It took forever to write this part out... mainly coz i had it originally typed up on my mom's palm pilot while getting bored out of my mind on a plane bound for San Fran. >_< And I spent the next 2 weeks procrastinating and all ^^;; Ok, so I lied... this part is not THAT long.

C&C is begged for.

PART FOUR: RÊVASSER

"My name is Ryutaro."

Their jaws falling open in complete surprise, the two friends couldn't do anything but stare.

"Ryutaro? Ryutaro no Vatshu?"

The newcomer slowly nodded, twisting his fingers together nervously as Toshiya and Kyo questioned him.
"Sugoi! Does that mean that the Black Knight is here?"

"Wai!!! You have to let us take a peek... show him to us, ne? Onegai?" Toshiya pleaded, his eyes widening in an almost innocent look and he clasped his hands together for added effect. He beamed proudly at Kyo when his tactic worked and Ryutaro agreed somewhat reluctantly. Ryutaro leaned forward and confided to the two, "The master really doesn't want anyone poking around Vatshu, but I think I can sneak you two in without any of the meisters knowing."

They followed him to the bays where the MHs were stored and paused just outside the door while Ryutaro peeked his head in. Once sure that the coast was clear, he motioned for them to come in and he quietly shut the door behind them.

"I can't see a thing in here," Kyo complained, cursing loudly when he banged his knee against something.
"Shhh... don't make too much noise!" Ryutaro warned as he switched the light on.

"Omigod, it's like seeing a Maitreya in person!"
"We're finally face-to-face with the legendary Black Knight, and he's a beauty!"

As Toshiya and Kyo gushed over the MH in the hangar, Ryutaro nervously fidgeted in the background, wanting to tell them to keep their voices down lest someone hear them.

"Ano, Kyo-san, I don't think that's a good idea," he whispered hurriedly as the said fatima clambered up onto Vatshu's foot and craned his neck up the length of the black MH.
"Don't worry, Ryutaro, he's merely admiring how Vatshu-no-Kishi is taller than him," Toshiya giggled, and followed his friend's example and swung himself higher to rest on Vatshu's arm. He dug into his pocket and, finding some jawbreakers, aimed carefully and dropped them on Kyo much like a bomb. After getting hit several times, Kyo retaliated by picking the jawbreakers up from the floor and throwing them back at him.

"Toshiya-san! Kyo-san!," Ryutaro cried out in distress. For each hard candy that bounced against Vatshu's armored body, Ryutaro cringed even more.

The 'pinging' sound each candy made echoed throughout the large hangar, and Ryutaro fully expected a meister to catch them. He jumped when Kyo suddenly screamed and looked up to where he was pointing. Breath getting caught in his throat, Ryutaro could only look as Toshiya lost his balance and teetered backwards. The two watched as everything happened in slow-motion and they closed their eyes as Toshiya met the floor with a sickening crunch.

Die's blood boiled as he sat in the waiting room with Kaoru at his side, Kyo sitting guiltily across from them. The doctors came by once to update them on Toshiya's condition, but they had been waiting for three hours now and he was getting more impatient by the minute. Kyo lifted his eyes up and peered at Die through a curtain of hair, biting his lip when the other man caught his eye and glared.

The door opened and they all looked up expectantly, only to be greeted by an unfamiliar face.

"Ando Daisuke and Nikkura Kaoru, would you please follow me? I believe we have something important to discuss."

Kaoru nodded and looked at Die, who shrugged and followed the two men outside.

"First of all, I apologize for my fatima's behavior, and regret that my MH has been the cause of another's injury. Secondly, I am here to discuss possible punishment for all guilty parties involved."

"Punishment? I can't say that Daisuke's fatima is fit to receive any type of punishment," Kaoru objected, not really wanting anyone to be severly disciplined. He glanced at Die beseechingly, who merely looked like he was silently contemplating the man's words.

"Hasegawa Tadashi, correct?" Die asked, breaking the sudden silence that fell over them. The man asked nodded his head in affirmation, so he continued, "You pilot the Black Knight and that fatima they were with is yours, am I right again?"

Another nod.

"Do whatever you want with your fatima and I will deal with mine in my own terms. No need to discuss this together as I assure you, my friend here wouldn't even consider laying a rod on that fatima of his."

Surprised at the mocking voice directed at him, Kaoru could only gape as Die turned on his heel and followed the doctor who had appeared behind them to report on Toshiya's state.

"So I see," Tadashi mumbled.

"--- concussion resulting from a fractured skull. I was quite surprised that this fatima sustained injuries. I guess they don't make fatima fatis like they used to," the doctor droned on, not really caring if Die listened to him or not. Taking a quick peek at the stoic headdliner confirmed his thoughts and he shrugged, wondering in the back of his mind why Toshiya was taken into their care. Normally, a defective fatima was either terminated or sent back to the meight who created them.

"This one was developed using new fatis-sapien enhanced technology. That should explain why he was injured in the fall," Die explained, catching a glimpse of the doctor's baffled expression. He waved the doctor out of the room and faced the unconscious Toshiya. Leaning down, he studied the other's face, unexplained worry creeping over his features even if he was unaware.

"Stupid, stupid, STUPID! What does the Black Knight have that Pandora doesn't? You could have simply kept your stupid curiosity to yourself and you wouldn't be lying around here being poked and prodded by doctors who could care less."

Die hissed, his hand unexpectedly reaching out to hold one pale hand.

"You've got to admit that the Black Knight is something."

Dropping the hand instantly, Die scowled when he found Kaoru leaning against the open door, eyes flitting back and forth from Die to Toshiya.

"Die---"
"Shove it, Kaoru. I'm going to Betolca tomorrow. This fatima is of no use to me now... defective... useless."

"Who do you think you're kidding, you asshole? I'm neither blind nor deaf. You feel something for that boy but you're just stubborn and too caught up in the past."

"Think what you want. I don't care."

Kaoru gritted his teeth in an effort to calm himself, watching as his friend stalked out without so much as a glance. He plopped himself on the only seat next to the patient's bed and talked to Toshiya, not caring if the other couldn't hear him.

"I think he's softening up a bit, don't you think so? It's clear he's killing himself with worry, even if he doesn't admit it. Give him time, Toshiya, and never give up."

He could've sworn Toshiya's fingers twitched in response.

additional notes:

I will be making a Fatima/Five Star Stories info page for those who want things explained... and no, I didn't mean any pun when I had Kaoru say, "... softening up a bit" (lazy grin)

Die: you made it sound like i can't get it up (pout)

Kyo: do they sell viagra over the counter?

Kat: up yours, old man >=)