Your Sugar Sits Untouched

Dead is the New Alive

After making a couple calls to Nightmare's management Kyo managed to get the address. It was storming and the weather was just horrid and Kyo was absolutely drenched but he didn't care. He wanted to see his new friend again. As if he had another friend he could go to... Kyo had trouble making friends with his obscene personality but that was just for show. The few people who dared to try and be friends with Kyo were quickly run off by Kaoru. Kyo was partially surprised that Hitsugi still had a heartbeat but Kyo knew Kaoru wouldn't lay a hand on anyone else. He had Kyo to take his anger out on. And he only ever wanted Kyo.

Kyo stood at Hitsugi's door wondering if he had the right house. He checked the address once more before knocking.

Hitsugi looked up from the book he was reading at the sound coming from just outside his door. He quickly answered wondering who in hell was visiting him. He was surprised but pleasantly so to see Kyo standing outside his door in the rain. He warmly greeted Kyo, ignoring the too obvious bruises that had already formed on Kyo's exposed skin for the moment.

"Damn, Kyo! How long have you been outside?" Hitsugi asked jokingly. He showed Kyo the bathroom so he could change his clothes. Hitsugi gave him some of his own clothes to wear although they were a bit baggy on Kyo's smaller frame.

Finally the two had settled on Hitsugi's couch each with a steaming cup of Hitsugi's favorite tea. Hitsugi wanted to ask Kyo what happened to Kyo and why he was at his house but he decided to stay quiet until Kyo had warmed up and had some steaming hot tea. Kyo hesitantly took a drink of his tea surprised at how sweet it was. Hitsugi put so much milk and sugar into the tea it hardly tasted like tea anymore. Eventually, after a few moments of silence Hitsugi spoke up.

"Kyo…. Why are you here so late at night?" Hitsugi asked. Kyo tensed and adverted his eyes at the question.

"I… I just felt like visiting. I hope you don't mind." Kyo replied quietly, obviously lying.

"That's fine. But, Kyo, why do you have so many cuts and bruises?" Hitsugi asked.

"I…I… Umm…." Kyo stammered. He considered leaving but the only place left for him to go contained a very pissed off man who would probably beat him for walking out.

"Was it Kaoru?" Kyo very visibley winced at the blunt question. He remained silent under Hitsugi's gaze, by actions answering Hitsugi's question.

Finally Hitsugi gave up. "It's fine Kyo. You don't have to tell me. I apologize for being so nosey." Hitsugi said quietly. Kyo nodded but still avoided making eye contact with the guitarist. "So are you going back home or do you have somewhere to stay for the night?"

"Are you offering for me to stay here?" Kyo questioned.

"Only if you have nowhere else to go." Hitsugi replied in an amused tone, a small smile forming on his lips.

"Then I guess I'm staying here for the night."

Hitsugi smiled and leaned over to hug Kyo. Kyo attempted to dodge the hug but Hitsugi succeeded in wrapping his arms around his warumono friend.

...

The next morning Kyo woke up to the sweet smells of breakfast. He awoke confused, still half asleep, but soon remembered he was in Hitsugi's guest bedroom. Kyo laid back down and relaxed for a little while. He liked the peacefulness of Hitsugi's house. And he definitely liked not waking up in fear of Kaoru's unpredictable emotions.

Only a few short minutes later Kyo froze in fear at the sound of knocking on the apartment door.

Hitsugi answered the door, thinking it odd for someone to knock on his door so early in the morning. Not that Hitsugi ever had very many visitors. When Hitsugi opened the door he almost gasped at the sight of a much taller man at his door. Hitsugi had only seen him once before but he instantly recognized Kaoru. Hitsugi wasn't completely sure of what it was but he knew things between Kaoru and Kyo were far from alright.

"Hello Hitsugi. Is Kyo there?" Kaoru asked getting straight to the point.

"Kyo? No, I haven't seen him since yesterday." Hitsugi answered. Technically he hadn't seen Kyo that day so it wasn't completely a lie.

Kaoru looked past Hitsugi into the house. "Isn't that Kyo's jacket?" Kaoru asked pointing behind Hitsugi.

Hitsugi blushed. "Ehm… No, it's Sakito's." Hitsugi lied, hoping that his blushing made Kaoru assume what was not technically true.

"Okay then, I'll be going. But if you see Kyo do tell me. I'm really worried about him." Kaoru said before leaving. Though the words were only a request the tone of his voice made it sound like a demand.

Hitsugi let out a sigh of relief. He decided it might be a good time to check up on Kyo before he finished making breakfast. He knocked on the door but there was no answer. He opened the door and peaked in. Kyo was nowhere to be seen.

"Kyo?" Hitsugi looked around the room.

"Hitsugi?" A small whisper came from under the bed. Hitsugi leaned down to look under the bed. There he saw Kyo's huddled form.

"Kyo, why are you under the bed?" Hitsugi asked.

"Is Kaoru gone?" Kyo whispered. Hitsugi nodded and Kyo crawled from under the bed. "What did he say? You didn't tell him I was here, did you?" Kyo asked worriedly.

"No, I didn't tell him you are here. He's gone now, it's okay." Hitsugi patted his trembling friend on the back comfortingly. Kyo calmed down a little bit. "Do you want some breakfast?" Hitsugi asked changing the subject. Kyo nodded thankfully and followed Hitsugi into the kitchen.

The reaction Kyo gave to Kaoru's presence at the apartment was more than enough to confirm Hitsugi's fear that something was very wrong between the two men. But Hitsugi said nothing, knowng that the shorter vocalist didn't want to talk about it. At every mention of Kaoru, Hitsugi felt Kyo's suffering as though it were radiating off of him. That was an awful feeling and Hitsugi silently vowed to himself that he would help Kyo in some way no matter how small.

After the two had finished their breakfast Kyo and Hitsugi were cleaning up the plates.

"Kyo…." Hitsugi started. Kyo looked at Hitsugi questioningly. "What's wrong between you and Kaoru?" Hitsugi asked softly as not to scare the vocalist. Kyo looked away and didn't answer. "Kyo, why won't you tell me?"

"Because it's none of your damn business." Kyo muttered angrily, barley loud enough for Hitsugi to hear. Kyo wanted to tell Hitsugi but he was too afraid of how his innocent friend would react. Kyo himself could barely handle all of the shameful things that had happened to him.

"Kyo please tell me? I promise I won't think any less of you." Hitsugi asked hopefully.

"I don't want to talk about it!" Kyo said sternly. Hitsugi saw the obvious torment in Kyo's eyes and as much as he longed to hear the truth of the situation he couldn't stand putting Kyo though this kind of emotional strain.

"Fine but you'll have to tell me eventually. You can't keep hiding these things from me." Hitsugi replied in a calm voice. "Ehm…. Kyo…. What would you say if I asked you to move in with me?"

"I'd say 'are you insane?'" Kyo replied.

"Well obviously things aren't right between you and Kaoru so would you like to stay here with me for a while... What do you say?" Hitsugi asked hopefully.

"It's probably best if you don't get tangled up in things that don't involve you." Kyo's voice was dark and his eyes downcast but Hitsugi wasn't quick to givve up on the situation.

"It already involves me. You showed up at my door as well as Kaoru." Kyo had no reply for this. Hitsugi had cornered him with words. "So will you stay here with me? Please?" Hitsugi asked again.

"Why?"

"Why what, Kyo?"

"Why are you doing all of this?" A moment of silence passed between the two.

"Because you're my friend."

The two men were silent for a long time.

"Fine…. I'll stay here." Hitsugi smiled warmly at Kyo, who only attempted a smile. He silently thanked Hitsugi because in all honesty it was his only real escape available.

"Thank you, Kyo." Hitsugi said smiling, happy to help his friend.