New Beginnings

Tora woke several hours later, head throbbing, sweat beading down his forehead. He opened his eyes but all he could see was black, though after a second, he realized why. Sometime in the night Tsukasa had turned around to face away from him, though he was closer and Tora's face was burried in his neck, long, thick hair draped over his face like an inky curtain. He took a deep breath, that wonderful smell making his heart leap. He wanted nothign more than to just stay where he was, laying curled up with the other man, arm wrapped around his narrow waist, but his pains would not go away, no matter how hard he tried to will them away.

With a sigh he slowly unwrapped his arm from under the other man's and sat up. His head swam, black dots popping across his blurry vision. He stayed very still, letting the dizzy run it's course, then quietly crawled out of bed, reaching over to retrieve the cup of water Tsukasa had brought him last night.

He paused a moment, staring at the young man curled up on his bed, ,ong legs tangled in the white sheets, hands clenching and unclenching slightly as some dream ran through his head. His face, so serene and innocent, for now devoid of all life's worries and stress. Just.. peaceful.

Tora sighed and stumbled to the bathroom, opening ht medicine cabuinet to find some of the very few things he'd taken the time to unpack the day before. Hands shaky, he popped two pills from one bottle and a tiny pill from another into his mouth and swallowed both with a gulp of luke-warm water. He leaned forard over the sink, hands gripping the porcilain tightly until his knuckles turned white.

Two arms snaked around his waist and he looked up into the mirror, smiling slightly.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you."

Tsukasa leaned against the other man's shoulder, hugging him loosly. "Hmmft's ok." he mumbled as Tora realized that the other man was still mostly asleep anyway. "Was.. cold. Come back."

Tora turned around and kissed the other's cheek. "You have be back, don't worry." He turned them around and led the sleepy man back to the bed. Tsukasa climbed in mechanically, collapsing like a ragdoll on the mattress as Tora lay down beside him, stroking his head.

"Hhmm..." Tsukasa purred lazily, just barely awake. "How long...."

Tora's hand faultered. "How long till what?"

Tsukasa's breahing slowed as sleep took over him. "...will I have you...."

Tora continued to stroke the other's soft head, but sighed sadly. "For as long as you need me."

A single tear slipped from between Tsukasa's closed eyelids. ".. can't loose you.... love you..."

Tora kissed the top of his head and wrapped his arms around him. "i know you do, and I love you. But," he felt the other sigh sluightly as Tora moved a hand up and down Tsukasa's back," this'll work out, you'll see. It may not be quite what you want, but perhaps its for the best." He frowned. "Then you can be happy, right?"

But Tsukasa had fallen asleep. Tora sighed and closed his eyes.

---

"So, you don't drink at all?"

Tora shook his head as he idly whiped the counter with a wet rag. "I have to take a bunch of medications that alchohol would ruin, so it's generally not a good idea."

Kisaki nodded. "I really don't drink often, and even then it's usually only wine or the occassional beer." He peered over his glass of water at the younger man. "Hey, you don't look so good."

Tora leaned forward slightly and shrugged. "A little lightheaded, I guess, but I'm fine."

Kisaki frowned and set his glass on the counter. "I guess you start working tonight then?"

"Yeah. Yoshiki and Kirito ahve been showing me how things run around here, so I think I'l do fine." Tora stood back up and rubbed his temple. "What are you doing here so early?"

"I needed to drop something off with Kirito and when I called his cell, he said he was out but on his way over here." He looked around the empty rooms. "I though Tsukasa was with you?"

"He's upstairs talking with Yoshiki."

A key rattled in the door and Kirito and Bou walked in, the blonde chattering a mile a minute, as usual.

"-but Rose didn't think that color would work well, so we tried a 4 and it was much easier to dye!" the smaller man beamed. "I told him he should try his hair dark for awhile, he looks so good that way, but he said Kiyoharu had convinced him otherwise, so..." the small man caught sight of the other two int he bar and waved, towards them in a few energetic steps.

"Kisaki-kun!" he cried, throughing his arms around the older man. "I've missed you!"

The redhead grinned and patted the other man on his bleached head. "Goof, it's only been a few days since I saw you last!"

Bou shrugged. "I just really like my friends." he turned to the other beside him, his grin falling slightly. "Tora-kun, you're sweating a bit. Are you hot?"

"No, I'm ok." Tora smiled and turned his attention to Kirito. "Do you want me to bring out the clean glasses, or start pulling the chairs off th tables?"

Kirito eyed his through dark glasses, then nodded towards the kitchen. "Go ahead and get the glasses." The other man nodded and hurried through the swinging doors.

---

Toshiya snatched the tip jars from the counter, dumped the nearly full contents into a lockbox underneath and replaced them in their usual spots. Hw whiped his brow with one hand and grinned. The night had been a busy one, and with still several hours to go before last call, it didn't show any signs of letting up any time soon. Most of the guys had been called in to help tend bar, or run out drink orders, and all were running around frantically to keep up with the hectic pace.

"Oi, Tochi!"

The black and blue haired man looked up to Yoshiki waving him over to the other side of the bar.

"Can you run to the back real quick?" he said while passing out drinks. "A customer complained that there might be a drunk passed out in one of the man's room stalls." He picked up the bills and made change. "I'd send Hatsu, but he's got his hands full in the kitchen."

"Hai hai, Yo-sama!" the tall man saluted playfully. "I'll go check it out."

Toshiya ducked under the counter, weaving his way through the crowds. He waved to some fellow co-workers from his normal cellphone job, the men gathered around one of the several pool tables, then turned and headed down the narrow hallway that let to the bathrooms. Most bars didn't have public restrooms, so many people where grateful that Yoshiki was kind enough to let normal patrons use them.

He stepped aside as a giggling couple walked towards him, then ducked into the men's room. There were three stalls, all with doors, and three urinals lining opposite walls of the small bathroom. He stepped up to the first door, rapping his knuckles on the cold metal surface.

"Oi, anyone inside?" No one answered so he pushed it open. Finding no one, he moved past the scond door, which was open and revealing on occupant, and stopped infront of the last. He knocked and waited, then knocked again when he got no response. He tried to opush the door open, but it stopped just after a few inches. Frowning, Toshiya ducked into the stall beside it, stepping up onto the low toilet and peering over the edge.

"Oh.. shit..."

The young man was slumped against the wall, legs curled up under him. His head was leaning against his chest, blood trickling down his forehead, face pale, eyes closed. He clutched a pill bottle in one hand, but it was still capped.

"Shit shit shit SHIT!" Toshiya cursed under his breath and dropped down to the ground. Laying as flat as possible, he barely managed to scoot under the stall partition and sit up on the other side.

"Tora, wake up!" He cried, grabbing the young man's face. His skin felt cool to the touch, but his eyes fluttered partially open.

"My... head.." he whispered.

Toshiya grabbed the man around the waist and carefully scooted him away from the door.

"Don't worry," he said, trying to be as careful as he could. "we'll get you help."

He propped the man back up against the wall and ran out the door, nearly tripping over his own feet as he scrambled out of the bathroom and into the busy bar.

"Yoshiki! YOSHIKI!"

The blonde looked up as Toshiya ran frantically towards him.

"Call and ambulance NOW!"

---

Kirito watched his brother carefully with a nervous eye. The younger man sat on a chair with Bou's arms wrapped around him, the blonde playing idly with his long hair. Tsukasa's eyes darted back and forth, wide and wild every time a doctor or nurse walked by the crowded waiting lobby. His thin legs were crossed, one bouncing up and down slightly as if he couldn't stay still no matter what.

With a sigh, the older man excused himself and walked a few feet away He flipped open his phone and dailed, leaning against one beige wall. It rang and rang, then just before he hung up, a sleepy voice answered.

"Hmmpftrhello?"

Hey, it's me."

"Kirito? Is something wrong?" there was a shuffling. "What time is it?"

Kirito sighed. "We're at the hospital-"

"Tsukasa?!?"

"No, no, he's fine. Well..."His eyes drifted towards his brother. "It's Tora. Something happened, we're still not sure what. The emergancy room doctors took him a little bit ago and haven't told us anything yet." He bit his lip. "Somethings really wrong with him, Hakuei, I know it. I'm afraid..."

Hakuei was silent for several long moments.

"Give me half an hour to gather my things and say goodbye, then I'll be there in... three hours? Maybe a little less considering traffic will be nil and the car can go pretty fast when it wants too."

Kirito could hear the other man moving hurridly aorund his room. "Wait, Haku.. I think you should know." he paused. "Kisaki.. he doesn't think Tsukasa came home last night." Silance followed. "He... a bunch of them helped Tora move into an apartment near campus.. and Tsukasa stayed after they left..." he sighed. "Maybe nothing happened, but I thought you should know before..."

All Kirito could hear was his own breath echoing in his ears.

"Hakuei, are you still there?"

"I'm here." came a quiet voice. "I'll be there in a couple of hours." Then, the phone went dead.