Part 6

Shinya rapped lightly on the door of Kyo and Toshiya's apartment. After a few moments with no response, he leaned forward and whispered loudly through the door.

"Toshiya? Are you here?" He didn't actually expect a response, considering it was one-thirty in the morning.

"Toshiya?" He tried one more time before reaching forward and, testing the doorknob shyly. It was unlocked. In his mind, Shinya chided Toshiya for leaving the door unlocked.

He walked inside and kicked off his shoes in the entryway. As he made his way through the apartment, his heart beat loudly in the silence.

Shinya poked his head in Toshiya's bedroom and sighed when he saw it was empty. Suddenly something in his chest constricted. What if Toshiya wasn't here? How sick was Kyo? Maybe Toshiya had to take him to the hospital! Shinya laughed and forced himself to breathe slower to calm down. He was being silly. He hadn't even checked Kyo's bedroom yet.

Shinya made his way across the short hallway and opened the door to Kyo's bedroom softly. It creaked open and when his eyes adjusted to the gloom he saw Toshiya and Kyo.

Kyo lay asleep on his futon, the cover twisted at his ankles. When Shinya crept closer he saw that Kyo's face was flushed red and his breathing was soft and wheezing. He had one arm flung across his eyes and the other was flung over his head, his hand twined loosely in Toshiya's.

Toshiya was sitting next to Kyo; his arm out stretched, reaching into Kyo's grasp. He was slumped over, his knees drawn up to his chest, his head resting on top, pillowed gently by his arm. He was asleep too.

"Ne, Toshiya?" Shinya shook Toshiya's shoulder. Toshiya murmured and his body fell lax onto Shinya. Shinya stood up and pulled Toshiya into his arms. The bassist's hand slid from Kyo's. Shinya awkwardly dragged Toshiya into his own bedroom and lay him in bed.

Shinya admired Toshiya's sleeping figure, brushing his fingers along his perfect cheek. He tucked a lock of hair behind his ear and bent down to place a soft kiss on his lips before returning to tend to Kyo.
Shinya went back into Kyo's room. The air inside

was still and hot. He opened the window and pulled the cover out of its knots at Kyo's feet. Kyo shivered in the sudden draft.
"Kyo..."Shinya whispered as he tucked Kyo back under his cover.
"Nn...?" Was his only response.

Shinya brushed his fingers across Kyo's forehead.
"You are burning up." He whispered to no one in particular. He smiled a little and gave the top Kyo's head a little pat. "I'll go get you some water, ne?"
Shinya stood up and padded into the kitchen.

***

Toshiya woke up, the streetlights outside his window shining in his eyes.
Where the-? Of course. He was in his new bedroom and Kyo was in the other room. Kyo! Is he still sick? When did I go to bed?

Toshiya sat up and ran a hand through his long dark hair. He stopped suddenly when he thought he heard a noise. He scrambled out of bed and crept into the living room.
It's coming from the kitchen!

He stalked stealthily towards the open door of the kitchen and peered around the frame.
Shinya! Shinya? What was he-? Ah, never mind!

Toshiya tiptoed into the kitchen up behind Shinya who was picking up a glass of water from the counter. He slipped his hands over Shinya's eyes.
"Boo! Guess who!"

Shinya screamed and dropped the glass he was holding. It fell to the floor and shattered.

"Oh! Shinya! I'm sorry! I- I didn't mean to make you drop the glass!" Toshiya and Shinya bent down to clean up the mess.

"It's okay..." Shinya said softly.

"Shinya... Your hands are shaking." Toshiya reached out and took one of Shinya's hands in his own.

"Stop." Shinya whipped away his hand and grabbed for one of the larger pieces of glass. He dropped it quickly. An instant later, blood oozed up from the clean slice in his palm.

Toshiya looked away and pressed a hand over his eyes. He felt suddenly ill. He chided himself for being so soft and forced himself to take a deep breath and open his eyes.

"Let me look at that." Toshiya said, his voice slightly shaky. He ripped a paper towel off the roll on the counter, folded it up into a pad and pressed it into Shinya's palm, soaking up most of the blood. "Let's go look in the bathroom for something to bandage this with, okay?"

Shinya nodded silently and let Toshiya guide him into the bathroom. He jumped up onto the edge of the sink, perching there while Toshiya removed the paper towel and inspected his wound carefully.

"There's no glass in the cut. It looks really clean."
"That's good..." Shinya answered softly.

"Yeah." Toshiya rummaged through the drawers and cabinets, looking for something to bandage Shinya's hand with. He found a gauze pad, a bandage, and some anti-bacterial cream and began to dress the cut.
Toshiya finished and, Shinya flexed his hand.

"Thanks." He whispered.

"No problem. It was my fault anyway. I'm sorry I snuck up on you."
"Mm..." Shinya couldn't think of anything to respond with. He kicked his legs idly, banging his heels against the cabinet beneath the sink. "Toshiya, I'm sorry I threw a fit earlier. I just felt so, so helpless. And when you wouldn't let me come help with Kyo I just, snapped."

"Shinya..."

"I'm really sorry... I should've understood. You just wanted to look out for me." Shinya ran his uninjured hand over Toshiya's hair and gave him a faint smile.
"Shinya, I do want to take care of you. I care about you too much not to."
"Really?" Shinya's lip quivered a little.

"Yeah." Toshiya leaned forward, balancing his weight with one hand, on the sink and, kissed Shinya. He pulled back and cocked his head to the side. "I really do."

Shinya smiled brightly and threw his arms around Toshiya's neck and jumped down from his perch. He held himself close to Toshiya, rubbing their noses together and blushing.
"Be my koi, ne?"

Toshiya wrapped his arms around Shinya's waist, embracing him warmly.
"Of course." He replied softly and kissed Shinya again.
The moment was interrupted when Shinya jumped and pulled himself out of Toshiya's arms.

"Kyo! I almost forgot!" Shinya raced back into the kitchen and got another glass of water. He sidestepped glass that still glittered on the floor.
"Be careful!" Toshiya warned from the doorway. He had slipped on a pair of sandals and held a broom in one hand. "I don't want you to get hurt again."
"I'm okay." Shinya smiled and bounced out of the kitchen while Toshiya started to sweep up the broken glass. When he was finished he joined Shinya back in Kyo's room.

"Kyo-chan..." Shinya coaxed. "Kyo-chan, wake up for a minute."
Kyo coughed and opened his eyes. A fuzzy expression of annoyance crossed his face when he looked up at Shinya and Toshiya.

"Kyo... you have a fever and I want you to take this to make you feel better, okay?" Shinya pleaded.

"No." Kyo rolled over, coughed, and tugged the pillow over his head. Toshiya choked on laughter, in an effort not to let it out. Shinya gave Toshiya a withering look before turning back to Kyo.

"Kyo-chan, get up!" Shinya tugged Kyo into a sitting position.
"Mm... Mother..." Kyo muttered. Shinya blushed.
"He's, uh, obviously delirious, ne?" Shinya stuttered.
"Sure." Toshiya answered.

After a few more minutes of struggling, Shinya and Toshiya finally convinced the half-conscious Kyo, to swallow two aspirin and a little water.

***

"It is two-thirty in the morning..." Shinya pointed out sleepily. He was sitting on the living room couch with Toshiya, wrapped in his arms.

"Mm hmm..." Toshiya agreed.
"We should go to sleep."

"Mm hmm..."
"Toshiya?"

"Hmm?"
"Are you asleep now?"
"Nn nnn.."

Shinya slid out of Toshiya arms and hauled him off the couch. Toshiya smiled at him sleepily and pulled Shinya close, hugging him and running his hands down his back.

"We don't have to go to sleep right now..." He whispered, kissing Shinya's neck.
"We should," Shinya spoke softly and nuzzled Toshiya's ear as Toshiya leaned heavily on Shinya's shoulder, "because you are falling asleep standing here."
"Just let me play a few more minutes Mother..." Toshiya said sweetly as he caught Shinya face in his hands for another kiss.

They walked slowly and carefully into Toshiya's bedroom, planting soft kisses on each other the whole way. Toshiya flopped down in bed and held open his arms, inviting Shinya to join him. Shinya lay down gracefully and allowed Toshiya to curl himself around his body. He gave him a final kiss goodnight and fell asleep.

***

The phone rang loudly in Toshiya's ear. He groaned and rolled over, burying his face in Shinya's shoulder. Shinya shook Toshiya's shoulder gently.
"The phone is ringing."

"I know. I don't care." Toshiya muttered into Shinya's shoulder and pulled the cover up over his head until only the top of his hair was visible.
"Toshiya..." Shinya tugged on a lock of Toshiya's hair. "You should answer the phone."

"Okay, okay..." Toshiya rolled out of bed and stumbled into the living room. He grabbed the phone and held the receiver up to his ear.

"Moshi moshi."
"Toshiya?"
"Die?"
"Yeah. Hey, good morning. How's Kyo?"
"I don't know. You just woke me up."
"Ah, well... is it okay if I come by later to see him."
"Sure." Toshiya rubbed at his eye sleepily.
"Okay. I'll see you later then."
"Bye." Toshiya hung up the phone, walked back into his bedroom and tumbled back into bed.

"Who was it?" Shinya asked, his eyes still closed.
"Die."
"Mm... What'd he want?"
"Kyo."
"Oh." Shinya yawned and stretched. Opening his eyes, Shinya smiled and looked up at the ceiling. "I should go check on Kyo."
Toshiya sat up and bent over Shinya. He gave him a soft kiss, on the lips, and smiled.
"I'll go. You stay here."

***

Toshiya opened the door to Kyo's room and saw the little vocalist sitting up in bed, his arms wrapped around his body, clutching at his sides, his chin resting on his knees.

"Hey Kyo. How are you feeling?" Toshiya crept into the room and sat down by Kyo, on the futon.
"I'm okay..."
"That's good." Toshiya scooted a little closer and circled Kyo's head with his arm, putting his hand up against Kyo's forehead. "You still have a little fever... Hey, Die called this morning. He wants to come visit you. That's okay, right?"
"Yeah."

There was a tough moment of silence. Toshiya moved even closer to Kyo, wrapping one arm around his shoulders.

"Kyo... what's wrong."
"Nothing. I told you I feel fine."
"I'm not talking about your health."
Kyo was silent.
"Is it Kaoru?"
"Kaoru?"

"Yeah... you and he..." Toshiya's voice trailed off as Kyo looked at him strangely. Was he wrong? Weren't Kyo and Kaoru sorta 'together'? Maybe not...
"It's not Kaoru." Kyo said bluntly, interrupting Toshiya's thoughts. He shook off Toshiya's arm and lay down in bed turning away, ending the short conversation.
"Oh... You know Kyo, I'm here if you want to talk."

When Kyo didn't respond Toshiya got up and left the room. In the hallway, he sighed. It was obvious to him that Kyo was having some problems but he just couldn't figure it out. Maybe if someone would give him a straight answer about Kyo and Kaoru's relationship!

Toshiya set his face and stomped back into his own bedroom, determined to get some information from Shinya.

"Shin-chan are Kyo and Kaoru together?" Toshiya asked. He stood at the side of his futon, where Shinya was curled up. Shinya sat up and blinked large brown eyes at the looming figure of Toshiya.

"What?"
"Don't play innocent with me! There is something going on between them!" Toshiya flung his arms in the air and exasperated expression crossing his face. "Why won't anybody let me know? Is it because I'm the new one? Because I-" Toshiya was cut off by a knock at the front door. "We'll talk about this later." He said as sternly as he could manage.

Practically tripping over himself, Toshiya made it to the front door and opened it.

"Hi Toshiya!" Die said cheerfully.
"Hi." Toshiya said, still wearing his expression of utter annoyance.
"Eh... is this a bad time?"
"Huh? No no no... I was just, uh, uh..." Toshiya fidgeted, crossing and un-crossing his legs in a nervous gesture. "Won't you come in?" He settled on finally.

"Yeah." Die stepped inside and pulled off his shoes. "How's Kyo?"
"He's better today. I was just in his room. Want me to go get him?"
"Don't make him get out of bed if he doesn't feel well."
"I won't." Toshiya walked back to Kyo's bedroom door and stuck his head inside.

"Hey Kyo-chan. You're boyfriend is here." He said laughing.
"Ka-?" Kyo stopped suddenly when he heard Die's voice outside the door.
"Kyo-chan, are you alive?"
"Die!" Kyo scrambled to get out of bed. He stood up too quickly though, and his legs gave out beneath him.

Toshiya bent to help him but Kyo was up again before he could think. Kyo walked carefully into the living room, clutching the blanket from his futon around his shoulder. He was extremely careful not to step on it as he walked shakily over to where Die was sitting, his legs crossed 'Indian-style' on the couch.

"How's my little Kyo-chan today?" Die asked, smiling.
"Okay..." Kyo crashed into Die's lap and curled his legs beneath himself.
Die pulled at the blanket and made sure Kyo was all wrapped up before speaking again.

"You scared us last night, you know?"
"Sorry..."
"Why'd you push yourself so hard? You were too sick to be doing that live." Die asked.

"Well Kaoru..." Kyo gave Toshiya a wary look. "That live meant a lot to Kaoru and the band and, I mean, I couldn't just leave you guys hanging, could I?"
"Kyo... you were really sick!"
"Was not!" Kyo stuck out his tongue.
"Kyo, you fainted!" Toshiya pointed out.
"So...?" Kyo said. His voice tried to cover up the fact that he was wrong.

"Just don't work yourself sick again, okay?" Die pinched Kyo's cheek gently. "And especially not for Kaoru!"
"But I-" Kyo started.

Shinya walked in the room and flopped down on the couch, next to Die and Kyo. Kyo looked at him, then at Die and Toshiya.
"Okay..." He resigned.

Die's mobile phone began to ring. He reached around to his back pocket and pulled it out, still balancing Kyo in his lap with his other arm.

"Moshi mo- Hi." He grinned and made a sweet face. "Yeah. I'm at Kyo's now. Yes, he's fine. No, not dead." Die rolled his eyes. "Of course I remember our date but, we aren't meeting for another half-an-hour. Okay... Yes sweetie. I know." Die blushed visibly. "Yeah... you too." Die cheeks went two shades darker. "Uh-huh..." His voice shook a little. "Bye bye..."

Kyo laughed until he coughed as Die hung up his phone.
"Your koi talking dirty to you?"
"Mind your own business!" Die choked.
"But I could hear everything..." Kyo teased.
"You could not!"
"Maybe not but, I-" Conversation was interrupted by a knock at the front door for the second time that day.

"Who could that be?" Toshiya asked.
"I dunno." Shinya answered. Whoever it was knocked again. "Uh- I'll get it." He stood up from the couch and opened the front door. "Kaoru!" Shinya gasped.
"Kaoru?" Kyo choked from the couch.

"Hi." Kaoru smiled cheerily and walked inside. To Toshiya's dismay the girl with the green hair was at his heels. She hid shyly behind his shoulder.

"Kaoru-kun are you sure this is okay?" She whispered in Kaoru's ear.
"Very sure. We are just here to check on Kyo." Kaoru said, still smiling. The girl stepped back but continued to look uncomfortable. Toshiya took the moment to inspect her carefully.

He was pleased to see that, out of the smoky darkness of nightclubs she wasn't as pretty as he thought. Her green hair was faded, her make-up smudged under her eyes. She was short and a little stocky with thick arms and legs. Her clothes were typically 'Japanese punk' mismatched, and brightly colored. Although she made and overall impression of someone with exciting and daring taste, Toshiya thought she looked like every other punk walking around.
Kaoru strode into the living confidently, the girl shuffling at his heels.

"Hey Kyo-chan. Look I brought a visitor for you." Kaoru gestured to the girl. "She told me that she is a big fan of yours."
"Kaoru... Kyo's really sick." Die spoke out. "I don't think now is I good time..."
"Aww... Kyo you're okay, really. Aren't you?"

"Yeah I-" Die, Shinya and Toshiya all glared at Kyo. "No! Damn it! Kaoru I feel horrible and I-" Kyo looked up at Kaoru and the girl for the first time since they arrived. Toshiya could see the pain in his eyes snap. "I-" The corners of Kyo's eyes filled with tears. His voice cracked and he turned away from Kaoru, burying his face in Die's chest and the blanket. He began to cough and choke again, trying to press his sobs down.

"I think you should go back to bed." Die whispered into Kyo's hair. He stood up, Kyo in his arms and walked back into Kyo's bedroom.
Kaoru turned to the girl once more.

"Stay here. I'll be right back." He followed Die back into Kyo's bedroom and closed the door. A moment later, shouting between the two, muffled by the closed door and Kyo's coughing and sobbing, floated back into the living room.
After a few minutes of listening to the fighting, Shinya turned to the girl.

"So..." He asked. Any other attempt at conversation was thwarted by Kaoru who threw the bedroom door open and stomped out. His face was red and Die was at his heels. Kaoru grabbed the girl's wrist and jerked her toward the door.
"Come on." He growled.

"What the hell is with you Kaoru?" Die practically yelled. "You think it's fair that just because you have issues, everyone else should suffer."
Kaoru whirled.
"Shut-up Die! You don't even know what you are talking about!"

Die set his jaw and gazed levelly at Kaoru.
"Oh, don't I? Just look at what you are doing. You've started yelling and fighting and you've even driven Kyo sick!" Die took a moment to let this sink in. "Is that what you want?"

Kaoru didn't answer. His returned Die's even stare before jerking away. Then he grabbed the green-haired girl's hand and pulled her out the door, slamming it shut behind them.

"You don't know what you are talking about Die!" Were Kaoru's final words.
"Damn him!" Die cursed. Shinya lay a hand on his shoulder.
"You don't mean that..."
"Sure I do! The bastard has been doing this for a while now." Die huffed. "He can't keep doing this to Kyo either."
"Do what to Kyo?" Toshiya asked helplessly. Die and Shinya carried on as if nothing had been said.

"I think we need to let them sort this out." Shinya said quietly.
"Yeah, I know. You're right of course. I can yell at Kaoru all I want but he needs to sort this out with Kyo." Die conceded. "I just want Kyo to be happy for once."
"I know."
"Excuse me but I still don't know what is going on!" Toshiya fumed. He glared at Die and Shinya, his arms crossed in a huff.

"It's nothing..." Die began.
"Nothing? Nothing!?" Toshiya squealed. "There's yelling and crying going on and you want to tell me it's nothing!? I'm not that stupid you know." Toshiya glared at Shinya. "You don't have to tell me! Just say, 'It's none of your fucking business Toshiya!' I can handle that!" Toshiya spun on his heel and stomped back into his room. "It's not like I'm a part of the fucking group or anything." He muttered as he left, red in the face.

"Uh..." Shinya blushed.
"Well that's good." Die commented.
"Don't worry. I'll talk to him later." Shinya smiled at Die. "Don't forget your date."
"Oh believe me, I'm not allowed to forget." Die said with a smile. "I should be getting a phone call in a few minutes. Despite that, I should get going. You're alright here?"
"Yeah, we'll be fine."
"Okay then, I'll see you later." Die gave Shinya a friendly kiss on the cheek and headed out the door.

Shinya sighed and ran his hand through his hair. Now he had to go straighten out Toshiya. The walked over to his room and knocked softly on the closed door.

"Toshiya? Can I talk to you?"
"I don't care." Toshiya muttered.
Shinya opened the door and walked across the room, just stopping at the edge of the futon. Toshiya was sitting on the side furthest from him. He was staring out the window, his chin resting in his hands.

"Toshiya, are you mad?" Shinya asked softly. He knelt down behind Toshiya. He ran his fingers down the few strands of long silky hair that lay on Toshiya's back.

"No..."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah..."
Shinya sighed again and reached around Toshiya's shoulders. He pulled the rest of his long, dark hair back over his shoulders and combed through it with his fingers.

Toshiya shuddered a little when Shinya's fingers brushed against his neck. Shinya ignored this and continued to comb through Toshiya's hair, pressing his fingers into his back at the same time. He wove the silky strands with his fingers into a loose braid. When he reached the end, Shinya dropped Toshiya's hair and leaned forward, wrapping his arms around Toshiya's neck.

"Kyo really likes Kaoru. They tried to be together before but, Kaoru got really involved in his music. He didn't want to make Kyo compete for his attention." Shinya said solemnly.

"So they broke up?" Toshiya asked.
"Yeah. And it broke their hearts. I think deep down Kaoru really loves Kyo but, he's afraid to commit."
"Wow..." Toshiya breathed. "So why is it such a big secret?"
"Kyo's uh, sensitive about it. Really he doesn't want Kaoru to know it still hurts him. We just don't talk about it because of the tension it causes."
"Oh... Shinya, I'm really glad you told me."
"Me too, Toshiya." Shinya smiled, craned his neck and kissed Toshiya's cheek. "But I should go now. I'm sure my family is wondering where I am." Shinya blushed a little.
"Okay. But before you go..." Toshiya turned around and, sitting on his knees, kissed Shinya. "Uh, I wanted to give you that."

Shinya blushed even darker.
"Thanks." He stood up and headed to the front door. "Now make sure that Kyo takes something for his cough, okay? And make sure he drinks a lot of water."
"Yes. Yes. Okay." Toshiya smiled. Shinya gave him one last kiss and ducked out the door.
"I'll talk to you later!"
"Bye bye!"
"Bye!" Shinya called as he took off down the hallway.