Misaki, please be ok. Usagi tried to keep himself from exploding as he sprinted through the lobby of the hospital.

"Hold the elevator!" He screamed at the top of his lungs. A tall individual in a baseball cap put his hand in the doors and Usagi slipped in. "Thank you. Third floor please."

The man nodded and pressed the button. Usagi supported his weight on the railing and panted heavily. The other occupant looked him over with some concern.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine."

A bell dinged and Usagi disembarked. He didn't look back.

344, 344, 344 it should be right around the corner.

He saw Takahiro crumpled in a chair. A young doctor was speaking to him in hushed tones. Usagi had honestly never seen Takahiro look so broken up about anything in their entire time as friends. He tiptoed up to him. Someone watching from the outside might think they had never met before.

Takahiro had a hand clapped over his mouth as though he might vomit. Usagi glanced to the left where Takahiro was looking. A pain shot through his chest. If he was given a million years to write his life story, he would spend 999,999 of them trying to find the words to convey how he felt in this moment.

A sheet of Plexiglas was all the separated him from his worst nightmare. A mangled body he almost didn't recognize lay huddled among the sheets. He looked so tiny. He looked so fragile. Misaki's face had swollen severely. His eyes were shut into two slits. His knuckles and hands were banged up and one sported a bandage. He had tried to fight back.

This is fine. It isn't real. In a moment I'll wake up. I'll roll over and he'll be there. He isn't hurt because this is all a twisted dream.

He blinked and then he blinked again, and again. Each time he reopened his eyes they were still there and his world was still shattering around him. Usagi put an arm around Takahiro protectively and allowed him to sob into his shirt. As tough as it was, he needed to stand up now. He needed to be strong for both brothers.

"I'm a close friend of the family, Takahashi is residing with me. What is his condition?"

"He's stabilized. We gave him a sedative to help him relax through the examinations. Some of them were…" Nowaki cleared his throat diplomatically "…more invasive than others. We've done an x-ray. He does have some broken ribs. They will heal on their own in time. I've prescribed a good painkiller. I would like to keep him over night so we may monitor his condition."

Usagi thought deeply about his options. He looked through the window a second time. The thought of leaving him in a cold unfamiliar place in this state was almost more than he could bear. He should be coming home with me. He should be sleeping in my bed tonight. How else can I protect him? However, if this was what would be best for him, did he have any right to interfere? Usagi helped Takahiro to his feet.

"Would it be alright if we saw him for a moment?"

"Certainly."

Usagi didn't know what hurt him more, standing over Misaki's bedside or watching Takahiro do so. Looking at Misaki's delicate limbs, he wanted to kiss him or hold him close. That way, if something went wrong, he could say he tasted him one last time. He could say he felt him one last time. Something held him back. Was it Takahiro's presence or the way Misaki looked like he would break with just one touch?

"Excuse me?" They turned around in unison. They hadn't heard someone enter. "I'm sorry to startle you." He displayed a badge. "I'm Detective Yukimura. I hate to bother you during this difficult time. I just need a moment to speak with each of you individually. It is critical for our investigation into the incident."

Finally, Nowaki gave the faintest of smiles; I've spent all day thinking about this moment. He was standing outside the door of the apartment he shared with Hiroki. I get to rest. He reached in his pocket and fished out the key. He went to insert it in the lock when his fingers fumbled. Exhaustion was taking over and his dexterity was for shit. The keys clattered to the ground, mocking him with their incessant jangle. Nowaki muttered with uncharacteristic frustration as he stopped to retrieve them.

"For fucks sake..."

Next thing he knew he was laying down. A splitting pain shot through the middle of his head.

"Shit! I'm sorry!"

A blurry form with a face bent over him. He was in a daze and seeing stars.

"Hi-Hiro-san?"

"Crap, your nose is bleeding. Let me get you inside. I'm sorry. I thought I heard you out there so I just... Why were you kneeling in front of the door anyway? Were you trying to get hit or something?" He helped him to his feet. "Come on, let's get you some ice."

"Hiro-san, it's ok."

"No it's not. Yes, you were being stupid by bending over right there where you completely in the way but that doesn't mean I don't care."

Hiroki hustled him instead and shoved a wad of tissues in his direction.

"Hiro-san, about today…wait…are you cooking?"

Hiroki scowled and smacked Nowaki upside the head forgetting his recent injury.

"Yes, I cooked! I made beef yakisoba and rice. Why do you sound so shocked?"

Nowaki's eyes watered but he focused on Hiroki.

"Thank you so much. I am actually starving. Don't you think we should talk about…"

"Well if you're so hungry, go sit down. I'll be in in a moment."

"Alright."

Some issues cannot be pushed.

"That was delicious! Thank you, Hiro-san. You have excellent culinary skills." There was no response. Hiroki prodded a grain of rice on his plate awkwardly. "Hiro-san?"

"Do you think he has a girlfriend?"

"Who?"

"Takahashi-kun. Do you think he has a girlfriend?"

"I'm honestly not sure. I only saw his brother and a housemate of his. No young women showed up looking for him."

"Hmm."

"Out of curiosity, why do you ask?"

Hiroki stood and left the room. When he returned he had a giant shopping bag.

"I got you a few things today."

"Oh?"

Nowaki's eyes grew wider and wider as Hiroki laid out the items on the table one by one.

"So here's some pepper spray. It's a miniature bottle that you can hook on to your key chain. This is a stun gun. It comes with a holster. You can wear it on your belt. It's not exactly street legal so make sure you keep it covered with a jacket or a long shirt. If a police officer starts to frisk you, just…throw it over a fence or something. I don't know. Now these are brass knuckles. I was thinking you could…"

Before Hiroki could continue his rant Nowaki's mouth clamped down over his own.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, Hiro-san but you weren't taking a breath and that was the only way I could think of to stop you. Now, why did you buy all of this for me?"

"I…I"

Hiroki averted his gaze.

"Hiro-san, why did you ask me if Takahashi has a girlfriend?"

"Because…because…today all I could think is that…I could have been her."

"What?"

Nowaki gaped as Hiroki sobbed openly.

"Every night I dig in to my own work. I usually fall asleep on the sofa. And you…you come home so late. I never even stop to wonder if you're…. I never even question what time you get here. I just take your safety for granted. What if it had been you who got hurt? What would I do?"
Nowaki held Hiroki close and stroked his back reassuringly.

"You'd be right there taking care of me."

Hiroki cried even more fiercely.

"I'm….just….so….scared…of….everything…..right….now."

"I know. Please try not to worry. You're going to be ok, Hiro-san, my angel."

Even though he was exhausted Nowaki sat there for a full hour, holding his Hiro.