Chapter 4

( A.N: Crappy program. )

"Excuse me, what's the strongest thing you got for a headache?"

"Well this one seems to be helping a lot of people...It's got painkiller kind of healing to it..." The cashier said, pulling a bottle out from a shelf under her desk.

"I'll take two of those bottles. A friend of mine could really use this, but he didn't want to go out to get it."

"That sure is nice of you, helping him out like that..." She commented, grabbing another bottle, ringing in the price, and then bagging the bottles. Dearka paid for it, and walked out the door into the afternoon sun. Yzak would be fine for a while yet. There was plenty of medicine in the kitchen. He was in no hurry to get home. He put the small plastic, shopping bag in his bag on his back.

Yzak was hurting himself...Because of him. He'd ripped open a scar that would never properly heal. He'd wrapped it poorly. He was suffering. He was in too much pain. Dearka sighed. He was to blame for Yzak's hurt.

--

Yzak was lying on his bed, with Kiro curled up, sleeping, against his chest, a blanket pulled over him. He had one hand on him, to make sure he didn't fall.

"You really are a weird kid. First you're scared to death of me. Then, you come into my room, and fall asleep," Yzak said quietly to the sleeping two year old.

He looked to his bedside table. The picture still sat there. Dearka, with his arm around Yzak's waist, smiling while looking at Yzak. Yzak, scowling, facing away, and looking rather flustered That had been before Dearka had suddenly taken off on him.

A thunderous rapping sounded at his door, and he moved his blankets back off the small boy. Carefully, he walked over to his bedroom door, and opened it. He was met with very confused, emerald green eyes.

"He forced me to pick him up. I brought him with me because I wasn't ready to face you guys. And he fell asleep."

"...Thanks, for watching over him."

"Yeah, yeah. Just take him before he wakes up." Yzak stretched the child towards Athrun, who took his nephew, and held him against him. The boy had to move for a moment to adjust to the new body holding him. He had apparently been comfortable.

"Has he come back yet?"

"Not yet...We've been panicking about Kiro disappearing for the past three hours, and Dearka hasn't come back since he left. He'll have to come home soon though...It looks like it's gonna rain...Maybe storm..."

Yzak nodded,

"You should probably let the others know you found the kid."

Athrun understood what was being asked of him, and left.

( A.N: Hate to leave you here, but work is summoning me -- )