FIC: Impasse (Chapter Nineteen and Epilogue)
Hello, everyone! I hope that everyone is well! I'm pleased to present my last chapter and the epilogue together for "Impasse." I want to thank all my faithful readers for following the storyline up until the finish. I've met so many wonderful people on the SuJu community and I thank you for all the inspiration you've given me! I hope that this final moment was worth the wait!
"Impasse"
By: Miracle Shining
PAIRINGS: HanHae, TeukHae, SiHan (past tense), KyuMin, ShinChul, YeTeuk, etc.
RATINGS: PG-13 to NC-17 (will be notated if NC-17)
GROUPS: Super Junior, DBSK, Kitty GYM, KAT-TUN
GENRE: Action/Romance/Angst
WARNINGS: Violence, Sexual Situations, Dark Themes, Character Death
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Don't own them, never will, but thanks for reading!
SUMMARY: AU Storyline~In the South Korean underworld, a popular form of entertainment is fighting matches. Men are judged by the fighters they own. A troubled fighter with a past catches the attention of two long time friends and may lead them both to the brink of obsession.
Character Profiles
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six~Rated R
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine~Rated R
Chapter Ten~Rated NC-17
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen~Rated R
Chapter Fifteen~Rated R
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen~Rated R
Chapter Eighteen~Rated R
CHAPTER NINETEEN: Going Under
It hurt.
The level of pain rushing through Hankyung's veins was indescribable. Yunho continued to put more and more pressure on his hips, the joints begin to shift and make faint snapping noises. Any more torque and Hankyung knew they would both disolocate and he would be completely useless. His arms refused to move as he tried to will strength to his limbs. Everything was becoming hazy as his freshly broken ribs forced themselves in on his weakened lungs. The room was starting to fade in and out, the viciously amused expression of Yunho gretting Hankyung's swirling vision.
"HANNIE!"
Donghae's voice rang through his clouding mind. It seemed too familiar to Hankyung already. Donghae always there when things were at their worst. But that provided a level of relief for the fighter. He felt his air grow more and more tight. In least he would have seen Donghae before Yunho snaps his back.
"Hankyung, please!" Donghae's pleading words cut through Hankyung's daze. "Please, please, please fight back! Don't let him win! Don't leave me alone! Please! I love you!"
The final three words sliced through Hankyung's mind with razor precision. His thoughts became instantly focused and he turned his head to look to the left. Donghae was on his knees, one of Minwoo's guards keeping him there. The look of utter distress on his lover's face came into Hankyung's focus. Donghae was reaching for him, the words spilling from his mouth over and over again.
"Please, don't leave me! Don't leave me alone! I love you! Please! Please fight!"
Minwoo saw Hankyung's expression change. He looked over to Donghae. The man lifted his foot from Jaejoong's wounded form and sauntered over. He paused only briefly and then backhanded Donghae. The young man's face spun to the right, red becoming evident as his lip tore through. He flinched hard and shook his head, trying to gain his composure.
"Now just shut up. You're ruining the mood of the fight." Minwoo stated smoothly.
Hankyung saw the strike and every nerve in his body sang with sheer, utter hatred. He flicked his head back to see Yunho gazing down at him calmly. The man's head turned slightly and his expression morphed as he saw Hankyung's arms slowly begin to move. Yunho squeezed hard on Hankyung's hips, trying to play to the forming injury. Hankyung steeled himself to the attack and used his own body's force to counteract Yunho's pressure. The other fighter could feel the power giving way in his legs. His eyes widened as Hankyung's right arm lifted off the ground. Before Yunho had a moment to move, the white haired man's hand surrounded his throat and began to squeeze. Yunho's eyes grew larger and his arms began to flail, trying to find purchase on Hankyung's hand.
The Chinese man slowly moved himself upwards. The adrenaline took over, the pain in his limbs fading underneath the building rage. Yunho rolled backwards off Hankyung's hips. He could feel his body moving upwards as he continued to try and fight against the other man. The air was becoming extremely thin and he could feel his neck beginning to pop. Each vertebrae seemed to sing his oncoming loss. Yunho tried his best to kick, but Hankyung continued to apply more and more pressure to the man's neck. His lips began to twitch open and closed as he tried to drag in air.
Minwoo watched in shock as Hankyung came to a stand, Yunho almost now dangling by his neck. The older man could see each muscle throbbing as Hankyung continued to squeeze harder and harder. Yunho's head started to move at an awkward angle. He struggled harder against the suffocating pressure.
"Kill him!" Minwoo shouted at the guard holding Donghae.
Hankyung heard those words and quickly threw Yunho. The man skidded across the ground. He gasped in cold shocks of air as he felt vomit rise in his mouth. Hankyung turned his attention to the guard holding Donghae. The man had his pistol poised at the corner of the youth's head. The fighter shook his head slowly at the man. The fear flashed openly in the other's eyes.
"I said kill him!" Minwoo roared.
Hankyung continued to approach the duo. The man shook and then drew back his gun. He stepped back from Donghae slowly, letting the young man free.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Minwoo demanded.
He suddenly pulled out a pistol from his coat. Donghae saw the weapon and immediately closed his eyes. He didn't want to see Hankyung's expression when his life was taken.
Minwoo didn't have a chance to pull the trigger when something hard and fast struck his wrist. A loud crack accompanied the gun falling to the ground. Minwoo staggered back slowly, looking at his left hand. It was sitting slightly to the left and no matter how much he tried to rotate it, it wouldn't move. The man turned his attention upwards to see Hankyung almost face to face with him.
"Going somewhere?" Hankyung barely asked.
"Kill them! Kill them all!" Minwoo shouted frantically.
His guards raised their weapons to rain down bullets upon the others when loud sirens tore through the building. The windows were suddenly illuminating with alternating colors of red and blue. Minwoo stumbled back seeing the fray of lights.
"What the hell?!"
"Looks like you just got busted, Minwoo." Jaejoong growled from where he was laying.
"Changmin! Changmin!"
Minwoo spun around to see that his cleaner was nowhere to be found. The space he was standing at next to Yoochun had been vacated, leaving the trainer free to move as he pleased.
"Looks like good help is hard to find, isn't it?" Yoochun said mildly.
His eyes fell then to Yunho. The man was finally getting to his feet. His neck popped back and forth slowly and he seemed to be gathering his wits again. Yoochun half smiled. He picked up the broken wood and proceeded to close in on the other fighter.
Minwoo's men became more and more panicked as they could hear the voices of police officers flooding the warehouse. The two behind Eeteuk and Yesung dropped their weapons. Both men moved and grabbed them in synchrocity. The duo then stood and began to wave their weapons back and forth.
"Dammit, everyone, shoot!"
Instead, Minwoo's guards began to flee their posts. Minwoo watched as the remaining guards began to run in different directions. The older man began to fire off his weapon angrily. The bullets attracted the attention of the oncoming police force. The sound of their footsteps growing closer echoed through the building.
"What are you going to do now, Minwoo?" Jaejoong questioned as he sat himself upwards. He moved his hand away from his eye. The blood had matted the lid together. He stood slowly, finding his equilibrium.
"You don't have anyone to protect you now."
"That may be true." Minwoo hissed. "But I've still got my leverage."
The man looked at Donghae. He then reached down and grabbed the young man, yanking him to his feet. Hankyung went to descend on the two men when Minwoo's blade flashed dangerously in the mixed lights. He pressed the tip into the other side of Donghae's neck, making the droplets run down his throat.
"One false move, Dancer, and the fish will be gutted."
Hankyung haulted his steps. Minwoo began to draw back slowly. The police force came into view. They had their weapons pulled. Eeteuk and Yesung spun around, quickly dropping their guns. However, Minwoo continued to back away with Donghae at knife point.
"If any of you try and shoot me, I will slit his throat! I swear it!"
The Chinese man watched in horror as Minwoo continued to back up. The open doorway led to the raging storm outside and an old abandoned dock. The yellow haired man just smirked as he edged his way through the opening. The pounding rain seemed to melt away the two men's images.
"Donghae!" Hankyung cried. He quickly went to pursue the duo when a pistol was pointed at his head.
"Get down!" an officer shouted.
"No, listen to me!" Hankyung pleaded. "I have to go and save him!"
"Get down!" the officer returned again.
"Officer, stand down!!" Jaejoong shouted.
The man looked at Jaejoong, his expression shocked.
"Officer Kim?"
"Go Hankyung. Go and get them." Jaejoong whispered.
Hankyung nodded only once before he fled through the warehouse. His fighting senses woke up again. He could make out the barest hint of underlying sawdust disappearing into the smell of the ocean. The darkness of night mixed with the salty flavor of the water. Every instinct was honed on one purpose. He had to reach Donghae. He didn't notice that a larger man had risen to his feet and was following close behind him.
*****
Junsu and Eunhyuk quickly ran through the abandoned building. The Head of Police was tailing rapidly behind them. The duo found the others standing in the main section of the building.
"Is everyone okay?" Junsu exclaimed.
KyuHyun looked up from the floor. His ankle was laying at a bad angle, but he nodded slightly. Sungmin was resting across his lap, nursing the bump to his head.
"Where's Kangin?!" Eunhyuk questioned loudly.
The two men looked up at Eunhyuk and then KyuHyun gestured to where the door was open.
"He went after them." he said very quietly.
"Oh gods, no." Eunhyuk shook his head. "Yoochun!"
Eunhyuk saw his close friend standing in front of Yunho. The man was holding a broken piece of wood in his hand. He spun it a couple times before letting it come to rest against his thigh. Yunho looked complacent. He was wearing a sickly painted maroon smile.
"Well, do it already, Yoochun. Isn't that what you want to do? Bash my brains in? Just finish it already."
Yoochun looked at the wood and then simply let it slip from his fingers. He barely smiled at the shocked look that appeared on Yunho's face.
"You're right, it is what I want to do, Yunho. But I think I've had enough blood. I may have been wearing Yamapi's blood on my clothing, but you're forever wearing the trio's blood on your hands. You'll never wash it off."
Those words struck something in Yunho. He looked down at his battered hands and then back up to the calm eyes of Yoochun. A laugh gurgled up in his throat. It suddenly sputtered from his lips. The sound was verging on hysteria. His eyes turned to see Jaejoong gazing at him sullenly with his one good eye.
"Joongieah! You'll help me right?! I mean, after all we've been through?! You love me don't you?"
Jaejoong's eye softened only slightly before it hardened again.
"I think I did once."
Two officers approached Yunho. The man threw punches, but his already weakened state made it easy for the police to grab him. Handcuffs were placed over his wrists.
"Jaejoong! You can't do this to me! Jaejoong!" Yunho screamed angrily. "JAEJOONG!"
The police escorted Yunho through the warehouse. Jaejoong shook his head slightly. He touched the area of his bad eye and almost smiled. It was just an eye. His thoughts quickly turned to Minwoo. He had sworn vengeance on the man. But after seeing the grace and understanding Yoochun displayed, the revenge began to slowly fade. He would not come between Minwoo and Hankyung's fate. Donghae was alive and Jaejoong knew Hankyung was going to do everything in his power to keep him that way.
"Eeteuk?" Junsu asked quietly.
Eeteuk looked at Junsu. He smiled gently, bracing Yesung with his arm. The smaller, raven haired man looked at Junsu quietly.
"Who are you?" Junsu questioned.
"My name is Yes... My name is Jongwoon. I'm a friend of Eeteuk's."
"Ah." Junsu said softly. He looked at Eeteuk curiously, but the man just shrugged.
"Everyone needs some medical help. My paid staff will be here quickly."
"What about Donghae?" Eeteuk rapidly asked.
"I've told the officers to hold for the moment." Jaejoong said over his shoulder. "I think if they approach too quickly, Minwoo will kill Donghae."
"And you wanted to give Hankyung a fighting chance."
Jaejoong nodded slightly.
"If he doesn't do it, I know Kangin will."
Eunhyuk approached Junsu. He rested his hand gently on the slightly smaller man's shoulder.
"What kind of favor did the police head owe you, Junsu?"
"Oh that?" Junsu said offhandly as he straightened his tie. "It had something to do with him and a minister's wife."
*****
Kangin could barely make out any shapes in the driving rain. The winds howled fiercely and a hard gust almost knocked his feet out from under him. The slickened wood caught against the soles of his boots. Another hard blast wore through his skin and made him feel like he was frozen in ice. He paused for a moment and then squinted his eyes. He could make some seperate forms.
"Hangeng..." he barely whispered.
Hankyung saw Minwoo ahead of him. The blinding gale did little to distract the man from his objective. His white hair plastered flatly to the sides of his head. The chill of the rain provided relief to the deep seated injuries in his body. His legs began to move faster as he lost focus of Minwoo and Donghae briefly again. Their hazy images came into view. The man seemed to be pulling Hankyung's lover toward the end of the dock.
"He's going to throw him." Hankyung thought to himself.
He picked up speed, trying his best to step carefully and catch up with the older man.
Donghae bit at Minwoo's arm angrily. The man hissed his displeasure and suddenly struck with his blade. Donghae cried out, the sound being drowned by the pouring water. His bad shoulder was sliced through, a new injury to join his previous. The wound stung hotly and then was soothed by the cold rain. Donghae continued to fight as Minwoo took his blade and pressed it hard against his throat.
"I swear, I will kill you before Hangeng even gets to see you again."
Minwoo watched as Hankyung came into focus. He looked behind him to barely discern they were at the edge of the old dock. Below was almost a twenty foot drop that led into a series of jagged rocks and broken pieces of ancient boats. With the force of the waves, only a single wrong step would send someone plummeting to their death.
"Don't come any closer, Dancer! I'll push him!" Minwoo shouted through the rain.
Hankyung ceased his advance. He could make out that Donghae was still thrashing. Minwoo drew his knife downward and pressed the tip to Donghae's stomach. The youth's eyes widened and he quickly went still.
"Well, I never thought it would end this way, Hangeng!" Minwoo shouted again. "I had hoped that it would have been a lot easier! But then again, I admit that this was much more thrilling!"
"You're a sick bastard, Minwoo!" Hankyung screamed back.
"That may be true! But you know what?! I'm going to get the best reward of all! Taking the final thing that meant anything to you!"
Minwoo lifted the blade upwards. Donghae watched in terror as the barest sliver of light caught the already stained blade. He swooped his arm downwards. Donghae closed his eyes tightly and waited for the impact. Instead, nothing came. Despite the cold, he felt something warm against his front. Donghae opened his eyes slowly to look upwards. He saw Hankyung looking at him very calmly. The man was almost smiling. The brunette looked down to see that Hankyung had ahold of Minwoo's wrist. His right hand was turned oddly. The handle of the knife was visible. The silver part had disappeared into Hankyung's torso. It took Donghae a few moments to realize that the Chinese man had stabbed himself with Minwoo's blade.
"HANNIE!!!" Donghae screamed.
Minwoo stared in shock at the taller man. He released Donghae and stumbled backwards. The edge of the dock loomed dangerously close. He felt his heel slip against the last couple boards. His own weight was starting to make the old wood creak and splinter.
Hankyung pulled the knife out of his stomach. He could feel the searing pain touch the nerves in his spine. However, he continued his forward pursuit of Minwoo.
The older man saw the Chinese counterpart approach. His blade had fallen from Hankyung's hands. The white haired man drew closer. Minwoo took another step back. The final board cracked loudly and Minwoo went flying downwards. His hands reached out for some kind of purchase. They found it in another set of hands. Minwoo looked up through the pouring force to see Hankyung staring down at him. His blood slickened hands were doing their best to hold onto the other man.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Minwoo demanded.
"You're not... going to get away... that easy..." Hankyung coughed. The blood was starting to rise up in his throat and his torso felt like an inferno.
"That's what you think!" Minwoo shouted. He released one of Hankyung's hands and reached into his coat pocket with his bad hand. He drew out a minature revolver. The pistol was aimed directly at Hankyung's forehead.
"In least I won't die knowing you lived!"
As Minwoo attempted to pull the trigger, he felt something sharp slice through the wrist that Hankyung had hold of. His eyes widened as he saw his own blood streaming down the sleeve of his soaked coat. He screamed in agony. Without thought, he pulled away from Hankyung.
Minwoo felt as though his body was weightless as he plummeted through the air. The barest hint of ocean touched his nose and he thought for a moment that perhaps heaven was something like this. But hell's fury greeted him as his back let out a snapping noise. The sound was drowned out by the raging storm and the engulfing waves. Minwoo's body lay in an awkward position, caught between the support poles of the dock and some sharpened rocks. His eyes had rolled back in his head and the water made it look like he was waving a farewell.
Donghae let the knife fall from his fingers and he pulled Hankyung backwards. The white haired man sputtered and laid back. The rain began to slow. Kangin could see the duo on the far end. He quickly ran down the wooden path. The rain continued to quiet more and more, the waves beginning to cease their near violent attack.
Hankyung looked up cloudy eyed at Donghae. The youth was sobbing as he looked down at the Chinese man's torso. Kangin stopped in his tracks. He could see the red starting to pool around the two men.
"Oh gods, Hangeng, no." Kangin whispered.
Donghae framed Hankyung's face, trying to get him to focus on him.
"Hankyung? Hannie, please, please, don't leave me. Don't die! Please. Please."
Donghae continued to sob as he felt Hankyung's reddened hand reach up and touch his face. The brunette looked down at his white haired lover.
"Donghae?" he coughed hard.
"Hannie?! Please, please stay with me. I love you, don't leave me!"
"Wo Ai Ni..." Hankyung gasped out.
"You've said that so many times to me, what does it mean?!" Donghae cried.
"It means, 'I love you...'" Hankyung barely said.
The rain slowed as Hankyung closed his eyes. He could distantly hear Donghae's pleas in his mind. Then everything went so quiet and dark.
"Wo ai ni, Donghae, wo ai ni..."
*****
EPILOGUE: Like Waves of the Ocean
One Year Later
An elegant black car rolled slowly up a lush green hill. The road was winding and the smell of oncoming summer was wafting through the air. The yellow flowers that framed the roadway seemed to be waving a greeting in the quiet breeze.
The car continued it's descent until it reached the base of a hill. At the very top was a cliff that led to a gorgeous view of the ocean. The trees were full of green and seemed to delight in the feel of the ocean sending it's greetings to them.
The car came to a quiet hault. The driver of the vehicle paused before he stepped out of the door. His light brown hair caught among the playful wind. It moved his bangs in front of his deep eyes. He was wearing a light black jacket that he pulled a little tighter around him. Pausing for just the briefest of moments, he began the remaining walk up the hillside.
A nearby bird sang a greeting to the stranger. The man nodded to the small creature. He paused for a moment to smell a nearby wild rose. The walkway that led to the top was lined with all kinds of beautiful flowers. Each one had a distinctive personality which made them unique.
The brunette haired man continued his walk until he reached the summit of the cliff. The ocean could be seen sprawling out peacefully. The morning sun bathed the water in hues of green and blue. The whole area was tranquil and gentle. Near the edge of the cliff sat a number of small markers. Each one had a name enscribed on their plain wooden fronts.
The first was a trio that were set very close together. The man paused as he looked down at the markers. Each one read a specific name.
"Yamapi. Golf. Mike." he read quietly.
The trio had been lost only a year ago but it often felt very fresh on rainy days. The companions that they left behind flooded the brunette's thoughts.
Junsu had inevitably given up the fortune that he had so desperately wanted previous to a year ago. But Eunhyuk and he had ended up taking enough money to keep them comfortable and the rest was mysteriously donated to a children's charity under an unknown name. The duo then asked Henry, Junsu's violinist, to join them in their travels. The last anyone had heard from the three of them was they were residing in an island close to Fiji.
The thought of Junsu made the man think for a moment about Shindong, Heechul and Yoochun. The trio all had been involved in one way or another with everything that had happened.
Shindong returned to his work with the diamond smuggling business after his foot had healed. Heechul had begged him to move. Shindong finally agreed and only six months ago, the duo ended up taking their business to England permanently. They'd been happy ever since.
Yoochun had taken the loss of Yamapi the hardest. The trainer had never returned to fighting. He had an offer to go with Junsu, Eunhyuk and Henry, but declined. The man changed his name shortly afterwards to "Micky." He got his passport and then headed to the United States. His whereabouts were still unknown, but there was a rumor of a gifted Korean writer that was getting attention. The brunette wondered with a slight smile if that was in fact Yoochun.
The brunette moved a little farther over and observed the next little marker.
"Zhoumi." he said very softly.
The man thought briefly about Jaejoong. The ex-officer was reinstated shortly after the incident in the warehouse. He inevitably lost his eye and ended up getting an eyepatch. He returned to his job working with Interpol. He took residence in a small suburb outside of Seoul. The man spoke little before the situation and still spoke very little today.
Yunho ended up getting exactly what the man had coming to him. As the only one found alive after the police raid, the maximum penalty was applied. The man ended up getting a life sentence with no chance of parole. Rumors flew that only four months ago, Yunho ended up committing suicide in his cell. No further information was made available.
Changmin was never found after he fled the warehouse on that fateful night. The cleaner proved to be as effective a coward as a skilled hitman. Nothing was known about the man's whereabouts. As Changmin passed very rapidly through the brunette's mind, he was more than glad to know that no one knew where he was.
The next two markers were unique simply for who they represented.
"Eeteuk. Yesung." the man read.
The duo formerly known as Eeteuk and Yesung opted to let their alter egos "die" and returned to the life they once knew. Jungsu and Jongwoon fled South Korea and headed for Thailand. The two sent messages from time to time, usually with just bits of information on where they were what they were heading to do. Most of it was still completely illegal, but the brunette had learned the duo couldn't seem to break themselves of old habits
The next trio of markers held the most signifigance to the brunette. He knelt down and reached out and touched the first of the three.
"Ryeowook." he whispered in a slightly choked manner.
The brunette did not find outabout Ryeowook's passing until almost a month later when Kibum came and found him. He wept inwardly for the loss. But there was a kind of relief that accompanied knowing that the small young man would never be in pain any more. Kibum boarded a plane shortly afterwards and went to Canada. There, he found a job working in a computer electronics store. The brunette still received messages from him time to time.
The next marker had a very special name engraved on it. The man ran his fingers delicately down the wooden front.
"Siwon, The Charmer." he spoke reverently.
Siwon, who never had the chance to see the future but still held a very special place in the past. Who was lost just a little too early. The brunette thought about him fondly, his heart warmed knowing that Siwon was reunited with Ryeowook.
Kangin, Sungmin and KyuHyun passed through the man's thoughts. The trio had recovered from the attack and Kangin had been there when Minwoo had fallen and the after effects. KyuHyun's ankle finally healed after extensive rehabilitation. Kangin returned with Sungmin and KyuHyun to their little training center in Seoul. The trio was still there as far as the brunette knew.
Minwoo, the man responsible for everything and all the loss, was declared dead when the officers were finally able to reach his body. There was no pomp and circumstance for his passing. Just simply a body bag and police making sure that no questions were asked. It was the only advantage to Junsu having that many officers on his payroll. The man died as violently as the way he lived.
The final marker had a name carefully engraved upon it. The brunette leaned down and observed the writing silently before speaking.
"Hangeng, the Dancer."
"Hannieah?" came a soft voice from behind the brunette.
Hankyung looked up from where he was kneeling at the little marker. He smiled at the young man standing a distance away. His longer, darker hair was covered by a red hood. He was wearing baggy pants and in his arms he held a bouquet of flowers.
"Does it feel weird?" the young man questioned.
"A little." Hankyung responded. "I mean, Hangeng really is dead now. Everything I connect to him is gone."
"I tried to wait in the car as long as possible. But I started getting antsy."
Hankyung smiled warmly and then stood slowly. His torso protested just a little. The young man was quick with his free arm, helping Hankyung to his feet.
"Thank you, Donghae."
"You still need to be careful."
"I know."
Hankyung laid his hand carefully across his stomach area. The scar there mimiced the bullet pucker on his chest. But the one on his waist held deep importance. He had slipped into unconciousness after he had told Donghae he loved him. He almost went into the arms of death, but something kept him holding on. The doctors said Hankyung had defied logic and he should have been dead.
The Chinese man gazed at his smaller counterpart. Hankyung's hair was no longer white, now a more natural shade of brown, and cut into a neat style. He felt more like the "Hankyung" he had chosen to become.
The two men approached the edge of the cliff. Donghae offered the flowers to Hankyung. The man took them and then looked out over the water. He paused for a moment before unraveling the ribbon. The stems fell loosely in his grasp. Donghae took the ribbon as Hankyung stepped to the very edge.
The taller man tossed the bouquet out into the air. The blossoms seperated and fell slowly toward the waves. The barest scent of their petals wafted through the air. Hankyung felt a real smile form on his face. He then felt a hand slip through his. He glanced down slightly to see Donghae staring up at him, his eyes shimmering with love.
"For those we've lost. And the memories we've yet to have." Hankyung said softly.
Donghae nodded. The two men remained a little longer before they turned to walk down the cliff. Hankyung paused for a moment to silently say goodbye to the markers. The two then made their way down the path to the black car.
"So what are we going to do in Japan, Hannie?"
"I don't know. Jin and Kame are very excited we're coming to stay with them. I'm sure it'll be an adventure."
Donghae grinned brightly and nodded. Hankyung caught him and pulled him close, pressing a sweet kiss to his lips. It surprised the younger man. He broke the kiss with a vibrant smile.
"I love you." Donghae said warmly.
"I love you too, Donghae." Hankyung nodded.
The two reached the car. Donghae bounced into the passenger side and Hankyung slipped into the driver's side. He started the engine and drew the vehicle in reverse before turning it around. His eyes glanced back as the hill that held so many memories began to fade from his view. His father's words came to his mind as Donghae slid over to rest his head on his shoulder. And for once, the words finally made sense.
Remember to always stay at peace, son. Keep yourself open like waves of the ocean.
THE END
"Impasse"
By: Miracle Shining
PAIRINGS: HanHae, TeukHae, SiHan (past tense), KyuMin, ShinChul, YeTeuk, etc.
RATINGS: PG-13 to NC-17 (will be notated if NC-17)
GROUPS: Super Junior, DBSK, Kitty GYM, KAT-TUN
GENRE: Action/Romance/Angst
WARNINGS: Violence, Sexual Situations, Dark Themes, Character Death
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Don't own them, never will, but thanks for reading!
SUMMARY: AU Storyline~In the South Korean underworld, a popular form of entertainment is fighting matches. Men are judged by the fighters they own. A troubled fighter with a past catches the attention of two long time friends and may lead them both to the brink of obsession.
Character Profiles
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six~Rated R
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine~Rated R
Chapter Ten~Rated NC-17
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen~Rated R
Chapter Fifteen~Rated R
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen~Rated R
Chapter Eighteen~Rated R
CHAPTER NINETEEN: Going Under
It hurt.
The level of pain rushing through Hankyung's veins was indescribable. Yunho continued to put more and more pressure on his hips, the joints begin to shift and make faint snapping noises. Any more torque and Hankyung knew they would both disolocate and he would be completely useless. His arms refused to move as he tried to will strength to his limbs. Everything was becoming hazy as his freshly broken ribs forced themselves in on his weakened lungs. The room was starting to fade in and out, the viciously amused expression of Yunho gretting Hankyung's swirling vision.
"HANNIE!"
Donghae's voice rang through his clouding mind. It seemed too familiar to Hankyung already. Donghae always there when things were at their worst. But that provided a level of relief for the fighter. He felt his air grow more and more tight. In least he would have seen Donghae before Yunho snaps his back.
"Hankyung, please!" Donghae's pleading words cut through Hankyung's daze. "Please, please, please fight back! Don't let him win! Don't leave me alone! Please! I love you!"
The final three words sliced through Hankyung's mind with razor precision. His thoughts became instantly focused and he turned his head to look to the left. Donghae was on his knees, one of Minwoo's guards keeping him there. The look of utter distress on his lover's face came into Hankyung's focus. Donghae was reaching for him, the words spilling from his mouth over and over again.
"Please, don't leave me! Don't leave me alone! I love you! Please! Please fight!"
Minwoo saw Hankyung's expression change. He looked over to Donghae. The man lifted his foot from Jaejoong's wounded form and sauntered over. He paused only briefly and then backhanded Donghae. The young man's face spun to the right, red becoming evident as his lip tore through. He flinched hard and shook his head, trying to gain his composure.
"Now just shut up. You're ruining the mood of the fight." Minwoo stated smoothly.
Hankyung saw the strike and every nerve in his body sang with sheer, utter hatred. He flicked his head back to see Yunho gazing down at him calmly. The man's head turned slightly and his expression morphed as he saw Hankyung's arms slowly begin to move. Yunho squeezed hard on Hankyung's hips, trying to play to the forming injury. Hankyung steeled himself to the attack and used his own body's force to counteract Yunho's pressure. The other fighter could feel the power giving way in his legs. His eyes widened as Hankyung's right arm lifted off the ground. Before Yunho had a moment to move, the white haired man's hand surrounded his throat and began to squeeze. Yunho's eyes grew larger and his arms began to flail, trying to find purchase on Hankyung's hand.
The Chinese man slowly moved himself upwards. The adrenaline took over, the pain in his limbs fading underneath the building rage. Yunho rolled backwards off Hankyung's hips. He could feel his body moving upwards as he continued to try and fight against the other man. The air was becoming extremely thin and he could feel his neck beginning to pop. Each vertebrae seemed to sing his oncoming loss. Yunho tried his best to kick, but Hankyung continued to apply more and more pressure to the man's neck. His lips began to twitch open and closed as he tried to drag in air.
Minwoo watched in shock as Hankyung came to a stand, Yunho almost now dangling by his neck. The older man could see each muscle throbbing as Hankyung continued to squeeze harder and harder. Yunho's head started to move at an awkward angle. He struggled harder against the suffocating pressure.
"Kill him!" Minwoo shouted at the guard holding Donghae.
Hankyung heard those words and quickly threw Yunho. The man skidded across the ground. He gasped in cold shocks of air as he felt vomit rise in his mouth. Hankyung turned his attention to the guard holding Donghae. The man had his pistol poised at the corner of the youth's head. The fighter shook his head slowly at the man. The fear flashed openly in the other's eyes.
"I said kill him!" Minwoo roared.
Hankyung continued to approach the duo. The man shook and then drew back his gun. He stepped back from Donghae slowly, letting the young man free.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Minwoo demanded.
He suddenly pulled out a pistol from his coat. Donghae saw the weapon and immediately closed his eyes. He didn't want to see Hankyung's expression when his life was taken.
Minwoo didn't have a chance to pull the trigger when something hard and fast struck his wrist. A loud crack accompanied the gun falling to the ground. Minwoo staggered back slowly, looking at his left hand. It was sitting slightly to the left and no matter how much he tried to rotate it, it wouldn't move. The man turned his attention upwards to see Hankyung almost face to face with him.
"Going somewhere?" Hankyung barely asked.
"Kill them! Kill them all!" Minwoo shouted frantically.
His guards raised their weapons to rain down bullets upon the others when loud sirens tore through the building. The windows were suddenly illuminating with alternating colors of red and blue. Minwoo stumbled back seeing the fray of lights.
"What the hell?!"
"Looks like you just got busted, Minwoo." Jaejoong growled from where he was laying.
"Changmin! Changmin!"
Minwoo spun around to see that his cleaner was nowhere to be found. The space he was standing at next to Yoochun had been vacated, leaving the trainer free to move as he pleased.
"Looks like good help is hard to find, isn't it?" Yoochun said mildly.
His eyes fell then to Yunho. The man was finally getting to his feet. His neck popped back and forth slowly and he seemed to be gathering his wits again. Yoochun half smiled. He picked up the broken wood and proceeded to close in on the other fighter.
Minwoo's men became more and more panicked as they could hear the voices of police officers flooding the warehouse. The two behind Eeteuk and Yesung dropped their weapons. Both men moved and grabbed them in synchrocity. The duo then stood and began to wave their weapons back and forth.
"Dammit, everyone, shoot!"
Instead, Minwoo's guards began to flee their posts. Minwoo watched as the remaining guards began to run in different directions. The older man began to fire off his weapon angrily. The bullets attracted the attention of the oncoming police force. The sound of their footsteps growing closer echoed through the building.
"What are you going to do now, Minwoo?" Jaejoong questioned as he sat himself upwards. He moved his hand away from his eye. The blood had matted the lid together. He stood slowly, finding his equilibrium.
"You don't have anyone to protect you now."
"That may be true." Minwoo hissed. "But I've still got my leverage."
The man looked at Donghae. He then reached down and grabbed the young man, yanking him to his feet. Hankyung went to descend on the two men when Minwoo's blade flashed dangerously in the mixed lights. He pressed the tip into the other side of Donghae's neck, making the droplets run down his throat.
"One false move, Dancer, and the fish will be gutted."
Hankyung haulted his steps. Minwoo began to draw back slowly. The police force came into view. They had their weapons pulled. Eeteuk and Yesung spun around, quickly dropping their guns. However, Minwoo continued to back away with Donghae at knife point.
"If any of you try and shoot me, I will slit his throat! I swear it!"
The Chinese man watched in horror as Minwoo continued to back up. The open doorway led to the raging storm outside and an old abandoned dock. The yellow haired man just smirked as he edged his way through the opening. The pounding rain seemed to melt away the two men's images.
"Donghae!" Hankyung cried. He quickly went to pursue the duo when a pistol was pointed at his head.
"Get down!" an officer shouted.
"No, listen to me!" Hankyung pleaded. "I have to go and save him!"
"Get down!" the officer returned again.
"Officer, stand down!!" Jaejoong shouted.
The man looked at Jaejoong, his expression shocked.
"Officer Kim?"
"Go Hankyung. Go and get them." Jaejoong whispered.
Hankyung nodded only once before he fled through the warehouse. His fighting senses woke up again. He could make out the barest hint of underlying sawdust disappearing into the smell of the ocean. The darkness of night mixed with the salty flavor of the water. Every instinct was honed on one purpose. He had to reach Donghae. He didn't notice that a larger man had risen to his feet and was following close behind him.
*****
Junsu and Eunhyuk quickly ran through the abandoned building. The Head of Police was tailing rapidly behind them. The duo found the others standing in the main section of the building.
"Is everyone okay?" Junsu exclaimed.
KyuHyun looked up from the floor. His ankle was laying at a bad angle, but he nodded slightly. Sungmin was resting across his lap, nursing the bump to his head.
"Where's Kangin?!" Eunhyuk questioned loudly.
The two men looked up at Eunhyuk and then KyuHyun gestured to where the door was open.
"He went after them." he said very quietly.
"Oh gods, no." Eunhyuk shook his head. "Yoochun!"
Eunhyuk saw his close friend standing in front of Yunho. The man was holding a broken piece of wood in his hand. He spun it a couple times before letting it come to rest against his thigh. Yunho looked complacent. He was wearing a sickly painted maroon smile.
"Well, do it already, Yoochun. Isn't that what you want to do? Bash my brains in? Just finish it already."
Yoochun looked at the wood and then simply let it slip from his fingers. He barely smiled at the shocked look that appeared on Yunho's face.
"You're right, it is what I want to do, Yunho. But I think I've had enough blood. I may have been wearing Yamapi's blood on my clothing, but you're forever wearing the trio's blood on your hands. You'll never wash it off."
Those words struck something in Yunho. He looked down at his battered hands and then back up to the calm eyes of Yoochun. A laugh gurgled up in his throat. It suddenly sputtered from his lips. The sound was verging on hysteria. His eyes turned to see Jaejoong gazing at him sullenly with his one good eye.
"Joongieah! You'll help me right?! I mean, after all we've been through?! You love me don't you?"
Jaejoong's eye softened only slightly before it hardened again.
"I think I did once."
Two officers approached Yunho. The man threw punches, but his already weakened state made it easy for the police to grab him. Handcuffs were placed over his wrists.
"Jaejoong! You can't do this to me! Jaejoong!" Yunho screamed angrily. "JAEJOONG!"
The police escorted Yunho through the warehouse. Jaejoong shook his head slightly. He touched the area of his bad eye and almost smiled. It was just an eye. His thoughts quickly turned to Minwoo. He had sworn vengeance on the man. But after seeing the grace and understanding Yoochun displayed, the revenge began to slowly fade. He would not come between Minwoo and Hankyung's fate. Donghae was alive and Jaejoong knew Hankyung was going to do everything in his power to keep him that way.
"Eeteuk?" Junsu asked quietly.
Eeteuk looked at Junsu. He smiled gently, bracing Yesung with his arm. The smaller, raven haired man looked at Junsu quietly.
"Who are you?" Junsu questioned.
"My name is Yes... My name is Jongwoon. I'm a friend of Eeteuk's."
"Ah." Junsu said softly. He looked at Eeteuk curiously, but the man just shrugged.
"Everyone needs some medical help. My paid staff will be here quickly."
"What about Donghae?" Eeteuk rapidly asked.
"I've told the officers to hold for the moment." Jaejoong said over his shoulder. "I think if they approach too quickly, Minwoo will kill Donghae."
"And you wanted to give Hankyung a fighting chance."
Jaejoong nodded slightly.
"If he doesn't do it, I know Kangin will."
Eunhyuk approached Junsu. He rested his hand gently on the slightly smaller man's shoulder.
"What kind of favor did the police head owe you, Junsu?"
"Oh that?" Junsu said offhandly as he straightened his tie. "It had something to do with him and a minister's wife."
*****
Kangin could barely make out any shapes in the driving rain. The winds howled fiercely and a hard gust almost knocked his feet out from under him. The slickened wood caught against the soles of his boots. Another hard blast wore through his skin and made him feel like he was frozen in ice. He paused for a moment and then squinted his eyes. He could make some seperate forms.
"Hangeng..." he barely whispered.
Hankyung saw Minwoo ahead of him. The blinding gale did little to distract the man from his objective. His white hair plastered flatly to the sides of his head. The chill of the rain provided relief to the deep seated injuries in his body. His legs began to move faster as he lost focus of Minwoo and Donghae briefly again. Their hazy images came into view. The man seemed to be pulling Hankyung's lover toward the end of the dock.
"He's going to throw him." Hankyung thought to himself.
He picked up speed, trying his best to step carefully and catch up with the older man.
Donghae bit at Minwoo's arm angrily. The man hissed his displeasure and suddenly struck with his blade. Donghae cried out, the sound being drowned by the pouring water. His bad shoulder was sliced through, a new injury to join his previous. The wound stung hotly and then was soothed by the cold rain. Donghae continued to fight as Minwoo took his blade and pressed it hard against his throat.
"I swear, I will kill you before Hangeng even gets to see you again."
Minwoo watched as Hankyung came into focus. He looked behind him to barely discern they were at the edge of the old dock. Below was almost a twenty foot drop that led into a series of jagged rocks and broken pieces of ancient boats. With the force of the waves, only a single wrong step would send someone plummeting to their death.
"Don't come any closer, Dancer! I'll push him!" Minwoo shouted through the rain.
Hankyung ceased his advance. He could make out that Donghae was still thrashing. Minwoo drew his knife downward and pressed the tip to Donghae's stomach. The youth's eyes widened and he quickly went still.
"Well, I never thought it would end this way, Hangeng!" Minwoo shouted again. "I had hoped that it would have been a lot easier! But then again, I admit that this was much more thrilling!"
"You're a sick bastard, Minwoo!" Hankyung screamed back.
"That may be true! But you know what?! I'm going to get the best reward of all! Taking the final thing that meant anything to you!"
Minwoo lifted the blade upwards. Donghae watched in terror as the barest sliver of light caught the already stained blade. He swooped his arm downwards. Donghae closed his eyes tightly and waited for the impact. Instead, nothing came. Despite the cold, he felt something warm against his front. Donghae opened his eyes slowly to look upwards. He saw Hankyung looking at him very calmly. The man was almost smiling. The brunette looked down to see that Hankyung had ahold of Minwoo's wrist. His right hand was turned oddly. The handle of the knife was visible. The silver part had disappeared into Hankyung's torso. It took Donghae a few moments to realize that the Chinese man had stabbed himself with Minwoo's blade.
"HANNIE!!!" Donghae screamed.
Minwoo stared in shock at the taller man. He released Donghae and stumbled backwards. The edge of the dock loomed dangerously close. He felt his heel slip against the last couple boards. His own weight was starting to make the old wood creak and splinter.
Hankyung pulled the knife out of his stomach. He could feel the searing pain touch the nerves in his spine. However, he continued his forward pursuit of Minwoo.
The older man saw the Chinese counterpart approach. His blade had fallen from Hankyung's hands. The white haired man drew closer. Minwoo took another step back. The final board cracked loudly and Minwoo went flying downwards. His hands reached out for some kind of purchase. They found it in another set of hands. Minwoo looked up through the pouring force to see Hankyung staring down at him. His blood slickened hands were doing their best to hold onto the other man.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Minwoo demanded.
"You're not... going to get away... that easy..." Hankyung coughed. The blood was starting to rise up in his throat and his torso felt like an inferno.
"That's what you think!" Minwoo shouted. He released one of Hankyung's hands and reached into his coat pocket with his bad hand. He drew out a minature revolver. The pistol was aimed directly at Hankyung's forehead.
"In least I won't die knowing you lived!"
As Minwoo attempted to pull the trigger, he felt something sharp slice through the wrist that Hankyung had hold of. His eyes widened as he saw his own blood streaming down the sleeve of his soaked coat. He screamed in agony. Without thought, he pulled away from Hankyung.
Minwoo felt as though his body was weightless as he plummeted through the air. The barest hint of ocean touched his nose and he thought for a moment that perhaps heaven was something like this. But hell's fury greeted him as his back let out a snapping noise. The sound was drowned out by the raging storm and the engulfing waves. Minwoo's body lay in an awkward position, caught between the support poles of the dock and some sharpened rocks. His eyes had rolled back in his head and the water made it look like he was waving a farewell.
Donghae let the knife fall from his fingers and he pulled Hankyung backwards. The white haired man sputtered and laid back. The rain began to slow. Kangin could see the duo on the far end. He quickly ran down the wooden path. The rain continued to quiet more and more, the waves beginning to cease their near violent attack.
Hankyung looked up cloudy eyed at Donghae. The youth was sobbing as he looked down at the Chinese man's torso. Kangin stopped in his tracks. He could see the red starting to pool around the two men.
"Oh gods, Hangeng, no." Kangin whispered.
Donghae framed Hankyung's face, trying to get him to focus on him.
"Hankyung? Hannie, please, please, don't leave me. Don't die! Please. Please."
Donghae continued to sob as he felt Hankyung's reddened hand reach up and touch his face. The brunette looked down at his white haired lover.
"Donghae?" he coughed hard.
"Hannie?! Please, please stay with me. I love you, don't leave me!"
"Wo Ai Ni..." Hankyung gasped out.
"You've said that so many times to me, what does it mean?!" Donghae cried.
"It means, 'I love you...'" Hankyung barely said.
The rain slowed as Hankyung closed his eyes. He could distantly hear Donghae's pleas in his mind. Then everything went so quiet and dark.
"Wo ai ni, Donghae, wo ai ni..."
*****
EPILOGUE: Like Waves of the Ocean
One Year Later
An elegant black car rolled slowly up a lush green hill. The road was winding and the smell of oncoming summer was wafting through the air. The yellow flowers that framed the roadway seemed to be waving a greeting in the quiet breeze.
The car continued it's descent until it reached the base of a hill. At the very top was a cliff that led to a gorgeous view of the ocean. The trees were full of green and seemed to delight in the feel of the ocean sending it's greetings to them.
The car came to a quiet hault. The driver of the vehicle paused before he stepped out of the door. His light brown hair caught among the playful wind. It moved his bangs in front of his deep eyes. He was wearing a light black jacket that he pulled a little tighter around him. Pausing for just the briefest of moments, he began the remaining walk up the hillside.
A nearby bird sang a greeting to the stranger. The man nodded to the small creature. He paused for a moment to smell a nearby wild rose. The walkway that led to the top was lined with all kinds of beautiful flowers. Each one had a distinctive personality which made them unique.
The brunette haired man continued his walk until he reached the summit of the cliff. The ocean could be seen sprawling out peacefully. The morning sun bathed the water in hues of green and blue. The whole area was tranquil and gentle. Near the edge of the cliff sat a number of small markers. Each one had a name enscribed on their plain wooden fronts.
The first was a trio that were set very close together. The man paused as he looked down at the markers. Each one read a specific name.
"Yamapi. Golf. Mike." he read quietly.
The trio had been lost only a year ago but it often felt very fresh on rainy days. The companions that they left behind flooded the brunette's thoughts.
Junsu had inevitably given up the fortune that he had so desperately wanted previous to a year ago. But Eunhyuk and he had ended up taking enough money to keep them comfortable and the rest was mysteriously donated to a children's charity under an unknown name. The duo then asked Henry, Junsu's violinist, to join them in their travels. The last anyone had heard from the three of them was they were residing in an island close to Fiji.
The thought of Junsu made the man think for a moment about Shindong, Heechul and Yoochun. The trio all had been involved in one way or another with everything that had happened.
Shindong returned to his work with the diamond smuggling business after his foot had healed. Heechul had begged him to move. Shindong finally agreed and only six months ago, the duo ended up taking their business to England permanently. They'd been happy ever since.
Yoochun had taken the loss of Yamapi the hardest. The trainer had never returned to fighting. He had an offer to go with Junsu, Eunhyuk and Henry, but declined. The man changed his name shortly afterwards to "Micky." He got his passport and then headed to the United States. His whereabouts were still unknown, but there was a rumor of a gifted Korean writer that was getting attention. The brunette wondered with a slight smile if that was in fact Yoochun.
The brunette moved a little farther over and observed the next little marker.
"Zhoumi." he said very softly.
The man thought briefly about Jaejoong. The ex-officer was reinstated shortly after the incident in the warehouse. He inevitably lost his eye and ended up getting an eyepatch. He returned to his job working with Interpol. He took residence in a small suburb outside of Seoul. The man spoke little before the situation and still spoke very little today.
Yunho ended up getting exactly what the man had coming to him. As the only one found alive after the police raid, the maximum penalty was applied. The man ended up getting a life sentence with no chance of parole. Rumors flew that only four months ago, Yunho ended up committing suicide in his cell. No further information was made available.
Changmin was never found after he fled the warehouse on that fateful night. The cleaner proved to be as effective a coward as a skilled hitman. Nothing was known about the man's whereabouts. As Changmin passed very rapidly through the brunette's mind, he was more than glad to know that no one knew where he was.
The next two markers were unique simply for who they represented.
"Eeteuk. Yesung." the man read.
The duo formerly known as Eeteuk and Yesung opted to let their alter egos "die" and returned to the life they once knew. Jungsu and Jongwoon fled South Korea and headed for Thailand. The two sent messages from time to time, usually with just bits of information on where they were what they were heading to do. Most of it was still completely illegal, but the brunette had learned the duo couldn't seem to break themselves of old habits
The next trio of markers held the most signifigance to the brunette. He knelt down and reached out and touched the first of the three.
"Ryeowook." he whispered in a slightly choked manner.
The brunette did not find outabout Ryeowook's passing until almost a month later when Kibum came and found him. He wept inwardly for the loss. But there was a kind of relief that accompanied knowing that the small young man would never be in pain any more. Kibum boarded a plane shortly afterwards and went to Canada. There, he found a job working in a computer electronics store. The brunette still received messages from him time to time.
The next marker had a very special name engraved on it. The man ran his fingers delicately down the wooden front.
"Siwon, The Charmer." he spoke reverently.
Siwon, who never had the chance to see the future but still held a very special place in the past. Who was lost just a little too early. The brunette thought about him fondly, his heart warmed knowing that Siwon was reunited with Ryeowook.
Kangin, Sungmin and KyuHyun passed through the man's thoughts. The trio had recovered from the attack and Kangin had been there when Minwoo had fallen and the after effects. KyuHyun's ankle finally healed after extensive rehabilitation. Kangin returned with Sungmin and KyuHyun to their little training center in Seoul. The trio was still there as far as the brunette knew.
Minwoo, the man responsible for everything and all the loss, was declared dead when the officers were finally able to reach his body. There was no pomp and circumstance for his passing. Just simply a body bag and police making sure that no questions were asked. It was the only advantage to Junsu having that many officers on his payroll. The man died as violently as the way he lived.
The final marker had a name carefully engraved upon it. The brunette leaned down and observed the writing silently before speaking.
"Hangeng, the Dancer."
"Hannieah?" came a soft voice from behind the brunette.
Hankyung looked up from where he was kneeling at the little marker. He smiled at the young man standing a distance away. His longer, darker hair was covered by a red hood. He was wearing baggy pants and in his arms he held a bouquet of flowers.
"Does it feel weird?" the young man questioned.
"A little." Hankyung responded. "I mean, Hangeng really is dead now. Everything I connect to him is gone."
"I tried to wait in the car as long as possible. But I started getting antsy."
Hankyung smiled warmly and then stood slowly. His torso protested just a little. The young man was quick with his free arm, helping Hankyung to his feet.
"Thank you, Donghae."
"You still need to be careful."
"I know."
Hankyung laid his hand carefully across his stomach area. The scar there mimiced the bullet pucker on his chest. But the one on his waist held deep importance. He had slipped into unconciousness after he had told Donghae he loved him. He almost went into the arms of death, but something kept him holding on. The doctors said Hankyung had defied logic and he should have been dead.
The Chinese man gazed at his smaller counterpart. Hankyung's hair was no longer white, now a more natural shade of brown, and cut into a neat style. He felt more like the "Hankyung" he had chosen to become.
The two men approached the edge of the cliff. Donghae offered the flowers to Hankyung. The man took them and then looked out over the water. He paused for a moment before unraveling the ribbon. The stems fell loosely in his grasp. Donghae took the ribbon as Hankyung stepped to the very edge.
The taller man tossed the bouquet out into the air. The blossoms seperated and fell slowly toward the waves. The barest scent of their petals wafted through the air. Hankyung felt a real smile form on his face. He then felt a hand slip through his. He glanced down slightly to see Donghae staring up at him, his eyes shimmering with love.
"For those we've lost. And the memories we've yet to have." Hankyung said softly.
Donghae nodded. The two men remained a little longer before they turned to walk down the cliff. Hankyung paused for a moment to silently say goodbye to the markers. The two then made their way down the path to the black car.
"So what are we going to do in Japan, Hannie?"
"I don't know. Jin and Kame are very excited we're coming to stay with them. I'm sure it'll be an adventure."
Donghae grinned brightly and nodded. Hankyung caught him and pulled him close, pressing a sweet kiss to his lips. It surprised the younger man. He broke the kiss with a vibrant smile.
"I love you." Donghae said warmly.
"I love you too, Donghae." Hankyung nodded.
The two reached the car. Donghae bounced into the passenger side and Hankyung slipped into the driver's side. He started the engine and drew the vehicle in reverse before turning it around. His eyes glanced back as the hill that held so many memories began to fade from his view. His father's words came to his mind as Donghae slid over to rest his head on his shoulder. And for once, the words finally made sense.
Remember to always stay at peace, son. Keep yourself open like waves of the ocean.
THE END