A/N: I'm baacckkk! Did you miss me? If not that's okay. But anyway this is the real Chapter 8 for Continuing Existence. I also have to admit an oops note. You may have noticed that in Chapter 7 Satomi's name suddenly changed to Megumi. Oops. I can't figure out how to edit the chapter without completely having to upload a new document, so until I figure out, just mentally replace Megumi with Satomi. The name is back to the original in this chapter. And now the long awaited:

Continuing Existence

Chapter 8

Shining Knight

Takeru leaned into the shadows of the night. The porch light of the apartment was either broken, or the owner hadn't bothered to turn it on. His shoulders were hunched and his hands were dug forcibly into his jean pockets. He knew why he was standing there, but he didn't know what to do with it.

Part of him wanted to scream, to shout, to throw something; which was quite saying something as Takeru was not a violent man. The other part of him knew that the best way to approach this was to talk calmly, but sternly. He tried furiously to keep his psychologist hat on. He was supposed to be caring and understanding.

Music blared from inside the apartment. With a sharp breath and set frown, he knocked on the door.

The door open and Takeru's fist flew before he could stop. Apparently caring and understanding were out of order this evening.

Satomi held his bloody nose and stared incredulously at Takeru. "What the hell!"

"You deserve a hell of a lot more than that!"

Satomi chuckled behind his raised hand. "So the little blonde comes to play big bad protector. I knew there was something between you two."

Takeru's eyes went wide. "You think that is what this is about? You hurt my friend!"

At that point Eric and Rinoka ran up the stairs. "What the hell?" yelled Eric, forgetting his Japanese. He took one look at Satomi's nose and shove Takeru against the wall. "Who the hell are you?"

Takeru took a moment to regain his breath. "I'm Ken's friend."

Eric took a step back. "Ken? Then why the hell are you punching Satomi?"

"He's jealous!" sneered Satomi.

Takeru growled. "You raped my friend!"

Silence.

"Is that true, Satomi?" asked Rinoka quietly.

Satomi glared at Takeru. "He doesn't know what he's talking about. Ken was fine!"

"Is that why I found him traumatized on a park bench? I bet he wasn't here when you woke up?"

"He was scared!"

Eric frowned. "Why would he be scared, Satomi?"

Satomi paused. "He was a virgin. It's just…nerves."

Rinoka looked at Satomi. "The first time can be scary. But I didn't leave the bed of my first time."

Eric turned to Takeru. "Where is Ken?"

Takeru shook his head. "Safe. Recovering."

Eric nodded. "And he told you Satomi raped him?"

"He told me he took advantage of him." Takeru glared at Satomi. "He blamed himself."

Satomi's glare intensified. "He was just playing coy."

Rinoka's hand flew so fast that no one realized she had slapped Satomi until a red mark appeared on his cheek. "You are scum," she said emotionlessly. She spit at his feet and walked away.

Eric looked between Rinoka and Satomi, and eventually ran after the former.

Takeru looked meaningfully at Satomi. "If I ever see you talk to, go near, or even look at Ken, no one will be able to find you." With that he stormed away.

He met up with Eric and Rinoka at the bottom of the stairs. Rinoka leaned against the building with a cigarette to her mouth. "How badly is he hurt?"

Takeru frowned. "Physically he's fine."

Eric shook his head in disbelief. "We should call the cops."

Rinoka snorted. "Right. Because the police are so often on the side of a male victim of rape."

Eric's shoulders slumped. "How about a psychiatrist?"

Takeru shook his head. "He's never been keen of them. But he's in good hands with me and my brother."

"Can we see him?"

Takeru hesitated. "I think…for now he just needs to rest and try and pull himself together. But I'll tell him your waiting for his call when he's ready."

Rinoka flicked her cigarette and put it out with her toes. "Let him know that Satomi is dead to us."

Takeru nodded. "Thank you."

Takeru walked back into his brother's apartment. The TV was on. He walked into the kitchen to find Yamato plop a tea bag into a cup of hot water. "You're back early."

Takeru looked at him blankly.

Yamato turned to him with a raised eyebrow. "What happened to your hand?"

Takeru looked at his hand only to find dried blood on his knuckles. He shrugged. "I had a run-in with an idiot."

"Is it your blood?" Takeru shook his head. "Right on." He walked past him into the living room.

Takeru blinked and shook his head. He still wasn't sure if Yamato was a godsend, or a nutcase. Nevertheless he followed his brother into the living room. Yamato placed the tea on the coffee table, in front of a silent Ken. He stood up and looked at Takeru. "I should get going. Let me know if you need anything."

Takeru nodded.

Yamato looked between Ken and Takeru meaningfully. "I mean anything." With that he grabbed his keys and walked out the door.

Once again Takeru was left completely confused by his brother's words. Deciding to try to decipher them later, Takeru sat down gingerly next to Ken.

Ken jumped and turned to Takeru.

"Sorry," mumbled Takeru.

Ken shook his head. "No I'm sorry. I'm being ridiculous."

Takeru frowned. "Yamato brought you some tea. It's probably chamomile."

Ken nodded and obediently picked up the cup. "Sorry to be such a bother."

Takeru looked at Ken sternly. "You are no bother at all."

Ken looked out the window. It was late. "My parents are probably worried. I should go home."

"Are you sure?"

"No."

Takeru weighed his options. "Why don't you call your parents and let them know you're staying here?"

Ken turned to him, surprised. "You don't mind?"

"Of course not!" The blonde smiled. "You can take my bed, I'll sleep on the couch."

"Oh I couldn't!"

"Don't be ridiculous. I fall asleep in front of the TV all the time." It was a lie, but Takeru considered it was appropriate given the circumstances.

"You're mom—"

"Is out of town."

A look of concern flashed through Ken's eyes.

"My door locks."

Ken sighed. "I trust you." He forced a small smile.

Takeru sat in front of the TV after he had checked—again—to make sure Ken was okay. The raven-haired man had fallen asleep. Some late night game show was on, but Takeru wasn't watching. The unfortunate thing about being a psychology major was that he had learned to overanalyze his own thoughts and emotions.

He was surprised at his actions that night. He was not typically a violent person. There had been moments in his past when he had lashed out in anger. He chuckled to himself as he recalled his most dramatic standoff with Ken. Despite those moments, he had grown to become a generally calm and stable young man. He didn't go around hitting people just because he was angry. Of course this situation was beyond anything he had dealt with before, but his professors would still be disappointed in him. A good psychologist simply did not lose control.

Satomi's accusations and Yamato's…suggestions had also caused Takeru to examine his feelings. He knew he considered Ken a good friend. He knew Ken was a kind and caring person. He knew he missed Ken we he was gone. He knew he was hurt when Ken hadn't talked to him in a while. He knew he felt queasy when he first discovered Ken was seeing someone. Most importantly, he knew he preferred men.

Takeru sighed as he finally admitted to himself that he was, in fact, in love with the man sleeping in the next room. If this had been any other day this revelation would not have been cause for concern. If Takeru had thought Ken was single and available, and everything had been as it was, he would have gradually increased the time they spent together. But Satomi had ruined that.

With a groan Takeru placed his head in his hands. There was nothing he could do. Ken needed a friend, not someone chasing after him. Daisuke couldn't be that friend, and though Rinoka and Eric were obviously on Ken's side, they may serve as too much a reminder of Satomi. Takeru would bury his feelings, and be the friend to Ken no one else could be.

A/N: Okay, it has been a while. It's possible my writing style has changed. I'm sorry if it's not consistent. I also cannot guarantee how soon the next chapter may be up. Hopefully soon. I've got to dust off the old creativity!