Note: Kanou seems a little…OOC here.

Jeez… I haven't updated this since…last year!? Wah! That makes it sound so old!
…Well! Judging from the last chapter, I think I was going to end it soon. I think I gave away what was going to happen…

Thank you to all who reviewed~!

—Kanou—

The blonde stirred. Slightly, but still enough to make man glance worriedly at him. A moment passed—a moment filled only with the steady beeping of the heart monitor. Then a little sound. Kanou instantly focused on the angelic face, staring intensely.

Blue eyes darted behind the film of skin. Kanou gnawed on his tongue anxiously. C'mon.

Then they opened. Those vividly expressive sapphire orbs looked at every part of the room—the man could have sworn they were purposely avoiding him—before making contact with the only other pair of eyes.

"…Kanou?" Ayase asked, feebly. The voice was a little scratchy, but it sent a huge wave of relief through him. Kanou stood and leaned over the boy, wrapping his arms around the small body.

Ayase whined a little as those hands tucked under him, but silenced when he felt that comforting warmth.

"Feeling better? Are you okay?" He asked hurriedly, pulling back and searching the blonde's face for any traces of pain. Innocent blue eyes looked up at him, looking extremely happy, yet sorrowful.

"Y-you…" Ayase started to say, hiccupping little sobs. Kanou cut him off, burying his face in the blonde's soft skin that protects the jugular.

The man breathed deeply, frowning as he felt emotion making his chest feel…weird? It felt as if his ribs refused to move, even though they did. Like his lungs were resisting the air, but taking it in all the same. It was like everything was working right, but it wasn't. An odd sensation that was new. It wasn't relief, for sure. Maybe a type of it?

"Kanou?" Ayase mumbled after his own chest stopped heaving. "Were you…worried?"

Kanou blinked as he felt the vibrations in the other's throat. Worried? Of course! Why wouldn't he be!? He had nearly lost the little blonde, and it sent that flurry of emotions igniting in his chest. He pulled back, not sure what his facial expression portrayed.

Apparently, it was something that confused Ayase. Shaky, but delicate hands reached up, gently touching the refined face. Kanou closed his eyes at the affectionate contact, feeling almost sleepy. Ayase's fingertips lightly ran over the thin skin over the other's eyes, a loving smile playing across faded pink lips.

Kanou tightened his hug, those emotions seeping into his limbs. Ayase made no sound of pain, his fingers whispering over the tanned skin to twine familiarly in the brown hair, pulling Kanou's head closer.

The brute sighed slightly as his head was pulled down to the blonde's chest. He laid his forehead down, feeling the warmth of the boy through the thin gown and sheet. The comforting heartbeats assuring Kanou, causing his guard to lower.

"Is he—?" A doctor had walked into the room, and then stopped, looking up from the clipboard. "How long has he been awake? Is he feeling okay? Is his temperature down?"

Kanou was a little piqued by the questions, but, even with his anger turned towards the doctor, he didn't release the blonde. Nor did he say anything in reply. How was he supposed to know, in the first place? Well…maybe he should have asked…

"I feel fine," Ayase had said, clearing his throat a little. "Can I just get some water?"

Kanou heard a low murmur, then the sound of someone walking away. Probably a nurse or something, because the doctor spoke up.

"How long have you been awake?" Pause. "Sir, will you please—?"

Ayase made a little squeak, "No! H-he can stay here…"

Kanou's constrictor-like hug loosened ever-so-slightly before disappearing completely. He straightened, reaching down to lightly ruffle the blonde hair.

Then he turned, nodding to the doctor. "Just tell me if anything is wrong."

He obediently walked into the hallway, staring at the floor as he leaned against the wall. Somewhere in his mind, he noticed people walking by, but that awareness was pushed back as his thoughts trailed to Ayase yet again.

The blonde seemed fine; a little dazed, if anything. He hadn't felt too hot…

A pair of feet appearing in front of him brought him back. That was quick. For a split instant, a jolt of something in the pit of his stomach made him tense up. Anxiety spontaneously overwhelmed him as his eyes focused on the doctor's face. It subsided, though, as he examined the relaxed features.

"He's back to normal, just needs to rest a little. He's somewhat dehydrated, but that can easily be fixed," he looked at the papers on the clipboard in his hands. "It says that he has fevers frequently?"

"Yeah." He didn't finish the sentence, because he couldn't tell him why. He really didn't know why himself.

The doctor raised an eyebrow, and then nodded. "He's a little warm still, but it'll probably go away like the rest of the sickness has. He should be able to leave within the next few days."

—Ayase—

The blonde nodded at the information he was given. He was going to leave soon—but they wanted some blood. 'To study' or something along those lines, to see if they could find what was wrong. The blonde had just nodded absent-mindedly, yearning for another hug from his brute. When the doctor left, Kanou came in, flopping down in a chair.

"Better yet?"

"Almost." Ayase sighed.

He shifted forward in the chair, his elbows on his knees, as his hand rubbed his forehead. "Good. I really need—"

"—To wait until I get better." The blonde sent his scolding glare to Kanou, watching as he blinked, then let out a light chuckle. Ayase couldn't help but smile a little at the light-hearted play, proud that he had caught and squelched the opportunity for something 'naughty' to slip out of the other's mouth.

They both hushed until neither made a sound, staring at each other. Ayase was captivated by the strong emotion in Kanou's eyes; the urge to protect, the tinge of anger, the love. The emotions that made him feel as if he were protected, safe from the dangers of the world. He felt a little twinge. He wasn't sure what his own eyes portrayed.

He hoped it was the passion that continued building up in his heart.

Eh? Eh? How was it~?

I starting writing again after a while, so I don't know what I was going to write beforehand. So it might seem off. D:

Ma~ybe it'll fit back into place in the next chapter? c: