Beep.

What was that sound?

Beep. Beep.

It's consistent. I opened my eyes slowly to stare at unfamiliar white walls. Mm? Where am I?

Don't worry, it'll all end soon.

Oh! I bolted upwards and cried out in pain, falling right back down.

"Dante! Be careful! You're not completely healed yet!" Maria rushed to my side. I looked at her.

"What happened?" I asked. I winced. It hurt to talk so my question came out more like whuh habendah? She frowned and brushed the hair out of my face.

"That what I want to know…" She brushed my forehead. I noticed I was covered in bandages, including my forehead. One guy was stomping on my head, right? Or was he kicking? I think he did both, it's very vague when you're being injured in many different ways at once. "We were called after being notified that you were being hospitalized. You've suffered from many puncture wounds and a broken rib cage and jaw. So you shouldn't be talking. There are a few more problems as well, so they're going to do surgery on you. I wonder how we're going to get the money for the hospital bills though…"

That's when I realized that I haven't been working lately. I've been too busy with the family events. Also, Alfred's income might not last us. A family of four with one in the hospital and only one that works as a secretary in a school. Er… That's going to be a rocky road. I frowned.

"I'm soweh (I'm sorry)," I murmured quietly, my eyes downcast. Maria stroked my head and hair.

"It's okay Dante… We'll find a way." She gave me a sad smile.

--

"So this is where you've been." It was a voice. I didn't recognize it, but it felt so familiar… I lay unmoving on the hospital bed. "I've missed you… So much…" Who was it…?

My eyes fluttered open when a hand brushed tenderly across my cheek. I gazed up at a man that looked so familiar, though I couldn't pinpoint where I remembered him from…

"Dante…," He whispered. I gazed at him. He had black hair like me, almost tinted raven. His eyes were sharp and alluring. Who was he?

"Who…?" I couldn't really speak.

"Don't talk… Your jaw's still healing. It's okay, I'll do the talking," He said, taking a seat in the chair beside the bed. He took my hand and squeezed it gently. "I haven't seen you in so long… You've grown so much…" His eyes looked filled with happiness and sorrow at the same time. Strong, yet at any time, could break down. "My name is Talon. Asakura Talon."

My eyes widened and I looked at him in shock. Same surname as mine?

"I'm your brother." His hand squeezed mine gently again. My lip trembled. I had a brother?

"Dante! Stop getting yourself into mischief!"

"It's dangerous, so don't go there!"

"Mom's not coming back… She's just like the rest of them."

"Bro…ther…?" I said that with just disbelief.

"Nii-chan… It hurts… Fratello…"

"I still remember you when you were very tiny…" He pulled out a necklace with gold rectangular case. There was a beautiful design of a rose on the front. He opened it and inside was a photo. It was a photo of Dante and a boy. "That's you…" He pointed at me. "And that's me." He pointed at the other boy. I blinked and looked carefully at it. He smiled softly and slipped the locket off and handed it to me.

I held it tenderly and looked at the photo. We were wearing quite formal clothing. I wrote a beautiful looking dress with a hair flower ornament. Talon wore a tuxedo with a strange crest pinned to his coat's jacket. We were both grinning and smiling, it looked like such a peaceful and lovely memory…

"Okay, you can be the principessa." A laugh. "I'll be the principe!"

Tears were welling up in my eyes as I slowly remembered our shared memories. This man… Really was my brother.

"Dante… Ti amo."

My eyes slid closed.