Dlbn: Okay, everyone, so chapter two was MEANT to have been posted days ago. I uploaded the chapter BUT forgot to actually update the fic, since I was swarmed by finals and overwhelmed.

Nbld: So this chapter was meant for today and I figured I'd still post it. Two chapters in one day isn't TOO bad right?

Dlbn: There's another one scheduled for tomorrow or I'd just hold this off until then.

Nbld: Mostly because we've got a lot to cover before Christmas Day when this is meant to be finished (and another Christmas fic posted), and a whole new one for Ritsuka's birthday tomorrow (the 21st) as well.

Dlbn: Should have started posting this sooner.

Nbld: Your fault. Anyway, since there's no Review Corner this chapter, we'll just get started.

000

Heated touches and desperate kisses had begun being exchanged a little over an hour ago. A little over an hour ago they were still virgins, still retained their juvenile neko ears and tails. But now, as their bodies untangled and they melded together with sleep encasing their minds, Asitai and Mirai snuggled together under the blankets, in the darkness where no one could see them. This was it, their last night as an inactive unit. Tomorrow, they'd meet up with Minami and the others at the train station in Tokyo. Tomorrow they'd get their assignments as they traveled their eight and a half hours to Gora to deal with Septimal Moon. Tomorrow they'd take down the organization that was meant to govern their lives, but tore it all apart with two words; "you're expelled". Tomorrow, they'd become killers. The hours were moving too quickly and the next day was rapidly approaching, even as the lovers snuggled together with the clock next to them blinking and reminding them that they had about four hours for it to still be today; for them to still be innocent and have their hands clean of blood. If they were to go out tomorrow, they were to go into tomorrow with a bang tonight. Neither would have believed that at ages eighteen and sixteen, they'd be recruited into the biggest uprising their generation had seen. Sure, other revolutionists had tried to take down Septimal moon and failed, but they'd give it their best shot. If they won, not only would they take over their entire world and rule it better than the current Septimal Moon did, but they'd go down in history; the first uprising against the second Septimal Moon to win and overthrow it. This current Septimal moon had done the same to the last under the leadership of Minami's father…ironic how history was about to repeat itself.

"It's almost over…" Asitai muttered into Mirai's chest. "Only a few more hours and we'll be in Gora…fighting for our lives…"

"Try not to think about it. I know that seems impossible, since it's the biggest day of our lives…but try not to, alright?" Mirai ran his fingers through shoulder length red hair.

"I guess…" Asitai sighed. "I'm just nervous, I guess…"

"I am, too." Mirai admitted. "Hey, tell you what? I'll give you something to look forward to once we win. So you can keep your mind on that, alright?"

"Oh…? What is it…?"

"When we survive these battles and overthrow Septimal Moon…"

"Hai…?"

Mirai pulled him close. "I'll put a ring on that finger of yours." He whispered against the redhead's pale lips.

"Mph!" Asitai tried to reply, but his words were stolen by his boyfriend's lips.

They parted.

"You…you can't be serious…"

"I am." Mirai ran his fingers through fire red locks. "I love you, Tai, and I'm more than willing to spend my life with you. And don't give me that whole 'sixteen, life ahead of you' nonsense speech, 'cause I know you'd say yes."

"Of course I would…once you're legal…" Asitai muttered. "I could go to jail for this, you know." He pointed to his lack of ears.

"I'm aware." Mirai stated. "And I'd hate to think what they'd do to you in prison…I'm not sure you'd survive."

"Oh…?"

"Mm. Pretty sure you'd be quite irresistible."

"I'm irresistible to you, clearly." Asitai pointed out.

"True." Mirai muttered. "But with all those guys there, I'd hate to think you'd never be able to walk again…"

"I just hope I'm able to walk tomorrow…" Asitai smirked. "Should have done this last night…"

Mirai laughed, throwing an arm over his eyes. "Kunugi Asitai, you're one of a kind, you know that?"

"Good. I'd hate to see what two of me could do to the world."

"I'd hate to see what two of you could do to me." Mirai replied. "I don't think I'd survive…"

"Hentai." Asitai complained, pressing a gentle kiss to soft pink lips.

"Hey, you're the bottom." Mirai muttered. "I can only imagine having to please two of you like that."

Asitai flipped himself onto his Fighter, holding himself up by his arms. He tucked some stray hair behind his left ear.

"It would kind of be like pleasing me twice in one night…" Asitai kissed down the younger's neck. "Would you like to see if you can handle it…?"

Mirai smirked, craning his neck to give the redhead more access to his flesh. He placed a gentle, yet firm swat on the redhead's rear, making him yelp.

"Don't mind if I do."

000

Asitai smiled. That night had been one of the best in his lifetime, just alongside meeting Mirai for the first time, the moment he first told Mirai he loved him, and their first kiss.

He wondered if Mirai remembered any of it. Maybe when he'd wake up, he'd have no idea who Asitai was, let alone all the wondrous moments they spent together. He shuddered to think that like Ritsuka had easily lost ten years' worth of memory, Mirai could easily lose almost thirty. He liked to think the brunette was having dreams of him, dreams of them, while he was out. Oh, what he'd give to be inside Mirai's mind and see what his mind saw, heard what his dreams told him… Asitai ran his fingers through Mirai's hair. He might as well do his vitals so the secretary that woke him up wouldn't tease him for slacking off tomorrow.

He grabbed a blood pressure cuff from the wall and attached it to Mirai's arm. Putting a stethoscope just outside the cuff, he inflated it. He went through the motions as he noted on the clipboard near the foot of Mirai's bed the numbers that said he wasn't improving not worsening in his condition. It was good news, but bad at the same time. Asitai grabbed his wrist and placed two fingers where his pulse was. Normally he felt a dull, barely registering thrum under the skin. What he felt now was a thick, harsh pounding against his fingers. He blinked in confusion, making sure his thumb wasn't in the way, and tried again. The same response greeted him. But that was impossible. His blood pressure hadn't changed, staying in a comfortable range, but his pulse was quickening. Was he having a reaction to Asitai's touch that he hadn't to the cold feeling of the medical equipment?

Asitai trailed his eyes down to his lover's limp fingers.

"Mirai…?" He wondered. "Baby…can you hear me…?" He ran a hand through the brown hair again. "If you can hear me…give me a sign…"

He got no response.

"Figures…" He muttered.

The heart monitor beeped and extra beep this round.

"Rai…?" He was surprised.

What was happening? Was he okay? Should he call for a crash cart? Hastily Asitai grabbed the stethoscope and listened to the thumping of the blue eyed man's heart through the flimsy blue hospital gown he wore. His fingers found the blood pressure cuff and he slipped it back onto Mirai's arm that he still held, putting the stethoscope back and inflating the band. He checked the chart once it had deflated and noted his blood pressure was rising steadily. This was unheard of! It had been twenty-seven years since anything about Mirai's condition had changed, and the last change had been when his sixteen-year-old eyes slipped closed for the last time. Why now? Why today? The machine connected to the breathing tube sped up slightly. His basic doctoral instincts flew out the coop as he ignored the urge to press a nurse call button. Nothing necessarily bad was happening, but this meant that Mirai's condition was improving. That had never happened before. Not after the doctors of this hospital had stabilized him twenty-seven years ago.

000

"Please, I need help!" Eighteen-year-old Asitai called into an almost empty ER waiting room. "He's not waking up! Please!

One nurse behind the counter flew through the door and tried to assist while the other called a doctor before joining. Three more nurses and two doctors rushed out into the Gora General Hospital's waiting room. A female doctor gently pried Asitai off his fallen boyfriend as they put him on a wheeled table and moved him into the ER.

"Son, calm down." She ordered gently. "You can't help your friend like this."

"How do you expect me to calm down?" Asitai hissed through gritted teeth. "He isn't moving. He isn't talking, he isn't even looking at anything…!"

"I understand this must be hard to see him like this, but I need some information about him."

"Shenai Mirai, age sixteen, April 5th, 1959, blue eyes, brown hair, normally talkative and full of energy, not half dead!" Asitai prattled off. "What more do you want to know?"

"Does he have any allergies? Take any medications?"

"No and no."

"Blood type?"

"A positive, I'm pretty certain."

"We can check that later on." She nodded. "Any medical history?"

"He had a cold when he was nine, the flu twice, and a sinus infection last spring." Asitai stated. "If you mean anything major like cancer, then no. he's mostly pretty healthy, other than minor episodes of illness."

"Any history of fainting or seizures?

"None that I know of."

"Any idea how this happened?"

"We were taking a hike and I don't know, he just collapsed without warning."

He left out the part about spell battles. She'd never believe that.

"He's got a few scrapes and a cut from falling, but other than that, he's fine. I don't know if he hit his head or if he was out before he hit the ground. I was looking at a couple butterflies I found, I wasn't really watching him…I should have been watching him…" Asitai put his head in his hands, yanking on the bright red locks. "God damn it; I should have kept a better eye on him! I could've caught him before he fell…"

"Son, this isn't your fault. What's your name, hon?"

"Kunugi. Kunugi Asitai. I'm eighteen, blood type O positive."

"Okay, Kunugi-kun…"

"Asitai, please. I'm in no mood for formalities."

"Alright, Asitai. How can I contact his family?"

"He doesn't have any. They disowned him." Asitai looked down. "I'm the most you're gonna get. We've known each other since we were kids."

Her lips pressed into a tight frown. "Where was he living?"

"With me in Tokyo."

"Tokyo? You're eight hours from home, son…"

"We came up to check out the hot springs…" Asitai stated. "I didn't think taking a hike would have…"

"It's alright. We can't control everything. We're not spell casters, you know."

"You have no idea." He deadpanned.

She smiled gently. "If he needs any blood work done or transplants of any kind, would you be willing to supply?"

"What kind of a question is that? Of course I am! Test me whenever you need. Whatever you need to do, just help him…please…my parents died when I was little…he's all I have left…please…"

"We'll do the best we can." She rubbed his back gently. "Don't worry, he's in good hands. Why don't you have a seat and we'll call you in when we know more and you can see him."

"I can't sit…"

"You have to try to rest and relax, Asitai." She informed. "You're not going to be able to help us with anything we need to know if you're all worked up."

He sighed, collapsing into the nearest chair. "I guess you're right…"

"I'll go check on him. You want a drink or something to eat?"

"No…I'm too nauseous…"

She nodded, leaving him alone. The few people in the room spared him sympathetic glances but didn't bother with him. That was fine; he didn't want to talk to anyone. He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and dialed a number he'd dialed a thousand times before.

"Asitai?" Ritsu's voice greeted him. "What's wrong? What's going on? Are you alright?"

"I'm at Gora General Hospital…" Asitai muttered into the phone, trying to keep his voice level and hold the tears back. "It's Rai…he's not good…he's out cold…I can't wake him up…" Asitai got up and walked into the hall. There he sat on a bench against the wall and curled up against it, arms wrapped around his knees.

"What happened?" Ritsu wondered. "Are you alright?"

"My boyfriend is unconscious and not waking up, what do you think!?" He hissed.

"I mean physically."

"I'm fine physically. A couple cute from the fight, but that's it. I didn't tell doctors that part. I told them he just collapsed." He spoke in hushed tones so anyone in the area wouldn't hear him. "I don't know what to do…Ritsu…he doesn't look good."

"He's a Fighter, no pun intended. He'll be fine."

"I hope you're right…"

"I know I am." Ritsu spoke with confidence.

"Have you heard from the others?"

"Aidien contacted me. Kofai didn't make it. He's devastated. Gomon went to his hotel room to check on him, but I haven't heard a word from either of them since."

"Damn…and you and Iyani…?"

"We're okay, just exhausted."

"Did you win?"

"Hai. You…?"

"It doesn't feel like I did, not with him in there like that…" Asitai shuddered. "But yes…"

"Well done…"

"A hollow victory…" Asitai muttered. "I had to tell that doctor about his family…how they abandoned him…I feel so disgusted…"

"I don't think it would do any good to contact them anyway. Then we'd have to explain why we're in Gora."

"Hai…Ritsu…?"

"Hai?"

"I'm scared Ritsu, I'm terrified…what if he doesn't wake up? What do I do?" Tears slowly slipped from his eyes. "I don't have any family either. I've got my aunt but I can't burden her anymore…I'll be alone…I can't lose him…God, I don't know why I'm even here…they can't help him…"

"What exactly happened?"

"Mirai cast a death spell…a powerful one…" He swallowed. "She had minutes left…but she cast a spell of her own before she died…something about eternal sleep…I thought it was a death spell…the way he collapsed…his eyes rolled back and his eyelids slid shut as I held him…god damn, Ritsu…what if he died in my arms? What if that's the last time I ever fight alongside him again? What if I never get to hold him and kiss him and tell him I love him ever again…? I can't lose him…I just can't…"

"Tai? It's Iyani." Iyani stated, after he heard her wrestle the phone from Ritsu. "I know it's not in your nature, but try and calm down."

"I'm trying…the doctor said I can't help if I'm so excited…"

"And she's right. You've got to be strong for him, okay? He needs you, understand me?"

"I'm trying…"

"Good."

"Iyani…I…I know how important what we're doing is, and I get you're probably tracking down Ritsu's father…but…I don't…I don't want to be alone…can one of you…can one of you come sit with me…?"

Silence greeted him.

"We'll be right there." Iyani stated.

"T-thank you…ER waiting room."

"Hai. See you soon."

"Hai…"

The phone slipped from his hand to his lap as they both hung up. Gathering himself, Asitai slipped it into his jeans pocket and looked for a water fountain and a vending machine. He splashed cold water onto his face and bought a soda from the machine. Gulping down the fizzy green Mountain Dew, he realized just how thirsty he was. He made his way back to the room and sat down. There he sat with his hands in his lap and his chin touching his chest for about an hour.

"Tai!" Iyani's voice greeted.

She ran into the waiting room, Nana, Nagisa, and Ritsu at her heels. She sat next to him and hugged him.

"Are you okay? Any news?"

Asitai sadly shook his head. "No one's come out to talk to me yet…"

"He'll be fine." Nagisa stated, sitting on his other side. "Rai loves you. He won't just give up so easily."

"I…I know…"

Ritsu knelt down in front of him, Nana going around back of the chair to hug him as well. Ritsu put a hand on his knee.

"Have you eaten or drank anything?"

"I had this to drink." Asitai held up his almost empty soda. "But no food."

"I'll go get you something to eat in the cafeteria."

"I'll go, too." Iyani stated, standing. "I can't leave you alone for a second with all this going on."

"Tai needs you more."

"Its fine, go you guys." Asitai gave him a small smile. "I've got Nana and Nagisa. I'll be okay."

"Well…alright. Call us if they come out before we get back."

"I doubt it." Nagisa muttered as Ritsu and Iyani left hand in hand.

"Since when?" Asitai nodded towards them.

"They've always been rather close." Nana stated. "I'm not surprised."

"Where's Katashi…? He made it, didn't he…?"

Nana's lips pressed into a line. "No…" She muttered. "I held his hand as he died…"

"Nana, I'm so sorry…" Asitai hugged her. "I'm being such an idiot. I didn't even think to ask how you guys are…wait, why didn't Ritsu mention it to me?"

"He probably didn't know. I was on my way back to the hotel when I found these three leaving."

"We've got no word from Gomon or Kaido." Nagisa added. "I'm almost certain they're going to be okay, but I don't know. Gomon and his fighter managed, but they haven't contacted anyone since they went to find Aidien."

Nana's cell rang. "Excuse me." She stated, standing and answering. "Gomon? How's Aoyagi?" She wondered, leaving the room.

Nagisa gently hugged Asitai. "I'm so sorry…"

He smiled gently. "Thank you, Nagisa…"

The others came back one by one, Nana last.

"Aoyagi's fine. He's depressed and wouldn't leave his room, but he's not dead." She informed. "Dayless is dragging him here now with them."

"I heard from Kaido. They're a little banged up, but they're alright." Ritsu gave him the sandwich he'd bought him.

Asitai quickly tore off the saran wrap and took a bite. Hospital food was disgusting, no doubt, but it was better than the nothing that was in his stomach all day. He'd been too nervous all day to eat anything.

"No word on Mirai yet…" Nagisa stated. "I think they're still working on him."

"You're going to have to make the decision." Ritsu pointed out.

"Huh?"

"He has you, Asitai, not his family. You're going to have to make medical decisions for him. Can you do that?"

Asitai nodded gently. "I think I can…I said I'd give blood and organs and whatever else he could need…they have to test me, though."

"They probably won't unless it's absolutely necessary." Nana adjusted her glasses.

"What are we going to do with the others?"

"My family has a mausoleum." Ritsu stated. "We'll let them rest there until everything settled and we can do proper burials."

"I just hope we won't have to add Mirai to the list of upcoming services…"

000

Terrible memories flew through Asitai's mind as he waited for something from Mirai. Something, anything to tell him that he was alright. This was just as bad as waiting in that damned hospital room for almost five hours before a doctor would speak to him again, albeit reluctantly since they weren't blood related. Only instead of waiting for news of whether his boyfriend was alive or dead, he was waiting to see a sign of life.

The door beeped and his secretary slipped in, wearing the yellow gown and blue gloves. She didn't bother with the helmet either. They stood there in silence, not saying a word to one another.

"His vitals have changed." Asitai said at last, finally finding his voice.

"Oh?" She wondered, grabbing the chart. "An improvement."

He nodded.

"Dr. Kunugi?"

"Please, just call me Asitai…we're not on the clock…there are no patients or grieving families here…"

"Asitai…why such an interest in this patient? He was here long before you started working here."

"I've been coming to see Shenai Mirai two or three days every week since I was eighteen years old. Twenty-seven years I've sat by this bedside, waiting for some sign of life, some sign of improvement. Twenty-seven years his blood pressure and pulse have been the same…dull…weak… I've been working here fourteen years…and you're the first person to ever ask me this. You've been my secretary in this department for a little over a decade…and you're just now asking me why I do so?"

She nodded. "With all due respect, he's not even your patient…we've all been wondering…"

"All?"

"Nurses, doctors, secretaries, on calls…hell even a janitor or two…" She replied. "What makes this man so special? He has no family…no one ever comes to see him…just you…"

"His parents kicked him out of their home, their family, because they found out he's not into women…"

"That's no reason to…"

"His father is a major homophobe, and a major ass at that. God help him when I get ahold of the bastard…"

"You know one another…"

"Mirai…he's my boyfriend…we've been together since we were teenagers…he moved into my apartment after his bastard of a father called him every name, every slur in the book, and gave him an hour to get his stuff and leave. He had to leave behind important things…we've had to sneak into the home when his parents were at work to retrieve what we could and get out…it's been just the two of us since we met in our first school…I was ten, he was eight…"

"Your ears…?"

"To each other…the day before this happened to him…" Asitai laughed. "Listen to me, rambling like a dementia ridden old man…and to you of all people."

"Ouch, that stings." She muttered.

He smirked. "You know what I mean…" He sighed. "Today's the anniversary of the day we met…thirty-five years ago…"

"You were just kids."

"I was ten, he was eight. There's two years between us." He sighed. "And today, I saw signs of life…his vitals changed, for God's sake, they changed. But now nothing…"

"One little change isn't going to suddenly turn into him waking up. I understand you've been waiting for this for years, and you're eager for him to wake up…but…" She paused. "Wait you said he's your boyfriend?"

"So?"

"You mean in the twenty-seven years since this happened, you haven't moved on?"

"I'll never move on." He growled. "I could never find it in myself to leave him…if he ever woke up, what would I do? 'Oh, Rai, you're awake! Damn this is awkward, I've been sleeping with someone else for the last decade and I can't just up and leave them for you…'? Yeah, that's going to work."

"You're so certain he's going to wake up."

"You have to make decisions in life. Someone close to me once told me that." Ritsu. "Mirai will wake up, and I will be here when he opens his eyes. That's it."

"You have strong convictions."

"Nothing is certain in this world. I'd like my convictions to be."

She handed him a flashlight from the table. "Did you check?"

He flushed.

"No…"

He'd forgotten all about that in his excitement.

Gently opening his left eye, he flashed the dull illumination into his lover's crystal blue eye. He knew what he'd see; a dull veil of sleep over his eyes that didn't react to the light.

"Doctor…" She informed.

Asitai followed her finger to Mirai's right eye. It twitched slightly as the heart monitor sped up a bit.

"Rai…?" He wondered, dropping the flashlight carelessly to the bed. "Rai, can you hear me?!"

He didn't know what he expected to see, but a gentle rise of Mirai's chest wasn't it.

"I don't…I don't believe it…" She rushed and pressed the call button.

Mirai's doctor and a couple nurses rushed in, donning the proper equipment outside.

"What is it?" She wondered. "We didn't get a crash warning."

"He's not crashing." Asitai stated. "Get the breathing tube out. He's trying on his own."

"With all due respect, Asitai, he can't…"

"She saw it. Just watch for a minute, alright?"

Every eye in the room fell upon Mirai's chest until it gently rose and deflated twice as fast.

"Holy mother of God…" Doctor Yue muttered. "You heard Kunugi, get the tube out."

The nurses rushed around and moved Asitai and his secretary to the door as they worked. Kunugi refused to budge, placing his feet firmly on the ground and folding his arms over his chest. While he respected and trusted Yue as a doctor, he still wanted to be there when that tube came out. In the room, not on the other side of some bulletproof containment glass. He'd have to wash up and decontaminate himself again before re-entering, and that was a very time consuming option.

Yue and the nurses moved out of the way. Mirai's chest gently rise and fell as he sucked in his first self-made breath in twenty-seven years.

"Kunugi what the hell did you do? He showed no signs of waking up until you came along…"

"I just talked to him, I swear. I wouldn't hurt him. Ever." Kunugi shook his head. "How dare you insinuate that I did anything?"

"With all due respect, Doctor, this is quite odd. He was completely comatose for twenty-seven years. Then you sit here and talk to him and he can suddenly breathe on his own?"

"With all due respect, Yue, respect is the last thing you're showing me right now."

Asitai gently touched his chest as all eyes slipped back to Mirai. His fingers gripped and gently tugged at the thin piano-wire like substance around him. It was the bond he shared with Mirai as a Unit. Only Units and awakened members of Units could see them. He watched as the normally dead thread slowly lit up as it went towards Mirai's chest, where it connected. Most Units were connected from the arm or head or waist, but his and Mirai's were in their hearts. It was rare, but it showed just how much the two loved one another. Once the bond was completely lit up as it wound its way around Mirai, Asitai almost collapsed and cried out in joy. Their bond had been dead for years. It had only lit up to a certain point when he touched it before. But now that Mirai was breathing on his own, it was in full glow all over again. A few speckles of blood dotted it, reminding him of how Mirai had ended up in this situation. While the Unit they had been fighting had lost their lives, Mirai had lost his ability to live without the aid of machines and Asitai signing papers every year to keep him hooked up. Thankfully, the school and Septimal Moon were paying for it. A small token of appreciation from Ritsu to the man who never came to meetings.