Up in Smoke: A Heisei Kumi fanfic (30/36)
Author: ryosukekoibito
Pairing: Hikato, Chiitaro, Ariyama
Rating: R/NC-17
Warnings: Graphic Violence, Minor Character Death, Strong Language, Explicit Sex, Major Character Death
Genre: Slice of life/Angst
Disclaimer: I do not own anyone.
Summary: After months of peace an attack leaves the Heisei Kumi reeling, and when an old enemy returns to the area reclaiming that peace starts to feel impossible.
A/N: The next installment in my Heisei Kumi AU, this one starts in the last days of December 2016 and continues on into 2017. If you'd like to read the other stories in this AU, please check out my masterlist. All Heisei Kumi fics have 平成組 next to their titles, to mark them as part of the AU!
Previous Chapters: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29
The air was dry and hot, and the closer Keito got to the fire the harder it became to breathe, thick black smoke blanketing the space around the blazing building. He took a deep breath, choking on the harsh smoke, and he yelled out as he ran
“Hikaru! Takaki! Anyone?!”
“Yuya!” Chinen’s voice called out, and Keito turned to see the smaller man right on his heels, and he reached out on instinct, taking Chinen’s hand, not wanting to be separated. Hikaru and Takaki should have been the closest, and they slowed down as they got closer to the building, the heat overwhelming, the smoke making Keito choke and his eyes water, and he struggled to call out for his housemates. But then, backlit by the flames a figure ran toward them, oddly misshapen, and it took Keito a moment to realize just what it was.
It was Daiki, his husband’s limp body slung over his shoulder, the two of them smeared in soot and drenched in blood. Daiki was breathing heavy, a large gash right by one eye, blood all over his neck and hands. He was wheezing from the smoke, his suit torn, and Keito wanted to ask what happened, wanted to ask if Yamada was okay, but Daiki didn't give him a chance to speak, instead just pointing up ahead and a little to their right and saying, his voice rough, throat ravaged
“Help them!” Keito could feel the panic closing in, his throat closing up, mind numb with fear, and he just stood there for a moment, Chinen’s grip on his hand tightening as he tugged Keito in the direction Daiki had indicated, not speaking, just pressing on. Keito registered what was happening all at once and he picked up speed, running and yelling for their housemates. For Hikaru. The first few attempts were unfruitful, but then there was a sharp cry of
“Here!” Keito squinted through the darkness and the smoke, and as they ran toward the noise he saw something moving on the grass up ahead. It took him a moment to realize just what it was he was seeing. It was Hikaru, his arm slung around Takaki’s waist, Takaki limp, body dragging. As Keito drew closer he heard Chinen curse, his little body tensing up even more, and Keito realized that Takaki’s clothes were in tatters, most of them gone. His right side was exposed, the right sleeve of his suit now only reaching his elbow, his pants and underwear completely gone, the remains of them pooling around his left shoe, leaving him totally nude from the waist down.
Takaki’s body was mangled, the skin horrifically mottled, patches of charred black in a sea of stark red, glistening muscle where all of the skin had sloughed off, any remaining that wasn’t black was pale white, dry and leathery against the wet muscle. It was grotesque, lit up in the bright glow of the blazing building only meters away, Keito able to clearly see the track up Takaki’s body from mid calf all the way up to his chest, running along one side. It was hard to look at, Keito averting his eyes, instead looking at Hikaru. Their leader seemed to be in much better shape, his clothes still intact and his skin unbroken, until he gestured for Keito to come closer, and Keito got a look at his hands.
Hikaru’s palms were starkly red, the skin swollen and raw, and Keito leapt forward, dropping Chinen’s hand to reach for Takaki, taking him out of Hikaru’s grip, Takaki’s body heavy. Keito’s stomach was a black pit of fear, and he barely registered that he was the one talking when he asked
“What happened? What do we do?” He heard the tears in his voice, not really able to feel them on his cheeks, only able to feel Takaki’s weight and the miserable heat of the fire, and he turned back toward the way they had come, the want to flee the fire instinctual. He was faced with Chinen, who was just standing there, still, his eyes wide in terror as they looked at Takaki. Takaki exhaled, a low whine coming from between his parted lips as Keito tugged the older man’s left arm over his shoulder, trying to get a good grip on him. Trying to just not think about it, and instead simply move. No one answered his questions, and so after a moment of choking panic he prompted “Hikaru?”
“He...he got kerosene on his clothes and the wind-the wind carried the fire. I tried to put him out, but it happened so fast, I-I wasn’t fast enough, and-” Hikaru was interrupted by the sound of glass shattering in the heat, muffled noises of the trapped Wakaba’s screams raising in volume, and it seemed to snap Chinen out of the horrified stupor he’d been in, the small man coming over to Takaki’s burned side, and gently but deliberately he slipped up next to him, his arm sliding in next to Ketio’s on Takaki’s back, Takaki whimpering but making no other protest.
“Hospital.” Hikaru said, the word harsh as he reached into his pocket, flinching in pain as he grabbed for his cell phone, gesturing with his other hand for them to get moving. Keito just nodded, feeling the weight of the horrors around him, instead only pushing his feet to move faster, he and Chinen dragging Takaki away from the flames and toward their territory at an awkward gate that fell somewhere between a power walk and a jog. He was taking deep ragged breaths, trying to fight the panic clawing up his throat, but the smoke made him cough, the air thin, dry and so, so hot, and his eyes blurred with tears.
He couldn’t hear Hikaru’s voice over the cracking roar of the flames, but he could see their leader talking into his phone, his own pulse pounding in his ears rapidfire, as they distanced themselves from the fire, the sounds of the tortured shrieks and the crackling blaze diminishing as they turned a corner, their world cast into darkness as the shadows of surrounding buildings hid the light of the fire, and it was then that the harsh klaxton of an ambulance grew louder and louder, and the relief that noise brought with it was heady, Keito’s vision blurring with tears as the vehicle turned the last corner and came into view.
Time seemed to speed up, everything moving as if on fast forward, his heart still pounding in his chest, tears running down his cheeks, breaths coming in fast gulps as the paramedics took Takaki from him. Keito was inable to say anything; just listening as Hikaru spoke, keeping as close as he could to Takaki’s side until Takaki was being loaded into the ambulance, pausing at the back of the vehicle, the horror of it all rooting him in place. It was then that Hikaru pushed him toward the ambulance, speaking to the paramedics from behind Keito, declaring that Keito was going too, that he and Chinen would be in the next one, and Keito barely processed any of the information, just doing as he was told, climbing inside the vehicle, sitting in a corner to stay out of the way, his eyes on Takaki.
They already had him hooked up to a couple of different IVs, an oxygen mask over his face, his clothes removed. The paramedics were talking to each other, but Keito didn’t listen to what they were saying, his focus on Takaki, his eyes roaming Takaki’s swathes of burned skin in the harsh artificial lights of the ambulance, throwing the horrors he’d seen by the light of the flames into an even sharper clarity, and he was so afraid for Takaki that it petrified him. He wanted to ask, to ask if Takaki was going to be okay, but the paramedics were all so focused, and he was afraid of drawing their attention away from his companion, not wanting to waste any time that could be spent taking care of him.
And so he remained quiet and still, and he watched and breathed, trying to get his heartbeat under control, to get his breathing back to normal, as the ambulance raced to the hospital. Luckily the closest hospital was on their side of the river, and as a result it felt like only a few minutes had passed before they were being ushered out, Keito looking up at the familiar building, knowing he should feel relieved, but stuck with a knot of apprehension. They were at the same hospital they always went to, the same hospital that Shoon had died in, and Keito actively avoided the place, as it always stirred up harsh emotions. Now, he just gritted his teeth, brow furrowing automatically, and he followed the paramedics inside.
He tried to stay with Takaki, but the doctors wouldn’t let him, taking one look at him before sending him to get checked over, concerns voiced about just how much smoke he must have inhaled. In the end Keito found himself washed of Takaki’s blood and forced onto a bed, unable to see or hear Takaki, instead hooked up to an oxygen mask, after having been told to stay put. Only minutes later the bed next to his was filled, and Keito was relieved to see Chinen, the young man being given the same treatment, an oxygen mask of his own placed over his nose and mouth. Keito caught Chinen’s eye as soon as he could, and as soon as he spotted Keito Chinen picked his oxygen tank up, moving to sit on Keito’s bed, the two of them back to back.
Keito took Chinen’s hand, feeling Chinen lean back against him, a sigh escaping the smaller man’s lips. Chinen’s willingness to accept Keito’s touch surprised him-there was only one other occasion in which Chinen had been physically close with Keito like this previously, and it had been the night of Ryutaro’s murder. But perhaps, Keito speculated, Chinen was like him, in that he liked physical comfort. It was just that he usually had someone else to do it for him. Now with Ryutaro gone, and Takaki’s life hanging in the balance, Keito was all he had. The thought made Keito’s heart squeeze tightly in his chest, and Keito gave Chinen’s fingers a squeeze, saying
“Takaki is going to be okay.” Chinen didn’t respond to that, and Keito could feel the fatigue of the night weighing on him, but he knew it would be a long time before their night was over. They sat like that, silence stretching between the two of them as time passed unchecked. Other patients and nurses and doctors shuffled in and out of the big space they were in, but none of them were familiar, and they all blurred together under the harsh hospital lights. Keito wanted to relax, to calm down and be patient, but he was wired, stressed about being there, terrified for Takaki, wondering where Hikaru was. And the gut wrenching screams of the burning Wakaba kept playing in his mind on a loop, the terror of it all making him want to climb out of his own skin and just run.
Eventually he and Chinen were spoken to by a nurse, the woman telling them they were free to go, before leading them instead to a private room, telling them that their companion was inside. Keito’s heart leapt into his throat, and he glanced over at Chinen, afraid to open the door, afraid to see the room on the other side. Chinen didn’t visibly react, just leaning forward, pushing the door open. Keito bit at his bottom lip, expecting to see Takaki hooked up to a bunch of machines, bracing himself for the horror, but he was wrong. It was Hikaru. He’d lost his suit jacket but he still had his shirt and tie on. He was hooked up to an oxygen tank as well, his hands laid out in front of him, thick, heavy duty looking bandages wrapped around both up past his wrist.
He was sitting on the edge of his bed, and when they came in he looked up, Keito able to see wet trails running down his cheeks where he was crying. Hikaru straightened his back, and Keito went to him, reaching out for him, wanting to touch him, to hold him, but he froze halfway there, unsure if Hikaru would want him to in front of Chinen. Unsure if Hikaru even could be touched, without it hurting. Hikaru took a big gulping breath, and gestured to the space on the bed next to him, and Keito sat down, pressing one knee to the older man’s as Hikaru asked, his voice rough, though whether it was from the crying or the smoke he’d inhaled Keito didn’t know.
“How’s Takaki?” The question was met with silence, and it hung heavy in the air, Keito able to feel the anxiety and fear rising off of their skin, and eventually he just asked a question of his own instead of feeding their fear
“How are you? Your hands-will they be okay?” Hikaru nodded, holding his bandaged hands out for Keito to see, declaring
“They’ll be okay. The doctor said it was second degree burns, from where I touched Takaki’s flaming clothes, so most of the damage is on my palms. There’ll be some scarring, but it shouldn’t affect me permanently.” He paused, bending his fingers a little, showing Keito he could still use them. “I’ll be fine.” Keito nodded, looking up to see Chinen still standing there in the middle of the room, his little body still, eyes unfocused but wide and fearful. Keito called over to him, the sound of his voice seeming to snap Chinen out of whatever trance he had been in. Keito patted his thighs, a little nervous about offering up his lap, not wanting to offend the former leader, or imply weakness, but wanting even more to offer comfort, to do something to get that blank fear off of Chinen’s face.
Wordlessly Chinen crossed the room, plopping himself right into Keito’s arms, and Keito sighed in relief, wrapping one arm around Chinen’s waist to keep him in place, the other hand rubbing circles on Chinen’s back, and while the original intent had been to offer comfort, Keito could feel himself relaxing a little too. After a moment Hikaru said
“We’re not going home until we hear about Takaki.” Both Keito and Chinen nodded, and the three of them fell back into silence, all of them exhausted and miserable. Keito took some comfort in the feeling of Hikaru and Chinen’s breathing, their bodies expanding and contracting enough for him to feel it, and the physical proof of life, that they were okay, was calming on a subconscious level. But the underlying fear that something had gone wrong with Takaki, that he wouldn’t pull through, was enough to keep them all tense, despite the exhaustion, despite the stillness, and the peace of the hospital room.
And so they watched the time pass on the face of the clock hanging above the door, the three of them pressed together, sitting on the side of the hospital bed. The night stretched on painfully, Keito’s throat raw, whole body trembling from exhaustion and stress, and he knew they felt the same, and so when a nurse finally came in to check on Hikaru they all bombarded her with questions, Hikaru demanding an update on Takaki’s condition. She was visibly afraid of them, Hikaru and Keito’s tattoos and the guns sticking out of the backs of their belts probably the only reason she promised them the doctor would be right in to let them know about Takaki, her voice trembling as she left the room.
She was true to her word however, and a few minutes later one of the doctors came in, his face serious, and he explained that Takaki had sustained third degree burns up his right side, and that he would need to spend extensive time at the hospital, as burns of that level healed slowly, and would need constant care. He informed them that Takaki was in surgery, that they were removing dead skin and tissue from the burned area, and that he was almost definitely going to need skin grafts, and some reconstructive surgery over the course of the next few weeks to months. It was at the end that the man finally told them that Takaki had received a blood transfusion, and was receiving fluids, and that despite everything, he would most definitely live.
It was those last few words that they’d been waiting to hear, the rest of it all important, but a good deal of the tension drained from the room as soon as it was declared that Takaki would make it through this ordeal.
“After his surgery, can we see him?” Chinen asked, noticeably more relaxed than he had been only moments before, and the man pursed his lips, shaking his head, and something inside of Keito flared up, angry at the denial, wanting more than anything to lay eyes on Takaki, and see for himself that the older man was going to be alright.
“I’m sorry but he’s going to be in and out of surgeries for quite some time. I would recommend you all go home and get some rest. Call tomorrow after you’ve gotten some sleep, and check in on him then.” He paused, as if sensing the discontent in the room, and he added “Let us do our job. He’s not going to die. I promise.” His declaration was met with more silence, and after a moment he excused himself, leaving them to themselves, and it was then that Hikaru spoke, his words slow, obviously deep in thought
“I don’t like it, but...we need to go home. Daiki and Yamada were beaten up pretty bad. We need to make sure they’re okay. And everyone’s going to be worried about Takaki. They should know what happened. They should know he’s going to be okay.” There was a pause, before Chinen just said, his voice low, quiet
“Okay.” Hikaru nodded, and Keito knew their leader was right. There was nothing else they could do for Takaki right now. But the Ariokas might still need them. And everyone at the house had probably heard about what had happened from Daiki. They deserved to know that Takaki was going to make it out of this ordeal alive.
“Are you up for the walk?” Keito asked, not sure who seemed more fragile-Chinen or Hikaru-and it was then that they truly were set in motion, everyone getting to their feet, Hikaru unhooking himself from his oxygen tank, as Chinen made for the door. Hikaru pulled his cell phone out of his pocket with slow movements and trembling hands, and Keito was opening his mouth to offer to help when Chinen offered his hand out for Hikaru to put the little device in. But Hikaru gritted his teeth and shook his head.
“I can do it.” Hikaru assured him, and Chinen nodded, instead holding the door open, Hikaru fumbling with his phone, eventually holding it up to his ear and saying “Inoo, hey.” Keito didn’t really listen to the conversation, too wrung out to really focus on anything for too long, instead just numbly looking over his companions, taking in the little details as the three of them made their way out of the hospital and back out into the night, the long walk back to their home depositing them at the front door, the smell of smoke hanging in the air.