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"Later, Akio!" I called as I walked down the sidewalk. I waved a good-bye to my friend as he drove off. We had met up to catch up some things since I hadn't really had the time, or feel the need to talk with any of my friends. My car had died just the other day so I had been walking every place I wanted to get to. Today was different as my friend decided to take it upon himself to pick me up.

He would have driven me home if I hadn't told him otherwise. He would have had to waste gas since he had to turn right back around to get home anyway. Even if it was dark it was easy enough for me to get to my house. Akiko was at a friends house so I didn't need to worry too much about what time I got home. Well, as long as it was a reasonable enough time seeing as I still had work tomorrow.

It was late enough at night that there weren't many people out, and that just helped my thoughts wonder more. About the resent events that had made themselves known to me, and the ones of the past; of the ones that brought both of them together. I closed my eyes before letting out a small hum. It was a nice enough night out, and I always enjoyed some time to myself.

I looked back up at the moon, and all the shining stars around it before turning sharply; heading into the alley. I might not have cared when I got home, but I still wanted to be home quickly. I could have sworn that when I watched the weather it said something about it storming tonight. That was one thing that had me wanting to get home sooner, and the other was because I wanted to think on some things again. I could think about them now, but it would be better if I thought in my room..... Where I could fall asleep from the exhaustion of thinking about said thoughts.

"So, you're one of the little brats that made him leave. Pathetic." I was snapped out of my thoughts by the voice that seemed to be hardened with anger. I blinked a couple times as I took in the man that was now standing in front of me. I was close enough to see that he was taller than I was by a few inches, and the light of the full moon was shining off his hair to make it look almost silver.

"Can I help you..?" I asked a little hesitantly.

"I suppose you can." His voice was still hard, and before I could say anything a loud sound filled the air. Almost immediately after I felt pain, and I cried out as I collapsed. I pressed my hands to my side; over where I felt the pain the strongest, and that's when I felt something seep between my fingers. I drew my fingers back to see blood covering them.

"Why? What did I ever do to you? Who are you?" I questioned as the other male stepped closer to where I lay. I rose my head so I could meet his eyes, but when I did I felt like flinching back at his accusing brown orbs. I didn't know him..... I didn't think I did. I didn't think I had wronged anybody..... Unless he was hallucinating. That could be a problem.

"You made him leave." he stated simply, pointing the gun at me again before seeming to think against it; he put it back in his belt. "I don't miss, so I suggest that you start wishing you die soon, but I want you to suffer for what you did." My eyes were starting to close from the blood lose anyway, and when I blinked my eyes open he seemed to be gone. I was sure I would have thought that it was a figment of my imagination if the bullet wound hadn't been a bother for me. My vision started to turn blurry, and I finally had to close my eyes again; taking deep breaths.

This can't happen. I need to be there for Akiko.... That final thought of mine drifted away as I fell into unconsciousness.

~~~

I let out a groan as I moved, blinking open my eyes, but closing them quickly after. There was too much light, and my eyes needed to adjust to it before I opened them again. Which I did after a few moments in order to take in the white walls that surrounded me. I felt something itching my arm, and I went to scratch it; I noticed the IV before I could though.

"You're awake!" I looked at the brown haired girl that had just rushed to my side. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah." I said, but winced when I moved a little. I gave my sister a small smile as she gave me a worried look. "Just a little sore. What happened?"

"What happened?" She echoed. "You tell me! I was worried sick when Terra's mom got a call from Kou saying that you were in the hospital. Do you know how scared I was when I found out you got shot!" I could see the tears starting to pool in her eyes, and I felt my heart clinched. I never liked seeing her cry.

"Don't cry, Akiko. I'm fine." In pain, but fine. I thought before blinking at her. "Kou called you?"

"He has my cell number; I gave it to him before." She answered. "Since I wasn't at home when the police called nobody answered, so they called him instead because he's your boss. He's been really worried sick too. He hasn't left once."

"What?" My mind was slow at the moment, and I could only guess that there was some form of morphine in the IV that was hooked up to me; that's what was making me slow, but it didn't help too much with the pain. That's when I took in the form of the other person that was sitting – sleeping, rather – in one of the chairs next to the bed.

"He just fell asleep a little bit ago. Neither of us have left."

"How long have I been out?" The drowsiness of the drug was starting to get to me again.

"You've been out since they brought you in here, and you were unconscious when you were found. The man that found you thought that you were going to die." She choked on the last words; tears starting to fill her eyes again. I was the only family that she had left, and it would surely hit hard if I were to actually die.

"When was I brought here?"

"On midnight yesterday." She answered, and I grabbed her hand; giving her another small smile.

"Don't worry about me." I said. "I'm fine. I'm not dead, and I'm not going to go anywhere for a long time."

"Do you promise?"

"I promise."

"Good, because I can't lose you too. I wouldn't know what I would do." She sniffed, her brown eyes turning into pools once again. She always cried when things – no matter what it might be – took a turn for the worse. I understood it, but I didn't like it.

"You won't lose me for a long while yet, and when you do you won't need me anymore." I reassured her.

"I seriously thought you were going to die though! You lost so much blood you had to get a transfusion, and they wouldn't let me give you the blood that you needed. They said that they needed my guardians' consent, and you're my guardian."

"Akiko, it's in the past now." I cooed. "I got the blood, didn't I?" The question was more rhetorical than it should have been, but it was clear that I had gotten it, right? If I was that bad I would have died without the blood, and I was alive so....

"Kou gave you some of the blood that your body needed. His blood-type is O-, so it worked out. I just was still scared you weren't going to make it!"

"Hush~" I cooed again. "Stop being so loud. You're going to wake up Kou, and there isn't a need. I'm fine. I'm not going anywhere, and you don't have a reason to cry." I looked over to the side; to the bun-bun that was snoring softly in the chair. After I had learned what I should have seen all along about him I really didn't want anything more to do with my boss. I had thought that he had never thought of me as a friend when he had claimed he always was. Didn't it prove now that he was just trying to help, and protect me – us? I mean.... He didn't have to do that.

"Alright." She sniffed; attempting to fall silent, so that she wouldn't wake the other. I hadn't told her what I had learned about Kou. I saw no reason in it, and it would just cause more harm than good.

"Good." I gave her another smile as I squeezed her hand. "Nothing like this will ever happen again."

"Can you promise that too?"

"Yeah. I can." Though I couldn't exactly promise it.

"Do you know who did this to you? The authorities will have better time searching for him, or her....."

"If I knew I would gladly tell, but I don't. I think it was just something random. I think he was hallucinating."

"Please be more careful next time you do that. Just have Akio drive you home next time. Please?"

"I promise." I said with another smile. I needed to reassure her, so that she would stop crying. I didn't want her to be sad, but I wanted her to smile; to be as happy as she always seemed to be. If making promises that I might not be able to keep made her smile some then it's worth it.