God, he was sore. Therapy lasted longer than originally scheduled, but that was more or less his own fault. They were progressing so well that Ken wanted to push the envelope and see how far he could go. And he was too stubborn and had too much pride to allow the mild discomfort that grew steadily into throbbing pain to stop him. And he was very surprised when his therapy coach, Kurogani-san didn't cut the session short when he winced halfway through, as well as near the end.

Still, he was glad to have gone for so long. He was used to rigorous training and lying around in bed did not sit well with him. The dull constant ache shooting up his leg was a welcome change, letting him know he was still alive. Of course trying not to limp down the hall in an openly blatant manner was a whole other issue. Each step was measured and carefully made, one foot in front of the other. So lost in concentration he was ill prepared for the sudden collision with the wall behind him.

"Asshole!" A familiar voice hissed. The word punctuated when the tight hands clutching his shirt pulled him forward only to slam him back into the wall again. "You asshole! I can't believe you! How could you?"

His momentary shock fell away and quickly he schooled his features into an emotionless façade. Not bothering to look at the man who assaulted him, he calmly asked, "How could I what, Kase?"

Disbelieving his own ears, the older man stumbled for words before finally giving up. Hastily he glanced around and spotted a small vacant room. Not wishing to have any interruptions, the taller brunette dragged the other into the little division. In the distance, Ken heard the soft ding of the elevator and sighed. If Kase hadn't shown up he would be on his way up to Aya's room to meet with Ran. He was not pleased with this interruption. Once inside the room, Kase regained his voice, "How could you do that to me after everything we've been through?"

Ken tried to steel himself against the flux of emotion he heard in the question. "For the same reason you brushed me aside so easily."

"Damn it, Ken! I didn't do it to spite you. Don't you realize? I…." A shaky hand ran through cropped hair. "All I want is for you to be safe. And when you were… when I couldn't find you… I – I feared the worst."

As Kase's voice got progressively more choked, Ken could no longer maintain his indifference and anger. He glanced up to look at his long time friend and noticed the tears that trailed down his face. Immediately, he felt a pang of guilt at how much he hurt his friend. "Oh Kase, I didn't mean to upset you. It's just that when you wanted to throw me in to some clinic I was hurt and angry at you. I'm sorry."

Deep brown eyes looked into troubled seas. And suddenly arms were flung around the goalie who returned the embrace. "Oh, Ken, I've missed you. Don't ever do that to me again, I was completely undone until they called and said you were here."

"Called?"

"Yes, when the car I sent to take you to the clinic called me and said you already checked out I immediately began my search for you. I used a couple of contacts and got an address for that Fujimiya person. But when I sent someone to check if you were there, the landlord said he had moved out and didn't leave a forwarding address. I checked back with the hospital and asked if you had scheduled any therapy sessions yet and they said you did. So I asked them to call me the moment you showed up and keep you there until I arrived. I was caught up at work and only managed to get here in time to see you leaving. I'm sorry I just didn't know what else to do."

"You spied on me?"

"What other option did you give me?"

"I would have called you eventually."

"And I was supposed to just sit back and wait? That's rather unfair of you. Do you have any idea what I had to do to set everything up so that they wouldn't know where you were? Not that it totally mattered, they are already wary of your new found friends."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that you should leave them and go to the clinic like I wanted you to."

"And why the hell should I? I don't want to go someplace where the people could care less about me. Aya, Omi and Yoji are my friends and I want to be with them since you won't help me."

"Argh! You have no idea what's going on do you? If you had just listened to me in the first place everything would be fine. No one in the clinic would be in danger because they are so indifferent. Yes they may not be as buddy buddy as your new friends but they would be safe. Right now, all you're doing is endangering their lives. They were already snooping around about your accident and got themselves on the radar. I know Fujimiya has already been told to 'cease and desist.' As of now, you're still considered comatose, but the moment they catch wind of you up and about, not only will you be in danger but those around you too. Do you want your new friends to suffer needlessly?"

A voice echoed in his mind, Others will suffer. He had been warned, but by who? A voice that sounded familiar yet he couldn't see a face nor think of a name. Still he squared his shoulders and looked Kase dead in the eye, "I'll protect them. Aya knows Kendo as well. We would stop them before anyone got hurt."

"Like you stopped them last time?"

"I was taken off guard. I did what I could but it just wasn't enough. I'll be ready for them next time."

"Next time? Ken, you almost died. Next time they just may try and finish what they started. You're still not up to speed, how can you stop them?"

"I will do whatever it takes. They won't take my friends. I won't let them."

"How can say that? You can't always be there to protect them. If you're not careful, they could end up like Tsuki-san."

"What? What happened to Tsuki?"

"You don't know?" Kase sighed then reluctantly continued, "Tsuki was in an accident almost three weeks ago. He was looking into your accident as well, that's the only reason your friends are still ok. The recent activity was blamed on him at first, but when it didn't stop and Fujimiya called one of their hounds he was warned."

"Is Tsuki ok?"

"No, he's alive for the moment. The doctor said if his condition remains stable for the next few days they'll take him out of ICU. They practically put him in the same state as you." Ken tried to absorb the new information. For a moment he recalled how the others had started when he mentioned Tsuki's name a few days ago in the hospital and realized that they knew. He wasn't sure if he should be mad at them or thank them. Kase's soft voice pulled him from his reverie, "That isn't all of it."

"What else could there be?"

"Maybe you should sit down."

"Just tell me damn it!"

"Ken, Yoshi was with him. He didn't make it."

Ken felt like he had just been slapped across the face - hard! He just couldn't believe his ears, Yoshi Fujikawa was dead? The man who had been his idol. The man he aspired to be. He still remembered the first time he met Yoshi years ago when he joined the junior league. Even though Ken was often smiling and cheerful, he had been a very shy boy growing up. This was primarily due to his background, but that all changed when he met Yoshi.

The man had seen something in the youth and unofficially taken Ken under his wing to nourish and encourage. Ken did everything he did and soon the shy boy had broken free of his shell and even flourished in a field of strangers. The brunette had also managed to play with Yoshi in an All-star game at the end of last season, which had been a dream of his. This tight little group of Ken's were in the planning stages of a trip to America in the off season. Ken could only guess that the trip was cancelled following his 'accident.'

Accident? What accident? His wasn't some stupid mishap on his motorcycle as the media claimed. And he was absolutely certain that this wasn't really an accident either.

A wash of emotions coursed through him. At first he was shocked at the news. His thoughts pulling him through grief and heartache and regret. But now his mind wandered down the darker path and started succumbing to an emotion stronger than the rest; anger. The fate that had befallen him was full of ups and downs, but he had accepted the hand dealt him. And the fact that fate decided to frown upon those he cared for as well only made him that much angrier.

Kase waited patiently for Ken to understand and deal with the news but when this frightening transformation came over the younger boy, he worried. Ken's head was bowed, chocolate locks hiding the furious seas beneath. Hands that only moments ago hung limply at his sides were so tight and strained that they trembled. "Ken?"

"those bastards." It could barely be called a whisper, but it held enough venom to make even the older man take a step back. "Those bastards," he hissed louder through clenched teeth. A sharp pain pierced his mind, but he ignored it. "Those Bastards!"

"Ken…."

"They won't get away with this." The pain started in the middle of his forehead and pushed outward.

"They have."

"Not for long." His head began to throb.

"And what can you do? You know better than anyone how they work. They can do whatever they want whenever they want and however they want."

"Not any more." His vision began to blur.

"Don't do this. It won't stop anything. And it won't bring Yoshi back!"

"I don't care. I'll make them pay for everything they've ever done. I'll make them hurt. I'll make them suffer. And then I'll kill them." The thunderous pounding in his ears made it difficult to understand the other soccer player but still he vainly tried to ignore the agony in his mind.

"God, Ken, what the hell's come over you? This isn't like you. Now stop it before it's too late."

"It's already too late. They've taken everything from me. They've threatened and hurt my friends. And I will not let them get away with it any more. They'll pay with their lives. I'll see to that!" He was lightheaded from the pain and force of emotion yet he refused to succumb to the darkness that danced at the edges of his vision.

"No! Don't. This is madness!"

"No! It's jus – tice… It's pay… payment….I – I – ugh!" Ken fell to the ground screaming, clutching his head. His overtaxed body just couldn't hold out against the blazing fire in his mind. Deep blue-green eyes rolled back and the thin form began to convulse. An instant before the blanket of black fell over him, a pale face framed with scarlet strands came into his vision. Weakly he reached out for it but it was all for naught as night descended. And then thankfully, nothing.

"What the hell happened?" Yoji demanded as he entered the room. "Chibi just called and told me you two were here."

Ran glanced over his shoulder for a moment and sighed. "I don't know exactly." He answered flatly. And to be honest, he really didn't know exactly what had caused…. He shuddered at the memory and quickly turned back toward the window seeking calm.

Ken was late. Ran had set his watch to go off when therapy was over as a heads up. But ten minutes later, still no Ken. He started to worry. When it was almost a half-hour later, he couldn't wait any longer. He offered a hasty apology to Aya before heading down to find the brunette. He guessed that Ken failed to notice the time, instead trying to push himself farther. But what he saw when he stepped off the elevator more than surprised him.

Ken was being pulled into a room by some unknown person. Fearing the worst, Ran slipped into predator mode and crept up to the room, readying himself to take out the would-be threat. But as he snuck closer he recognized the pair of bickering voices and frowned. Kase. If asked, he wouldn't be able to answer why he just didn't barge in as soon as he got there. But if he thought about it, he would have to say that he figured this might be the only way to get some answers right now. Ken had clearly been reluctant to reveal anything important at the moment so he had to take what he could get.

He didn't know how long they had been talking before he arrived, but he heard enough to leave him, well, a mixture of things. First and foremost was confusion. He had heard them talk, and they said a lot, but nothing specific. Everything was vague and left no solid leads. What did surprise him was the betrayal he felt at Ken's responses. It was blatantly obvious now that the soccer player knew much more than he was letting on. And all his own advances at trying to piece the puzzle together had been met with such resistance, for them to talk so casually actually hurt.

But that all changed when Ken started screaming. In less than a heartbeat he was by the brunette's side. The sight will be with him forever. Automatically, he had pushed a frantic Kase aside and tried to help Ken. Their eyes met for only an instant before rolling back once more. He kept calling the youth yet nothing seemed to bring Ken back to him.

Some nurses must have heard the commotion because a couple suddenly showed up, one preparing a syringe. Easily taking over the situation, Ran and Kase could only watch helplessly from the sides. The needle punctured Ken's arm and depressed. The drugs instantly took effect and Ken slipped into darkness. The nurses put him on a gurney and brought him here. Everything happened so quickly the whole thing seemed surreal to him. But one quick glance at the still form on the bed confirmed that it was no nightmare.

"Where's Kase?" Yoji's question drew his attention once more.

Turning he frowned. "He left, but he said he would be back tonight." Kase had been freaking out behind him demanding to know what was happening when Ken had his attack. Deeply shaken he announced that he had to leave but he was going to be back tonight no matter what. Ran was not looking forward to the meeting, but that didn't stop him from being anxious about it either. He had questions and it seemed that Kase may be the better source to get them.

"So how's the kid doing?" Yoji jerked his head in the direction of the slumbering brunette.

Ran sighed and his shoulders slumped just a hair. "We're not sure. Even the doctors can't explain what happened. They think it may have been some kind of panic attack but I don't think so. It was….. God, Yoji it was the most frightening thing I've ever seen. They're going to send someone up once he's awake to talk to him. They didn't want to wait for his scheduled appointment tomorrow to figure out what's going on. In the meantime, they're going to keep him overnight for observation."

"Damn. Poor kid's only just gotten out the other day, only to land himself back here for no other reason than a panic attack. He's not gonna be happy when he finds out."

"No he won't be and as much as I wish I could take him out of here, I know this is probably for the best."

"Do you have any idea as to what triggered the attack?"

"All I know is Ken and Kase were talking. Ken said that they would pay for what they did and the next thing I know I'm running into the room because Ken's screaming." Ran wasn't really sure if he should tell Yoji about how Ken was saying he would kill whoever it was that was after him. He knew that most of the claim was due to his emotional reaction to the situation. But for some reason, Ran also believed that Ken meant every word.

"They? Who are they? And what do you mean running into the room? Weren't you already there?"

"I've yet to find out who they are. And no, I wasn't in the room officially."

"So if you weren't in the room then how do you know what they said?" Yoji was intrigued now. He could probably guess how but it was more fun to make the redhead squirm before admitting what he did.

"I was standing outside the room listening."

"So you were eavesdropping?" Yoji smiled at Ran's scowl. "You sly dog, you were! I didn't think you had it in you. So what else did you hear?"

Ran chose to ignore the blonde's comments and get down to the subject at hand. "I found out Ken knows more than he's telling us."

"You didn't know that?" The playboy's tone laden with sarcasm.

"I was hoping he would trust us enough to give us something to go on."

Yoji sat for a few moments mulling over what the redhead had just said before saying, "May I ask you a question?" At Ran's nod, he continued, "How long have you known Ken?"

"About two months."

"And of that time, how long has he been awake?"

"Just over a week."

"So in other words, you've only known him based upon interviews and tv spots for those two months but you never actually spoke with him until about a week ago. You've had time to adjust and start to figure out who Ken was. You feel like you've known him because of everything you did while he was still in the coma. When in reality he's only just met you a week ago. And you expect him to tell you everything the moment he woke up? If I was in his place I wouldn't tell you anything either. I was completely shocked when he agreed to move in with the chibi. That in itself shows he trusts you to some degree already. It's way more than I would have done. He doesn't even know for sure whether or not we're good or bad guys. We do, but can he say for certain? You should be happy with what he has given you."

Ran thought it over for a long while before answering. And when he did it was quiet and thoughtful, "I want him to trust me."

"So do I, but we're going to have to earn it. And that takes time. He's already given us the benefit of the doubt. Let's not screw that up." Yoji decided not to point out that eavesdropping may not be the best way to go, but he felt Ran would figure that out on his own. Still since they did have this new information, why let it go to waste?

"I will do my best."

"Good. Now all we have to do is figure out who they are."

"That is what I've been trying to do for a while now. I have a feeling that Kase knows too. He kept saying that if Ken wasn't careful they would find him and kill him. He even said that we were all in danger just for being with him."

"Then that would explain why he was so adamant about not telling anyone Ken was awake."

"And that is exactly why I said that." The return of a familiar voice said from the doorway. Both men turned to see the now J-league manager entering the room.

w – k – w – k – w – k – w – k

I hope you enjoyed it! As always, please read and review!

s-k – Wow, I can't even begin to express how sorry I am for the delay. My muses have remained ever elusive and so much has happened since my last post to this story. Which I really can't believe was over a year ago.

Yoji – Yeah no kidding. Do you have any idea how hard it is on a person when they don't get any action for that long?

Ken – Shush Yoji. There are other stories out there with you getting plenty.

s-k – No Ken, he's right. And I feel horrible about it. I can only hope that some of my recent activity can build up some writing energy again. It's a new house and I am trying to find a good energy area to write. Along with time too.

Yoji – How can you not find time for us? We should be irresistible!

s-k – You are irresistible, however real life is hardly accommodating for hobbies any more. I'm supposed to be studying for my Series 7. But that's so boring I've been trying to revisit writing and get my imagination going again. With everything that's going on, I can't promise regular posts. You'll just have to bare with me. I will endeavor to get something up for summer. But that's the best I can do.

Ken – Well, if its all you can do, we can handle it. Right guys? . –cricket, cricket– Thanks. That was so unhelpful.

s-k – Don't worry about it Ken, they all have a right to be mad. Still, I appreciate all those out there reading anyway. And I would like to give an extra special thanks to HeatherR for being a beta for me on this chap! I really appreciate it! Also a special thanks to all who have reviewed in the meantime! You guys are the best! . :D Ja mata!