Uncovering the Truth

Warning: This fic contains PG-13 and Yaoi/shonen-ai, if anyone feels offended by this don't read it... And do not flame me…(also contains slight language and angst)
Also, if Masanobu Ando and/or Taro Yamamoto reads this (I doubt it) and feel offended, I humbly apologize, and beg them not to sue me.

Disclaimer: I do not own Kiriyama (I wish) or Kawada, or any other BR-characters that may appear in this story; they belong to Kashoun Takami, Kinji Fukasaku (and Tartan Asian Extreme?). Situations and places however may belong to me, as long as they've got nothing to do with the movie or Novel. My Japanese isn't very good either, so I apologize for type-o's or plain n' simple mistakes...

Story: This takes place during the third day of BR, and some time after that. Kawada and Kazuo are the only survivors, bound to meet each other. All the other students are dead, Nakagawa and Nanahara too. What happened to them? I dunno.... Use your imagination people.... Also, I'd like to say that Kazuo is here a mix between book- and movie-Kazuo… He has the looks of the movie character, but he has the tragic past and personality of the Kazuo in Kashoun Takami's novel. This means he has never felt anything in his life.... It also means, that like in the book there's no three-day time -limit, and thus no collars have exploded yet.

Uncovering the Truth

Nightfall was closing around the tiny Island. Like a blanket it was wrapped around it. It wasn't dark, at least not very anyway, but the sky looked grey as did the air.
Birds chirped in the trees, and seagulls cried somewhere over the sea, the bugs and creatures of the night was coming out from their hideouts, in search for food.
It all seemed so tranquil, peaceful. Who'd guessed that just hours ago a fierce battle had been raging here between a bunch of high-school students. Gunshots had echoed throughout the island, and frequently one heard a scream of desperation from someone about to leave this world forever.
Now, the only thing witnessing that this orgy of death had ever taken place, was the bodies of teenagers scattered about on the island, along with bloodstains splattered on the ground, as a result of victims trying to escape their killers in desperation and fear.
It was all tragic really, that the Government had to sink this low to 'punish' rebellious youth. But that's the way the world had become. Punishing innocent kids for crimes they hadn't even committed, in forms of basically condemning them to death. Of course, in some of the classes selected for the Battle Royale, or 'Program' as it was also referred to, there were kids who actually fitted in under the description the government had made of the nations youth. Still, it didn't seem right to just kill off an entire class because of this, especially a class filled with innocent students, that on top of it all had been selected through impartial lottery...
Even if it'd been a class full of rebels, it still wouldn't have been right.
Shogo Kawada shook his head as he reloaded his shotgun with new shells. It was still one left. Him: The other transfer. He, who it was impossible to read.
Kawada recalled the first time he'd laid eyes on him, what was it? Three days ago? Well, most likely, he'd lost track of time. Anyway, they'd been sitting in the classroom, the newly arrived fifteen-year olds were still asleep, unknowing of the nightmare that lay before them. He and the other one, Kiriyama were the only ones awake, he'd guessed that he also knew what this was, maybe another survivor?

Oddly enough, the other boy hadn't seemed angry, sad or frightened... In fact, he hadn't shown any emotion at all during the time they'd been sitting there.
He had walked up to the blackboard once, picked up a piece of chalk, and studied it. Maybe he'd been bored. Actually Kawada didn't care, but it gave him time to study the boy's emotionless face.
He was handsome; his eyes big and brown, strangely focused on the piece of chalk, but still not showing any signs of fear or anger. Kawada's eyes had swept over the boy… His hair looked like he came straight out of bed, tangled in some places, spiky in others; on top of it all it had a weird color. Or, several colors actually, it looked like he'd tried to bleach it, but failed, because it had a strange, almost orange color, in contrast to this it was black some places too, his original hair color maybe? And then there where parts of his hair seeming to be brown.
His body was lean, he didn't seem particularly muscular, and neither did he seem weak. He wasn't very big, about 1.70, and his body was petite too, at least for a boy anyway.
From time to time he'd touch the steel-collar around his neck, and something resembling a faint grin played on his lips. Was he crazy?
He was wearing a black school uniform, indicating he was in high school; he had to be around 16, maybe 17 years old. It was very neat and clean, the collar of the white shirt underneath his black jacket was slightly unbuttoned, and this along with the hair and the blue shoes he wore made him look a bit scruffy.

Little had Kawada known back then about how dangerous this kid really was. He had turned out to be his fiercest opponent, and also a dangerous one.
He wasn't sure, but when it came down to people like him, they were either timid and therefore easy victims, or impossible to read, thus dangerous, or even deadly. And this guy, he had to be deadly, Kawada doubted he'd survived this long without killing. In fact, chances were he'd killed most of the students. He shuddered. This could get ugly.

He lit a cigarette, it was soothing, it had always had that effect on him, ever since he started smoking, at age fifteen, after Keiko.... He blew out smoke.
He knew he should know better, his father being a doctor and all... "Smoking is bad for you Shogo... Promise me you'll never smoke son..." What would his father have said now? If he'd known that his dear son was smoking up to two packs a day? He couldn't help but laughing slightly.
He threw the cigarette in the sand, and stepped on it, it was time to get moving. He should find shelter for the night. He tossed his backpack over his shoulder, and grabbed the shotgun with his right hand.
Then he dashed of through the bushes, heading for the clinic he'd been staying in the last nights. It hadn't been marked as a danger-zone yet, and if it was declared one in the 06.00-report, he'd have plenty of time to get away, by now he knew the terrain surrounding it as if it'd been his own, overgrown-backyard.
Still, he'd have to cover bit of a distance to get there, and chances were he'd run into his contestant.

And correctly, there he was; Kiriyama. As if he'd appeared out of nowhere, he was standing in front of Kawada. He flinched: "Shit! Where did he come from?"
As assumed Kiriyama was dangerous, in his right hand; a submachine gun, an Uzi. In the left his bag, which Kawada was fairly sure contained several 'surprises'.
Kawada was following his every move. Kiriyama walked towards him, he didn't really seem threatening, he still had a sick semi-grin on his face, but his eyes seemed bored, almost dead.
Suddenly, without any warning whatsoever, Kiriyama raised his Uzi and fired several bullets in Kawada's direction. Luckily it wasn't a very good shot, all of the bullets missed by a long shot. Yet, Kawada was caught by surprise... Kiriyama was deadlier than he'd assumed. He didn't give any warning-signs at all. "Damn! What's with this guy?!"
At the same time as Kawada prepared to fire his shotgun in response to Kiriyama's sudden attack, the other boy just collapsed in front of him.
"What the..." Kawada froze. This kid... Something was seriously wrong with him. In one minute he's a complete psycho, in the next, collapsing on the ground?

He stood there, not quite sure about what to do... Was it a trick? If he went over to him, would he suddenly attack him with a knife or stun-gun? Still, if it was something serious, he couldn't just leave him there, one thing his father had taught him already when he was a child: "To a doctor it doesn't matter whether someone is good or bad. When someone needs help, one shan't hesitate."
He sighed, "If you stab me, I'll blast your head off!" he growled, as he went over to Kiriyama, who lay still on the ground.
He didn't trust the boy on the ground, but he didn't have the heart to kill him...
Maybe because of the thing with Keiko.... He just couldn't bear to kill anyone who hadn't really hurt him already. Sure, Kiriyama had fired his gun at him, but he'd missed, and after all, something was clearly wrong with this boy... He sat down next to Kiriyama, and checked his pulse. "Well, he's still alive...." he concluded. Still, he couldn't help getting worried, his pulse was weak, and his breath heavy.
Kawada turned him over and looked at him. His face was pale, too pale... And his body was completely limp.
"Damn! Where's the goddamn wound?" Kawada'd figured the paleness couldn't come from anything else but massive blood loss. He checked Kiriyama's wrists and back, but no wound. There was no blood on his shirt, so he couldn’t have been hurt in the chest or stomach either…
Then he noticed that his leg which was touching Kiriyama's was getting wet from a sticky substance. He reacted quickly, and removed Kiriyama's shoe. His white sock was completely drenched in blood.
"My God! How did this happen?!" He tore off the sock too. It seemed like one of the large veins in his ankle had been cut, still, Kawada saw no reason to why someone fighting Kiriyama would just take a slash at his leg if they had a chance to kill him. However, there was no time to dwell over that now. Kiriyama might be his mortal enemy in this game.... But he couldn't let him die like this... It wasn't right. Kawada refused to lower himself to that government-sons-of-bitches-level... He removed his bandana, and tied it as tightly as he could around Kiriyama's leg. Still, he knew it wouldn't last for long; he needed to get him to the clinic.
He swore as he picked up Kiriyama. He wasn't heavy; actually he couldn’t weigh more than about 60kg. But still, it became a burden, and besides, he couldn't carry everything at once, so he'd have to leave the bags. He managed to keep two bottles of water and his shotgun though. But the rest of the stuff, including Kiriyama's weapons would have to be left behind. Not that it mattered though, everyone else was dead, after all, and it also prevented him from getting killed by Kiriyama when he got better.
Yet, for some reason he'd felt safer if they'd had all the weapons, one could never know what kind of sick scheme the government would have cooked up next.
With the limp body of Kazuo Kiriyama in his arms, and his shotgun in a strap over his shoulders he rushed for the clinic.

It had darkened a bit more as they arrived at the old shack that was supposed to be a clinic, Kiriyama wasn't heavy, and that was a god thing, Kawada was tired already... He stumbled through the door, and, in lack of anything else to place him on, placed Kiriyama on the floor. He was still unconscious, and his condition seemed to be getting worse. Though he was breathing, his breath was getting heavier by the minute, and sweat had started to run from his forehead and down his cheeks. "Damn..." Kawada growled again.
He searched through a drawer, and found a roll of gauze. Kiriyama seemed to be real sick; he had to focus on the wound first. He couldn't lose any more blood. He removed his now blood-soaked bandana from Kiriyama’s ankle, and inspected the wound. It looked like it'd been infected, which meant he'd been like this for a while. Most of the drugs and medicines in the clinic were expired and useless, so he fished out the bottle of bourbon he'd kept in his pocket, unscrewed the cap, and poured the liquor into Kiriyama's wound. It was a good thing he was unconscious, 'cos it probably hurt like hell.
He took some of the gauze, and cleansed the wound more carefully. Then he bandaged it.
He looked around for somewhere else to lay him down, it didn't seem right to just let him lay there unconscious on the floor. He checked some of the other rooms, the clinic wasn’t big, still, a clinic had to have beds right? In the third room he checked he found a bed. It wasn't well done, nor was it in the best shape, but it had to do. Besides, chances weren't exactly that Kiriyama would care about it anyway.

He went back to the room where he'd left Kiriyama, picked him up, and carried him to the bed. Although his leg had stopped bleeding he was very pale, and he was burning up from fever.
"He's lost way to much blood..." Kawada shook his head. “He needs a blood transfusion...”
Again he went into the first room, which seemed to be a kitchen. He went through the drawers, and found several tubes and needles. There! He found the kind of kit you'd need to determine your blood type. He himself knew his own, he was an O, and with a little luck.... Kiriyama had to be either O or AB to make the transfusion successful.
Actually the thought was a bit disgusting to him, here he was, about to give his blood to someone who was in reality his biggest threat and enemy. He bet he wouldn't even be grateful. But, his father's words repeated themselves in his head, so he had no choice. He also brought back a bottle of a serum that would lower his fever.
When he returned to the room where Kiriyama laid, he removed his shirt which was completely soaked in sweat. He was a bit stunned when he saw the bullet-proof vest he'd been wearing underneath it. No wonder he'd survived for long... He removed it and gave him an injection of the serum in his left upper arm, and hoped it wasn't too old to work. Then he took two drops of blood from the spot where he'd placed the shot, and dripped one into each drop of the two serums he'd dripped on a piece of glass before giving the injection.
With a toothpick he mixed the blood drops with the serums. Both turned out lumpy. "Lucky strike..." he said to himself. "That means he's an AB..."
He'd searched for some bags of blood in the clinic, but with no luck, therefore, he had to give Kiriyama some of his own blood, just as he'd thought he'd have to do eventually. Because, if it in fact had been bags of blood here, he doubted it would've been useable. That's what he'd brought the tubes for anyway.
He fastened two needles to one of the tubes, one in each end, and did as he'd do during a blood test; he stuck the needles in his own and Kiriyama's arm. It stung a little, but it seemed like it was working.
Blood was traveling from Kawada's arm, through the tube and into Kiriyama's.
Kawada knew how important it was not to let too much time pass; he couldn't let himself loose to much blood either. He sat like this for about twenty, maybe thirty minutes. Then he removed the tube again.
He looked over at Kiriyama, he wasn't as pale anymore, and his lips had gone back to their normal, pink color. He still had a fever though.

It'd really been hard on his body this transfusion, Kawada wasn't feeling all that well himself right now, a bit light-headed and tired. He knew it was normal though, so he just took it slow, and before he knew it, he'd fallen asleep in the chair next to the bed. When he woke up, Kiriyama sat upright in the bed, staring at him with big eyes.
"Oh, you're up. How are you feeling?" Kawada asked.
Kiriyama just stared at him, not responding. "Maybe he's in shock or something..." Kawada thought. He arose from the chair, and headed for the kitchen.
When he returned, he had a cup of water in his hand. He handed it to Kiriyama, who hesitated.
"Take it. It's just water. You need to drink, or else you'll get dehydrated..."
Kiriyama took the cup, and drank a little, then looked back up on Kawada. The look in his eyes was strange... It was like it was empty, no fear, no hatred, no sorrow; he just seemed confused and questioning. He didn’t at all resemble the psychopath on a killing-spree he'd appeared to be before. Kawada decided to give him some time, after all, he had to be very confused, waking up in a bed in a clinic with the person he'd been about to kill, sleeping in a chair next to him. And also he found himself being without his shirt on, a needle mark in his arm, and a bandaged foot.
"I'll be right back." Kawada said, walking towards the kitchen. "Maybe you want some time to yourself..."

In the kitchen he started preparing a simple meal: rice and vegetables. "Well, at least it's healthy..." He was used to cooking, after his father had died last year (damn the bastards in the government!) he'd gotten used to preparing most meals. And as time passed, they started to taste good too.

While Kawada prepared the food, Kiriyama sat in the bed looking around. His head felt heavy. "Oh, Kazuo...." he thought. “Now what have you gotten yourself into?"
He looked at the floor. It was several bottles of medicine, and plastic tubes lying around everywhere, even a shot lay on the floor. He didn't get it. What was happening? This kid could've killed him; instead, it appeared he'd been taking care of him. It was new to him. He himself would've blown his brains out, first shot he got. Why would he rescue him instead? This was a game; the point with games is winning. Didn't this guy want to win? Kazuo didn't get it at all. It was like when he was a kid and did something like playing soccer with the others. They'd laugh and have fun even if they lost. What was the point? He himself had never seen any fun in any activity like that, maybe that's why he'd lost interest, and given up on the other kids? Honestly, he didn't know. He only knew that whenever the others would laugh at something he'd feel nothing at all.... It had always been like that, he just never saw the fun in things like others did. And he'd discovered that apparently he looked upon the world differently than most other people. Why? He had no idea. "What's with this sympathy? Bringing me water, taking care of me? Cooking? Why not just kill me?"
He got out of the bed, and started searching for his shirt, and the bulletproof vest he'd been wearing as kind of a secret weapon. He couldn't find neither of them anywhere.
Kazuo sat back down again, his leg hurt. Probably because of the wound. "It wasn't supposed to be this deep..." He touched the gauze that was covering his wound.
He was not stupid. In fact, Kazuo Kiriyama was very bright. He'd figured by now that he'd passed out because of blood loss, and that that guy...Kawada had given him blood. His own maybe?
Again he stood up, just as Kawada walked in the room with two bowls of rice with vegetables. They looked at each other.
It wasn't until now, that Kiriyama was standing up, that Kawada really noticed him. He actually had a pretty nice body, like any actor or model... Just as he'd figured before, he wasn't bulging with muscles, he was lean and slender. But one could still see his muscles under his skin. No wonder he wasn't heavy... actually he wasn't just slender, but thin, still, it suited his features. It went good with his face and body. Yes, Kiriyama was what one'd call a handsome boy. He probably had a lot of female admirers too.
"Hey, Kiyoshi... You hungry?"
Kazuo looked up, stared at him. His eyes still emotionless, but they looked wondering too. Silent one..... Well, it suited him. He hadn't said anything to Kawada yet, and why would he? They weren't friends. More like enemies. He was not the one who'd decided they'd team up. So, he didn't answer.
Kawada put down the bowls on a small table, and went over to Kiriyama. "You don't mind do you? It just fits you, you're so quiet..." He was talking about the name.
Kawada reached out to help Kiriyama sit down. But Kiriyama stepped backwards: Didn't want to be touched.
"Don't be afraid...I'm not going to hurt you..." Kawada smiled, friendly. "He's like an animal..." he thought. "Timid and reserved..."
Kazuo just glanced at him. Afraid? How could he? He hardly knew what it meant... He'd seen people in movies be afraid, but could never see why... He'd never actually been afraid. Why should he?
"I just wanted to help you sit down, you've been severely injured you know....You lost a lot of blood...It's not good for you to be walking around..."
Kazuo sat down on the bed again. He unwillingly took the bowl Kawada handed to him.
"Try to eat something. Just a little... You have to eat; it's not good for you to starve yourself..."
"What? Does he think I'm anorectic or something?" his eyes widened.
"I mean, you're sick, you have to eat something, it strengthens your body.”
Kazuo picked up the chopsticks, and ate a piece of a carrot. It seemed like he liked it, because he took some more. They ate in complete silence, watching each other.
Kawada was the one who spoke first; "Your name Kiyoshi, it's Kazuo, isn't it?"
Kazuo gave a slight nod, yet the most fulfilling answer he'd given all day.
"Then you don't mind if I call you by your first name." Kawada didn't know why he asked this. You didn't call someone by their first name unless you were related to them, or had known them for very long.
Kazuo shook his head, shrugged his shoulders. It wasn't as if he cared.
Again, complete silence, to Kawada it felt awkward. He didn't know where he had Kiriyama. Kiriyama on the other hand seemed happy with it, or as happy as this weird guy could get anyway.
Kawada watched as Kiriyama picked up his cup, and stared into it, starting to stand up.
"Is it empty?" Kawada asked. "I'll get you some more. Just sit." he took the cup, and refilled it with water.
When he returned he gave the cup back to Kiriyama. "Douzo..."
Kazuo took the cup and drank. Then he just stared at Kawada again. Kawada stared back at the other boy, who refused to talk. Then it hit him, maybe Kiriyama couldn't talk?
"Kazuo? Gomen nasai, datte..." Kazuo looked at him again, waiting. "Are you mute?"
Kazuo didn't react, just stared out a window. Then he turned to Kawada, "No. "
For some reason Kawada was surprised, he hadn't expected an answer, at least not a verbal one.
Kazuo's voice was low, almost whispering, and it was soft, almost as if he was ashamed to speak.
"So, you just don't want to talk then?" There was no reply. "Fine then. I'm not gonna force you to talk...."
Kazuo watched as Kawada pulled a small box out of a drawer in the nightstand. It contained a needle and thread.
"Nani?"
Again Kawada was stunned; he still wasn't used to hearing Kazuo speak. "It's for your leg." he replied. "I need to sew it up; the wound is very deep..."
Kazuo blushed. He knew. Kawada tossed him a pack of ice, and then he removed the gauze carefully. "Hold the icepack to the wound," he said. "When your leg is numb I'll start sewing. It's not the most modern anesthetic, but it's all we have." Kazuo said nothing, but did as he was told.
Later, when his leg was so cold he hardly felt anything in it, Kawada started sewing. "Don't worry," he said. "My dad's a doctor."
Kazuo looked embarrassed. "I guess you're not used to being this vulnerable, huh?" Kawada asked. "It's ok; you seem like an independent type anyway..."
Most of the time Kazuo sat still while Kawada sewed his leg, but from time to time he twitched and grimaced, and each time Kawada said calmly: "Don't worry, I'm almost done..."
At one point, Kawada was a little unfocused, and poked the needle a bit too far, into Kazuo's flesh. A small yelp escaped Kazuo's lips.
"In a way, he's very fragile..." Kawada thought, and went back to sewing, even more careful this time.

A few hours later Kazuo'd fallen asleep again, he seemed to be absolutely exhausted. And with good reasons too, his fever was still high when Kawada felt his forehead.
Again he gave him a shot, not as much serum as last time though. Then he just sat there, watching this mysterious kid who was so obviously screwed up inside. He was sound asleep, and he looked so innocent and peaceful... When Kawada watched him sleep like this, it was like he forgot where they were, what had happened over the last days... But that didn't last for long. Suddenly Kitano's voice echoed over the island. Was it 06.00 already?
"Good morning gentlemen!"
Yeah right. Kawada clenched his fists at the sound of the teacher’s voice.
"No goners over night. I'm disappointed. What are you two doing? This is no time to be making friends!" Kawada could hear him taking a deep breath, like a sigh of disappointment.
He gently shook Kazuo's shoulder. "Wake up..."
Kazuo opened his eyes just in time to hear Kitano: "You are the two only survivors, but there can only be one in the end...If you don't kill each other soon, we will! Remember we're monitoring you... We know exactly what you're doing, saying and where you are..." Kawada grinned. He'd misspoken, fortunately for them.
"The zone you're in, G-9; will be a danger zone from 07.00..." then he summed up the rest of the danger-zones. They were nowhere near them, but Kawada marked them off anyway.
"And remember! If one of you isn't dead in 24 hours...You both die!" and with that Kitano signed off.
Kazuo and Kawada looked at each other. "We need to leave." Kawada said.
In short time, he'd found an old bag and into it he tossed some food, several bottles of water, some medicine and gauze and a few minor items he thought could become useful.
"Come on..." he said to Kazuo, who was still in bed. He sat up and looked at him, confused.
"We have to leave soon, or else we'll get blown to bits, like that Nobu-kid." Kawada repeated. He disappeared outside, and came back with Kazuo's shirt. "Here, I washed it for you... It's not quite dry yet but..."
Kazuo took it, and put it on. "Doko..?"
"The vest?" Kawada asked.
"Hai..."
"It's in the kitchen; go put it on if you still want it." Kawada didn't understand why he told Kazuo this. After all, it could be that Kazuo'd been fooling him all along, and with him having a bulletproof vest, Kawada’s chances to win were very small, if he was being tricked after all. Still, he didn't think he was being fooled. It seemed like Kazuo'd gotten used to him, almost relying on him. Actually, it felt good not to be alone any more, to have someone to take care of. No, he doubted that Kazuo had intentions to kill him.
He went into the kitchen, Kazuo'd just put the shirt back on and was just buttoning it up. He could see the vest underneath.
"Daijoubu desu ka?" he asked. Kazuo nodded.
"Good, then we can go."
The two boys went through the clinic to see if they'd forgotten something, and then left. "We should go to the place where we met..." Kawada said, "To pick up the stuff we left there."
Kazuo didn't quite get what he was talking about.
"Oh, sorry. When you passed out, I had to leave most of our stuff behind, including that Uzi of yours, to carry you…"
"Gomen..." Kazuo looked down.
"Don't worry. The main thing is that you're better." And he really was. He looked much better, and his fever wasn't that high anymore either.

Luckily it wasn't far to the place where Kawada'd left the bags, but when they got there, Kazuo fell to the ground again.
"Chyotto matte..." he said, his voice was weak.
"Kaz...!" Kawada ran over and sat down next to him. "Here, have some more water."
Kazuo took the bottle and drank. "Arigato."
"No problem. Look, we're out of the danger-zone now, so it's ok to take a break."
As they sat there Kawada covered his necklace and reached out to cover Kazuo's as well. Kazuo looked at him, his eyes asking 'why?’. He answered:
"Kitano misspoke in the report. He said they know what we're saying, which means there probably are listening devices in the necklaces."
Kazuo drank some more. But he listened with slight interest. "Why tell me?" he wondered. "We're dying anyway. Just get used to it."
Whilst still covering the necklaces, Kawada explained that when he'd still been with Nanahara, Sugimura'd dropped by to tell them that Mimura in the west had an idea that could save everyone.
"Now, I'm well aware of the fact that Mimura is dead, but his plan might not be.... If we can get to the place where he hid, maybe we can put his plan to life and get away from this place. Alive. Both of us!"
"Both?"
"Yes Kazuo, both. I don't want to kill you or anyone else if I can avoid it. And besides, you're not that bad..."
"You neither." Kazuo said this, and meant it. He didn't know why, but with this guy it was different....He actually liked being around him.
Kawada smiled, and placed a hand on Kazuo's shoulder. "You know, I'm glad we met..."
Their eyes met. Kawada looked away. This feeling... Keiko...

After a while they got going again. Kawada walked first, with Kazuo following him. From time to time they stopped. Kazuo got tired easily, and his foot wasn't in too good of a shape. It hurt when he stepped on it. Kawada would turn to him each time Kazuo shrieked from the pain, and ask: "Daijoubu desu ka?" and Kazuo would nod bravely. Sometimes he even answered; "It's only pain." Just like he didn't care.
Kawada didn't get it. But he did have a certain idea of what Kazuo's condition was...
When Kazuo collapsed for about the tenth time, Kawada went over to him and picked him up again.
"N-nani?" Kazuo asked drowsily.
"You can't walk anymore...I'll carry you the rest of the way." With Kazuo in his arms and the shotgun over his shoulder he bent down and picked up the two bags and placed them on Kazuo's stomach.
"Hope it's not too heavy...” he said to Kazuo, who just shook his head. He was probably being delirious. “It’s the only way I can bring everything." Kawada explained. Kazuo needed no explanation though... He'd fallen asleep, or maybe lost consciousness again.
When he'd walked pretty far off to the west and quite some time had passed, he sat down to rest. In the long run Kazuo and the two bags were heavy. He placed Kazuo on the ground and shook him gently.
"Oi…Kiyoshi…Wake up...” he smiled as Kazuo opened his eyes, and squinted.
"Where are we?" Kazuo's sentences were getting longer. To Kawada this was a sign of him opening up.
"We're in the west," Kawada said patiently. Then he covered both necklaces again. "But, I'm not sure where Mimura was when Sugimura spoke to him...."
Kazuo looked through one of the bags, the one that had belonged to him, and handed a gadget to Kawada.
"A GPS?" Kawada stared. "Didn't that belong to Sugimura?"
Kazuo asked quietly: "Dare?"
"It's ok. I didn't know any of them either. But this won't do any good; the GPS doesn't show corpses..."
Kazuo pointed to a dot on the GPS-monitor. It appeared to be a building. "There…" he said.
"Are you sure?"
"Hai." Kazuo nodded.
"But that's not far from here!! Let's go!" He was about to pick Kazuo up again.
"Dame, I can walk myself... It’s better now." This was the longest sentence he'd ever said to Kawada. He was astonished. "I guess he trusts me now…"
But, there was no time to dwell over that now.
"Hayaku!"

When they arrived at the building and entered, the stench of blood lay in the air, yet, there were no bodies anywhere. Kawada felt sick to his stomach, he really hated the smell of blood. It didn't look like Kazuo'd been affected by it though.
They went up the stairs to the second floor, only to find Mimura, Seto and Iijima lying in puddles of their own blood on the floor. All of them had been killed by multiple gunshots. Kawada stirred.
He stared at them, and then looked at Kazuo.
"You... You did this... That's why you knew where to go...”
Kazuo looked straight ahead, he looked a little uncomfortable, and Kawada thought he spotted a glimpse of guilt in his eyes.
"Daijoubu... I didn't know them either. It doesn't matter if you killed them...” Kawada decided that was the right thing to say. First of all, it was true; he didn't know them, something that made it much easier coping with the deaths. Second of all, he didn't want to freak out Kazuo. If he did he was afraid something would snap inside of his head, and he himself would end up as the three bodies on the concrete-floor. Besides, it was nothing to do with what had already happened, but he did however, have the power to change the future....
Kazuo covered his necklace with his hand and said in a low-toned voice: "Over there..."
Kawada looked in the same direction, and spotted a laptop. He didn't really know Mimura, but he'd heard from Nanahara that he was, or in correct terms, had been quite the computer-expert. Kawada himself was no computer genius, but he did know some things.
He sat down at the laptop, and stared at the screen, it was filled with kanji's, he wasn't sure, but apparently Mimura had tried to hack into the main data of the government and screw up the system.
"Kazuo! Come here for a sec!" he shouted, and Kazuo replied by sitting down next to him, putting a hand on his shoulder, as he too stared at the screen.
"Nani?" he asked. Kawada covered the necklace and signaled to Kazuo to do the same.
"Mimura's been trying to fuck up their systems for long enough to get away from here.. And seems like all we have to do is to activate these viruses he's created, and it'll be done. He's done the hard work for us..." he cracked a smile, and then became serious again. "One problem though. I'm no genius when it comes to computers. You don't happen to know what to do?"
Kazuo scratched his tangled hair, which in the dim light of the storage-building looked slightly reddish. "Move." his voice was determined.
Kawada watched as Kazuo's thin, almost feminine hands, artist’s hands, played with the keyboard. He was fast. In addition to going trough Mimura's viruses, he had hacked into the main computer, the one that held all the information. "This allows us to see when the virus-invasion works its magic..." he said, and continued typing. After additional five minutes, he'd completed all preparation processes.
"Watch." he said, and pushed the 'enter'-key.
Kawada watched with awe as he saw the small basketball player- Mimura's trade mark, slam dunk on the screen as the words 'virus' sent' popped up. Then they both watched as warning-signs popped up everywhere in the window that showed the main computer. ‘virus invasion', 'Warning', 'System failure', 'danger zones clear', 'necklaces disabled'.
"How'd you learned to do that?!" he was stunned. And Kazuo just sat there, as if he'd just finished a simple video-game. "Just felt like it." was the answer he gave.
Kawada smiled. "Sugoi…"
He fondled with the necklace, and to his surprise it came off easily. "You really made it!" he said, as if he hadn't believed it before.
Kazuo removed his own collar, then he said; "I saw bombs outside...”
"Bombs? That means Mimura had some plans...You think he was gonna blow up the entire place?"
Kazuo shrugged his shoulders. "Dunno..."
"Maybe we should try it? As a tribute to Mimura. We didn't know him, yet he almost saved us all..."
"Until I killed him…"
"Don't think about that."
"I don't." Kazuo's voice was cold. Again it was like he cared about nothing. Why was he like that? Kawada felt sorry for this boy, it had to have been a lot of pain in his life.
"Let's get down. I wanna see these bombs."

Quite right, it was quite the collection Mimura and his friends'd managed to make. It was two bombs, propane tanks and a whole lot of Molotov cocktails, all placed neatly in the back of a truck.
"Wanna do it?" Kawada asked. "The school was a danger-zone, but they're all down, and besides, we don't have the necklaces anymore...All we have to do is to drive this truck over to the school, use something to trigger the bombs, and bye-bye Kitano and co."
"Why not?" Kazuo said. "Got nothing better to do. You drive?"
"Yeah, I'm 18. And besides I wouldn't have cared if I wasn't, it's not very difficult." They got in the truck and to their surprise the keys were in the lock already. So they started driving towards the school.
"This is what we do..." Kawada said. " We drive this truck as close to the school as we can, then we pour some gasoline outside of it, and finally we throw something at the truck to set off the bombs....It's just... what'll we use?"
Kazuo looked at him with dull eyes. Still, he had a spark there. Like an idea. Only he wasn't excited. "Will a grenade do?"
"Grenade!?" Kawada asked, and almost drove of the so-called, extremely bumpy road.
"I took it from some guy...."
"Just, how many did you kill...?" Kawada said it with a joky tone of voice.
"Dame..." Kazuo said. He pulled out a grenade from his backpack. "Here."'
"Look, sorry, I didn't mean to remind you...”
"Dame…"
They kept driving in silence. Kawada felt bad, he'd obviously upset Kazuo, not in a way you'd normally upset someone though, he didn't seem sad, hurt or angry. In a way he just looked lost.
Nevertheless, it seemed like he looked forward to getting even with those bastards who'd put them on this fucking island. Maybe Kazuo hadn't volunteered after all, like Kawada'd thought at one point? But he couldn't be a survivor either...His body was too nice. He didn't have any scars from being shot or stabbed. Of course, he could have been lucky… He'd survived this game down to the final two without getting severely injured. But that kind of luck twice? It was doubtful... Then, what was his story? He settled with the thought that Kazuo himself would tell him when he felt like it.

They were closing up to the school, and could see the large, old, grey brick building. It towered before them. It looked more like a prison than a school actually... Then again, that could be because of the military trucks and soldiers though... Luckily there were no soldiers outside right now. "They're probably inside trying to get the system back on its feet again..." was Kawada's guess.
"I'll let you off here." Kawada said to Kazuo, as he stopped the truck. "You can't run with that leg of yours… So I'll drive over there, pour out some gasoline from the reserve-can, and light the whole thing on fire, then I'll start running back to you, throw the grenade, and we'll escape."
He went out of the truck, and helped Kazuo get out. "Please, don't go anywhere." Kawada said to him. "I'm not leaving this island without you." Over the past day he'd become strangely attached to Kazuo, maybe because he was so helpless, maybe it was because he didn't want to be alone... He didn't know.
"Hayaku Kawada-san... Time's short...” Kazuo himself didn't understand why he'd call him that all of a sudden. It'd just felt right.
"I will..." Kawada went back into the truck again, and Kazuo sat down on a rock and watched as Kawada drove off and parked real close to the school.
Kazuo saw him get out of the truck, grab the can of gasoline from the back, and pour it all around the truck and in a straight path into the bushes close to the school wall and finally splashed something there too. Then he could see Kawada lighting a cigarette. He could see him take a few drags from it, and then he walked further away, and threw the cigarette into the bushes next to the school.
He threw something else too; Kazuo couldn't see what it was though.
Almost simultaneously as the cigarette hit the ground flames sprung up. Yellow and red tongues started licking up the bushes, and towards the truck. Kawada moved further away. There, Kazuo saw him take the grenade out of his pocket. He removed the splinter, and tossed it. It hit, right next to the truck, just as the fire reached it. Shortly after there was a loud 'BLAMM', that clogged up his ears.
One second later everything exploded into an inferno of smoke and fire. Kazuo saw Kawada fall to the ground as a result of the impact.
"KAWADA-SAN!" he got up, too fast. His leg failed him, and he too hit the ground. He tried to get up knowing that if he didn't he'd get killed, by guards or the fire that was spreading.
Again he collapsed, but instead of hitting the ground, he was picked up by a couple of strong arms. He looked up into Kawada's face. Kawada looked a bit battered and worn out, and he gasped for air, but he wore a sly grin on his face. "Promise me one thing Kaz," he wheezed. "Never start smoking. It's more dangerous than you'd ever imagine..." He helped Kazuo up, and helped him over to the rock again.
"You… Ran?" Kazuo asked. His ears were still ringing.
"Yes, it wasn't as bad as it looked. But the impact caused me to fall. I'm not hurt though. It was easy to get up and run over to you..."
He took both backpacks, and looked at the burning school, and remains of the truck. "Let's go. I saw a boat down by the beach. We can sail away from this hells waiting room with it…"
He turned to Kazuo again. "Can you walk? I saw you fall..."
"Mou...! I'm not that helpless..." Kazuo started limping down towards the beach.
"Douitashimashite..." Kawada growled. "Jeez, I'm just being helpful....."
He followed Kazuo down towards the beach. It wasn't far. About two kilometers. "You know," he said, to break the silence. "Some of those bastards might've survived..."
"So?" Kazuo seemed bored.
"They might try to hunt us down and kill us for doing this to them…"
"Everyone's dying sometime." Kazuo's eyes were as cold as ever. "That's the boat?" he pointed to a small fishing-ship that was tied to the old, rotting dock.
"Yes, that's the one. Now get aboard. Let's leave quickly before someone spots us!"
The two boys untied the rope, and shoved the boat into the water, and then Kawada climbed aboard and helped Kazuo up.
"It's not too old..." Kawada mumbled. "Even has an automatic navigation-system. We'll head straight for land..."

They'd sailed for a few hours when Kazuo started yawning. Kawada looked at him. "You tired?" he asked.
"Hai… A little"
Kawada tossed him a blanket. "Then rest. I'll stay up tonight. It's crucial for our survival in case we're being followed."
Kazuo wrapped himself in the blanket. Kawada went over to him, and felt his forehead. "You're still burning up." He said. "Your fever is getting worse. It's usually at its most aggressive at night."
Kazuo didn't look good at all, his eyes were glazed, and his cheeks flushed. "You're delirious again..." Kawada whispered. Kazuo looked up at him. He reached out a hand, and touched Kawada's cheek. "Oyasumi nasai, Kawada-san…" Kawada smiled slightly. It was just like Keiko used to say; only she used the term 'kun' instead of 'san'. "Good. Get some sleep."
As Kazuo slowly drifted into dreamland, Kawada watched him. When he slept there was something innocent and childlike about him. There was hardly any doubt any more; he'd seen this before... At his father’s practice; Sociopaths, people without feelings. Was it really possible that Kazuo was suffering so hard from this condition; he didn't feel anything at all?
Last night his hatred towards Kazuo'd been a fact, and it had disgusted him that he had to care for him, but now, all thoughts of reluctance and disgust were washed away. Now he had only compassion and what could be described as indescribable warm feelings towards him.
Kawada spent the night watching the sea and Kazuo. Thinking of Keiko. And of Kazuo, and this situation they were in... Where would they go? He knew one thing; it wasn't safe to go back to either Shiroiwa or Kobe, and wherever he went, Kazuo'd have to come with him. He couldn't leave him alone after what they'd been through. The way Kawada saw it; it was still hope for him...

At dawn Kazuo awoke. He looked around; he appeared to be in a cabin of a boat. What the hell?! Then he remembered.
He shook his head, he was dizzy. "Kawada-san?" he asked into the air.
Kawada appeared by his side. "Ohayio." he said. "I'm glad to see you're still alive...”
Kazuo stared at him.
"Your fever was dangerously high last night." he explained. “I was worried for a moment. When we get ashore I'll get some real medicine that hasn't expired yet."
"Asa gohan?" Kazuo asked.
"Well, I'm glad you're feeling well enough to eat...All I have is a loaf of bread and some water… But take it if you're hungry." He took the bread out of his bag, and gave it to Kazuo.
As Kazuo started to eat, Kawada said: "Sa! Let me see your leg. I'm going to change the gauze for you."
Kazuo stretched out his leg and allowed Kawada to remove the gauze and look at it.
As Kawada inspected the stitches he asked: “So, how long have you been cutting yourself?"
Kazuo stirred, and almost choked on his bread. "Dame..."
"No, answer me Kaz. How long?"
"How'd you know?"
"I've seen thousands of cuts like this. Dad is a doctor, remember? Did you try to commit suicide or something?"
"I saw a girl on TV..."
"And?"
"She cut, and cried. I wanted to see if I'd cry..."
Suddenly Kawada felt bad for him. "You've never cried?"
"No...Is that bad?"
"No… Or, maybe in your case... But, you saw her cut, and you cut to make yourself cry?"
"Hai... Sumimasen..."
"Don't apologize...But Kaz, that's dangerous... You cut a huge vein. You could've bled to death... Don't ever do something like that ever again. Promise me!"
"Nande?"
"Because...Because I care about you..." he blushed as he said it. He hadn't though about it that way before. That he cared about Kazuo. But now he realized. It was more than just an urge to protect him, it was affection too.
Kazuo looked into his eyes, questioning. "Care?" he asked. "How do you know?"
"I just do...” Kawada answered. This was awkward… Kazuo was… A boy… Yet, his feelings resembled those he'd had for Keiko.
"Then I won't cut myself again..." Kazuo had a tone of shame in his voice. "I've never really felt anything before, so I think I know how important it is to care about someone and to have someone that cares about you... I'll quit for you Kawada-san...Even though I've done it only once or twice..."
Kawada was moved. It could be that Kazuo couldn't feel, yet his voice appeared to be full of emotion.
"I appreciate that." he said, and continued bandaging Kazuo's leg.

They didn't say anything for a while. It was strange. Kawada'd never even considered being into boys. Then, where did these sudden feelings towards Kazuo come from?
It was Kazuo who broke the silence. "Land." he said and pointed to something in the horizon.
Kawada nodded. "Well, according to the coordinates, we're nowhere near Kobe or Shiroiwa, so we can safely go ashore there."

"Douka shita no?" Kazuo asked.
"Nothing." Kawada replied.
"You look uncomfortable…" Kazuo said; apparently totally unaffected by what had just happened. "Is it because you said you cared?"
"Partially yes..." Kawada mumbled. "But not because of you...It's because...well...I...you're a guy..."
"I am..." Kazuo said. "So? It's a gift to care about someone, I should know...I've never...It shouldn’t matter if it's a boy or a girl…"
"You know, for a sociopath, you're ok. And wise too."
"I'm a sociopath?"
"I think that's what you'd call it...I've seen it before. Yet, not like you, normally one with that condition would've had limited feelings, and problems telling right from wrong... But you…You seem to be lacking it all..." Kazuo listened. With interest, which was rare for him to do. "Is that why I killed so many people?" he asked, almost whispering.
Kawada looked out the window. They were approaching land. "I don't know..."He said. “You tell me..."
"At first..." he looked down. “I wanted to see what a dead body looked like, feel how it was to the touch... But when I killed...I couldn't see why..."
"Why?"
"Why people freak out after killing someone....I'd just move on to the next…And kill him...."
"In other words... You had no reaction at all..." Kawada said. "So in 'desperation' to feel you kept killing… You didn't care...You just wanted to feel something, joy, sorrow, fear, desperation…Anything?"
"I suppose...I've seen all those things, but never experienced them... What's it like?"
Kawada's heart bled for him, but there was something else there too…An urge... He shut out the entire world, blocked his mind, and just listened to his heart for one brief, short moment. He leaned forward, and closed his eyes. Their lips met. Kawada gently kissed Kazuo's soft lips. Kazuo answered the kiss, and carefully bit Kawada's lower lip.
He opened his eyes, pulled away and stared at Kazuo. Awaited his reaction. Kazuo blinked, but pulled him close.
And as the ship sailed ashore, the two boys kissed again.
Kazuo was the one who broke the kiss this time. He glanced at Kawada. "Soft." he said. But his voice, although low-pitched, was the same.
Kawada smiled briefly. It'd felt right but...
"Let's go." Kazuo had gotten up already. "We're here..."
"And where's here?" Kawada wondered.
"I don't know...But let's go anyway..."
"OK...Let's find somewhere to stay..." Kawada grabbed the bags, and just as last time, helped Kazuo get off the boat. He jumped down first, and then caught Kazuo when he jumped.
His cheeks flushed a little when he caught the smaller boy in his arms. Kazuo showed no reaction at all, as always.
"First let's find a pharmacy. You need medication." Kawada said, and started walking towards the houses further ahead.
It was quite easy to find the pharmacy; actually it was one of the first buildings they came to when they came from the docks.
When entering the pharmacy, Kawada talked to the pharmacist and learned that this was no island; this city was connected with the mainland. He also learned that although the city was in a kind of deserted area, it was rather big.
He asked for a place to stay, and was told that there was a hotel nearby that had available rooms. Finally he bought some aspirin, painkillers and cold-medicine, and went back outside to Kazuo that didn't want to go inside.
"Let's go to the hotel. We'll stay there till tomorrow, and then we'll find somewhere else to stay..."
"Fine with me..." Kazuo said. "Is it far?"
"No, not very... Does your leg hurt?"
"A little, yes."
"Don't worry, it's right around the block."

The hotel was called 'Sea bass Inn', because this city'd used to be a town that based most of their business and economy on the fishing-industry. It wasn't great. The paint was shattered, and the porch old and rutty. But they couldn't afford anything else anyway. The two boys entered the front door, and came into a lobby. At least the inside of this place wasn't so bad.
Kawada went over to the counter, and spoke to the woman who sat there.
"Two rooms?" she asked.
Kawada thought about it. He wasn't sure, maybe Kazuo wanted his own room, and he didn't want to invade his privacy. Still, he was afraid to leave Kazuo alone, the thought of his illness and the cut on his leg was haunting his thoughts. So, he figured he'd rather have a room for two, so he could watch him.
"No. One. With two beds please..." The lady at the counter started checking the computer in front of her, and Kawada turned around to see what Kazuo was doing.
He was standing outside on the porch, looking at a butterfly that was dancing around him. Kawada smiled as he saw how Kazuo flinched when the butterfly started flapping in his face. Kazuo stared at the butterfly with awe… And tried to catch it, but in a glimpse of an eye it disappeared. "He's like a child..." Kawada thought. “Poor thing. Is this one of his attempts to feel something?"
"Sumimasen…" it was the lady at the counter.
"What?" Kawada turned to her again.
"We don't have any available rooms with two beds... Perhaps you're interested in the two single-rooms anyway?"
"No… I…" Kawada started. What was he going to do now? He didn't want to leave Kazuo alone, and besides two rooms were more expensive than just one. But a room with only one bed? He wasn't sure about this... Sharing a bed with Kazuo? The thought was weird enough as it was, but if you added what had happened on the boat... And what would Kazuo think?
"So? What is it?" the lady asked. She seemed to be getting annoyed.
"We'll take a room with one bed then..." Kawada said. His cheeks were flushing. "Damn, I wonder what kind of thoughts are going through her mind now…"
The lady looked at him for a while, then said; "Fine then. You'll be staying in room 084. Here's your key."
Kawada accepted the key. "Kazuo!" He shouted. "Come on!"
And Kazuo came through the door. He was still limping, and his eyes were glazed, but he looked pleased. "Did you get a room?" He asked.
"Yeah." Kawada dangled the key in front of him.
"Oi, Kawada-san? What's she staring at?" Kazuo asked, meaning the lady behind the counter.
That's when Kawada realized what they both looked like. Their clothes were ragged, some places stained with blood, and in Kazuo's shirt there were bullet-holes. Kazuo had a bad limp and looked ill, besides they both had a red mark around their necks where the necklaces had been. On top of it all, even though Kawada'd left the shotgun in Kazuo's bag, it was visible. Or, one couldn't see what it was exactly, but the shotgun was poking to the side in the bag, making it oddly shaped. And if one used one's imagination it'd look suspicious either way.
"Us probably." Kawada replied.
Kazuo looked at Kawada, then he looked down his own body, and finally at the lady. "Mind your own business!" he said. His eyes were cold as ice, he could've frozen a volcano with that glare, and his voice was like steel. "What exactly are you looking at?!"
"N-Nothing..." the lady said, completely stunned by this sudden outburst of rudeness.
"Good."

As they walked to their room, Kawada said; "Y'know Kaz, you can be scary...”
"Really? I'm just me..."
"Yeah, but your emotionless face, and cold eyes, along with that you never or rarely talk, and when you do it mostly comes of as threatening… That can be intimidating you know..."
"Hmm…well, I did see how those kids reacted when I passed them in the classroom..."
"Yes, but didn't you try to come off scary then?"
"Well, I think I did...I mean, it's a game of death right? I had to gain some respect right.... It's hard being the new kid you know…"
Kawada wasn't sure what to think… Did Kazuo just crack a joke? Then he laughed. "You know, for a guy with no feelings, you're pretty funny…"
Kazuo glared at him. "I am?"
Kawada laughed harder, and caught himself reaching out a hand, ruffling Kazuo's tangled hair.

They walked further down the hall, and stopped in front of a door. "084.That's our room."
Kawada unlocked the door, and the two walked in. The room wasn't of the nicest he'd seen, but it was ok. It had a small bathroom, with a toilet, a sink and a shower. The room had a carpeted floor, and light-blue walls. In the middle there was a bed, not king-size, but big enough for two people, nightstands on both sides. A phone, a table and chairs and a small television.
"Not too bad, eh?"
"There's only one bed." Kazuo sat down on it.
"Yes, they didn't have a room with two beds; I didn't want to leave you alone. Hope you don't mind…"
"I don't, but maybe you do?"
"What do you mean?"
"You feel weird. About that we kissed."
"Well, yes…Don't you?"
"Not really... I thought it was nice."
Kawada stared at him. "You did?"
"Yes...I didn't feel…But, it was…warm and soft..." Kazuo looked carefully at him. "But you don't think so?"
By the tone of his voice he seemed hurt, but that was impossible. Most likely he was confused and wondering.
"Yes...I do... Kaz..." he looked into his eyes. "I did like it…But...I've never thought I'd be into boys.."
"Oh?"
"I had a girlfriend..." Kawada said.
"When?"
"Three years ago...Her name was Keiko..."
"What happened? Did you break up?"
"No." Kawada replied. His eyes darkened. "This fucking game happened."
Kazuo swallowed. "She…Died?" He didn't seem at all surprised at the fact that Kawada was a survivor.
"I killed her…"
Kazuo stirred. "Killed her? Didn't you love her?"
"Yes, I did love her. I went through hell to protect her, killed my best friend. I wanted to save her so bad...But when we were the final two, like you and I...The necklaces started bleeping… Something happened... She shot me…And something snapped inside of me....I shot her back, and watched her tumble down a hill. I ran after her...She was still alive, I picked her up, and she died in my arms...”
But before she died...She smiled, and told me 'thank you'..." He looked up; his eyes were filled with pain and tears. "I… I killed her Kazuo… I loved her… But I killed her.."
Kazuo didn't know what to do... He didn't understand...But Kawada was obviously in pain. He moved closer to him, and placed his hand on his shoulder.
"Look, I don't know how Keiko felt...I most certainly don't...But the way I see it, she loved you..."
"Yes, and I killed her."
"Listen, Kawada-san...Listen, she shot you first right?"
"Hai...."
"And I think she did that to make you shoot her, so that you could survive...That's how much she must've loved you...And that's why she said 'thank you'...”
Kawada looked at Kazuo again. He'd never thought of it that way before....
"Maybe you're right....."
"I think I am," Kazuo said. “Sociopath...Maybe…But I'm smart too…There's more to me than what the eye can see...”
"So I've noticed...” Kawada replied. "But I think you're right...As horrible as it sounds, she wanted to die for me…She'd told me once, that if she had to, she'd die for me...I never took it seriously though.."
"She must've really loved you..." there was a yearning in Kazuo's eyes. "To make that sacrifice..."
"It doesn't make it right…But I think it'll become easier to live with, knowing this..." Kawada smiled carefully. "Thank you...”
Kazuo looked at him, his lips parted slightly... Kawada watched them. For some reason he just couldn't take his eyes off them... Again he was about to lean forward...But stopped himself.
It wasn't right...Not now...And towards Kazuo? Kissing him when he couldn't feel anything inside? It sounded like tormenting him rather than expressing love.
He got up. Kazuo seemed unaffected. Maybe he hadn't noticed that Kawada'd been about to kiss him? "You hungry?" he asked.
"Kinda..."
"I'll go out and get us some food...You just stay here ok?"
"OK. I'll take a shower...My leg's full of blood... And I want to wash that island of me..."
"I know what you mean." Kawada said, taking out his wallet from his pocket. "It's damn good thing I never leave home without my credit card... And I actually have money on it too."
Kazuo didn't answer.
"Anything in particular you want me to buy?" he asked as he went out the door.
"Soda," Kazuo said. "And something other than dry bread..."
"I'll see what I can do!" Kawada said, and closed the door behind him. Kazuo looked at the door, and then stood up from the bed.
"I wonder why he's afraid to kiss me..." he said to himself, while walking into the bathroom. "If he feels something...Why won't he show those feelings? I would if I could…"
He undressed, removed the bulletproof vest. "Damn, that thing's heavy."
He looked at himself in the mirror; he could tell he was what they called handsome. Many girls had told him so too, but he'd always decline their offers to go out with them, reject their confessions of their love for him. Why shouldn't he? He didn't care about girls…Or love for that matter. How, and why should he care about something he didn't understand to the fully? Why were people who were in love so happy? What was so great about it? But Kawada... Kazuo wasn't sure. He'd never kissed anyone before. But he liked it, he knew that much. Was he in love? Could he be in love, was it possible for him? And how could he tell? Maybe it wasn't love, but... There was something he couldn't explain...
He turned the faucet, and went into the shower; the nice hot water brushed his face. He wiped the wet strands of hair away from his forehead. Then he leaned it against the wall. He stood there, eyes closed, leaning against the wall with the water streaming down his back. It was like all of the murder and death was being washed away, even though he hadn't thought about it at all...
It felt good. He thought about things. Things that had never crossed his mind before. Love... He'd never really cared. He couldn't care. Now however, he wanted to care. For some reason, he couldn't think of much else. And for some reason he wanted to feel Kawada's lips against his own again...
He washed his hair and went out of the shower.

At the same time Kawada was done at the store and was on his way back to the hotel. He'd bought some instant-ramen, soda, a paper and some crackers. Not much, but it'd do for today.
He was pissed. How could he do that to Kazuo? He acted like feelings weren't as precious as they were... Kazuo was right... Gender didn't matter. And if what he felt towards Kazuo, this weird attraction was real feelings...It was wrong to deny them..."Dammit! Let yourself go!" he thought. "Keiko is gone, but you're allowed to love again…And Kazuo…He needs love…Don't deny him, or yourself that!"

As he came into the hotel room, Kazuo came out of the bathroom. He wasn't wearing anything but a white towel that he'd tied around his waist. Kawada looked at him.
Kazuo looked back at him. "I…" he started.
"Kaz…Ssh..." Kawada went over to him, and placed a finger on his lips. "About before…Sumimasen..."
Kazuo felt his breath on his forehead; Kawada was a bit taller than him after all. "Kawada-san…What?"
"Ssh...” he closed his eyes, leaned forward, and placed a kiss on Kazuo's lips. Kazuo's eyes widened, then closed, and he kissed him back.
Kawada hadn't felt this complete for a long time. He was sure about this now. It felt right. So very right. He wrapped his arms around Kazuo's neck, ran his hand through his reddish hair, it was wet.
Kazuo answered by wrapping his arms around Kawada's neck, and opened his eyes a little.
"Kiire…" he thought. Was this to feel? He didn't know, but still...It was so amazing…
Kawada's tongue brushed Kazuo's lips. His mouth opened, allowed Kawada’s tongue to meet his own. He stroked Kawada's back, and tilted his head, so that Kawada could reach his neck. He blew it gently, and then kissed it. Kazuo froze in delight. His entire body shook. "So…good..." he whispered. “Kawada-san…"
Kawada smiled into Kazuo's neck. Kissed it again. Felt Kazuo shiver.
He pulled away for a moment. "Come…" he said, sat down on the bed. Kazuo sat next to him. They kissed again. Kazuo softly bit Kawada's lip, ran his tongue across it. Kawada's body was the one shivering now. Kazuo moved Kawada's shirt to the side, kissing his shoulder, his neck. Kawada's breath grew heavier. He lifted Kazuo's chin with his finger, and kissed his lips again, then he gently pushed him. At first Kazuo let himself fall backwards into the mattress, but then he stopped. Kawada tried to kiss him again, but Kazuo pulled away. "Dame..."
"Douka shita no?"
"Dameyo..." Kazuo looked at him, his eyes big. "Not ready..."
"It's ok. Don't worry." Kawada said softly, and kissed Kazuo's cheek.
Kazuo stood up, and went into the bathroom. When he came back out he wore boxers: Red silky ones.
"Kawaii..." Kawada smiled. "I usually wouldn't say that…But thinking of what you were like...It really is cute…"
It was only afternoon, still they were tired. Especially Kawada, who'd been up all night.
Kazuo returned to the bed. His hair was a mess. Kawada touched it, gently, stroking the tangled strands of brownish-red. Kazuo kissed him gently.
"Are you tired?" he asked. It was his turn to watch out for Kawada now.
Kawada nodded. “I was awake all night...”
"Then sleep..." Kazuo whispered, and lay down next to him.
"Can I...?" he put an arm around Kazuo's waist, gently he stroke the other boys' stomach.
Kazuo nodded. "Please do..." he whispered.
Kawada held Kazuo tightly, and pressed his lips against his shoulder.
"Oyasumi nasai, Kazuo-kun..."
"Oyasumi.." and there, on Kazuo's lips, a smile played...Not a big one, yet, the only smile Kazuo'd ever managed to smile.
Kawada was sound asleep, but his arm stayed around Kazuo's slender waist, his breath tickled his back, and eventually Kazuo too fell asleep, wearing the smile on his lips. And for once he looked happy.

Kawada awoke at dawn. They'd slept for long. Kazuo was still in dreamland though... He decided not to wake him, so he went into the bathroom to take a shower. He felt dirty, like the game still clung to him.
But, he grinned as he thought of his revenge. Oh, how good it'd felt to see that school blowing up. Not as good as being with Kazuo though... He smiled. It was nice to be with someone again. Even though Kazuo was the one he was about to kill or get killed by, only days ago. Fate sure had some weird twists. After showering he got dressed, and decided he looked dreadful.
"Mou! I can't walk around like this..." he looked into the mirror. "I should get some new clothes…And he too for that matter." he picked up Kazuo's torn shirt, and counted the bullet holes.
"Six... Boy, does he need a new shirt or what?" he looked over at Kazuo, who was still sleeping. He was on his stomach; face down into the pillow, one arm dangling from the bed. Again, he couldn't help but smile. He sat down next to him, and turned the TV on. It wasn't much on, so he was stuck watching one of those home-shopping networks.
He found the newspaper he'd bought the day before. As he read it, the sun rose, and golden rays from the morning sun emerged through the small gap in between the curtains and tickled Kazuo's nose.
He opened his eyes and yawned, then looked over at Kawada, who was still reading the paper. "Kawada-kun…" he murmured, still sleepy.
Kawada turned. 'Kawada-kun' it sounded nice.
"Morning there." he replied.
"What's the time?" Kazuo asked.
"A quarter to six...It's still early. But you've slept long." he felt Kazuo's forehead. "How are you feeling?"
"Better." Kazuo replied. "I'm not dizzy...”
"Good, your fever is weaker; I think you'll be fine again by tomorrow."
Kazuo sat up, and stretched. He looked at Kawada, who'd gone over to the window, and stood there, his back facing Kazuo, whilst looking at something outside.
Kazuo got up, and went over to him, placing his hands around his waist, gently kissing the back of his neck.
Kawada turned around, and wrapped his arms around him.
Kazuo looked at him. "No regrets?" he asked, seeming worried that Kawada would reject him.
"No regrets Kazuo-kun…"
"Promise?"
"I promise...Don't be so suspicious…" he laughed. "Don't worry...I'm not going to reject you again. It's you and me now...Just us..."
Kazuo buried his head in Kawada's chest. "Good."
Kawada let go of him, and said: "When do you want to get going? We can't stay here all day, and also, we need to buy some new clothes…Just look at your shirt."
"Breakfast first." Kazuo said. "You bought food yesterday, but we never ate...”
"Good point." Kawada said. He picked up the grocery bag, still on the floor.
"It's instant ramen, we'll just need to add hot water."
"Ok...Sounds fine to me." Kazuo replied and went into the bathroom.
While he was in there, Kawada changed channels, and stopped when he saw that the morning news were on.
"The school on the deserted island outside of Izu that blew up two days ago has now been completely searched through...There were found no survivors among the soldiers that currently stayed in the building. This island is however the place where this years Battle Royale, or program's taking place. All student-bodies have been identified, yet the two students who remained at the time of the explosion are missing, and their bodies haven't been found. Most likely the two died from the explosion or the fire afterwards, there is however, assumed that it was these two who created the explosion in the first place. If the two had survived they'd still be on the island, because of their necklaces, which were found near the school, in bad shape after the explosion and fire."
Kazuo came out of the bathroom. "Hey! You missed the news!" Kawada said cheerfully.
Kazuo glared. "What? News?"
"Yeah, on TV…It was about the island, the explosion. There are no survivors."
Kazuo went over to him. "Which means?"
"That, Kazuo, means that we're safe! We can go back to my place!"
"But...Our bodies…They'll know we're alive, that we did it…It's no use."
"They think we're dead! They think we died in the explosion!"
"For now. But when they find the necklaces in the storage room, they'll know we didn't!"
"But they won't."
"How do you know?"
"Because Kazuo, because they already found them."
"Huh?" Kazuo didn't get this. What was Kawada saying?
"When we left the storage building I took our necklaces with me. You probably didn't notice, but I put them in my pocket, thinking they might come in handy to make us look dead. Then when I threw the cigarette...”
Kazuo's eyes widened, so it was the necklaces Kawada'd thrown... "...You threw the necklaces too!"
"Yes I did. And on the news recently they said that the necklaces were found, and that we died in the explosion or fire, or whatever. The point is Kazuo-kun, that we're dead to them. They won't search for us! We're safe!"
"That's great." He could see Kazuo was happy in his own way, though he couldn't show it like other people.
"I know." Kawada said. "And this means we can go back to Kobe and live there, in my apartment…And no one will come looking for us."
"But...I'm not from there...What about me? Shouldn't I go back?"
"Kazuo-kun, what is there to go back to? You heard Kitano. Our families were notified, which in government-language means they've been killed....And you lived in a fairly large house didn't you?"
"Yes, my father was a businessman, so we lived in the best neighborhood in Shiroiwa."
"That probably means they've taken over your home...They'll do that if you've got a fancy home, promote someone and give 'em your house..."
Kazuo stared into thin air. "I…have no home?"
"Yes you do. Didn't you hear me before? I'm not leaving you behind. I want you to come home with me, to stay."
"For real?"
"For real...I'm sure about this. I'm more sure than ever before. I want to be with you Kazuo..."
"I....I want to be with you too…"
"Then come with me. You have nothing to go back to anyway...So join me...Please…"
"I want to...I really want to...And, you're the only one I've got...Maybe with you…I can finally be happy..."
"Does that mean you'll come?"
"Yes. I'll come with you Kawada-kun."
Kawada smiled. "I knew you would."
"You did huh?" Kazuo said.
"Sure I did. You're not so tough after all, you big lug." Kawada laughed and hit Kazuo playfully in the arm.
Kazuo's face stiffened. What? He wanted a fight? He pushed Kawada to the floor, his arms aiming for his neck. As if he tried to strangle him.
Then Kawada understood. To Kazuo there was no such thing as play. If someone hit him, he'd hit back, seriously. He saw no difference in play and reality. If he was hit it was the same as being attacked.
This was when Kawada started to fear for his life. Kazuo was cold enough to kill him, even if he 'felt' something for him. It didn't matter to him. Not really. It probably was like seeing the world in black and white.
Kazuo was remarkably strong for his petite body and illness. Somehow, it was no trouble for him to pin Kawada down. He looked crazy, but in pain.
"Damn...I made him snap...”
Kawada struggled to get a hold of Kazuo's hands, keep them away from his neck. Kazuo's facial-expression was so odd. Without showing any emotions, it showed desperation, fear, deceive and insanity…
He'd frightened Kazuo. Not just his feelings, because he had none, he'd frightened his soul. Kazuo looked so lost. Yet, he was very dangerous, and Kawada knew it.
He managed to grab Kazuo's hands, he held them tight. "Kazuo...Please...” he pleaded.”I meant no harm."
"You said you cared! Why did you..?!"
"It was for fun. I thought you'd understand…I'm so sorry..."
Kazuo relaxed a little. His face still wore his pain though.
"Kazuo-kun..." Kawada's eyes brimmed with tears. How could he be so stupid? How could he do this to Kazuo? "I'm so very sorry…I never meant to..."
Kazuo closed his eyes.
"Please, forgive me... I never meant to hurt you, or scare you...I was foolish, didn't think...I do care about you!"
He let go of one of Kazuo's arms, and placed his own on the boy’s neck. He pulled him closer, and kissed him. Carefully, slowly. When Kazuo finally kissed back, Kawada knew he was forgiven. He let himself fall backwards to the floor, with Kazuo on top of him. They kissed again. Then Kazuo rolled himself off him. They lay like that on the floor for a while. Kawada on his back, Kazuo lying on the side with his head on Kawada's chest. He clenched his shirt. "Don't do things like that...”
Kawada stroke his neck. "I won't…It was so stupid of me."
Kazuo looked up at him. "But I was wrong to react that way…It's just... I've never known how to separate real violence from play...I'm so...I can't…"
"Ssh...It's ok. You can't help it. I don't know what's happened to you to make you become like this, but it's not your fault. I'll be more careful..."
Kazuo looked at him. "We're an odd couple." he said. Just like that he appeared to be over what had just happened.
"I know, but at least we're a couple... And I really care about you, even if it's real early; you've become so important to me...” It was true, they'd know each other such short time, and been together even shorter, just days. But Kawada felt so strongly towards Kazuo. Like they belonged together, needed each other. He pulled Kazuo closer.
"We're together, and that's all that matters, no matter how odd it seems."
"Can we eat now?" Kazuo asked.
Kawada laughed. Kissed his forehead. "Yes, let's eat."

A few hours later they'd packed up and left the hotel. Kawada dragged Kazuo to a clothing store that sold casual wear.
Kazuo grimaced. He wasn't used to wearing jeans and a t-shirt. "It looks cheap." he said, as he tried the clothes on in the dressing room.
"It's because it is cheap. It's different than those suits you'd wear at that mansion of yours." comments like these would usually be horrible to someone who'd just lost their family. But not to Kazuo, as usual he barely looked up.
"But it's weird...I'm not used to this kind of clothing."
"I know, but it looks good on you."
It really did. Kazuo's tangled, messy hair came more to its rights this way; went better with the black, loose t-shirt and the jeans.
"I guess I'll get used to it. It's comfortable after all."
Kawada bought himself a new shirt too, a white one with buttons, and new pants as well. Not jeans though.
After paying and actually changing into the new clothes, they started walking down to the harbor.
"Well, at least we look presentable now." Kawada said.
"Yes, and damn good too."
"Heh, we sure do." sometimes there was truly possible to see a real human side within Kazuo. The people who walked past them probably thought that they were two very normal teenagers. They couldn't see Kazuo's suffering. Instinctively Kawada put his arm around him. Kazuo answered by taking his hand.
Kawada smiled.
"Where are we going?" Kazuo asked.
"I'm going to see if there's a ferry departing for Kobe anytime soon. We've got to get home."
"Home..." Kazuo tasted the word. It wasn't his real home. Yet, now his home was where Kawada was…

At the harbor they spoke with some fishermen. They told them that there would be a ferry departing for Kobe in an hour or so.
They stared at them a little weird though. They obviously weren't used to seeing boys holding hands. But Kawada didn't care. Or at least he tried not to care. Kazuo didn't, then why should he?
They thanked them and sat down on a bench on the docks, waiting, until the ferry arrived, when they boarded it, and waited for departure.
The trip with the ferry took a few hours. Kazuo and Kawada sat in silence by a window, eating the crackers from before.
Kawada went to the cafe' and bought a paper. He read it, and showed it to Kazuo. "Here." he said. "About the explosion."
Kazuo read it. “You’re a damn genius."
"I know." he sat back down. Next to Kazuo, who rested his head on his shoulder.
"Are you sleepy again?" Kawada asked him.
Kazuo nodded. "Hai…"
"It's that fever of yours...It's still there, so take it easy. You should sleep it off." only moments later Kazuo'd fallen asleep with his head on Kawada's shoulder.
He slept until the ferry came ashore at Kobe bay.
"Kazuo-kun..." Kawada whispered. "We're here. Wake up."
"Hmm? What?"
"We're here..." Kawada repeated himself.
Kazuo got up, and followed Kawada ashore.
He looked around; he'd never been in Kobe before. "Where?" he asked.
"Just come with me." Kawada said. And lead the way. They went up the street, and walked a few blocks. Kazuo looked around at everything. Children playing ball in a schoolyard, adults rushing around, stressed out because they were late from their lunch-breaks. "We have to take the subway.” Kawada said. "It's too far to walk, especially for you with that injured leg."

As usual the Subway, line 92, was way too crowded. There was nowhere to sit, and people pushed from all sides. Still, it was the nicest subway-ride both of them'd ever had.
Kazuo was still very tired, and leaned towards Kawada, who rested his chin on Kazuo's head. He inhaled the smell of his hair, it smelled like coconut, the shampoo from the hotel. And Kazuo felt relaxed by Kawada's warm breath. It was like they didn't notice the other passengers. Like it was only them in the entire world.
Each time someone pushed them, Kawada would place his arm protective around Kazuo, who was practically asleep again.

When they got off, Kawada lead Kazuo back up to the streets. "Just a few more blocks."
They passed an old school, probably the same school Kawada'd gone to before he'd been in the game the first time. Kazuo didn't ask about it though. He had enough common sense to understand that these memories were like big open wounds. Not fully healed. Then they walked through a park, Kazuo stared at everything. It was real nice here, with trees, bushes and even a pond. Kids playing on the playground, couples sitting on the grass laughing, kissing. "I like it here." Kazuo said. "So peaceful."
"Compared to the rest of this city, yes." Kawada replied. They passed an ice-cream salesman. "You want an ice-cream?" Kawada asked.
"Hmm…I don't know."
"Well, I'll by one then, you can taste."
It all seemed so unreal, walking through a park, sharing a strawberry ice-cream, when the gunshots still echoed in Kawada's head. At one point he caught himself wishing he'd had the same condition as Kazuo, so he wouldn't think about it...But he knew it was stupid, he saw how Kazuo suffered from it.
They entered the sidewalk again, crossed the street twice, and found themselves standing in front of a large apartment building.
"Here it is." Kawada said. "What you think?"
"Different...” Kazuo replied. After all, he was used to living in a mansion, but he'd never really cared for that either. A home wasn't really anything to him except from furniture, rooms and a place you'd stay most of the time. "But hey, home's what you make it, right?" he didn't know why he said it, but it was probably to prevent Kawada from feeling bad. He'd never cared before, compassion wasn't anything he understood, but for Kawada he would try to act like a normal person would. Still, he had no clue why this was suddenly so important to him. Why Kawada was so important? For this guy he was willing to pretend he cared about things he didn't understand at all.... Was this real? Was this love?
"Well, come on, let's go in."
Kawada's apartment was in the third floor, on the door was a sign that said "16" in golden letters. Kawada unlocked the door.
"Go on in." he said.
Kazuo entered the hall and removed his shoes. Then he just stood still for a while, looking around, at the pictures on the walls. Pictures of Kawada and what Kazuo supposed was his family, pictures of Kawada and Keiko, and random art.
"Don't be so shy. This is your home too. “Kawada said, and went into the living room. Kazuo followed. The apartment was very nice: Light, and spacious.
Kawada showed him around, the bathroom, kitchen, and bedrooms. There were two. One looked like any teenagers room; the other was neat and tidy.
"It was my parents’ bedroom." Kawada explained. "I never use it...But now that there's two of us...Maybe I should move in there, or at least switch the beds?"

Most of that day was spent relaxing; they were tired from the traveling. And Kazuo still had a fever, only slightly though. The new medication was working.
At night Kawada saw Kazuo sitting on the bedroom floor. In his hand he had something, it resembled a photo.
"Kazuo-kun? What's that?" he asked, and sat down next to him. Kazuo gave him the picture. It showed a man and a woman, both smiling, and a boy with messy hair. The boy didn't smile; he just stared into the camera, no expression in his face at all. Except from maybe boredom.
"Is that...You and your parents?"
Kazuo nodded. Then he turned to him. "I don't think I'm their child."
"What?"
Kawada sat up on the bed, as did Kazuo.
"I don't look much like neither of them, and if I'd been their own, a legitimate child, don't you think they'd known why I am the way I am? Don't you think they would've noticed that I'm...?”
Kawada didn't say anything, Kazuo had a point. If the people in the picture were Kazuo's real parents, they'd probably noticed that something was wrong, that he was missing something.
But if he was adopted, then maybe they'd just think that Kazuo's odd nature was inherited by his biological parents? It made sense.
It was most likely the reason to why Kazuo didn't know himself what was wrong with him. Geez, how much pain could one seventeen-year old take?
"Kazuo-kun... Gomen..." Kawada started. "I just need to ask you...Did you, do you love them?"
Kazuo stared him in the eyes. "No." the answer was cold, harsh. "I just lived with them. They took care of me...Raised me. But other than that? They're nothing to me...Just people who took care of me..."
"How-how can you say that? I'm sure they loved you."
"What is love Kawada-kun? How am I supposed to know? They don't mean anything to me, because they can't! I can't care about them! I can't care about anyone!"
He looked up, his eyes softened. "Except for you...I think I care about you..." He did. In a weird way that he couldn't understand...He cared about Kawada. But why? Was it because he'd saved him? Because he understood him? Or because he liked kissing him? No, he really did feel attached to him. On a level that maybe was beyond feeling… They were connected somehow, Kazuo was sure of that.
He might not feel anything, but he cared for Kawada, he was attached to him, wanted to be with him. Was this love?
He leaned forward. "Kiss me..."
Kawada kissed him.
"Please...Kawada-kun..." he whispered. "Love me…Let me know what it really is..."
Kawada put the picture away. He wanted to let Kazuo know exactly what love was...He couldn't take it, watching him like this.
They kissed again, Kawada held Kazuo, kissed his lips, his neck, shoulders... Kazuo's breath got heavier.
Kawada kissed his lips again; their tongues met, touched, and explored each other. It was like they hadn't kissed before, because it wasn't until now that Kawada had really felt the kiss...
It was different from Keiko's kisses. Different from any girls' kiss actually. Though Kawada'd never thought he swung both ways, he was now convinced that kissing Kazuo was better than kissing anyone else in this world. After so little time, could he love Kazuo? Did he love Kazuo? And how do you love someone who can't love you back?
Kazuo was the one kissing Kawada's neck now; it was his breath that grew heavier, his heart that was racing. "Kazuo....Kazuo-kun."
Kazuo lay down, allowed Kawada to kiss his neck and shoulders, it sent shivers down his spine, he gasped for air. His hands stroke Kawada's back, and grabbed a hold of the edge of his shirt, gently pulling it up. Kawada lifted himself up a bit so that Kazuo could remove his shirt. Kazuo stared at Kawada's muscular body; let a finger run down his chest and stomach.
"Kazuo...." Kawada looked at him. "May I...?" He touched Kazuo's stomach. Kazuo nodded.
"Go ahead..." Kazuo removed his t-shirt. Kawada looked at his flat, tanned stomach, touched it gently, felt how Kazuo's heart was beating inside his chest. He bent down, kissed his collarbone, his chest and stomach. Kazuo moaned weakly in pleasure.
Kawada kissed Kazuo's stomach, his navel and the dark strands of hair that grew in a line from his boxers up to his navel. Then he moved back up, to Kazuo's face, tenderly kissed his soft lips.
Kazuo looked at him, pleading. "I...I want to..." he kissed him. "I want to feel your body against mine...All of your body..."
Kawada wasn't sure, he hadn't even done 'it' with Keiko...They'd waited. Was it right to go all the way with Kazuo? Was he comfortable with it?
He concluded with that neither of them had to do something they didn't want or weren't ready to do. So he shyly removed the rest of his clothes, as did the other.
They both blushed. Kawada looked down at Kazuo. He really did have a nice body…Although he was to shy to look at 'that' area.
Kazuo pulled him down, kissed him. "Don't be shy..." he whispered. “Love me..."
It was all so sad. Kawada kissed Kazuo, almost with desperation. "I will."
As they kissed, Kazuo took Kawada's hand, held it, and squeezed it. His breath was heavy; his chest lowered and rose under Kawada's.
Slowly, they went further... Kawada took it slow, not to hurt Kazuo, kissed him all over. “Daijoubu desu ka?"
"Daijoubu desu..."
"Is this love?"
As they crossed 'that' line, Kawada looked worried at Kazuo...He seemed to be in some pain, but kissed Kawada carefully. "I'm ok...Go on..."
They kissed, touched, made love, as their breaths both grew heavier, kept going till they both saw stars and spots, till Kazuo screamed out: "k-Kawada-kun!" and Kawada collapsed on his chest.
When he opened his eyes, and looked at Kazuo he saw something unbelievable; from Kazuo's eyes, there was a flood of tears, streaming down his cheeks.
"Kazuo-kun? You're crying! Did I hurt you?"
Kazuo shook his head, and touched his cheeks.
"I'm feeling...." he whispered.” You...You made me feel..."
Kawada looked into Kazuo's eyes. "You're feeling....But..." he kissed Kazuo, kissed his lips, his cheeks, carefully not to kiss the tears away.
It was beautiful to see Kazuo cry... So beautiful to see him feel.
He laid his head on Kazuo's chest, listened to his heartbeat, listened to his breath.
Kazuo stroke his neck, then whispered; "Aishiteru...”
Kawada looked at him. "What?"
"I can feel Kawada-kun...And I'm sure..." he smiled, and this time Kawada could see it. He could see the most beautiful smile in the world.
"Aishiteru.." Kazuo whispered again.
Kawada kissed him. Smiled. He too was sure now.
"Kazuo-kun...Kiyoshi... I love you too…"
Then they just held each other, they lay entangled in between the sheets, Kawada holding Kazuo, his precious love, tightly.
"I love you Kazuo…" he took his hand in his own.
He kissed the messy, tangled red hair, and whispered into it; "I love you…And tomorrow my precious Kyoshi...Is the first day in our new life. Our new life together..."
Kazuo smiled again. He felt, that's right, felt, how strongly he loved this person. The one who'd made him feel something for the first time ever.
Again he shed a tear.
"Hai...Issho ni..."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~


End notes:
Although I refer to this text as 'my masterpiece' (simply because I love the pairing and it was my first try at it, and because I loved writing it and it's sequels) there's alot to be done about it. So expect editing as soon as I bother my BETA to have a look at it
Oh, and I'm somewhat of a reviewwhore... ^__~