Kouji: Well, looks like a new chapter has come to pass.

Takuya: And I miss Kami more with each one....

Kouji: Be concerned for yourself.....

Takuya: Why??

Kouji: Do the disclaimer and I'll tell you....

Takuya: Kami isn't here to own anything. Kouji!! Tell me!!

Kouji: Read the chapter then....

Takuya: KOUJI!!! UR GETTING TO BE AS BAD AS KAMI!!!!

Kouji: Heh heh...what can I say, babe? Read on!!

Chapter 8

Disaster Strikes

Kouji lay awake, staring at the ceiling. He couldn't sleep a wink, and hadn't been able to for a while. School had been giving him trouble, and he was constantly worried about the brunette lover who now lay next to him. It was mid-winter, and the snow was falling slowly outside the window, but still, he lay shirtless in the bed. He suddenly rolled over and faced Takuya, wrapping an arm around him. Takuya stirred, and Kouji cursed for waking the boy up. Takuya's eyes slowly slid shut tight, then opened.

"K-Kouji? What is it??" he muttered sleepily.

The groggy voice made Kouji chuckle, and Takuya began to sit up slowly. He groaned as he sat.

"'S not funny, Kouji!" he muttered, rubbing his eyes.

Kouji sat up next to the boy, and Takuya scooted over to lean his head on Kouji's strong shoulder. Kouji simply wrapped an arm around Takuya and pulled him closer, kissing the top of his head. Then, Takuya turned his head to glance up at the other boy.

"But really Kouji, what's wrong? You've hardly slept for the past week or so." Takuya stated, taking his raven haired companion by surprise.

"How did you know about that?" Kouji asked.

"It's hard not to, Kouji." Takuya said. "It's just this...this feeling I get when you're not holding me in your sleep like you normally do."

Kouji pulled the brunette into a tight hug. He ran a gentle hand through Takuya's soft hair. Takuya mewed into the hold and grasped Kouji tighter.

"Don't worry about me, Takuya. I just can't sleep lately. I'm really not sure why. But it is nothing that you did, so don't worry, okay??" Kouji whispered.

"I know it's not....but I still worry about you, Kouji. I can't help it. You worry most about the people you love, y'know." Takuya said easily.

Kouji smiled and gently brought Takuya back down to lie on the bed next to him. He was still caressing his lover's hair, and he could feel Takuya's breathing slowing down as he started to nod off again.

"Goodnight, Taku." Kouji whispered.

"Mmmhmm...." Takuya whispered back. Then, he was off into the land of dreams once more.

Kouji was lying next to the boy for nearly an hour. He had tried everything he could think of to fall asleep, but nothing was working. Finally, he sighed and began to think back to the old sleepovers Takuya had been to at his house, and occasionally vice versa. One in particular stuck out in his mind before any of the others.

○●○

Kouji lay on the bed with his hands behind him, facing the ceiling. Takuya was sitting in the floor, staring at the raven-haired beauty. He rose from the floor and sat on the bed next to Kouji, looking down at him. Kouji glanced up at him, slightly lifting his head. Takuya blushed and turned his head down to face the bed. Kouji just laughed and leaned a gentle hand over to caress Takuya's face, sitting up.

"What's up, baby?" Kouji asked.

"N-Nothing...why?" Takuya squeaked out.

"No reason, really...Just noticed you were staring. What, am I just," Kouji flashed a "sexy pose" as he called them, leaning back with his hair down, letting his white button up shirt fly open and drape off his shoulders. "too sexy for you?"

Takuya laughed, but as his laughing ceased, he looked at Kouji with a smile. "Yeah...you really are..." Takuya began, leaning over and kissing Kouji's soft lips gently. "Beautiful."

Kouji pulled the boy closer and began to kiss him, a soft smile spreading over his lips. Before the two knew what was happening, hands were feeling all over hair, and kisses were being splayed all over each others' faces. Finally, they stopped for a moment, out of breath. Takuya collapsed on Kouji's chest, and Kouji let the brunette's head rest on his chest, as he ran his fingers through the soft hair. Takuya finally picked his head up and kissed Kouji once more, this time deeply. Takuya's lips parted slowly and Kouji's tongue slipped in gracefully.

Suddenly, as their tongues were battling for "King of the hill", there was a light creak behind them. The two boy's eyes shot open and they stared straight into the face of Kouji's step mom. Both took on the "deer in headlights" expression, but did not break the kiss. Mrs. Minamoto, however, just laughed at their awkward position. Finally, Takuya and Kouji released each other.

"Be more discreet next time, Kouji dear. And be glad your father wasn't home. He surely would have heard that before I did." She said between laughs.

Then, she turned around and left the room, shutting the door behind her and leaving a very stunned young couple sitting on the bed.

●○●

Kouji began to laugh at the old memory. He shook his head and sighed, still smiling. He glanced over at his sleeping koi. Takuya was lying on his stomach, sprawled all over the bed, and he was drooling slightly. Kouji smirked and ruffled the boy's hair. Takuya mumbled something, but didn't awaken. Kouji leaned his head back onto the pillow as he remembered something else. Another memory of another quite funny time.

○●○

The movie was the last thing on the boys' minds during this date. All that mattered was each other and the soft kisses they were sharing. The movie could wait until it arrived on video, but Kouji doubted that they would pay much attention to it then. When it came to Takuya, nothing else really mattered. The brunette meant the world to him and Kouji would have given it to remain in this moment, where there was nothing but sheer Takuya to greet his presence. Kouji still had yet to figure out just how this one brunette boy had managed to break down every one of his well kept walls that had remained in place for so many years, and then go on to capture his heart and steal it for his own. But Kouji loved the boy nonetheless. It was truly amazing to him just how much Takuya had come to mean to him, and he meant more with every kiss, every hug, every touch.

Suddenly, a bright light was shone into their faces, and the kiss was broken as they both stared into the blinding whiteness.

"If you two are going to do that, then the manager would prefer you go somewhere else." The man said to them.

"What?" Kouji spat, glaring at the man with the flashlight who had so rudely interrupted the best moment in the known world.

"We have received some complaints that there is a young male couple who is making quite a bit of noise in this theater, and you match the description." The usher said sternly.

"Oh," Kouji said, the blood rising in his face as he stood up. "So now it's illegal for a nice, happy, couple who is in love to make out during a movie?!?!? What next? Will it be illegal for us to even walk down the street holding hands because it's 'distracting'?!?!"

Takuya was trying his hardest not to laugh at his lover as he too got to his feet and grabbed Kouji's arm.

"Kouji, it's no big deal....I know where we can go and not be disturbed." Takuya muttered with a slight laugh.

"But Takuya, it is a big deal!! This is an infringement on our natural human rights!! Telling us we can't make out during a movie....They're making out too!! You gonna kick them out too?!?!" Kouji yelled, pointing at a blonde girl and her boyfriend sitting three rows in front of them who were currently swapping spit as well.

Takuya doubled over, putting a hand over his face in a desperate attempt to shield his laughter from his infuriated lover. This was the expected reaction from Kouji, so why it was so funny to Takuya was beyond him. Yet it was, and for some reason, he couldn't help but laugh, especially after seeing the utterly baffled look of the usher, who had lowered his flashlight and looked slightly afraid of the thirteen year old in front of him who could have easily passed for fifteen.

"Um...No, sir. There have been no complaints on them, only on you two....so if I could just ask you to leave..." the man stuttered out.

"Who the hell complained about us making out?? Is it because we're guys or is it just the overall concept of a couple who is happier than you making out during a romance movie? GOD!!" Kouji yelled.

He grabbed the hysterical Takuya by the wrist and yanked him out into the aisle.

"C'mon Takuya! We're leaving!! Let's go somewhere where no one will COMPLAIN ABOUT US!!" Kouji spat, glaring at the theater.

And with that, the two left, Kouji angry as all hell, and Takuya doubled over with laughter at the scene the raven haired one had just caused.

●○●

What Kouji remembered overall about that day was not the movie. It wasn't the kisses that were shared during it. It wasn't the horrified look of the usher as he had stormed out, dragging Takuya behind him...For some odd reason, it also wasn't the scene he had caused right in the middle of the movie. It was where Takuya had taken him after they had left. It was the place that Takuya had mentioned to him during his outburst. And to this day, it was the most special place Kouji had ever been.

○●○

"Takuya, can you please take my bandanna off my eyes?" Kouji asked.

"No!! Not yet!! We're almost there, okay?" Takuya said.

Kouji sighed. After the idea of going to the movies for the afternoon had been ruined, Takuya had offered to take Kouji someplace special, someplace they could be alone. Kouji had obliged and followed Takuya, who had taken off Kouji's bandanna and placed it over his eyes. They had been walking for about fifteen minutes by now, and had still not reached Takuya's destination. Finally, Takuya came to a halt and stopped Kouji.

"We're here!" he cried out, yanking off the bandanna.

Kouji stopped breathing at the scene that was displayed before him. They stood on a hill, a rather large one at that, and at the bottom was a view of a lake. The lake seemed to span out forever, because for as far as Kouji looked, there was no shore. The sun was just beginning to set and it reflected off the lake, glittering beautifully in Takuya's eyes. The hill was about thirty feet above the lake, and covered in its entirety in grass.

"What do you think?" Takuya said, interrupting Kouji's thoughts.

Kouji turned around to face his lover and, in one swift motion, pulled Takuya into his arms. Hugging him close, Kouji whispered softly into his lover's ear, "It's beautiful." Takuya blushed and smiled, then softly kissed Kouji.

"I thought so to....it's almost as beautiful as you, ne?" Takuya asked.

"Almost." Kouji joked, and kissed Takuya back.

This was what Kouji had dreamed of his entire life. This was truly the epitome of happiness. Kouji and Takuya softly fell over, still entwined in their kiss, and when they hit the ground, Kouji leaned up a little. He hovered over Takuya for a moment, just staring into his eyes. 'He's beautiful.' Kouji thought, brushing some stray strands of hair away from Takuya's soft, thin face. He knew what he had to do as he leaned down and kissed Takuya tenderly. He lay back down, this time next to his lover, and rolled over to look him in the eyes. The sun was nearly finished setting now, and Kouji was at peace.

"Takuya?" he asked.

"Yeah?" Takuya replied.

"I love you." Kouji said.

"Me too." Takuya whispered in response.

"More than anything else in the world. And I'd give it all up to be with you. Takuya....I want to stay together with you....forever. Let nothing come between us." Kouji whispered, stroking Takuya's cheek softly.

Takuya's breath was gone. A single tear formed in his eye and slowly dripped down his face, only to be quickly wiped away by Kouji's soft finger. He couldn't find the breath to reply that he wanted that and more with Kouji. His mouth wouldn't let him say that he wanted to be with Kouji for forever and beyond. So he did the only thing he could. Takuya nodded and kissed Kouji softly.

The two stayed where they were, lying in the grass under the stars until the time came when they had promised to be back at Kouji's since Takuya was staying there for the night. Kouji wished that they could have stayed where they were under the stars forever, but time wouldn't allow it, and neither would the rest of the world. Fate and time had stepped in and crushed their moment, if only for the night. But they had to leave as much as they didn't want to. As they stood, Kouji took Takuya into his arms once more and uttered one simple word.

"Forever?" he asked.

Takuya nodded. "Forever."

●○●

Kouji smiled at the fond memory and finally lay down. He looked over at the sleeping Takuya once more. Now that things were finally settling down in his life, maybe they could go back to that hill. He looked forward to it. But for now, the only thing he really wanted to do was sleep. He closed his eyes and in no time at all, he was in dreamland. He had only been asleep for about half an hour when there was a loud crash, and Takuya wearily opened his eyes. He glanced around, and his eyes grew wide as the figure, dressed all in black, walked toward him.

"Cooperate," said one, grabbing him and covering his mouth. "And you won't get hurt. Got that?"

Takuya's fear-filled eyes flooded with tears. He was horrified. What had he done to deserve this? The one who had grabbed him lifted him up and pulled him close. Takuya had no clue what to do, other than try and get Kouji's attention. Suddenly, he developed a plan. He opened his mouth and bit down on the man's hand—hard. The man yelped, and uncovered Takuya's mouth.

"KOUJI!! HELP ME!!" Takuya cried out.

The darker haired boy's eyes shot open and he glanced toward where the yelling had been. Suddenly, his eyes fell on the four dark figures that were now making their way toward the open window. The one holding Takuya was almost to the window when Kouji leapt up out of the bed.

"Shit...TAKUYA!!" he yelled.

He dove forward and reached for Takuya's hand, just barely missing it as the man dragged him out the window and onto the balcony. Kouji followed them out, his loose hair flying about in the wild wind as he looked around. They had somehow managed to make it out onto the roof. Kouji attempted to follow them, and jumped up, grabbing the edge of the roof. He finally managed to pull himself halfway up and he grabbed onto a shingle. He attempted to pull himself the rest of the way up when the unthinkable happened. The shingle snapped off, sending him sliding off the roof. 1 Kouji closed his eyes, thinking he would land on the balcony, but that would have been too easy. He missed the balcony by about six inches and cascaded over the rail toward the ground ten stories below. Takuya's eyes grew wide as he watched Kouji's struggle, until he finally slid past the balcony.

"KOUJI!!!" he yelled at the top of his lungs.

Hot tears stung the brunette's eyes. The men dragged him further up the roof and toward a wooden walkway that had been set up between the two buildings. He knew that if Kouji were to even survive the fall, the chances of him coming out of the incident alright were slim to none. Chances were that he would break his back and be paralyzed.

"It's all my fault..." he whispered.

A hand struck the side of Takuya's face, leaving a burning impression.

"Shut it!!" the man spat.

Takuya hung his head and whispered Kouji's name. Meanwhile, there was a loud clattering noise as Kouji managed to grab the edge of the balcony's flooring with one hand. He couldn't reach high enough with his other hand to grab the edge with it as well, so he hung by one hand, praying that his grip wouldn't slip and force him to plummet to certain doom on the pavement below. Suddenly, a figure appeared at the window and reached for his hand that was holding the edge with one hand, grabbing that wrist, and reaching for his flailing hand that grasped nothing with the other. Kouji had yet to find out who it was, but he put all his trust into whoever it was and struggled to get his other hand up. Finally, the two met, and the person pulled Kouji into standing position, then helped him crawl back over the railing and onto the balcony. It was then that Kouji met the person's eyes.

"Yamato!!" he cried out.

"What the hell happened?!" Yamato yelled, crawling back inside the window with Kouji directly behind him.

"Someone broke in!!" Kouji yelled, sitting on the bed.

"Did they take anything?" Yamato asked.

Kouji put his head in his hands and nodded slowly. He did his best to hide the tears that had been threatening to fall since he slid from the edge of the roof. Then, he whispered what had been taken to Yamato.

"They took Takuya."

Those words were Kouji's breaking point. Somehow, his sanity had managed to survive thus far. It had endured Takuya's beating, the revelation of Takuya's home situation, the shooting, kidnapping the boy themselves and bringing him here, meeting Kamiya, having her live with him at two different residences, and then having her leave. But now that this had happened, it was all too much, and the weight of the realization that here, he was powerless, finally sunk in. It had all finally broken him. And now, Kouji did the only thing he could. He broke down and cried.

◘◙

Yamato: Well......here is the current situation. Takuya's been kidnapped, Kamiya probably won't come back, and Kouji has broken. Wonderful. Please read and review so maybe this situation can get a little bit better........

1 (Kami, as the author) actually did this right before Christmas.....fell off the roof that is, by trying to grab a shingle....those aren't very reliable, and I will never try and put up Christmas lights again.....Anywayz, don't forget to R and R!!