From Blue Sky - Chapter 1/15
Title: From Blue Sky
Status: 1/15
Fandom: Hey! Say! JUMP
Pairing: None. Main characters are Yabu, Hikaru, Yamada and Chinen.
Overall rating: PG-15 for minor character death and depictions of violence
Warnings: AU. I made Chinen 11 years old which is what the plot revolves around.
Wordcount: 3310
Summary: "He's a cute boy, isn't he?" Takaki says, his voice dangerously low as his eyes follow the young boy, probably around ten years old, walking next to his classy mother and seemingly trying to nag her into something. "I think he'd be even cuter lying at my feet with his throat sliced."
Notes: This is inspired by the Mayonaka no Shadow boy PV and a movie which I won't admit to ripping the plot from until someone calls me on it. I love the atmosphere of the PV and wanted to write something similar to it, and I've had this plot lying around for years, so I thought it was finally time. I'm planning on posting twice a week if you want to stick around~
So. It is finally time. I started this April 2015 haha, I can't believe it. Hope someone likes it~
Yamada feels rather than sees Takaki shift his weight as he inhales smoke from his cigarette, but he barely spares his leader a glance before returning his focus to the family across the street, taking in everything there is to see about them.
"He's a cute boy, isn't he?" Takaki says, his voice dangerously low as his eyes follow the young boy, probably around ten years old, walking next to his classy mother and seemingly trying to nag her into something.
"Sure." Yamada agrees even though he couldn't give a shit, and takes another drag of his own cigarette.
"I think he'd be even cuter lying at my feet with his throat sliced." Takaki muses, and Yamada can't help but smirk, setting a hand on his hip and brushes against the heavy mass of his gun under his thick leather jacket.
"Maybe he would be." He agrees with a light tone.
"Especially after his father comes to save him and I kill the boy before his eyes." Takaki goes on, eyes hardening, and Yamada glances around, but there's no one close enough to hear him. "Since his father got half of our men killed, it'll be a perfect revenge."
Yamada clenches his jaw at the memory, anger rushing through his veins. He can still see it at night, the dead faces of his comrades, friends, and he would give anything to avenge them. Killing a child doesn't bother him if that's what it takes.
"Tonight." Takaki exhales the word softly along with some smoke, and turns to look at Yamada, his dark eyes cold as ice and his soft brown hair looks out of place paired with that look. "I want him alive."
"I know." Yamada replies, and he knows that if he fails, there will be no mercy for him.
~*~
Hikaru yawns as he wakes up in a shabby hotel room with a horrendous brown flower pattern on the walls. It's light outside, so he blinks and sits up, yawning even more. “Hey Inoo-chan? Could you-”
He pauses to yawn again, but there no response to his unfinished question, and when he looks over at the double bed, it's empty.
“Inoo-chan? Keito?” Hikaru asks, louder, but there's still no reply. He rises from the couch he was delegated to, wincing and raising a hand to rub his neck, rolling his shoulders to ease out the tension.
He looks at the tangle of sheets, and sighs as his eyes wander to the empty floor beside the bed where there were bags yesterday.
“They left without me, huh.” He says to himself and pouts a little. Then he figures that at least he can have the bed now. He flops across the unmade bed, sighing at how much softer it is than the couch, and goes back to sleep for another few hours.
When he wakes back up, it's from someone banging on the door. “Hey, open up! Check-out time has passed!”
Hikaru's eyes fly open and he sits up too fast, making his world spin for a second.
“Sorry!” He calls, and his voice is a little sleep-slurred as he gets to his feet and stumbles to the door to open it. Outside is an angry-looking man who's much shorter than Hikaru, a cleaning trolley next to him, and his eyes harden suspiciously as Hikaru gives what feels like a dorky smile.
“I'll just get my things.” Hikaru says after a short silence where the man only crosses his arms and keeps glaring, and then heads back into the room to pick up his jacket and scarf. “Done!”
He scoots out the door, past the cleaning-man, and shrugs his jacket on as he heads down the old corridor, humming quietly to himself.
He wraps the checked scarf around his neck and glances out the poorly cleaned window as he descends the stairs, then gets a hand in his hair to try and tame the fluff of blonde pillow-hair into something similar to a hairstyle.
He easily walks past the reception desk and whistles as he steps out into the sun. Who cares Inoo and Keito left without him. He'll just have to catch up with them. But first, he needs to find something to eat because being left alone really makes him hungry.
~*~
It's not that Yabu doesn't like people. He just prefers not to interact with them.
He sits down on a bench next to the river, looking out over the water and sighing in relief at the fact that he's alone. There's been enough bothersome people to deal with today, and once he's done with this financial crap, he's going straight back home to his house and his cat.
He should never have let his old friend lure him into this job, he hates being formal and hates having to negotiate around with people who clearly won't change their minds. Negotiation has never been his strong side. He undoes the cuffs of his shirt and absentmindedly brushes the tiny dark kanjis for ivory right over the pulse point on his wrist, then undoes his tie and tugs it off, tucking it into his bag that is more suited for a short weekend trip than a business meeting.
It's a cute town, Yabu thinks, pretty enough in its simplicity that he might actually go on a weekend trip here.
He fishes a chocolate bar out of the outer pocket of his bag, unwrapping it while watching a few autumn leaves float down from the tree behind him and onto the gravelled path his feet are resting on.
It's not too cold yet either, the sun of early October still warming enough that there's no need for a jacket when just being outside for a little while. Yabu eats his chocolate quietly, enjoying the scenery and some peace to the fullest, before glancing at his watch.
It's 6:30 pm and he should probably think about going back to his hotel, grab dinner and read his book.
He takes his bag and rises, thinking that it's getting a little chillier now, and starts heading back.
~*~
“Nonono, that's not it at all!”
A voice that sounds nervous and joking catches Yabu's attention as he passes a café with some outdoor seats, and he turns to look. The voice belongs to a blonde man with a checked scarf and messy hair, and he's standing outside the open door to the café, faced with two big guys in aprons and a cute girl trying to get the attention of the tallest of the two.
“I didn't steal anything, I promise!” The blonde man assures, waving his hands for emphasis. “I was just hungry and your sweet Nana-chan here offered me something to eat, that's all, I swear!”
“She doesn't have the right to offer free food.” The tallest guy who looks most intimidating growls and shrugs off the girl who's clearly trying to explain her version of whatever happened. “And you. Shouldn't seduce innocent girls to get it.”
“I have not seduced anyone!” The blonde man protests, taking a step back as the other, shorter man takes a threatening step towards him. “In fact, I'm insulted you would even accuse me of that!”
There's something about him, Yabu thinks, how he grins to try and ease the tension even though he's clearly in trouble, that makes Yabu stop to see where this is going. Just probably a little too close to the scene, since the blonde man catches sight of him and slowly moves closer.
“He didn't, really!” The girl desperately manages to get a word in even though the two big guys clearly aren't listening to her. “He didn't have any money and I gave him something to eat, he told me everything about why he didn't have money and it's horrible!”
“See, definitely no seduction involved!” The blonde insists, and suddenly there's a hand around Yabu's upper arm and he's dragged before the two big guys. “See, this gentleman seems trustworthy, doesn't he? Dear Mr. Gentleman, would you say I look like someone who seduces innocent girls for food?”
Yabu raises an eyebrow and then shrugs the blonde off and glares at him. The blonde just smiles helpfully, and it makes Yabu frown, because he does look like a nice guy, honest expression and a joking aura, but this has nothing to do with Yabu.
He turns to the two big guys instead, taking on his business tone. “What's the matter?”
“This thieving bastard here tried to leave without paying, claims he's been offered food for free, which we don't serve.” The tall guy growls, not taking his eyes off the blonde who grins nervously and takes another step closer to Yabu. “Claims he has no money.”
“I don't, really.” The blonde whispers loudly enough for everyone to hear it. “Save me, I don't want to die.”
The girl makes a whining sound at that and tugs at the big guy's sleeve. “He didn't do anything!”
“Shut up.” The shorter of the two mutters, clearly sick of the waitress' protests by now. “If he'll just come with us we'll sort this out.”
“I'd rather not.” The blonde says quickly, grabbing onto Yabu's arm and Yabu shrugs him off again, really uncomfortable with the invasion of his personal space.
“How much money does this revolve around?” He asks, and if his voice is snappy it's because he's sick of this argument that he has nothing to do with.
“600 yen.” The shorter of the two says, glaring at the blonde who tries to hide behind Yabu.
Yabu knows he probably shouldn't, but this is ridiculous and he just wants to get out of it, and so he fishes out his wallet and finds a 1000 yen bill which he hands to the tall guy, who wide-eyed accepts it. “Keep the change.”
Yabu ignores the stunned looks on the two previously angry faces, and turns to continue his walk back to his hotel.
“Told you he was a gentleman, huh?” He hears the blonde's satisfied grin behind him and tries to tune it out, but then that voice is suddenly a lot closer and there's a hand on his shoulder. “Hey hey, wait, thank you so much, wow, thank you.”
“Don't touch me.” Yabu says sharply, and the hand disappears, but instead the blonde falls into step with him.
“You're not very nice for being so nice, are you?” The blonde says, looking thoughtful. “I'm Hikaru, who are you?”
Yabu sends him a glare that would convey his intense wish to be left alone to anyone sensible, but Hikaru just keeps walking with him, grinning.
“Come on, you have a name, right?” He encourages, and Yabu sends him another long glare, but he doesn't budge.
“Yabu.” He says finally, because he's not that informal that he only gives his first name.
“Yabu?” Hikaru repeats, trying it out. “Nah, that's pretty boring, can I call you Yabu-chan?”
“No.” Yabu says firmly and stops for a traffic light, trying to ignore Hikaru's presence.
“So Yabu-chan, you really did me a favour there, and I shall follow you until I've returned it!” Hikaru cheerfully announces, making him impossible to ignore.
“There is really no need, leaving me alone would be doing me a favour.” Yabu says clearly and turns to look at Hikaru closely, because maybe he's too stupid to understand.
“Oh there's no trouble at all, you see, my friends left without me with my things, so I kinda don't have anything better to do.” Hikaru smiles, showing off teeth that should probably have had braces when he was younger. “Ohh, you have really pretty eyes, you know that?”
Yabu just rolls said eyes and heads over the crossing when the light turns green, thinking about how he'll get rid of this unexpected company while Hikaru rambles on about anything and everything, and Yabu figures that he'll just try to ignore him and hope he goes away.
~*~
They wait for the father to leave. They know when his taxi's arriving and when his plane leaves, when he arrives in Tokyo and when his important meeting starts the next morning.
He's on a high post within the security police, the one responsible for exterminating gang business in Tokyo, and he's very hard-working and vigorous about his task. A little too vigorous.
Yamada remembers crystal clear how he found himself shoved against a concrete wall with a cold gun pressed up under his jaw by a man with a bulletproof vest and crazy eyes, calling him the filth of society and declared that their chief had clearly instructed that all of his kind were to be killed rather than sent to a court.
Luckily Yuto'd saved him with a well placed shot, but the killer instinct in those eyes, just like many others, could only be conjured by a passionate leader.
"Isn't it time soon?" Yuto mutters impatiently, rising from the rock he's been sitting on and starts pacing for about the fifth time.
"No." Yamada tells him quietly, and glances at Takaki who's stood still in his place for more than an hour, just watching the house from the shadows of the forest they're hidden in.
"Soon." Takaki says, and Yuto sighs, muttering a few words about how badly he wants to kill that son of a bitch, before sitting down again. Daiki eyes him with a raised eyebrow, unimpressed, and then turns his focus back to the house. It'll be a long night.
Eventually, the taxi arrives, and everything is set in motion. The father disappears into the taxi with his bags and a bodyguard, leaving two bodyguards for his family.
"We'll take them down easily." Yuto smirks, leaning on Yamada's shoulder and pretty much whispers in his ear, breath hot on his skin. "So you can do your thing."
Yamada shrugs him off with a grimace, too focused to deal with any of Yuto's antics right now. "Shut up."
"Don't be so snappy, Yama-chan." Yuto pouts, but leaves him be. He knows how much depends on this for Yamada after all.
The whole thing is swift once Takaki finally gives a signal that it's time.
Daiki smashes a window and Yuto breaks in the door, guns pointed the second they're faced with the bodyguards, but Yamada can hardly hear the screaming over his heart pounding in his ears. He's behind Yuto, gun drawn and held steady in his slightly sweaty hands, adrenaline rushing through his body into every vein as he gets a glimpse of the scene over Yuto's shoulder.
Shattered glass on the floor along with a crushed mug of what looks like hot chocolate, it's content splashed over the carpet Takaki stands on, gun aimed at the bodyguard on his two-way radio, and they already know there are others just minutes away. Yamada can't see Daiki, but he hears the mother shriek and something thump to the floor, and Yamada grins, staying behind Yuto as planned, ready for when the reinforcements arrive, and turns to look into the night.
There's yelling and sounds of things smashing behind him, but no gunshots, and Yamada doesn't turn to look again, keeps his eyes trained on the darkness outside the house, on the shadows from the few streetlights, ready to shoot if anything moves while waiting for his cue.
He trusts Yuto not to let anyone get him from behind, and he patiently does what he's supposed to even as the first shot rings loudly through the house and there's another female shriek, and Yamada hears Yuto curse.
The seconds feel like ages, and Yamada swallows, not seeing a single thing move on the street before him, not in the neighbouring house or the bushes around and he tries to keep his body from shaking with the overflow of fighting hormones.
Then Yuto elbows his back, hard, hissing loudly. “Go, go, eleven o'clock!”
Yamada doesn't miss a beat before rushing from the front porch he'd been standing on, not even turning to look at what's going on inside as he hears another shot go off, just jumping over the railing and down onto the lawn.
He stops for a second, orientating himself quickly in the direction Yuto'd told him, and easily catches the movement of figures running away into the woods on the other side of the street.
He quickly goes after, jumping over the fence framing the garden to run across the street in pursuit, and he hears sirens in the distance as he reaches the woods.
He sends his comrades a thought, but that's all he spares them as he sees the figures before him. He smirks despite his heaving breath, knowing that the path they're on only leads down to the river and they'll be trapped. The two figures have quite a headstart, but they're slow since one isn't very tall or fast, and Yamada's catching up with them slowly.
When he sees the trees part and gets a glimpse of the river, he's only a few dozens of metres behind and when the mother turns around and notices him, he can distinguish the panic on her face as she tugs her son along faster.
It's just that it doesn't work.
Just as they reach the riverside, the son collapses to the ground, and the mother helplessly screams for him to get up, tugs at his arms and is about to lift him when Yamada finally catches up with them.
He stops a few metres from her and tugs his gun out, keeping it steady even though his chest is heaving from the run. “Let him go.”
The mother looks up at him from where she's kneeling in the mud in her fancy beige trousers, eyes pleading and tears black-lined with mascara is drying on her cheeks, hair blowing into her face and sticks in the trails of salt.
She doesn't answer, but she doesn't let go of her son either, hands clutching desperately to the small upper arms where she's got him half-sitting, his head hanging to the side, clearly unconscious.
“I said. Let him go.” Yamada says again now that his voice is more stable, and steps closer, making sure she knows it's a threat.
She keeps looking at him, and shakes her head slowly, tugging the boy closer to her chest. “No.”
Yamada's voice hardens, because he doesn't have the whole goddamned night. “Let him go or I'll pry him from your dead hands.”
She gasps, but that's her only reaction, and she looks around like she thinks someone's going to miraculously save them.
“There's nowhere to run.” Yamada says coldly, a small smirk touching his lips since she's only two metres from the high current river and the area is secluded, no one around to see them.
She seems to see the truth in his statement, and she tugs the boy even closer to her chest and slowly rises, looking Yamada straight in the eyes while doing so.
“I'll never give him up.” She says firmly, and her eyes has a certain determination to them. It takes Yamada a split-second too long to realize why.
“NO!” He yells, and fires a shot at her just as she takes a leap towards the water, and then there's a splash followed by a gurgling sound as both she and her son disappear in the currents of the river. Yamada rushes to the riverside, but he can't see anything besides whirls of quickly running water and some bloodstains on the rocks he stands on. They're gone.
“Fuck!” He yells out loud and kicks a rock so hard he screams again.
Takaki's going to have his head.
~*~
TBC
Chapter 2