Jade more or less encouraged him to sleep in and he does just that. It's past ten when he slowly blinks his eyes open. The pain in his legs is intense and everything from his waist down feels swollen. He parts his thighs, rolls onto his back -- but that is painful as well. His own words echo in his mind.

For nearly an hour, he lies there and stares at the ceiling. The flashbacks squeeze the air out of his lungs. He doesn't notice that Jade isn't there the entire time. Only when he's calmed down enough to sit up and look around, and listen, does it become obvious. He gets up, legs wobbly as he makes his way over to read the note.

He's alone.

His breath hitches and he wipes at his face. He could get out of this. Pretend it never happened. Run away and ... and then? Have even more nightmares, be even more unable to look Aki in the eye. The note crumples up in his fist as he stands there, eyes closed, frozen to the ground.

A few moments later he drops the piece of paper and leaves the bedroom. He makes late breakfast for himself, fulfills every duty with great care and doesn't even try the locks. Stay busy, concentrate on the task at hand, whatever it is; don't think.