This part is dedicated to VanillaMint, Loreley, and pukachan. Thanks so much for the support and encouragement!! ^_^

*****

Die couldn't believe it. Kaoru was none other than the brother of the creator of The Cage. It wasn't long before the initial shock wore off at was replaced by an acute sense of dread. Shit. He and Toshiya were in big trouble now.

He looked over at Toshiya who was still sitting in Kaoru's lap. Kaoru was humming something softy and playing with Toshiya's hair. Toshiya had his eyes closed and was leaning back against Kaoru, a smile of contentment on his face. It broke Die's heart.

Normally he would have said it was a cute scene. Normally. But this was Toshiya and Kaoru. Toshiya was supposed to be his and Kaoru was his archenemy. Never before did he hate a person as much as he hated Kaoru.

A small, smug, smirk graced Kaoru's lips as Die stepped forward a bit, causing Toshiya to open his eyes.

"Ne Die, I guess you want to hear the rest of the story?"

"Sure, why not. But I am guessing that you would have told me anyways, right?"

Kaoru pretended to ponder that for a minute before nodding in agreement. "Yeah. Probably. It is going to be fun seeing all the silly expressions you will make when you find out the truth."

Die glared at Kaoru, but the other man went right on talking.

"You know, you strike me as the type that never thinks to hard about anything. Heh, no offence.. A lot of people are like that, I think. But, do you ever think back, ten, thirteen years ago? Do ever notice you keep hitting blank spots? That you will be remembering something happening and then…nothing? You probably thought you just forgot and thought nothing more of it, right? Well, would you believe me if I told you that you hadn't just forgot, but your memories had been erased?"

Die frowned, partially because of Kaoru's words, and partially because Kaoru had turned his attention away from Toshiya's hair to his neck. "Gee Kaoru, why do I get the feeling that you are going to tell me it has something to do with you?"

Kaoru pulled away from Toshiya's neck and smiled at Die. "Correct! You amaze me. I thought it would have taken a bit longer to put that one together."

"Oh shut up. Just tell me what you have to tell me. I am getting bored of your games," Die drawled, trying to pretend it wasn't Hell seeing Kaoru's arms wrapped tightly around Toshiya, holding the younger man close.

"Well Die, once upon a time there was a very unhappy boy who lived with a very abusive uncle. One day the boy realized that he led a meaningless life and there was nothing to live for. So he decided to end it all. He went to a bridge over a very deep river where he wouldn't be found for a very long time, if at all. He figured he could save the cops some paperwork since no one would miss him when he was dead anyways, save for his brother. But he hadn't seen his brother for a very long time anyways, so he figured that maybe even he wouldn't care.

"Well, the boy got up on the railing, preparing to jump when suddenly an angel appeared. Stopping him from going thought with it."

Toshiya giggled when Kaoru teasingly pinched his side. "My angel, eh?

"The boy fell in love. He had known the angel when he was a young boy, and was in love then, but apparently the beautiful angel had forgotten him. But! No matter. The boy got a kiss and found he had something to live for. The angel and the boy began to see each other more and more. And pretty soon they decided to skip the 'we're just friends' bit and admit their true feeling for each other.

"Everything was going just fine and dandy until one day the boy's brother showed up and, like I said before, this brother had a pretty boyfriend at his side. Of course everyone got along just fine; that wasn't the problem. The problem was that the boy was deeply in love with his angel, and so was his newly acquired best friend. You know, Die, that best friend was you."

"What?! You lie!" Die exclaimed, his jaw dropping in shock and his mind refusing to believe what it was being fed.

Kaoru frowned. "Now why would I lie to you?"

"I don't know. Why would you? All I know is that there is no way in hell that I could ever be friends with you. No way."

"I am not lying! I have no reason to! Things are going exactly how I want them to, there would be no point in lying to you now."

Toshiya gripped onto Kaoru's hand, trying to calm the other man down. It appeared to work because the purple haired man relaxed his body and took a deep breath.

"Die. I am not lying to you. Can I continue now?"

Die shrugged. "What's it to me?"

"But doesn't it make sense? You were in love with Toshiya even then. You just can't remember. I guess I can't blame you too much. Toshiya is very special person," Toshiya blushed and Kaoru smiled at him and placed a kiss on his cheek before his mood suddenly changed again and he glared at Die, "But I can hate you for it.

"Toshiya really wasn't interested in you at the time. All his attention belonged to me. But we three hung out, day after day. Mostly in the run down warehouse that my brother used for his creation. We all became really interested in it, and one day my brother even let me and Toshiya use it. The first time we went in, we created a tropical island. For half on the 'day' we swam in a lagoon, complete with a waterfall, and for the other half we laid on a beach, watching the sun set. I loved every second of it. It was a wonderful feeling: having Toshiya all to myself with no one to interrupt us.

"But that was in my mind. In the real world things were different. You were getting more and more successful in your attempts to get Toshiya to pay more attention to you. I, of course, became jealous and began spending more and more time in the Cage with Toshiya. Then one day…my greatest dream came true, in a sense. I took him to a special place. A beautiful valley surrounded by trees, with a little river and waterfall, and a field full of flowers. And there, under a vine covered arbor, I had my angel for the first time."

"That is where you took me again today." Toshiya murmured with a purring sound when Kaoru pulled Toshiya even closer to him.

"Uh huh," Kaoru confirmed, meeting Die’s hateful gaze. "And we once again had each other under the vine covered arbor."

If he hadn’t already been sitting, Die’s legs would have most likely given out. Wave after wave of emotions crashed over Die. Hate. Disgust. Betrayal. Love. Longing. The thought of someone else kissing, touching, and having Toshiya made Die was to throw up. Die looked at Toshiya. Here he was sitting down and chatting while his lover was in the arms of another man. It was killing him.

"Would it make things easier for you if I told you that I never had him in reality? Only in the virtual reality of my mind did Toshiya ever give himself completely to me." Kaoru spat bitterly, sudden jealousy and anger flashing in his eyes. Toshiya whimpered when Kaoru’s grip became painful.

Toshiya trembled at the sudden anger radiating from Kaoru. Toshiya understood that it was his fault for the change of attitude in Kaoru. He felt bad. Kaoru had been so nice to him, and he didn’t want to anger his lover in any way.

Kaoru froze. He realized that he was most likely scaring Toshiya. He buried his face in Toshiya’s hair and changed his angry and possessive hold of Toshiya back into a loving one. Toshiya relaxed somewhat, but Kaoru could still fell the tension in the younger man’s body.

"I’m sorry Toshiya. I’m not angry at you. I love you, and what ever you aren’t comfortable in doing is fine by me."

That reassured Toshiya and he melted back into Kaoru’s arms. Die couldn’t help but gag. But despite it all, he was curious and wanted to find out what had happened.

‘Almost like when my grandma used to tell me stories,’ Die thought dryly. Toshiya had always told him that if anything were to kill him it would be his curiosity.

Die inched a bit forward, drawing the two lovers' attention away from each other and back to their guest. Kaoru smirked. "Interested in my story? Or my lover?"

"Both. Please. Go on."

Kaoru narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "What? Why the sudden interest." Die didn’t answer. "Well, whatever. Now where was I? Oh yes! Toshiya and I. That incident strengthened our relationship, even if he still wouldn’t let me have him in reality. But…eventually I noticed that he was spending more and more time with you, and less with me. I couldn’t handle it. Every time we went into the Cage, I found it harder and harder to let it go, to come back to the reality, which also included you.

"Then…then came my brother and his boyfriend’s death. Shinya…Unknown to me, they had been facing a problem of their own. A man had somehow found out about my brother’s creation. And he wanted it. My brother wouldn’t give it to him, and the man threatened to have Shinya killed. Shinya knew how much it meant to Kyo, but he also knew how much –he- meant to Kyo. One day they went in…and never came out. Shinya never let him go. And that is when I found out that I too could do that. I could keep Toshiya with me. Forever.

"One day, I brought him in again. He really didn’t want to; he was supposed to have lunch with you. You can imagine how I felt. But…we were still in love enough so that he would go with. And that is when I lost it. I totally lost control of myself. I took out all my frustration on him, in our lovemaking. Scared the shit out of him. And then…he was crying and pleading for me to let him out. But…I didn’t…I couldn’t! I finally broke down. I couldn’t bare his tears and the fact that I created them. But, I had come close, oh…so close to keeping him there. Killing him, like you told me I am doing now.

"I was so scared. I never wanted to do anything to hurt him. I went to you. Ha. You were shocked to hear what I had done. You were also angry. You yelled at me, hit me, threatened me. And I realized you were right."

"Right about what?"

"Right about how I couldn’t have him. My love would kill him. I went home that night and I cried. I cried like I had never done before. And the next day I had it all figured out. I had to give him up. I brought you two to the warehouse for the last time. You see, my brother didn’t only create the Cage. He was a genius. Before…his death, he had been tinkering with a memory…thing. I forgot what he called I it. But, it worked, somewhat. It was still in the first stages, but it worked for my needs. I wiped out yours and Toshiya’s memories. Erased every single thought, every single memory of me in your minds. It was supposed to be the memories of just me. I had decided to let him remember you, so he would have someone…But, I couldn’t. At the last second, my jealousy overrode my decision and I erased the memories of you both.

"I had put you to into a sleep, so that way I could get you home and then leave; that way you would never see me again. I remember…I kissed my wonderful Toshiya the last time. I cried again. I sat there and watched him, kissed him, until I saw he was beginning to wake up. I got out fast, and that was the last contact I had with him.

"For about a year I managed to stay away. But then…I couldn’t do it. I had to see him again. I started following him when he went out, watching him always. Always staying in the shadows, but never letting him get to far away. I needed him, his presence, his voice, his smell, his laugh. He was my drug, my high. I needed more and more. Plenty of times I almost revealed my presence, but I always stopped, at the last second.

"It was like that for years. And then one day…you two met. Perhaps I missed a memory somewhere in your minds because you clicked right away. I am sure now you know what I am talking about. It wasn't to long until you got him in your bed. Although I didn't actually take him, his body and soul belonged to me. I felt it in my heart. I knew it had happened. And it was the ultimate betrayal to me, even though I had known that it would be someone else to have him for the first time. But still…

"So, I stayed in the shadows and watched as you two got closer, and to my shock, both got jobs working with the Cage, the very thing that tore us apart. Ironic how things work, eh? And I continued to watch as you got even closer and then even moved in with him. I watched and put up with it until I could take it no more. I went to your work and became a client. But for some reason I decided to show myself to Toshiya before our first meeting. I did so in the parking garage yesterday morning. But I guess I scared him, so I left. But…here we are, so I guess I was successful in my plot."

"So all along your goal was to lure him here and kill him?" Die snapped. He stood up and began to pace, his mind whirling at all the information that was just fed to it.

"Of course not!" Kaoru exclaimed. Toshiya squirmed in his lap and Kaoru released his grip, allowing the other man to get up and stretch his legs. Kaoru smiled fondly at Toshiya before standing up himself and walking over to Die. "Why would I plot to kill him? No, I had wanted for him to remember or to fall in love with me, or something. But I guess that wouldn't happen, so I settled for having him trust and love me here." Kaoru leaned closer to Die, his mouth only inches away from Die's ear. "He loves -you-. I could never have him back in your world, only here, in my world."

Die jerked away from Kaoru. His eyes came to settle on Toshiya, who was standing a few feet away, watching the two men, a strange look on his face. Kaoru looked at his lover, then at Die, then back at Toshiya. He frowned and stepped in between the two.

"No no. Oh no. None of that." Kaoru warned.

Die smirked and stepped past Die. Slowly he began to walk towards Toshiya. Toshiya tipped his head to the side, watching Die curiously.

Die stopped when he was an arms length away from Toshiya. "Toshiya…there, you heard it. Practically your life story. From your own 'lover's' mouth," Die said, bitterness creeping into his mouth when he spoke of Kaoru, but it disappeared almost instantly as he continued on, "So how can you doubt it's truth? Toshiya…please…come back to me. I love you."

Toshiya didn't say anything, but looked past Die at Kaoru. Kaoru nodded and walked back over to stand next to Toshiya. Toshiya turned to Kaoru, reaching out for his lover.

"Kaoru…" Toshiya breathed as he leaned in a placed a light kiss on Kaoru's lips, his arms wrapping around Kaoru's neck. "Kaoru…I am real. You are real. Everything around us…it is all real. But…you wouldn't ever let me go, would you?"

Kaoru smiled at Toshiya. Misunderstanding his lover's words completely, Kaoru wrapped his arms around Toshiya's slender body and kissed him back. "Never. I will never leave you. We will always be together."

Tears began to well up in Toshiya's eyes, and it wasn't long before one slipped out and traced a trail down Toshiya's smooth cheek. Kaoru frowned and moved to brush it away, Toshiya let him. He closed his eyes and leaned into Kaoru's touch. It was so gentle, so loving. "Kaoru…my love for you, it is real. I love you. Am I real to you, Kaoru? Are my kisses real?" Toshiya leaned forward and pressed his lips against Kaoru's again. The tears fell faster, and with the closeness of the to faces, Kaoru's face received some of the painfully sweet drops.

"Of course you are Toshiya. You are real. Your kisses…they are real…" Kaoru smiled again, his mind going haywire for Toshiya's sweet kisses, and the feeling of the tears on his face. Toshiya was his.

"Kaoru…" Toshiya moved his hand from Kaoru's neck until they settled on his upper back. Kaoru closed his eyes and leaned in again to kiss Toshiya. The tears were falling faster than ever before now, and Toshiya's body trembled as he eagerly returned the kiss. They were like that for a long time, just kissing, and crying.

Kaoru's eyes suddenly snapped open. He pulled away from Toshiya, staring at his lover in disbelief. His hand desperately shot to his back and tried to pull the knife out, but by then, he was already too weak. He fell to his knees, gasping for breath as he looked up at Toshiya, confusion filling his dulling eyes.

Toshiya let out a sob and fell besides Kaoru. He quickly removed the knife, cried out at the blood that flowed from the wound, coating his hands, and getting all over the beautiful dress that Kaoru had made for him. Toshiya pulled Kaoru's body on his lap and rocked his love as he slowly died.

Die watched helplessly, not quite understanding what was going on, and his heart braking as Toshiya cried, rocking Kaoru in his arms, and grasping the hand that Kaoru held up.

"Toshiya…why…" Kaoru managed to gasp out, squeezing his eyes shut at the pain those two words caused.

Toshiya's crying intensified and he pulled Kaoru even closer. "Kaoru…I am sorry. I don't want to hurt you, but I can't live like this. I need to go back, and I understand that you would never let me. I am so sorry…I don't want you to live in pain…but I can't be with you…"

"To…Toshi…ya…I… love you." Tears fell from Kaoru's eyes as he spoke his last words.

"I know Kaoru, I know. I love you too."

Kaoru's eyes closed, and his breathing slowed. The walls of the room they were in began to crumble, and Die realized that if he and Toshiya didn't get out soon they too would die in the machine. Die grabbed Toshiya's arm and pulled him up.

"No!" Toshiya screamed and pushed Die away, reaching for Kaoru again. Die, however, was much stronger than Toshiya and easily pulled the other man away from Kaoru's limp body.

Holding Toshiya tight in his arm's, Die managed to press the button on Toshiya's palm. He closed his eyes in a short prayer, and cried out happily when he opened his eyes and saw the world around him fading. Toshiya was still struggling in his arms, crying out again and again for Kaoru, but Die held him tight, and it wasn't long before the younger man went limp in his arms and everything blacked out.

##{*}##

Die slowly opened his eyes, and never in his life was he more relieved to see the doctors rushing around, checking computer monitors and carefully removing the cord from Die's arms. He tried to get up, but was instantly pushed back down by Yoshiki.

"Don't move Die. I don't know what happened to you in there, but by the stats on the computer, it is like you were fighting an entire army by yourself. You need rest." Yoshiki told him, not removing his hand from Die's chest as Die once again struggled to get up.

"Toshiya…?" Die mumbled as he gave in to his exhaustion and slumped back down in the chair.

"Toshiya is just-"

"Kaoru!"

Die's eyes shot open when he heard Toshiya. He watched as Toshiya hurled himself at Kaoru's dead body, ignoring the fact that he was still hooked up to his chair. To doctors rushed to Toshiya, trying to pry him away from Kaoru and remove the cord in Toshiya's arm before he hurt himself. Toshiya cried and kicked, trying to keep the people away from him as held tight to Kaoru's limp form and sobbed against his chest.

The doctors had to call in two of the guards before Toshiya finally just passed out. Die followed shortly after.

*****

The sun streaming in through the open window was what woke Die up. Groaning, he sat up and looked around him. A hospital. He was in a hospital. If he was in a hospital that meant that somewhere near by there would be a nurse. He was right. He didn't have to wait long until a nurse came bustling in the room, checking how he was doing.

"And how are you feeling today, Die-san?" She asked as he placed a try of food down it front of him. "You must be hungry. You have been unconscious for three days."

Die made a strange choking sound and looked as the nurse in shock. "I have?"

"Uh huh."

"What about…where is Toshiya?" Die asked hesitantly, not quite sure if he could handle any bad news at this time.

"Oh. He is doing just fine."

"Where is he? And what exactly is just fine?" Die asked, sighing with relief.

"Actually, he is in the room right next to yours. Fine is awake. He woke up yesterday morning. Now, if you will excuse me. You seem to be doing just fine. I have to go check on your friend now." The nurse said with a smile before walking out of the room, leaving the door ajar.

Die looked down at himself. There were a few bruises on his arm where Toshiya had hit him in his struggle to brake free, but besides the IV in his arm he looked fine. Die pulled the blanket aside and swung his legs over the side of his bed. His feet reached the ground with a padded thump. He stuck out his tongue and picked up his right foot and wondered exactly how clean the floor was. He quickly pushed that pointless thought aside and pulled the IV out his arm.

He quietly walked to the door and peeked out, pulling his head back in just in time as the nurse walked out of the room nest to his. He waited until she turned a corner before slipping out of his room and into the next one, shutting the door behind him.

Toshiya was sitting up in bed when Die walked in, but he didn't turn his head away from the window, so he missed the brilliant smile that Die managed to muster for him. That smile faded off of Die's face, however, when he saw the lack of response from his…lover? Suddenly it dawned on Die. Perhaps Toshiya didn't love him anymore. Perhaps the only reason Toshiya had 'killed' Kaoru was because he didn't want to die. After all, Toshiya was obviously upset about what he did, and those tears, and those 'I love you's weren't fake.

Hesitantly Die made his way to Toshiya's bed and sat down in the chair next to it. Toshiya still hadn't shown any signs that he even knew Die was in the room. Die sat like that, not moving, just watching Toshiya. Just when he was about to speak, Toshiya slowly turned to face him.

He gave a small smile when he saw Die. "Die…"

Die swallowed, not knowing what to say. What could he say? He didn't even know if Toshiya loved him anymore. "Toshiya…I'm really sorry about…Kaoru."

Toshiya closed his eyes and smiled again. When he opened them, a single tear fell from his eye. "I know what you are thinking, Die. Don't."

"Toshiya…"

"It's you I love, Die. Do you think I would have done what I did if I didn't?"

"But Kaoru…You said…"

"I know. And it is true, I do love him, very much actually, but…" Toshiya blushed and looked back out the window.

Die smiled and took one of Toshiya's hands that were resting in his lap. "Toshiya?"

Toshiya turned back to Die. "Die. I realized that…well, it just wasn't the same with him. I got that rush, sure, but…it wasn't as powerful or as enjoyable as with you. I love you, Die."

Die smiled and pulled Toshiya into his arms. "I love you too, Totchi," Die whispered into Toshiya's ear before claiming the younger man's lips with his own.

"Toshiya-san! I have your-eh? Die-san! You shouldn't be in here!" The nurse exclaimed, while looking away and blushing.

"Sure I do. I belong where ever Toshiya is," Die told her with a satisfied grin.

One month later…

The gravel and fallen leaves crunched loudly under Toshiya's boots as he made his way down the narrow trail, the chilly October air lightly blowing Toshiya's hair and ends of his coat. He kept walking until he came to a little circle, surrounded by weeping willow. The last of the smooth leaves lay shriveling on the ground, but Toshiya thought it was still one of the most beautiful places un all of Japan.

Stepping forward he laid one flower on two of the three graves in the circle. He paused at the last one. Brushing aside a tear that had escaped his eye, he bent down and placed a kiss to the cold marble gravestone. He then kissed the rose and set it down on the top of the stone.

"I love you, Kaoru." He whispered and closed his eyes, tilting his head up to the grey sky, enjoying the soft caress of the wind. More tears slipped down his face as he opened his eyes and took one last glance at the stone before turning and walking back to Die's waiting arms.

"I am sure he knows, Toshiya. And I am sure he forgives you. In fact, I know he does," Die told his lover as they walked hand in hand out of the cemetery.

Die was right. Kaoru was always right besides Toshiya, finally smiling at the happiness his lover had found, even if was in the arms of another man.

*****

So there it is. What did you think? Were you surprised at the ending?? *cries and hugs Kaoru* I hope you like it...and thanks to everyone who gave me feedback and told me to go on!! ^_^

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