There's dead silence between them for a moment, and Ryoji finds that suddenly everything hurts and there's water forming in the corner of his eyes. He doesn't understand. This isn't supposed to go this way. Kai is his. He has to be.

Almost without thinking, he turns back into the small dragon, the clothes he was wearing dropping to the floor as he darts out the window. As soon as he's clear of it, he transforms into his larger form, flying away as fast as he can.