~*{Chapter Five: Koki'o}*~

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Kyungsoo's heart seemed to stop as he gazed at the flower that bloomed a foot above before him. It was the flower that he had only seen in pictures and magazines. It was the Koki'o flower that he and his brothers dreamed of seeing. How Baekhyun talked the USFWS* into allowing Kyungsoo to see it- Kyungsoo did not know and he didn't dare ask. He let his eyes scan over the blood red flower and noticed the small creases in the petals that had bloomed in all different directions- simply to put it, it was beautiful. He reached up and let his finger tips softly trace the creases of each petal as he let out a soft sigh of amazement.

"Kyungsoo, turn around so I can take a picture." Baekhyun murmured softly as he stepped back and held his digital camera up. Kyungsoo turned around slowly with eyes still widened in shock as Baaekhyun held the camera towards him. "Please smile, love."

At the world 'love', Kyungsoo's cheeks flourished with the all too familiar pink tint as the corners of his mouth pulled up into a smile. 

A small click could be heard and Baekhyun smiled at Kyungsoo as he lowered the camera. "Perfect."

"Baekhyun, Kyungsoo. We don't have much time left. The officials want us gone quickly." Kris stated as he glanced at his watch.

"Alright. Are you ready to go?" Baekhyun asked, softly, as he held his hand it towards Kyungsoo. Kyungsoo, still in shock, took shakey steps towards Baekhyun and intertwined their fingers together- He never let go, even when they were already out of the confined forest area.

"H-How did you......?" Kyungsoo breathed as they sat into the back of a taxi cab. Baekhyun reached over and buckled Kyungsoo's seatbelt before buckling his own as Kris climbed into the front seat next to the cab driver. The taller one reached down and intertwined their fingers once more as his free hand brushed lose strands away from Kyungsoo's eyes.

"That is for me to know and for you to not worry about. Are you atleast happy?" Baekhyun asked softly as he smiled down at Kyungsoo gently.

Kyungsoo shook his head and Baekhyun began to panic when he saw the small tears slip from the shorter one's eyes. "I - I am more than just happy. The word happy is an understatement. I d-do not know what words I can use to express how I feel...."

Baekhyun's panic melted away as he smiled and placed his free hand over Kyungsoo's chest lightly. He couldn't stop the pure happiness from spreading through him as he felt the soft fluttering of the shorter one's heart. "You do not have to use words. Your heart says it all."

A smile graced Kyungsoo's lips as he placed his own hand over the hand that rested on his chest. He squeezed Baekhyun's had lightly and allowed his eyes to flutter close. "You are-"

Kyungsoo's sentence stopped as the reality of his fatal condition came knocking. His breathing became shallow as a gasp left his lips. He could feel Baekhyun's hands grip at his shoulders as he lurched forward in pain. He gripped helplessly at his jeans as his eyes flew shut and he could hear the taller one's voice, but he could not make out anything. The hammering inside his chest seemed to make it to his ears as it blocked out every other noise and he could feel himself grow dizzy.

"Stop the car!" Kris ordered and the cab driver did exactly that. As the car pulled over, Kris hopped out the passenger seat and flung the door on Kyungsoo's side open. He yanked the writhing Kyungsoo from Baekhyun's hands and leaned the shorter one against the back seat. " Please hand me my black bag that is on the floor!" 

The cab driver chucked Kris' bag at the taller one and Kris rummaged around before pulling out a stethoscope- diving it under Kyungsoo's shirt. Baekhyun stared with wide eyes as he felt tiny, slender fingers wrap around his wrist.

"B-Baek....." Kyungsoo gasped and Baekhyun saw the small tears escape his eyes as they exchanged gazes, but the pain was becoming too much. Kyungsoo could hear Baekhyun mumbled something in response, but the hammering in his chest seemed to make its way to his ears as it blocked out every other sound.

Baekhyun intertwined their fingers as his free hand brushed away Kyungsoo's escaped tears. He watched as Kris pulled out a small packaged alcohol cloth and began coating Kyungsoo's left inner elbow with the strong liquid from the cloth. Baekhyun's eyes widened at the sight of a syringe full of a clear liquid.

"What is that?" Baekhyun asked and Kris extended Kyungsoo's arm out before positioning the needle at the place he coated. 

"Morphine," Kris stated, noticing the spine-shuddering fear in Baekhyun's eye. "Distract him."

Baekhyun racked his brain as he saw the fear seep into Kyungsoo's eyes at the sight of a needle and without much thinking, he leaned down and captured the shorter one's lips- just as Kris injected the morphine. Baekhyun could taste the saltiness from the tears as Kyungsoo whimpered against his lips. Within seconds he felt the shorter one relax and he pulled back to see that all traces of pain had vanished.

"He will feel dizzy or drowsy, so watch over him untill we arrive at the hotel. If he vomits or complains of wanting to vomit, let me know." Kris stated as he pulled back and returned everything to his worn out, black bag. Baekhyun nodded before pulling Kyungsoo into his arms as Kris resumed his position in the passenger's seat.

Baekhyun noticed that sweat had plastered the hair to the shorter one's face and used one hand to gently brush the damp strands from his face. 

"Are you alright now?" Baekhyun asked softly and Kyungsoo glanced up a him through his eyelashes. Baekhyun received a soft smile and a weak nod from Kyungsoo in response.  "Alright. Get some rest now. It will still be quite some time before we reach the hotel. "

Kyungsoo didn't reply as his fingers locked with Baekhyun's and he snuggled into the shorter one- leaning his head onto Baekhyun's shoulder. He felt Baekhyun's lips press lightly onto his temple and he heard a sigh of relief slip from the taller one's lips just as he let his eyes flutter close.

Kyungsoo awoke with a groggy feeling as he let his eyes wander around the moonlit hotel room. He was unsure of how many hours he had slept, but he knew that it was probably around midnight. He rolled over and stretched out his hand- only to feel nothing but emptiness next to him. 

"Baehyun?Baekhyun!" he called out frantically and just seconds later the taller one emerged from the bathroom. 

"Kyungsoo?? What's wrong?" Baekhyun asked with fear laced into his words. Kyungsoo could feel the bed dip besides him as Baekhyun took a seat and he slowly pushed himself up with the help of the taller one. 

"N-Nothing...I just panicked when I felt that you were not next to me... I'm sorry.." Kyungsoo mumbled and he let his eyes drop in embarrassment as the familiar burn in his cheeks flared. 

Baekhyun gave a small laugh as he laid down and pulled the shorter one with him, embracing him into a soft hug as he let one hand run through Kyungsoo's hair gently. A small squeak had left Kyungsoo's lips when he was pulled down and Baekhyun couldn't help but smile at the cuteness. 

" Do not apologize. I will come running whenever you call." Baekhyun murmured softly and Kyungsoo was sure that his face was probably rose red. "Did you have fun today?"

Kyungsoo pulled back and shook his head as the tears brimmed in his eyes. Worry flickered in Baekhyun's eyes when he saw the tears forming. "Fun...is an understatement. That word is not enough to describe the feelings I had today....."

Baekhyun smiled as he gently peppered Kyungsoo's face with soft kisses. "Would you like to see how the picture came out?"

Kyungsoo hesitated, he didn't want Baekhyun to leave his side even for a second, but he wanted to see the picture as well. "Yes. I'd like that."

Baekhyun gave Kyungsoo a soft peck before sliding off the bed and shuffling through the darkness that was untouched by the moonlight that barely seeped through the hotel curtains. Moments later , he came back with the digital camera in his hands and returned to his position by Kyungsoo's side. Kyungsoo silently watched as the light from the camera's screen fickered on and illuminated Baekhyun's features. Kyungsoo could clearly see the taller one's face and his heart fluttered at the sight. Baekhyun scrolled through some photo's before landing on the one he had taken earlier.

"Here you go." Baekhyun said as he handed Kyungsoo the camera. Kyungsoo squinted slightly as the light brightly shown from the camera screen, but once he saw the picture his eyes widened in shock. The red petals from the Koki'o flower seemed to glow brightly in the picture and he couldn't help but feel like it had all been a dream.

He couldn't believe it all. He had seen the flower he had always dreamed of seeing. He had seen the flower that his brothers didn't live to see. He had not only seen the flower, but felt it too. He had seen the flower with Baekhyun. Byun Baekhyun.

As his thoughts rolled around in his head he glanced at the taller boy, only to end up locking gazes with him. Baekhyun instinctively smiled and Kyungsoo suddenly dropped the camera onto the bed and threw his arms around Baekhyun. 

Baekhyun froze, shocked at the sudden embrace, but returned the hug by wrapping his arms tightly around Kyungsoo's tiny waist. 

"Thank you." Kyungsoo breathed and Baekhyun pulled the shorter one even closer as he kissed Kyungsoo's head.

"No.Thank you." Baekhyun replied and Kyungsoo knew that those two words were simple, but conveyed so much. He was being thanked for everything. For the hugs, the smiles, the kisses, and for the times to be spent together- even if they were to be short. The meaning and feelings that Baekhyun wanted to express are those of which that are understood not with words- but with the heart. 

"We should rest now. We will be leaving in the evening tomorrow, so you will need your energy." Baekhyun stated softly as he reached behind Kyungsoo and picked up the camera. He hit the OFF button and sat the camera on the bedside table before settling back next to Kyungsoo. He threw the blanket over them and wrapped his arms around Kyungsoo as the shorter one lightly gripped at his shirt.

"We will be leaving to where?" 

"Mexico." 

Kyungsoo stared up at Baekhyun and the taller one could see the shorter one's hopeful stare due to the glowing moonlight. 

"To see the Chocolate Cosmos?"

"Yes." Baekhyun answered before pressing their lips softly together. "Rest now. We have alot to, my love."

Kyungsoo gave a soft nod as he snuggled into Baekhyun's chest. He wrapped one arm around Baekhyun as he scooted even closer and let his eyes flutter close.

"Good night, Baekhyun." Kyungsoo whispered and he felt Baekhyun's lips press into his temple lightly.

"Good night, Kyungsoo." 

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*Footnote: USFWS are the people/organization that deal with the endangered flowers...I think....