Ryo ran as fast as he could from the studio. I could still catch the last train, he thought as he ran down the station's stairs.

The trip took what it seemed to be forever for Ryo, and he just couldn’t wait till tomorrow to go back to Tokyo. He just had to be there now. Ryo had been there for Ueda for the past few weeks, taking care of him the whole time, and last week he had to go back to Osaka to work with Kanjani.

---------

Ryo took the spare key he had and unlocked the door.

“Ueda?” Ryo called the other boy’s name as he entered the apartment. He searched the whole room for the boy, but couldn’t find him in his room, the kitchen, or any other room in Ueda’s apartment. He kept calling the older boys’ name until he heard a loud bang and a scream

“Ueda?” Ryo ran to the source of the screaming, the bathroom. He opened the door and found Ueda lying half naked on the floor, holding his knee.

“What are you doing? What happened? Are you okay?” Ryo panicked, seeing blood coming from Ueda’s knee.

“I-I...wanted to take a shower, and I slipped….” Ueda almost cried from the pain, “W-what are you doing here? Your supposed to be in Osaka.”

“THIS is why I’m here. Apparently you can't be left alone. You’re hopeless without me.” Ryo helped Ueda to get up, resisting the urge to look at Ueda's half naked body, with only a towel covering his lower parts. He then led Ueda to the bedroom, sitting him on the edge of the bed.

“Where’s your first aid kit?”

“Top shelf in front of the bathroom” Ueda pointed, and Ryo went in that direction.

“You still haven't told me why you're here. You’re scheduled to be with Kanjani until next month. You have a tour coming up, right?” Ueda questioned as Ryo looked for the first aid kit in the other room. Ryo found the box he was looking for and came back to Ueda’s room.

Kneeling down in front of Ueda, he replied.

“Yeah… I have tomorrow off, then the tour begins. So I came to see how you were doing.” Ryo said as he started to bandage Ueda’s knee.

“A day?” Ueda asked, “only a day and you come all the way to Tokyo?”

Ryo nodded.

“Why?”

“What do you mean? You obviously need my help! Look at you, you couldn't even take a shower without hurting your self”

“No, Ryo, not just this….why?  Why are you being so nice to me? Taking care of me? Getting me food? Preparing everything for me? Serving me? Cleaning my apartment for me? You're basically my servant! Why?” Ueda demanded an explanation for Ryo’s behavior. Ryo stopped what ever he was doing with the bandage, and looked down silently.

“I- I just couldn’t leave you like this” Ryo said, his voice barely audible.

“I’m sorry, for everything I’ve done, for causing this, for…..” Ryo couldn’t finish his sentence. He looked up to face Ueda, seeing his face filled with questions. Questions he didn’t even know how to answer. Only one way to make Ueda understand why he’s doing what he’s doing. Well, at least, only one way that came to his mind under this situation. With him kneeling down in front of Ueda.

Ryo found the courage to bring his head closer to the figure sitting in front of him, and pressed his lips unto Ueda’s. Ueda was taken aback for a moment; surprised by Ryo’s way of answering his question, and all questionable thoughts flew out the window once he felt the amazing sensation on his lips. Ueda leaned into the kiss. Ryo, feeling Ueda's response, decided to take things further. He slipped his tongue inside Ueda's mouth, and trailed a hand up Ueda’s bare chest, making the moment more heated than before. Ueda could only gasp as Ryo’s cold fingers ran over his chest.

Without breaking the kiss, Ryo lifted Ueda’s both legs until the boy was lying properly on the bed, and began to kiss his way down to Ueda’s jaw line, continuing down his neck and even lower.

And Ueda learned, Ryo could use his mouth for things other than mocking him.

***

Ryo woke up the next morning with a smile, and looked at the sleeping figure beside him. Smile widening more, he leaned over and kissed the sleeping mans forehead lightly, thanking the heavens for what happened last night.

Ryo then made his way to the kitchen and begun to make Ueda breakfast like he had done many times while taking care of the other. He had even been sleeping at Ueda’s apartment ever since Ueda was released from the hospital, but on those days he would've just slept on the couch, not the same bed with Ueda like he did last night. Ryo smiled again, remembering the events of last night.

Ryo took the tray of breakfast he made to the bedroom, and placed it on the side table next to the bed. He kissed Ueda's forehead again and whispered to his ear.

“Princess…breakfast is ready”

Ueda woke with a drowsy growl, looking at the smiling face inches from him. Recognizing Ryo, Ueda smiled screamed, jumping up and almost knocking his head against the bed's headboard.

“Geez princess! What’s with the screaming?” Ryo questioned Ueda's reaction.

“I-I…I’m sorry, I thought...” Ueda blushed, “What was your face doing that close anyway? Of course it scared me! Waking up with a face suddenly in front of you.”

“Well it was supposed to be a sweet way to wake you up after making you breakfast in bed and kissing you on the forehead! Some romantic princess you turned out to be!” Ryo retorted.

“Y-You what?” Ueda couldn’t believe what Ryo had just said. He looked to the tray on the table beside his bed. “I-I’m sorry….I didn’t …”

“Yea, well its not the first time you screamed like this. I'm lucky I haven't gone deaf,” Ryo snorted, “Just eat the friggin breakfast!”

Ryo took the tray and put it on Ueda’s lap.

“Thanks” Ueda muttered, although he really wanted to apologize.

Ryo sat beside Ueda and stared at him while the other was eating his breakfast. Ueda, feeling a little uncomfortable with the silence, decided to start a conversation.

 “Ryo…ano…yesterday, Doctor Yamada called me”

“Really? What did he say?” Ryo noticed Ueda's nervousness from his constant staring, and stopped, leaning over to snatch a sandwich off Ueda’s plate.

“He told me that there is some German doctor who is doing some research about post accident nerve dysfunction, well, like what I have now, and he’s in Tokyo for a seminar. So Doctor Yamada contacted him and told him about my case, and he agreed to meet with me.”

“Really?! So your leg could be fixed?” Ryo asked, excited about the possibilities.

“I don’t know about that yet…He still has to study it first. I’m going to see him this afternoon”

“Good! I’m going with you!”

Ueda nodded, “Okay…I think I need your company.”

At the hospital

“Hello Ueda-kun! Nice to see you again! And you too, Nishikido-kun.” Doctor Yamada greeted the couple.

“As I told you on the phone the other day, I’d like you to meet Doctor Schmidt” Doctor Yamada introduced the guy next to him, and Ueda and Ryo bowed to the gaijin Doctor.

“No time to waste now, let’s have a look at your leg, Ueda-kun.”

With that, the doctors began to run some tests on Ueda. It seemed like an eternity before they were done, and the results were in.

“Well theres good news, and theres bad news. The good news is, Doctor Schmidt said your leg still not completely ruined, and we can still try a surgery to fix it. The bad news is, well…there is only 10 % chance of the surgery being successful. It's up to you to decide.”

“He’ll do it!” Ryo blurted out.

“Excuse me? Since when do you make decisions for me?” Ueda turned his head and glared at Ryo.

“Well its obvious isn’t it? You have to have the surgery! He said it would work!” Ueda ignored Ryo and turned his face back to the doctors.

“So there is a big chance it won't be successful?”

“Yes….I’m sorry, but that’s the truth. Doctor Schmidt has tried that sort of surgery in the past, but only 1 out of every ten patients saw results.” the doctor explained

“Okay…I guess I'll just have to give it a try….”

“Well then, I’ll schedule for your surgery next week. Is that okay?”

“Next week will be fine” Ueda replied.

“Next week? I'll be on tour next week. Can you postpone it until, like, next month?” Ryo asked the doctor.

“I’m sorry, but next week is the only available time. Doctor Schmidt is a very busy person. In fact, he’s only going to be in Japan for a couple of weeks, and I have to beg him to spare some time for Ueda-kun” Doctor Yamada replied

“Its okay, Doctor Schmidt has been very nice to spare some time for me. It would be rude if we asked him to reschedule the surgery. Ryo, you just go on with your tour. I'll be fine. I can do it alone” Ueda said.

“But….I-I..I want to be there for you.” Ryo insisted, trying to give Ueda the best puppy eyes he could manage.

“You’ve been there for me all this time. There’s nothing I can possibly do to thank you. You’ve done so much for me, and now its time for you to do your own things, for your own sake. I promise, I will keep on contact and let you know the results.”

“But…”

“No buts!” Ueda exclaimed

“Fine….but promise me you’ll call me and let me know, before the surgery… And after….and..…”

“Okay...okay…! I’ll call you every five minutes if that would make you feel better!” Ueda heaved a sigh, his new boyfriend could be so pushy sometimes

After dropping Ueda to his apartment (and giving him a good night kiss, of course), Ryo went straight to the station. If only he didn't have a tour that month, he would be able to stay by Ueda’s side, all the time, and at the time Ueda needed him the most.

One week after

This is the day.

Ryo couldn’t help but feel uneasy as he paced the backstage area, having just finished a concert in Sendai.

Why hasn’t he called? And why is his cell phone is off? That damn princess! Hes really enjoying making me worried!

Ueda lay frozen on the hospital bed, stunned by the doctor's news. He held his cell phone close, staring at it for a few minutes. He knew Ryo is waiting for his phone call, but he couldn’t make the call. He just didn’t know what to say.

He switched his phone on.

54 missed calls.

16 messages.

All of them from Ryo.

He knew he had to make the call, but before he pressed any button, his phone rang.

Ryo.

“Moshi-moshi? Ueda? What happened? Why didn’t you call? The surgery finished hours ago, right? How did it go? Did it succeed?”

Ueda didn’t answer.

“Ueda? Hello? Princess? Are you there? I’m backstage now, can you hear me?”

“Um….Ryo….”

“Ueda?...what happened?” Ryo could feel the tremble in Ueda’s voice.

“The surgery…it ….failed……..”