[ShouxHiroto] RUMWOLF [Track 26: The Phantom Rider]
TITLE: RUMWOLF
CHAPTER: 26
RATING: R (Overall Story)
GENRE: AU; Romance (BL), Drama&Comedy, Action/Adventure, slight Supernatural/Paranormal
PAIRINGS: ShouxHiroto, previous/mentions of Hirotox??, implied/hinted ToraxSaga
BAND: Alice Nine
SIDE BANDS: the GazettE, Danger Gang, SuG, Dir en Grey
CAMEOS: N/A (Ch. 26)
SUMMARY: Four years ago, there was an accident affecting two entirely different worlds of two individuals. This accident led Ogata Hiroto to grow into a jaded young adult who becomes entangled in the dark, cold world of a nightlife he never expected to lead in order to fulfill his personal ambitions. One fateful day, on a morning walk with his pet Pomeranian, Mogu, he meets a young man who calls himself Shou. Will Hiroto's four years of hard work and effort to reach his goal be thrown away to waste or will it finally be rewarded through this meeting?
WARNINGS: Intimate actions between men, sexual references, language, violence, racing, mentions of heavy chain-smoking and alcohol abuse...err, I don't think that's the end.
PREVIOUS CHAPTERS: Prologue // 01 // 02 // 03 // 04 // 05 // 06 // 07 // 08 // 09 // 10 // 11 // 12 // 13 // 14 // 15 // Interlude // 16 // 17 // 18 // 19 // 20 // 21 // 22 // 23 // 24 // 25
Track 26: The Phantom Rider
The sun had only began to rise when Hiroto had woken up from his sleep. His eyes couldn't and wouldn't stray away from the tranquility and serenity painted on Shou's soft sleeping features though. His lover was beautiful, no doubt, and it wasn't hard to believe that he came from a wealthy family. If there was anything that was difficult to accept, it would be the recklessness and perverseness beneath all of the gentlemanly chivalry and elegance, yet he managed to mesmerize Hiroto so easily.
Shou was a truly enchanting and charming creature. Hiroto should have known his grandfather couldn't possibly despise such a delightful young man. The blonde smiled to himself, somewhat humored and somewhat embarrassed, as he recalled last night's events. His grandfather had always claimed to be a people-reader, and all he did last night was boast about how he was correct about Hiroto's...taste -- just to prove his point or such.
He wondered if his mother would be just as accepting as his grandfather. Hiroto wanted to welcome Shou into a family after all -- a bigger family than just him, Shou, and Mogu -- a family with a deeper sense of filial piety than one at The Royal Kitchen -- because he knew Shou was rather envious of how warm Hiroto's childhood home was. Hiroto remembered how cold the Kohara main house was, and he was in a car rather than inside the building itself. Nevertheless, there was a sense of isolation and dissolution about the house. Even though Hiroto was sure that the house was filled with servants, it felt empty.
And Hiroto was at a distance, too.
After snuggling up to Shou and Mogu, Hiroto lingered in his bed for a moment longer. With Shou's arms around his waist, he couldn't possibly escape for a morning drive. Instead, he nodded off into a short nap, dreaming about what it would be like to be onstage with Shou. The stage lights would glare down upon their figures, drawing perspiration from their being, and the adrendaline pumping through their veins would heat up their bodies. The crowd would roar loudly, adding to the violent pounding of their hearts and sending their soul into a high. Later, he reminded himself, he would have to leave the comfort of warm childhood memories for the cold reality of Tokyo. Later, he would have to settle things with RUMWOLF.
A dark figure flashed through his mind.
Hiroto's eyebrows knitted together. No, it wasn't RUMWOLF he had to settle things with -- nor was it Kyo -- it was The Phantom Rider who has been haunting his road, his path to the future. The words Kyo had spoken, those forlorn words, are beginning to make sense to him now. Ever since he returned home, Hiroto had finally noticed the enormous difference between the him of the past and the him of RUMWOLF. He wondered if that change was for the better, but if it caused what he was thinking, then it couldn't have been all that great--
Poke.
Hiroto's eyes fluttered open before they crossed and stared at the single index finger poking the spot between his eyebrows. Bewilderment washed over his thoughts before he turned his attention to a grinning Shou -- delirious with amusement.
"You had a wrinkle there," Shou chirped. "I'm getting rid of it for you."
Hiroto crinkled his nose. "I'm only 21," he argued. "I don't have wrinkles!"
Shou grinned. "You do, too!" he protested. "It shows up whenever you think too hard and your eyebrows furrow. It's kind of cute actually."
Hiroto scoffed. "I don't have wrinkles," he persisted.
"Whatever you say, love," Shou mused before brushing his lips against Hiroto's forehead. "Good morning. Let's make today memorable, okay?"
Hiroto nodded and smiled at his lover in agreement, but his eyes darkened. Today was the day Shou would face his parents, and he couldn't help but feel anxious about it. Even though he should feel hopeful, there was a nasty feeling in his stomach. Something would happen, but Hiroto didn't know what would happen. Shou might be placed under an even stricter house arrest, or Hiroto might be buried beneath racers who have been waiting to taint his reputation once he made his -- supposedly -- last and final comeback.
Once again, Shou was successful in sensing his lover's apprehension. His fingers weaved through Hiroto's hair and stroked his cheek adoringly and in a soothing manner. "Don't worry about a thing, Hiroto," Shou told him. "I know my parents best. They'll definitely give up after what I have to say. I'll protect you, Hiroto, from my family and from any other danger with everything I have."
"Me too," Hiroto whispered back. "I'll protect you, too, Shou..."
&&
He remembered Hiroto telling him that he liked steel towers before he had his accident. Kazumasa supposed that was why he lived in Tokyo and why he lived on the third floor of the apartment complex. There were plenty of skyscrapers and even the Tokyo Radio Tower to gape at. It was easy to see that Hiroto liked the sky. He often found Hiroto gazing at clouds during daylight and at the moon and stars in the night sky.
Right now, Kazumasa could see why Hiroto loved the sky. It was vast and wide and never-ending; it stretched all over the tiny blue planet everyone and everything lived on. It connected tiny insignificant lives that -- ultimately -- mattered to each other. It watched over daily lives -- virtues and sins -- and it covered everyone and everything in a forever-changing blanket. One moment it would be blue, the next moment it would be pink stained with various other hues, and another moment it would be as dark as the bottom of the ocean.
"What are you thinking about now?" Hiroto inquired curiously from the wheel.
Kazumasa turned his head and smiled sheepishly at the blonde. "Nothing much. Just the sky," he told his lover. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"
"Yeah," Hiroto replied just as dreamily. "If I was to be reborn, I'd want to be the sky!"
"Why the sky?" Kazumasa questioned. "You can be so many other things."
"Because then I'll be able to watch over my loved ones," Hiroto answered frankly. "What other reason is there?"
At his response, Kazumasa grinned and continued staring out the window. Music from the radio filled up the empty spaces reserved for unnecessary dialogue before it was drowned out by noises of Tokyo's rush hour. The honking of cabs and the purring of buses caused Hiroto to sigh. It was nothing bitter, nothing disappointing, nothing nostaglic, and nothing relieved. It was simply a sigh pulled from his chest.
"Should I drop you off at your house first?" Hiroto inquired.
"The sooner we get this done, the better," Kazumasa replied. His parents wouldn't welcome him back with open arms anyways. Rather, the head butler, Kawamura, would make sure he was safe and well. Afterwards, he would call Ichinomiya, who would later inform his father. On the other hand, his mother would receive word from Kawamura to her lady in waiting. It was a long process, and it was tiring. Kazumasa would be resting in his room for nearly an hour or two just for both of his parents to be notified about his appearance -- perhaps even longer. "I might be back at the apartment by tonight. If not, then..." Kazumasa trailed off, hesitant. "...then you better be prepared not to hear from me for a while."
Hiroto's eyes widened, and he was left speechless. "What's that supposed to mean?" he cried. "I thought you said they would understand!"
"They should," Kazumasa confirmed with a nod, "but my father has an issue with his pride. Like your brother said, he's stubborn. He absolutely refuses to give up the company to anyone other than his offspring -- not even his own brother qualifies for the president's seat -- and I happen to be his only son. It'll be quite a fight, but I'm more than confident I'll leave the house victorious. Believe in me." Kazumasa reached out for his lover's hand and squeezed it gingerly. Hiroto reluctantly looked into Kazumasa's unwavering eyes before nodding. The response -- although hesitant -- was good enough for Hiroto. The brunet leaned forward and pressed his lips against Hiroto's forehead. "I'll be back as soon as I can."
It was only minutes later when Kazumasa had exited Hiroto's temporary car. The Civic lingered in its spot until the taller man disappeared behind a shrunken Great Wall of China that guarded the main house. That was when Hiroto had left for his own affairs. He drove to The Royal Kitchen with Mogu in the passenger seat.
The restaurant was empty and currently closed. It would only open within another hour, but that didn't mean that the employees hadn't arrived yet. It was still preparation time, and -- hopefully -- they had a few seconds to spare in order to hear Hiroto out. The blonde pushed open the door to the restaurant with Mogu in his arms and then pushed open one of the double doors leading into the kitchen.
"Hiroto!" Nao exclaimed. "You're not supposed to be back yet! Where's Shou-kun?"
"He's at his family's main house," Hiroto answered, "and he's prepared to face his parents. This will be the last round. If all goes well, he'll come back."
Saga raised an eyebrow. "Why did he go back to face his parents? I don't understand. We broke him out of that prison. He's free now, isn't he?" Saga pointed out.
Hiroto pursed his lips. "If you put it that way, he's as free as he can be with a collar around his neck. He went back to get it removed," Hiroto explained. "I want to do the same myself. Saga, Tora, do you know anything about The Phantom Rider? He's like a ghost haunting me recently..."
Tora and Saga exchanged confused glances that Nao had been wearing for the past few minutes. Tora spoke first, "We only know as much as what you can find on the Internet. If you want real dirt on the Phantom, you'll have to talk with Ruki." Hiroto nodded, accepting the response readily, before Tora continued speaking, "Be careful though."
Saga nodded. "It's not a good idea to screw around with paranormal shit," he added. "This Phantom, for all we know, is a shadow stalking the streets. The funny thing is that he's only shown up since you entered the racing scene."
Hiroto nodded as Kyo's words repeated in his mind, "He's searching for his other half. He wants to be whole again? ... Kuroto or Hiroto? Which one are you, Ogata?"
"That's because, maybe, I am the Phantom Rider," Hiroto murmured under his breath. He hadn't meant to voice his thoughts. However, as it was silent, everyone surrounding Hiroto was able to pick up his words. With surprise written on their faces, Hiroto smiled sheepishly. "I figured out what Kyo was implying. I'll explain later. I have to find Uru--"
"You can explain now," a voice behind Hiroto demanded. Hiroto whirled around and found Uruha standing there with his arms crossed. "I get a call from Kaoru saying that Kyo wants an answer from Hiroto right away, and that's what I hear? You're the Phantom? That's impossible. The Phantom Rider is far beyond your level of racing."
"Because he's only half of me," Hiroto persisted. "He's an apparition of the darkness that has gathered in my heart when I race against time. I'm Hiroto the 9th Street Prince, but he's what one could call the real Kuroto, my darkness that has transformed into the Phantom Rider. He appeared four years ago, didn't he? That's when I made my debut in the racing world. There really might be a connection between the two of us.
"Kyo told me something about the Phantom. He told me that he has no interest in me, but he wants to race the Phantom. He confronted me because he knew that I'm the only one who can draw him out because the Phantom Rider wants to be whole again. While Kyo is looking for the Phantom, the Phantom is looking for me. It's looking for acceptance."
Silent swept through the kitchen, and Mogu barked in disdain. It was too quiet, and he didn't like how his owner was being ignored. Nao spoke up, "I know I'm no expert on things related to occult, paranormal, and superstition, but what Hiroto said makes sense...in a way."
Hiroto beamed at his friend. "Thank you, Nao-san!" He turned back to Uruha, "Tell Kyo that Kuroto will race him. When Kuroto beats him, we will vanish from the underground for good. I don't plan on racing again, Uruha. I want to go back to the surface. I want to carve a future for myself. I want to walk a path with Shou. My goal probably never even existed in the first place. I can't find my father: he's dead."
Saga and Tora exhanged hushed whispers about Hiroto's final words, bewildered about how Hiroto learned of his father's death and how the last four years were spent in vain. On the other hand, after swallowing Hiroto's words, Uruha sighed. "Okay, I get it, I get it. I'll just tell Kaoru that we'll have a race tonight. How about that?"
Hiroto nodded. "That's fine." The only problem was that he wasn't 100% sure if the Phantom will appear. It's only a matter of trying though.
"Uruha, why are you here?" Saga then questioned incredulously. "You could have called Hiroto if you just wanted to tell him about Kaoru's message, and how did you know he was here in the first place?"
Uruha's face grew to become a shade of pink. He coughed and averted his gaze from the skeptical waiter. "That wasn't the reason why I came here," he muttered.
"I called him here," Aoi announced from his office. "I wanted to discuss how much I'd be willing to fund him if the Kohara family gets onto his ass for assisting in the breakout of their son."
Hiroto smirked to himself. If Uruha truly hated Aoi's guts, he was sure that the honey haired motorcyclist would have rather commit suicide than to appear in front of the raven haired businessman. The blonde rolled his eyes behind Uruha's back before taking his leave without giving much of a notice.
"Hiroto, your apartment--" Saga called out, but it was already too late. Hiroto had disappeared without a trace. He really needed to break that habit. The waiter sighed in complete and utter defeat. "Do you think he'll be okay?"
"He's Hiroto," Tora said pointedly. "Of course he'll be fine. He's got the devil's luck."
Nao chewed nervously on his lower lip. "Are you sure? The guards haven't exactly left his apartment alone just yet..." he mentioned. "What if he gets caught and beaten up and thrown into a dumpster somewhere?!"
Tora shrugged. "He's got Mogu to protect him," Tora responded.
Saga snorted. "What's he going to do? Kill the guards with his fluff?" he retorted. "He's a Pomeranian the size of a Smurf -- three goddamn apples tall!"
"He's still a dog," the dark haired chef argued. "I'm sure Mogu's got some sort of backbone."
"Tora, we're going," Saga growled before dragging the chef off -- in uniform and carrying a spatula. "Nao, let Aoi know we'll be gone for a while!" The barista was left behind, blinking in a storm of confusion.
"Okay, take care~" he chimed after Saga and Tora disappeared out the door.
&&
"Ogata-kun!" Teru exclaimed as he was on his way out. He pulled the blonde and the puppy in his arms off to the side with large eyes ridden with surprise and a slight hint of fear. "There have been men in black suits surrounding your apartment all day yesterday and even now! You never came back yesterday either! What happened? Did you run off with some rich heiress and now her family's after you?"
Hiroto raised an eyebrow at Teru's assumption. "Err, that's close. I ran away with a rich heir, and not just any rich heir, I ran off with the heir to the Kohara family. More specifically, I ran away with Shou..." Teru deserved to know. Plus, he was trustworthy. Hiroto knew that his landlord wasn't the type to run off and blab about his tenant's private lives to other people. He kept confidential information confidential.
The largeness of his eyes hadn't decreased in size at all.
"Ehh? Shou-kun is the heir to the Kohara Company?" Teru repeated before studying the current situation. "Where is he? He's not with you?"
"He went back," Hiroto explained, "to tell his parents to stop looking for him and to call off everything that they're doing to bring him back."
Teru nodded. "In that case, I'm guessing the guys in front of your apartment didn't get the news to call off the cavalry," he presumed. "I say you shouldn't go up there right now. They might attack you."
"Then they might not as well," Hiroto reasoned. "I'll bet on that 50%. I have to fetch something important. I don't know when they'll leave, and I can't wait anymore."
Teru glanced at Hiroto, finding nothing but confidence and resolution. He caved into Hiroto's words and patted his tenant on the back. "Good luck," he whispered before leaving on his errands. Hiroto nodded before their shoulders brushed lightly against each other upon going their separate ways. After crossing the lobby, the blonde entered the elevator that took him to the third floor. He placed Mogu down at his feet, knowing that Mogu would know his way to the apartment as soon as the elevator doors opened to the third floor.
Unfortunately, as soon as the doors parted, he was greeted by a much taller man with a muscular build. He was probably the size of Mount Everest, too.
Hiroto's shoulders were grasped as another man beside the first stranger pulled out a photo and grunted. It was a grunt of recognition and confirmation. Mogu began barking furiously but was simply ignored by the guards. The blonde began to squirm, attempting to wiggle out of the hold. He swung his arms violently and kicked his legs as he was hauled over a shoulder. He screamed out, "Let me go! Put me down!" and slammed his fists onto the man's back repetitively. His actions were nothing more than a poke to these men, and that was when Hiroto realized that he was merely a stick in a situation such as this.
He remembered how his mother told him that Aki had inherited his father's strength, but Hiroto had inherited his father's agility.
The blonde stopped swinging his arms and dug his palms into the man's shoulder. He swung his legs around in an attempt to break free. "Let go!" he grunted before trying a new tactic. He swung his legs back into the air and, after gaining some momentum, lifted his abdomen as he pressed his palms against the man's shoulder blade, flipping over the man's shoulder and landing onto the floor on a single knee and his foot.
"You faggot!" the guard cursed.
Hiroto stuck out his tongue childishly. "Where would you even take me? Shou's not even here! He went back!" he sneered before scrambling onto his feet and dashing towards the direction of his apartment with Mogu hot on his trail. His hands furiously searched his pockets for his keys before he felt a tight grip on his shoulder, making him yelp in pain. Soon, he was whirled around, only to see a heavy punch landing on the side of the man's jaw.
"Hurry up and open the damn door!" Tora hissed.
Hiroto nodded furiously and drew out the keys from his pocket before inserting it into the lock and twisting the door knob open. He ushered Mogu inside hurriedly before swiftly stepping out of his boots and scurrying to his bedroom. The young man dug towards the back of his closet and pulled out his prized possession of seven years: a gig bag containing none other than his beautiful electric guitar, a Fender Standard Stratocaster in black.
He hurried back outside with Mogu in his arms only to see Saga and Tora guarding his door from the much larger men in black. They exchanged glances and soft, subtle smiles before ushering Hiroto off the third floor and out of the apartment complex.
&&
A/N: This was pretty late. My apologies! I've been spending the past two days devoted to family. I'm not that close to my relatives, but I actually had a lot of fun. I'm still sick though. Unbelievable. I'm usually better in three days, but it's lasted two weeks already. Anyways, about RUMWOLF, the story is just about to be wrapped up. Can you tell? I'm still leaving you guys in suspense though. For example, "Oh, what'll be of Shou?" and "What's Hiroto up to?" I'm not ending anything entirely until the epilogue.
Minus two updates. Thirty chapters including the prologue and epilogue. That means after Track 27 comes Track 28 with the epilogue. Thus, I'm planning to end this story within two weeks. Share your thoughts while you can(;
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