Here's the next chapter! Sorry for the wait I was jst busy with the holidays. hope you had a great time too!

Thanks for the reviews!

A/N: I was reading and I realized I made the worst mistake ever. I WAS CHANGING BETWEEN THIRD PERSON AND "I" Seriously? WHO DOES THAT?! So I read it all again and corrected it. I am very very sorry guys! However I did left the end in third person so you can enjoy it better I think. It breaks a rule on writting or something?

Anyway!

(Risa)

I stared paralyzed as I watched him try and lose against them both, they were bigger than him and sure, he could fight one of them but two? For a whole ten seconds I just stared and my eyes prickled with tears and then I finally found my voice begging them to stop.

Otani had told me time and time again that I shouldn't beg for anything, that I was worth giving but this time I found myself begging agaisnt his will and after what I felt like eternity I stood up and I was about to run for the lobby for help when my help came to me.

Two guys wearing white robes entered my vision and took the man away from Otani. They grumbled and fought but now they were outnumbered and finally the two drunks were running out the street tripping on each other. I stared for a second at the image of the three man remaining blinking as my heart was racing against my chest.

I almost yelled in relief.

They were Kaoru and Takashi Tomoeda. They were brothers and lived in the apartment just under us and were studying medicine, hence the white robes. They both had amazing stricking green eyes and dark hair. Takashi was taller but Kaoru was not that far behind. My mind progressed that they should have come home after a shift or something being so late in the night, however I couldn't care less as I heard Otani grunt and that snapped me out of my thought. I sprang to my feet and ran to Otani who was still on the floor breathing hard. The siblings already on him checking him out. As they talked to one another in terms I didnt understood.

I had never been so grateful that Otani had befriended them on our first day on the building.

"Otani." I croaked his name as I fell to my knees by his side. "Otani…"

This is my fault. All my fault.

He had his eyes closed and was having trouble breathing, I noticed with a yelp and he had a horrible mark on his cheeks and part of his light blue shirt was stained with red. It was all my fault. If only I weren't so tall… I wouldn't have caught the attention of the two idiots who kicked my boyfriend…

If only I wasn't so tall and clumsy and stupid. I wouldn't have tripped… and we would had made it to the building lobby…

I couldn't see anymore as tears that I didn't knowwere bulding finally made it out. I was crying a river down my face as with a hand I tugged Otani's and the other went to my face to try and stop the tears from falling. I felt a hand on my check suddenly and I snapped my eyes at the sudden touch. I knew tha touch.

Otani was frowning a bit as he tried and failed to clean my tears but as soon as he get ride of them others appeared to replace them.

"Otani. Im sorry. Im so sorry I—"

"Stop crying you idiot, somehow Im always making you cry." He said grunting and then his hand fell and he crunched a little as he yelped in pain. I looked down as Takashi shared a smile with me, his hand on the other shoulder of Otani as Otani murmured some bad words under his breath.

"So… Suddenly."

"Sorry I had to do it while you were distracted." Takashi said as I noticed that Otani had dislocated his shoulder and located again in less than five minutes. I felt guilty for all of it.

Otani tried to push himself up and managed with my help.

"Is he okay?" I asked the two siblings and they nodded as Otani checked himself, moving his head to see in how much mess he was. Kaoru had a huge bruise on his left cheek from the fight but smiled to me.

"Yes, his arm is good again but I think he sprang his ankle, he has—not so fast there Otani." He said as Otani tried to get up and grumbled to the floor wincing. "You broke a rib or two or at least damaged them."

"I…noticed." Otani grumbled under his breath. We were silent for a few moments as the siblings ended checking on Otani, as I kept crying silently and as Otani kept saying he was fine and was being ignored as the siblings asked me things from time to time and I answered.

"Im here ya know?!" Otani said angrily and a part of me knew if he could get mad he was fine.

But still… my fault.

"Brave little neighbor we have don't we?" Kaoru said smiling and then patted Otanis back who winced a bit. "You'll be sore the next days but you are fine."

Takashi had ended wrapping Otani's ankle and now all that was left to do was taking care of his ribs and get him upstairs.

"Alright, the most important things were taken cared of, lets go inside and lets put your boyfriend on a bed." Kaoru said helping Otani to his feet and Takashi on his other side helped him too. I meekly nodded and began walking to the building and to the elevator with them trailing behind.

"So how did you guys ended up like that?" Takashi asked as we entered the elevator, I pressed seven as Otani grumbled.

"Koizumi always manages to get in all kind of trouble." He sighed with both arms wrapped around the siblings shoulders for support and the siblings laughed. I turned to the front trying to control my tears. I knew he didn't mean it… but somehow it struck home. Kaoru kicked me lightly with his free hand.

"So? Care to fill in?"

I didn't want to talk about it. I didn't want to say anything. Because it was my fault.

"I—"

"All you have to know is that those two guys messed up and that's it." Otani said and I was relieved of the fact that I didnt need to answer. I could feel his stare behind me but I didn't turn when the door opened and we walked to our apartment.

I opened the door clumsily as my hand were still shaken and then turned on the lights. The boys started to move to the bedroom when Otani stopped walking and stood up straigther forcing the brothers to stop and look confused over his behavior.

"Otani?" I inquired as I went to open the door for them.

"Do—don't..what… am… there's a couch! Yes! Leave me there, cure me there!"

The siblings shared a look over his head.

"Why? After we bandage you up it will be difficult to Risa to move you around…"

"But—the room is messy…really, really messy guys, just, yes—lest go to the couch, right Risa?" I looked at him and his flustered face and how red he looked and how he just for a second locked eyes with me. And—

Of course.

I turned red too and managed a smile.

"Right, right! Ha ha ha.. yess messy room, we haven't cleaned in ages! Just leave the shrimp on the couch!" I said remembering how the room was filled with flowers and chocolates. So embarrassing.

"Oi you Amazon!" However he winced as he sat up clutching his side. "Its hurts…"

I hurried to his side worried but in the end I just managed to sat in the other couch as Takashi commanded him to take his shirt off to take a good look at his stomach and Otani nodded. Well at least something I could help with. I helped him out of his ruined blue shirt as he winced because his left arm kept hurting him even if it was no longer dislocated.

I was too inmersed on my task of not hurting him when we heard a yell.

"OTANI AND KOIZUMI WERE ABOUT TO GET ALL LOVEY-DOVEY."

I froze as I finally took his shirt off and me and Otani shared a look. Takashi looked up from his task to see his brother...

On the frame of our room.

Kaoru standing proudly, mind you.

With the door wide open.

With all the sight clear to them.

I jumped to my feet and pushed Kaoru out with a shriek and slammed the door behind me but it was too late. Otani would have punched Kaoru if he had been able. Takashi looked down to his patient with a soft smile.

"Aww guys it was your anniversary today or something?"

"Her birthday…" Otani said with a red face as I mumbled something about anniversary.

Kaoru was laughing at me and I tried to glare at him back.

"I hate you." I said poking Kaoru's chest as he laughed more.

"So cute." He kept on laughing and I started to fight with him. I needed someone to yell at and Kaoru was perfect for the task so I yelled as he laughed harder.

"You seriously are so much fun."

Just when I thought I was back to normal and had forgotten (kind of) about the situation I glanced as Otani was made a face and his hand came to clutch the side of the sofa in pain but not a word came out as Takashi inyected him something.

My yells died and my laughter too. My eyes darted to the floor and Kaoru put a hand on my shoulder reassuringly. I ignored it. I didn't deserve it.

It was my fault. My fault. All of it.

"Stop teasing them Kaoru and help me, do you even want to graduate?" Takashi said with a sigh and Kaoru stopped annoying the poor girl and went to help as I stood by the side as the siblings snickered and Otani tried hard not blush anymore at their remarks.

It was late when the siblings left after teasing a little bit more and promising to come by tomorrow's night to check on Otani who just basically kicked them out of the apartment. He was limping a little bit but he was fine. Or so he said.

He was sore and he was in pain, the pills helped though but he was still hurting but not for his injures as much as he hurted for Risa. She had looked so upset… so… down. With both his hand on the door after shutting the door on the brothers face he turned slightly, he heard her in their room, he got all red in the face but he knew she must be cleaning the bedroom now… there was no way they could… celebrate. To put in simple. When he was like this.

It was his fault.

He limped to a chair and found himself crunching in pain unable to move for a moment. And finally he sighed. He was going to need help to get to the bedroom liked ir or not, he was older now and he was done being a stubborn high school kid. He was proud but he knew his limits, right now he would probably brake another rib and fall on the floor if he tried to get to the bedroom alone.

"Koizumi." He called softly after her and Koizumi's head popped from the door. He was red on the face but finally looked at her calmly, he opened his mouth to ask her to help him but couldn't. It was harder than he thought. Thanks God Kouizimi knew him too well by now.

"Wait, im cleaning everything up and then I'll go for you." She called and disappeared leaving me on the chair thinking how this night had turned out so badly.

After everything was done Koizumi looked around, the flowers were on the corner now and the chocolate on the shelve for later. The lights and the never lit candles in top of the drawer, she felt her cheeks go red as she cried in silence for a moment.. It had been all her fault.

She had ruined her own birthday, anniversary and top of it all got Otani injured. She sighed, she guess he would really have his week off... strayed in bed.

She took Otani inside in silence as he looked straight to her face trying to get her to look at him and she kept ignoring him, adverting his eyes. He sat warily on the bed and finally as Koizumi was about to go to the bathroom to get changed he took her hands in his and made her look down at him. She was taller when he was sitting but for once he didn't mind.

"Koizumi…are you okay? What that bastard say…" It had been annoying him because he knew that idiot had hit a soft spot on his girlfriend. Risa was very self conscious about her height and to put it so bluntly like that… no one deserved that, let alone her.

"Its okay." She said in a smile voice. "He was right."

Otani was in shock of pure anger that he had to take a second before he could yell, he tugged her hand rather harsh and she fell half to the floor half in the bed getting in level with him.

"Don't say that, don't you ever—ugh, im about to get up and find that bastard and kick him again just for what you just said! Risa! How could you—"

"Technically Takashi and Kaoru beat him up."

"Koizumi!" He said in anger and Risa knew she should stop, she sighed and sat beside him.

"Im tall out of three reasons… and im abnormal, he was right about that." Then her hands went to her face to hide it from him. "And now because of me you are injured, this was our anniversary and see how this all turned out to be! I hate it."

Otani sighed and took her hands away from her face and winced for the effort but did it nonetheless.

If anything it was his fault.

If he had been taller he could have ran faster, he could have defended her and wouldn't have made Risa trip… therefore avoiding being hit… if he had been taller the two drunks wouldn't have called him midget… he wouldn't have gone upset getting Risa into the middle of all that.

It had been his fault… for being so dense, so stupid… and so small…

He was quiet for a long time trying to form the words to convey that to Risa but soon she stood up and managed to smile down to him.

"Now lay down and sleep, I'll take a shower." She said always away from him and getting her pajamas. "There's nothing else to talk about."

"But…"

He tried to follow her but couldn't Risa throw him a look as he tried to get up.

"Don't get up or Ill get mad."

"But—Koizumi!" He said but he winced and Risa forcefully pushed him back with her hands on his shoulders.

"I mean it!" Otani saw how her eyes watered again and stopped.

"All right, I'll wait here."

And with that she was gone, she knew they needed to talk about this, but she didn't, as she watched her reflection on the mirror she wondered why, why she had to be so tall? As Otani sitting and trying to get comfortable on the bed wondered why, why he had to be so small…

It was my fault. They both sighed as Otani glanced at the door and Risa opened the shower.

Otani would save that for himself, she knew how much Risa hated when he purposely did things to push himself down, he smiled a little bit, yes he was sore and beaten but the could still talk isn't it? IT was an eventful night. He would kiss her goodnight and hold her near and tell her it was going to be alright. It was all she needed.

Risa stepped out of the bathroom already changed and with a thing in her mind, she would not speak of it any further. Otani would say it was his fault if she kept talking about it and the last thing she needed was for him to get more burdens on his shoulders because of it. So she stepped out and found Otani lying on the bed already under the covers.

It was silent for a long minute.

"Damn it Otani, I really wanted to get on the Sin Express tonight." She said nonchalantly as Otani turned red in the face and threw her the thing nearest to him. The pillow.

"Shut up, Amazon! Not my fault!"

I know… is mine. Risa said catching the pillow and hugged it against her chest.

"I know but still." She said she looked to side and made a face.

"Stop. Making. Faces!" Otani screamed as the flush lowered down. "Serioulsy woman, so unattractive."

"Its my face what are you talking about!"

"Whatever just come to bed already and get some sleep, im beat."

"Literally." Risa said in a sad sigh and Otani frowned at her sadly as he pushed himself on his elbows.

"Risa… Its not your fault."

"I know, I know... " She lowered the pillow and walked to her side getting under the sheets, she hesitated for a long time before settling on her side of the bed not touching him. Usually she would sleep on his chest and hugged, other times Otani would hug her close to his chest, other times they were so beat or came in different times that they woke up tangled in one another with their legs in a mess.

It was like their bodies needed to be touching somehow, even if they were unaware, so when Risa decided to stay away Otani noticed and sighed, he turned just barely and his left hand came to rest on her head.

They locked eyes.

"Risa, listen—"

Her hands came to her ears and she shook her head, he kicked her lightly but she refused to listen, she closed her eyes to keep the image of him hurting at bay, but more of him fighting and losing came to her mind.

"Listen to me, you dumbass!"

"I don't want to!"

"But you need to hear it!"

"I don't want to, I know what you are going to say, so please!"

"Koizumi! Stop it! Im alright and in one piece! So you better get into that head of yours big amazon that im alright!"

"Alright?!" Koizumi said as her eyes darted open and her hands fell from her ears she didn't say anything and Otani didn't dare say anything, she began sobbing again and Otani sighed at this, nothing he could say nothing would mend this, he would have to give her time before trying again.

"Just one more thing." He said in a whisper to not startle her, she just kept crying and Otani rolled his eyes before takin one hand of her into his.

"Don't stay away. Please." He said red in the face as he looked at his hands united and after a few minutes Risa managed to calm herself. Risa knew he was injured but he had asked… so nicely too.

"But—"

"Please. Risa." Otani said using her name warmly, he used it more often than not now, changing into Koizumi and Risa depending the occasion, it was her that still had trouble calling him solely by his name. After a while of thinking over it and the look on his face she nodded.

She needed to compensate somehow isn't it?

Otani didn't know how much it upset him being away from her till she lay down next to him so carefully, so attentive at his injuries and finally and almost unwillingly laid her head on his good shoulder with a huff, he knew she wasn't exactly happy but he was. He needed her close. Always. He relaxed for a moment and did not say anything, no one said anything for a while.

"Otani?" Came her sleepy voice and Otani who was wide awake thinking of todays events answered softly to nos startle her.

"Mhh.."

"I love you the most."

Otani hugged her closer in response as he put a light kiss on her hair. However he felt a wall building up because of what had happened today and he didn't like it, not one bit.

Well there is it! Hope you liked !

-Juliet'lovestory-