A/N: I apologize for making you all wait for so long. Irl things have gotten in the way, but I promise to never abandon a story, and I mean it! I will try to get the next chapter out sooner, and I hope you like this one~

"Shit, shit, shit, shit!"

The string of curses from Shizuo alone made people step aside from him, who was running through the streets. Those who didn't move were nearly barreled over.

Nothing would stop him. He had to get to his brother. The more he thought of Tsugaru, always smiling, making him feel the most comfortable he'd ever been..injured, scared, or dea-

"Fuck no. He won't die."

It was impossible. The Heiwajima blood in his brother wouldn't allow that.

"He won't."

If he kept saying that, maybe it would make it happen.

"Don't give up, Tsugaru. I'm coming to get you!"

The run turned more into a sprint, and he wouldn't stop until he could be with his brother.

By the time he got to the top of the hill, noticing the horrible destruction at the bottom, Shizuo was soaked to the bone with rain. Even so, he didn't stop. Not until he got to the bottom of the hill, leaning against a light pole, attempting to catch his breath. His eyes scanned the area, until he saw a huge amount of people, reporters, firemen, police, gathered around one car. That had to be it.

Though Shizuo hoped Tsugaru was alive, his heart clenched and he expected the worst.

His eyes focused ahead, he bumped past others shoulders. Some, who were about to comment on the rude pushes, immediately shut up once they realized who he was.

Shizuo the Monster of Ikebukuro.

'Tsugaru was always the one telling me I am not a monster..'

The crowd of people widened to let him through, even the police and firemen.

But they were all staring at him, some in fear, some in irritation.

"What the hell are you lookin' at. Move."

They did, and when the ocean of people moved, he could see the taxi.

Or what was left of it. Smashed, mangled metal twisted around showed how violent the car fell.

He could not see his brother.

"Tsugaru? Tsugaru!" Closing the gap between him and the car, he managed to see a bit of his brothers hair..then a bloodied face..

"Fuck. Tsugaru, answer me!"

Again, there was no answer. Just a bit of movement in the crushed taxi, as if he were trying to answer, but couldn't.

"H..elp.."

And there it was. A very soft, faint whisper from his brother.

"I'll get you out of there."

Shizuo was determined to. He placed a hand on the car frame, about pull forward when someone spoke up.

"Hey, monst-" Shizuo gave him a glare, making sure he knew to not finish that word.

".. Shizuo-san. Wait. You can't just rip and tear the car apart. Tsugaru is wedged in there pretty good. You need to be very careful..or you may bring more harm to him."

His eyes were so focused on Tsugaru, that he just nodded without a word. To get his brother out safely, he had to be careful, unlike how he usually was.

Precise, slow, careful.

His fingers tightened around part of the frame, crunching the metal tightly in his palms. At a slow, steady pace, he pulled part of the door off, being sure to steady himself so he would not jumble the car too much.

"It's actually a good thing you're here." The fireman stated. "We were unsure we would be able to get him out with our tools..slowly, now.."

Normally people didn't talk to him so calmly, mostly just screamed or yelled. So he would actually listen to this man, after all, he was helping rescue his brother.

"Right. Slow and easy." Shizuo mumbled, slowly peeling the metal as if it were nothing at all. All instinct inside him spoke of hurrying, ripping it off and pulling Tsugaru out. The violent side of him.

No. He had to channel it all until they were through.

".. You heard it first here, everyone. The Monster of Ikebukuro himself, Heiwajima Shizuo, is using his immense strength to help his injured brother from the wreckage. Amazing!"

The news was all over this, knowing it would get people's attention.

"Hang in there, Tsu-nii.."

There it was, the pet name he used as a child. Only used as a means to help a sobbing, little Tsugaru at night.

It was sure a name he'd not used in a long time.

Almost there, just a bit more and they'd be able to get Tsugaru out of there. Fifteen painfully slow minutes later, they'd finally created an opening large enough to get his brother out safely.

And still Tsugaru barely moved at all.

"I'll get him." The demanding tone did not give anyone much reason to argue.

"Just..slowly, Shizuo-san. He may have broken bones."

He knew that. Which is why he was being so careful.

Shizuo climbed inside the taxi, knees digging into the broken glass, pushing into his skin through his clothing. Ignoring such minor wounds, he did the first thing that came to his mind, checked for a pulse.

"Tsugaru. Are you still with us? Better fucking be.. Please."

The sight of his brother's body, limp, blood streaked everywhere, not answering Shizuos words at all.

He brushed the blonde hair back a bit, placing two fingers at his throat.

Faint little beats pulsed under his fingertips.

A pulse. He was alive.

But seemed like he was barely hanging on.

Inward panic ensues.

"Like hell I'll let you die!"

Being as careful as he could, he placed one arm behind Tsugaru's shoulders and another one under his legs, behind the knees. Shizuo held onto him tightly to his chest, but gentler than he normally was, not wishing to cause harm.

"Shizuo-san! A helicopter is here to take your brother to the hospital."

He wanted to scream and yell about how long it took those morons to get here, but that would not help anyone. Shizuo hurried to the helicopter, which was still on, blades still spinning. Hesitance struck him suddenly. Trusting these people to help his brother meant removing Tsugaru from his arms. But holding him was only stalling, when his brother could be dying!

Without a word, he stepped up inside the helicopter, then laid Tsugaru down onto the stretcher, very carefully. The paramedics waisted no time in checking vitals, speaking in medical terms that Shizuo was clueless about.

"You should get off, and drive to the hospital-"

There goes the fireman, spouting words that pissed him off again.

"No. You did your best to help my brother while I was gone, so I thank you for that, but.. I'm going with him. He's not fucking leaving my sight."

No one else opposed again, and the helicopter took off.

What he was worried about, and the paramedics as well, was that Tsugaru was not responding.

'I should have gotten there sooner.' Resting his face in his hands, he clenched his teeth to hold back tears. 'I should have been there to protect him. Tsugaru..' His thoughts were plagued with guilt and images of their childhood together.

"Shizu-nii.."

It was soft, and low.. barely above a whisper, but he heard it. Even among the loud helicopter and the wind. Shizuo raised his head from his hand, staring down at Tsugaru with widened eyes. A weak smile graced the blue-clad man's face, though his eyes were openly partially open. That was Tsugaru; even in mortal danger, wounded badly, and still he was trying to reassure Shizuo that things would be alright. In his own small way.

Their eyes met, though briefly, and he was relieved.

After that, things were a little uneventful. They made it to the hospital, where Tsugaru was rushed away to the emergency room. Despite his glares and growls, he was not allowed to be near the room.

Instead, he paced the waiting room and tried not to break the chairs out of pure frustration. How many times had he glanced at the clock now? It was well-over a hundred times. It was taking them so long. Five hours of walking around the waiting room later, the doctor finally appeared.

"Shizuo," The doctor had a grim look on his face as he spoke, and wondered if all the color had drained from his own face by now. If Tsugaru was dead, the rage and sorrow inside of him was about to explode.

"Tsugaru-san is alive, but he has a lot of injuries."

Alive.

This made him happier than he was willing to show anyone, so, he kept a slight frown. "Will he be alright?"

The doctor flipped through files in his hands, sighing.

"He will, we hope. A broken leg and shoulder, not to mention how much glass we had to remove. His ribs also took a lot of damage. They are cracked, but not broken. Honestly, I am shocked he is still alive, based on how awful the wreck was."

The list of injuries was.. longer than he thought. But, not as bad as he thought. Shizuo silently thanked the Gods for giving Tsugaru the Heiwajima strength, so he was able to endure a bit more than the average person.

"Can I see him now? It would be in everyone's bests interests to say yes."

The doctor blinked, looked behind Shizuo to see everyone else in the waiting room nodding quickly. Must have scared them. "Ah, I see. Follow me, then. He has not woken up yet, but I can allow you to stay by his side.. if you will behave."

Shizuo followed the doctor, folded his arms across his chest and scoffed. " 'Course I will behave. I don't need more property damage bills."

That and the aura around his brother calmed him automatically. Tsugaru hardly let anything bother him and- his defenses were just totally down around his younger brother, that much he would admit to himself.

Shizuo was lost in his own thoughts while listening to the doctor drone on and on while they walked. Until finally, finally they approached the room Tsugaru was in.

The sight before him was frightening.

So many wires and machines in this room, an IV was attached to Tsugaru's arm as well. It was a bit intimidating, but at least Tsugaru looked better. No more blood all over, no more glass or dirt.

The doctor must have sensed what Shizuo was feeling, because he spoke up.

"Not to worry. We just have to run tests to make sure he will be alright, don't worry about the machines."

There were so many, but he would take the doctor's words to heart.

"Thanks for saving him.. I mean it."

Those were the only words he mumbled to the doctor before grabbing a chair to sit as close as he could to the bed where Tsugaru lie.

The doctor left the room in silence, closing the door behind him.

"Hey, Tsu. It's me, big brother Shizuo. I'm so sorry for not helping you more. I really should have been there. I can't stand to see you hurt. Dammit, I should have been there to protect you."

These were the ramblings of a man who felt so guilty, and upset, to a man who hopefully could not hear them. To admit all these things was a bit embarrassing on his part. He'd always been closest with Tsugaru, but never opened up like this.

"You know you mean a lot to me, right? When I heard about the accident, I ran there so fast, that I don't even remember doing it.. I was a little blind with rage and fear, I must admit."

Shizuo trailed off, watching his brother sleep peacefully. As if nothing had happened. That is when he stood up from the chair. For what reason, he could not remember.

"You have some hair.. in your eye."

That was the excuse he used to reach out and gently run his hand over Tsugaru's forehead, pushing some blonde hair from view. However, he didn't remove his hand immediately. Instead, his fingers grazed down the side of his brother's face, ending up al but cupping the side, running a thumb along his bottom lip. 'He has such nice, smooth skin..'

"S-Shizuo-nii?"

He'd been so focused on what he was doing, he barely noticed those lips part and move.

Shit.

Oh, shit.

He gave a dumbfounded look to Tsugaru, who gave him the same, with a blush highly visible. Finally, it registered and he yanked his hand back.

Now, to explain why he was just touching Tsugaru's face so intimately.

"As your brother, I was checking on the well-being of your skin, Tsu-nii. Brother. Checking.. skin."

...

Could he lie any worse? And that badly? And to use the name for Tsugaru that he hadn't used since childhood?!

This was going to be a long day.