A/N: you guys are probably gonna hate me for saying this…but…LOL I'm sorry…I'd written this chapter back with ch. 1….hahahhaha…don't kill me! but, thanks to a certain reviewer (Skysword) ;) i decided to post this.

Updates updates…let's talk about updates.
so bottom line is Floral Slumber I probably won't be updating for a while.
One Last Time…eh…no excuse. I'm just lazy :3
My Last Hour…hrm…I don't even know. soon, though. i promise. SOON.

~*~ means the next day or a change of scene. ~x*x*x*~ means end/start of chapter or a change in POV. Italicized is a memory/flashback or whispering/mouthing or emphasis xD

~x*x*x*~

Hiro was back behind the bar, leaning against the shelves and the three pirates sat on the stools.

"So, tell me about that blind man."

"I take it these two will be listening as well?"

"Damn straight."

"Alright, then. Where would you like me to begin?"

The shorthaired man spoke, "How'd he lose his sight?"

"Ah, a good place to start. But, before that…I should think I'd like to hear your names."

"Doumeki," the shorthaired one replied.

"Kurogane." The entertainer supplied.

"Captain F. Hendricks. You can call me Rocky."

"Watanabe."

"Well, Watanabe-san. If you'd be so kind…" Rocky trailed off.

Hiro closed his eyes. "Well, he lost his sight due to an unfortunate accident with scalding water. Luckily, I was there with him, and able to assist with the burns. Otherwise, I fear his face would not be so… unmarked."

"That's it?"

Hiro glared icily at Kurogane. "Haven't you learned not to interrupt a story? Anyways, no, that's no 'it'. The water was thrown on him. Deliberately. By an abusive mother—the mother is not his, no, but was the mother of a dear friend of his and mine—she was quite emotionally unstable at the time."

"So what's this guy's name? The blind-man's, I mean." Rocky asked.

Hiro smiled. "Never mention names in a story. Let's call him BM, shall we? BM was at this friend's house, giving her a lunch he'd made for her, when the mother came in and saw us eating. She got angry, grabbed the thermos, and threw it on his face. His injuries were visible for a week, his eyes…well. The doctors were optimistic, but his eyes didn't heal. He went blind. It was a while before we even knew he was blind, though. I apologize, if he was rude to you, but you must be at least a little understanding."

"I am. Is the rumor about his memory true?" Rocky wondered.

"Well, perhaps a little bit. After he went blind, we all helped him around town, and after a while I suppose he just knew the way. He knew his way around when he wasn't blind, after all."

"Hmm…" Rocky sat deep in thought.

"Is that all you wanted to know?"

"About your friend, yes. But now…I need that information."

"I can't tell you anything if I don't know what you need."

Rocky regarded Hiro very carefully. "Can I trust you?"

"I'm good with secrets," came the reply.

"We're looking for some people."

"Like who?"

"A Miss Tsukiko, a Miss Tomoyo, Syaoran's brother, a Mr. Kudo, and the Hunter Brothers."

"Syaoran's brother? I don't think I know a Syaoran."

"Our cabin boy. He's been looking for his twin brother and parents ever since they were separated many years ago."

"What's this boy's last name?"

"Li."

Hiro paled at this. His parents had had that name, but he adorned an alias when his parents died, giving him the fake name.

"H-how old is he?" He said, his voice shaking slightly.

The pirates seemed surprised at the change in personality, but were also excited. They might just have found a lead.

"20."

Hiro exhaled and asked, "When's his birthday?"

"April 1st."

Hiro's eyes widened. Then, he laughed.

"Hot damn. Never thought I'd see the day when those two were reunited."

"You know his brother?" Rocky asked urgently.

"Oh, I know him. So do you. You met him earlier," he told Rocky and laughed.

Rocky looked confused, "Earlier?"

Hiro smirked, "He's the blind man."

Rocky, and the other two men's, eyes bulged out of their sockets. Kurogane (Doumeki smirked) laughed heartily.

"I thought he acted a lot like Syaoran!" Kurogane guffawed.

Rocky was still in shock. "Are you serious?"

"Oh yeah, I'm serious." The tavern-keeper grinned.

"When will he be at the bar again?"

"Who knows? He only comes in once or twice a week."

"I see…" Rocky's face fell.

"He'll probably be in tomorrow, though. He has a tendency of coming in when I'm not watching the place."

"That so?" Rocky said disinterested.

"About this Miss Tomoyo…she wouldn't happen to have long black hair, would she?"

Kurogane snapped to attention and stared Hiro right in the eye. "Yeah. She does."

"In that case…you might want to check out the drugstore across the street. They also have a killer medicine that works wonders on hangovers."

"They still open?" Kurogane wanted to know.

"If you find her, you didn't hear it from me, okay?" Hiro winked.

That was all Kurogane needed and he was out the door, which was locked. Hiro threw him a spare store key. He caught it with ease and when he got the door open he practically sprinted across the street.

Doumeki blinked, "What about Tsukiko-san? Or Kudo?"

"The former is in the same place Tomoyo-chan is. The latter…" Hiro frowned.

"What about Kazahaya?"

Hiro turned to see another dark-haired man coming down the steps.

"Himura!" The captain exclaimed.

"Himura-san…Kudo-kun…" Hiro wrinkled his brow.

"Where is he?" Rikuo demanded.

"Come here. You're going to want to sit down."

Hiro tried to gently explain Kazahaya's condition, but Rikuo refused to believe it. So, Hiro did the only thing he could and gave Rikuo the address to the hospital. Rikuo stared at it with such loathing and disbelief that Hiro pitied him.

"Since you so happened to know every single person we were looking for, I'm assuming you at least know the Hunter Brothers." Rocky inquired, suspicious.

Hiro smirked at that, "I'm afraid they're no longer in that kind of work anymore. You don't have to worry about them chasing you. I'm sure you've at least suspected."

"So then what do they do now?"

"They're in the service industry, and that's all I'm going to tell you. I believe I've helped you more than enough as it is."

"True, I won't pry. Now, Doumeki and I shall head up to bed, I think." The two men left. Hiro, at the last minute, had seen Doumeki's eyes for the first time and was quite shocked. They were gold.

No. It couldn't be, Hiro dismissed the thought. He also had to severely restrain himself. The urge to kick that handsome, stoic face was overwhelming. He was itching to get any sort of emotion on that emotionless mug of his.

When he saw Kurogane come through the door looking thoroughly dissatisfied, he couldn't help himself.

"What's the matter?" He asked barely containing a smile.

Kurogane glared bitterly at him.

"She wasn't there."

"No? Perhaps you should check out that clothing store tomorrow afternoon."

"What?"

Hiro smiled, but didn't say anymore as he walked past Kurogane, who handed the key back to him. And for the second time that night, Hiro locked up.

~x*x*x*~

Rikuo had lain awake the entire night. How could he possibly sleep? The barkeeper told him that Kazahaya was in the hospital, but other than a mention of some sort of "condition"…he really didn't know what was wrong with Kazahaya.

So, at exactly ten o'clock he headed out the door of the tavern, and slowly made his way to the hospital. He should have been thrilled to see Kazahaya again, but he was afraid. Afraid that Kazahaya was comatose…or worse.

Inevitably, he arrived at the reception desk of the hospital.

"I'm looking for a Kazahaya Kudo."

The nurse gave him a sad look.

"Are you a relative or important person?"

"Yes," Rikuo voice cracked with worry, "is he alright?"

The nurse got up from behind the desk.

"If you'll come with me. I'll take you to him."

"Thanks," Rikuo managed.

The nurse led him down a hallway and then another hallway, where she finally stopped in front of a door.

"Take as much time as you need," She said giving him a small, pitying smile.

Rikuo entered the room, now fearing the worst. He took one look at the deathly still body on the bed, and collapsed to the floor. If not for the machines hooked up to Kazahaya…Rikuo would have thought him dead. He wanted to cry.

A doctor came in, and saw the man on the floor. The doctor felt a surge of sympathy as he gained the man's attention.

"Sir…if you don't mind my asking, how are you related to Kudo-san?"

"…uh. Well."

"There's no judgment here."

"Roommate. Comrade. Best friend."

"Where things…intimate…between you two? If not…I'm afraid I can't relay any information…" she explained, patting down her long blonde hair.

Rikuo winced. "We…were intimate…had only just gotten to that…when he disappeared."

The doctor smiled, apologetic. "I see. Kudo-san…went mentally unstable a few months back. He'd been sick at the time, down with pneumonia, I believe. His employer was quite worried."

"His employer?"

"Yes, Hiro-san. That kind gentleman who owns the tavern a few blocks away."

Rikuo immediately felt bitter. He'd get that bastard back eventually.

"What happened?"

"According to Hiro-san, Kudo-san…collapsed and went into a seizure-like state, muttering incoherent things. When he arrived here, the ramblings turned to violence and we were forced to sedate him. When he calmed down…he said something quite troubling…and he's been like this ever since."

"…Troubling…?"

"It sounded like a message of sorts…so before I tell you, can I have your name?"

"Himura. Rikuo Himura."

"Well, Himura-san, his message was addressed to you."

"Me?" Rikuo blinked. He'd thought for sure that…

"He said: 'Sorry Rikuo…looks like I'll disappear after all.'"

Rikuo sat in the chair next to Kazahaya's bed, and put his head in his hands.

The doctor regarded him sadly, and then she left to leave the two in peace.

~x*x*x*~

The captain had all his pirates, albeit a few missing—wait…a few missing? He bellowed.

"WHERE IS KUROGANE AND HIMURA?"

Hiro, back behind the bar again, chuckled.

"Off searching. What, don't tell me you didn't think they go?"

"Keep…" Rocky growled, "You told them something didn't you?"

"I only gave what you paid for: information." The barkeeper shrugged.

"Where. Are. They?"

Hiro sighed. Some pirates were just no fun. "One is down at Piffle Clothing, the other is at the hospital. I suggest you leave the latter alone for a while, though."

"The hospital? Who?"

"Rikuo. And he's visiting."

Rocky gaped. "He…was too late…?"

Hiro turned grim and closed his eyes. "I said to leave him be for awhile, didn't I?"

Doumeki came down the stairs last. Hiro had to resist the urge to yell at the bloody idiot for making his comrades wait. But, if he did that, his whole façade as a tavern owner would crumble to nothing. He also had to try very, very hard not to look at his twin. He couldn't allow himself to be the one who tied him down, not when he'd met so many good people and was free.

"So where ya'll headed this fine morning?" Hiro grinned.

"Repair the ship," One pirate muttered.

Hiro was about to say something when a particularly irritating fellow barged throw the door.

"Barlow," he hissed, "how many times have I told: I never wanna see your face at this bar again."

The Barlow fellow chuckled, "A bit mad, ay? Can't be helped…only natural I s'pose."

Hiro ground his teeth together, his hands clenched into tight fists.

"OUT, Barlow. Now," He snarled.

Barlow, one hand on a wine bottle, raised his hands as if in surrender. He backed up slowly.

"And, Barkeep, watcha gonna do I don't?" Barlow opened his mouth in a sick, twisted smile showing a rotting tooth.

The air around Hiro crackled with magic power. Fai, all the way upstairs, had felt the pulse, was on his feet, down the stairs, and grabbing Hiro's shoulders before you could say "shit".

"Hiro! Hiro-san, please calm down!" and whispered in the owner's ear "your magic is peeling off the glamour spell I put on you."

Hiro immediately relaxed, but was still furious at the man before him.

"Want the kid back? Give me back the glass."

Hiro's eyes widened as comprehension flooded his features. Fai understood instantly as well.

"Barlow…what have you done?"

"The glass, chum. His string could break at any moment." The man smiled evilly.

"Hiro, don't even think about it," Fai warned, "you knew of the sacrifice. Don't waste it."

Hiro gave a sad smile to the blonde. "Before I give it to you, Barlow, release the kid." Hiro sighed weakly.

Barlow harrumphed triumphantly. "I knew you'd see things my way." He waved his hand, a magic circle appearing. He muttered something and the circle broke. "Now. The glass, chum."

"Fai, NOW!" Fai jumped over the counter, cast a spell, and the man was out like a light.

"Thanks, Fai. Also…mind editing his memories, a bit? And…give him an urge," Hiro winked.

Fai smirked. "Send him out of town?"

"You know me so well."

Fai chuckled.

Hiro looked up and saw the group of pirates staring.

"Uhm…well, that's awkward. Hmm explanation…explanation…yeah, I got nothing. You, Fai?"

Fai shook his head.

"You got nothin'? That sure as hell wasn't nothin'!" Rocky yelled.

Hiro winced. "That was Barlow. An evil wizard who'd sacrifice anything to satisfy his own greed, even if that meant killing people."

Rocky sensed he wouldn't get any more details than that.

Hiro came out from behind the bar and set a looking glass in the man's bag.

"It's useless now, anyways. He can't do anymore damage with it. Might as well let him have it," he told Fai.

"Should we seal his powers?"

Hiro groaned, "And be more in debt to Yuuko? I'd rather not."

Fai giggled.

The door to the tavern slammed open. Hiro blinked.

"Shit." Just the person he'd been hoping wouldn't arrive.

"WATANUKI, WHAT DID YOU DO?" Kazahaya screeched.

Hiro grimaced, and stuck a finger in his ear. They really were two peas in pod. Three, if you counted his twin.

"I think you know exactly what I did," Hiro sighed again for the umpteenth time that day.

Kazahaya sizzled. Rikuo was behind him, of course, curious as to what was going on.

"You shouldn't have done it!" Kazahaya argued.

This made Hiro angry. "You really think I'd just leave you to die?"

"IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO!"

"NO! It wasn't! Besides, the creep came crawling back here! That means he broke his side of the deal!" Hiro shouted.

"Did you give it to him?" Kazahaya's voice was suddenly as cold as ice.

Hiro averted his gaze.

"You did, didn't you? WATANUKI!"

"Now, now, Kudo-kun…the glass no longer had power," Fai said, trying to be the mediator, "and we're going to get him to leave. He won't come back this time."

"That's not the point, Fai-san! The point is: you didn't trust me," He glared at Hiro.

"That's not—"

"IT IS! I was so close to severing the source, but you interfered and it pulled me back!"

"YOU WERE DYING, DAMMIT!" Hiro yelled, covering his eyes with a hand.

Kazahaya's back straightened and his eyes widened. "Wh-what?"

"Three months," Hiro whispered, "that's how long you've been asleep. When Himura-san went to see you…you were on the edge. How do you think I felt? Knowing your heart could give out at any second?" Hiro sank into a chair. "I couldn't do it…I couldn't let you die. I'm sorry."

Kazahaya stood there stunned. And then gave a small, gentle smile.

"Thank you."

Hiro snapped his head up, shocked. He hadn't expected to be forgiven so easily. Unbeknownst to him Doumeki had quietly been pondering the situation in the corner. He seemed to be the only one who found something odd about the conversation. He'd said his name was Watanabe, right? So why, then, did Kazahaya call him "Watanuki"?

~x*x*x*~

A/N: oooooohh cliffhanger. tehe :P busted "Hiro"! XD

ehm. well. more dialogue. *sigh* i really need to fix that. chapter three is...eh...it's a work in progress let's just say that shall we?

so ya'll whatcha think? you like you like? REVIEW! ^^

oh~ HAPPY OLYMPICS! WOOOT GO USA! (and Japan because i'm part japanese. not really but all my fangirls out there understand riiiight~?)