[Contest Entry] Smokey Paths - Chapter 5
[Contest Entry]
Title: Smokey Paths - Chapter 4
Author: brezo1816
Rating: T / PG13 / something like that...
Genre: AU, Drama/Romance
Pairing: Akame, some RyoUchi
Summary: Five-year-old Kamenashi Kazuya was caught in a house fire when he was alone at home. Six-year-old Akanishi Jin managed to climb through a window and get the younger boy to safety...
Seventeen years later the pair meet again...but this time it might be Jin that needs saving...
Previous chapters: 1 2 3 4
a/n - sorry for the delay in updating, please comment! <3
“No…” Yamapi said firmly. Ryo frowned.
“Just one!” he tried to reason.
“One from you always leads to another and I, unlike you, do not want to be out cold on the floor whenI have to work tomorrow because I did not go on a date with my editor so that I can use her like a doormat, ” Yamapi replied coolly with a mock hint of venom. Ryo reluctantly put down the shot glass and prepared to sulk for the next five minutes, despite Uchi’s efforts. Kazuya laughed at his shorter friend.
“Ryo, stop pouting.”
“I am not pouting; Osaka men do not pout…” Ryo replied stubbornly. That was when both Kazuya and Yamapi sighed. Ryo always mentioned his Osaka roots when he was in a serious sulk. Kazuya gave Uchi a sympathetic pat on the shoulder, especially since Uchi was now wearing a look that suggested he had just three minutes to cure cancer, ensure world peace and end world starvation. In reality, he had three minutes to lighten Ryo’s mood and stop him from skulking off home by himself.
“Ryo-chan, don’t be sad…” Uchi said in a tuneful voice but Ryo continued to sulk. The younger man sat back, hurt evident on his face. Kazuya hid his smirk as Uchi’s bottom lip began to quiver. Ryo was blatantly trying to ignore this fact but when tears began to build in his boyfriend’s eyes Ryo’s stubborn stance crumbled.
“Hirooooo, I’m sorry! Please don’t cry!” Ryo had his arms around his boyfriend in seconds. As soon as his head was resting underneath Ryo’s chin, Uchi gave a quick wink to Kazuya, who laughed happily. Yamapi just smirked and said nothing.
They all heard the door open and looked towards the entrance. Kazuya’s face visibly brightened when he saw Jin and the older man also looked particularly happy to see Kazuya.
“Awww…” Uchi couldn’t help but comment.
“Oh, you’ve stopped crying now?” Ryo asked his boyfriend sarcastically.
Jin came towards the bar, obviously unsure of whether he should sit with them. Yamapi and Ryo cleared their throats in unison and gestured to the empty seat next to Kazuya. Both Jin and Kazuya blushed as he sat down.
“So…”
“Hiro,” Ryo interrupted his boyfriend before he could start. Uchi pouted at Ryo, causing the other three to laugh.
“Did your appointments go okay today?” Jin asked Kazuya quietly. The younger man smiled at Jin’s curiosity.
“Yes, I may have another client tomorrow if he likes the photos I’ve sent to him, she’s Ryo’s editor and needs a photographer for some shoots for a project up in Osaka.” Jin nodded with a hint of a smile that made Kazuya’s heart flutter. Yamapi couldn’t help but smirk again. Jin turned back to Kazuya.
“Does that mean that…you’ll be away for a while?” Kazuya looked at Jin and was surprised to see the hint of genuine concern in his eyes.
“Only for two weeks, then I’ll be back and it’s still a month away…and that’s assuming I get the job…”
“You will,” Jin told him confidently and Kazuya smiled warmly at the older man.
Jin shifted slightly and pulled his mobile phone from his pocket. He opened what Kazuya assumed was a text message. After a couple of seconds his face darkened slightly.
“What’s wrong?” Kazuya asked him. Jin forced a small smile and shook his head.
“It’s nothing, don’t worry…” he tried to reassure the younger man but Kazuya didn’t look convinced. A few minutes later the phone vibrated again. Jin looked at the new message and greeted it with the same expression. This time Kazuya wouldn’t let it go.
“Jin, what’s going on? Is it them again?”
Jin didn’t have the chance to answer him. A loud smash was heard as a rock came flying through the window. It hurtled towards their table. They all tried to shield themselves but a thud was heard followed by a cry of pain.
Kazuya looked up and saw Uchi, his face as white as a sheet, clutching his hand as blood ran down his wrist. Ryo immediately began tending to his boyfriend. Yamapi was already out of his seat, looking out of the window to try and get a glimpse at whoever threw the rock.
“They’re gone,” he told them with a voice full of frustration. He looked around the floor and found the rock. When he picked it up Kazuya saw it was large and had very sharp edges. There were also a few specks of blood on it.
“Uchi?” Kazuya immediately crouched by his friend’s side. Uchi said nothing and Kazuya could see his friend was only just stopping himself from crying with pain. Ryo looked concerned.
“Hiro, I need you to move your hand just for a second,” the shorter man told his boyfriend. Uchi immediately shook his head but when he looked into Ryo’s eyes his grip on his hand slowly weakened. He slowly moved his hand away and Kazuya had to bite his tongue so he wouldn’t gasp.
The wound was quite deep. When Uchi had removed his hand the blood had started flowing freely down his wrist. There were a least two small shards of glass inside his hand as well.
“Can you move it?” Ryo asked softly. Uchi’s expression showed that he was obviously trying but the hand didn’t move and Uchi began to get distressed.
“I can’t…Ryo…I can’t move it! Oh my God……the blood…there’s so much blood……the blood…Ryo please……please make the bleeding stop!” he gasped in panic, tears beginning to fill his eyes.
“Sssshhh…it’s okay, you’ll be okay,” Ryo gently told him. Kazuya was worried by Uchi’s reaction and Yamapi came to sit by his side.
“Uchi is terrified of bleeding,” he explained with a whisper. Kazuya looked at Yamapi curiously.
“Ryo didn’t tell me why……hey……where’s Akanishi?” Kazuya’s eyes widened when he realised the older man was gone. He looked around the bar. By now Kenta had come out to see Uchi and check everyone else was alright. Kazuya looked everywhere but he couldn’t see Jin. His head drooped slightly in confusion and worry and he noticed something still on the table among the pieces of glass from the window.
Frowning slightly, Kazuya picked up the phone. He knew he shouldn’t but his worry and curiosity got the better of him. He looked through Jin’s phone and found his messages. When he read the most recent text he felt the colour drain from his face. His hands shook slightly and his throat felt dry.
No longer aware of the people around him, he got up and almost sprinted out of the bar, leaving Yamapi watching him go with confusion…
…
He could feel them watching him as he walked down the street. It was late, it was dark and there was no one around. He knew better than to go out there alone but he didn’t really have a choice. He knew he had to speak to Tatsuo.
Once he had reached a certain point, Jin turned around to face the old man that had been following him for a short time.
“I won’t take them again…” he said firmly.
“Yes you will,” the old man replied, slightly agitated.
“No…I won’t, I’m not going through that again, I’m clean now and I’m staying that way,” Jin made sure he spoke with a voice that left no room for argument.
If the fury wasn’t obvious in Tatsuo’s face before then it was now.
“I’ve paid my debt to you,” Jin continued, “I don’t owe you anything anymore.”
“You’re willing to risk that boy’s safety over this?” Jin had hoped Tatsuo wouldn’t mention Kazuya and when he did the younger man’s stance visibly weakened.
“Leave Kazu out of this, it has nothing to do with him.”
“I’ll be the judge of that-” Tatsuo began but within seconds Jin was holding him by the collar of his shirt. The old man just smirked as his thugs appeared from the shadows and surrounded Jin.
“I could hurt the boy…very badly…perhaps even kill him……is that what you want?” Tatsuo smirked again when he saw what he wanted in Jin’s eyes.
Fear
“Leave Kazu alone…” Jin hissed as he reluctantly let go of the other man’s collar. Tatsuo gave him an amused glare and reached into the inner pocket of his jacket. Jin subconsciously took a step back when he saw the syringe appear.
“You know what you have to do then…” Tatsuo walked towards Jin, the syringe poised in his hand.
“I…I c-can’t……” he whispered.
“Then this ‘Kazu’ boy will suffer if you don’t…” Tatsuo replied coldly. Images of Kazuya beaten and bleeding flashed through Jin’s mind as the syringe approached his arm.
He shut his eyes tightly and sweat was dripping down his face until…
“Stop it!” he heard a familiar voice cry. Jin’s eyes snapped open and he turned around to see Kazuya watching in horror, his face pale…
“What a coincidence…” Tatsuo smirked. Jin looked at him sharply and Kazuya looked confused.
Taking advantage of their distraction, Jin suddenly dashed between two of Tatsuo’s men and ran to Kazuya.
“Run!” He hissed, “Get away from here!” The men were slowly approaching them. Kazuya was about to move but then he noticed Jin was still completely still.
“Why aren’t you moving?” he asked quietly and fearfully. Jin gave him a sad look.
“You go…I can’t keep running from them forever,” it broke Kazuya’s heart to hear the defeat in Jin’s voice. He thought for a moment and reached a decision.
Jin’s eyes widened in surprise when he felt Kazuya’s hand wrapped around his.
“Kame…you can’t-”
“I’m not leaving you…” Kazuya insisted stubbornly. A cold and arrogant laugh behind them made them turn around.
Tatsuo and his men had surrounded them.
“How sweet,” the old man sneered, “But this won’t change anything…”
They all suddenly advanced on the pair. The blows came before either of them could realise what was happening and the last thing Jin could remember was losing Kazuya’s hand and everything turning black…
…
“Hiro, you have to go, you can’t leave it like this,” Ryo insisted, ignoring his boyfriend’s hatred of hospitals.
“But Ryo, it’s okay now, I can’t feel it anymore,” Uchi protested innocently.
“That’s not a good thing!”
Kenta had swept up the glass and pulled the curtains in front of the broken window. It looked almost normal at the bar.
“He’s still not back…” Yamapi muttered to himself. Ryo didn’t look at his friend but shared his concerns. Even Uchi looked worried, despite his own injury. He looked around and caught sight of something on the floor.
“Hey…isn’t that Akanishi-san’s phone?” He nodded towards the phone on the floor a few feet from them. Yamapi bent down to pick it up. He scrolled through the text messages with no guilt…until he found the most recent. He face fell and even the great Yamapi turned visibly pale.
“Pi? What is it?” Ryo asked. Yamapi passed the phone to him without a word. Ryo looked at the text on the screen.
- You love him, he loves you - here’s what I am gonna do - with a BANG BANG BANG three bullets through his head - sorry JinJin, Kazu’s dead… -
Ryo’s fists tightened. He didn’t notice Uchi snatching the phone from him and gasping in shock.
“We have to go…” Yamapi said quietly. Ryo nodded but looked at Uchi, obviously reluctant to leave him. Uchi offered his boyfriend a small smile.
“Go, I’ll be okay,” the younger boy said softly.
“But you need to go to hospital…”
“I’ll take him,” Kenta suddenly spoke up, “You guys need to help Kame.” Uchi gave Kenta a grateful smile but Ryo still looked reluctant. Uchi slowly stood up, cradling his hand gently on his other arm.
“Ryo…please go, what if Kame-chan is hurt?” Uchi pleaded with Ryo and eventually gave a quick nod. He gave Uchi a lingering kiss before racing after Yamapi who was already halfway out of the door.
Uchi and Kenta watched them go…both with worried expressions.
“I hope they’ll be alright…” Uchi whispered.
…
When the blackness lifted a little Kazuya was immediately greeted with pain…burning pain…all over his body and, just for a moment, his childhood fear returned to him. But when he managed to look around a little he remembered what happened.
Panic immediately gripped him and he tried to lift himself but only managed an inch before collapsing in agony.
“…Jin?” he croaked, desperate to hear the older man’s voice and know that he was alright. Despite the pain he managed to turn himself onto his side, though he didn’t expect to be there for long as he could feel the bruising and broken ribs.
He looked around and saw that the thugs had thrown them down a small flight of stone stairs. Kazuya’s eyes widened in horror when he noticed there was blood on some of the steps…
“Jin?!” He managed to croak a little louder. His fear intensified when there was no reply.
Somehow the pain now seemed irrelevant and Kazuya pulled himself over so he was facing the other way. What he saw made his heart break…
Jin was lying there, unconscious and beaten to a pulp, in a puddle of blood…
“…Jin?” Kazuya whimpered desperately, his voice shaking.
Eventually the pain became too much and Kazuya had to collapse onto his back again but the movement made his vision blur and his head spin. He could feel himself passing out again but before it happened he heard footsteps and voices…
“We’re never gonna find them at this rate, we should have gone the other way…”
“No, I’m sure I heard Kame say Akanishi’s apartment was in this direction…”
Kazuya almost wept with relief.
“…Ryo…Pi…” he called out as loud as he could. Half of the footsteps suddenly stopped.
“What’s wrong?” he heard Yamapi ask.
Oh please God let them find me… Kazuya pleaded in his mind as he waited for Ryo to reply.
“I’m sure I heard something…down there…”
The footsteps coming towards him were the last thing Kazuya heard before his vision went black again…
…
“…oh my God…” Ryo breathed, his voice shaking. He had reached the top of the stairs before Yamapi and was now staring down at the most horrible sight of his life.
His best friend was lying unconscious with a bleeding head wound looking like he’d just been in a car crash. Behind and slightly to the left of him was Akanishi, unconscious in a puddle of blood.
Ryo blinked when he suddenly noticed that Yamapi had rushed past him and was checking Akanishi for a pulse.
“Anything?” Ryo asked quietly. Yamapi nodded.
“It’s weak but it’s there, we need to get them to hospital…” Ryo nodded and immediately pulled out his mobile phone to call an ambulance. Yamapi remained kneeling between Kazuya and Akanishi until his injured friend let out a small moan.
“Kame?” Yamapi was crouched over him in an instant, “Can you hear me?” Yamapi released a brief sigh of relief when Kazuya slowly opened his eyes. The injured man immediately looked alarmed.
“…Pi? ...where’s Jin? Is he alright?” he asked in a slow and raspy voice. Kazuya must have seen Yamapi’s brief worried look because he immediately tried to get up. Yamapi restrained him by putting two hands on his shoulders.
“Don’t strain yourself.”
“I’m alright Pi…its J-Jin who was hurt badly……please t-tell me…is he gonna be okay?” There was so much fear and desperation in Kazuya’s eyes and Yamapi couldn’t bring himself to tell his injured friend the truth.
“The paramedics are on their way and they’re gonna take him to hospital, I’m sure he’ll be alright…” Yamapi told him, trying to make it sound believable. Kame’s gaze softened a little with relief and Yamapi felt like a lying traitor.
He blinked and looked up when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Yamapi’s conscience calmed a little when he saw Ryo’s look. He had heard what Yamapi had said and understood his reasons.
Ryo looked up briefly and then turned back to Yamapi.
“The paramedics are here,” he said softly and Yamapi turned to see the men coming down with stretchers. Ryo gently pulled him away and he barely registered the blur of movement as the paramedics took both the injured men away. He watched as Kazuya’s gaze was fixed on Akanishi’s stretcher and Yamapi was flooded with guilt again.
“You couldn’t have told him the truth…he would have panicked…” Ryo tried to reassure him but Yamapi’s heart had sunk…
Further than it had ever sank before…
“If Aka- …if Jin doesn’t make it……I’ll never be able to look at Kame again…”
…
Title: Smokey Paths - Chapter 4
Author: brezo1816
Rating: T / PG13 / something like that...
Genre: AU, Drama/Romance
Pairing: Akame, some RyoUchi
Summary: Five-year-old Kamenashi Kazuya was caught in a house fire when he was alone at home. Six-year-old Akanishi Jin managed to climb through a window and get the younger boy to safety...
Seventeen years later the pair meet again...but this time it might be Jin that needs saving...
Previous chapters: 1 2 3 4
a/n - sorry for the delay in updating, please comment! <3
“No…” Yamapi said firmly. Ryo frowned.
“Just one!” he tried to reason.
“One from you always leads to another and I, unlike you, do not want to be out cold on the floor whenI have to work tomorrow because I did not go on a date with my editor so that I can use her like a doormat, ” Yamapi replied coolly with a mock hint of venom. Ryo reluctantly put down the shot glass and prepared to sulk for the next five minutes, despite Uchi’s efforts. Kazuya laughed at his shorter friend.
“Ryo, stop pouting.”
“I am not pouting; Osaka men do not pout…” Ryo replied stubbornly. That was when both Kazuya and Yamapi sighed. Ryo always mentioned his Osaka roots when he was in a serious sulk. Kazuya gave Uchi a sympathetic pat on the shoulder, especially since Uchi was now wearing a look that suggested he had just three minutes to cure cancer, ensure world peace and end world starvation. In reality, he had three minutes to lighten Ryo’s mood and stop him from skulking off home by himself.
“Ryo-chan, don’t be sad…” Uchi said in a tuneful voice but Ryo continued to sulk. The younger man sat back, hurt evident on his face. Kazuya hid his smirk as Uchi’s bottom lip began to quiver. Ryo was blatantly trying to ignore this fact but when tears began to build in his boyfriend’s eyes Ryo’s stubborn stance crumbled.
“Hirooooo, I’m sorry! Please don’t cry!” Ryo had his arms around his boyfriend in seconds. As soon as his head was resting underneath Ryo’s chin, Uchi gave a quick wink to Kazuya, who laughed happily. Yamapi just smirked and said nothing.
They all heard the door open and looked towards the entrance. Kazuya’s face visibly brightened when he saw Jin and the older man also looked particularly happy to see Kazuya.
“Awww…” Uchi couldn’t help but comment.
“Oh, you’ve stopped crying now?” Ryo asked his boyfriend sarcastically.
Jin came towards the bar, obviously unsure of whether he should sit with them. Yamapi and Ryo cleared their throats in unison and gestured to the empty seat next to Kazuya. Both Jin and Kazuya blushed as he sat down.
“So…”
“Hiro,” Ryo interrupted his boyfriend before he could start. Uchi pouted at Ryo, causing the other three to laugh.
“Did your appointments go okay today?” Jin asked Kazuya quietly. The younger man smiled at Jin’s curiosity.
“Yes, I may have another client tomorrow if he likes the photos I’ve sent to him, she’s Ryo’s editor and needs a photographer for some shoots for a project up in Osaka.” Jin nodded with a hint of a smile that made Kazuya’s heart flutter. Yamapi couldn’t help but smirk again. Jin turned back to Kazuya.
“Does that mean that…you’ll be away for a while?” Kazuya looked at Jin and was surprised to see the hint of genuine concern in his eyes.
“Only for two weeks, then I’ll be back and it’s still a month away…and that’s assuming I get the job…”
“You will,” Jin told him confidently and Kazuya smiled warmly at the older man.
Jin shifted slightly and pulled his mobile phone from his pocket. He opened what Kazuya assumed was a text message. After a couple of seconds his face darkened slightly.
“What’s wrong?” Kazuya asked him. Jin forced a small smile and shook his head.
“It’s nothing, don’t worry…” he tried to reassure the younger man but Kazuya didn’t look convinced. A few minutes later the phone vibrated again. Jin looked at the new message and greeted it with the same expression. This time Kazuya wouldn’t let it go.
“Jin, what’s going on? Is it them again?”
Jin didn’t have the chance to answer him. A loud smash was heard as a rock came flying through the window. It hurtled towards their table. They all tried to shield themselves but a thud was heard followed by a cry of pain.
Kazuya looked up and saw Uchi, his face as white as a sheet, clutching his hand as blood ran down his wrist. Ryo immediately began tending to his boyfriend. Yamapi was already out of his seat, looking out of the window to try and get a glimpse at whoever threw the rock.
“They’re gone,” he told them with a voice full of frustration. He looked around the floor and found the rock. When he picked it up Kazuya saw it was large and had very sharp edges. There were also a few specks of blood on it.
“Uchi?” Kazuya immediately crouched by his friend’s side. Uchi said nothing and Kazuya could see his friend was only just stopping himself from crying with pain. Ryo looked concerned.
“Hiro, I need you to move your hand just for a second,” the shorter man told his boyfriend. Uchi immediately shook his head but when he looked into Ryo’s eyes his grip on his hand slowly weakened. He slowly moved his hand away and Kazuya had to bite his tongue so he wouldn’t gasp.
The wound was quite deep. When Uchi had removed his hand the blood had started flowing freely down his wrist. There were a least two small shards of glass inside his hand as well.
“Can you move it?” Ryo asked softly. Uchi’s expression showed that he was obviously trying but the hand didn’t move and Uchi began to get distressed.
“I can’t…Ryo…I can’t move it! Oh my God……the blood…there’s so much blood……the blood…Ryo please……please make the bleeding stop!” he gasped in panic, tears beginning to fill his eyes.
“Sssshhh…it’s okay, you’ll be okay,” Ryo gently told him. Kazuya was worried by Uchi’s reaction and Yamapi came to sit by his side.
“Uchi is terrified of bleeding,” he explained with a whisper. Kazuya looked at Yamapi curiously.
“Ryo didn’t tell me why……hey……where’s Akanishi?” Kazuya’s eyes widened when he realised the older man was gone. He looked around the bar. By now Kenta had come out to see Uchi and check everyone else was alright. Kazuya looked everywhere but he couldn’t see Jin. His head drooped slightly in confusion and worry and he noticed something still on the table among the pieces of glass from the window.
Frowning slightly, Kazuya picked up the phone. He knew he shouldn’t but his worry and curiosity got the better of him. He looked through Jin’s phone and found his messages. When he read the most recent text he felt the colour drain from his face. His hands shook slightly and his throat felt dry.
No longer aware of the people around him, he got up and almost sprinted out of the bar, leaving Yamapi watching him go with confusion…
…
He could feel them watching him as he walked down the street. It was late, it was dark and there was no one around. He knew better than to go out there alone but he didn’t really have a choice. He knew he had to speak to Tatsuo.
Once he had reached a certain point, Jin turned around to face the old man that had been following him for a short time.
“I won’t take them again…” he said firmly.
“Yes you will,” the old man replied, slightly agitated.
“No…I won’t, I’m not going through that again, I’m clean now and I’m staying that way,” Jin made sure he spoke with a voice that left no room for argument.
If the fury wasn’t obvious in Tatsuo’s face before then it was now.
“I’ve paid my debt to you,” Jin continued, “I don’t owe you anything anymore.”
“You’re willing to risk that boy’s safety over this?” Jin had hoped Tatsuo wouldn’t mention Kazuya and when he did the younger man’s stance visibly weakened.
“Leave Kazu out of this, it has nothing to do with him.”
“I’ll be the judge of that-” Tatsuo began but within seconds Jin was holding him by the collar of his shirt. The old man just smirked as his thugs appeared from the shadows and surrounded Jin.
“I could hurt the boy…very badly…perhaps even kill him……is that what you want?” Tatsuo smirked again when he saw what he wanted in Jin’s eyes.
Fear
“Leave Kazu alone…” Jin hissed as he reluctantly let go of the other man’s collar. Tatsuo gave him an amused glare and reached into the inner pocket of his jacket. Jin subconsciously took a step back when he saw the syringe appear.
“You know what you have to do then…” Tatsuo walked towards Jin, the syringe poised in his hand.
“I…I c-can’t……” he whispered.
“Then this ‘Kazu’ boy will suffer if you don’t…” Tatsuo replied coldly. Images of Kazuya beaten and bleeding flashed through Jin’s mind as the syringe approached his arm.
He shut his eyes tightly and sweat was dripping down his face until…
“Stop it!” he heard a familiar voice cry. Jin’s eyes snapped open and he turned around to see Kazuya watching in horror, his face pale…
“What a coincidence…” Tatsuo smirked. Jin looked at him sharply and Kazuya looked confused.
Taking advantage of their distraction, Jin suddenly dashed between two of Tatsuo’s men and ran to Kazuya.
“Run!” He hissed, “Get away from here!” The men were slowly approaching them. Kazuya was about to move but then he noticed Jin was still completely still.
“Why aren’t you moving?” he asked quietly and fearfully. Jin gave him a sad look.
“You go…I can’t keep running from them forever,” it broke Kazuya’s heart to hear the defeat in Jin’s voice. He thought for a moment and reached a decision.
Jin’s eyes widened in surprise when he felt Kazuya’s hand wrapped around his.
“Kame…you can’t-”
“I’m not leaving you…” Kazuya insisted stubbornly. A cold and arrogant laugh behind them made them turn around.
Tatsuo and his men had surrounded them.
“How sweet,” the old man sneered, “But this won’t change anything…”
They all suddenly advanced on the pair. The blows came before either of them could realise what was happening and the last thing Jin could remember was losing Kazuya’s hand and everything turning black…
…
“Hiro, you have to go, you can’t leave it like this,” Ryo insisted, ignoring his boyfriend’s hatred of hospitals.
“But Ryo, it’s okay now, I can’t feel it anymore,” Uchi protested innocently.
“That’s not a good thing!”
Kenta had swept up the glass and pulled the curtains in front of the broken window. It looked almost normal at the bar.
“He’s still not back…” Yamapi muttered to himself. Ryo didn’t look at his friend but shared his concerns. Even Uchi looked worried, despite his own injury. He looked around and caught sight of something on the floor.
“Hey…isn’t that Akanishi-san’s phone?” He nodded towards the phone on the floor a few feet from them. Yamapi bent down to pick it up. He scrolled through the text messages with no guilt…until he found the most recent. He face fell and even the great Yamapi turned visibly pale.
“Pi? What is it?” Ryo asked. Yamapi passed the phone to him without a word. Ryo looked at the text on the screen.
- You love him, he loves you - here’s what I am gonna do - with a BANG BANG BANG three bullets through his head - sorry JinJin, Kazu’s dead… -
Ryo’s fists tightened. He didn’t notice Uchi snatching the phone from him and gasping in shock.
“We have to go…” Yamapi said quietly. Ryo nodded but looked at Uchi, obviously reluctant to leave him. Uchi offered his boyfriend a small smile.
“Go, I’ll be okay,” the younger boy said softly.
“But you need to go to hospital…”
“I’ll take him,” Kenta suddenly spoke up, “You guys need to help Kame.” Uchi gave Kenta a grateful smile but Ryo still looked reluctant. Uchi slowly stood up, cradling his hand gently on his other arm.
“Ryo…please go, what if Kame-chan is hurt?” Uchi pleaded with Ryo and eventually gave a quick nod. He gave Uchi a lingering kiss before racing after Yamapi who was already halfway out of the door.
Uchi and Kenta watched them go…both with worried expressions.
“I hope they’ll be alright…” Uchi whispered.
…
When the blackness lifted a little Kazuya was immediately greeted with pain…burning pain…all over his body and, just for a moment, his childhood fear returned to him. But when he managed to look around a little he remembered what happened.
Panic immediately gripped him and he tried to lift himself but only managed an inch before collapsing in agony.
“…Jin?” he croaked, desperate to hear the older man’s voice and know that he was alright. Despite the pain he managed to turn himself onto his side, though he didn’t expect to be there for long as he could feel the bruising and broken ribs.
He looked around and saw that the thugs had thrown them down a small flight of stone stairs. Kazuya’s eyes widened in horror when he noticed there was blood on some of the steps…
“Jin?!” He managed to croak a little louder. His fear intensified when there was no reply.
Somehow the pain now seemed irrelevant and Kazuya pulled himself over so he was facing the other way. What he saw made his heart break…
Jin was lying there, unconscious and beaten to a pulp, in a puddle of blood…
“…Jin?” Kazuya whimpered desperately, his voice shaking.
Eventually the pain became too much and Kazuya had to collapse onto his back again but the movement made his vision blur and his head spin. He could feel himself passing out again but before it happened he heard footsteps and voices…
“We’re never gonna find them at this rate, we should have gone the other way…”
“No, I’m sure I heard Kame say Akanishi’s apartment was in this direction…”
Kazuya almost wept with relief.
“…Ryo…Pi…” he called out as loud as he could. Half of the footsteps suddenly stopped.
“What’s wrong?” he heard Yamapi ask.
Oh please God let them find me… Kazuya pleaded in his mind as he waited for Ryo to reply.
“I’m sure I heard something…down there…”
The footsteps coming towards him were the last thing Kazuya heard before his vision went black again…
…
“…oh my God…” Ryo breathed, his voice shaking. He had reached the top of the stairs before Yamapi and was now staring down at the most horrible sight of his life.
His best friend was lying unconscious with a bleeding head wound looking like he’d just been in a car crash. Behind and slightly to the left of him was Akanishi, unconscious in a puddle of blood.
Ryo blinked when he suddenly noticed that Yamapi had rushed past him and was checking Akanishi for a pulse.
“Anything?” Ryo asked quietly. Yamapi nodded.
“It’s weak but it’s there, we need to get them to hospital…” Ryo nodded and immediately pulled out his mobile phone to call an ambulance. Yamapi remained kneeling between Kazuya and Akanishi until his injured friend let out a small moan.
“Kame?” Yamapi was crouched over him in an instant, “Can you hear me?” Yamapi released a brief sigh of relief when Kazuya slowly opened his eyes. The injured man immediately looked alarmed.
“…Pi? ...where’s Jin? Is he alright?” he asked in a slow and raspy voice. Kazuya must have seen Yamapi’s brief worried look because he immediately tried to get up. Yamapi restrained him by putting two hands on his shoulders.
“Don’t strain yourself.”
“I’m alright Pi…its J-Jin who was hurt badly……please t-tell me…is he gonna be okay?” There was so much fear and desperation in Kazuya’s eyes and Yamapi couldn’t bring himself to tell his injured friend the truth.
“The paramedics are on their way and they’re gonna take him to hospital, I’m sure he’ll be alright…” Yamapi told him, trying to make it sound believable. Kame’s gaze softened a little with relief and Yamapi felt like a lying traitor.
He blinked and looked up when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Yamapi’s conscience calmed a little when he saw Ryo’s look. He had heard what Yamapi had said and understood his reasons.
Ryo looked up briefly and then turned back to Yamapi.
“The paramedics are here,” he said softly and Yamapi turned to see the men coming down with stretchers. Ryo gently pulled him away and he barely registered the blur of movement as the paramedics took both the injured men away. He watched as Kazuya’s gaze was fixed on Akanishi’s stretcher and Yamapi was flooded with guilt again.
“You couldn’t have told him the truth…he would have panicked…” Ryo tried to reassure him but Yamapi’s heart had sunk…
Further than it had ever sank before…
“If Aka- …if Jin doesn’t make it……I’ll never be able to look at Kame again…”
…