The next chapter is here!

As always, here's a reminder:

Italics means someone's inner thoughts

-- means a change in POV.

Chapter 4- Fear

Ryu cursed softly as he searched for Ken. He's becoming quite good at finding a spot to ambush me during these spars… He thought with a twinge of annoyance. Wiping his brow, he glanced up at the sky, the light of the afternoon sun hitting his face, and he sighed in frustration. Two whole weeks had passed since they'd arrived at the cabin, and while Ken had recovered his spirit, a lock remained over his lips when it came to the truth about that day. He continued to dodge the questions whenever they came up, much to Ryu's chagrin.

I don't normally get angry, but all this dodging is really starting to piss me off. It bothered him so much in fact, he hadn't had a good night's sleep for almost a week now. However, no matter how hard it had been for him, he had kept to his promise not to tell Ken before Ken told him. Still, with each passing day with no progress towards his goal, the resolve to keep that promise was waning, worn away by his continued frustration.

Behind me! Ryu shifted sideways when he sensed Ken's attack, and turned to counter-attack. They continued to fight aggressively for a few minutes before they took a break to rest. Panting softly, Ryu leaned against a tree and looked over at Ken, standing against another tree. Ken seemed fine, the pain of the prior week was gone, but there was still an aura of fear surrounding him. It was so frustrating that Ryu couldn't break through that aura and bring the real Ken to the surface. He growled, his resolve finally giving in to his frustration. Enough is enough, I can't take it anymore! Ken will confess today, no matter what! Standing, he strode over to Ken and placed his large hands on Ken's shoulders, pinning him in place. Ken looked up at him, surprised.

"Ryu… What-" Ken stiffened slightly as Ryu gripped him tighter.

"Ken, you need to tell me. I can't wait any longer for the answer. Why did you do what you did?" The fear flew into Ken's eyes for a moment before he looked away and shook his head once, trembling slightly. "No."

Growling, Ryu simply took a breath and asked it again.

"Why did you destroy the temple? Tell me."

"No." Ken's stubborn reply was a strong counterpoint to his face. It clearly showed to Ryu the inner battle that was going on between Ken's heart and his head, his heart screaming the answer inside while his head cut it off at his lips, driven by some irrational fear to keep him silent.

--

I can't tell him… I just can't… If I do, I just know I'll let something slip… Ken thought as his heart and mind did battle. His head won out in the end, and the vision that had haunted his dreams every night came back, sharper than ever. Ryu cast a disgusted look over his shoulder, a scowl distorting his normally calm and serious face before he turned and disappeared.

Ken's heart skipped a beat as he heard him ask again, "Why did you do that?" Ryu's words beat themselves against his will, and he panicked, feeling the wall of silence cracking, weakening. He began to struggle violently, trying to get away before he gave in to the desire to answer.

"Ryu! Let me go!" Ryu only tightened his grip on him.

"No. I've waited two weeks for your answer, and I'm not letting go until I hear it. Why won't you tell me?" Ryu bowed his head. "Please… Tell me…" he pleaded.

Ken began to tear up, the pain in Ryu's voice fracturing his will. However, the fear replaced his will before his heart could talk, causing him to panic. With all the strength he could muster, he threw Ryu off him and into a nearby tree. Ryu had only a moment to see the sheer panic in Ken's eyes before he hit his head on the trunk, hard. He fell face-first to the forest floor, knocked out from the impact.

Ryu! Panic surged through Ken as he hurried over and quickly checked Ryu for serious injuries. Finding none, he bowed his head and sobbed. Tears fell freely from his face as he flipped Ryu over and settled him more comfortably before he stood and turned to go.

"I'm sorry Ryu…" He sobbed, "I can't tell you. But I know if I see you again, I'll be unable to keep it in anymore." The fear of the result of telling Ryu driving him slightly out of his mind, Ken continued. "Rather than drive you away, or ruin your life, or hurt you in any way, I'm leaving. I'll protect you… from everything... including me…" Turning, he ran off towards the cabin. As soon as he arrived, he quickly packed his things and, sliding on his sandals and pack, he ran into the woods, not caring which direction, so long as it was away from Ryu. After about an hour of running non-stop, he collapsed against a tree, clutching his chest as he rolled into a ball.

I left him behind, unconscious… in the dirt… He'll never forgive me for that. A jolt of grief shot through him, and he embraced it, sobbing openly for a while. After he had calmed down, he stood and turned spiritless eyes on the distant trees. Well then, I guess now there's nothing to do but keep going… Nodding weakly, he started walking, staring blankly forward as he made his slow journey through the forest.

--

Ow… my head… Ryu groaned loudly as he slowly came to. Blinking, he glanced at the sky. Dusk… Gingerly touching his head, he quickly remembered what had happened before he lost consciousness. The pain instantly leaving him, he swept his eyes over the area, searching for any sign of Ken. Seeing nothing, he sighed.

Of course he left. He must have panicked and gone back to the cabin… but if that's the case, then why didn't he take me with him? Fear gripping his heart, he shook himself back to action and hurried to the cabin.

Opening the door, his heart stopped for a second as he saw the room empty, then sped up dangerously as he saw that Ken's things were missing. Shit! He's gone! Running outside, he desperately tried to see which way Ken had left. The panic grew almost unbearable until he caught a glimpse of something in the underbrush off to his right. Hurrying over, Ryu saw Ken's footprints in the undergrowth and broken twigs nearby. Kneeling, he quickly examined the prints. The ball of the foot was much deeper than the heel, meaning Ken ran full-force into the woods. Ryu's jaw set as he gazed into the woods. I've got to find him!

Jumping up, he raced for his sandals. Sliding them on, he turned and ran after Ken, minus his own pack so he could run faster. As he ran, following Ken's path, he felt a drop of rain hit his cheek and a peal of thunder crashed about him.

Of course. How cliché. Ryu cursed Murphy and his law to hell and back as he ran, the rain rapidly blanketing the area. He swore, for this deluge was starting to wipe Ken's footprints clean. He ran faster. About 20 minutes later Ryu completely lost the trail. Stopping, Ryu cupped his hands around his mouth and started shouting as loud as he could.

"KEN!! KEN!!" He shouted Ken's name like a chant, but the wind tossed his chant astray as the rain continued to drown the path ahead.

Ryu felt panic take complete control of his body, and he bolted headlong into the forest, screaming "KEN!" as he ran. After another ten minutes of non-stop running, Ryu finally tired and slumped against a tree. He curled up, his tears mixing with the rain that ran down his face. His determination had been crushed. He'd failed. He'd lost Ken forever. Weeping for a moment, he was about to stand and return to the cabin when he spotted something odd in the mud in front of him. He hurried over and began to dig rapidly. Pulling it out, he watched as the rain washed the mud off, revealing it to be one of Ken's sandals. Ken must have lost it while he was running! He might be nearby!

Hope leaped into his chest as he looked around for Ken, but it soon faded as he realized that the sandal was near a very steep slope… and there was a large chunk missing from it.

Gripping the sandal tightly as fear gripped his heart, he shouted down the slope. "KEN! KEN! CAN YOU HEAR ME?" All that answered was the storm, its voice drowning out his.

Finding a spot that wasn't very steep, Ryu ran down the incline and looked frantically around for Ken. A flash of lightning illuminated the area briefly, but it was just enough to expose a shock of blond hair and a glimpse of red gi in the distance before it faded. Ryu sprinted over to Ken, relief in his features. The relief soon left him as he got closer and saw the scene before him.

Ken was unconscious, his head tipped to the side and his body half-buried in the mud of the slope. His pack lay a few feet further down the slope, obviously lost in the fall.

Ken… Ryu nearly lost it when he saw his friend like that, but quickly composed himself and hurriedly shouldered Ken's pack, then turned his full attention to Ken. Swiftly checking what he saw of Ken for any serious injuries, he saw none and Ken's neck seemed to be perfectly fine. Other than a couple bruises, he seemed to be unharmed. Breathing a sigh of true relief, Ryu began to dig Ken out. Ken almost slid down the incline when he was released from the mud's grip, but Ryu deftly caught him and carried him down.

Finding a relatively dry spot, Ryu lightly shook Ken, trying to get him to wake up. "Ken… Ken…" He repeated, softly brushing his face. As soon as his hand touched Ken's face however, he blanched.

Shit! He's burning up! Screw this, we're going home. Ryu gathered Ken in his arms. Standing, Ryu rapidly got their bearings and headed home, shielding Ken from the rain as best he could.

An hour later, he had reached their cabin. Grabbing a towel, Ryu stripped Ken of his clothes and swiftly dried him off. Setting him down on their futon, he covered Ken with every blanket he could find in the room. Heading outside briefly, he wet a small cloth with the rain and placed it on Ken's forehead. Ken was shivering, even under all those blankets, but he didn't seem to be in any danger.

Now that Ken was okay, Ryu took this opportunity to change his own clothes. Returning to Ken's side, he stayed up all night, continually doctoring Ken before his fever finally broke just before dawn. Ryu smiled softly, finally settling in for sleep. He slid under the covers, holding Ken as tightly as he could. Nuzzling Ken's neck, he sighed happily as Ken hugged him back.

You're back Ken, and now that you are, I don't think I'm going to let go any time soon… Relief and happiness swept all over his body, from his head to his toes as he succumbed to sleep, gripping his Ken tighter as he nodded off.

End Chapter 4

I hope you enjoyed it! I tried super hard on this chapter! Please R&R, it's much appreciated!