Running (Chapter 29)
Title: Running
Pairing: Yoosu, ChangKi, Yunjae
Rating: PG-15
Genre: Angst, Comedy
Quotes:
"There is no such thing as [running] forever."
The events on the television screen reflected in Yoochun’s eyes. He listened to every word that the reporter said.
It was reporting that a business name by the surname ‘Hwang’ was found dead in his mansion. The mansion had been burnt and Hwang’s charcoal body was found in his office. People are predicting suicide due to the failing of his business and inability to face bankruptcy. Yoochun wondered how long it would take for police to find out that this business man made most of his money by providing cocaine and meth to the mafia.
And then there would be things that the police would never find out: such as the fact that Bae had killed Hwang for betraying him and the fire was just used to cover scars of torture that Bae had inflicted on the man.
And they would never know that Yoochun had set it all up. It was true that Hwang had told the police about Bae’s club…but only because Hwang thought that Bae had betrayed him.
Hwang had been losing business ever since people found the connection between him and the five gangs that had fallen. Then he’d finally found the listening device attached to a certain suitcase of money that he kept in his private office. It took longer than Yoochun had favored, but better late than never.
Yoochun had put the listening device on the suitcase that night, about two months ago, when they made that trade with Hwang; when Hwang’s assistant had provided Yoochun with the lighter for his cigarette.
Next would be Bae’s second most profitable partner: Song. Song provided Bae with weapons. Once news about Hwang gets out, Song will surely check everything that he’s ever accepted from Bae. Then he’d find the listening device that came with the second package Yoochun had told the little girl to give to Cho Kyuhyun.
Sacrifices need to happen. At least, now, the bad people were being sacrificed for the sake of the good.
=====
“There you are!”
Geun Suk swung the arm away and was ready to attack the person. Then he realized who it was. “Changmin?”
“Why haven’t you been calling me? It took me this long just to find you in privacy,” Changmin demanded. Then he glanced at their quiet surrounding. “Should I know why you’re out here at this time of the night?”
This field was a difficult place to find. Even if someone followed Geun Suk, they would get lost immediately…unless the person was Changmin and knew his way around this hidden location. Changmin had followed Geun Suk, but was surprised that he even knew about this place. Because only one other person who about this place (besides Changmin). That person is…
“You’re too good at finding people,” a voice interrupted them.
Changmin’s eyes widened. “Yoochun!”
Geun Suk had to raise an eyebrow at how familiar Changmin was with the fake name. Geun Suk was still calling him ‘Micky’.
“Why are you here? Where’d you leave Kibum?” Yoochun demanded.
“Kibum is safe, don’t worry. I’ve been trying to track Geun Suk down because I wanted information. I wanted to know what was going on with all the police raids and I was hoping I could somehow use it to my advantage,” Changmin explained.
“I know what you’re thinking. There’s no need. I’m already doing it. Things will end soon and no one will have to hide anymore.”
Changmin’s brows furrowed. “That’s what you’ve been up to in the past months? Without me?”
“Kibum needed you…and he’ll always need you by his side. I would appreciate it if you’d continue to stay out.”
Changmin stared at Yoochun and then at Geun Suk. It dawned on him. “Geun Suk was the one who put the note in front of Jung Yunho’s door.”
[F.l.a.s.h.b.a.c.k]
“Geun Suk has been keeping me clear. Bae won’t suspect me,” Changmin explained. Geun Suk owed Changmin his life and even though he was one of Bae’s favored men, he still agreed to help Changmin.
“It doesn’t matter. I don’t want to drag you along and I don’t want to cause any problems for Geun Suk either. He’s a good kid,” Yoochun recalled.
[E.n.d.F.l.a.s.h.b.a.c.k]
Changmin mentally slapped himself. From Yoochun’s tone, he should have been able to tell that Yoochun was well acquainted with Geun Suk.
“I contacted Geun Suk that day after Kibum found out the truth. We talked and I found out that Bae had people watching us. It was another reason for me to send Junsu back to Jung.”
“So you can go back to Bae?”
Yoochun nodded. “I never told you, but I have the microchip. It was in a necklace that Junho had given his brother.”
“Why didn’t you just give the microchip to the police then?” Changmin demanded.
“Stupid question, Changmin,” Geun Suk drawled. Changmin glared at him.
Then he thought about the question and came up with his own answers, “Because the microchip would only put Bae in jail and he could easily hire someone to bail him out. His twisted lawyers might even be able to find someone to take his place in jail. If that happens, Bae will want revenge…and he’ll kill us all.”
“The only way to prevent Bae from causing anymore harm…” Yoochun began.
“Is to kill him! You’re plotting to kill him!” Changmin exclaimed with wide eyes. It was a good thing they were in a private area. Yoochun could see that a lot of Kibum’s personality had rubbed off on Changmin. That made him want to smile.
“I want to free everyone from Bae. It’s not just for Junsu; it’s for you, for Kibum, even for Jung and his boyfriend. There are people in the gang who just want a normal life, but it’s not possible if Bae’s empire isn’t taken down.”
Changmin followed Yoochun’s eyes and found himself staring into Geun Suk’s sad eyes. “Geun Suk is one of them.”
“There’s a girl I love. Her name is Shin Hye. But…it’s not possible for me to pull out of the mafia and as long as I’m a part of it, she’ll be in danger. You understand, don’t you?”
Changmin thought of Kibum. He still hadn’t confessed to Kibum, worried that his past would catch up to him and cause harm to the one he loved. “Yes, I understand.”
“Then leave,” Yoochun ordered.
“I can’t just let you two do this on your own,” Changmin protested.
“For Kibum, you can’t. Geun Suk won’t either. He’ll be far away with Shin Hye when the day comes. I’m going into this alone and I’m going to win,” Yoochun paused. “Now leave so Geun Suk and I can discuss further details. I want to take Bae down as soon as possible. The perfect timing is in the next week. We can’t lose this opportunity.”
Changmin lowered his head. He clamped his mouth shut so that he wouldn’t say, ‘I have Kibum. Geun Suk has Shin Hye. What about you and Junsu?’
=====
Xiah shot up from the bed, drenched from sweat. Just a dream. A nightmare. Just a nightmare.
His eyes traveled to the other side of the room where the luggage and the stuff animal had been abandoned. He glanced at the closed door of his room and then the clock. Yunho and Jaejoong were most likely asleep right now.
So Xiah had the courage to step off the bed. He retrieved Mr. Bunny and returned to his bed.
Hugging the stuffed animal close to his heart, he managed to find sleep again.
=====
“Geun Suk, why did you call me out at this time? What’s wrong?”
“There’s something…I don’t know if Micky has told you…”
Changmin couldn’t quite see the other man’s expression in the darkness. “What is it?”
“I found this out from Kangin…since he’d been around at that time and I was out of town on a job,” Geun Suk paused. “Do you remember Kim Bomi?”
“Bae’s wife. She was found cheating on him and he…tortured her to death,” Changmin recalled.
Geun Suk spoke slowly, glad that this topic had captured Changmin’s attention. He was sorry for doing this, but he promised Micky that he would. “Bomi was cheating on Bae…with Junho.”
Changmin’s eyes widened. He had been on a job when this happened too so he didn’t know details. It didn’t help that Bae had tried to keep it a secret too.
“That means…”
“Junho stole the microchip and wanted to use it to blackmail Bae…not for money, but for him to let Bomi go. They were in love. They wanted to run away together, but…it couldn’t happen,” Geun Suk sighed, suddenly feeling thankful to have Shin Hye in his life. “And she wasn’t exactly tortured to death. Micky killed her.”
Changmin’s brows furrowed. “Why?”
“Death can be better than Pain. Bae doesn’t just torture people physically, but mentally as well.”
And the same theory applied to Kim Junho. After the night that Micky had killed Junho, there were murmurs going around about what Micky had said to Junho. He’d pulled Junho close and murmured some words that no one else could hear. People made guesses on what Micky had said, but no one really knew.
Could it be that he was informing Junho of Bomi’s death?
Then Changmin recalled the last time, nearly one week ago, when they had met in this isolated field.
[F.l.a.s.h.b.a.c.k]
“Now leave so Geun Suk and I can discuss further details. I want to take Bae down as soon as possible. The perfect timing is in the next week. We can’t lose this opportunity.”
[E.n.d.F.l.a.s.h.b.a.c.k]
Changmin’s eyes widened in realization and Geun Suk’s head lowered, unable to meet his eyes. “He’s doing it tonight, isn’t he? And he sent you here to distract me!”
“He knows you won’t listen! I’m sorry.”
He’d been following the news in the past week. The police were closing in on the mafia, and two of the most powerful mafia leaders were at war with each other. Then the police had not attacked in three days, probably to cause restlessness or give false hope.
Then the nine o’clock news had reported on the biggest ambush of the century. Changmin knew it wasn’t over so he apologized for not being able to eat a late dinner with Kibum and went out to find Yoochun. He couldn’t find Yoochun, but Geun Suk called him. Now he knew why.
Changmin broke into a run. He ran and ran and tried to think of all the possible places Yoochun could be, places Yoochun would find Bae to be. He ran and ran and hoped that he could make it in time to help.
Chapter 30 // “Are you happy?”