Hello! I have a snow day today so guess what I'm doing? That's right~ And now I present to you the fruits of my work today!

Review replies

Eclaria: Mmm, I'm glad I've got some free time to write XD Well, some more things happen in this chapter! Hope you enjoy~

cardfight dreammer: Mm, thank you! It'll happen at some point...maybe XP

Guest: Glad you like it! Here you go~

AsterDragElf: Mmm, I try~ He'll be ok at some point

Knight of the Wolves: I'm glad you like it! I hope it meets your expectations!

Disclaimer: I don't own them

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Last time...

When Kai woke up a few hours later, after thanking them for taking care of him, he immediately attempted to usher everyone out of his apartment. He wanted to be alone right then. But they all saw through his pain and demanded that he allow them to stay. In the end, Kai couldn't argue with them. It wasn't until late into the evening that they left. However, they all promised that they would check up on him at some point in the week. Kai managed a weak smile of gratitude and sent them off. When he was sure that they were all an adequate distance away, he closed his door with a soft click and slid down until he was sitting on the floor. He brought his fist to the door.

"Damn it…"

Weeks passed. Everyone noticed the subtle changes in Kai, from his unease in public to the dark bags that had gathered under his eyes. Gaillard doubted that he had slept since he had come over just last week. He, Miwa and Aichi had visited him a week earlier, which marked the fortnight of Kai's collapse, and the brunet looked like he was on the verge of fainting again. Gaillard knew that the two had their differences, but he was never one to ignore a friend in need. And so that was how he found himself knocking on Kai's door when he should've been relaxing at Card Capital. He rang doorbell twice. When he didn't hear anyone there, he turned to leave. That was when he noticed a shadow around the corner. He raised an eyebrow. Had Kai come back? He turned the corner and gasped. Before he could scream, a rough hand was placed over his mouth, covering it, and a maniac grin flashed. And then there was pain. So much pain.

Kai walked with Miwa back to his apartment. The two had spent the day at Miwa's house, the blond trying to take his friend's mind off of things. The blond had succeeded for a while; he had caught glimpses of the soft smile that was so rare nowadays. He felt quite proud of himself. But just as they got out of the elevator, a pungent smell assaulted his nostrils. Miwa had to plug his nose. It made him want to barf on the spot. What in the world was that smell? He turned to Kai, about to voice his questions when he noticed how pale his best friend had gone. The brunet shakily took steps forward, closer to where a red puddle was seeping out from. Miwa slowly followed. Looks like all his hard work this afternoon just went down the drain.

Dark blue hair matted thick with blood lay in front of them. The normally striking orange eyes were dull and hazy. His usual white attire was now stained almost completely crimson. It took all Miwa had not to vomit on the spot. Slowly, his gray eyes made their way to the wall. Smeared in blood and written in all capitals, the words "I'm coming for you" were messily scrawled. Miwa turned to Kai. The poor brunet looked like he was about to pass out again. But Miwa didn't blame him. Quietly, he shielded Kai's eyes from anymore of the carnage and quickly led him to his apartment door. He grabbed the spare key hidden under the mat and unlocked the door to Kai's home. Miwa left for a short time to brew some hot chocolate for the two of them. It looked like they would both need it. But not before calling an ambulance for Gaillard.

The paramedics came and left as quickly as they came. Miwa was left with a very silent brunet sitting on his bed. Of course, Miwa couldn't really blame Kai for clamming up. Anyone would be shocked after what the two of them just saw. Miwa slowly moved beside Kai on the bed and watched sadly as he flinched away at first. Miwa put a comforting arm around Kai's shoulders and pulled him into a sideways hug.

"Kai… I know things have been hard for you. I don't even know what you're going through. Please, will you tell me a little bit about what's been going on? I want to help you… Everyone does." Kai made a sniffling sound and buried his face into Miwa's shoulder before letting out heart wrenching wails. The blond patted the other's head and ran his fingers through the soft brown hair, whispering reassuring words of comfort.

When Kai calmed down, it was already late into the night. Miwa asked if he could stay over, which Kai readily agreed to. After a quick phone call home, Miwa was eating Kai's homemade fried rice. Needless to say, it was amazing. But it lacked a certain "feel" to it. The food was emotionally bland, Miwa thought. There was definitely something bugging Kai. Kai himself was close to revealing what it was but Miwa wouldn't push until he was ready. The two got ready for bed and by the time Miwa came out of the bathroom, the spare futon was already set out and Kai was fast asleep.

When morning arrived, Kai was nowhere to be seen. Miwa turned the apartment upside down looking for him and after roughly 20 minutes, realised that the brunet had left. His toothbrush was gone as well as a few sets of clothes and his deck and any other essentials. Miwa frowned. He quickly sent a mass text to everyone who was able and informed them of the situation. Almost immediately, replies flooded his phone with affirmative responses to joining his search party. Miwa himself grabbed his coat and locked the door behind him, his thoughts filled with the missing brunet.

Kai stood outside the train station. Was he really going to go through with this? Did he really want to leave all of his friends? His mates? Kai closed his eyes. Yes. This was for the best. He didn't want that man to get to them. They had already gotten to Gaillard. He couldn't let them hurt anybody else. As he was about to step into the station, he heard someone call his name. Immediately, he picked up his pace. He knew that voice anywhere and there was no way that he was going to be convinced out of what he was going to do. Kai continued to briskly walk towards the station, only to have his path cut off by another one of his mates. Of course Naoki had to be the one to block him. He was as stubborn as an ox. It was because of that momentary pause that Aichi caught up to him. Kai didn't dare turn around. He didn't want to see the look on his friend's face.

"Kai-kun… why are you running away?" he asked gently. Kai clenched his fist. He wanted nothing more than this burden to be off his shoulders. But how could he without dying? At least if he left, his friends wouldn't be there to get caught up in the mess.

"Kai, stop being stubborn! You know we want to help you! Why don't you just let us in?!" the vice captain of the Miyaji cardfight club scolded. Kai frowned. Could he let them in? Could he share this huge burden? At that moment, the others arrived as well. Of course Aichi had thought to contact everyone else about his whereabouts. Gentle words came from everyone, pleading- some even begging- for him to tell them what was going on. From the looks of things, they all knew what had happened to Gaillard. The overwhelming guilt was crushing. He couldn't do this alone anymore. He needed help. Kai looked up, sorrow blatant in his teal eyes.

"I'll tell you… but after that you'll wish you'd never met me."

How was it? Leave a review for me please? ;)