had happened with Horohoro. But was it good or bad?

"Ren, slow down," Yoh began calmly, despite how nervous he was feeling. "What is it?"

"Y-You guys need to b-be here."

"What happened?"

"Just get over here!" Yoh froze and widened his eyes, silenced for a moment at Ren's sudden outburst.

"...Alright, we're on our way." The bruenette reluctantly replied and hung up.

When Yoh reached the hospital with Faust and Manta, Ren was sitting in a chair in the hallway right outside of Horohoro's room. The male sat unmoving with his shoulders slumped and his eyes on the floor. He didn't even look up to his friends or said a thing to them, when he was the one who rushed them over in the first place. Inside the room Horohoro was surrounded by his doctor and nurses.

He wasn't awake.

The three immediately dreaded the worst when the doctor approached them at the door way. But his words were contrary to their expectations.

"He's going to be ok."

According to what the doctor said, Horohoro showed a sign of improvement in his condition. That sign was a movement in his hand which Ren discovered. He wasn't awake yet but he will be, they were sure of it now. They couldn't tell when exactly but Oversoul had all the time to wait.

Yoh turned his chocolate eyes to Ren again, holding his gaze on the vocalist. Ren didn't seem to notice with his attention concentrated souly on Horohoro. The bruenette still remembered distinctly of how the vocalist was at the hospital. He didn't move from his spot even during the doctor's explaination, nor did he respond to any questions asked by his friends. He just seemed blank to everything. Yoh had Manta and Faust go on ahead inside, then came next to Ren and told him to come too. It was then the Chinese looked up from the ground for the first time since his friends arrived and looked at Yoh.

The mere reminisence of Ren's face pained Yoh. It was as though he was stabbed in the back by some false hope and bled through his eyes, which were bloodshot behind the dark purple bangs. Was he disappointed...or betrayed?

No one knew what happened when Ren was alone with Horohoro yesterday. Yoh already knew that he was probably just as clueless as his friends when he made the phone call. His voice sounded like he didn't even know if he should be scared or not. His friends asked what happened before Ren made the call, or why he was at the hospital so early but the vocalist wouldn't answer anything so they eventually gave up. Yoh was still curious but he didn't intend on forcing it out of him.

But Yoh was also clearly aware of the change he's seen in Ren today. He seems so connected to his concern for the Ainu, much more than ever before. His watchful golden eyes held a warm glow, showing the anticipation and anxiety running within the small figure. Yoh knew that Ren is watching...waiting for those eye lids to open.

"Hey," Ren turned his head to Yoh who called on him. The bruenette had a small smile etched on his face as if to reassure his friend with comfort. "He'll be ok." Ren slightly nodded to Yoh's words, then turned his gaze to Horohoro.

"I know." He quietly said and was silent again. Of course he knew, he was there when the doctor explained yesterday. Just because he didn't respond didn't mean he wasn't listening. It's just...

He thought he was back.

Horohoro didn't wake yesterday, but Ren will keep waiting until he does. One day those eyes will open and Ren will be there when they do. He's finally realized that Horohoro's more than an ex-band member, but one of the very few people he's trusted to be a friend. He's not going to let that easily pass through his fingers again. He won't ignore his best friend again.

OWARI

Daydreamer: Alright i have finally done it. This fic is officially COMPLETED! Yes, I know there was no kiss, or confession of love, not even a hug. The thing is, Horohoro only improved, which means he will live. Just wanted this to be realistic, know what I mean? And I wanted to give this an open ending. Now, I can keep this an open ending, leaving the rest to you readers...or there could be a sequel. In other words, a part two. What'd ya think?
Please review with your opinions and criticism on this story. And also with votes on sequel or no sequel. If there are more votes on a sequel, I can have it out some time in January.

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