A/N: Quick update before I jet off to work so, have fun, thanks for reading and review, ok?


It had taken all afternoon for Ryoga to convince his mother and the hospital staff, and his friends, to let him leave the hospital. He'd been quiet and compliant when Ken had been there. His mind was on Kaito though. No one seemed to notice though. And he supposed if they did they put it down to his weakness.

"You really should rest tomorrow," his mother said as they were driving home. "I'll call the school, I'm sure they'll understand. You should have the week off too. I don't want you straining yourself."

"I'm fine," Ryoga replied.

"No," she said firmly. "I want you in bed until further notice."

"Please don't fuss so much," he muttered. "Besides, I… I want to go and see Kaito. At least to think him for staying last night."

"I thought you couldn't talk to him."

"I have to try."

She sighed and shook her head. "I might let you go once I'm content you're not going to collapse any second. I worry about your health sometimes, Ryoga. I think you did some damage with all the stress of Rio's accident and your… incident." Ryog nodded weakly. "Where is Rio?"

"She's been staying with friends a lot recently. I don't want to worry her."

She nodded and it wasn't long before they pulled to a stop and she helped him out. Ryoga was still rather weak but he was managing to keep himself together. His mother quickly pointed out he was banned from his bike until further notice. He wasn't sure even he was stupid enough to ride his bike in his condition.

So, Ryoga soon found himself in bed with a bowl of soup- the only thing he'd been allowed to eat all day and trying to convince his mother to let him visit Kaito. Or at least let him have his D-Pad to message him.

Shark: Do you want to come and save me?

Kaito: Save you? Aren't you in hospital?

Shark: I'm home. And my mother is fussing.

Kaito: Kaito would fuss just as much.

Ryoga sighed, realising it wasn't Kaito on the other end.

Shark: Haruto?

Kaito: Kaito really likes you. You should come over and let him fuss over you. He's looked after me for long enough to know how.

Shark: You know I can't.

Kaito: Oh yeah.

Shark: Just tell him I said thanks for staying with me.

There was silence for a while before his mother came back in. He saw her discreetly glance at hi D-Pad and sighed. He loved his mother but going from barely seeing her to constant attention was a little jarring.

"I'm not doing anything," Ryoga muttered. "I'm fine."

"Just rest up," she said, kissing his forehead. "My darling… I worry about you. I know I spend so much time away from you and Rio but I love you and I worry that your trouble at school was because we had to work so hard."

"It was tough with Rio in hospital," he said. "You had to work hard to afford to keep us in something like the life we knew."

"I'm glad you understand."

"I do, believe me. You two did all you could. But I can handle it. I can look after myself pretty well."

"Ryoga, you could have died!" she snapped, glaring down at him suddenly. Ryoga frowned and lowered his gaze to his lap. "If that Kaito boy hadn't been there you would have!" Well, he supposed that was the point of Ken's curse. Kaito was the trigger, and Kaito wouldn't let him die! I could have lost you! Do you not understand that?!"

"I- I'm sorry…"

"So you should be. None of the doctors can figure out what happened to you or why it happened and the closest they can tell me is that it could be you're taking something you shouldn't, even though your blood was clean. So maybe it's something new, something dangerous. Do you know how that feels to hear that? That my baby boy is mixed up in something like that?"

"I'm not-"

"And that Kaito? Wasn't he there when you collapsed before the WDC? When you were in coma?" He opened his mouth to argue but really, he couldn't. "They couldn't find a cause then, either." She was right. He couldn't tell her the truth. To normal people it was unbelievable. She sighed and sat on the bed, gently taking his hands and squeezing. "Ryoga, I love you, you're my little baby boy. You have been what kept me strong. I had to remember I had to be strong for you, because when Rio was in the hospital, I was so scared I'd been a bad mother. I wanted to give up but I had to be strong for you. I'd do anything you and Rio needed."

"I know…" Ryoga said quietly. "I'm sorry."

His mother smiled softly and stroked his cheek. "I only want you to be ok. I want you to tell me what's going on, so I can help you."

He really wished he could tell his mother the truth, but wouldn't it all just sound crazy to her? She wouldn't understand. Closing his eyes slowly, he squeezed her hand back. Kaito was lucky in some respects. His family knew about Astral and all this stuff. They understood that it was dangerous. Even Yuma's family understood a little. His didn't.

"I can't."

"Ryoga…"

"You wouldn't understand, I'm sorry."

"Ryoga, if you're in trouble-"

"It's not that," he said quickly, opening his eyes again. "I promise. I- I'm not in trouble or anything and I'm not taking anything, I swear."

"Then what is it?"

"I can't explain."

There was silence for a few moments before Ryoga's D-Pad lit up again with a message from Akina telling him she thought he should visit Kaito. He frowned and reached for it but his mother snatched it away.

"Ryoga, if you're in trouble again-"

"I'm not!"

"Ryoga, don't lie to me."

"I'm not! You have to believe me, I don't know what's going on either."

She sighed and shook her head, getting up and taking his D-Pad with her. "If you keep lying to me, then I have no choice."

"No…" Ryoga frowned. "What are you doing?"

"I'm sorry, Ryoga," she murmured, walking away and picking up his deck. "You'll understand, one day, I only want to protect you and keep you from harm."

"What are you doing?" he cried, climbing out of bed. "What are you doing with my stuff?" She carried on and Ryoga stumbled after her. "Hey! That's my stuff!" She shook her head and put his D-Pad and deck and locked them away in the safe under her bed. "You can't do that!"

"Ryoga!" she snapped, turning to glare down at him. "You are involved in something and you are lying to me about it and it is affecting your health! You have been in and out of hospital since you began to hang around with this Yuma boy. Even when you were messing around with those gangs, you were safe. You know I love you, and if isolating you for a while to help you recover if the only way to keep you safe then so be it. But I will not lose you!"

"That's my deck!" he argued. "My duel disk! My Shark Drake!"

"You and that bloody card-"

"It's my ace. He's my partner."

"It's a card, Ryoga."

"It's my card! I fought for it!"

"And this is your life," she cried, gripping his shoulders. "Ryoga, you could have died. Do you really care more about your cards than your health?"

"You don't understand."

"Stop acting like a spoilt brat." He pushed her away and turned sharply, storming out. "Ryoga!" He strode out and shoved on his shoes. "Ryoga, where are you going?!"

"Out!" Ryoga yelled.

"You're in no condition to be up, let alone going out!"

"If you don't understand how important duelling and my deck are to me then I don't want to be here!"

"For heaven's sake, Ryoga-"

She caught his wrist but he snatched it away and bolted down the hall, ignoring her calling after him. She'd taken the only thing he had to protect the people he loved. She didn't understand! He was doing this all because he loved them and wanted to protect them. Of course he understood that his life was in danger and he'd nearly died but he needed to do this and without Shark Drake and his deck he didn't know if he could.

Ryoga hadn't realised there was a storm raging outside. Lightning streaked across the sky and thunder boomed as rain pounded down. But he refused to go back inside. He needed space from her and he could only think of one place he wanted to be right now. There was really one person- other than Rio- who could help him vent his frustrations.

So he made a run for it.

Soon Heartland Tower came into view and Ryoga couldn't have been more relieved. His chest was tight and burning slightly, and the rain stung him but he had to get there. He stumbled under the shelter of Heartland Tower's back door and closed his eyes, breathing heavily, trying to get his heartbeat back to normal.

Now what? He couldn't speak to Kaito or touch him or anything but he'd arrived there and he wanted Kaito badly right now. He sighed, gazing out at the rain. He needed Kaito or Rio right now and he could have neither.

"My my," laughed a woman's voice. He scowled as a figure came through the rain, holding an umbrella. "What are you doing out here, little Wrath?"

"Who are you?" he hissed.

"I'm the person giving Kaito what he desires."


Kaito frowned as the doorbell buzzed. The back door. Only his friends came in through there. Haruto smiled knowingly and Kaito shot him a mock glare.

"What do you know?"

"I told Ryoga he should come and let you fuss over him."

"Haruto, if I touch him it'll kill him," Kaito hissed, getting up. Haruto frowned and folded his arms. "I doubt his family let him go either."

So, of course, Kaito was absolutely stunned when the doors slid open and revealed an thoroughly soaked Ryoga standing there, looking a little dazed. After his shock passed, Kaito realised that Ryoga must have walked all this way. In the storm. And that he'd just got out of hospital. This couldn't be good.

"For the love of…" He scowled and stepped aside. "At least come in out of the cold, you stupid child."

Ryoga frowned and stepped in cautiously, glancing over his shoulder as the doors shut. Kaito sighed. How could he have Ryoga here and not put his hands on him? He was already desperate to wrap a towel around him and dry him off.

"I'm going to call your mother and have her pick you up," Kaito said, turning away. "You can't be here." He went to head towards the elevator but Ryoga ran round, blocking his path and gazing up at him. Kaito sighed. He wasn't making this easy. "Ryoga, please, I can't have you collapsing again. If I have to rush you to hospital again people will get suspicious."

There was a moment of silence before Ryoga took a small step closer. Kaito's breath caught. They weren't touching, but they only the slightest movement would do it. His breath mingled with Ryoga's, their lips only a hair apart. He didn't know how to resist. He wanted to close the gap between them so badly but Ryoga seemed to have chosen Ken and even if he hadn't, just the smallest kiss could return him to hospital.

So he was a strange mixture of confused and terrified when Ryoga's hand pressed against the back of his next and he was tugged down into a passionate kiss. But after a moment, when there were no ill effects, Kaito seized the moment. He had to make this count before something did happen. Ryoga had taken the chance and he had to at least repay the favour. His hands slid down to waist, pulling him up and closer, holding the slightly smaller boy on his toes as they kissed. And Ryoga responded perfectly, gripping his collar and sliding his hand up into his hair, tilting his head to lean into the kiss more. Just perfect for Kaito to press their bodies together and pour all his frustration and passion into it. Really, he didn't know when Ryoga would no longer be able to keep this up and they would have to part. He had to give it to make him understand while he could.

Finally, Ryoga drew back slowly, both panting heavily. Why was he doing this? Why was he bringing Kaito's feeling back to the front of his mind? Why was he bringing this up again?

"I think I just…" Ryoga sighed and closed his eyes. "I need you right now, Kaito. When I saw you with that woman… I won't let you go. I need you right now and I need you to hang on until Ken's curse is broken." His eyes opened again and Kaito found himself lost in their beauty. Of course he'd wait for Ryoga. "And I just… I couldn't stop it anymore. And when I saw her outside I just-"

"She was outside?"

"That's not important."

"Yes it is," Kaito snapped. "She was outside?"

"Yes…" Ryoga said, drawing back out of his hold. "Just before I came in."

"Ryoga-"

"It- it's fine," he replied, lowering his gaze. "I just thought- she said-"

"Ryoga," he said firmly. Ryoga sighed and closed his eyes. He thought that he and Envy were a couple, didn't he? How wrong he was. Maybe this was why Ryoga had come here. Had Envy manipulated him despite him telling her he didn't want that? "I need to know what she said. Please?"

"She said she was the one giving you what you desire," Ryoga muttered. "She said that I should tell you that she looks forward to your gift."

Gift? The soul? She'd agreed to let him hunt in Ryoga's place. Ryoga took a small box from his pocket and held it out to him. Kaito frowned and took it slowly, shoving it in his own pocket. He'd deal with that later. He had more pressing concerns.

"Did she say anything else?"

"What more do you want?" Ryoga snapped. "I should go."

"No!" Kaito said, probably a little too quickly. He wrapped his arms around Ryoga's waist as he went passed and pulled the boy back against him. "I'm sorry, ok? There's nothing between us. She's another hunter. She wanted me to make you hunt souls."

"Oh." Ryoga frowned and tilted his head back on Kaito's shoulder. "Now I feel silly."

Kaito smiled, gently tilting Ryoga's head back a little further and pressing soft kisses over his exposed throat. He was certainly going to make the most of this. Perhaps Ken's curse had only been designed to work once. Perhaps he expected Ryoga to be so shaken by almost dying that he wouldn't try again. It was stupid to think that but that's what Kaito wanted to believe. Chances were this was Envy's doing. But there was nothing he could do. He could only hope this was real and make the most of what he'd been given. If it was real, he knew Ryoga cared for him, if not… He frowned slightly. If not then he'd have a little while with Ryoga focused only on them. He couldn't change things, but he could make the most of this. He'd make up for it by saving him from hunting souls. Just a few hours of happiness with Ryoga in his arms wasn't so much to ask, was it? He didn't deserve it, but he needed it.

"I think, perhaps I should take you upstairs and dry you off before we do anymore damage to your health."

Ryoga nodded, sliding his fingers between Kaito's and letting him lead him away to the elevator. After his meeting with his mother, Kaito wasn't sure what to think. She seemed so normal, so approving and concerned for her son. If only she knew the truth about the situation. She might never let him out the house again, of course, but it might reassure her..

"Why are you here?" Kaito said.

"I had an argument with my mother," Ryoga replied as the doors closed. He smiled slightly and moved over, leaning against Kaito's chest, letting Kaito wrap his arms around his soaked, shivering body, trying to warm him a little. "She took away my deck. She wants me to stay locked up to keep me safe."

Kaito sighed and nodded, kissing the top of his head gently. "And so you came running to me."

"I want to be with you," he said, closing his eyes. "After seeing you with that girl… I don't want you with anyone else, Kaito. Not her, or Rio or Chris. No one but me."

Kaito smiled slightly, sliding his hand under Ryoga's chin and pressing a soft kiss to his lips. "Ryoga, I want you to know right now that I don't want anyone else. It's funny how the other side of the weekend I'd believed you were really just little brother figure to me but seeing you with Ken just made me realise how much I wanted you. And this isn't a game to me, I don't want nyone else. I need you to understand that. And I just really hope that what you're feeling is real."

"Real? Why wouldn't it be real? You think someone else is behind this as well?"

"Never mind," Kaito murmured. "It doesn't matter. Just… don't ever doubt my feelings for you."

Ryoga smiled and they stepped out into the sitting room where Haruto grinned seeing them. "You came, Shark!"

"Yeah," he said quietly. "I did. I'm kind of wet though." Haruto nodded and Kaito pulled Ryoga through to his bedroom with Haruto on his heels. "And whatever Ken did to me seems to be gone."

"That's good. Kaito was really worried about you."

"Haruto," Kaito said quietly, pulling Ryoga into his arms. "Why don't you get Father to read to you tonight? So I can tend to Ryoga."


In the Next Chapter:

Broken Hearted