A/N: I give up, writing is so hard oh my god. My brain is like dead. And for some reason, school just got 10x busier than last year like the workload just rises exponentially. Great job education system. It's 5 weeks into school and we're already being tested left and right. Don't forget about assignments. T A T Sorry. Stress hurts.

Anyhow, Chapter 12 yay! Somehow, we made it this far. I'm about, ooh, ½ way done with the story? Maybe a little less. This is either a really long one or I'm just really bad at writing. I hit 20k. Like. Wow. Thank you all for all your support and stay lovely. I love you all.

Ayaka settled comfortably next to the futon, drawing languidly from her pipe. A slight smile was etched on her face, but then again, that was her normal temperament. Hiroomi smiled at her.

"Thank you so much for this."

She waved her hand dismissively. "It's fine. It was nothing. I'm just glad you're okay." She turned serious momentarily. "The metal was a little too close to your heart and lungs than I would've liked."

Hiroomi managed a weak smile. "But I'm fine now."

"So. What do you need me for?" She asked matter-of-factly, turning light-hearted again and returning to her pipe.

"Mitsuki said the Beyond the Boundary had resurfaced."

The woman stiffened ever so slightly before relaxing. "Where did you hear that?"

"Mitsuki heard it from Fujima Miroku. And," He continued on, slightly pleading. "Tell me the truth. Please."

Ayaka sighed, setting her pipe down. "Are you sure you want to hear this? It concerns many people…including people you love."

Hiroomi's eyes widened and he contemplated his decision. After a brief pause, he nodded hesitantly, looking up to the woman. "Yes. I want to hear it."

Ayaka scrutinised him for a few seconds and let out a slight exhale. "To tell you this," She started slowly. "I have to start when your sister was 17, 7 years ago."

Hiroomi nodded dumbly. How was Izumi nee-san involved in this?

"When your sister was 17, she dated a boy. I don't know if you remember; you were only 11 and she wasn't that open about it. Anyway, this boy was also a Spirit World Warrior and she was in love with him. I think," She said contemplatively. "He only dated her because of her family standing but that's just my opinion. One day, when he came over to visit Izumi, he somehow stumbled into your family's vaults."

At this, Hiroomi inhaled sharply. "Stumbled? That's impossible."

Ayaka shook her head. "I'm not sure on the details, but that's why it's now under a youmu barrier, and a tricky one at that. Anyhow, he found some information regarding the Beyond the Boundary that was recorded hundreds of years ago. It was, apparently, insignificant information and I doubt your family even knew it existed but he went to the Spirit World Warrior Society and told them that the Nase family was harbouring secret information."

"What?! No!"

Ayaka smiled sadly. "I'm afraid so. Obviously, the Society demanded the information and it was handed over but the Society was still suspicious since they apparently didn't know about the vaults at all. That's how the rift between the Society and the Nase family was born." She shook her head, sighing. "It's all a very tragic misunderstanding."

"And the boy?" Hiroomi demanded sharply, his chest aflame. My family reputation is tarnished because some teenage boy was snooping around our house?!

Ayaka's green eyes rested on him briefly before she shut them. "He was rewarded with a promotion. He's doing quite well right now."

"His name?" Hiroomi started to feel the red-hot anger boil in the pit of his stomach. How dare he.

Ayaka stayed silent.

"Ayaka-san, please." Hiroomi's voice was cold and radiated an intimidating calmness.

She opened her eyes and looked at him square in his eyes. "Don't do anything rash. That's my condition for telling you."

The raven understood her words and tried to push away the blaze in his heart; tried to listen to his cold, hard, safe reason and he nodded.

"His name is Fujima Miroku. I suspect he still thinks there's more information." She added hastily.

Hiroomi gaped. "Him? But…I…what?" His surprise quickly dissipated, leaving only fury in its wake. "So the reason Izumi nee-san is like this is because of him?! The reason our family is in disrepute is because of him?! What he did just so he could…could…" Words failed him. He opened and shut his mouth but nothing came out.

Alarm tinged the youmu's face but she said nothing, letting the boy vent.

"How could he?! I…he…" He said, frustrated. His hands were bunched into fists, so tightly that his nails were on the verge of drawing blood. "He…our family…" He bit his lip angrily. Slamming his fists on the cover he let out a low growl. "Next time I fucking see him will be the last time he sees anything."

"Hiroomi-kun. Remember my condition." She warned quietly.

Gritting his teeth, Hiroomi lowered his head. "…Fine." He said lowly.

"Good. Now please excuse me, I need to tend to Akihito-kun." She said, getting up and shooting him a warning glare.

Something in that sentence niggled at the raven's mind but he was too angry to care. His mind was whirring away at improbable murder schemes for Fujima Miroku. It wasn't until Ayaka-san had shut the door with a quiet click and started padding away before he fully understood.

Akihito…?

Snapping his head towards the door, his eyes were wide and his mind was filled with panic. What happened to Akihito? He pushed himself off of the futon, wincing slightly and stumbled across the room, throwing open the door and crashing into the wall opposite. Ayaka had barely made it down the hallway when she turned around, alarmed.

"Hiroomi-kun?" Her face morphed into stern concern. "What are you doi- Just go back into your room, you need to rest."

Hiroomi straightened himself and ignored her protest. "Where's Akkey?" The world was spinning a little but he balanced himself out and with a hand on the wall, made his way down the hall. Ayaka frowned and her mouth formed a tight line.

"I understand you're worried but honestly you should jus-"

"Where's Akkey?" He repeated, steadier and firmer.

Ayaka was thoroughly displeased. "Go back to bed, you need the rest."

But Hiroomi paid no heed and instead walked over to the next room, opening the door quietly and peeking inside. No one. So he walked on to the next.

"Oh for goodness' sake…he's in that room. But you HAVE to go back to bed after that okay?" She said, gesturing to the room at the end of the corridor.

Hiroomi nodded to the woman, before making his way down the corridor. "Thank you," He said shortly.

He strode down quickly, opening the door before pausing. "…Has anyone else visited?"

Ayaka quirked an eyebrow. "Just Kuriyama-san."

Nodding, he went in. The room was similar to his, the naphtha lamp throwing soft yellow beams of light across the blond, clashing with the white light of the hallway. Akihito was tucked in another futon, his face a picture of contorted confusion and his brows furrowed.

"Akihito…" He whispered quietly. Fear took over his heart. Was he hurt? Was he dead? How did he get here? What happened? Walking quietly across the room, he knelt down next to the blond and watched him intently.

"He's alive you know." Ayaka stood in the doorway, leaning against the door frame. "He's just sleeping."

Hiroomi let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. "What happened?" He asked, still not taking his eyes off the blond's chest, rising and falling.

"I don't know. Kuriyama-san found him on the train, asleep. Except he wouldn't wake up. He still won't."

Hiroomi said nothing and a silence settled. He watched numbly as the blond slept. Was this what he was supposed to feel? A chest-throbbing, bone-aching numbness? Wasn't he supposed to be panicking or something by now? The person he loved was right in front of him, unconscious -maybe never to be conscious again - and all he felt was an ice cold wind blowing through his heart.

"He'll be fine." Ayaka said, softly. "He'll wake up as soon as the Calm is over. This is just because his youmu side is weaker and it's affecting his human side as well."

Hiroomi offered a meek smile. "I hope so." He said, flatly. "Could I…could I have a moment please?"

Ayaka looked at him compassionately. "Yes of course. I'll be in the kitchen if you need anything."

"Thank you." He said, sincerely.

She smiled and left, closing the door behind her.

The room was dark now, only a dim glow from the corner of the room shed any sort of light. The moon was out but it was weak, a sickly blue instead of a bright white. Hiroomi leaned over the Akihito and watched his eyelashes flutter. His soft breathing that told him he was still alive. His blond hair, damp with sweat from the futon and the weather. Breathing in his scent; masculine yet a hint of sweetness about it.

Bending down over the blond, he hesitated a little before placing a chaste kiss on his cheek. Stroking his hair, Hiroomi murmured, "I'll help you. I promise I will. So please, please, stay alive." He felt a little dumb sitting in a darkened room muttering no doubt egotistical things to a boy his age but he didn't care. All he wanted was for Akihito to be back with him, by his side, laughing about glasses and girls and teasing him with mindless banter and pouting with his honey eyes.

"Please stay alive." he whispered. The previous numbness had subsided, leaving a deep ache. A dread that couldn't be bated. He ran the pad of his thumb gently over Akihito's furrowed brows and the blond instinctively relaxed, his face becoming peaceful and Hiroomi swore he saw a slight smile grace his lips. Bending down once more, he leant his forehead against the blond's.

I love you.

Hiroomi kissed his forehead and got up, walking to the door. He looked at the blond again, sleeping peacefully in his bed and shut the door.

A/N: Forehead kisses make my heart flutter. As always, reviews make me happy and stay beautiful lovelies!