Make You Mine /// Twenty-second Lie: Don't Calm The Storm
Title: Make You Mine
Pairing: Akanishi Jin x Kazuya Kamenashi //Akame//
Genre: Romance, AU
Rating: PG-13 and up.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this story. I don't make profit with this.
Summary: The first impression counts and Kazuya's first impression of Jin is not the best. However, Jin is determined to get to know Kazuya - and Kazuya makes up a few lies, which suddenly become huge... And then, the tide is turning.
A/N: English isn't my mother tongue, but I lived in the UK for quite a time, so I basically write and speak well. You're welcome to correct any mistakes, though. Of course.
FIRST OF ALL:
A very happy belated birthday to my lovely queen_kat_tun ♥ I am sorry it took me so long, reasons and apologies are stated below XD I hope you had a wonderful day! I've been thinking of you :)
Yah, okay, I know I am a bad person. First of all, I take forever to get this up, then, I am not quite done replying to all comments from last chap (I'll come to that tomorrow during my break though!!!), then, there's no life sign of me for about a week (which was due to veeeeery bad internet connection and moving back to England. Thus, bad connection) and then...
This isn't even the last chapter.
I am sorry, really. But suddenly, it struck me and then, this got so long already. So, I figured... enough input for two chaps.
So, next one, guys. Have some more patience with me!!!
Enejoy the read ♥
Previous Chapters:
First Lie: Who am I?
Second Lie: Find Me
Third Lie: Exposed
Fourth Lie: On Repeat
Fifth Lie: More of You
Sixth Lie: Not My Fault
Seventh Lie: Out of Reach
Eighth Lie: Leaving You
Ninth Lie: Hold On
Tenth Lie: Secret
Eleventh Lie: Broken Lovers
Twelfth Lie: Worry About You
Thirteenth Lie: I Won't
Fourteenth Lie: Only My Illursion
Fifteenth Lie: Heavy Damage
Sixteenth Lie: Too Close
Seventeenth Lie: Cutting Ties
Eighteenth Lie: Torn
Nineteenth Lie: Missing Piece
Twentieth Lie: Truth
Twenty-first Lie: Head Over Heels
Twenty-second Lie: Don't Calm the Storm
Kazuya looked at his watch and frowned. It was barely noon and yet, it felt like the day had been so long already.
He had gotten up before five. Jin had still been asleep and had not even blinked open an eye, when Kazuya had rolled out of bed. Natsuki had been curled up in her bed, too, when Kazuya had peeked into her room, before leaving.
He had attended a meeting, had instructed the chambermaids with new equipment and had held a staff meeting for lately, there had been complaints about friendliness of the staff.
Jin had shown up at about nine and they had passed each other in the back office at reception.
"You could have at least said bye this morning", Jin had complained and had quickly kissed Kazuya, before he had dashed upstairs to a telephone conference.
Kazuya decided to get some Ramen from a restaurant nearby and then, take a nap. He only had to be back at the hotel at four, so he would catch up on some sleep.
Lately, he didn't sleep too well.
Jin was the same - they both lay awake for hours at night and when they would fall asleep, it was almost morning again.
But, Kazuya thought, as he left the hotel and closed his coat over his jacket, it was nice to know he could turn to Jin; he wasn't alone with those worries.
He stopped, when a car parked in front of the steps. It was dark blue and Kazuya immediately knew whom it belonged to.
A porter came down the stairs to take care of parking it for the guest, but Kazuya raised his hand a bit and held him back.
"It's okay, Matsumoto", he said quietly. "Iio-san is not a guest. He won't stay for long."
Matsumoto just nodded and went back upstairs.
Kensaku got out of the car and rounded it, leaning against the shiny metal, as he smiled at Kazuya. "It's nice to see you again, Kazuya."
"Kensaku." Kazuya didn't bow, he just slightly nodded his head as a greeting.
"I missed you here in Tokyo."
"I doubt that", Kazuya answered.
Kensaku's smile grew wider. "How is Akanishi?"
"You know that, don't you? After all, you call him on a regular basis."
"Hm", Kensaku made and shrugged. "He's got a bit careless."
Kazuya frowned slightly. "I think you should leave."
"Do you remember Detective Nakagawa?" Kensaku didn't even seem to listen to Kazuya. "I recently got his number."
"Call him", Kazuya said coldly. He felt like trembling, but knew he couldn't afford it. "Call him, if you have something to tell him."
"You'll lose him, Kazuya", Kensaku said lowly, anger in his voice. "He'll go to prison."
Kazuya pressed his lips together and took a step forward. "You'd have to kill him to make me lose him."
Kensaku held Kazuya's look with his. "I might just do that."
Not moving, Kazuya kept staring into Kensaku's eyes, only letting go of his breath, when Kensaku finally turned and rounded the car again.
"Reminds me", Kensaku said in a mocking voice. "I have something for you."
Kazuya stood still, while Kensaku opened the door of his car. He smiled, before he threw something at Kazuya.
"Don't be too careless", he said, as he got into the car and drove off.
Kazuya didn't really notice it anymore. He kept staring at the doll in his hands - smooth, black hair, hazelnut, round eyes, a violet dress with butterfly print.
"Mi-chan", he murmured and his heart dropped. He turned to the hotel; his first thought was to run in and find Jin.
But it perhaps was too late for that - every second might count.
Matsumoto gave him a confused look and Kazuya swallowed, before he waved him down. He got out the keys to his car and gave Matsumoto a stern look.
"Go upstairs and tell Akanishi I'm going to Natsuki's school and that he has to call there. I'll pick her up."
Matsumoto frowned, but nodded.
"Hurry", Kazuya said.
The porter dashed up the stairs and inside and Kazuya closed his eyes for single second, trying to calm down.
Natsuki was at school and it was impossible for Kensaku to get her out of there without Jin's permission. Not even Kazuya could pick her up, if Jin didn't call and allow it.
As he reached the school, he saw children playing in the playground, laughing, running, chatting. He looked out for Natsuki and panic crawled up his chest, as he didn't see her.
His mobile rang and Kazuya saw Jin's name flashing on the display, before he picked up.
"Okay, why did I just tell the teacher that you would pick up Natsuki early today?"
Kazuya swallowed, as he turned and looked for Natsuki on the other side of the yard. "Jin", he said, panic in his voice. "She is not here."
"What do you mean?"
"Kensaku", Kazuya answered. "He was at the hotel and he gave Mi-chan to me. Natsuki's not at school."
"They just said she was", Jin answered and Kazuya could hear him get up. "Find her teacher."
Kazuya was just about to get into the building, when something tugged at his coat. He turned and saw Natsuki behind him, giving him a curious look. She wore a red coat and a light brown hat that covered most of her hair.
"There you are", Kazuya breathed and got to his knees, touching her face with his free hand. "Jin, I got her. I'll call again." He hung up and pulled Natsuki in.
Natsuki tilted her head. Her eyes were red, her cheeks had streaks from tears.
"What happened, baby?" Kazuya framed her face. "What's wrong?"
"Mi-chan disappeared", she said. "I lost her."
Kazuya sighed and kissed her forehead. "I found her", he said. "She's in my car."
Natsuki's face lit up with hope. "Really?"
"I'll take you to the hotel, love", Kazuya said. "You and Mi-chan." He looked up, when a teacher approached them.
"She's all depressed, because she lost her doll", the woman said.
Kazuya nodded. "I already found it", he said. "I'll take her home for today."
The teacher nodded. "See you tomorrow, Natsuki-chan."
"Bye bye", Natsuki said and waved at her, before Kazuya took her hand and led her to the car. She saw Mi-chan on the passenger seat and held on tight to her, while Kazuya fastened her seatbelt.
"Where did you lose Mi-chan, Natsuki", he asked, when they were driving.
She shook her head. "Someone took her. I had her at my desk, but when I came from lunch break, she was gone."
Kazuya nodded. "I see", he murmured.
"Thank you for finding her, Kazu-nii."
Smiling, Kazuya reached out his hand and squeezed hers. His mobile rang again and he answered. "I'm on my way."
"Don't just hang up on me", Jin complained. "Is she alright?"
"Yeah, he didn't get to her", Kazuya said. "I'll bring her over."
"What's wrong", Natsuki asked, when Kazuya had hung up again. "Why do I have to leave school early?"
Kazuya gave her a reassuring smile. "Nothing's wrong."
"Papa, too, said that I can't visit my friends' homes for a while", she said and pouted.
She also wouldn't go to school for a while, Kazuya thought. He was sure Jin thought the same as him and that it would be easier to have her around, to keep her as close as possible.
Today had been a warning - if Kensaku had been serious, he would have taken more than just a doll. He could take Natsuki anytime.
All, just because they had been careless.
They reached the hotel and Kazuya looked around the parking lot, before he opened the door to the passenger seat and let Natsuki climb out of the car. She let Kazuya take her hand, as he led her inside, but didn't return the firm squeeze.
Kazuya took her straight upstairs to the manager suite, where Jin waited already. He went up and down the living room and stopped, as the doors of the lift opened.
Hurrying over, Jin pulled Natsuki into his arms. "Hey, baby", he murmured into her hair. "Are you okay?"
Natsuki just nodded and nuzzled into Jin's embrace.
"Come on", he said and led her to the couch. "I need to talk to Kazuya for a moment, okay?"
She didn't look at him, but glanced at Kazuya, before she gave another nod. Jin kissed her head and then signalised Kazuya to follow him to the bedroom.
"What the hell happened?"
Kazuya ran a hand through his hair. "She's mad at me."
Jin frowned, as that wasn't what had asked for. "What?"
"She's mad at me", Kazuya repeated.
Throwing a look back at his daughter, Jin realised that she, indeed, was different. "Why would she be mad at you?"
"She knows we're lying, Jin."
Jin looked back at Kazuya. "There's no way we could tell her the truth."
"She wants to know why she can't visit her friends and why I picked her up from school so early today." He glanced at Natsuki who still sat on the couch without moving just a bit. "Or why she won't be going to school for a while."
Jin sighed. "What did he say?"
Kazuya shrugged. "He'll come out to the police about what you've done, he said and..." Kazuya ran a hand over his face. "... and that we shouldn't be careless. Then, he handed Mi-chan to me."
"He could have taken her, too", Jin noticed and shook his head. "She really won't be going to school for a while."
Nodding, Kazuya reached out and ran a hand over Jin's arm, before he walked past him and back into the living room. He sat down next to Natsuki and looked at her, waited for her to look at him, too.
"I'm sorry, Natsuki", Kazuya murmured.
Natsuki lowered her look again. "Papa and Kazu-nii are always worried", she said. "Why?"
Kazuya glanced at Jin, as he sat down on Natsuki's other side.
"Natsuki, I told you, when you ran away from home, didn't I?" He patted her head lightly. "You're my most precious treasure and I don't want anything to happen to you."
She looked at him and shrugged. "But..."
"Someone threatened to hurt you", Kazuya blurted out and earned an indignant look from Jin. "We're just trying to protect you. It'll be back to normal soon. I promise."
Natsuki nodded and reached her hand out for Kazuya's. "I am sorry for acting upset."
Kazuya smiled and shook his head, pulled her a little closer. "It's fine, love."
Later, when Natsuki got ready for bed, Jin gave Kazuya a concerned look from the dish washer. Kazuya sat at the table and stared at his hands, his mind absent from everything around him.
"You won't be able to keep that promise, you know", Jin murmured and closed the dish washer.
Kazuya nodded. "I didn't want her to worry any more."
Jin sighed. "We keep avoiding this, but with Kensaku's little act today, we shouldn't ignore it any longer", he said and sat down next to Kazuya. "He'll pull us apart."
Kazuya swallowed thickly and closed his eyes. "I told him he'd have to kill you to make me lose you, Jin", he answered. "I really hope he didn't get any stupid ideas from that."
Jin smiled slightly. "You once again played the tough guy, huh?" He reached out his hand and put it over Kazuya's. "You like to upset him, don't you?"
Kazuya shook his head. "He just makes me so angry. Each time I see him, I get so upset and I just don't think about what I'm saying anymore."
Jin was about to say something, when both of them saw the car pulling to a stop in front of Jin's house. Kazuya fisted his hand beneath Jin's and a shiver ran through his body. Jin didn't say a word, as he got up. He kissed Kazuya's forehead lightly.
"You have my parents' address, don't you?"
Kazuya nodded and watched Jin leaving the room. Time had come - the quiet, peaceful days were over.
They would take Jin away from him.
Jin opened the door, before the two detectives had even reached it.
Nakagawa gave Jin a calm look. "Sorry to disturb at this late hour, Akanishi-san."
Jin shrugged. "I assume you have your reasons."
"Actually, there are a few new leads."
And they would have to confirm them, before taking him to the station. "I see", Jin just answered.
Nakagawa nodded and glanced past Jin. "We need to talk to Kamenashi-san."
For a moment, Jin lost track. Kazuya? Why would they have to talk to Kazuya?
"He is living with you, isn't he?"
Jin nodded slowly. "Yes. Well..." He stepped aside. "Please come in."
In that moment, Natsuki came down the stairs and stopped on the last step, staring at the detectives. She wore her night dress and blinked her eyes.
"I need to put my daughter to bed first", Jin said quietly.
Kazuya came from the kitchen and slightly bowed to the two men. "Jin, shall I put her to bed?"
Jin gave him a short, meaningful look. "Why don't you make some tea? I'll be right back." He lifted up Natsuki and went upstairs.
"Would you rather like coffee", Kazuya asked, as he went ahead back into the kitchen.
"Tea is fine", Nakagawa said. "We need to ask you a few questions, Kamenashi-san."
Kazuya turned to them and blinked his eyes. "Me?"
"We have a few new leads in the case of the attack."
"Ah", Kazuya answered and nodded quickly. "I see." He watched the two man standing and pointed at the table. "Please sit."
Nakagawa kept watching Kazuya, while he and his partner sat down. "You're pretty much at home here, aren't you?"
Kazuya nodded lightly. "This is my home."
Jin came back into the room and gave Kazuya a glance, before he sat down, too. "What is it you have to talk about?"
"As I said, I need to talk to Kamenashi." Nakagawa nodded his head in gratitude, as Kazuya placed a cup in front of him. "But, first of all... I am right in assuming that you live together?"
Jin raised a brow. "Is that a problem?"
Nakagawa smiled. "Just a detail that might be important."
Kazuya sat down next to Jin. "I recently moved back from Osaka and I've been living in this house ever since."
"You have a daughter", the detective said, looking at Jin. "How does she take it?"
"She adores Kamenashi", Jin answered. "She's probably too young to understand what's really going on. But she accepts him as a part of her family."
Nakagawa made an admiring expression. "So, basically, you lead quite a happy existence."
Jin slowly nodded. "I'd call it ordinary."
"Why did Kamenashi pick up the child early from school today?"
"I..." Kazuya swallowed and shrugged. "I just..."
"Or rather", Nakagawa went on, "what is it that you are afraid of?"
Kazuya lowered his look.
"How long do you already know that it was Iio Kensaku who attacked you that night?"
Jin gasped and Kazuya froze.
"We have evidence that it was him", Nakagawa explained. "And I am pretty certain that you know it. Why didn't you go to the police?"
Kazuya just shook his head. "I couldn't."
Nakagawa glanced at Jin. "He attacked you here, but took you to Akanishi's flat. The threads you got before", he added, "Akanishi said that night when you were attacked, it was all connected to him."
Jin knew it was over. If they had evidence that it was Kensaku, his secret wouldn't be safe any longer. It would be exposed, eventually.
"You're hiding something", Nakagawa murmured and leaned in to them. "I know you are. You opened that door tonight with a guilty look. You were expecting us." He gave Jin an intense look. "Why is Iio attacking Kamenashi, why did he try to kill him in your flat? Why did it have to be your flat?"
Jin closed his eyes for a moment and shook his head, before he looked at Kazuya.
"I can't find the missing link. Is it because Kamenashi got the job he had applied for, too? Or because Kamenashi became your lover? Jealousy? That doesn't really fit the picture, though."
"No, it doesn't", Jin said. "Because that's not the reason. Not really."
"Jin", Kazuya hissed and shook his head. "Stop."
"It doesn't matter now", Jin answered. "They'd find out - or he'd tell them. So, I probably just rather do it myself."
"Don't", Kazuya murmured and reached out to take Jin's hand. "What about Natsuki?"
Jin squeezed Kazuya's hand lightly, laced their fingers. "I told you it'll be alright, didn't I?"
It was a lie, Kazuya thought. It had been a lie that Kazuya had requested, had asked for. It wasn't valid, not true - a freaking lie.
"The missing link", Jin said and kept his hand in Kazuya's, as he spoke quietly, "is Kirima Masato."
Nakagawa frowned. "Who is that?"
Nakagawa's partner leaned in, after he had watched all of it quietly. He was older than Nakagawa, his eyes clear and keen, as he watched Jin now. "He died", he said. "Kirima died in a fire seven years ago."
Jin nodded. "I was with him that night. He was Iio's boyfriend at that time and Kirima attempted to cheat on him. I was too drunk, though. He died in that fire and I ran away. I didn't help him", Jin murmured. "I ran away."
Nakagawa glanced at Kazuya who sat next to Jin, clinging to his hand with all might. "That's why Kamenashi was taken to your flat and why a fire was laid there."
Jin nodded. "He threatened to take everything from me. I couldn't... I could end my relationship with Kamenashi, but I couldn't risk losing Natsuki." Jin shook his head and looked at the detectives. "I know I did something terrible, but I have that child and I can't leave her alone."
Nakagawa sighed and leaned against the backrest of the chair. "We'll take this as a confession now and put it down, but I am afraid they'll charge you for it."
"Iio is going to spit it in every detail to you anyway", Jin murmured. "I am surprised he hasn't already."
"We'll send out a team now to arrest him", Nakagawa said and gave them a pitiful look. "Truth is, I bluffed. We never had evidence against him. It was my bare speculation, but you just delivered the proof."
None of them - even himself - had expected Kazuya to be the one to get up; ready to throw a fit. "How dare you..."
Jin held him back by his hand, pulled him down to sit again. "Don't", he said calmly. "It's okay."
"Nothing is okay", Kazuya shot back. "What the hell..."
"I thought about it", Jin interrupted and shot a glance at Nakagawa. "I've been thinking about this for a while. I get better conditions if I turn myself in, don't I?"
Nakagawa tilted his head, shrugged a bit. "I can't promise you anything", he answered, "I am not in the position to. But I figure it could make things better for you."
Kazuya blinked his eyes, his look puzzled. "What do you mean, you've been thinking about it for a while?"
Jin shrugged. "It's just..."
"Why didn't you talk to me?"
"I don't know. I hadn't made up my mind." He squeezed Kazuya's hand lightly and focused on Nakagawa again. "See, I know what I have to face from here. But is there any way to secure they won't take Natsuki from me? You could really take my life as well, if their taking her away."
Nakagawa sighed. "You'll have to come to the station. At this point, you're not a suspect or anything, but a witness. As I said, I can't promise anything, but I can get in touch with a really good lawyer I know."
Jin nodded, tightened his grip on Kazuya's hand.
"Kamenashi, we'll need you to verify your statement at the station, too." Nakagawa saw Jin and Kazuya exchange a look and he bit back a slight smile. "But it'll be enough if you come in tomorrow morning. We're sending a team out for Iio - getting his confession is more important right now."
Jin got up from his chair and ran a hand through his hair. "Take her to my bed", he said to Kazuya. "Don't leave her alone."
Kazuya shook his head. "I'll stay with her." He then bit his lip. "What am I going to tell her?"
"I'll be back. If I'm not by the time she wakes up, tell her I'm at work already. I'll take care of everything else as soon as I'll be back."
"She knows you'd never leave without saying goodbye properly."
"True; that's always been your part", Jin said with a small smile that even reached his eyes.
"Jin..."
"Don't even think it could be that way. I'll be back", he added and briefly let his fingertips brush the back of Kazuya's hand.
Kazuya stayed back and watched Jin leave with the detectives. He kept standing at window, watching Jin getting into the car, watched it move down the drive, before it disappeared.
Even when it wasn't visible anymore, Kazuya still stood, staring at the empty road.
Jin had imagined it different.
He had thought he'd sit in a sterile, grey room with a detective across at a simple table. No windows, dim light, a huge mirror that a they would watch him from behind, a cup of bad coffee.
Well, the coffee really wasn't anything near good. But for the rest of it, Jin decided he had watched too many crime dramas.
The room had white walls, a window and both detectives were with him, Nakagawa sitting across, his partner standing at the wall behind him.
Jin glanced at the guy, as Nakagawa filled in a paper.
"Akanishi", he said and looked up. "We'll record your statement from here. I need every detail you can remember. Plus, every reason and everything you can remember from the recent threads. We'll need them to nail down Iio."
Jin nodded and set down the cup, folded his hands. He told them everything about the night he had been taken home by Kirima Masato, told them everything he could remember when he had woken up, surrounded by fire.
"I was simply afraid and didn't know what to do", he said. "A week later, a girl I had used to see before, told me about her pregnancy and that she was sure I was the father. There I had my answer. Suddenly, I realised that this child was the most precious gift I had ever received and that there was no way in hell I would leave her alone."
"The mother left you", Nakagawa asked.
Jin nodded. "Natsuki wasn't even a year. I had persuaded her into keeping the child and giving birth, but she had never really wanted it. I married her, promised to take care of her. But I didn't love her, she didn't love me; so we got a divorce and she left Natsuki with me."
Nakagawa nodded. "When did the recent threats start?"
Running a hand through his hair, Jin collected his thoughts. "You've been there. The night, Kamenashi's flat was destroyed. The threat that was left there was the first one. At that point, I hadn't realised it, at all. I thought Kamenashi was involved with some yakuza or worse."
Nakagawa noted it. "Were there threats after that?"
"He got mails and it got clearer that it was somehow about me. When we continued dating, after I gave him a ring on Christmas, another sticky note showed up in the manager suite in my hotel. Kamenashi didn't tell me at that time. He kept it to himself." Jin shrugged. "He only showed me, when he got pictures sent to him. Photos of me looking at him. I got one, as well. One of Kamenashi watching me."
"Why didn't you report that to the police?"
Jin shrugged. "I didn't think it was dangerous. I thought it was Ueda and that I'd be able to handle him."
"When did you realise it was Iio Kensaku?" Nakagawa's voice kept the indifferent sound.
"After the fire", Jin answered lowly. "It took me a while, but I realised. I went to see Ueda and confront him about it - he seemed to know something. But he said he had bluffed and that he just wanted to scare Kamenashi away from me. After I've been to the hospital and saw Kamenashi, talked to the doctor, I realised that it was just too familiar."
"And then, Iio started to threaten you?"
Jin nodded. "He called me at some point and told me he knew all about it and that he would tell it to the police, let them take Natsuki from me, if I didn't do what he said. He wanted me to leave Kamenashi, break up. So I did."
"You broke up?" Nakagawa lifted a brow - the first sign of an emotion, an opinion since their conversation had started.
"I did. I transferred Kamenashi to Osaka and didn't have much contact. Until Natsuki ran away to get to him." Jin ran a hand over his face. "Iio had threatened me a day before and next morning, she hadn't been in her bed."
"You did not report it to the police."
Jin nodded. "No. I was afraid to."
Someone opened the door and waved Nakagawa's partner out. He left quietly and Nakagawa looked at Jin again, resuming his questioning.
"You should have reported it the minute you figured it out."
"How could I?" Jin shook his head lightly. "Having my daughter safe was the top priority."
"What about Kamenashi then? Hooking up with him again, made him a target for Iio again, didn't it?"
Jin opened his mouth, but closed it again. "We kind of agreed on it", he said and shrugged. Kazuya and me. We agreed on taking the risk. Being separated wasn't an option any longer."
"So..." Nakagawa broke off, when the door opened again and his partner asked for a minute. "Excuse me", he said and left the room.
Jin looked at the door, sighed and kept his hands busy by lacing and unlacing his fingers. He looked up, when Nakagawa came in again.
"Okay, listen, Akanishi", he said and remained standing this time. "I'm doing this now, because I have a daughter who is about the same age as yours. And I do understand how her safety is of highest importance to you."
Jin gave him a keen look. "What's wrong? What happened? Where is she?" panic tightened his chest.
"The thing is", Nakagawa said, "Iio Kensaku disappeared. The team we sent out for him can't find him. Neither in his flat nor at Fairy View."
Everything started to turn in Jin's head and he got up from the chair, so quick he felt the room was spinning. "He'll go for them."
"We sent back a car to your house just now. No one picks up the phone."
Jin went pale and he glanced at the door, measured his chances to escape, but realised they were zero. "Don't make me sit here and wait. I need to..."
Nakagawa got out Jin's mobile phone that he had had to hand in earlier. "Call Kamenashi's mobile."
Jin reached out for it. "I have a separate number for my bedroom phone. He's...." Jin fell silent, as he heard Kazuya's voice from the speaker. "Kazuya", he started. "Are you okay? Is Natsuki with you?"
"Of course. She sleeps. Jin, what's..."
The telephone was taken from him and Jin protested, but Nakagawa turned from him. "Kamenashi? Is the girl with you?" He was silent for a moment. "We sent out a car to your place. It'll stay there, until we find Iio."
He gave a few more instructions to Kazuya, then, he hung up ad turned back to Jin. "You don't need to worry."
Jin sat in his chair again, quiet, but tensed. He looked at Nakagawa for a moment. "You said you have a daughter the same age?"
The detective nodded and knew where Jin was going with that.
"And I suppose there's a mother to that child who's your wife."
"That's right."
"Then, don't tell me not to worry. You were worried for your family, if you were in my place, weren't you?"
Nakagawa didn't answer that, before he left the room again. It was enough of an answer for Jin, however.
For a long while, Nakagawa didn't return. Instead, another detective came in and he had dug out Kirima Masato's case again - apparently, he had led the investigations back then.
Jin answered questions, tried to focus on them, but didn't manage to get his mind off Natsuki and Kazuya. What if Kensaku got to them? In whichever way, he could be able to get to them. And he wouldn't hesitate to take one, both of them from Jin.
"Didn't you probably ask for candles to be lit?" The detective across from him had a slim, long face, sharp eyes behind thick glasses and short hair.
Jin leaned back. "Isn't this one of the questions that I shouldn't answer without my lawyer around?"
"Do you have someone to call?"
"I do. But I would like to call them from home."
"Akanishi-san...."
"No, you don't have any reason, any legit evidence to keep me here as a suspect, do you?"
The detective nodded slowly. "But you did turn in yourself."
"I made a statement as a witness." Jin got up. "And I told you everything I know. I'd like to go home and check on my daughter." he looked at his watch. "Have to wake her for school in three hours."
"Akanishi, I am afraid, we'll have to keep you here, until your lawyer arrives."
Nakagawa came in and Jin frowned, wondering, if after all, they could observe them in here. He unconsciously glanced around the room.
"I'll take Akanishi back home", Nakagawa stated calmly.
"But...", the other detective started to protest.
"Until we don't have a statement from Iio, there's nothing to hold Akanishi for. With his statement alone, he is a witness only and it'll has to go to court whether he'll be charged for his failure to render assistance."
The other detective fell silent and Jin took it as an agreement for him to leave.
He followed Nakagawa out, got his personal belongings back and sighed, as he sat in the car.
"What about Iio", Jin asked then.
"No trace yet."
"And I'm wasting my time with that stupid questioning, while he possibly entered my house already."
"You see, for Hosue", Nakagawa said and referred to the detective who had just questioned Jin, "this is pretty huge. It has been his case and finally, there's a lead, after seven years."
"I know that I should have come sooner. But, even as it looks now, facing that I could lose Natsuki kept me from it. At this point, I didn't have a choice - confessing to it myself was still better than having Iio turn me in."
Nakagawa nodded. "You did the right thing. I called up that lawyer and he said he will defend you. I told him about the situation and he will make sure that you won't lose the custody for your daughter. He said, as it sounds to him, he might get you out of it with only a money charge or probably a probation."
Jin nodded, felt relief washing over him. There were chances.
"He'll call you up in the morning. You should take all necessary steps with him. The police is definitely going to contact you again about Kirima's case. And we will show up again for Kamenashi." He pulled to a stop at the drive to Jin's house, checked the mirror for the car across the street, two policemen sitting in there. "Someone will watch the house 24/7. We don't want anyone innocent getting involved. Especially not a child."
Jin nodded. "Thank you." He bowed lightly, after he got out the car.
"The world's not bad and good guys, after all", Nakagawa said. "Everyone deserves help, as well as everyone has to pay for their mistakes."
Jin watched him drive off and wondered about that. He wasn't a bad guy; but still, for his mistake, he would have to pay - one way or the other.
He got into the house and didn't bother to switch on the lights. He walked up the stairs in darkness and quietly opened the door to his bedroom.
Kazuya and Natsuki lay close, Natsuki nuzzled against him, in Jin's bed. Kazuya had not changed out of his close; Jin supposed he wanted to be ready to get out the house at any time.
Jin decided that if Kazuya hadn't changed, there wasn't a need for him to change either. He lay down next to him, as he was, put his arm over Kazuya's waist, brushed fingers over Natsuki's arm.
Kazuya stirred in his sleep and woke, turning to him in an abrupt movement. He was about to speak, but Jin silenced him with a quick kiss.
"Sssh", he murmured quietly against Kazuya's lips. "Don't wake her."
Kazuya nodded, although he had a million question in his mind. But Jin was here - was back with him and Natsuki, right where he belonged.
That, after all, was most important.
Kazuya looked into his eyes for a moment and Jin couldn't quite read the look, but it was soft, gentle: loving. Smiling slightly, Kazuya turned back, laced his fingers with Jin's.
Jin nuzzled his face against Kazuya's nape and breathed in his scent, while Kazuya pulled their laced fingers to his chin, pecked them gently, nuzzled closer into the embrace. Adjusting the blanket over them, Jin closed his eyes.
Even just for these few hours, he wanted to have a little peace. Just until the sun would rise, until morning would come.
But just another morning wouldn't do, not without Kazuya by his side; not without knowing that this truth, even with all the trouble and problems, was better than any lie could ever be.
He would face everything tomorrow. He would walk right into the storm and somehow, he would fight it.
Tomorrow, Jin thought and drifted into a fitful slumber. By tomorrow, he would have enough strength to face whatever lay ahead of him.
He was convinced, until he woke up - and Kazuya was gone.
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I'm really trying to shut up the drama queen inside of me and make the next one last!
Thaks a bunch for reading, you guys ♥♥♥
Pairing: Akanishi Jin x Kazuya Kamenashi //Akame//
Genre: Romance, AU
Rating: PG-13 and up.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters in this story. I don't make profit with this.
Summary: The first impression counts and Kazuya's first impression of Jin is not the best. However, Jin is determined to get to know Kazuya - and Kazuya makes up a few lies, which suddenly become huge... And then, the tide is turning.
A/N: English isn't my mother tongue, but I lived in the UK for quite a time, so I basically write and speak well. You're welcome to correct any mistakes, though. Of course.
FIRST OF ALL:
A very happy belated birthday to my lovely queen_kat_tun ♥ I am sorry it took me so long, reasons and apologies are stated below XD I hope you had a wonderful day! I've been thinking of you :)
Yah, okay, I know I am a bad person. First of all, I take forever to get this up, then, I am not quite done replying to all comments from last chap (I'll come to that tomorrow during my break though!!!), then, there's no life sign of me for about a week (which was due to veeeeery bad internet connection and moving back to England. Thus, bad connection) and then...
This isn't even the last chapter.
I am sorry, really. But suddenly, it struck me and then, this got so long already. So, I figured... enough input for two chaps.
So, next one, guys. Have some more patience with me!!!
Enejoy the read ♥
Previous Chapters:
First Lie: Who am I?
Second Lie: Find Me
Third Lie: Exposed
Fourth Lie: On Repeat
Fifth Lie: More of You
Sixth Lie: Not My Fault
Seventh Lie: Out of Reach
Eighth Lie: Leaving You
Ninth Lie: Hold On
Tenth Lie: Secret
Eleventh Lie: Broken Lovers
Twelfth Lie: Worry About You
Thirteenth Lie: I Won't
Fourteenth Lie: Only My Illursion
Fifteenth Lie: Heavy Damage
Sixteenth Lie: Too Close
Seventeenth Lie: Cutting Ties
Eighteenth Lie: Torn
Nineteenth Lie: Missing Piece
Twentieth Lie: Truth
Twenty-first Lie: Head Over Heels
Twenty-second Lie: Don't Calm the Storm
Kazuya looked at his watch and frowned. It was barely noon and yet, it felt like the day had been so long already.
He had gotten up before five. Jin had still been asleep and had not even blinked open an eye, when Kazuya had rolled out of bed. Natsuki had been curled up in her bed, too, when Kazuya had peeked into her room, before leaving.
He had attended a meeting, had instructed the chambermaids with new equipment and had held a staff meeting for lately, there had been complaints about friendliness of the staff.
Jin had shown up at about nine and they had passed each other in the back office at reception.
"You could have at least said bye this morning", Jin had complained and had quickly kissed Kazuya, before he had dashed upstairs to a telephone conference.
Kazuya decided to get some Ramen from a restaurant nearby and then, take a nap. He only had to be back at the hotel at four, so he would catch up on some sleep.
Lately, he didn't sleep too well.
Jin was the same - they both lay awake for hours at night and when they would fall asleep, it was almost morning again.
But, Kazuya thought, as he left the hotel and closed his coat over his jacket, it was nice to know he could turn to Jin; he wasn't alone with those worries.
He stopped, when a car parked in front of the steps. It was dark blue and Kazuya immediately knew whom it belonged to.
A porter came down the stairs to take care of parking it for the guest, but Kazuya raised his hand a bit and held him back.
"It's okay, Matsumoto", he said quietly. "Iio-san is not a guest. He won't stay for long."
Matsumoto just nodded and went back upstairs.
Kensaku got out of the car and rounded it, leaning against the shiny metal, as he smiled at Kazuya. "It's nice to see you again, Kazuya."
"Kensaku." Kazuya didn't bow, he just slightly nodded his head as a greeting.
"I missed you here in Tokyo."
"I doubt that", Kazuya answered.
Kensaku's smile grew wider. "How is Akanishi?"
"You know that, don't you? After all, you call him on a regular basis."
"Hm", Kensaku made and shrugged. "He's got a bit careless."
Kazuya frowned slightly. "I think you should leave."
"Do you remember Detective Nakagawa?" Kensaku didn't even seem to listen to Kazuya. "I recently got his number."
"Call him", Kazuya said coldly. He felt like trembling, but knew he couldn't afford it. "Call him, if you have something to tell him."
"You'll lose him, Kazuya", Kensaku said lowly, anger in his voice. "He'll go to prison."
Kazuya pressed his lips together and took a step forward. "You'd have to kill him to make me lose him."
Kensaku held Kazuya's look with his. "I might just do that."
Not moving, Kazuya kept staring into Kensaku's eyes, only letting go of his breath, when Kensaku finally turned and rounded the car again.
"Reminds me", Kensaku said in a mocking voice. "I have something for you."
Kazuya stood still, while Kensaku opened the door of his car. He smiled, before he threw something at Kazuya.
"Don't be too careless", he said, as he got into the car and drove off.
Kazuya didn't really notice it anymore. He kept staring at the doll in his hands - smooth, black hair, hazelnut, round eyes, a violet dress with butterfly print.
"Mi-chan", he murmured and his heart dropped. He turned to the hotel; his first thought was to run in and find Jin.
But it perhaps was too late for that - every second might count.
Matsumoto gave him a confused look and Kazuya swallowed, before he waved him down. He got out the keys to his car and gave Matsumoto a stern look.
"Go upstairs and tell Akanishi I'm going to Natsuki's school and that he has to call there. I'll pick her up."
Matsumoto frowned, but nodded.
"Hurry", Kazuya said.
The porter dashed up the stairs and inside and Kazuya closed his eyes for single second, trying to calm down.
Natsuki was at school and it was impossible for Kensaku to get her out of there without Jin's permission. Not even Kazuya could pick her up, if Jin didn't call and allow it.
As he reached the school, he saw children playing in the playground, laughing, running, chatting. He looked out for Natsuki and panic crawled up his chest, as he didn't see her.
His mobile rang and Kazuya saw Jin's name flashing on the display, before he picked up.
"Okay, why did I just tell the teacher that you would pick up Natsuki early today?"
Kazuya swallowed, as he turned and looked for Natsuki on the other side of the yard. "Jin", he said, panic in his voice. "She is not here."
"What do you mean?"
"Kensaku", Kazuya answered. "He was at the hotel and he gave Mi-chan to me. Natsuki's not at school."
"They just said she was", Jin answered and Kazuya could hear him get up. "Find her teacher."
Kazuya was just about to get into the building, when something tugged at his coat. He turned and saw Natsuki behind him, giving him a curious look. She wore a red coat and a light brown hat that covered most of her hair.
"There you are", Kazuya breathed and got to his knees, touching her face with his free hand. "Jin, I got her. I'll call again." He hung up and pulled Natsuki in.
Natsuki tilted her head. Her eyes were red, her cheeks had streaks from tears.
"What happened, baby?" Kazuya framed her face. "What's wrong?"
"Mi-chan disappeared", she said. "I lost her."
Kazuya sighed and kissed her forehead. "I found her", he said. "She's in my car."
Natsuki's face lit up with hope. "Really?"
"I'll take you to the hotel, love", Kazuya said. "You and Mi-chan." He looked up, when a teacher approached them.
"She's all depressed, because she lost her doll", the woman said.
Kazuya nodded. "I already found it", he said. "I'll take her home for today."
The teacher nodded. "See you tomorrow, Natsuki-chan."
"Bye bye", Natsuki said and waved at her, before Kazuya took her hand and led her to the car. She saw Mi-chan on the passenger seat and held on tight to her, while Kazuya fastened her seatbelt.
"Where did you lose Mi-chan, Natsuki", he asked, when they were driving.
She shook her head. "Someone took her. I had her at my desk, but when I came from lunch break, she was gone."
Kazuya nodded. "I see", he murmured.
"Thank you for finding her, Kazu-nii."
Smiling, Kazuya reached out his hand and squeezed hers. His mobile rang again and he answered. "I'm on my way."
"Don't just hang up on me", Jin complained. "Is she alright?"
"Yeah, he didn't get to her", Kazuya said. "I'll bring her over."
"What's wrong", Natsuki asked, when Kazuya had hung up again. "Why do I have to leave school early?"
Kazuya gave her a reassuring smile. "Nothing's wrong."
"Papa, too, said that I can't visit my friends' homes for a while", she said and pouted.
She also wouldn't go to school for a while, Kazuya thought. He was sure Jin thought the same as him and that it would be easier to have her around, to keep her as close as possible.
Today had been a warning - if Kensaku had been serious, he would have taken more than just a doll. He could take Natsuki anytime.
All, just because they had been careless.
They reached the hotel and Kazuya looked around the parking lot, before he opened the door to the passenger seat and let Natsuki climb out of the car. She let Kazuya take her hand, as he led her inside, but didn't return the firm squeeze.
Kazuya took her straight upstairs to the manager suite, where Jin waited already. He went up and down the living room and stopped, as the doors of the lift opened.
Hurrying over, Jin pulled Natsuki into his arms. "Hey, baby", he murmured into her hair. "Are you okay?"
Natsuki just nodded and nuzzled into Jin's embrace.
"Come on", he said and led her to the couch. "I need to talk to Kazuya for a moment, okay?"
She didn't look at him, but glanced at Kazuya, before she gave another nod. Jin kissed her head and then signalised Kazuya to follow him to the bedroom.
"What the hell happened?"
Kazuya ran a hand through his hair. "She's mad at me."
Jin frowned, as that wasn't what had asked for. "What?"
"She's mad at me", Kazuya repeated.
Throwing a look back at his daughter, Jin realised that she, indeed, was different. "Why would she be mad at you?"
"She knows we're lying, Jin."
Jin looked back at Kazuya. "There's no way we could tell her the truth."
"She wants to know why she can't visit her friends and why I picked her up from school so early today." He glanced at Natsuki who still sat on the couch without moving just a bit. "Or why she won't be going to school for a while."
Jin sighed. "What did he say?"
Kazuya shrugged. "He'll come out to the police about what you've done, he said and..." Kazuya ran a hand over his face. "... and that we shouldn't be careless. Then, he handed Mi-chan to me."
"He could have taken her, too", Jin noticed and shook his head. "She really won't be going to school for a while."
Nodding, Kazuya reached out and ran a hand over Jin's arm, before he walked past him and back into the living room. He sat down next to Natsuki and looked at her, waited for her to look at him, too.
"I'm sorry, Natsuki", Kazuya murmured.
Natsuki lowered her look again. "Papa and Kazu-nii are always worried", she said. "Why?"
Kazuya glanced at Jin, as he sat down on Natsuki's other side.
"Natsuki, I told you, when you ran away from home, didn't I?" He patted her head lightly. "You're my most precious treasure and I don't want anything to happen to you."
She looked at him and shrugged. "But..."
"Someone threatened to hurt you", Kazuya blurted out and earned an indignant look from Jin. "We're just trying to protect you. It'll be back to normal soon. I promise."
Natsuki nodded and reached her hand out for Kazuya's. "I am sorry for acting upset."
Kazuya smiled and shook his head, pulled her a little closer. "It's fine, love."
Later, when Natsuki got ready for bed, Jin gave Kazuya a concerned look from the dish washer. Kazuya sat at the table and stared at his hands, his mind absent from everything around him.
"You won't be able to keep that promise, you know", Jin murmured and closed the dish washer.
Kazuya nodded. "I didn't want her to worry any more."
Jin sighed. "We keep avoiding this, but with Kensaku's little act today, we shouldn't ignore it any longer", he said and sat down next to Kazuya. "He'll pull us apart."
Kazuya swallowed thickly and closed his eyes. "I told him he'd have to kill you to make me lose you, Jin", he answered. "I really hope he didn't get any stupid ideas from that."
Jin smiled slightly. "You once again played the tough guy, huh?" He reached out his hand and put it over Kazuya's. "You like to upset him, don't you?"
Kazuya shook his head. "He just makes me so angry. Each time I see him, I get so upset and I just don't think about what I'm saying anymore."
Jin was about to say something, when both of them saw the car pulling to a stop in front of Jin's house. Kazuya fisted his hand beneath Jin's and a shiver ran through his body. Jin didn't say a word, as he got up. He kissed Kazuya's forehead lightly.
"You have my parents' address, don't you?"
Kazuya nodded and watched Jin leaving the room. Time had come - the quiet, peaceful days were over.
They would take Jin away from him.
Jin opened the door, before the two detectives had even reached it.
Nakagawa gave Jin a calm look. "Sorry to disturb at this late hour, Akanishi-san."
Jin shrugged. "I assume you have your reasons."
"Actually, there are a few new leads."
And they would have to confirm them, before taking him to the station. "I see", Jin just answered.
Nakagawa nodded and glanced past Jin. "We need to talk to Kamenashi-san."
For a moment, Jin lost track. Kazuya? Why would they have to talk to Kazuya?
"He is living with you, isn't he?"
Jin nodded slowly. "Yes. Well..." He stepped aside. "Please come in."
In that moment, Natsuki came down the stairs and stopped on the last step, staring at the detectives. She wore her night dress and blinked her eyes.
"I need to put my daughter to bed first", Jin said quietly.
Kazuya came from the kitchen and slightly bowed to the two men. "Jin, shall I put her to bed?"
Jin gave him a short, meaningful look. "Why don't you make some tea? I'll be right back." He lifted up Natsuki and went upstairs.
"Would you rather like coffee", Kazuya asked, as he went ahead back into the kitchen.
"Tea is fine", Nakagawa said. "We need to ask you a few questions, Kamenashi-san."
Kazuya turned to them and blinked his eyes. "Me?"
"We have a few new leads in the case of the attack."
"Ah", Kazuya answered and nodded quickly. "I see." He watched the two man standing and pointed at the table. "Please sit."
Nakagawa kept watching Kazuya, while he and his partner sat down. "You're pretty much at home here, aren't you?"
Kazuya nodded lightly. "This is my home."
Jin came back into the room and gave Kazuya a glance, before he sat down, too. "What is it you have to talk about?"
"As I said, I need to talk to Kamenashi." Nakagawa nodded his head in gratitude, as Kazuya placed a cup in front of him. "But, first of all... I am right in assuming that you live together?"
Jin raised a brow. "Is that a problem?"
Nakagawa smiled. "Just a detail that might be important."
Kazuya sat down next to Jin. "I recently moved back from Osaka and I've been living in this house ever since."
"You have a daughter", the detective said, looking at Jin. "How does she take it?"
"She adores Kamenashi", Jin answered. "She's probably too young to understand what's really going on. But she accepts him as a part of her family."
Nakagawa made an admiring expression. "So, basically, you lead quite a happy existence."
Jin slowly nodded. "I'd call it ordinary."
"Why did Kamenashi pick up the child early from school today?"
"I..." Kazuya swallowed and shrugged. "I just..."
"Or rather", Nakagawa went on, "what is it that you are afraid of?"
Kazuya lowered his look.
"How long do you already know that it was Iio Kensaku who attacked you that night?"
Jin gasped and Kazuya froze.
"We have evidence that it was him", Nakagawa explained. "And I am pretty certain that you know it. Why didn't you go to the police?"
Kazuya just shook his head. "I couldn't."
Nakagawa glanced at Jin. "He attacked you here, but took you to Akanishi's flat. The threads you got before", he added, "Akanishi said that night when you were attacked, it was all connected to him."
Jin knew it was over. If they had evidence that it was Kensaku, his secret wouldn't be safe any longer. It would be exposed, eventually.
"You're hiding something", Nakagawa murmured and leaned in to them. "I know you are. You opened that door tonight with a guilty look. You were expecting us." He gave Jin an intense look. "Why is Iio attacking Kamenashi, why did he try to kill him in your flat? Why did it have to be your flat?"
Jin closed his eyes for a moment and shook his head, before he looked at Kazuya.
"I can't find the missing link. Is it because Kamenashi got the job he had applied for, too? Or because Kamenashi became your lover? Jealousy? That doesn't really fit the picture, though."
"No, it doesn't", Jin said. "Because that's not the reason. Not really."
"Jin", Kazuya hissed and shook his head. "Stop."
"It doesn't matter now", Jin answered. "They'd find out - or he'd tell them. So, I probably just rather do it myself."
"Don't", Kazuya murmured and reached out to take Jin's hand. "What about Natsuki?"
Jin squeezed Kazuya's hand lightly, laced their fingers. "I told you it'll be alright, didn't I?"
It was a lie, Kazuya thought. It had been a lie that Kazuya had requested, had asked for. It wasn't valid, not true - a freaking lie.
"The missing link", Jin said and kept his hand in Kazuya's, as he spoke quietly, "is Kirima Masato."
Nakagawa frowned. "Who is that?"
Nakagawa's partner leaned in, after he had watched all of it quietly. He was older than Nakagawa, his eyes clear and keen, as he watched Jin now. "He died", he said. "Kirima died in a fire seven years ago."
Jin nodded. "I was with him that night. He was Iio's boyfriend at that time and Kirima attempted to cheat on him. I was too drunk, though. He died in that fire and I ran away. I didn't help him", Jin murmured. "I ran away."
Nakagawa glanced at Kazuya who sat next to Jin, clinging to his hand with all might. "That's why Kamenashi was taken to your flat and why a fire was laid there."
Jin nodded. "He threatened to take everything from me. I couldn't... I could end my relationship with Kamenashi, but I couldn't risk losing Natsuki." Jin shook his head and looked at the detectives. "I know I did something terrible, but I have that child and I can't leave her alone."
Nakagawa sighed and leaned against the backrest of the chair. "We'll take this as a confession now and put it down, but I am afraid they'll charge you for it."
"Iio is going to spit it in every detail to you anyway", Jin murmured. "I am surprised he hasn't already."
"We'll send out a team now to arrest him", Nakagawa said and gave them a pitiful look. "Truth is, I bluffed. We never had evidence against him. It was my bare speculation, but you just delivered the proof."
None of them - even himself - had expected Kazuya to be the one to get up; ready to throw a fit. "How dare you..."
Jin held him back by his hand, pulled him down to sit again. "Don't", he said calmly. "It's okay."
"Nothing is okay", Kazuya shot back. "What the hell..."
"I thought about it", Jin interrupted and shot a glance at Nakagawa. "I've been thinking about this for a while. I get better conditions if I turn myself in, don't I?"
Nakagawa tilted his head, shrugged a bit. "I can't promise you anything", he answered, "I am not in the position to. But I figure it could make things better for you."
Kazuya blinked his eyes, his look puzzled. "What do you mean, you've been thinking about it for a while?"
Jin shrugged. "It's just..."
"Why didn't you talk to me?"
"I don't know. I hadn't made up my mind." He squeezed Kazuya's hand lightly and focused on Nakagawa again. "See, I know what I have to face from here. But is there any way to secure they won't take Natsuki from me? You could really take my life as well, if their taking her away."
Nakagawa sighed. "You'll have to come to the station. At this point, you're not a suspect or anything, but a witness. As I said, I can't promise anything, but I can get in touch with a really good lawyer I know."
Jin nodded, tightened his grip on Kazuya's hand.
"Kamenashi, we'll need you to verify your statement at the station, too." Nakagawa saw Jin and Kazuya exchange a look and he bit back a slight smile. "But it'll be enough if you come in tomorrow morning. We're sending a team out for Iio - getting his confession is more important right now."
Jin got up from his chair and ran a hand through his hair. "Take her to my bed", he said to Kazuya. "Don't leave her alone."
Kazuya shook his head. "I'll stay with her." He then bit his lip. "What am I going to tell her?"
"I'll be back. If I'm not by the time she wakes up, tell her I'm at work already. I'll take care of everything else as soon as I'll be back."
"She knows you'd never leave without saying goodbye properly."
"True; that's always been your part", Jin said with a small smile that even reached his eyes.
"Jin..."
"Don't even think it could be that way. I'll be back", he added and briefly let his fingertips brush the back of Kazuya's hand.
Kazuya stayed back and watched Jin leave with the detectives. He kept standing at window, watching Jin getting into the car, watched it move down the drive, before it disappeared.
Even when it wasn't visible anymore, Kazuya still stood, staring at the empty road.
Jin had imagined it different.
He had thought he'd sit in a sterile, grey room with a detective across at a simple table. No windows, dim light, a huge mirror that a they would watch him from behind, a cup of bad coffee.
Well, the coffee really wasn't anything near good. But for the rest of it, Jin decided he had watched too many crime dramas.
The room had white walls, a window and both detectives were with him, Nakagawa sitting across, his partner standing at the wall behind him.
Jin glanced at the guy, as Nakagawa filled in a paper.
"Akanishi", he said and looked up. "We'll record your statement from here. I need every detail you can remember. Plus, every reason and everything you can remember from the recent threads. We'll need them to nail down Iio."
Jin nodded and set down the cup, folded his hands. He told them everything about the night he had been taken home by Kirima Masato, told them everything he could remember when he had woken up, surrounded by fire.
"I was simply afraid and didn't know what to do", he said. "A week later, a girl I had used to see before, told me about her pregnancy and that she was sure I was the father. There I had my answer. Suddenly, I realised that this child was the most precious gift I had ever received and that there was no way in hell I would leave her alone."
"The mother left you", Nakagawa asked.
Jin nodded. "Natsuki wasn't even a year. I had persuaded her into keeping the child and giving birth, but she had never really wanted it. I married her, promised to take care of her. But I didn't love her, she didn't love me; so we got a divorce and she left Natsuki with me."
Nakagawa nodded. "When did the recent threats start?"
Running a hand through his hair, Jin collected his thoughts. "You've been there. The night, Kamenashi's flat was destroyed. The threat that was left there was the first one. At that point, I hadn't realised it, at all. I thought Kamenashi was involved with some yakuza or worse."
Nakagawa noted it. "Were there threats after that?"
"He got mails and it got clearer that it was somehow about me. When we continued dating, after I gave him a ring on Christmas, another sticky note showed up in the manager suite in my hotel. Kamenashi didn't tell me at that time. He kept it to himself." Jin shrugged. "He only showed me, when he got pictures sent to him. Photos of me looking at him. I got one, as well. One of Kamenashi watching me."
"Why didn't you report that to the police?"
Jin shrugged. "I didn't think it was dangerous. I thought it was Ueda and that I'd be able to handle him."
"When did you realise it was Iio Kensaku?" Nakagawa's voice kept the indifferent sound.
"After the fire", Jin answered lowly. "It took me a while, but I realised. I went to see Ueda and confront him about it - he seemed to know something. But he said he had bluffed and that he just wanted to scare Kamenashi away from me. After I've been to the hospital and saw Kamenashi, talked to the doctor, I realised that it was just too familiar."
"And then, Iio started to threaten you?"
Jin nodded. "He called me at some point and told me he knew all about it and that he would tell it to the police, let them take Natsuki from me, if I didn't do what he said. He wanted me to leave Kamenashi, break up. So I did."
"You broke up?" Nakagawa lifted a brow - the first sign of an emotion, an opinion since their conversation had started.
"I did. I transferred Kamenashi to Osaka and didn't have much contact. Until Natsuki ran away to get to him." Jin ran a hand over his face. "Iio had threatened me a day before and next morning, she hadn't been in her bed."
"You did not report it to the police."
Jin nodded. "No. I was afraid to."
Someone opened the door and waved Nakagawa's partner out. He left quietly and Nakagawa looked at Jin again, resuming his questioning.
"You should have reported it the minute you figured it out."
"How could I?" Jin shook his head lightly. "Having my daughter safe was the top priority."
"What about Kamenashi then? Hooking up with him again, made him a target for Iio again, didn't it?"
Jin opened his mouth, but closed it again. "We kind of agreed on it", he said and shrugged. Kazuya and me. We agreed on taking the risk. Being separated wasn't an option any longer."
"So..." Nakagawa broke off, when the door opened again and his partner asked for a minute. "Excuse me", he said and left the room.
Jin looked at the door, sighed and kept his hands busy by lacing and unlacing his fingers. He looked up, when Nakagawa came in again.
"Okay, listen, Akanishi", he said and remained standing this time. "I'm doing this now, because I have a daughter who is about the same age as yours. And I do understand how her safety is of highest importance to you."
Jin gave him a keen look. "What's wrong? What happened? Where is she?" panic tightened his chest.
"The thing is", Nakagawa said, "Iio Kensaku disappeared. The team we sent out for him can't find him. Neither in his flat nor at Fairy View."
Everything started to turn in Jin's head and he got up from the chair, so quick he felt the room was spinning. "He'll go for them."
"We sent back a car to your house just now. No one picks up the phone."
Jin went pale and he glanced at the door, measured his chances to escape, but realised they were zero. "Don't make me sit here and wait. I need to..."
Nakagawa got out Jin's mobile phone that he had had to hand in earlier. "Call Kamenashi's mobile."
Jin reached out for it. "I have a separate number for my bedroom phone. He's...." Jin fell silent, as he heard Kazuya's voice from the speaker. "Kazuya", he started. "Are you okay? Is Natsuki with you?"
"Of course. She sleeps. Jin, what's..."
The telephone was taken from him and Jin protested, but Nakagawa turned from him. "Kamenashi? Is the girl with you?" He was silent for a moment. "We sent out a car to your place. It'll stay there, until we find Iio."
He gave a few more instructions to Kazuya, then, he hung up ad turned back to Jin. "You don't need to worry."
Jin sat in his chair again, quiet, but tensed. He looked at Nakagawa for a moment. "You said you have a daughter the same age?"
The detective nodded and knew where Jin was going with that.
"And I suppose there's a mother to that child who's your wife."
"That's right."
"Then, don't tell me not to worry. You were worried for your family, if you were in my place, weren't you?"
Nakagawa didn't answer that, before he left the room again. It was enough of an answer for Jin, however.
For a long while, Nakagawa didn't return. Instead, another detective came in and he had dug out Kirima Masato's case again - apparently, he had led the investigations back then.
Jin answered questions, tried to focus on them, but didn't manage to get his mind off Natsuki and Kazuya. What if Kensaku got to them? In whichever way, he could be able to get to them. And he wouldn't hesitate to take one, both of them from Jin.
"Didn't you probably ask for candles to be lit?" The detective across from him had a slim, long face, sharp eyes behind thick glasses and short hair.
Jin leaned back. "Isn't this one of the questions that I shouldn't answer without my lawyer around?"
"Do you have someone to call?"
"I do. But I would like to call them from home."
"Akanishi-san...."
"No, you don't have any reason, any legit evidence to keep me here as a suspect, do you?"
The detective nodded slowly. "But you did turn in yourself."
"I made a statement as a witness." Jin got up. "And I told you everything I know. I'd like to go home and check on my daughter." he looked at his watch. "Have to wake her for school in three hours."
"Akanishi, I am afraid, we'll have to keep you here, until your lawyer arrives."
Nakagawa came in and Jin frowned, wondering, if after all, they could observe them in here. He unconsciously glanced around the room.
"I'll take Akanishi back home", Nakagawa stated calmly.
"But...", the other detective started to protest.
"Until we don't have a statement from Iio, there's nothing to hold Akanishi for. With his statement alone, he is a witness only and it'll has to go to court whether he'll be charged for his failure to render assistance."
The other detective fell silent and Jin took it as an agreement for him to leave.
He followed Nakagawa out, got his personal belongings back and sighed, as he sat in the car.
"What about Iio", Jin asked then.
"No trace yet."
"And I'm wasting my time with that stupid questioning, while he possibly entered my house already."
"You see, for Hosue", Nakagawa said and referred to the detective who had just questioned Jin, "this is pretty huge. It has been his case and finally, there's a lead, after seven years."
"I know that I should have come sooner. But, even as it looks now, facing that I could lose Natsuki kept me from it. At this point, I didn't have a choice - confessing to it myself was still better than having Iio turn me in."
Nakagawa nodded. "You did the right thing. I called up that lawyer and he said he will defend you. I told him about the situation and he will make sure that you won't lose the custody for your daughter. He said, as it sounds to him, he might get you out of it with only a money charge or probably a probation."
Jin nodded, felt relief washing over him. There were chances.
"He'll call you up in the morning. You should take all necessary steps with him. The police is definitely going to contact you again about Kirima's case. And we will show up again for Kamenashi." He pulled to a stop at the drive to Jin's house, checked the mirror for the car across the street, two policemen sitting in there. "Someone will watch the house 24/7. We don't want anyone innocent getting involved. Especially not a child."
Jin nodded. "Thank you." He bowed lightly, after he got out the car.
"The world's not bad and good guys, after all", Nakagawa said. "Everyone deserves help, as well as everyone has to pay for their mistakes."
Jin watched him drive off and wondered about that. He wasn't a bad guy; but still, for his mistake, he would have to pay - one way or the other.
He got into the house and didn't bother to switch on the lights. He walked up the stairs in darkness and quietly opened the door to his bedroom.
Kazuya and Natsuki lay close, Natsuki nuzzled against him, in Jin's bed. Kazuya had not changed out of his close; Jin supposed he wanted to be ready to get out the house at any time.
Jin decided that if Kazuya hadn't changed, there wasn't a need for him to change either. He lay down next to him, as he was, put his arm over Kazuya's waist, brushed fingers over Natsuki's arm.
Kazuya stirred in his sleep and woke, turning to him in an abrupt movement. He was about to speak, but Jin silenced him with a quick kiss.
"Sssh", he murmured quietly against Kazuya's lips. "Don't wake her."
Kazuya nodded, although he had a million question in his mind. But Jin was here - was back with him and Natsuki, right where he belonged.
That, after all, was most important.
Kazuya looked into his eyes for a moment and Jin couldn't quite read the look, but it was soft, gentle: loving. Smiling slightly, Kazuya turned back, laced his fingers with Jin's.
Jin nuzzled his face against Kazuya's nape and breathed in his scent, while Kazuya pulled their laced fingers to his chin, pecked them gently, nuzzled closer into the embrace. Adjusting the blanket over them, Jin closed his eyes.
Even just for these few hours, he wanted to have a little peace. Just until the sun would rise, until morning would come.
But just another morning wouldn't do, not without Kazuya by his side; not without knowing that this truth, even with all the trouble and problems, was better than any lie could ever be.
He would face everything tomorrow. He would walk right into the storm and somehow, he would fight it.
Tomorrow, Jin thought and drifted into a fitful slumber. By tomorrow, he would have enough strength to face whatever lay ahead of him.
He was convinced, until he woke up - and Kazuya was gone.
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I'm really trying to shut up the drama queen inside of me and make the next one last!
Thaks a bunch for reading, you guys ♥♥♥