Kami-chan: Welly well well...ya learn something new everyday I guess.

Kouji: And your lesson for the day is......

Kami: We are not supposed to pierce our own ears!!

Takuya: Really?

Kouji: Would your bleeding ears explain how you acquired this wonderful knowledge?

Kami: Yup!! I decided to give myself a second earring in each ear, and mom kept telling me to take it out and do it again cuz it wasn't even.....and now I have seven holes in one ear...OWCHIES!!!

Kouji: Dumbass.....

Takuya: Kami?? Are you okay??

Kami: You should be more worried about yourself.......

Takuya: And why is this?

Kami: Because of your current predicament in this wonderful little story, hun...

Takuya: Oh yeah.....

Kouji: Eh?? Waitaminute....what situation??

Kami: Ooooohhhh......did I forget to tell Kouji??

Kouji: Did you forget to tell me what?

Takuya: It seems you did, Kami.

Kami: Apparently so...eh heh heh....ehm....Hey, Kouji!! If you do me a favor, I'll tell ya what I forgot to....

Kouji: Let me take a guess at what that favor may be.

Kami: Shoot.

Kouji: The disclaimer?

Kami: WE HAVE A WINNAH!! GIVE 'IM A PRIZE!!!

Kouji: She doesn't own anything, except for this one chapter.....

Kami: Thanx a ton!!! And I really can't tell you right now what I forgot to....

Kouji: And why is this?

Kami: Because I have to tell you in the story, dipshit....

Kouji: Oh.....READ ON FOLKS!!!!

IMPORTANT!!!!: THIS CHAPTER IS DEDICATED TO MY CURRENT B/F AND VERY CLOSE FRIEND. THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED TO HIM, AND NOW HE IS PARALYZED FROM THE WAIST DOWN FOR LIFE!! PLEASE KEEP TIM-TIM IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS!! READ ON!!!!

☺☻

Chapter 4

Hikari no Yume: Dreams of Light

Kamiya nearly dropped her phone as the words floated into her ears. Takuya? In the Hospital? Because of his father? What the fuck? She started shaking as her knees gave way beneath her and she fell to the ground. The only thing that even remotely brought her back to the present was the sound of Takuya's voice through the phone.

"Kami?" He asked. "Are you still there?"

"Y-Yeah, I-I-I'm here Takuya. Do you w-want me to t-tell Kouji for you?" Kami stuttered.

"Please. I really want him up here right now. But if you have a weak stomach, I really would like you to stay at school." Takuya said.

"Wh-wh-wh-why do you say that Takuya?" she asked.

"Well....you'll see when you get here." Takuya said. "But I've gotta go right now. The nurse is about to come in. Bye."

The line went dead. Kam barely found the strength to turn off her cell phone. She tried to stand, but found that she couldn't feel her legs. Then, an idea hit her. She knew Kouji had his cell phone with him in his pocket just in case. She slowly typed him a text message, making a few mistakes here and there along the way. Finally, she had it completed and corrected, and she hit the send button and, leaning back up against the wall, waited for her help to come.

♦♥♣♠

Kouji felt his phone vibrating in his pocket. He pulled it out to reveal that he had a text message. Once he finally got his text message box pulled up, it revealed a text message from Kami:

I am on the southwest emergency exit. I went out to take a call. I can't get up. Please help....I have important news to tell you when you get here, too. –Kamiya

Kouji got up and slipped out the door. He had been going to this school for years, and he knew that they knew he had severe nerve problems. If he ever got paranoid, all he had to do was walk out. Perfect excuse. Now, he walked down the hall towards the emergency exit door. Finally, it was in sight. He pushed the door open once he reached it and found Kami half asleep against the wall. She looked up at him, a slight smile on her face.

"Hey." She muttered.

"Hey." Was his response.

"Glad you showed up. I thought I was going to be stuck here the rest of the day. And I have someplace to be." Kam said.

"So," Kouji began, helping Kam to her feet. "What the important news?"

"Well, um...." Kami stuttered out.

"Yes?" Kouji asked, growing impatient.

"Takuya's in the hospital...." Kam said.

The air around the two felt awkward, and time seemed to stand still. Kouji didn't know whether to break down crying or scream or just take off running down the hall toward the hospital. Instead, he just turned around, tears filling his eyes, and punched the wall behind them as hard as he could.

"DAMMIT!!" Kouji screamed.

Then, he hit his knees, just as Kam had when she had first heard. His head was turned toward the ground, and tears were streaming down his face. Kami knelt beside him and began to rub his back. His chest and back heaved with every breath.

"I knew we shouldn't have let him go back, Kami, I just knew it! But he insisted!! And now you see what happened!! God!! I-I should have seen it coming, I just should have known!!" Kouji cried.

"Kouji..." Kami began. "There's no way either of us could have known that this was going to happen. Trust me, if I had, he wouldn't have gone home, or even to school. But right now, we don't have time to sit here and regret what happened. We need to get to the hospital. Kouji, Takuya said he wanted to see you."

The two stood and slowly walked to the parking lot, where Kami had her Mohawk parked. The two walked in silence, not even looking at one another. Kouji was still crying and Kami was shaking. Soon, they reached her Mohawk. Kami pulled out her two helmets and, handing one to Kouji, hopped on. Kouji strapped his helmet on and hopped on in the passenger seat. The ride went pretty much in silence. Neither one even realized that they had just run out if the school building. The shock had really gotten to them. By the time they pulled up to the hospital, Kouji had stopped crying and Kami had quit shaking. Kami parked the Mohawk, and they climbed out and walked in silence to the hospital door. Kami walked up to the receptionist and asked for Takuya's room number.

"Well, he is in ICU, and unless you have the password I can't let you..." The lady began.

"I believe you can." Kami said, pulling something out of her pocket.

The lady smiled and gave the two his room number. Kouji followed Kami, walking directly behind her. Soon, they reached Takuya's room. With a nervously shaking hand, Kami turned to doorknob and opened the door. Once they entered, Kami paled and her legs threatened to give out under her. Kouji put a hand on her shoulder for support. The two neared the bed. Takuya, or at least, who they thought was Takuya, turned and looked at them.

"Hey." Takuya said.

He had a breathing mask, and his hair was completely messed up. He wasn't wearing a shirt, and there were tubes connected all over his body. Kam's legs were shaking even worse as they reached the bed, and Kouji pulled up a chair. Kami landed in it as she fell backwards. Kouji approached the bedside and grabbed Takuya's hand. It was cold, and bruised.

"Wh-what happened, Takuya?" Kouji asked.

"Nothing really....dad just got a little mad....no problem." Takuya responded.

Kam opened her mouth, but she had apparently lost the ability to speak.

"No, I mean what did he do to you?" Kouji asked.

"Just shot me a few times....it's really no big deal." Takuya said.

At this statement, Kami stood and holding up one finger, made her way to the door. She walked quickly down the hall toward the bathroom. Once there, she threw up all contents of breakfast.

♠♣♥♦

Takuya looked at Kouji once Kam had left the room.

"Is she going to be okay?" he asked.

"She should be." Kouji muttered.

"K-Kouji?" Takuya asked.

Kouji turned toward the brunette. "Yeah, Taku?"

"Why did he do it?" Takuya asked, tear beginning to glisten in his eyes.

"Huh?" Kouji asked.

"Why did he shoot me? I mean, I didn't do anything...He just walked in the room, looked me in the eye, said goodbye, and shot me!!" Takuya said.

"Some people are just like that, Takuya. But you're right, you didn't do anything. He's just a horrible person." Kouji said, running a soft hand through Takuya's hair.

"But I just wanted to get away...I didn't do anything wrong....so why...why me, Kouji?? Why?? And they won't even press charges!! Mom told the cops that I was playing around in the yard with my gun and it bounced off a tree or something and hit me...That it was my fault...MY FAULT!!" Takuya said, tears flowing freely now from his eyes.

Kouji pulled the boy close to him, and kissed his lips lightly.

"You didn't do anything. But I'm going to make sure that you won't go back to that house ever again. This is complete bullshit!!" Kouji whispered.

"But...if I don't go back...where do I stay?" Takuya asked.

"At my apartment." A voice said from the doorway.

Both boys turned to face to doorway. Kami stood against the door frame, halfway smiling.

"I just got a phone call from Yamato. He's coming home!! He'll be living with me for a little bit, but then he's going to have to live in another apartment complex. But he is at least going to let me keep the apartment. And he said that the manager told him to tell me that I can go back home." Kami said.

"That's terrific, Kami." Kouji said. Then, he turned to Takuya. "So, it'd decided. You'll live with Kami. And I'll live with the two of you."

All Takuya did in response was smile brightly.

♠♣♥♦

Two weeks later, Takuya was out of the hospital. Kami smiled brightly at him as they walked out the front doors. Takuya began to walk across the crosswalk, but was stopped by Kami's hand.

"What? Aren't we gonna ride in your Mohawk?" he asked her.

Kami simple shook her head. Suddenly, a black convertible with tinted windows pulled up next to them. The door opened, and a tall blonde stepped out. Kami's eyes lit up as she dropped Takuya's bags and ran to him. She leapt up, her arms wrapping around his neck.

"Yama!!" she cried out.

"Kami!!" Yama cried.

Kouji smiled as he noticed the same engagement ring on Yama's finger that was on Kami's. He wrapped an arm around Takuya's waist and pulled him close when he noticed the crystal tears glistening in Kami's eyes. She was finally happy, and reunited with Yama once again. Suddenly, she released his neck and landed swiftly on her feet, facing the two boys.

"Kou-kun, Taku-chan, this is my fiancée, Yamato Ishida, but you can both call him Yama-kun. Yama, these are my best friends. The dark haired one is Kouji Minamoto, or Kou-kun, and the lighter haired guy is my old buddy from when I used to live here, Takuya Kanbara, or Taku-chan." Kami said.

"Hey," Takuya began. "Aren't you from that band the Teenage Wolves or something like that?"

"Yup! That's my baby!!" Kami said.

Yamato blushed. "Hey, why don't we get going? We still have to get Kouji and Kami's stuff from the Minamoto place, right?" he asked quickly.

Kami laughed. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Kou-kun, did you talk to your parents about moving in with us?" she asked him.

"Yeah. I explained the whole situation to them, and they agreed to let me move in with you, so long as there is an adult there. And I think Yamato qualifies." Kouji said.

"Well then, we'd better get going." Yamato said.

Kami and Takuya nodded happily, and the other two laughed. The four piled into the car and drove to the Minamoto house. Kami bowed and thanked them family for letting her stay there as long as she did. Then, after getting their things, they drove off. Before too long, they had reached the old apartment building. Kami was the first one out of the car. She grabbed her things and clamored up the stairs in her heels. She unlocked the door and swung it open.

"I'M HOME!!" she cried out, running inside.

She ran into her old bedroom and threw her things on the floor as she collapsed on her bed. Taking a deep breath, all the old smells filled her nose. It was great to be back. Yamato walked into the room and leaned against the doorframe. Kami glanced up, then rose to meet him. She leaned into his chest.

"Miss me?" he asked.

"More than you could ever know." Kami said, looking up at him.

She leaned up, and within his embrace, kissed him. Opening her mouth, she began to feel his tongue trace her lip. A light chuckle from the hall interrupted them, and they broke the kiss, glancing at their onlookers.

"Can I help you?" Kami asked.

"Dear Jesus, Kami, you're worse than us!" Kouji said.

Takuya laughed.

"If I show you two to your room, will you leave me the hell alone?" Kami asked.

When the two nodded, Kami held a single finger up to the blonde before exiting the room and walking down the hallway with the two boys. Yamato smiled as Kami and Takuya laughed at something Kouji had said. It looked like he had left her with excellent people to surround her. He was glad she hadn't been too lonely. That was one thing Yamato had been worried about when he left. But now, as he saw her with the two boys, he realized that he had had no reason at all to be worried. Soon, Kami walked back into the room with a smile. She leaned over and grabbed Yamato, then shut the door behind them.

Down the hall, Takuya and Kouji were getting adjusted to their new room. Kami had told them that they could either share a room or the two could both have separate rooms. Of course, they had agreed to share a room.

"It looks like those two are really in love." Takuya said.

"Yeah." Kouji said.

He walked over and grabbed Takuya, pulling the thin but athletic boy close. As he ran a thumb down the boy's cheek, he smiled. When Takuya smiled back, Kouji leaned down and captured his lips. After a moment, he felt a mouth open and he slid his tongue inside. The two tongues danced as the two lovers made their way toward the bed. Before any time had passed, the two were laying on the bed, still kissing. Suddenly, Kouji felt a bit cooler, and he noticed that Takuya had somehow managed to remove his jacket without him noticing. Kouji took this as a sign, and removed Takuya's light shirt. Takuya soon removed Kouji's shirt, and as he felt Kouji removing his, he smiled into the kiss. Suddenly, Kouji broke the kiss and began to trail it down Takuya's now bare neck. The soft kisses traveled down Takuya's chest and stomach, and finally stopped right above his belt. Takuya's breathing hitched as he felt his shorts being unbuttoned. As Kouji began to slide them down his legs, Takuya froze. Memories of the past flooded his vision, and tears began to fall from his eyes. He sat straight up and began screaming.

"Takuya!!" Kouji yelled. "Hey, it's just me!! Snap out of it, baby!!!"

Kamiya rushed into the room, barely managing to pull on her own shirt, and Kouji grabbed the brunette, who was now holding his head and crying. Kamiya approached the bed and wrapped her arms around the boy, too. She was muttering calm words to soothe the boy, but it almost seemed as if it didn't work. Soon, however, he had grown still and quiet in the two's arms. They pulled away just enough to see that he had slipped into an uneasy sleep.

"I'm gonna kill that bastard." Kouji said.

He rose and walked over to pull on his shirt and jacket. Then, he reached into his bag and pulled out a pocket knife.

"Kouji wait!!" Kam said, moving to block the door. "Do you not realize what will happen if you do this? Chances are, he'll shoot you too! And if, by some slim chance, he doesn't manage to get ahold of you first, the police most definitely will!! I know for a fact that the authorities are out looking for where Takuya is hiding!! I had a guy ask me at school if I had seen him. I denied it, but still!! Kouji, he'll know that we're hiding him, and even if he can't figure that out, then they'll get you for murder!! Then you'll never be able to help anyone, because if you're not dead, you'll spend the remainder of your days rotting in a damn prison cell!! Is that really what you want?"

Kouji sighed. He sat on the bed and shook his head slowly. Kami moved to sit down next to him.

"Don't worry about it. He's here now, and none of us will let him get hurt again, ne?" Kami asked.

Kouji nodded, and leaned over to lay his head on Kami's shoulder. Kami ran a hand through the boy's raven hair. She smiled. Soon, Kouji too had drifted into an uneasy sleep. Kami lay the two down next to each other. Then, after kissing them both good night, walked out of the room. She met up with Yamato in the hall after shutting their door. She sighed.

"It looks like it's going to be a really long time before either of their scars heals." Kami said.

Yamato nodded, and Kami fell into his arms, resting her head on his chest, and burying her face in his chest. Her back heaved and her body racked with sobs. Yamato lifted her head and gently licked away her tears. Kami's smile began to come back.

"Hey, how about we stay here and have some alone time to catch up tomorrow? The other two can go ahead and go to school." Yamato said.

Kami smiled. "Yeah, I'd like that. I'd like that a lot."

☺☻

The next day, Kami made sure and saw Takuya and Kouji safely off to school before she ended up turning around and walking back inside to be with Yamato.

"I can't believe that little prick!!" Kami said.

Yamato laughed at Kami's statement. "Which one?"

"Kouji!! That ass made me pay him frickin fifty dollars to get him to take his and Takuya's asses to school and leave us alone!!" Kami spat.

Yamato laughed. Then, he pulled Kamiya into his arms and kissed her neck.

"But we're alone now, right?" Yamato said.

"That we are." Kami replied

Up the road, Takuya and Kouji had almost made it to school. Takuya had not wanted to come after what had happened the night before, but he realized he had almost no choice as Kouji had dragged him out the door in his uniform. He sighed. He may not be able to spend the whole day with Kouji, but he could at least eat with his koi at lunch and then they could walk home together in the afternoon. Then the whole rest of the night was theirs. Takuya smiled at the idea.

Later that day, at lunch, Kouji joined Takuya in his classroom. The two were laughing and talking and acting completely normal. Suddenly, Takuya's mood changed. He looked more serious, and slightly depressed.

"What's wrong?" Kouji asked.

"Kouji?" Takuya asked.

"Yeah? What is it?" Kouji asked.

"Um....Kouji, I'm going back home." Takuya said,

"WHAT?!?!?!?!" Kouji yelled, drawing the attention of half the class. Kouji blushed and lowered his voice. "After what that bastard did to you? You're going back to that?"

"Yeah. Kouji, you don't understand. I have to! If I don't, it'll be twice as bad on mom and Shinya!!" Takuya said.

"Takuya, get a grip!! That man raped you and shot you and beat the shit out of you too many times!! And your mom won't press charges!! That is not a place you need to be!! You need to stay at Kami's apartment with me and Kami and Yamato!! We are a better family to you than those others will ever be!!" Kouji said.

Takuya sighed and hung his head. "I'm sorry, Kouji. I really am, but...Kouji, I'm sorry, but I just have to go back."

Kouji stood. "Well, I'm sorry too, Takuya. I really am. But if you insist on going back......Then this will have to be where we end. I can't deal with all this."

Kouji turned and walked out of the classroom. Takuya's eyes grew wide. He stood and ran after the boy.

"Kouji!! Wait!! Does this mean that....we're finished?" he asked, grabbing Kouji's wrist.

Kouji turned around and glared at him.

"Don't touch me!! You're not my lover anymore!! You can't even be considered my friend!! Don't touch me!! Don't talk to me!! Don't even look at me!!" Kouji yelled.

Then, he turned and walked away. Takuya lost control of his legs, and they slid out from under him. He sat in the hall, yelling after Kouji, but it was no use. Kouji had already put his walls back up. His heart was breaking on the inside, but there was nothing else he could have done. So now, all he could do was walk away and try to block out the sound of a sobbing Takuya.

Kami-chan: I AM SOOSOSOSOSOSOSSOSO SORRY EVERYONE!!!! BUT I HAD TO DO IT!!

Kouji: You broke us up??!?!?!?!?! What were you thinking?!?!?!?!?!

Takuya: WAAAAAAHHHH!!! WHY DID I END UP WITH A BROKEN HEART!??!?!?!?!

Kami-chan: Do you really think I'm the type to let this slide? No worries, everyone!! Something will be done about this!! Please don't forget to review!! Thanx, and I'll see you in the next chapter!!!