Lost & Found - Episode 4 Part 1
Title : Lost & Found
Chapter Title : Good and Bad
Setting : Hidarime Tantei EYE - Post Special Drama
Summary : What if at the end, Ainosuke's resolve crumbles, leaving him vulnerable in front of his older brother. What will Ainosuke do? And how will Yumeto react to the drastic decision his baby brother had come onto?
Rating : K+
Disclaimer : The characters n original storyline are not mine. Only the changes in plot are :)
Ainosuke blinked slowly as he stared at the woman standing in front of him. Then, remembering his manners, he quickly sketched a light bow.
“Good evening.”
“Good evening, Tanaka-kun”
Straightening with a little gape, eyes wide with wonder and not a little amount of incredulity, he had to immediately check his patient uniform. Was there perhaps a name tag of a sort? There was no tags though, so he checked his IV line that he had dragged with him - the wheels on it had been really great help - and only get more confused when he found nothing on them as well.
“Surprised that I know your name?”
Lifting his face, he stared at the smiling woman in front of him before nodding hesitantly. The corner of her lips lifted some more, seemingly amused at his confusion.
“You are kind of famous, Tanaka-kun.”
A pair of brown eyes blinked slowly, “I am…?”
“You are. At least, among us you are.”
He tilted his head a little, brows furrowed slightly. How was he famous within the medical personal in this hospital?
“After all, you are our esteemed leader’s cute little brother.”
He felt his heart gave a little lurch. Felt it so physically that he believed for a moment that it really tried to jump out of his chest. His left hand clutched the IV pole even more tightly, his feet taking a few small steps backwards. Face paling, he stuttered some incomprehensible words, unable to even uttered a word.
This woman was an accomplice of his brother. Like Yoshida-san. His eyes widened. If Yoshida-san was placed in the hotel where the case was going to take place, of course his brother would have stationed someone in the hospital as well. For… For tying loose ends.
His lips trembled, eyes finally straying from the woman’s still smiling face to the inside of the room. The names at the side of the door read Masuda, both the groom and his father. It can’t be…
“Ah, you noticed.”
Averting his gaze back to the unknown woman, he was torn between rushing in to check the father and son, and running away. In the end, his feet stilled.
“Don’t bother,” he shivered, hearing the sadistic tone that had entered the woman’s voice, “They’re dead. And to be honest…”
She was coming closer. His brain screamed at him, demanding that he put as much distance between them. But he was frozen, legs refusing to move. His right hand move to clutch at the front of his patient kimono, as if wanting something to anchor himself to. A manicured hand moved closer to his face and he flinched, withdrawing into himself involuntarily. When all that the hand did was tucking a lock of hair behind his ear, he opened his eyes.
Fear reflected in his eyes, the gentle touch on his hair clashing with the unholy gleam that the pair in front of him showed.
“… why aren’t you?”
He gulped nervously, heart thumping loudly.
“You are a nuisance.”
It was as if the woman had stabbed him physically. His heart was hurting, and his hand clenched the fabric above it more tightly.
“You make him weak.”
There was no doubt as to whom ‘him’ was referring to. The hand was now caressing his cheek, still gentle, but unbelievably cold. And he daren’t move.
“I really should kill you now, when I have this chance.”
His eyes widened, his breath escaped in short gasps. The woman in front of him only smiled wider, withdrawing her hand and pulling away.
“But not yet. The game’s still early. There will be other opportunities.”
He barely noticed the door to the two victims’ room being closed. Barely aware of the hand patting his head.
“It’s nice to meet you, Tanaka Ainosuke-kun. Until next time.”
The sound of heels hitting the floor were gradually getting quieter, yet he could not bring himself to move his body. Then, as if his strength abruptly left him, he slid down onto the floor. His left hand trembling, while the right clenched rather painfully, fisting the fabric of his kimono.
The woman’s words continued to echo in his mind.
xxx
“Repeat that.”
Kato could feel the incredulous stare that his new partner gave him. And the stern one that stared straight back at him did not help him any. But he had decided that this arrangement was the best one that he could come up with. No one would be able to tell him otherwise.
“I want Ainosuke-kun to stay with me at my apartment.”
Silence greeted his statement.
“This was not what I had expected when I asked you to see to Ainosuke-kun’s accommodation, Kato.”
“I know, Fukuchi-san,” he nodded, willing his voice to keep steady, “But after much deliberation, I think this arrangement will suit him the most. He is fifteen, and with a high chance of having an emotional trauma. Can you honestly say that you are fine letting him live alone without any supervision?”
He clenched his fists when Fukuchi-san let out a sigh and massaged his temple.
It was probably rather forward of him, but he was determined to see this through. Ainosuke-kun had gone through so much, and it was not fair that the boy had to face them all by himself. Moreover, this way, the empty room that he had been using as storage can finally be useful other than collecting dust.
“I think it’s a good idea.”
Eyes widening, he averted his gaze. Only to meet Sakisaka’s oddly serene face.
“As Kato-san said, Ainosuke-kun was still a teenager. A child. One who was most probably still recovering from this whole kidnapping ordeal. And who also seemed to still be involved in the present’s case as well, as you had mentioned that two crime planners have taken interest in him.”
What?
Snapping back to face Fukuchi-san, he felt dread filled his mind as no denial was given.
“Moreover, he had known Kato-san as well. So instead of trusting him into the care of some stranger, wouldn’t Kato-san be a better choice?”
Glancing at the man standing beside him, he couldn’t help but frown. There was a strange tilt in the other’s voice that he could not identify. It was like, a bit like relief mixed with sadness. But it might be just him. There was no reason for Sakisaka to feel that way.
A resigned sigh pulled his attention back to Fukuchi-san.
“You do realize, Kato. That you might need to apply for a guardianship over Ainosuke-kun?”
He gulped, but his voice was steady.
“I do.”
A nod.
“Just so you are aware of the consequences. Now that we’ve established that, there is something that I want you two to do. Keep an eye out if there are anything that has to do with song happening around Ainosuke-kun.”
The relief he felt was quickly being overwhelmed by confusion.
“Song?”
“I want to know who exactly is the boy we know as Tanaka Ainosuke. And no, Kato. Your explanation as to having extremely good instinct would not do.”
He closed his mouth.
“He catches the attention of two crime planners. One of which had already kidnapped him, only to return him without any demands. The fact that he’s still alive alone is unthinkable, especially when they know he had succeeded in thwarting their plan once before. Can you really say that it is normal?”
It was not. Kato furrowed his brows, knowing that both he and Sayama-sensei had also puzzling over those facts many times. Each unwilling to think that Ainosuke-kun was a willing captive, but couldn’t help but do so anyway.
A ringtone disturbed the rather morose atmosphere that had befallen the three of them. With a sheepish apology to the other two, Kato retrieved his phone.
“Yes?”
“Kato-san! Come here, quick! Something happened to Ainosuke!”
Panic rose in his chest.
“What do you mean something happened to Ainosuke-kun? What something? Is he hurt? What?”
He saw both Fukuchi-san and Sakisaka tensed, watching him with trepidation.
“I don’t know! The nurse said she found him unresponsive in front of Masuda-san’s room and now he won’t react to whatever I said or do! And Masuda-san, both of them, are found dead this morning as well!”
“They what?”
“They’re dead, aren’t you listening! Anyway come here, quickly! I don’t know what to do!”
“I’m going, I’m going! Try to get him to say something!”
“What do you think I’ve been doing?!”
The line closed off abruptly. Flipping his phone closed, he met the questioning gazes of his superior officer and partner. And just as he thought the situation had finally cool down somewhat.
“Sayama-sensei that the Masuda father and son were found dead this morning,” he took a deep breath, seeing the alarmed look that Fukuchi-san had on his face, “And that Ainosuke-kun was found in front of their room, and seemed to be in shock that he’s unable to give his side of story.”
xxx
Yumeto felt especially dumb as he hurried along with Kato-san and Fukuchi-san. Not because of the act itself, but rather because of the slight misstep in his plan. A small thing that made a world of different. Three months worth of careful maneuver gone in an instant.
Just how could he sent Noriko to silence the victims? How could he forget that his brother was currently confined in the same building?
Finally stepping into the room where his little brother was staying, he felt his heart clenched at the sight that greeted him. Ainosuke was pale, his hands trembling minutely. Eyes that were not focusing on anything was staring straight ahead, not minding all the attempt that the school nurse was doing to get his attention.
“It’s my fault, Sensei.”
Well, not quite so unresponsive, but no less worrying. The whispered words echoed loudly in the small room, and he could relate to the helpless expression that Sayama Hitomi was currently showing.
“Whatever it was, I’m sure that it was not your fault, Ainosuke.”
“It’s my fault.”
Kato-san moved then, sitting on the bed on the other side that Sayama-sensei was sitting. The two exchanged a look, the school nurse gripping the smaller hand of his brother a little bit tighter. His legs finally regaining its nerves, he felt himself moving closer to the hospital bed. And as if feeling his presence, his little brother eyes found his.
“I’m sorry,” was said almost without sound, but he caught it nonetheless.
He felt his heart beating louder, pace increasing. What was his brother apologizing for? He couldn’t have remembered what happened eight years ago, could he? Just what did Noriko say to Ainosuke?
“You have nothing to apologize for,” he said aloud, not particularly caring of the other three presence that were in the room. He could deal with that later. His priority was - as it had always been and so always will - his little brother, everything else came later.
“Sorry that I’m such a nuisance.”
A tear finally fell and Yumeto clenched his hands, forcing himself to stay still and not hunt Noriko out right there. Is that what that troublesome woman had said?
“You are not a nuisance,” Kato-san beat him to the punch, his hands were now at the side of his little brother’s head. Forcing the boy to look at him.
“Whoever said that to you is lying,” the older man continued, “All of us here care for you. That would not happen if we think of you as a nuisance. We want to be here. To help. Alright?”
“B-but she - ”
Noriko. Yumeto bit back a growl.
“No,” was said with a stern tone that he rarely heard from Kato-san. “She’s lying. Whoever she is. Who do you believe more? Us? Or a total stranger that you’ve just met? We’re here, Ainosuke-kun. We’re here with you. We’re here for you. Please, at the very least, believe that?”
A few seconds passed without anyone moving, until finally, hesitantly, his little brother nodded.
“Good.”
Kato-san moved his hands away, but not before patting the mop of dark hair affectionately. Yumeto felt a pang in his heart, but tediously ignored it. His brother had needed the comfort, and if someone else stepped up to provide it when he was indisposed, he wouldn’t complain.
“There was something else.”
The nervous tone in Kato-san’s voice made him stiffen. A glance to his side showed that Fukuchi-san had done the same. Sayama-sensei only stared at them in confusion.
“With your agreement, and only if you agree, of course. I would like to foster you.”
k59: What to say, what to say. So I've been feeling guilty about not updating my stories, since two person recently comment about how thev've been waiting for update for two separates stories of mine. I won't give any excuse, just sorry. And I'm hoping to get my stories finished, wish me luck?