No Way Out - chapter three
Jin released his hold on him the moment that the doors opened.
“What do we have here?” Ryo smirked, his entourage towering around him. Kazuya, shocked by Jin’s sudden absence, twisted around searching for the larger man only to find him snatching up his jacket along with the briefcase.
Their eyes met only for a moment before Jin averted his gaze, and charged forwards. Startled by the movement Kazuya flinched. The men outside the elevator had been too entranced by Kazuya’s semi-nudity to pay Jin much attention and by the time that they’d realized what was happening the man had slid past them.
“Jin!” Kazuya stumbled upwards in a desperate attempt to follow the other, but Ryo and his men had caught on and several pairs of hands grabbed him at once and dragged him into the corridor. Kazuya blinked, stunned by the sunrise that crept through crystal glass. They were on the ground floor once more, and Jin, to Kazuya’s disbelief was heading straight for the exit.
“What the fuck?” Ryo spat, glaring after the retreating conman. “What’s he doing here? You two,” He shouted at two of the men that were currently pawing at Kazuya’s naked chest. “Catch him!”
“Don’t leave me!” Kazuya shouted. His insides felt tight as he watched the man run; he’d just started feeling that he could trust him. “Jin!”A fist collided with his stomach and he lurched forward, spluttering. He raised his eyes again just in time to see Jin sending him an apologetic look before fleeing from the building.
A hand in his hair and his face was forced upwards to face Nishikido. “I’ll make you pay for this, you little shit!” the man growled. “Bring him!” He snapped at the three remaining men and then turned to head in the direction of the first of the four corridors.
~*~*~*~
Jin cursed; after all this time, forcing open a little briefcase shouldn’t be causing him such a headache. He could do it, of that he was certain, but he had no desire to spend the rest of the morning working on the task.
He closed his eyes and pushed his fingers upwards from his chin until they reached his sopping hair. He hoped that the action would help to clear his mind and make him relax. The hours that had passed since he’d entered Nishikido’s building had done little to dampen the downpour outside, and though he tried to ignore it, his body trembled with cold.
His eyes landed on the bed that took up most of the space in his tiny bedroom. He swallowed and turned his attention back toward the briefcase. Scattered around the object were several small intricate devices, some of his own design, but as yet none of them had brought him any success. He glanced back toward the bed; less than an hour earlier he’d been planning on sharing it with Kazuya. His eyes remained focused on the empty space as his mind wandered back to Nishikido’s building. Had Kazuya escaped? Thinking about it made his chest feel heavy. Reaching out his fingers came into contact with the only item that he hadn’t already tried. He sighed; it was worth a shot. Placing his free hand on the lid of the case he steadied himself and raised the hammer.
~*~*~*~
There was no-where left to run. His back collided with the heavy, mahogany wardrobe and he immediately pulled his knees up his chest to protect himself. It didn’t work. Hands grabbed at his hair and arms dragging him upwards and forward.
“I’ll ask you one more time,” the leader, Nishikido Ryo, snarled. “Where did Akanishi take the briefcase?” The man was of a slight build with dark, curling hair. His eyes seemed to be permanently narrowed, and even whilst angry, he seemed to be sneering.
Kazuya could only shake his head in response to the question, terror ricocheting through his every nerve. “I swear, I don’t know!” he gasped, “please…” but Ryo’s attention was already on the room’s three other occupants.
“This one’s on the house,” Ryo’s voice was low and icy but his face was still smiling, “do what you want.” He then patted Kazuya on the cheek and turned to leave.
~*~*~*~
His knuckles seemed to be taking on the tone of the white porcelain sink that they gripped. His reflection stared back at him from his bathroom mirror; he didn’t like what he saw there. He was beautiful, that he knew having always been told so, but even his perfect features couldn’t disguise the guilt that he saw reflected in his own eyes. He was a coward. Six years had gone by and still he was a coward. He lowered his eyes back toward his hands. One look at Nishikido Ryo and his cronies and he’d run a mile, and not only that he’d stolen the case that Nishikido wanted. Would Kazuya think that he’d only been after the money? He sighed and released his hold on the sink. Of course he would; what else could he possibly think?
Turning his back on his reflection he left the bathroom and made his way back into his bedroom. The contents of the briefcase were scattered on the floor; several million yen that he hadn’t bothered to count; five heavy gold chains; a designer watch; and a single folder. Lowering himself to the ground he picked up the final item and opened it. It would be the fourth time that he’d looked through its contents. He’d known what the file would contain: birth certificate, passport; adoption certification; bank card and details; social security number and an array of other legal documents that Jin couldn’t begin to understand. But from what he could decipher the documents were dangerous, binding Kazuya to Yamashita. He’d also found several naked photographs of Kazuya that had turned his stomach. In all of them he could see the humiliation in the boys face at what was being done to him. They were the sort of images that would destroy a career; a life even. They were the ultimate blackmail tool should Kazuya somehow escape and start to rebuilt his life.
He bit his lip and looked to the drawers beside his bed. Past experience told him how important it was to keep the folder safe; whoever owned the folder pretty much owned Kazuya. It struck Jin that Yamashita must have been dead certain on his hold over the young gangster to trust him with the very documents that could have granted his freedom. He clenched his jaw as he imagined Yamashita’s smug face as he’d watched a clueless Kazuya leave. No, he mustn’t think like that…he mustn’t because if he did…but it was already too late. Frightful images of what could be happening to Kazuya at present began to prod at the edges of his imagination, and the more that he tried to deny them the stronger they became. A part of him had thought that by stealing the briefcase and therefore the documents, he was somehow protecting Kazuya. But what good were a few sheets of paper when their subject was being held by a notorious criminal?
“Coward.” Jin muttered under his breath, as he stuffed the papers back into the folder. “You should have stayed with him.” He staggered to his feet and made his way over to the drawers and pulled open the one in the middle, “no more excuses, it’s time to grow up.”
~*~*~*~
He closed his eyes and tried to pretend that it wasn’t happening, but immediately received a procession of smacks to the face. “Wake up, baby,” the man holding him down whispered, “you’re going to like this.”
Biting his lip, he tried not to cry as he struggled against the invading fingers. “Hold him still!” the man grunted at one of the others, who immediately pulled his arms over his head. They were taking their time, toying with him, trying to force him to react before they went through with the inevitable.
Kazuya tried to clear his mind, to move it away from what was being done to him but as soon as he tried his focus flew straight to the handsome stranger that had abandoned him. Akanishi Jin. He felt his eyes prickling with tears and was unable to decipher whether they were caused by the pain in his lower parts or by the man’s betrayal and the suffocating loneliness that he felt as a result.
“Maybe he’ll talk after this,” the third man, who sat smoking and watching the abuse, said coolly.
“I hope not!” the man that held him, grinned, “I could get used to these free gifts.”
“Don’t let Nishikido hear you saying that!” the third man laughed. “Or you’ll be the one getting fucked.”
“Who’d have him?” The man currently humiliating Kazuya laughed, “I’d much prefer this little piece of…” he was dead before he finished his sentence. The sound of the gunshot caused the man that held him to yelp and let go, allowing Kazuya to struggle away from the dead man that had slumped over his lower half. Blood from the gunshot wound on the side of the man’s face dripped onto Kazuya’s naked thighs. He cried out in terror and disgust. Clenching his eyes shut, he turned away and prayed that something would save him from this mess. Another two shots followed, and then he felt the body being dragged away from him.
“Kame?” the voice was low, uncertain, “are you…” Kazuya opened teary eyes and the words died before leaving the man’s lips. Jin was leaning over him pale faced and dripping with rain water. “I’m…so sorry.” The man averted his eyes and began scanning the room. “Where are your clothes? We have to get out of…”
“What do you care?” Kazuya wished that he could stop the tears as he struggled to sit up, trying to ignore the dizziness and nausea that the sudden movement caused. “You left me!” He snapped, “They were going to…”
“Here,” Jin seemed to be choosing to ignore the accusation, as he shoved Kazuya the trousers that he’d been wearing earlier. “Hurry up; someone will have heard those shots.” Kazuya felt himself bristle with rage, but he knew that the other was right; Ryo could burst in at any moment. Training his eyes on the ground he struggled back into his clothes, and had barely finished fastening the buckle when Jin grabbed his trembling hand and dragged him out of the door, leaving the three dead men behind them.
“Stop!” Kazuya felt a jolt of terror as he heard a shout from close by.
“Jin!” He didn’t know what he wanted the larger man to do, or whether he even fully trusted that he was on his side, but the frightened call left his lips anyway. Jin, in response, pulled him close and twisted them around, placing himself between Kazuya and the pursuer.
“Akanishi!” there was no mistaking the identity of the caller; Nishikido. The pimp stood about ten meters away, the two men that had been sent to pursue Jin poised next to him, obviously awaiting instruction. Ryo, however, seemed unfazed by the get-away attempt. His thumbs were hooked into his jacket pocket, and a small smirk was spreading over his face. “So, you’ve finally decided to pay me a visit!” The man tilted his head, causing his hair to fall over his dark, handsome features.
“I’m just leaving!” Kazuya could practically feel the tension radiating from Jin as he spoke, but despite this his voice was steady and Kazuya suspected that his face would be a picture of calm.
“But I’ve waited so long for you to come to me!” Nishikido feigned a pout, and his two-man entourage sneered. “You burst in, kill three of my men, steal my new toy and then leave?” he turned to his two partners, smirk back intact, “that just strikes me as rude…” The two men stepped forward, eager for a fight and recognizing a prequel to a signal.
Jin’s movements, swift and sudden, caught Kazuya off-guard, all he knew was that he was suddenly clutching the man’s jacket in his hands while its owner screamed at him to run whilst laying into the two shocked guards. One glance at the fury that now marred Ryo’s face and he didn’t hesitate, sprinting down the corridors that he’d not long since been dragged through, he tried to concentrate on looking straight ahead and not on the scene behind him.
~*~*~*~
It was a tiny consolation to Jin, that he had the power to hurt Nishikido too. Not in the way that Nishikido would hurt him: not through violence or sexual abuse; not by humiliation and shouting; not through sleep deprivation and starvation. He’d escaped that world six years ago and he would never return to such cruelties. It was a shame, he thought, as Ryo scorched the flesh of his left arm with white hot tip of his Havana cigar, that his captors were a long way from abandoning such methods.
“I’m not a patient man Jin,” Ryo breathed, twisting the luxurious torture implement, “I didn’t get to play with my new toy…I was too busy trying to find you.” He leaned in then and pressed his face against the skin of Jin’s throat, nipping it gently with his teeth. Jin didn’t react, just continued to stare blankly into space, but inside he was screaming.
He was hurting Ryo, he told himself, as he felt the man’s fingers slide into his hair. He was hurting him by keeping Kazuya safe.
“I’ve wanted you for so long,” Ryo whispered darkly, “you’re mine.”
“Fuck you.” Jin said with all the venom he could muster before forcing his face to return to its previous neutral stance. Ryo chuckled and reached into his back pocket.
“Tanaka will be so glad to hear that his goods have finally arrived.” He brought his hand back around and clutched there was a knife. “He’ll probably want to show you just how much he’s missed you…” Jin felt his stomach muscles tighten as the knife slipped easily into the fabric of his shirt, shredding it slowly. “Now that I think about it…I know dozens of men…maybe even hundreds…that would love the chance to become better acquainted with you.”
Jin couldn’t suppress a shudder as Ryo’s words penetrated his mind. And of course the pimp noticed the tiny movement and let out a cruel laugh. In six years Jin had created countless enemies and only a tiny handful of friends. And by friends what he really meant was fuck buddies. He’d created a whole new persona for himself; a new way of life. But despite this he knew that the gangs still saw him as his previous position.
“You were brave,” Ryo purred as he continued to toy with Jin’s shirt, “no-one’s ever dared to try escape me before or since.” he paused and Jin yelped in pained surprise as the blade suddenly cut deeply into his shoulder. “Not until today that is.” The man spat, seizing Jin by the face with his free hand and forcing him to meet his eyes. “What did you do?” he growled. “Yamashita told me that the boy was completely whipped…terrified…wouldn’t have run even if he had suspected something.”
Jin smiled then, relishing in the wound that he’d caused Nishikido’s pride. “Yamashita was wrong.” He chuckled, “you’ll never get him back.” Ryo stared at him, the hatred rife in his eyes, and then releasing his face, pressed his fingers into the open wound on Jin’s shoulder.
“You’re nothing Akanishi,” he snarled, as Jin screamed in pain, “you’ll crack before the days out.” He moved his bloody hand back and grabbed Jin’s face again, forcing him into a kiss. “I’m giving you one chance.” He whispered as he broke the kiss. “Tell me where Kamenashi is, tell me where the briefcase is and I’ll let you go.”
“You’re full of shit!” Jin tried to shout but fear was strangling his voice.
Ryo laughed again. “How old are you now Jin? Twenty four? Twenty five?” he began to trace his fingers lightly over Jin’s bare chest. “I like my boys younger.” Jin felt sick and his expression must have showed because Ryo threw back his head and practically howled. “Not children Jin.” He chuckled, hesitating over his right nipple, “I’m not that way inclined. But Kazuya, someone like Kazuya…he’s so beautiful…” he smirked and seized the nub roughly between his fingers. “You think so too.” He almost purred. “So how about…you tell me where he is and give him to me for a few years…I’ll tire of him eventually and so will the clients…after that I’ll give him back to you.”
“He’s innocent Ryo,” Jin whispered, “he doesn’t deserve…”
“No-one’s innocent Jin,” Ryo sneered, “not in these circles…you know that.” Jin felt his heart crash into his stomach; he knew that Ryo was right. Kazuya was a stranger that had spun him a story. How could he even be sure that the boy had been telling him the truth?
“He’s a gangster,” Ryo seized upon the flicker of doubt that he detected in Jin’s expression. “He’s killed people…raped people…he’s just like the rest of them.”
“That’s not true.” But Jin knew how weak his voice sounded.
“Sure it is,” Ryo’s voice was almost sympathetic, “he’s been sent to me as a punishment. He tried to kill Yamashita and take over the gang! He’s got to be put in his place.” Ryo paused. “No-one knows you’re here,” he said finally, “I’m just a dealer…and I’m willing to cut one with you.” Jin could only stare at him in silence. “You’ve humiliated every gang in this city. Once they know that I have you, it’s going to be out of my control. You know that don’t you?” Jin could feel the blood draining from his face as the reality of his situation became apparent. “Now tell me where he is.”
His head felt heavy as he lowered it. Kazuya was safe but not for long. He’d taken this risk for both of them and he’d bought the young gangster as much time as he could. But if he didn’t reach an agreement with Nishikido soon he was a dead man. And one thing that Jin was certain of was that he really didn’t want to die.
“I won’t tell you,” he croaked, raising his head, “but I’ll show you.”
Ryo looked genuinely shocked and taken aback by his words. “You will?” he blinked.
Jin nodded gravely. “I…can’t face those men,” he whispered.
Ryo smiled and cupped his face. “You’ve made the right choice, Akanishi.” He leaned in and kissed him softly. Jin tried to pull away but Ryo grabbed his hair roughly in his hand and forced him to continue. “We can give Kazuya a little longer, don’t you think?” he whispered, pulling Jin up suddenly from his seated position and shoving him roughly across the room towards the bed. Due to his hands being securely cuffed behind his back Jin could only cry out in protest as he was forced onto his stomach. Ryo greeted the noise with his usual dark laughter and carefully began to slide the clothing from Jin’s lower half. “Like I said,” Ryo said patiently, “I’ve wanted you for a long time. I’m not going to let this chance slide.” He undid his buckle.
“You bastard!” Were the only words that Jin could offer as Ryo took him. He’d been forced before, countless times, but that had been long ago. He felt the tears rising behind his clenched eyes but willed himself not to succumb; it would be over soon.
~*~*~*~
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