Rim: All right one and all, welcome to the final chapter of Pushing Me Away. It's been a long haul…sort of rough to make it to the end, but here we stand, ready to find out exactly what my muses have in store for everyone. All thanks to everyone who has reviewed and of course my two constant and trusty lines of sanity from beginning to end of this entire thing, thanks for everything B.T and Chao as always.

-oooooo-

Blue eyes looked at the entrance of the building he was about to go into. He still could not believe at times when he walked into the building that he was there. He always imagined it to be so strange dream he would wake up from, finding nothing out of place, that life had so vengefully took it upon itself to toss everything into chaos and disorder. He thought he could escape the past. Escape from the shadows which ruled his life since he lost his mother. He thought he was out of the darkness for good. Recently he learned it was just one step backwards that would place his heart back in the darkness he fought to escape.

Which was the reason why he stood in front of this building. Looking up at the name again, he mentally said it to himself. Tomeki Mental Hospital. The place he began visiting two months ago after the darkness claimed another unwilling victim. Brushing his thoughts to the back of his mind for another time, Tala pushed himself to walk into the building. The automatic doors opening to allow his entrance. The inside of the building was pleasantly cool to stave off the outside heat. Summer would be ending soon, ironically it would also be marking a year to date since he came to Japan.

His eyes misted with tears, thinking about what that meant, knowing that it would not mean the same with the situation at hand. For a moment, the darkness got the better of him, whispering fears and terrors gripping his soul until someone interrupted them.

"Tala?"

Blinking back the tears and his own darkness, the red head looked up at the woman at the desk who was staring at him. Her gray eyes studying him. Forcing a slight smile of hello to his face for her, he walked over to where the woman stood. "Hello Yukie-san."

This woman he began to know very well over the course of the last few months when he first began coming to this building. The older woman was very kind and understanding about things when there was no one around to talk to about the thoughts forming in his head. She was not prejudice as many others had been, instead being a reliable ally in this whole mess, almost like a second mother to the red head. One he could admit he needed now.

"Hello, Tala," the woman gave him a warm, motherly smile, easing his tension. "You're earlier than expected today. Did you get off work early?"

"Yeah, I couldn't concentrate at all, so Mr. Dickenson told me to go home and rest, but I ended up here," Tala explained, giving the woman a customary hug like he always did whenever he came here.

"He's still taking it hard too, huh?" Yukie questioned when Tala clung to her a little longer than usual. Rubbing the boy's back, she heard a long, exhausted sigh escape his lips, a short nod was all she felt. When Mr. Dickenson had found out about everything that happened from Tala and Kai, the man had first been upset they would keep something like this from him, then extremely concerned, doing what he could for everyone involved in the mess.

"I think he's still a little pissed for Kai and I keeping everything from him. Pardon my language, Yukie-san."

"It's all right, I understand," the woman replied, pulling away from the red head to look into his eyes. "It's not easy when something like this happens, and you have no idea it occurred until it's all over. He will forgive you, because he knows you both meant the best. Don't let it get to you too much."

"It's not easy," Tala mumbled, his eyes lowering to the ground. "Lately…I've been thinking maybe it's just best if I left for a while, give things time to heal and mend. If it wasn't for me…"

"No Tala, no one is to blame for the vengeful. We make our own decisions about things in life, you can not blame yourself for Bryan's inability to let go," Yukie stated firmly. "You can not just shut your heart off and leave, do you really wish to leave behind Kenny?"

"I don't," Tala shook his head.

"He may heal on his own, but he may also suffer on his own without you. You are a link for him, Tala. Most people do not come out of this so easily, but his progress is miraculous. The doctors say he has a strong will power, but I believe it's because you have remained at his side. Without you, he may slip back into that shell for good and then no one will be able to bring him back around," Yukie commented.

"I wouldn't want that…" Though it was only two months since Kai used his grandfather's connections and money to place Kenny in the care of the specialists in charge of this hospital, nobody had expected the boy to come out of his catatonic state for a few more months. The doctors had told Kai and Kenny's family when someone suffers the amount of mental abuse as Kenny had, it would at times take years before their mind came around enough to live on their own without assistance.

Everyone feared the worst when it came to visiting the brunette who began not responding to anything the first three weeks he was hospitalized. The blank, unblinking eyes were hard to take. Tala had heard from Kenny's cousin Jori that the first few days Kenny's mother had ran from the room in tears, at nights locking herself in Kenny's room and blaming herself for not knowing what had happened to her child. Kenny's relatives feared they would have to place the woman into medical care also if her depression continued. She didn't remain like that forever, she outwardly became angry and cold.

"How is he doing today, Yukie-san?" Tala asked. "Any changes?"

"He responds a little more today than yesterday. I do believe he's more responsive with you and Kai around," Yukie thought.

"I'm going to see him," Tala said.

"His parents are here, you should know," Yukie spoke before Tala could walk off. "Maybe you should wait for a little while until they're gone."

"No…I'll be fine, thank you for worrying, Yukie-san. You've been supportive from the start. I don't think I can thank you enough for everything."

"There's no need to, Tala. You remind me of my little Horio when he was your age," Yukie smiled, thinking about her son who had died when he was only twenty-three at the hands of a local gang when he tried to save his little brother. Her younger son, Ran, had witnessed the brutal beating of his older brother and it had took almost ten years before his mind was ever right from it.

"How is Ran doing today?" Tala questioned. He had met her now twenty-seven year old son a few times visiting his mother at work. There were a few telltale signs of his former illness he was trying hard to overcome for his older brother's sake, but otherwise the young man seemed practically normal now.

"He's out running errands for me today, he'll be here later," Yukie smiled. "Go on and visit Kenny now, I'm sure he will love seeing your smile. I'll sign you in, so don't worry."

"Thank you Yukie-san." Tala walked down the hall to the elevator, pushing the button. The elevator doors opened as he stepped inside, pressing the button for the fourth floor where Kenny's hospital room was. Leaning his back against the elevator wall, he thought about the confrontation he was about to have with Kenny's parents.

It was obvious with exception to Jori, everyone from the Shinoda family hated him. The night Kenny was brought to the police station by the two remaining members of that gang who were arrested and brought up on criminal charges, Kenny's mother had blamed him, Kai, and any one involved with the two for what happened to Kenny. Now she carried a personal grudge against Tala, doing all she could to get him arrested and charged for her son's mental instability. Of course since Kai had the police backing him, testimony Tala knew nothing about what was going on, and confessions from the gang members now serving a life sentence behind bars, Tala walked away without so much as being detained. Something which only angered Kenny's mother more.

Tala's mind wandered away from things for a second, thinking about the days following Kenny being returned to his parents. Hikage and his gang were put behind bars for their part, Kai and Tala were lightly questioned over what happened when dealing with Bryan along with Detective Takahito, Tyson and the others were sat down and given most of the full details about what occurred…that was really the hardest part for the two. Up to that point everyone figured Kenny was going to be all right, then…

Tala closed his eyes, running a hand through his hair which was in a loose ponytail today. They were all still suffering from it. Even him and Kai. After that night, Kai was more than withdrawn when it was just him and Tala. Instead of Kai being the pillar to support and bring Tala around, the roles versed. It more than likely had to do with the shooting. Kai was better now, but at times Tala wondered just how much better.

The sound of the elevator reaching the fourth floor brought his thoughts back to the present. Opening his eyes, Tala watched the elevator doors open. Stepping out of the elevator, he walked down the hall towards the hospital room he came to visit every day for the past two months. Just as he was about to reach the room, the door opened, Kenny's parents exiting the room. Tala stopped at the same time as Kenny's parents who spotted him. As expected, the woman's eyes flared with hatred and disgust at the sight of him. Deciding to brave the storm instead of face away from it, he forced himself to approach.

"What are you doing here?" Kenny's mother said angrily.

"Good afternoon to you too, Mrs. Shinoda," Tala said quietly as the woman slapped him across the face.

"You're not welcomed here! You're the reason my son is like this! I wish you were dead, you monster!" she screamed at him, her eyes misting with angry tears. "You're disgusting, just leave my son alone, haven't you done enough already?"

"Just leave him alone, he's safe now, you can move on with your life," Kenny's father said, holding on to his wife. "You're going to make him worst if he has to keep being reminded every day what he went through. We're slowly getting him back, just turn around and leave."

"Just leave him alone?" Tala laughed, rubbing the spot the woman struck. "Do you really think it's that easy for me to leave him alone? You might be his parents, but you know nothing about him. You have no clue what he needs right now."

"And you do?" Kenny's mother hissed. "You turned my son into a homosexual for your own fun. He use to be a sweet boy! Then you filled his head with this nonsensical garbage. You're just coming because you're guilty about what you've done. I hope you burn in hell!"

"If it wasn't for you, he would be fine, we heard the boys that kidnapped him were in ties with a boy you knew. If it wasn't for you in his life, that boy would have never done what he did," Kenny's father replied.

"You can blame me for this all you want. Yeah, it's my fault that Bryan targeted Kenny because he was involved with me. Sure, had I not fallen in love with your son, he would be fine. He would be studying to be your puppet for the rest of his life lady," Tala said. "He would have lived his entire life doing what you told him and not have experienced life."

"You can't talk to me like this," Kenny's mother said indignantly. "You knew nothing about my son! You're just out for a good time."

"Correction, you know nothing whatsoever about your son," Tala corrected. "He's nothing like you think. He's not as timid and shy as you think. He gave me the courage to step out of my shadows and live in the present. He's the most wonderful person I've ever had the pleasure to know. He had another school in mind instead of Tokyo University, did you know that. He hasn't figured out what he wants to do in life other than keep you happy. All this time he's lived for you, and not himself."

"You made his turn against my wishes. He use to get such great grades. Then he met you and those others and he failed--"

"What? The impossible expectations you set for him. He's damn smart I know that, and you know that too, but he wants more out of life than to sit behind books. He enjoys having dinner under the light of the moon, he likes to take walks. He likes to laugh and talk about whatever is on his mind…even if it's a little odd," Tala smiled briefly. "He likes helping others and making sure nobody is left out. Your son the person I would go through hell for just to see him smile at me again. You can not tell me that my love for him is a mistake and I've made him disobedient."

"You have," Kenny's mother argued. "He's going to grow up and marry so wonderful girl and get a great job and have many children. His future is not with you."

"You have no clue what's in his future, neither do I. You can not say something as ignorant as that. You might not approve of me. Hell, for all I care, hate my guts for the rest of your life. It's not going to matter because I will remain by his side through this and for the rest of his life. You won't be able to stop it from happening."

"You--"

"Give it up, you've lost this battle. Not even death will break us apart. In two more years he will be old enough to leave your house and come to live with me. You won't be able to do anything about it, so keep saying all those little vengeful notes I hear every time we're in the same breathing space, they'll soon be useless." Pushing past the two, Tala walked into the hospital room, closing the door behind him.

Tilting his head to the side, he listening to the commotion on the other side of the door. He knew they would not pursue the issue inside the room. They feared making Kenny worst than he was when he had come around so much in responding to people now. Exhaling, Tala turned his attention to the aforementioned brunette standing with his back to Tala looking out the window.

Tala did not approach the brunette who was still sensitive to people being too close to him. A nurse once made the mistake of getting too close to the boy trying to give him his medication, throwing Kenny into a fit at being touched. It took nearly two hours to pull him out from under the bed and settled once again.

"Kenny," Tala called from where he stood. Patiently waiting for a response, he watched the brunette turn to look at him with dull blue eyes. Every time he stared at his lover, he wanted to dig up Bryan's body from its unmarked grave and pummel it for the damage inflicted upon his angel.

"Tala…" Kenny replied quietly.

"How are you doing today?" Tala smiled, taking a few steps slowly in Kenny's direction. Kenny didn't say anything, a normal response when it came to the boy. "You're looking better today. Yukie-san said you were a little more responsive today."

Tala barely got a shrug from his lover as he walked closer. Sucking in a short breath, Tala made his way over to Kenny, slowly reaching out to touch the brunette. Kenny made a noise, back up away from Tala momentarily, his eyes highlighting with terror. The red head immediately took steps back, giving his lover a moment.

"I'm sorry, Tala," Kenny said in a meek tone, lowering his head to the ground.

"No, don't apologize, I didn't mean to startle you," Tala apologized. "It's okay, I won't approach you. We can just take it in steps."

"I want…I want you to approach me," Kenny admitted. "I want to be touched…it's just…every time…I see…I see things in my head. I know it's over…I know, but I just can't help but react."

"It's not going to be an easy thing to get over," Tala replied. "We can take it in steps." The brunette fell silent, going off into his own world for a long minute. When he resurfaced, he lifted his head, his eyes painfully somber as he stared at Tala. They remained like this for a long time, neither speaking up as the silence around them settled. Kenny stared at the window, not really seeing it, more so past it to what could be on the other side.

"You don't have to blame yourself for this," Tala replied. The brunette didn't respond to him, lost in his own world of shadows. "I'll always be here for you, Kenny. I know I let Bryan get the better of me, but this will never happen again. I'm never going to let you out of my sight for anything else. I want to be by your side for an eternity."

Getting no response from the brunette, Tala didn't give up. Reaching into his pocket, he retrieved the small gold box he had been meaning to give the brunette for a while now. Opening the lid, a small silver band laid inside, shining under the light of the room. Carefully picking it up, Tala looked over at the brunette.

"Kenny," Tala called.

"Huh…?" Kenny blinked a few times, coming back around to remember he was talking to Tala. Watching the red head approach him once more, Kenny led back the shadows clawing at his mind. Finding the red head kneel down on one knee and slipping the band on Kenny's left ring finger. "Tala?"

Tala looked up into the brunette's eyes. "I don't want to let you go or lose you again. I promise that I will remain by your side from now on. Before this…happened, I wanted to ask you would you allow me to spend the rest of my life with you. I know I could never live without you. Please say yes."

"Tala…" Unaware of the tears slipping down his face, Kenny gently squeezed the red head's hand, a piece of himself arising from the broken depths of his heart.

"We can start over and build things up from the base," Tala said, gently wrapping his arms around the brunette's waist, pulling Kenny to him to rest his head against his chest. He heard no noise of terror above him, closing his eyes. He could only hope as he looked up that there was no reappearance of Kenny's catatonia, that maybe a piece of his former self had returned. He would bring his lover back, he made that promise to himself as he held on to his angel. Nothing would ever break them apart again, he was going to be certain of that from this day on.

-ooooo-

Rim: And there we go, the last chapter of Pushing Me Away. It has definitely been quite the haul to reach this point. You can love the ending or hate it, but one thing is certain, and that's it's great for the sequel. PMA 2: Bryan's ghost comes back to haunt Kenny from the grave! Can Priestess Hilary and her group of monks save him, or will it take the boys from the show Supernatural to come in and kick some ghost butt! Now that I'm done with my joke, I think it's time I let this ending sink in and you all come up with an ending suitable for your mind, seeing as how a definite end is so much boring when the mind weaves such greater images when it's left open for interpretation. Thanks to everyone for reading, and I hope to find you again in another great tale.