Hey everyone! This fic has really come a long way huh? Through the thorns and the roses, this story has been my 'rock' so to speak. I'm glad people are liking it so much and I'd like to apologise to Zero Slash One that my story is not your cup of tea. Like I said to Miss Anonymous hp in a previous chapter, I can't please everyone :D That said, the prompt for this chapter is 'around'. It was loose enough to fit. This chapter has references to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Thanks to Angel's Sins for betareading this chapter!

Chapter 13: Aftermath

The hospital was quiet with the occasional chatters from nearby doctors and nurses before it faded down the halls. The sky was painted black, leaving only the white moon to stand out in all of its glory; its light luminous and faint, but still there.

Most of the others were asleep in their rooms; however, Tagiru lay awake on his bed, staring out the window into the night sky.

It hurt. His touches had hurt more than he had imagined. Why did this happen? He couldn't feel anything. Neither the tubes nor the presence of his precious person clicked in his dull mind. Reality became nothing more than a hazy dream...

"Tagiru?"

Tagiru blinked, trying to focus. "Is it cold outside?" His voice was raspy. It hurt. It hurt to talk; right now it even hurt to breathe.

"A little bit," Yuu's voice murmured. "Are you cold?"

Tagiru looked alarmed at the notion. "Don't...don't feel anything."

A pair of warm arms wrapped around his body but he felt cold all of a sudden. Tagiru's breaths came out short and fast as he tried to calm himself down by squeezing his eyes shut; his chest suddenly felt tighter.

He tried hard not to move away from Yuu's touch, but a small whimper escaped his lips and he closed his eyes even tighter, willing the painful, vivid memories to go away. Touches, an intrusion being forced inside him. Tears welled up in his eyes. It needed to stop; it needed to go away.

It isn't cold, he thought to reassure himself. It isn't cold.

Yuu pulled his hands away and looked at him. "I'm sorry," Yuu said, a strange emotion in his eyes.

Tagiru looked into them, trying to pick it up. Was it shame? Guilt? Or was it pain? He couldn't tell. He shied away from the other. Was he hurting Yuu too? Hideaki…Hideaki kept saying that he had broken Yuu's heart, that everything that had happened was his fault.

"Loving me hurts you," Tagiru whispered. His voice was quiet and strangely clear; and it tore Yuu up.

"That's not true," Yuu said, shaking his head. "I hurt you, Tagiru. By not being there."

Tagiru looked almost puzzled yet dazed. "Thief. Thieves are there to steal. His hands stole me."

Yuu's hands weren't like his, were they? Tagiru reached out almost shyly, grabbing onto the blond's one. They were warm. Not cold. Not cold at all. They were almost too warm. How could one person's hands be so cold whilst the other's be so warm?

Tagiru started to tremble but his gaze was strangely fixated on the wall across from him; his eyes were distant, blank, and it frightened – No, terrified Yuu.

"Tagiru," Yuu said, standing up. "Tagiru, are you – "

Yuu reached out to him and wrapped his arms around Tagiru's shaking body. Tagiru squirmed, but the blond held on tightly.

"Stop, don't," Tagiru said, finally managing to push himself away from Yuu, beginning to twist the bed sheet around his fingers, rubbing his hands against the cloth. "Don't touch me…I'm filthy. He was inside of me. I can still feel him. His touch won't go away…look." He rolled up his sleeves. "Can't you see them?" He began to bite and scratch at his skin, tears falling down his cheeks. "No matter what I do…"

"Tagiru, stop!" Yuu said, pulling Tagiru's hands away. Thin trails of blood ran down Tagiru's arms.

Tagiru began screaming, thrashing around and pushing Yuu away. He fell off the hospital bed and curled into the corner, trembling as he curled into a ball.

"Stay away!" Tagiru pleaded. "Please…"

Yuu winced. He was losing Tagiru – No, never. His expression became firm yet remained gentle as he slowly stepped closer to Tagiru. The doctors rushed inside.

At the sudden sound of approaching footsteps, Tagiru began screaming again, his breathing becoming uneven and he began beating his fists against the wall.

The doctor pulled out a needle but Yuu shook his head.

"Don't, please," Yuu said; his voice was unexpectedly weak. "I can get through to him somehow."

"He's reliving the trauma," the doctor said, managing to grab a hold of the thrashing Tagiru and injecting the needle into him.

Tagiru's movements instantly ceased and his eyes closed.

"What he did hurts," Yuu said quietly. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry I wasn't there. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you." The blond was mumbling to himself as he reached over before the doctor could pulling the unconscious Tagiru into his arms. Holding him there felt right, but Tagiru didn't want to be held anymore. Hideaki had destroyed him.

"Amano-san?" Dr. Tomoko said kindly. "I know you don't want to but Akaishi-kun needs rest. Reliving those flashbacks hasn't been kind to him, so if you don't mind, please leave for now. He'll be alright."

Yuu's eyes watered. "Y-Yeah, I understand. P-please…" His voice choked up. "P-Please call me if anything else is needed."

Dr. Tomoko grasped his shoulder. "I promise. Leave it to us."

Yuu nodded, leaving the hospital room.

He sat in his car, tears washing his face. He closed his eyes, wanting them to stop. Crying wouldn't do anything. Crying wouldn't help Tagiru but he couldn't help it. Was there anything he could do? He didn't even know if he could drive right now. He just didn't know anything anymore. He grabbed his cell and dialed the first person he could think of: his sister.

It only took a few rings for Nene to answer, considering she was in Japan for vacation anyway.

"Yuu?" Nene said sleepily.

Yuu winced. He hadn't even realised how late it was. It was past midnight. "S-Sorry, Neesan," Yuu said. "I just...I needed someone to talk to. I don't think I can drive right now."

There was a pause on the other end. "Are you at the hospital?"

"Yeah, where else would I be?" Yuu's voice sounded slightly bitter as he said that. If he hadn't failed Tagiru, if he hadn't been such an idiot, this would have never happened. He shouldn't have let Tagiru alone that night.

"I'll be right there, okay?" Nene said. "Yuu, don't blame yourself. I know you feel like if we hadn't trusted Hideaki, this wouldn't have happened but please don't."

Yuu managed a weak smile. His sister seemed to always know what he was thinking whether he told her or not. "I'll try not to, Neesan. But that's easier said than done sometimes."

"I know," Nene said. "Better than anyone, believe me."

True to her word, Nene got there immediately with her personal assistant dropping her off.

Nene pulled Yuu into an embrace seeing him sitting on the footpath. The sky seemed to be darker with barely visible gray clouds roaming slowly about.

Yuu, in the warm arms of his sister, broke down completely. Everything just came out and he didn't know how to stop the never ending tears that continued to fall.

"Shhh..." Nene hummed soothingly.

"T-Tagiru...he's so scared, all the time," Yuu choked out. "No matter what I do, he doesn't seem to hear me. I failed him, Neesan. What kind of boyfriend am I? I could protect Airu when she was in danger, I could protect Tagiru from ghosts that didn't even exist! But now...I wasn't there to protect him. I can protect him from evil demons, but not our own, can I? I really am useless. I was working with DarkKnightmon and destroying innocent lives!" His voice trembled as he shook, remembering the bodies of the digimon. Nene gripped him tighter while rubbing his back comfortingly. Yuu took in a shaky breath: "And now Tagiru's not even really there. Not the Tagiru who could get on everyone's nerves or make anyone laugh without trying. He's a shell of the person he once was. He waited for me, Neesan. He would call out for me; he was desperate for me to save him but I took so long that…that..."

"That's enough, Yuu." Nene's voice was stern yet soft. "You didn't fail anyone. You can't predict the future Yuu nor can you read people's minds. You didn't know that that creep held those kinds of feelings for Tagiru-kun. He always seemed harmless after all." She wiped away Yuu's tears with her thumb. "Just remember one thing, Yuu. Tagiru-kun still loves you. His heart will remember that if you keep trying. He's just been hurt. The brother I know doesn't give up and break down like this. Look at your X-Loader, Yuu."

"Neesan..." Yuu sniffled, trying to compose himself. "My X-Loader..."

"Your X-Loader is the colour of determination," Nene said. "My little brother never loses heart, does he?" She kissed her brother's forehead. "Am I wrong?"

Yuu smiled weakly. Nene always knew the right things to say. She was right. He shouldn't be here crying his eyes out because of one mistake. Mistakes happened and this was more than a small mistake; but at the same time, it wouldn't help Tagiru if he just sat here blaming himself. Nothing had changed between the two of them.

Yuu still loved the boy with all his heart after all. There was no way he'd let go, no matter how much Tagiru pushed him away; he'd hold on tight and wrap his hands around the bastard's throat once he got close enough. No one hurt Tagiru and ran free.

"Thanks, Neesan," Yuu said. "I'm glad you came. I needed that."

Nene smiled. "Well, you do tend to trip over your feet a lot."

Yuu flushed. "Neesan!"

Nene hummed innocently, giving a sweet smile. "Yes?"

Yuu pouted. "Not nice." He pretended to sulk a little, although his heart had considerably lightened up.

Nene ruffled his hair. "Sorry. But it's an older sister's duty."

Yuu laughed, resting his head in Nene's shoulder for a few seconds before pulling away. "Can you drive us home?"

Nene nodded. "Of course. Are you going to be alright?"

Yuu sighed a little. "I'm trying, Neesan. I know I have to be strong. Tagiru was really strong back there after all, so I have to be strong enough to protect him. I have to keep him safe."

Nene smiled. "He'll be alright. You two should keep out of the action until Tagiru-kun recovers."

Yuu frowned. "But, Taiki-san…"

Nene laughed. "Akari-kun isn't going to rest until Taiki-kun is safe and sound, back with her. I know you want to help everyone in the fight, but you have your own battle to fight."

Yuu exhaled through his nose before nodding. "Alright, but if there's anything Damemon and I can do Neesan, you have to call me." He paused for a moment. "Also, Kotone should stay out of the fight too."

Nene smiled. "You don't have to tell me twice. Kotone won't be involved in any further battles. Her partners are missing anyway so she's better off staying here in the real world where it's safer. The ADO hasn't tracked our movements yet in the real world after all."

Yuu stared. "Neesan, what are you talking about?"

Nene shook her head. "Nothing, don't worry about it."

Yuu raised an eyebrow but let it drop. "Okay, but tell me later, okay? I don't wanna argue right now." Exhaustion waved over him and he felt like just wanting to sleep.

Nene tousled his hair. "Alright." She took Yuu's hand and the two siblings headed towards the parked car.

Darkness. That was what Hideaki opened his eyes to. His head hurt; no, not just his head, his whole body hurt. He noticed he was in a rather small room - if it could even be called a room. It was more like a closet to be exact. He stared and realized it was the cupboard of the same room he had kept Tagiru in.

Tagiru…

His eyes flashed as he recalled what had happened. Yuu…Yuu had come and taken his Tagiru away. The thought of that made him bristle in rage and his fists shook, knuckles turning white.

How dare he? How dare he take my precious person away from me? I won't forgive it.

Hideaki bristled. Yuu kept getting in the way. He had to get Tagiru back. Tagiru was his. He had become his that day. He licked his lips as his thoughts went back to the first night he had taken him. The ecstasy that filled in his eyes made his heart hammer like crazy. Tagiru looked so beautiful. His, only his.

Oh, Tagiru, why don't you understand? I love you more than he ever can.

Yuu was only keeping Tagiru away. There needed to be a way. There needed to be a way to keep Yuu out of the way permanently. He needed to stop Yuu from brainwashing Tagiru. Suddenly, he stopped. He hated seeing the tears in Tagiru's eyes though; but it would teach his precious one to learn to enjoy his touch and not let old feelings get in the way. His body was heating up just thinking of the other. He needed him back. He needed him back now.

Hideaki banged his fist on the wall, imagining it was Yuu instead. Shall he and Tagiru bathe in Yuu's blood together?

A twisted grin curved upward on his lips, a cackle leaving his mouth. Yes, always his. Always and forever his.