Chapter 39 - 39 - Me, Too.

Fang didn't know what he felt, but he knew it was a good thing because he was warm and floating and comfortable and safe.

"Fang...?" Ren asked quietly.

Fang shook off his hazy thoughts and found Ren looking at him fearfully. He was still kneeling on the floor.

"Come on, get up, kneeling on the floor isn't good for you; your leg just recovered!" Fang scolded, and helped Ren stand up.

"I'll heal it with magic if it breaks again," Ren said carelessly, his eyes fixed on Fang's face.

"Don't say such horrid things," Fang snapped. "My heart hurts when you're injured."

Ren's face creased into a beatific smile at his words. "Yes, dear," he murmured and kissed Fang's brow.

"Ok, first things first...don't tell people about your magic," Fang told him. "Not even Pax. Even if he realised that you're not the original Ren-the-villain, he shouldn't be able to know you're a magician. There's no known magic in this world, ok?"

Ren nodded, smiling. "My magic is a secret from everyone but you," he said.

Fang hummed. "Second, don't tell anyone about your transmigration. Pax is trustworthy and so are Wolf, Steward Paul and Dr. Gordon, so it's ok if they find out. But you mustn't let anyone else know. I guess Pax would have told Wolf by now, yes?"

Ren nodded again. "He asked me if he could and I agreed. The twins have not only saved the original Ren-the-villain many times - but also me, in the months that I've been here. I don't see any reason to doubt them."

"Yes, I think you're right," Fang replied thoughtfully. "Not just you - they've helped me consistently, too."

Ren nodded yet again.

Fang hesitated. "So...you're already a full-fledged doctor..."

"Neurosurgeon," Ren said proudly. "And, at the risk of sounding like a pompous ass - one of the best in the world."

Fang laughed. "If you're saying it, it must be a fact," he said. He hesitated. "About our plan to go to medical school...won't you be bored out of your mind...?"

"Not really," Ren replied. "I enjoy studying...and it's the only way I'll be able to practice medicine in this world, isn't it?"

"Can we... finish our studies earlier...? I'll work hard," Fang muttered.

Ren smiled. "We can try. What specialisation do you want to take up?"

Fang touched his nose shyly. "I'm not sure. What should I take up so that I can work with you?"

Ren hugged him. "Oh, you darling boy," he murmured. "You make me love you more each passing day!"

Fang flushed. "Me, too," he said softly.

Ren froze. "Really?"

Fang nodded. "You said earlier that you can't live without me anymore...for me...Ren...that has been true for a long time now. I... sometimes I frighten myself with how much I love you, how much I depend on you, how much I obsess over every little thing you do or say...I'm afraid that if you knew everything, you'd want to run away from me..."

Ren pulled him closer. "I had to come to another world to find you... you think I'd let you go so easily?"

"Perhaps you came to this world for my sake, Ren...maybe the heavens decided that I'd suffered enough and sent you to me as a prize..." Fang said dreamily.

"Well, I'm not complain," Ren retorted. "I clearly got the better deal!"

Fang rested his head on Ren's shoulder. "Ren...if I have request... would you... would you be angry with me?"

"Why would I be angry?" Ren asked. "I'd give you the world on a platter if you want it."

Fang burrowed his head further in. "I don't want the world," he said. "I want...you."

Ren stiffened. Then he sighed. "Fang...you're still very young..."

"I'm legally an adult in Ray Country!" Fang cried softly. His eyes brimmed. "Or...is it that I'm too dirty for you? You don't want to touch damaged goods...? I've scrubbed and scrubbed and scrubbed....but..."

"No!" Ren shouted. "It's not that!"

"Then what is it?" Fang asked.

Ren flushed. "I...I've never done it before. I'm afraid I might hurt you."

Fang stared at him in disbelief. "Is that your only concern?" he pushed.

"I...I don't know what role you prefer," Ren mumbled in a small voice.

"Then why don't you just let me take charge?!" Fang blurted out without thinking. Then he paled. "No, sorry, forget that. Ignore those words. You'll be in charge, of course. I'll do whatever you say, and you can do whatever you want...if it's you...I'm happy with anything."

Ren found that Fang was trembling violently.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Fang muttered. "I didn't mean that...I'm sorry..."

Ren made a decision.

"Fang..." Ren called softly. "Actually, I'll be happy if you can take charge. I really don't know what to do." He had a helpless expression on his face.

Fang couldn't believe what he was hearing. Perhaps he had gone mad and was caught up in a hallucination. He stepped back and slapped himself hard.

"Fang!" Ren cried and grabbed his hands before he could slap himself again. "What the hell are you doing?"

"I was hallucinating..." Fang murmured. "I thought you said that you'd let me take charge..."

"You aren't," Ren said firmly. "Fang, look at me."

Fang obeyed.

"I want you to take charge," Ren said, his cheeks turning red with embarrassment.

"Say thay again," Fang breathed. There was such a rare joy and sparkle in his eyes that it made Ren's heart soar up in the skies with the birds! Well, aside from the embarrassment, that is.

Ren was as red as a tomato by now, but he repeated his words.

Fang threw himself at Ren and kissed him fiercely.

"You're not allowed to withdraw now," Fang warned.

Ren nodded shyly.

Fang hesitated. "I...I wish you'd join me in the tub," he whispered. "I've been thinking about it since I saw it..."

"Me, too," Ren replied.