The scars on Azusa's arms were very evident. Of course they were. He loved them and even talked to them like they were human beings. But nobody, not even his brothers could really see what was going on under Azusa's clothes.

He didn't eat anymore. He didn't drink blood. He never even left his room. Ruki brought meals up to Azusa, but he'd always find that they were untouched when he came back to take down the plate.

All of his brothers were worried. They thought that he was ill, but they didn't expect what was really going on. Except for one. The tallest Mukami. He could see how frail he was becoming, how his cheeks were hollowing out and how there was no life left in his eyes.

"Oi, Azusa." Yuma barged into Azusa's room one day without knocking. Azusa was right in the middle of inspecting himself in the mirror, his was stripped down to his boxers trying to see the 'progress' he had made on himself. "Azusa...?" At the sight, Yuma was almost disgusted. Azusa was no more than a skeleton now. He could snap at any second.

"Yuma." Azusa's voice was dry from the lack of blood he had been drinking. "Yuma... look at... me. I'm better.... now. I won't... be lonely." Azusa turned to look at Yuma, his thin body and scars staring him in the face.
"You are in no way better." His eyes scanned over every bone.
"People will... want to talk... to me."
"Azusa, please stop this. You're scaring all of us." No matter how hard he fought it, tears were starting to well in his eyes.
"But it's... better this... way, right?"
"No. No of course it's not. You need to eat, Azusa. You've become almost nothing anymore. You could die. I really don't want to loose you."

"Yuma... I'm happy."
"Then why do you cut if you're happy? You've cut everywhere. Your arms, your neck, your chest, your stomach, your hips, your thighs. Why do you cut if you're happy?" Azusa didn't have an answer to his question.
"Please... forgive me..." He looked down and shuffled his feet.
"Azusa, I don't know if Ruki and Kou can see what's really happening. But this needs to stop now. Nothing has ever been more important than this. Do you promise you'll work with me to make this all right?"
"I... promise. I'm... so sorry... Yuma."

"Please drink some of my blood Azusa."
"I... don't want any." He said but Yuma fixed him a cold hard stare. "Okay then..." Yuma got onto his hands and knees so Azusa could reach him properly without having to make too much of an effort. "Thank you..."
"Please, just drink from me." Yuma winced at the feeling of Azusa biting his neck. But Azusa sucked blood differently to Kou and Ruki. Azusa was gentle, and it was if he was afraid of either hurting himself or Yuma. He's adorable, he must admit that.

After taking what he needed from Yuma, Azusa pulled away and hugged his brother. He wrapped his arms around his brothers fragile form and pulled him closer into his lap.
"I'm... sorry Yuma."
"Don't apologise. Please just never do it again." Some colour had come back to Azusa's cheeks but he still had far to go.
"I... promise." He smiled for the first time in a long time.

"Will you... stay with... me tonight?
"Of course I will. Lie down with me." Yuma picked Azusa up with out any effort, that's how light he now was, and then lay down on the bed putting Azusa next to him. Then he pulled the covers up around themselves.  But instead of staying next to him, Azusa climbed on top of Yuma and lay on his chest. "Azusa?"
"Hmm..?" He looked up and they locked eyes.
"I love you."
"I love... you too... Yuma."

Azusa then did something nobody ever thought he would do. He kissed his brother, just a gentle weak kiss, but a kiss nonetheless. Yuma kissed back just as gently and snaked his arms around his younger brother. Then they pulled back.

Azusa fell asleep not long after that on top of Yuma, while Yuma made sure he was safe. Occasionally, he would bring a hand through his hair or kiss his ear. He was just glad he was close to him.

Next chapter: Ruki X Kou (Sad fluff)