Redeeming Eden Chapter Twenty Four
Title: Redeeming Eden
Length: Chaptered
Rating: PG and growing
Pairings: YooSu, JaeHo, MinOther
Summary: Love, Hatred, Gratitude, Revenge. Is love worth all the pain they have to go through?
lmaii's creation
15th December
Everything was so beautiful. It was as if he was back in 'their' park, back to those times when they would stand under the cherry trees and hold each other close.
But he could not find the frozen cherries.
Stumbling through the brightness of the moonlight, he could only see a layer of icing frosted over the branches of the trees.
It was a world of white that waited for him and Yoochun to come put in their colours of love.
Thus, Junsu went looking for the frozen cherries.
Chun-ah, are you waiting for me under the cherry trees? I'll find them, I'll find you. Wait for me.
---
Giving up after tossing and turning on the wide bed for the past 3 hours, Yoochun decided to make a trip to Chatelaine Bar for some alcoholic aid in falling asleep.
All the action happening in the main lobby at this ungodly hour told him that something of colossal proportions had just taken place at the hotel.
Hoping to stay out of unnecessary trouble, he picked up his pace, trying to cross the crowded hall as soon as possible.
Surprisingly, Junki's voice had remained relatively distinguishable to his ears.
"Yes, yes. Yunho-ah, we're all doing our best to try and find him. Don't worry, I'm taking charge of this personally till you get here."
It took him just a whizz of a second to register the newly received information.
For Yunho to fly over to search for...
Wrapped in a thick blue wool blanket, a tired Minwoo stood behind Junki, talking to a policeman. "... and he had disappeared from the spot where I left him, leaving behind only this coat and scarf."
Recognising the items in the clear bag as part of Junsu's clothings, Yoochun charged towards and grabbed hold of the unsuspecting Junki. "Hyung, what happened?"
Policemen standing around reacted to the commotion, moving in and preparing to take the intruder away.
Junki quickly apologised for the distraction and explained that they were accquainted.
Turning back, he led an obviously worried Yoochun to a nearby sofa seat before speaking. "You know what happened. You heard it and saw it."
Tears immediately welled up, changing his previously cold eyes back into gentle ones.
"Junsu's lost in the mountains. We can't find him."
A ringing sound began the moment those dreadful words entered, his ears trying to refuse the truth that he was just told.
Standing up from where they sat comfortably, the younger man walked wobbly in the direction of the glass doors.
From where he sat, Junki watched the other leave, every step echoing a note of pain into him. When is this cruel joke on the 3 of you ever going to end?
It was all rowdy outside of the main entrance.
A search and rescue team had been ordered and formed with great efficiency. Men with dogs were hurrying to the far left side of the hotel's front porch where they would be briefed on the operation to be carried out.
Different vehicles were parked on the snow covered ground. Patrol cars, ambulances and the jet skis to be used for the search.
This time round, he steadied himself and walked normally to a jet ski stopped on the circumference of the group of wheels.
Indeed, no heads were turned till the roar of the machine's engine alerted the policemen of this blatant robbery.
The stolen vehicle disappeared into the frozen forest before any other motor could be started.
Appearing at the spot where the other formerly stood, Junki stared in disbelief at the tracks left on the snow. Yoochun-ah, we can't lose you as well.
---
"Just meet up with Chairman Kim on my behalf and let him sign the contract. I've already called him to explain the reason for my absence so he won't be finding fault on that."
Handing the contract file folder to his Chief Operations Officer, the young businessman took his passport from his bodyguard.
"Yes, sir. I'll see to it that the signing is conducted successfully."
Satisfied that all matters had been handed over, Yunho left to board the plane.
Wait for me, Junsu. Hyung will come and bring you home.
---
Finding the giant mirror seemed to delight him as he broke into a tired smile upon seeing it.
Despite the difficulty involved in the journey to the lake, he forced his fatigued body towards it.
"Chun-ah, look at that pretty silver glass.. Let's go look into it together?"
Junsu trudged forwards, leaving his mark in the deep snow as he let himself be called in by the beauty of the frozen body of water.
---
By a stroke of luck, he managed to make it to the top of the mountain without any directions or knowledge of the area.
Cursing when he found that the ski could no longer go any further because the land conditions disallowed it, he abandoned the now useless item and moved on by foot.
The cold of the air was biting on his skin but it added to his anxiety to find the other, whom he predicted to be in a worse state of discomfort.
"Junsu! Junsu! Come out!" Where are you, baby? Come back to me... I promised that I would make your wait worth it, let me. Please. "Junsu! It's me, Yoochun! Junsu!"
Determined to find and save his love from this freezing paradise, Yoochun held no regard for the dangers he stepped into.
---
He looked out of the car window as it sped down the expressway, bringing him to the hotel on the shortest route available.
Flashback
An hour ago
His mobile phone rang as soon as he stepped out of Haneda Airport and into the car that waited for him.
"Hyung, I've just arrived in Tokyo and the car is heading for Naeba now."
"Okay. Yunho-ah, I'm calling to tell you that.. Yoochun hijacked a jet ski and went to look for Junsu. Now we're unable to find him too."
It was a piece of information that he did not know how to digest.
"I.. I.. I should arrive at the hotel in a couple of hours."
End
Yunho had been told of Yoochun's presence at the hotel when Junki first called to inform him of Junsu's disappearance; and he had linked the 2 matters together, fully aware of how affected the youngest one would be upon seeing his former lover.
And he had expected the other man to fall into a state of unrest if and when he finds out about Junsu being lost on such unfamiliar grounds. But he failed to see the mutual effect the 2 younger men had on each other and did not think that Yoochun would so easily lose his cool to do something rash like this.
Pushing the many unkempt thoughts out of his head, he leaned back against the headrest, preserving his energy for the search to take place later.
---
Lake Tashiro was a sight to behold, the biggest lake in the Tashiro area surrounded by Mount Naeba and Mount Kagura; it stands out majestically even in the dark of the night.
Yet there was nothing it could do alone to capture Park Yoochun's attention. It needed a little help from another person.
He did not want to believe his eyes but he did not have a choice. He would rather risk his own life than risk not saving the other.
It proved a tricky path to maneuver on given the lone illumination of the moonlight and the slippery snow on the soft soil, even though the slope down to the lake was gentle.
His patience and the caution he took was well worth the effort when he finally landed on flat ground at the end of the descent.
One moment it was relief in his heart and the next moment all that was left was despair.
The slightly rised mass had not been easy to pick out from afar. Even now, when they were just metres apart, the white clothings and shoes provided an unintentional disguise. But that head of soft brown hair was unmistakable.
And it only served to magnify the apprehension in him.
Willing his heavy legs to move faster, he hurried over to the edge of the lake where the figure in white laid.
Picking up the seemingly lifeless body, he was thankful that it had not snowed during the night, leaving the unmoving body still visible on the white grounds. The frozen lake was also a blessing, providing one less chance of harm.
To Yoochun's dismay, the person in his arms was alive but delirious with fever. He had been alarmed by the burning skin upon touch, its only advantage in displaying a vital sign of life.
Without any delay, he took off his coat and wrapped the smaller man in it, then took him into a tight embrace.
Junsu stayed semi-conscious throughout all of the movements, mumbling incoherently from time to time.
Holding the other close like a treasure he found, he pressed the pale skin of the childlike face against his chest, wanting to reveal everything hidden in his heart for the past few months. "Love you, baby. Su, I'll never let you leave me again. Never, not even if you want to. Stay with me, baby, love you."
Rested on the nape of Junsu's neck, his hand came into contact with the remnant chill of a metal chain.
His first thought was to remove the conductor of cold to prevent any more loss of heat.
The flicker of light reflected off the gold ring hanging on the chain almost blinded him and delivered a piercing incision to his heart.
This meant that Junsu had never forgotten their promise. He had not worn the ring on his hand but he kept it close to his heart. Just like how he kept their love in his heart, and how he kept his pain, his suffering all to himself.
Yoochun let his tears fall, sliding past his own cheeks and falling onto the face below his.
Finally pressing a kiss to the soft pink lips, he picked up the frail body and started to move back up the way he came. "I'm bringing you back, baby. Bringing you back to our love and our promise."
It had not been easy moving down the slope, and it was definitely more so to move up with added weight. But he did it. That was no task too great when he completed it with his beloved in his arms.
Unfortunately, an underestimation of the weather's effect on his body's condition provided reason enough for the accident to take place.
Being less sensitive to the feel in his tired legs, Yoochun missed out a sudden dip in the ground while on the way back to the jet ski.
Unable to regain his balance in time, he slipped and fell, rolling down another declining path.
His first instinct was to protect Junsu from any further harm, wrapping his arms around the unresponsive man, trying to take as much of the damage as he could.
Their entwined bodies slowed but the stop did not come till a force of the opposite direction cancelled out the residual.
Yoochun felt the impact sharp on his left temple, the knock pounding into his head. However, his hand went to the side of the head on top of his, feeling for any wound of the same kind. Feeling none of what he feared for, the worry in his heart lessened immediately.
Lying on his back, he was contented to remain in position, trying to regain some energy to carry on walking later.
Junsu was supported on his body, the insulation provided at the price of his own rapid cooling.
The edge of a stone jutting out from the ground continued to poke at where it struck the man and he turned away.
Thinking of moving to a more even land area, he tried to push himself up but the world suddenly spinned around, causing him to lie down again.
A touch of the warm sticky liquid instantly told him of the profuse bleeding from the laceration on his temple.
Clearly aware of the consequences to follow, Yoochun calmly returned his arms to Junsu's back. Adding another kiss, he kept their lips together as the tears began to flow from his eyes again. I'm sorry, baby. Sorry that I'm so useless, I can't even bring you back. Thank you for loving me. I love you too...
---
When Yunho arrived at Naeba Prince Hotel, he exhibited perfect self control. He held his anger back during the introduction to Minwoo and never showed his anxiety outwardly when the situation was explained.
They were given the necessary clothing and equipment before setting off with the second inject of the search party.
"Hyung, they're going to be alright."
For the first time, Junki heard his younger cousin referring to the 2 younger men together. And he understood that he had not been wrong, that Yunho still cherished his friendship with Yoochun despite their rivalry at love.
"Yes, Yunho, they'll be."
---
The bed he laid on was unusually comfortable, not only was it slightly heated, the softness was rising and falling slowly. The blanket covering him did not live up to expectations though. Apart from being stiff and weirdly shaped, it was also not keeping him warm enough.
Stirring from his deep unpeaceful slumber, Junsu attempted to push himself off the 'bed'.
A timely moan from below shocked him into falling onto the ground beside.
As his shadow flashed off, the moon shone onto the previously hidden face.
Shocked by the paleness of the usually healthy man, he was dumbfounded for a few moments, the sudden changes aggravating his befuddled mind
Once slightly recovered, he threw himself forward again, hands settling on the features of the man in his mind for the whole night.
The lack of normal body temperature from the skin he felt and the clotted blood on the side of the handsome face drew all the air out of his lungs.
When the body is exposed to cold, its internal mechanisms may be unable to replenish the heat that is being lost to the surroundings; thus resulting in hypothermia. But when the exposed body is also bleeding, it speeds up the process of hypothermia and puts the person's life in greater danger.
Helping Yoochun up into a sitting position and letting the unconscious man rest against his own shoulder, Junsu picked up the coat that had fallen off and threw it around both of them.
Under the thick layer of cashmere, he undid their shirts and pressed their torsos together. He wrapped his arms as tightly around the bigger body as possible. Chun-ah, wait with me. We'll be back in our love again. Just wait a while more, don't let me wait alone.
---
They trudged through the icy forest, high powered torches shining ahead, lighting up the way as brightly as daylight would.
Every part of the challenging landscape added another heavy layer piled onto his heart.
Each passing minute meant that they were one minute closer to losing the 2 persons they were searching for.
Junki walked in line with Yunho, lending a silent support to the younger man, whom he knew was enduring a growing emotional turmoil.
A shout from one of the policemen drew their attention to the front and the search party rushed over.
Paramedics that were part of the team moved in to render the necessary medical assistance.
He did not want to be seeing the picture ahead. Yunho looked for a couple of seconds before turning away. "We've found them, Hyung. That's most important."
You're lying to yourself again. Why can't this just not happen to you? All I can say is still.. let the pain go, Yunho...
Amongst all the commotion, the couple stayed huddled together, neither ever rousing at all.
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A/N: This is a rather long and draggy chapter. I got kind of tired writing it, hope you don't get tired reading.
1) In the end.. Yoochun had to be saved by Junsu and Yunho saved both of them. Think nobody guessed it would happen this way.. *o*
2) Love the Yunho here, once again gentlemanly and righteous. He's able to see that Yoochun had done nothing wrong against him. My hearts breaks.. *sob*
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Jung Yunho x Kim Jaejoong
Park Yoochun x Kim Junsu