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Hikaro never had been in a stretcher before. Heck, he'd never been in an ambulance, or to a hospital either! In truth, being strapped down to a rolling table was more frightening than facing Mirabelle was. He would have preferred to lie on his stomach, but the injury to his chest prevented that. The golden phoenix groaned quietly, but eventually was silent.

Once they both were inside, Hikaro wiggled one of his arms free to reach out for Klonoa. His fingertips lightly grazed at the hem of his shirt before he grasped onto Klonoa's hand. His young lover was so hurt emotionally. He wanted to bring that smooth hand and kiss at the knuckles, and try to smooth out the rough edges with his lips. Sadly all he could do was smile. Kisses were for another day.

"What can I do for your smile?" He asked, wanting to see Klonoa smile once again.

Hikaro lightly twisted his fingers free of Klonoa's hand to lightly cup the marble face with fondness. He'd see that smile soon enough, and thanks to the fact Klonoa's plan had worked, they had much more time to wait.
"I'll be alright, you'll see." Hikaro said, offering up his own smile for Klonoa. He knew he must look a mess, covered in scars and crusted over burns...

Letting his eyes roam around the ambulance, Hikaro could not find any sort of indication to where they were going. There was no window in the back, and he couldn't lift his head high enough to see out the windshield. Hell, he couldn't even tell how much time had passed since they started driving. He let his head fall back completely and stared at the white ceiling, knowing that in the hospital it surely must look the same. His nose curled up slightly at the smell of plastic inside the ambulance.

Soon enough the driver stopped at the enterance, though the rumbling of the engine never ceased. He'd be off soon, off to find another wounded person to bring back here, where only 80% of the people who went in emerged again.
The back doors clicked and swung open, and two more paramedics reached in to pull out the stretcher. Hikaro watched one of them cringe slightly as he looked over his wound as they pulled him free from the truck.

Several weeks had passed since Zan's untimely death and their defeat of Mirabelle's demented plot for world destruction. Hikaro was healing quite nicely. His wings sported a fluffy layer of down, the pin feathers only beginning to emerge. He no longer wore bandages on them, but covered up a lot more. Despite the way he aquired them, Hikaro found himself extremely self concious of his scars.

Still he never broke his word to Klonoa, and though he had to leave for work daily, He returned to ensure his young friend was well. The marble colored Hououza was growing to be a strapping teenager, and somehow Hikaro managed not to give away his affections too much, though he'd fallen hard for that shy and sensitive phoenix.

Sitting on the windowsill, Hikaro was curled up on a beanbag placed on the corner, a notebook propped up on his leg and nursing a mug of tea. It was still snowing lightly outside, and frost collected on the window, illuminating the steam from the teacup lightly.

Hikaro was wearing a red fleecy turtleneck and simple denim jeans, but was barefoot as usual. The mug to his nose, Hikaro's golden eyes scanned the notes he made on the paper.

((Oi, that's what I intended, sorry if I was unclear.))

As much as Hikaro spent staring at Klonoa, he was convinced the love and fondness so readily apparent in those violet eyes was toward him as a brother and a protector, never once believing that Klonoa thought of him as a lover, that the shy marble phoenix might carry the terrible sin of being gay.

Hikaro took a sip of the hot tea gratefully, almost humming to himself. It was very good tea, just as good as hot chocolate for warming on a cold day like this. Out of the corner of his eye Hikaro spotted Klonoa approaching and crouching beside him- perhaps to drag Hikaro off to play a game.

"Karo..."

The sunshine phoenix blinked and looked to Klonoa, at that gentle beaming smile, his hand interlocking with the one that held the pencil. Letting it fall from his hand, Hikaro reached out and brushed the violet hair back, enjoying the way it felt threaded through his fingers. He let his hand draw around to lightly cup Klonoa's chin, internally maddened with his desire to lift that purple head and lay a kiss upon his smiling lips.
"Oh...Klonoa..."

His whisper of Klonoa's name obviously held the same confession he had made the day he passed out, but heavy with tragedy as Hikaro was still unconvinced his feelings were returned by the shy youth.
"Do you need something?" He asked, using his knees to fold the notebook and letting it drop to the floor. He was tired of studying it, anyway.

"Karo...I need you."

Hikaro was confused for a brief moment. Usually when Klonoa needed him, it was to reach something really high, or to assist making food, nothing this...Oh.
Oh gods...

Hikaro's hand was held in Klonoa's hand against his cheek, holding it there as he was stared up at with those gorgeous violet eyes. A heat rose in his chest, and suddenly he was warm all over. Klonoa loved him? As in, not brotherly love, but genuine love. He was still so young to have fallen for Hikaro, who was more than old enough to be his father, for phoenix's sake. Hikaro was one of the first to manifest.

But he could never leave Klonoa.

"Klonoa...I love you, I have always, always loved you."

And with that, Hikaro lifted Klonoa's chin up, leaned down, and consumated the action he longed to do for months. The first kiss was sweat as tender lips met tender lips in a shy union.

Hikaro was right, Klonoa did love him. By the way he leaned up to him, returning his kiss, by the way he gazed into his eyes when it was over, by just the way he was Hikaro knew. It was so obvious now.

Reaching down, Hikaro embraced Klonoa. Sliding into his arms, he felt like he was really home. He'd hugged Klonoa many times before, but it never felt this way, as it was wanted, welcome and reciprocated. He lifted Klonoa to nestle in his lap in the windowsill, glad Zan's house was rural. It offered a lovely view of the backyard wooded area, powdered over with icy fluff. Deer tracks barely marred the snowy carpeting, and a cardinal chirped on a tree branch. Hikaro tangled his arms around his violet beloved, nuzzling into the crook between neck and shoulder.

Hikaro wanted to believe that, he wanted to believe it so hard it hurt. As he held Klonoa to himself, Hikaro had to tell himself it was because Klonoa was young, and Hikaro saved his life. Idol worship, or something. He would have to wait until Klonoa was older to see if he'd grow out of his infatuation or not, but for now, clinging to that little hope was all he had.

The blonde phoenix smiled as he could feel Klonoa's shy breaths against him, wondering at how they managed to get so wrapped up with one another, him entwined in Klonoa's destiny in a way he could never have fortold. What was to come next? Was the adventure over? With Mirabelle's defeat, were the trials overcome, or were they merely beginning?

Klonoa needed an education, and he'd likely get a job of his own. Hikaro was hesitant to even mention moving out until Klonoa was an adult. He didn't want them rushing into anything.
Would they ever have kids of their own? Would they adopt?
Hikaro blinked suddenly, realizing he'd been fantasizing about things that were yet to come, if they were to come at all. Embarressed and beside himself if Klonoa knew went on in his head he reached up to pat his lover's light hair.
"I love you Klonoa, and will stand beside you forever. I promise."