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Chapter fourteen

~meanwhile~

Since his brother and Syaoron were going to be preoccupied he had decided to slip out and pay Kurogane and Tsumebe a visit, as the dragon had yet to tell him exactly where he lived. He'd already sent a message letting him know he was coming over for a visit.

In the kitchen of his mother's place, Kurogane got a text from Fai; letting him know that he was coming over. He blushed. He was cooking a simple chicken pot pie for the blonde and was going to give it to him and run like hell away but it seems that the alternative was happening. Sighing, he replied.

When he had informed his mother she was overjoyed, having not seen the blonde since their lunch weeks ago.

Not wanting to hear all of that, Kurogane quickly went back to cooking; flinching a bit as he heard the knock on the door.

Tsumebe rushed to the door all bright smiles as she hugged Fai after opening the door. "It's good to see you again dear." Fai was blushing at the treatment as he was all but pulled inside and towards the kitchen.

Pretending that the blonde wasn't here, Kurogane was putting the final touches on the pot pie; making sure it wasn't too plain of a presentation.

"I didn't know Kuro-min could cook." Fai joked as he helped Tsumebe get drinks.

"I don't." Kuorgane huffed. "It's just a little something. No big deal."

"You had me under the impression you couldn't make anything though." "I tried teaching him the basics, so he wouldn't starve or live off whatever he caught in the woods." Tsumebe added with a grin.

Now blushing, Kurogane growled a bit. "It'll be ready in a sec. It's a small pie so you'll have to eat it then."

"Maybe I should buy you an apron?" Fai smiled as he set the cups out on the table before wandering over.

"Don't bother." Kurogane cleared his throat as he looked at the pie. It was nothing new but considering his crap skills in cooking, it was better.

"Looks good." Leaning up he kissed a tanned cheek. "I should have you cook more often."

Looking away, Kurogane pushed the dish to Fai. "Here. Since you're right next to me and all."

"You're not eating?" He asked curiously, thinking it was a lot.

"Just eat what you can and whatever's left, I'll get." Kurogane replied; not exactly used to anyone complimenting him on his cooking. Though to be fair; he never has done a lot of it anyway.

"We can share, you don't have to eat leftovers." He argued as he grabbed the plate and took it over to the table.

"Dragons are not only known for killing their prey. If desperate for food, they can become scavengers." Kurogane replied as he started washing up. "I do have my moments from time to time. Not exactly proud of that but I won't be so scared not to admit it."

"I know, but I'm saying I want to share with you." He shook his head grinning. "Grab a couple of forks." Tsumebe simply smiled as she watched the two of them.

Sighing, Kurogane wiped his hands dry; watching his mother and his new boyfriend getting ready to eat. He wondered if this was what his father saw all those years ago. Suddenly there was banging on the door and those red eyes glowed and narrowed. The banging continued. "Mother." He whispered. "You and Fai have got to hide."

The both looked up at him, but seeing her son she nodded. "I don't understand it's only someone knocking..." Fai said as Tsumebe had him up and out of his seat before she began leading him to the back of the house.

"It's not knocking." Kurogane muttered more to himself then to the blonde as he slowly moved across the kitchen. He didn't have to move far as the door was soon slammed opened; the frame in ruins as black hooded figures whizzed their way through the house. Growling, Kurogane's arms started to shift a bit; ready to fight.

Fai froze, but Tsumebe pulled him down th hallway and into a bedroom. Her own dark eyes had changed, pupils slitted. "We'll stay here and wait for Kurogane."

Kurogane can only watch as seven black hooded figures found him and lined up before him. One of them stepped forward. "Kurogane Suwa...of the Suwa bloodline...?"

"What of it?" Kurogane replied.

"We have orders to take you and bring you to our master. He sees great potential in you and wants you at his side. You will come with us."

For a second, Kurogane was silent. Soon a loud rustic laugh came out of his mouth. More laughs then came from him. "Fuck that!" He glared at them. "I didn't survive this long just so I can duck my scaly tail and come to that bastard. If he wants me so bad then he should get me himself like he tried before. Not send one of his damn lackeys. He's a coward and I hope he burns in hell!"

The two down the hall listened. Fai had no clue what was going on, but glancing over at Tsumebe he saw how serious it was. Her usually warm eyes were wide and cat-like, her skin broken out into patches of scales. She looked afraid.

Another stepped forward as it took out a thin long sword from the hole of the sleeve. "If you will not come. We will take you by force." "Oh, I'm so damn scared." Kurogane grinned; his dragon sharp teeth glistening in the kitchen light. "How about you stop talking and make good of your promise, that is if any of you wimpy beings can even get me first."

It was then the first figure lunged at Kurogane, while the others stepped back. "We have to call the police." Fai hissed panicked.

The dragon anticipated this and swiftly dodged the attack and grabbed the arm and cracked it so badly that it became dislocated.

A scream was ripped out of the assailant before two more came after Kurogane.

Pushing the first away from him, the first got pushed down by the wounded body but the second got close to Kurogane and with a dagger sliced some skin on the right arm as Kurogane tried to back off and block it. Growling, Kurogane's mouth was wide open before he rushed forward and bit hard into the shoulder; spraying blood all over the dinner table; along with the chicken pot pie he had just painstakingly made.

The others charged the kitchen table getting turned over onto its side in the process. Tsumebe gripped the doorknob wanting to help her son when the scent of blood hit her nose.

"Come on!" Kurogane shouted as he dodged attack after attack from the assailants. "Is that all you got?" Suddenly he stopped as something long and metal was sticking out of his chest. Everything stopped as the dragon turned his head and one of them had a thick sword that stabbed him. It smiled before it took the sword out; the dragon dropped to the ground with a thump.

Before Fai could register it Tsumebe had burst out of the room all black shining scales and a scream that had him kneeling on the floor covering his ears.

The assailants heard and saw the woman dragon and decided that they should split before more causalities are caused. The one with the sword pulled out a note and let it drop to the floor next to the bleeding dragon before it followed the rest. They soon disappeared as quick as they came.

Tsumebe struggled to pull herself through the hallway but managed to get to the front door, roaring at those who got away. When she heard Kurogane she managed to twist herself back and to the kitchen and her son. Changing back she kneeled beside him panicking. "Kurogane..."

Fai struggled to his feet before he ran to them as well, the walls and ceiling were cracked and dented, but he paid them no attention when he saw Kurogane bleeding. Digging out his phone he called for an ambulance.

"Mother..." Kurogane choked out. "Those bastards..." He tried to stop himself from bleeding to death.

"Don't talk." She was pressing a dishtowel to the wound. "There's help on the way." Fai was on his other side, not sure how to help. He din't understand what had happened, one minute he was happily sitting down to enjoy a meal and the next he was by his boyfriend who was heavily bleeding.

Deeply breathing, Kurogane weakly looked over at Fai. "Hey...you okay...?" He asked.

"Terrified, but otherwise I'm okay." He gave a weak smile. "You should be in a hospital soon."

Giving out a weak chuckle, Kurogane's eyes started to close. "Bastards...ruin the pie..." He rasped out. "Was hard...making it...for you..."

Fai shook his head. "I'll make you ten if you get better and stay awake." Already he could hear sirens blaring as they got closer and closer.

"Hard to..." Kurogane's breathing started to even out. "You should go...no need...to s-stay here...anymore..." He wasn't talking about the incident just now though.

Tsumebe had moved to get the paramedics, leaving Fai to hold onto the towel. "Kuro-sama, I planned on staying and going with you." He smiled softly.

His vision by then was a series of blurry colors and drowning out noises but he heard Fai loud and clear. "Your life...won't be the same anymore..."

"It's alright." The paramedics gently moved Fai aside before the began to help Kurogane.

Being put into the stretcher, Kurogane's red eyes were clouded and blurry. "It's not..." He weakly stated.

They put an oxygen mask over him after and carted him into the ambulance. Fai and Tsumebe followed, he had to lock the front door for her as her hands were shaking too much.

It was a weird feeling; the near death experience. He had a fair share of them but every time, it will always be strange. He thought for sure he would die from this one but there was always something that still tie him down. It wasn't the miracle of medicine or the fact that the sword that missed his heart by just a couple of inches. It was something else. What was it? He never got his answer though as he was starting to wake up like he would. His eyes started seeing something white in front of him. He was gaining consciousness.

The bright white walls of a hospital greeted him. A large window open on the other side of him.

Kurogane slightly noticed at he was breathing in and out of something. He blinked as he realized that it was a oxygen mask. He groaned as he started to sit up. "Ugh..."

"Kuro-sama?" Fai entered his vision then staring down at him with wide eyes.

"Huh?" Kurogane turned to his head and sure enough the blonde human was there. "F-Fai?"

He smiled brightly and nodded before calling for a nurse. "It is. How're you feeling?"

"Like crap." Kurogane rasped out. "What happened?"

"You were stabbed in the chest. Lucky to be alive...if you were human you wouldn't have survived."

"Yeah...I figured..." Kurogane nodded; trying to sit up and get off the bed.

"There were all kinds of police at your mother's...she's there now. I made her go and rest." He smiled before the nurse walked in and took off the oxygen mask. "Well Mr. Suwa you're lucky. Are you in pain."

"No." Kurogane simply stated; ignoring the look that Fai was giving him. "How soon can I leave though?"

"Well you've been here for two, another day should be good." She explained looking over his chart. "Your body is healing on its own aside from the stitches we had to give you inside and out."

Two days? That can't be right. And he had to stay another day. Well it was just bad news all over. "Okay, thanks." He had to get out. He had to get out; get Fuuma, talk to him and while he was at it, beat the crap out of those bastards who pulled a fast one on him and scared his mother half to death.

After a few more instructions the nurse left them and Fai grinned. "Guess you'll have to stick to the register still."

Growling under his throat, Kurogane just sat back on the pillows. "This sucks."

"I'll take care of you." He grinned still and moved over to kiss the man.

A bit shocked at the kiss, Kurogane returned it with a disapproving look. "I thought...I thought I told you that you didn't have to stay...anymore..."

"Of course I would. We're together aren't we?" He chuckled.

"...There's a lot I still haven't told you..." Kurogane shook his head. "You should have ran when you had the chance of having your life the way it was."

"I know and I don't want to run from you." He countered. "I don't plan on letting Kuro-chan get away."

"This isn't a game." Kurogane sat up. "Those people. They are real and they will kill anyone who gets in their way." His eyes were glowing red but some sadness and a level of remorse was in them. "This isn't the first time they confronted me you know. I told mother and you to hide because they knew about my mother but they don't know about you and if they saw you at any given point...they will use you just to get to me." He then clenched his chest tightly. "People have died Fai. They have died and they won't stop until they get their recruits for..." He then sighed. "They are sneaky but they are stubborn as hell, that's why I told you to run."

"I'm an adult." He argued as he gently pushed Kurogane back down. "I know it's not a game, but I'm not going to just leave you."

"Are you even listening to me?" Kurogane was very close to begging at this point. A kill to the pride but hell anything to convince the blonde not to stay. "This is bigger then you can ever imagine. They will not only kill you but your damn brother, his boyfriend and anyone else you have come in contact with just to silence others. And damn it I don't want that!"

Fai reeled back and punched Kurogane on the side of the head. "Idiot, I want to be with you. I don't want that to happen, but just hiding away wasn't helping things did it? And if they know about me already nothing is going to help if I try to separate myself from you."

That was new. No one had ever hit the dragon and live to tell the tale; at least not literally tell it. Lifting his head, Kurogane rubbed the side of his head.

"So stop thinking I'm some weakling just because I'm not dragon." He smiled before holding the man's other hand.

Scoffing, Kurogane slightly smiled. "Idiot. No one said anything about you being a weakling or not being a dragon."

"Well you could have fooled me." He smiled and shook his head before leaning down to share another kiss. "I'm glad you're okay."

Returning the kiss, Kurogane sighed. "I've been through worse." He hated when people worried about him.

"I was so afraid..." He mumbled. Fai hadn't slept much since Kurogane had been taken to the hospital.

"There was nothing to be afraid of." Kurogane muttered as his thumb stroked the back of Fai's hand. "Like I said, I've been through worse. You've seen the scars, I don't go down easily."

"It just needs to happen once." Sitting beside Kurogane he was careful not to touch his iv.

"If life worked like that, then believe me; I wouldn't be sitting here with you. Since I believe in seconds chances already." Kurogane countered.

"It doesn't matter." He curled up beside the man. "I'll have to help nurse Kuro-rin back to health."

"Please don't." Kurogane lightly joked. "There are real nurses to help with that."

"I was going to put on a skirt and everything, but if you don't want that I can think of something else."

"..." Was the blonde trying to him to lose blood? Because it was working. "Idiot." He looked away. "No need to go that far." Though he would love to see that.

"Get better quicker then so I can properly welcome you back home."

"I don't need for you to tell me that." Kurogane scoffed. "And I'll only be here for another day so keep your damn pants on."

"But Kuro-wan~" He whined playfully, just glad the man could argue.

"Whining doesn't equal a valid argument." Kurogane retorted. "And don't freaking Kuro-wan me. God those nicknames will be the death of me!"

"But they're cute Kuro-scale." He put a hand on the man's stomach and sighed.

Rolling his eyes, Kurogane placed a hand over Fai's that touched his stomach. "They're not cute so don't brother with them."

"I think they are." He smiled. "Are you going to be staying at your mother's house when you get out?"

"Probably." Kurogane shrugged. "I can't go back to my own place. Too much risk those assholes might find me." He sighed.

"You could stay with me, but I suppose staying with her would be good too." He said weighing the options, they didn't want Tsumebe left vulnerable just in case.

"...My mother has a few friends she can stay with for the time being." Kurogane replied with a blush. "I'll call them up and see who can have her and maybe..."

"I mean you don't have to stay with me if it's too much trouble." He blushed, not wanting Kurogane to hav to choose between him and his mother.

"No, I think my mother would be too much in a shock to see me in stitches for now." Kurogane explained. "And I'd be too...w-weak to do anything else. So maybe...staying with you can be...okay..." He then huffed. "But only until I healed fully and then I'm looking for a new place to l-live so those jerks won't find me again."

"No need to be so embarrassed Kuro-kun." Fai teased lightly as he nuzzled against the man.

"Who said I am?" Kurogane softly retorted as he nuzzled a bit back. "It'd be fine...so I can heal...and keep a close eye on you so you don't get stitches too or worse; in a grave..."

"Stop being so pessimistic or I'll hit you again." He countered.

"I'm being serious, dummy." Kurogane scoffed but slightly smiled. "I want you to be careful though from now on; it won't be easy...for any of you."

"I know Kuro-stubborn." He didn't know what he had signed up for, but he had an idea. It wouldn't be pretty, but it would be okay.

TBC

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