"We're all set then."

Daichi nodded at all the players before looking at the coach. The coach signaled them to go on to the field, but Daichi stayed behind just a second.

His hands grabbed at the light blue collar around his neck. His fingers hooked around it when a voice behind him spoke.

"You'll be great."

At the sound of Kyoya's voice, Daichi let go and turned around. He threw himself at Kyoya, shoulders heaving. Steady hands held him there but were quick to push him to stand on his own. Now wasn't the time. There was business to be done.

"You're arguably the best football player in the nation, Daichi," Kyoya said. "Why are you doubting yourself?"

"I haven't played in forever."

"Listen to me, puppy, when you're as good at something as you are at football, you never really forget how to do it." Kyoya's voice lowered. "Think about it... Have you ever forgotten how it feels to kiss me? Even after hours apart?"

Kyoya leaned forward and softly kissed Daichi's lips.

"I know I haven't." He let go of Daichi's collar and smiled cheekily, glare coming off his glasses. "Now, you get out there and show everyone that you're the best football player Japan has to offer."

Daichi giggled. He pecked Kyoya on the cheek and then turned to leave but not before yelling out, "I love you too, Kyoya!"

Kyoya smiled to himself. "Daichi... What have I done to deserve you?"

————————————————————————

At the half, Ouran was up 4:0, all of the points having been scored by Daichi. There was no way they were going to lose. On his break, Daichi noticed someone in the stands near Kyoya.

Yukio was standing between Tamaki and Kyoya, yelling at both of them. Daichi immediately ran closer so he could hear.

"—I ever saw you two together again I would kill him! And look what I find! He's here playing in a football match while you're cheering him on like some sick freak!"

"Excuse me, sir," Tamaki said. He fixed Yukio with a glare that could cut through iron. "I'm going to have to ask you to lower your voice and contain your anger. You may be an adult, and I may only be a student, but this is a school event. We wouldn't want security throwing you out, now would we?"

Yukio grumbled and walked out of the stands. As he did, Daichi ran back to his bench. When the second half started, he noticed his father was standing off to the side, waiting and watching Daichi.

Ouran won with no problem, 9:0. No one was injured. Most of the guys weren't anything more than winded.

But something still didn't feel quite right.

Daichi was collecting his things from the bench before he could go talk to his friends when Yukio approached him, a sour look on his old twisted face.

"Daichi," he said, "we're going home, and you're gonna pay for this."

"Dad, I—"

"What did you just call me?" Yukio growled.

Daichi hung his head. "D-Dad— Ah!"

"Daichi!"

Cheek stinging, the boy saw all of the host club coming closer. Yukio followed his line of sight. Quickly, he grabbed Daichi's wrist and started dragging him to the parking lot.

Daichi struggled, but he was tired and weak. He couldn't escape. He saw his friends getting closer, but they were already at the car.

"Daichi!"

In his hurry to run away, Yukio tried shoving Daichi into the car.

The boy was fighting as much as possible, only half-way in the car, his head in the doorway.

That was when Yukio slammed the door shut.

Instantly, Daichi crumpled to the ground.

At that, Mori surged forward, holding Yukio with his hands behind his back. Kyoya fell to his knees at Daichi's side, cradling his head in his lap. That was when he felt the warm liquid. Kyoya pulled his hand away from the side of Daichi's head and saw bright red.

"He's hurt... Daichi's hurt. Tamaki, somebody, call somebody. Daichi's hurt."

————————————————————————

Daichi's eyes opened to see a very familiar face looking back at him. His heart swelled at the smile that he saw shining at him and the warm eyes filled with relief.

"-yoya..." Daichi frowned. "-yoya. -yoya!"

Come on! Why couldn't he just say Kyoya's name? He'd done it a million times before.

Just then, Daichi felt someone's hand in his. He looked and saw Kyoya's thumb tracing circles on the back of Daichi's hand, and the boy frowned.

"'M s-so-sor—ry," Daichi managed.

Kyoya shook his head. "My little puppy. When will you understand? As long as I love you, I will wait. And there is nobody and nothing that can ever make me stop loving you."

Daichi blushed before remembering something that stiffened his bones. "D-d-da—d?" he asked, hoping it was enough for Kyoya to understand.

"Out of the picture," Kyoya said. "He won't go to jail, but he's facing custody charges. You're going to be put under the legal guardianship of Akino, but you'll live with me if that's alright with you?" Daichi nodded with a smile. "Excellent. There is one thing though... Your final exams... I'm afraid you didn't pass. You'll have to repeat year 1."

Daichi frowned, but Kyoya was quick to continue.

"Since you're super smart though, I'm sure you know that it won't change anything between us or any of the other hosts. The football team still wants you as captain once you're better as well. You're still my puppy of course."

"L-lo— You — I — Y-you — L-lov—ve yo-ou."

Kyoya smiled and squeezed Daichi's hand gently. "I love you too."

————————————————————————

Several mornings later~

Kyoya finished buttoning up his buttons when he saw Daichi still staring at the medicine in his hand. With a sigh, he joined the boy on the edge of the bed.

"It'll help you, Daichi," Kyoya said. "Come on. We've been over this before. Don't you trust me?" Immediately, Daichi nodded. "Then trust me. It'll help your brain grow again."

Daichi frowned but took the pill and swallowed it. "Y-yuck — is-s-s t-ta-st — t-taste," he muttered.

Kyoya chuckled, ruffling Daichi's hair. "Cause you're supposed to take it with water, silly. Here, it's almost time to go. I've got something for you."

Kyoya reached in a drawer and pulled out a beautiful blue nylon collar with pictures of waves on it.

"Since we're going to the water park, I thought I'd get something fitting," Kyoya said, holding it up to Daichi. "Do you like it?"

Kyoya waited anxiously. He'd never gotten a collar for Daichi before. The two had never talked about why Daichi even wore collars. Kyoya just accepted it and was hoping now that this wasn't overstepping any boundaries.

So when Daichi didn't reach for it, his heart nearly broke. Then, an excited, shaky voice said, "P-put — 'n' — m-m-me?"

Kyoya's heart leapt. His hands wrapped delicately around Daichi's neck, clasping the collar into place. He couldn't help but lean forward and kiss him just once.

Daichi smiled. "N-now — w-w-we do-o-o — n-now wat-t-ter — g-guns?"

Kyoya smiled. He would play water guns every day if it meant he saw that smile just one last time. To be able to see it every day now... Kyoya had no idea how he could pay Daichi back for such a gift.

FIN.