Chapter 16 - A lightning before death.
“No, no, no.” Junsu whispered brokenly, a single lone dewdrop slipping free of its crystal chasm to peel past his curled lashes, trembling down a slightly quavering cheek with each shallow, heaving breath. He bit down harshly upon his bottom lip, stifling the unbidden tremors that clawed through his thin frame, wracking his hunched shoulders, his arms wrapped tightly around his curled body in a snug embrace. He rocked slightly, a hypnotic undulating spiral of his fractured emotions, unheeding of the dozen of eyes trained upon his noiseless sobs in stunned silence.
Yoochun broke the deathly hush, shifting hesitantly towards the splintered façade of his angel’s quivering frame, murmuring ever so softly. “Baby? What’s wrong?” A distressed frown marred his smooth forehead, an ugly twist of his lips as they drew tightly together in a thin line of dread. Yoochun reached out a troubled hand, placing it gently upon Junsu's shoulder, his slim fingers caressing lightly against the soft cotton, his thumb pad smoothing away the invisible creases in soothing circles. He crouched down, reaching up a palm to brush away at the curtain of hair that fell lankly forward, peering up at Junsu's shadowed features, contorted into a grimace of anguish.
“No!” Junsu shouted, snapping his head up in a flash as he shoved Yoochun's startled frame to crash painfully into the sharpened edges of the low coffee table, an audible crack resounding within the cosy confines of their lounge room, piercing the silence with shards of ice. Yoochun winced in pain, gritting his teeth as he placed a palm gingerly upon the varnished surface, dragging his feet across the plush carpet in a bid to stumble upright, leaving behind an upturned furrow of white fur streaking like a sinuous snake beneath his soles.
A breeze whisked across his face, a whipping cut that bit against his stung cheeks, before tattering into oblivion as quickly as it had come, leaving the occupants slightly befuddled and disorientated. Yoochun lifted his gaze to rest sorrowfully upon the slight depression, a cleft upon the cushioned seat, the crinkled linoleum slowly fluffing back into its original position, a fleeting remnant of its occupant.
Junsu was gone.
***
Changmin felt his grip tighten around Airi's nimble fingers, the spiny imprint of their wedding ring digging into his palm, a pent up breath lodging itself stubbornly within the pit of his belly, refusing to budge as it continued with devilish delight upon the havoc it churned upon his frayed nerves. He started forward, an awkward jerk of his foot that stilled abruptly in place with a warning glance from Kit's frosty snarl. Changmin ached within his throbbing heart, an overwhelming impulse arcing through his fidgety frame, urging him to rush forward and embrace Junsu's foetal, miserable stance, to dab gently at his sodden tears, all the while cooing soft comforts to chase away the stricken anguish etched upon the corner of his eyes. But, his aunt was never wrong. He had no choice but to obey her.
And yet, fleetingly quick, it was over- the anguished outpouring of the blood of his old wounds dammed themselves back in place, the churning pound of his frazzled nerves settling into a comfortable throb, the tormenting maelstrom of emotions within his fractured skull slashing apart into ribboned streams- washed away with his absence, his simple presence vanishing with a mere wisp of air that weaved about the room in a half-hearted swirl.
Junsu was gone.
Changmin felt relief course through his veins, a small smile fighting to tug his lips upwards in triumph, his ardent love for Junsu dying into a mere fond remembrance of their shared memories, a lingering trace of affection evident within his burgeoning heart. But nevertheless, his love for Junsu was evidently gone. Changmin stepped closer to Airi, feeling the soft brush of her raven locks against his shoulder, tightening their interlaced fingers with a hesitant squeeze. This. Changmin breathed in deeply of her scent- earthly and distinctively feline, a graceful bolt of lavender crowning her head in a wreath of perfume- this was who he fell in love with.
“Junsu?” Yoochun called out weakly, staggering drunkenly upright. Changmin felt a pang of pity assault his heart, a fleeting glimpse of pure misery contorting the man’s chiselled features into a mask of regret, before he caught the uncertain glance that Yoochun sent Kit's way. Kit nodded her head curtly, releasing him from his duty, to flee in a maddened dash, his pale form streaking away past the gaping hollow of the doors entrance, to melt away into the shadowed recesses. A flurry of panicked limbs, an earnest quest to locate the other half of his heart- his soul.
***
A nervous cough sounded to his right. Jaejoong glanced down sharply to meet the nervous gaze of Hongki, a glimmer of fear tracing the corners around his tightened eyes. An edgy titter escaped past his pursed lips, drawn down in trepidation as he stared around at the circle of occupants, littered about the room in a relaxed noose, predatory, limber bodies strung taut into defensive crouches as they returned their complete attention upon the temporarily forgotten human, left to wallow upon the couch, uncomfortably vulnerable.
A reassuring smile lifted Kit's lips, as she padded over to seat herself upon the vacated couch, folding her long legs into a semblance of composure, tucking a length of chestnut curls behind an ear with a dainty finger. Lily followed closely after, in the wake of her lover, to perch lightly upon the upholstered armrests, their peachy cherry fabric casting her folded arms in a deathly pale, washed out complexion, complementing the purplish bruises beneath her wooden gaze. Jaejoong assumed he fared no better, tugging gently at Yunho's silent frame to accompany him as he sat next to Kit, crouching slightly forward to pin the terrified man to the gilded loveseat.
The man was no fool. No human being could have moved that fast. Not a single one. The blithe unassuming humans that surrounded him were by no means average, or even remotely normal. The quick flick of their heads, their avid gazes perked up abruptly as an unheard whisper of sound drifted into their sensitive ears, the sharp, sure flow of their graceful limbs arcing through the air, the faint shimmer of their skin, reflecting the last muted glow of sunshine streaking past a gap in the curtains. Most notably, their unearthly beauty- a mask of refined porcelain, beset with striking jewels of a myriad of colours, their irises pitch black and glinting, a hypnotic, entrancing swirl of varying shades, streaks of ink dissolving into a single piercing gaze that picked away at his every move- frankly, it unnerved Hongki.
And yet, a single man stood out from the rest. Snowy pinpricks of light from the Milky Way flowed down from the heavens, moulding itself into a mask of exquisite delicacy that adorned the planes and sharp angles of his face. Petaled rosette plum swirled in a bittersweet caress around pits of molten coal, a sinful pluck of lips curved in an eternal smirk lay beneath a narrow nose, jutting out arrogantly to complete his fair features. Silver glinted beneath the warm, golden glow of the rooms flickering candlelight’s, various wrought wired studs adorning the curve of his ear, peeking through a mass of tousled burgundy hair, styled messily into a short bob, their lacerated edges flicking like razor sharp knives to press keenly against his high cheekbones. Defined eyebrows countered his softened, almost feline appearance, strengthening his hooded gaze to bore deep down into a person’s soul- at once alluring and menacing. The man’s name was Jaejoong.
Hongki fidgeted nervously within his seat, freezing abruptly as he glimpsed Lily's narrowed gaze of annoyance. “I'm-… I'm sorry, did I say something wrong?” He stuttered incoherently, pleading within his raging heart to still its frantic pounding against his chest, battering within the walls of his ribcage, rattling his composure from within. Jaejoong exchanged an unfathomable glance with Kit on his side, before turning to face the jittery man with a resolute roll of his shoulders.
“No. you said nothing wrong. I think they have to solve it by themselves. What I want to know now, is where my sister is being kept right now and what you want us to do about helping her.” Jaejoong uttered firmly, lapsing into contemplative silence as he continued staring expectantly at the poor man. Heck, everyone was staring at Hongki, who reached a shaking hand to scratch awkwardly at the back of his head.
“She’s being kept in Mr. Ikeda’s manor, her husband’s house. He hasn’t decided what to do to make an example of her, but I'm pretty sure he's done something to her already, but not enough to be fatal,” Hongki whispered faintly, his monosyllabic words laden with wretched desolation, bleak and miserable. “but he will act soon, and I can’t guarantee her life by the end of this week.” He gave out a short, barking laugh. His unseeing eyes stared down blankly, transfixed upon the auburn whorls that threaded through the carpet, their Persian designs at once opulent and elegant.
“I see,” Jaejoong stated smoothly, his steady words carrying out loud and clear within the confines of their cosy chamber. Hongki tossed his head up sharply in surprise, noting the lackadaisical answer with faltering hope, mirroring the similar widened orbs of surprise flitting across various faces of the room’s occupants. “I’ll have to think about what we can do. Meanwhile, we all need to get some sleep, at least for a few more hours…” Jaejoong trailed away, fixating his unblinking gaze upon the befuddled man, a perplexed frown furrowing Hongki’s brows together, a slight thinning of his lips, pursed tightly in simmering anger.
Hongki stood up abruptly, shifting his gaze between Jaejoong's stilled mask of icy composure and Kit's slightly sheepish smile as she gestured wordlessly to the door, all the while shooting worried gazes at her son, reclined in idle repose upon the weathered cushions. He bowed stiffly, murmuring his thanks, before jerking his body in barely concealed outrage, striding past the wooden frame to vanish beyond the carved lip, the tail of his jacket rustling against the gilded doorknob, its golden paint flaking away as rust wormed its way beneath the metal.
“Jaejae, are you alright?” Kit murmured softly, shifting within her seat to clasp Jaejoong's lax fingers, tugging at them gently to attract her sons wavering attention. She peered up at his hooded gaze, his rigid frame strung taut and frozen upon the padded cushions, his features schooled into a detached mask of calm, his reassuring smile tightly lipped and frosty. He nodded once, a brisk nod that sent his fringe to fall over his blank stare, throwing dusky shadows to scrawl across his wooden features. Kit squeezed his hands in a worried grip, before letting him slip his fingers gingerly from her outstretched palms.
“I'm just tired from all that’s been happening lately, I’ll be fine later,” Jaejoong murmured wearily. “but, I won’t be able to make my appointment tonight, I hope you don’t mind umma…” Jaejoong said formally, bowing his head slightly in apology. A filial son, ever conscious of his duty to this place, and yet, Kit searched earnestly within his clouded gaze for any hint of distress, wishing fervently for once for him to rip away the familiar mask of composure that he had cultivated throughout his life, beaten and moulded into an impeccable façade from the many trials and torments he had waded through. She nodded uncertainly, letting him slip away from her, chewing upon her bottom lip as she watched him exchange an impassive glance with Lily, before padding softly away back to his room.
Lily caught Yunho's apprehensive stare over the fiery mane of Kit's undulating hair. She gestured wordlessly towards Jaejoong retreating form, eliciting a troubled nod from Yunho as she extracted a promise from him to watch over her son. She placed a comforting hand over Kit's shoulder, watching with bated breaths at Yunho's tensed back, trailing behind in Jaejoong's wake.
“He’ll be alright, love.” Lily murmured, doubt blooming like a parasitic flower within the cracks of her thumping heart. Kit could only reach up a hand to fall over Lily's slim fingers, a single chink of the glassy heavens winking within their little bubble of tense silence, their wedding ring lying companionably beside each other upon their fingers.
Kit turned back abruptly, immediately meeting the quiet gaze of her nephew, ensconced firmly within a padded armchair, his fingers casually steepled together before his alert gaze, as he had observed the entire play of events unfolding through the slits between his hands. Airi had strolled away, her head bent over their collection of crystal bottles, various shades of darkened amber milling within their glass cages, her inquisitive fingers smoothing away at the crinkled edges of their glued covers, noting with appreciative nods at the printed years, their ancient dates foretelling an intricate story of its bottle’s content of malt whisky.
“The man is not lying,” Changmin stated offhandedly. “His right arm is faltering, must be due to an old tear in the arm ligament between his elbow joints. He has a habit of rubbing his thumb whenever he's nervous. He is around 25 and seems to be pretty smart, albeit lacking in speech skills. I’ll put him to be Mr. Ikeda’s personal bodyguard before he was switched to the wife.” Changmin rattled off in a monotone, with an almost clinical detachment, before he glanced sharply upwards to meet Lily's impassive gaze. “We can trust him to be telling the truth…” Lily's wintry stare softened as Changmin uttered the words, relief evident upon her face, her lips drawing down in barely concealed fatigue.
***
Yunho fretted and mulled over Jaejoong's perplexing behaviour. A faint frown outlined his forehead, his footfalls sounding a constant tap-tap-tap along the hallowed hallways, ribboned silver tendrils of incense curling in phantasmagorical whorls, hazed puffs that whirled away in the wake of his brisk passage. He came to an abrupt stop just before the stout wooden door, heaving a shallow breath before giving a gentle push against the streaked grains, his movements hesitant and erratic as he peered around the rim, an incomprehensible sense of dread settling like a poison within the pit of his belly, spreading its insidious fingers through his system.
Yunho drew in a tremulous gasp, feeble and frail, as he came upon Jaejoong's forlorn frame, his bunched shoulders facing Yunho's frozen silhouette beneath the arched doorframe. An angel smeared with the vestiges of humanity, his shoulders hunched over and pitiful, his shock of burgundy locks falling over to brush lightly across his face, his immense feathery wings stretching out to span the length of their room, their peaked tips trailing lightly across the wooden flooring. And yet, there was something lacking. Yunho blinked once, the momentary image of Jaejoong's wings fading away into oblivion, virgin feathers plummeting off his shoulders to splatter and melt into the ground, tattering away in strips to leave a fragile, beached man crumpled over on the inside.
“Jae?” Yunho whispered tentatively, moving one step forward to place a comforting hand upon the man’s tense shoulders. Jaejoong flinched at his touch, shuffling around slowly to face Yunho's concerned visage, breathing in deep, erratic gasps that wheezed through his straining lungs. “What’s wrong?” Yunho's grip tightened upon Jaejoong's shoulders, glimpsing his lashes laced together in a vain attempt to stifle his trembling lids. Jaejoong shook his head in a quick jerk, tossing his fringe to swish suddenly across his forehead, wordlessly closing the distance between both men in an abrupt step forward.
Yunho breathed a silent gasp, slowly lowering his head to feel Jaejoong's locks tickle the tip of his nose, warmth enveloping in a loving embrace, tucking him snugly within Jaejoong's arms. Cautious and slightly stunned, Yunho drew his arms up to embrace the shivering form, feeling Jaejoong tighten his grip around Yunho's sturdy frame, shuddering his sobs into the crook of the taller man’s nape- muffled, discordant weeps that drifted painfully into Yunho's ear.
Yunho marvelled at their melded bodies, every curve and dip of Jaejoong's slighter frame fitting like a jigsaw piece, the last battered and worn cardboard cut-out found at the bottom corner of the rectangular box containing the essential splash of colours that completed the thousand pieced puzzle. Whole and fulfilled, Yunho bent his head to nuzzle gently at Jaejoong's downturned cheek, drawing him closer to press their bodies tightly together, feeling a small smile tug at his lips as he heard the shocked intake of breath rattling past Jaejoong's parted lips. He felt around internally, smoothing his searching fingers across an unmarred surface, the fractured shards of his heart sealed together with an outpouring of gushing warmth, the steady throb of his heart thumping in jubilant joy.
“Shhh, shhh…” Yunho murmured softly, rocking their bodies within their little cocoon of tender emotions in a gentle sway, all the while humming a tuneless melody, drawing the flat of his palm in soothing circles across the expanse of Jaejoong's back, feeling the pull of Jaejoong's corded muscles flexing powerfully beneath his bony shoulder blades. “Everything will be alright. We’ll find your sister and get her out safe and sound. With everyone’s help, we’ll be able to accomplish anything, Jae ah… I know you must feel shaken with the news that she’s still alive, but you’ll get her back into your life very soon and pretty soon everything will fall back into place. We just have to concentrate on getting her back right now, okay?” Yunho whispered quietly into Jaejoong's ear, resting his head against Jaejoong's mass of tousled locks, breathing in deeply of his scent- a light trace of crushed jasmine buds layered over a smoky, rich concoction of heady incense and the bitter tang of acrid cigarette.
“I won’t let anything happen to you,” Yunho whispered fiercely, pulling back slightly to press his pursed lips gently against Jaejoong's temple, before drifting downwards to brush them lightly across Jaejoong's dewed lashes, coming away with a slight, damp wetness upon his lips. Jaejoong went unnaturally still, his frame tense and rigid in reflex before slowly uncoiling his taut muscles, moulding himself back into their joined embrace. Yunho flicked the pink nub of his tongue to sweep fleetingly across his lips, tasting the salty tears settle at the base of his tongue. “Everything will be fine.” Yunho stated firmly, moving himself unwillingly away from Jaejoong's enfolding cradle of warmth, noting the crestfallen droop of the skinny man’s shoulders.
Yunho chuckled lightly, slipping his fingers within Jaejoong's lax palm, entwining their slim fingers in a tight grip, feeling Jaejoong's warmth seep and thread its way through his skin to tendril golden motes through his pumping veins. He felt alight and glowing, a stupid grin breaking across his features as Jaejoong made no move to withdraw, replying with a bashful smile of his own. Yunho tugged them to the bed, slipping back beneath the ruffled covers, frayed tatters of black lace drifting across the snowy expanse as they disturbed the tangled fabric.
Yunho stared down in bewilderment at the littered fragments, visible tears along the intricate whorls of lace where they had been ruthfully ripped out. He narrowed his eyes, shifting his gaze to stare at the curled, lithe form of Yozo, reclining in barely concealed pleasure upon the padded loveseat by the single window. A single sliver of black lace had snagged itself upon Yozo’s claw- a barbed hook impaling the inky weave- lodging itself firmly within his pink pads. A tell-tale sign of his escapades while they had left the room momentarily, betraying his wilful adventures as Yozo had traipsed about the room in unrestrained curiosity.
Jaejoong smiled ruefully, ignoring Yunho's impatient shake of his head in exasperation, as he padded over to smooth a hand over the broad flat of Yozo's head, a clever twist of his nimble fingers picking out the annoying fabric from its uncomfortable press against the pink pads. Yozo rubbed his head against Jaejoong's open palm in appreciation, a deafening rumble resounding within the small confines of their bedroom as he purred his thanks. Jaejoong threaded his slim fingers down Yozo's spine one last time, eliciting him to arch his spine in reflex, a visible shiver of delight trailing down to flick his tail in a swift slice through the air. Jaejoong turned resolutely away, his bare feet skipping lightly over the chilled wooden flooring, to slip beneath the covers.
Jaejoong slid agilely to wriggle his way into Yunho's outstretched arms, his cold feet pressing into the delighted warmth and against Yunho's long legs, an easy giggle falling past his lips as he listened to Yunho's startled hiss. Yunho reached up a hand to brush away Jaejoong's dishevelled mess of fringe that shadowed the deep pools of crimson wine that Yunho had come to love. He felt himself falling into the depths of Jaejoong's soul, drowning within the paralysing abyss of bittersweet mulberry, a swirl of pitch cranberry shading his freefall in shades of rose and pitch tar.
Jaejoong smile tenderly, a heartbreaking quirk of his lips, the edges drawn slightly downwards in a trace of bitter regret, his eyes softening with barely concealed love, the corners of his crinkled eyes tightening stiffly with a barest linger of anguish. Yunho blinked, meeting Jaejoong's amused orbs, before the slender man slid his tightly eyes shut and shuffled down to snuggle closer to Yunho's lanky frame, a heavy sigh escaping past his lips as he settled back into the loving hands of slumber.
***
A deafening crack splintered across the bruised sky, an arc of heavens fury striking down at the shattered earth, briefly illuminating the world in a flash of grey and silver, painting the undulating landscape with a pearly luminescence, the momentary enthralling beauty both resplendent and threatening- a double edged sword of lightning. Rain poured down in torrential sheets, wavering this way and that with each fickle shift of the winds caress, like strumming a harp, the blustery weather likewise dragged its fingers through the drab gutters of Seoul, weaving a tapestry of chaos wherever it went.
Huddled figures scurried across the streets, quick flighty steps that threw the people into the relative safety of shelter, their hair flattened and plastered to their heads, dripping tapered ends that streamed an eternal downpour of icy water down their backs. Gloomy and melancholic, the elements shrieked and howled, raging a tempest outside a tightly shuttered window, its pitiful glass panes battered and hailed with an eternal rage of lashing darts of water. But it did its job nevertheless, shielding its sole occupant against the howling fury of the battling heavens. A devastating boom clapped between roiling clouds, pregnant billows of the sky’s misty breath, streaked with inky strokes of charcoal.
Yunho was jolted rudely awake, his lids flying open to stare at the huddled crouch of Yozo's miserable shoulders, his black pelt rippling as a scurry of lightning flashed suddenly across the hooded, dark sky. He felt more than heard his harsh pants echoing hollowly within the confines of their shared bedroom, his fingers gripping tightly at the sheets, grasping at empty space. He rested his disbelieving gaze upon crumpled snowy sheets, a pillow flung carelessly aside, its cushioned surface crinkled down the middle, staring dejectedly back at the lost man. Yunho flung his panicked gaze at his surroundings, his frantic eyes flicking back and forth in a maddened dart, searching futilely for the familiar outline of the other half of his soul.
Unspeakable dread settled heavily across his shoulders, uneasiness lurking like a restless snake within his belly, overwhelming panic plunging through his heart to rush its poison through his blood, as Yunho's lips thinned in trepidation. The wretched knowledge embedded itself deep within Yunho. It settled with certainty upon his plummeting spirit, dragging Yunho down into a spiral of despair. It was not a hunch. It was a damning fact.
Jaejoong was gone.