I'll Always Be By Your Side

Disclaimer: I OWN NOTHING! Junjou Romantica is the property of Nakamura Shungiku!

Hey peoples! Erm, sorry for not updating for a while, my computer's busted (sad ain't it?) and I'm currently borrowing my mom's laptop. It probably isn't an excuse for not updating, but I was still recovering from my precious computer's death, it ran for a good four years. RIP…

Anyways, I got a review recently on this story and the reviewer wondered if I was one of those people who creates stories and then never completes them. Because I felt all of you should know this, I'll just reply to them here. NO, I hate those kinds of people; all of my stories will be updated eventually, maybe not as soon as you want them to be, but they'll be updated. Writer's block, procrastination, and all around laziness is why I take forever to update (and a bunch of hyperactive plot bunnies that bother me to no end).

Now, the story shall commence!

Chapter Four

Akihiko sighed as Misaki headed back upstairs to his bedroom. Misaki, for the most part, had hardly spoken a word since the incident in Takahiro's apartment. Whenever he came downstairs, his expression was carefully schooled to show no emotion, it was as if the teen had shut down. But, Akihiko could see through Misaki's façade. The bloodshot eyes and the dry tear tracks that the boy hadn't managed to successfully wash off. He could hear Misaki some nights, crying in his room softly to himself, it broke Akihiko's heart.

The author had his own grievances as well, but he couldn't possibly imagine what Misaki was going through. Misaki had gone through so much in his short life, his parents had passed away when he was eight and now his brother was gone as well. Akihiko would probably never understand the pain Misaki was going through; he and Haruhiko had never been particularly close, nothing in comparison to what Takahiro and Misaki had had, so Akihiko was sure he wouldn't be affected much if Haruhiko died. Sure, he'd probably be a bit sad, after all they were family, but he sure as hell wouldn't be torn up about it.

Hearing a loud noise from upstairs, Akihiko immediately jumped up from the couch and rushed to Misaki's room. Swinging the door open, Akihiko's heart practically stopped as he saw Misaki sprawled on the ground. Carefully, he scooped the teen into his arms and carried him out of the bedroom. Misaki was entirely too pale and much too thin for Akihiko's likes.

Thinking it'd take too long for an ambulance to get there, Akihiko decided to take Misaki to the hospital himself. Grabbing his keys, he quickly left the apartment and went down to his car. In no time, they were at the hospital and Akihiko ran into emergency looking like a madman, which he might as well have been.

…

Misaki groaned groggily. Upon opening his eyes, he immediately shut them again, momentarily blinded by the intense brightness. Trying once again to open his eyes, Misaki took in his surroundings. 'A hospital room?' He pondered, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion. Turning his head to the side a bit, he saw Akihiko sitting next to his bed, sleeping.

He realized warily that he was hooked up to a machine and he wondered what had happened. He remembered feeling a bit woozy and heading upstairs, but that's where things got a little hazy.

"U-Usagi-san…?" He whispered, his voice cracking from not having used it for so long.

Akihiko stirred a bit. A violet eye cracked open and not too long after that the second one opened as well. Despite being a naturally grumpy person when woken up, all of that was pushed aside once he saw that Misaki was awake. Misaki yelped as Akihiko jumped up and pulled him into a bone-crushing hug.

Misaki blushed, only to have it intensify once he heard the beeping from the machine starting to speed up. "U-Usagi-san… c-can't breathe…" He gasped. Akihiko's grip loosened, but he didn't relinquish his hold on the teen. "Usagi-san?" Misaki asked worriedly.

"Don't scare me like that again, Misaki." Akihiko stated softly. "I don't want to lose you too." Misaki's eyes widened and his heart fluttered, the blush on his face darkening even more. Hesitantly, he hugged Akihiko back.

A silence fell over the two for a while, the only sounds being their breathing and the beeping of the machine. Eventually, Akihiko pulled away and sat back down in his seat.

"What happened?" Misaki asked quietly.

"You fainted due to not enough sleep and not enough nutrients to sustain you." Akihiko informed him.

"Oh," Misaki stared down at his hands guiltily. He knew he hadn't been eating or sleeping very well, but he hadn't imagined it would get this bad.

"Don't feel bad, Misaki." Akihiko said, placing his hand over the teens own smaller one. "I know this is hard for you, but you'll pull through."

Misaki smiled a bit, truly wanting to believe those words. But, he didn't think he would. He had nothing left in this world. His brother, whom had always been a constant in his life, was gone and frankly, he didn't feel like he could get through it as he had last time. Takahiro had helped him with his parents' deaths, trying his hardest to fill the void their parents had filled. His brother had worked so hard and had done everything for Misaki, and now Misaki wouldn't even be able to pay his brother back for his kindness.

Nonetheless, he would try for Akihiko's sake. Akihiko seemed to genuinely care for him, but Misaki couldn't fathom why. Akihiko barely knew him, but yet, the man had sounded terrified at the thought of him dying. But, why? Why would Akihiko care so much? Was it because he felt some sort of obligation to Takahiro? Or was it something completely different?

A while later, a doctor came in and explained what had happened. The doctor prescribed him something to help him sleep and advised him to eat more food to get more nutrients. After that, he and Akihiko were able to leave.

Seeing that Misaki was still a little bit hazy, Akihiko had taken it upon himself to hold Misaki's hand, much to the boy's embarrassment. On the way home, they stopped for takeout because Misaki was in no condition to cook, and Akihiko just plain couldn't cook.

Akihiko made it his duty to make sure that Misaki got some sleep that night and stayed in the boy's room until Misaki fell asleep. It was a bit irritating to have Akihiko sitting in the corner of his room as he tried to fall asleep. Eventually, after pushing the creepy feeling of being watched to the back of his mind, Misaki fell into a deep peaceful sleep.

Akihiko smiled as Misaki's breathes evened out. Getting up, he made his way over to the door and left to his own bedroom. It had scared him when he found Misaki lying on the floor; it scared him that Misaki might have died tonight. Just the very thought that he'd lose Misaki was heart wrenching. The teen had grown on him in his short stay there and Akihiko couldn't bear the thought of losing another person important to him.

He'd have to help Misaki out of his depression and prove to the boy that he wasn't alone in his pain, and that he would make it through. It's what Takahiro would've wanted. He would've wanted his little brother to move on with his life and not mourn over things that were impossible to get back.

With this newfound plan in mind, Akihiko fell asleep. Tomorrow was a new day.

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Yes, well, that's it. Please, forgive me for it's immense shortness, but my head is killing me. If you think it's going a bit too fast, I'm sorry, I'm a very impatient person. Anyways, if you enjoyed this chapter, please review!