A/N: I got distracted by Tumblr this week (protag Shingetsu AU, Thomas gets to be Shark, it's fantastic) but I've got a chapter today. Kaito and Ryoga are being tricky and Haruto knows everything, as always, and Rio is trying to make sense of things. So, thank you, enjoy and review, ok? Thanks.


Ryoga's collapse had stunned Kaito. He had no idea what had happened or why Ryoga had been ignoring him but he knew it wasn't right. The moment he'd touched Ryoga he'd collapsed and Kaito had barely managed to catch him before he hit the ground. He'd had no choice but to get Orbital to rush them to the hospital.

And that was where Ryoga remained all night. His school friends weren't able to come until morning. So Kaito stayed. Yuma promised to look after Haruto and Akina and Kaito trusted him to some extent.

Kaito was sitting next to Ryoga's bed, his hands around the younger boy's. They'd said it was his heart. How could it be his heart? Kaito was suffering from the effects of his Photon Mode but Ryoga was young and healthy. He wasn't supposed to be fighting for his life, not like this. Duels were one thing, but this… it wasn't right.

"I should have realise it was something more serious. You'd never just ignore me and back down from a fight like that," Kaito whispered, kissing his hand. "I'm sorry, Ryoga…" Without even thinking, he leant over and pressed a soft, loving kiss to his lips. "Please, wake up."

"I'm afraid I miscalculated." He stood quickly to find Envy smiling slightly. "Honour has grown smarter."

"What's he done to him?" Kaito snapped.

"I assumed he was acting as he always has," Envy said. "He twists people to his will and they end up caring for him despite wanting to pull away."

"He's forcing Ryoga to care about Ken… is that him? Is Honour Ken?"

"I couldn't say," she replied. "But it would appear he put in a failsafe this time."

"What?"

"It seems he wove something into the curse to react badly. I don't know if it's to you specifically or anyone but it would be something he considered a threat. My powers and Wrath's countered the effect that drew him to Ken." She sighed and Kaito stroked Ryoga's cheek softly. "I didn't think there would be a fall back like this. It must have activated when you touched him. That must have been why he kept pulling away."

"I should have realised," Kaito whispered. "I should have known it was serious for him to back down like that."

"You can't blame yourself."

"Just holding him nearly killed him!" Kaito snapped. "How am I supposed to not blame myself?"

He'd never felt so helpless. Well, when it came to Haruto, yes, but not with anyone else. He'd been sitting there on the ground with Ryoga's limp near lifeless body in his arms, trying to wake him up. And then there was that awful moment when he realise Ryoga wasn't breathing, that he was paling and that if he didn't get help he could die. Kaito considered himself rational and mature but in that moment he'd panicked. The thought of losing Ryoga like that had terrified him.

"Can't you do something?" he said quietly, sitting back down.

"Not in the long run, no," she replied. "Last night relied on his anger combining with my powers to break his curse. Anything I could do right now would last twenty-four hours. And that's at a push. If I'm honest, I could only suppress this for a few hours."

"What about hunting?" he murmured.

"I'll extend the deadline to allow him to recover."

"What if I hunted for him?" She frowned and tilted her head. "You said it yourself, I've taken souls before."

"I'll see about it," Envy said, nodding slightly. "I'll ask Pride. Consider my offer, Kaito. Sometimes just a few hours can make all the difference. It can make you realise what you really need. Or don't."

"It'd just be manipulating him like Honour is."

"Perhaps, but perhaps it'll give you and him the push you need to figure things out. Consider it. After all, I felt that jealousy inside you. You're desperate to have his attention."

"Not that desperate."

"Just think about it," she insisted. "To hold him in your arms and have him think only about you, just for a little while. Isn't that what you want? To hold onto him and know you have his attention, that Ken won't cross his mind and no one can interrupt? To own him completely even if it's just for a little while? Doesn't that sound appealing? If Honour is making him love Ken, perhaps he wants this too, perhaps he needs you to do this."

Kaito closed his eyes, squeezing Ryoga's hand. He didn't deny it was tempting. The idea of having Ryoga thinking only about him- about them together- was appealing, but it wouldn't feel right to sink to that level. It meant nothing if it was forced.

Envy frowned slightly and opened the door, letting Akina tumble in. "It's rude to eavesdrop, little Love."

"I know," Akina sighed. "Sorry, Envy." She ran up to the bed and climbed up onto it. "Is Shark going to be ok? Was this Honour?"

"He'll be fine," Kaito said quietly. "They'll let him out once he wakes up and they don't think he's going to collapse again. They think it's likely to be later today."

She sighed and laid her head on his chest, closing her eyes and murmuring softly to him, her hand over his heart. Kaito smiled. She was so devoted to him. It wasn't long before Envy vanished and Ryoga's school friends came running in, Yuma and Kotori holding Haruto's hands.

"Is he ok?" Yuma said quietly.

"He'll be out to day they think," Kaito replied. "They think he'll be alright. They don't think it's serious s a one off, but if it happens again they'll be more concerned."

They nodded and spent a while with Ryoga before they had to go to school. Haruto remained with Kaito and Ryoga and soon after, Ken arrived. He smiled pleasantly and set a bunch of flowers in a vase before leaning down and kissing his cheek.

"My poor Ryoga," he murmured. "You'll look after him won't you, Kaito?" Kaito scowled. "I'll be back later." He smiled and held out a hand. "No hard feelings, right? Ryoga made his choice, I hope we can put this aside and be friends."

Kaito scowled and accepted the handshake. If Ryoga truly wanted Ken, then he wouldn't stand in their way, but his instincts screamed to him that something was wrong and Honour was behind this all.

"I'm sure," Kaito muttered. "I might not like it, but this is his choice and I don't want to lose him over something like this. I'll stay with him until he'd recovered."

"Thank you. I'm glad he had a friend like you, Kaito. I'll see you after school."

He left silently and Haruto moved up to sit in the chair next to the bed. "Is he going to be ok?"

"Ryoga will be fine," Kaito assured him.

"Why did you just let Ken walk away?" he said, folding his arms. "He did this to Shark. He should pay." Kaito frowned and Haruto gaze up at him, confirming his suspicions. "Kaito?"

"Sometimes, Haruto, you have to be patient," Kaito replied. "Hunting takes time."

"Then you are going to make him pay for everything he's done to Shark?"

"Of course."

Haruto smiled approvingly and nodded. "I was worried you were going to fall in love with Rio."

"Why was that worrying?" Kaito said quietly, sitting on the bed. "I thought you approved of Rio."

"I did," Haruto replied. "But only because I thought you weren't going to look at Shark." He frowned and gazed down at his hands. "I've been pushing you two together for ages and you haven't been listening. I thought I'd lost all hope. And when you seemed interested in Rio I thought she was at least better than the others who were interested in you." He sighed. "I always thought you belong with Shark."

Kaito frowned and Haruto laid his head on the bed as Kaito watched Ryoga sleeping. Haruto always thought he belonged with Ryoga? At least he knew it nything came of him and Ryoga, he didn't have to worry about Haruto's approval. Although, it was just as easy to worry about what happened if Haruto got too attached to the idea of them together.

"Haruto," he murmured. "You know, it's not certain that Ryoga and I will ever-"

The door opened and Kaito and Haruto turned to see a tall woman in the doorway. A business woman. She had long purple hair, much like Ryoga's twisted up into an up-do. She had Ryoga's perfectly blue eyes too. He looked a lot like her, actually. She swept over, setting her briefcase of the side and leaning down over Ryoga. It wasn't hard to figure out who she was.

"Mrs Kamishiro?" Kaito said, slipping off the bed.

She stood straight and gazed at him then her gaze moved to Haruto before she scowled. "Who exactly are you two?"

"We're Shark's friends," Haruto said.

"Haruto," Kaito said. "We should leave them to it. Come on."

"Haruto?" she said, her eyes softening slightly. "That would make you Kaito." Kaito nodded slightly. She knew about them? He wasn't sure if that was good or bad. "Rio talked about you a lot last time we spoke."

"She did?" he said.

"Yes," she replied with a small smile. "She seems rather fond of you. That Ken boy reckons she likes you."

"He likes Shark," Haruto said.

Mrs Kamishiro blinked slightly and Kaito frowned. "I see."

"Come on, Haruto," Kaito said, holding out his hand. "Let's get going."

"But you promised you'd stay."

"Come on."

"You don't have to go," she said quietly. Kaito frowned. "You care him, then I won't make you go. You're not a middle school student, are you?"

"No," he said. "I'm not. I've never been to school, I was home schooled." She smiled and nodded. "I'll admit, I'm older than him, older than a lot of people would find appropriate. But it doesn't really matter. He's not interested."

"You found him?"

"I was with him when he collapsed."

"And you've been here all night?"

Kaito nodded. "I wasn't going to leave him on his own."

"I see." She nodded and folded her hands in her lap. "If you genuinely care about him, I see no reason to deem it inappropriate. After all, you can't be more than, say five or six years older than him. There are a good ten years between my husband and I. And Ryoga is a mature boy. He's sensible and can look after himself, despite that hard head of his, he got that from his father. The both of them did, I suppose." She frowned. "How is Rio taking this?"

"Not well," Kaito said. Haruto scowled at him and he knew it was because he always told Haruto not to lie but he couldn't exactly tell her that one of her children was in hospital and the other was missing. "She didn't want to go to school until I promised I'd stay with him."

"I'm glad he has you," she said.

"Now you're here, I should take Haruto home," he said, taking Haruto's hand. "And let you have some time alone."

"Thank you then, for watching over him."

He guided Haruto out into the hall, gazing longingly through the door at Ryoga as it shut. He hoped he'd be ok soon. He prayed to whatever was out there that Ryoga wasn't suffering, that he just unconscious and not in pain.


"Well, you've got yourself into a mess," Shark Drake said.

Ryoga glared at him and Shark Drake smirked. "It's not my fault."

"You knew better than to trust that boy," he argued. "So, what's going to happen now?"

"I don't know," Ryoga muttered. Shark Drake floated over, wrapping his arms around Ryoga's shoulders. "Why are you human again?"

"Because I quite like being able to communicate with you like this," he replied. He smiled and laid his head on Ryoga's shoulder. "It's interesting, these human bodies, don't you think?"

"I guess I'm used to it." Shark Drake nodded. "So… Kaito?"

"You're asking my opinion on the Number Hunter?" Shark Drake said.

Ryoga nodded. Shark Drake was his partner, Ryoga had accepted that quite some time ago. Shark Drake was an important part of his life. He wanted Shark Drake to approve, unlikely as it was. As he's already pointed had, Kaito was a Number Hunter. It was unlikely that Shark Drake, a Number, would be at all pleased with Kaito's presence in his life. There was silence and Ryoga turned, leaning his forehead against Shark Darke's.

"He is a Number Hunter," Shark Drake said. "He… He would have taken me from you, snatched me away from my chosen master."

Ryoga nodded. It was understandable. He knew Shark Drake was possessive and in one of two of their previous conversations had made it very clear he wasn't supposed to have any other Numbers. He didn't want any other Number. He wasn't overly keen on Ryoga helping Yuma and Astral either. Ryoga understood that too. Because if they collected all the Numbers, then… wouldn't Astral's memories return and the Number's vanish? Wouldn't Shark Drake leave him?

"But… you long to be with him, don't you?" he continued. Ryoga nodded again. "And you realise that now you've made this mistake with the hunter?" Another nod. "If it makes you happy, then I won't object. You have my blessing."

"Really?"

Ryoga was amazed and Shark Drake laughed. "Really. I am most content when you are. We are supposed to be together, my Ryoga. You will always be mine and I will always be with you. And it means a lot to me that you would ask me my opinion."

"You're my partner," Ryoga muttered. "We need each other and I want to be with you. I want to approve of my choice. Maybe so I don't make the same mistake again."

"We'll make Honour pay. Together."

"Yes… but Kaito?"

"I think his emotions are genuine but you won't know until you try." He smiled and kissed his cheek. "If it's genuine, it will make you happy. If not… we will make him pay too. You have my approval."

Ryoga smiled and nodded. His reasoning was good enough. And he approved of Kaito. He was right, if Kaito's intentions were genuine it would be the most amazing thing, but if not… he wouldn't know what to do. Broken heart was one thing, but putting his faith in Kaito only to have his hopes dashed again would be more than he could bear.

There was a voice echoing around him and Ryoga smiled. Kaito. Kaito was still there. Even though he couldn't touch him and couldn't speak to him but Kaito was still there. He smiled and closed his eyes.

"Time to wake up then," Shark Drake whispered. "I hope you find what you want in him."

"K-Kaito…"

It took a moment for Ryoga to realise it was his own voice, quietly calling out for Kaito. But there when he cracked his eyes open, he found only his mother smiling at him.

"Ryoga," she murmured. "My dear, sweet Ryoga, you're alright."

"You're… what… Kaito?"

His mother frowned and brushed his hair from his face. "He was here with you all night. He left a few hours ago." Ryoga smiled softly. Kaito had stayed with him. "He likes you too."

"What?"

"That smile," she said. "He cares for you too. I think you should consider him over that Ken boy."

"Ken and I…" He frowned. "I don't know… It doesn't matter anyway."

"Why not?"

"Because I can't talk to him anymore."

"He stayed all night with you. He obviously wants you to be alright. He obviously cared for you."

Ryoga smiled and nodded. He cared for Kaito too. But as long as Ken's curse remained, he had no choice. He couldn't touch or talk with Kaito. He had no choice. But soon he'd be able to. He just hoped Kaito could wait for Ryoga to break Honour's curse. But that woman… The woman who'd kissed Kaito. Maybe he didn't have time to wait.


"You really don't know anything?" Fury muttered, folding his arms. Rio scowled and stared out at the river. "This is all Pride cares about. Envy has negotiated your release if you give us what we want."

"I told you, I don't know and I don't understand any of this," Rio snapped. "I don't even know what I saw."

"You saw the past," he replied, sitting on the floor. "Mother must have told you something."

"Mother… Why do you all call her Mother?"

"She is," he replied. "She's the first hunter. The one who gave us all our powers, don't you know?" Rio shook his head. "She always had the power of souls. And to resurrect Glory, Pride convinced her to use her powers. And so to find a suitable soul to bring her back, he gave out the powers and sent us out to hunt."

"Then… this was all just to bring her back? But, I met her. She's alive. I don't understand."

"The soul she currently possesses isn't her own. It's a substitute. She wears them out quickly. And so they hunt for more, constantly hunting for more souls… But we need her original soul or the hunting will never stop."

Rio frowned and gazed out at the lake. Then they were only looking for her soul to bring her back. She supposed she understood. She knew she would do anything for Ryoga and Kaito had hunted souls for Haruto.

"Your brother is in hospital," came Envy's voice. Rio whipped around and Envy smiled. "He is recovering quickly but it was close." Rio nodded weakly. "Now, you need to tell us where Glory's soul is so we can return you to him."

"I keep telling you!" she cried. "I don't know where she is! She didn't tell me anything!"

Envy smiled. "She's told you. You just can't figure it out. Tell us what she said."

Rio sighed and lowered her head, quietly explaining everything. She had no choice. She just have to get out and back to Ryoga. If he was sick and unwell, she had to return to him. So she said everything but of course, she didn't know what they expected of her. There didn't seem to be any hints about where Miki's true soul was. And until there was, she was going to be separated from Ryoga even when he needed her at his side.


In the Next Chapter: Ryoga insists on leaving hospital and Kaito isn't sure just how much he owes Envy.

One Dark and Stormy Night