I awoke with a small steady beeping sound. The constant beep annoyed me. My eyes fluttered open and bright lights filled them.

After my eyes adjusted to the light I saw I was in a room with white walls. The beeping was coming from a nearby machine. I looked down at my body to see I was on a white bed and had many tubes in me. I squinted through my hazy vision to my left to see a clear bag hanging. What ever it was was running through the IV into my blood.

Blood. God what had happened ? I remember it all sure but exactly what.

" Heh she's awake now."

I craned my head to my right to see several familiar faces watching me. I saw Jane, Jaden, a nurse, Alexis, Yugi and, Taein. Tiena was no where to be seen.

" Hey how are you feel ?" Yugi asked. " Pretty dead" I responded. Everyone laughed but in all honesty I felt stiff and I couldn't move. My head was spinning and I felt like I was hollowed out.

I felt someone grasp my hand. Looking I saw Taein now stood closer to me holding my hand. He smiled softly his eyes glazed with unshed tears. " Arata ... I'm s-"

" If you say sorry I'm going to cut off your tongue" I said. They all laughed and Taein looked at me. With my arm I weakly pushed myself up so I was sitting. I stared Taein right in the eyes as I spoke.

" Taein I don't want you to apologize. If you do I'm going to feel even worse. This all started cause of me." I said firmly. Taein looked like he wanted to cry. The other watched on silently. "I may never be able to fully be your friend again. I've changed to much for that. Taein I do care about you but I'm not the same and I never will be.

I took a breathe and pulled my hand from him. His face had tears streaming down them but he nodded. Reluctantly I pulled him and gave him a hug, the kind I gave him as a kid. Holding tight and letting him cry softly on my shoulder.

He eventually pulled away smiling. I smiled somewhat back at him. I looked over to everyone else. Yugi was smiling, Jane seemed confused, Jaden besides a few bandages and bruises looked fine and Alexis was smiling softly.

I looked around the room once more before I suddenly felt weak again. I lied back down slowly. I felt warm all of a sudden my eyes slowly closing. I felt exhausted and passed out.

When I woke up a second time I was alone mostly besides Taein sitting on a seat by the bed. His face still had tears running down it but he kept his head down. He hadn't realized I was awake yet.

" What am I going to do ?" he whispered to himself "Sh-She's so cold ..." he choked out another sob putting his hands over his face. I closed my eyes my throat feeling tight. " All I want is my friend back. I wish I could see her smile. Her real smile. "

Even though my eyes were close I could still feel tears slip down my cheek. Why was I crying ? Was it guilt ? No I couldn't kid myself. The flashbacks, the dreams, I've been missing something this whole time.

I didn't have anything to fight for. The reason I felt so empty. All the times I've lost. All my anger at nothing. It's all because of the same thing.

I wanted Taein back.

" I hate myself. It's all my fault that she's this way. I almost got us both killed." He sobbed harder. The cry was one of those that you give when your completly hopeless. It was heartbreaking and I couldn't stand it.

" Shut up you idiot " I said " You did nothing wrong so stop saying It's your fault. " I opened my eyes and looked at him. Grey tear filled eyes starred at me behind black lashes. I sat up noting I didn't feel weak anymore and the IVs had been taken out. Taein shook his head making his black hair shake infront of his eyes.

" Arata ... You heard that ?" Taein said a blush slightly gracing his features. I nodded getting up off the bed. My body felt a bit heavy probably from medication. I stood in front of him, his eyes red from crying. I hated it. " Stop ..." I said my own tears escaping. He stood up and pulled me into a hug. Finally I hugged backed crying myself.

" Taein I missed you. You had every right to hate me but you don't. " I said my head on his shoulder. His embrace was soft and warm just like I remembered. " I can't hate you. Your my best friend !"

" But I almost killed you ? " I said furrowing my eyebrows " Then I left you and ..." I couldn't finish my sentance as my voice broke and I started crying again.

Somewhere though in the back of my mind I heard a voice screaming at me 'Get a grip ! You don't need him ! Stop taking his pity !' I knew this was just my inner darkness. The same reason I felt so much hate.

Now I shut it out ignoring its burning hate and just stayed how I was. Taein eventually pulled away a soft smile playing at the edge of his mouth. " Hey your back. " he said " You finally let that mask drop..."

Only if he knew how hard it was. I didn't spoil it for him though. Instead I gave a laugh. It wasn't exactly real but it felt better than nothing.

AN- one chapter left to go. I'm working on other stories for my other OCs as well plus 2 sequels for Arata. The next chapter will wrap up this story though. Plus I've got a sequel in mind where Arata finally finds Love hmm yeah I know just the guy that can break through to her ;)