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Chapter eighteen

Night turned into morning very quickly in the hospital as Kurogane was already up and signing his release forms so he can go out...on legal grounds. Last time he tried to escape from a medical facility, both dragons and humans had to be involved. So he hated shots, everyone does, right?

Fai was there as well a coffee for him and a cab since Kurogane couldn't move around much with his injury. "Morning Kuro-sunshine."

"Morning." Kurogane answered as he lightly scratched the bandages.

"Stop that. I got you a coffee and a cab's waiting to take us to your place." Fai smiled before leaning up to kiss him.

"Sorry. Damn thing itches." Kurogane returned the kiss a bit shyly. "Okay, so it's my place then lunch then back at your place, right or are we just winging this?" He blushed a bit.

"That's the geist of it, but we can do whatever."

"Hm." Kurogane nodded as he picked up a sweater that one of the nurses gave him as a small present since his shirt was ruined by the stab and the staff who were trying to fix said stab. It was black but a good fit; well it'd have to be since they got his height and weight and such. He put it on with some difficulty but he got it on and he slightly smiled. "Huh, nice fit." He was slightly impressed.

"It's a good look for you. Now let's go Kuro-roar, we have a busy day ahead of us." Fai grinned as he grabbed the man's hand and led him out.

"Sure, sure." Giving one of the nurses his forms, the two were out of the hospital. However, the dragon looked up suddenly and frowned; seeing the gray clouds forming overhead. "Ugh, it's going to rain soon." He liked the rain as much as any person but as a child he got sick a bit too easily as he was still growing so that feeling never left the poor man.

"Good thing I brought an umbrella then." He said opening the door to the cab for the man.

"Thanks." Kurogane stated as he climbed into the cab. He slid over so Fai could follow inside.

With directions from Kurogane it didn't take them too long to get to where they were going. Luckily most people fly or walked to get around in Piffle, which cleared up the roads on the ground.

The area Kurogane lived in wasn't very fancy but it wasn't poor either. Much more of a middle class person; hidden in plain sight. The cab soon slowed down to a six story apartment complex. It wasn't much to look at but it compared to some others, it was better. "My place is on the top floor. Thank god they had elevators." Kurogane responded before pushing the door open.

Fai asked for the driver to wait before they were off to head to the man's apartment. He stared, taking in the image of the man's home. It looked different than what he had imagined.

"Come on." Kurogane gestured to the blonde as he opened the door to the small lobby inside.

Following after they headed for the elevator and Fai couldn't help but imagine Kurogane coming through here everyday.

The elevator ride was short which wasn't news to Kurogane as the doors opened. The floor was a bit better then the ground floor but it was simple; just how Kurogane liked it. The two then walked all the way down the hall until the last door that was next to a huge window for all to see. "Sometimes there would be a parade going around so something." Kurogane explained about the window as he got his home key. "Sometimes people are too damn lazy to go outside so they crowd around here. A bit annoying if you ask me."

He chuckled and shook his head. "Of course you would find something to complain about." He could imagine Kurogane glowering inside his apartment as people had fun feet away.

Unlocking the door, Kurogane looked at Fai. "Come in." The inside of his place was unlike what anyone would have thought. It was simple and plain. Even being a dragon, there wasn't any treasure hording of any kind. No picture frames, no decor, not much in all honesty.

"This is very boring..." Fai pouted dissapointed in the lack of furnishings. "I was expecting some kind of collection, stuff everywhere or something."

"..." Kurogane sighed. "I'm...not much a collector and junk...it's just not me..."

"I guess that's true too." He grinned going forth to peek around.

"Feel free to look around, I'm going to my bedroom to pack." Kurogane suggested as he went to the first door on the left of the small walkway.

"Oh no you don't, you shouldn't be moving that arm. Go sit and I'll grab your clothes."

"I'm fine." Kurogane sighed. "I've done crap with one arm or none before." He already opened the door and went inside.

"Be careful." He warned. "But we can both do it so it'll be quicker."

"I'm not stopping you." Kurogane shrugged. "Come inside then."

Fai practically skipped into Kurogane's bedroom. "Have a suitcase? We need to hurry, the driver has the meter going."

"Yeah, I'll get it." Kurogane's bedroom was just as bare as it was but on the nightstand was a couple picture frames with colorful pictures in them. "It's in the closet."

Grabbing it, he paused to stare at the pictures smiling. "What this?"

Looking over his shoulders, Kurogane's expression was almost blank. "T-That's my family...human form...years ago..."

"You look nearly identical to your father, but I see you mother's influence too." He smiled softly scanning the happy family.

Getting the lone suitcase that he got Kurogane scoffed. "Yeah, I heard people say that a lot." He then went to his dresser and opened up drawers to get some clothes.

Fai went then, going through the man's closet and dresser until the suitcase was filled to the brim.

Quickly though, they were finished packing. Kurogane had one of the picture frame but this one had his younger human self and his father in his human form. It was taken just before his very first hunt. It wasn't easy but he made his father proud...even when the two were scolded by his mother about staining the floor with blood. He sighed.

"Anything else?" He asked with the suitcase in one hand.

Clasping the picture frame, Kurogane shook his head. "Nah, I think we're good."

Nodding he headed out of the apartment. "Be sure to lock the door."

"Yeah." Soon enough, the two were out of the apartment and back into the cab. As the car started again; Kurogane was staring out of the window; just looking at his place before it vanished from his sight.

"So do you want to stop for lunch?" Fai asked eventually during the ride.

"...Sure. Anything's fine." Kurogane idly said; his eyes not leaving the window.

"Well I figured we could walk to a place? I mean we have to drop your things off first."

Kurogane nodded. "Yeah, sure." Fai had a point but his mind wasn't exactly up to par at the moment.

Fai patted his thigh as they were driven to his apartment.

Looking over at Fai, he wished he was one of those people that would just smile to reassure him that he was fine but he didn't if he was fine and faking a smile wouldn't help but harm more in this situation.

Once there Fai paid the driver, sending him on his way before he grabbed Kurogane's suitcase and headed upstairs.

Kurogane followed silently as the blonde opened the door to the place. He went inside as he patted on his chest; a very dull ache was felt from his wound.

"Don't start picking at it." Fai chided as he tossed Kurogane luggage onto his bed before turning to smile at him. "Now off for food. I imagine something hearty and maybe some alcohol unless you're on meds."

"I'm supposed to pick them up in a couple of days...if I would need them." Kurogane hastily added as he tried not to pick at his wound. Not his fault that his human skin itched, dragons don't have that much of a problem. Then again, they have scales and humans...don't.

"No pain meds?" That was curious, but he supposed they were different.

"I told them no." Kurogane shrugged. "I would need some meds just in case of possible infection and junk." Like he want a second trip there any time soon.

"In any case, I suppose you can have a drink or two and it not hurt you. Do you want to go now or rest?" He didn't want to tax Kurogane.

The man wanted to say no but after his little trip down memory lane in his own apartment, he wasn't feeling up to anything at the moment. "I can relax for a bit." He answered instead.

"Alright, you can go sit or lay down where ever then." Fai offered, knowing something was off.

"Thanks. Is the bed okay to lay down then?" Kurogane didn't think being on the couch would be a good idea right now.

"Sure, let me push your suitcase off." Offering a simple smile Fai pulled it off the bed, putting it in the corner for later. "Want anything?"

"Um...you..." Kurogane blushed as he sat on the bed. "J-Just so I can rest easy. After the attack and all, I've been a bit antsy. Not a big deal or anything."

Fai would have tackled him to the bed for that, but then he remembered stab wound. Instead he crawled into bed with Kurogane. "Was hoping you'd ask."

Blushing more, Kurogane closed his eyes. "D-Don't think it'll happen a lot. I just want to sleep in a bed that's not the damn hospital." His voice wasn't angry or cold but gentle and a bit relieved.

"I know, but I like sleeping beside you in any case." He grinned moving up against his good side.

"..." Sighing, Kurogane settled alongside Fai. "...I miss him..."

"Your father?"

"Yeah..." Kurogane didn't open his eyes but nodded. "I really do miss him...a lot actually."

"It's hard losing a parent." He brushed Kurogane's hair.

"It's harder when it happens in front of your eyes." Kurogane added with a shudder.

"I'm sorry. Do you want to talk about it?" He asked, not wanting to push him.

"...A little yeah..." Kurogane admitted. "I don't know why but...I feel like I can trust you with that...does that sound weird to you?"

"No it doesn't. We're a couple, you're suppose to trust me." Fai grinned trying to be reassuring.

"..Sorry. Didn't mean for it to sound that harsh." Kurogane sighed. "Um...just give me a second to start..."

"It didn't." He said before pulling the man to sit on the bed.

Gaining some confidence, Kurogane gulped a bit; hoping the ache was from his wound. "The dragons of Suwa...we are a proud race...but there are few and in between, Father was or to me still was like a role model to me. Sounds common but not many young dragons would think that of their own parents as a lot of them would be off after some odd years. But not me."

"Dragon of Suwa. It's a title?" He asked curious.

"Well most dragons don't usually have a last name and if we do, it's from an area where we are settling or something." Kurogane waved it off; thinking it was too boring even for him.

"I see. Your father must have been great. You don't talk much about him at all really, but from what I've seen and heard he was good."

"I don't talk much period." Kurogane half-joked. "But...he really was a great person; both in human and dragon form. I'm proud to be his only living child."

Fai wanted to ask if the man had had siblings then and was afraid to upset him.

"...In case you're wondering, no I didn't have siblings. Not really, anyway." Kurogane frowned in sadness. "There was a time that mother got very ill but was expecting anyway. There were many eggs but...well, I think you can guess from there..."

"Sorry." He couldn't imagine. He wasn't sure what to say, but he held Kurogane's hand anyways.

"It's fine." It really was but he'd be lying if he said that it didn't sting from time to time. "Mother would smother me with...motherly love and father would make sure I was strong enough for the day I venture out and do my own stuff. He wasn't cruel or strict but he will teach me in any way possible. From hunting to morality of the world, he and mother worked like a team and were so in love; even after all those years..."

"I'm glad you came from such loving parents." He'd never heard Kurogane so open, it was refreshing and strange and good all at once.

"Yeah, it was irritating looking back on it." Kurogane deadpanned as he blushed brightly. "Anyway, for many years life was great. Until I was...ugh, hard to keep track of my age at this point..." He muttered.

"Chasing tail?" He asked, amused at his own joke.

"Haha. Very funny." Kurogane rolled his eyes. "Like I really want to deal with that at the time."

"What am I suppose to think when you blush like that?" Fai teased as he pointed to the man's face.

"That I'm having maybe a fever like a rational person would think?" Kurogane sarcastically replied.

"A spontaneous fever? Try again." He smirked.

"It can happen!" Kurogane argued though it wasn't helping that his face was heating up again.

"Nope. You're wrong." He said poking the dragon's nose.

"Like I care!" Kurogane gently swatted Fai's hand off of his face. "That's my explanation and I'm damn sticking to it."

Fai laughed before he hugged Kurogane, careful still of his shoulder and chest.

Sighing, the dragon managed to get an arm around the blonde's waist; pulling him a bit closer.

"How are you feeling?" He asked, looking up at the other man.

"Hmm?" Kurogane looked down at the blonde.

"Are you okay?" He asked again.

"...Somewhat." Kurogane shrugged. "I guess."

"I'm glad." He nuzzled against the man. "You want to nap now?"

"Yeah, I'm very tired right now." Kurogane didn't mean just physically either.

Nodded he pulled away. "Want me to tuck you in?" He asked before he was helping the man out of his clothes so he could be comfortable.

"No, it's okay." Kurogane yawned but winced a bit as the yawning made him move his chest a bit more than expected.

Kissing him chastely Fai smiled as they got into bed and he pulled a blanket over them after having changed out of his clothes.

Closing his eyes, Kurogane soon drifted off to sleep. The two had a somewhat decent conversation but for the dragon it was the best moment as he never really opened up to anyone outside of his own little family before. It'd be nice though if his father was alive to see it. He'd be very proud of him.

TBC

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