The next few days seemed like a blur. Kagami was starting to feel stronger every day and he'd even gotten to the point where he was able to join Jyuka for breakfast downstairs without feeling faint. Tendou had, somehow or other, brought him some clothes from his apartment. Kagami wasn't sure how he felt about that, but also hoped that the guy hadn't looked in his refrigerator. By now his leftovers had probably achieved sentience and were forming a community in the icebox. At least it had been clean the last time he'd seen it. Not that he'd been in it to mess it up lately, usually dozing off in one of the chairs in Tadokoro-san's van or passing out for a bit on a cot in the ZECT building. Hmm…it was probably dusty though…

…And since when was he so concerned about what Tendou thought about his apartment?

Kagami rubbed his eyes. It was the cabin fever. That must be it. He was going crazy. He'd already called Misaki-san a few times to see how she and Tadokoro-san were doing. After she had told him, in a slightly firm voice, that the Worm attacks were "under control" he'd resigned himself to waiting.

So he called the restaurant. Hiyori had answered the first time, Yumi-san chirping her well-wishes in the background.

"How's the restaurant lately?"

"It's been busy. We're short on people. Hurry up and get better so you can bus the tables." She'd said it in her usually matter-of-factly tone but Kagami still smiled at her well-wishing. But then she'd been called away to cook something and he suddenly found himself chatting with Yumi-san.

"Hello, Kagami! I hope you are feeling much better! You sounded so terrible the last time we talked!"

"Ah, thank you, Yumi-san. I'm sorry you're short-handed"

"Don't worry, don't worry! We're handling things just fine! Tendou-san even helps from time to time! Isn't that nice of him?"

"Oh…does he help out a lot?"

"To tell the truth, he hasn't been by as often as usual! I wonder if he's busy doing something? He always looks so grumpy when he shows up too! " She giggled, "I wonder if he comes because Hiyori-chan's cooking cheers him up? Oh! Tendou-san! What good timing!"

Kagami almost dropped the phone in shock.

"Yo."

"A-ah. Hello, Tendou…" This felt…awkward.

"Is there something wrong?"

"No…I was just calling-"

"Even if you have a lot of free time, it's not all right to bother people during their busiest hours"

"It wasn't…!" What was with that tone? Even if it was true they were busiest during lunch time…He was about to tell Tendou off when he heard the sound of the phone being hung up.

"OI!" He stared at his cell phone for a moment in slack-jawed amazement at Tendou's…rudeness.

"That…that guy!" Even if it was true he was probably interrupting them when they were busy and short-handed…that didn't mean he had to be scolded, did he?

Is there something wrong?

Kagami paused in his seething. The tone of voice Tendou had used then…it had been quiet, concerned. Completely different to how he said the next sentence. Leaning back thoughtfully, Kagami pondered this. Yumi-san had said Tendou had seemed stressed lately. Perhaps he had thought Kagami had been looking for him? Maybe he thought Kagami had been about to report a Worm attack and then been annoyed to find it was a "just for fun" call. Well…

He still didn't have to be so rude about it! Why was it Tendou turned up his charm for other people and not him? He didn't think he'd ever done anything to get into Tendou's personal taunt list, yet he was fairly certain he got the brunt of the guy's teasing. Sighing as he once again tried to analyze Tendou's character he almost dropped his phone when it rang. Half expecting (or hoping) it was from the restaurant, Kagami was surprised to hear a different voice entirely.

"Kagami-kun. We need you down here. Can you fight?" He could hear shouts and crashing noises over the phone.

Less than a minute later, Kagami was out the door, mentally calling Gatack Zector to his side.

The fight was nearby, luckily. It was over in a manner of minutes as well. And no victims. Leaning back against a lamp post, Kagami enjoyed the semi-burn in his muscles.

He was exhausted, but in a good way. It felt good to get some decent exercise. But it was getting late. The sun was already setting.

Looking around him, he realized with a shock that the fight had carried him to the place he had last seen his brother alive.

No. Not his brother. But the Worm that had stolen his brother's identity.

Releasing Gatack Zector, Kagami watched a bit wistfully as if flew off to wherever it went in between fights. Limping over to a bench, he sat down. That spot over there…had been the last time he'd seen his brother's face.

It seemed…like it had happened years ago. He'd been a different person back then. He'd been unable to do anything but watch Tendou avenging his brother's memory. It was then that he'd vowed to surpass the man who walked the path of Heaven. Sighing, Kagami leaned his head to look at the sky.

He'd been…very unfair that time. It was wrong of him to have been upset with Tendou for telling ZECT about Ryou. He…had always known that it was likely the Ryou he'd encountered was a Worm. But…but…Kagami slumped down, scrubbing his face with his hands.

It had felt as if he had been betrayed. He'd been hurt emotionally and…it was like…Tendou had exposed his most painful wound to the rest of the world.

The Worm…weren't Kagami's personal problem. Even if Ryou was a Worm…it was Kagami's prerogative to deal with him. Something he felt he had to deal with alone…at least for closure's sake. So he had gone alone to meet with Ryou at the park.

He didn't think he'd felt anything worse than the moment he watched the smiling form of his brother mutate into a monster.

And then, the monster had offered Kagami to his…its…comrades.

Tendou had saved him then. Coming out of nowhere to fight the battle he didn't have the strength to fight.

But…he'd also risked himself…giving Kagami time enough… to force himself to come to terms. Waited for Kagami…to say it was all right to destroy the last living memory of Ryou.

But then…as long as Kagami was alive…a part of his little brother would never disappear. Tendou had made him realize that as well.

"Yo."

Kagami…sat straight up. He was…only half-surprised Tendou was there. Maybe he was getting better at predicting his ways. But then, Tendou wasn't very far when there were Worm attacks.

"Yo." Kagami responded, in the same tone. Tendou looked at him for a moment, the light from the lamp post illuminating half his face.

"Come. It's getting dark. I'll give you a ride back."

Kagami hesitated.

"Can…it wait a little?" He didn't know why he suddenly wanted to watch the sun set but…

Tendou looked at him again, before quietly walking over and taking a seat next to him on the bench. If he recognized the area, he didn't mention it. They both watched the sun sink down over the horizon in silence. Kagami sighed to himself. Sunsets always felt like a goodbye to him. Like the light got chased away by the darkness.

"Obaachan said…"

Kagami turned to look at Tendou who was still looking towards the sun.

"…even in the darkest night, the stars are always shining."

Tendou's finger was held up a little straighter than his usual pose, and Kagami eyes subconsciously looked toward the direction it was pointed in.

In the dark patch of sky above them, the stars were beautiful.

"…Yeah…" Kagami responded softly, in agreement.

And without another word or look to Kagami, Tendou stood up and started to walk away from the bench. He finally turned back to him when he was a few feet away, waiting.

Standing, Kagami followed him. There wasn't any real reason to linger here, anymore.

Looking around one last time…Kagami realized he no longer felt sad. Tendou…was usually good at ruining bad moods with his random sayings. Chuckling at that thought, he walked behind Tendou towards his bike.

"So, I hear I work for a security company doing advisory work?" Oops. Apparently Tendou had been talking to Dr. Hirofumi.

"Ah! Well, that is…I mean…"

Kagami was interrupted in his explanation by something ramming into his back. Knocked to the ground, he looked up to see dozens of people standing around them in a circle.

With various clicks, growls and moans, their forms warped and twisted.

They were surrounded.