In The Endless Rain (PureBoys fic)
Because my need for PureBoys and need for angst have decided to band together...
Title: In the Endless Rain
Characters: PureBOYS, in various pairings.(By various, I MEAN THAT. I guess main ones would be Minami/Ouji, Baba/Masei, and... Kohei/Keisuke, Keisuke/Takki and Baba/Takki.) And mentions of the D-Boys and Nachural. (With even MORE slight pairings. HELLO LOVE OCTAGON.)
Word Count: About 3400
Summary: AU. Two members of the group of mercenaries(for lack of a better word; gang doesn't sound right and they aren't quite Yakuza...) PureBOYS, have gone missing. Is it the work of rival group, D-Boys? Worksafe.
[Part 2] [Part 3]
Baba Toru checked his watch once more, tapping his foot impatiently as he stared out the glass door into the thick downpour of rain. Only a few people were visible in the neon lights of street signs, and they were all hurrying off somewhere. No one wanted to be stuck in weather like this.
"Will you stop that?" A voice asked in a choked tone. Takiguchi Yukihiro had one hand against the door's glass, and his eyes flicked to Baba's watch and his foot, before straining to look out the door again.
Baba frowned at his watch and then lowered his right arm, willing himself not to check it again. "They're late."
Takki pressed his forehead onto the chilly glass which reflected the light of a small lamp on the desk behind them and sighed. "You don't think-"
"No." Another voice from behind them assured. "They were careful. You've seen the way Keisuke practices, he wouldn't have let anything go wrong."
Takki's head whipped around, eyes softening at the familiar face. "Kei-chan..."
"Ren will be here soon. His bus is delayed by all the traffic of people trying to get home." Minami Keisuke, the leader of their group, PureBoys, reassured. "Where's Masei?"
"Asleep." Baba replied, tearing his eyes away from the street in front of the small, all-but-abandoned motel. "He worked the late shift tonight, and was tired."
"That's not the only reason." Takki muttered, poorly hiding his tone of jealousy.
Baba quickly turned back to the door to hide the blush on his face. "Ah...should I go get him?"
Minami nodded, "Do that. Yukihiro, keep an eye out as best you can, I'm going to meet Ren at the bus stop."
Baba walked past Minami, heading to the back of the front lounge and starting up a set of stairs. He gave his watch a subtle glance as he gripped the railing. Keisuke and Kohei were very late.
Takki nodded his assent and as Minami stepped out the door he quickly remembered to hand him an umbrella. Even in the harsh torrential rain, Takki could still pick out his figure as he waited at the stop at the end of the street. Sure enough, within a minute the bus pulled up and one person exited to be quickly shielded from the rain under Minami's umbrella. Takki didn't miss the way Minami's hand caressed the other's soothingly as they headed back to the 'Kanpai Motel.'
~~
Just out of the light of a flickering streetlamp sat two men, one who, like the streetlamp, seemed to be blinking in and out of consciousness.
"Dammit, Keisuke, don't do this to me!" One of the men yelled as he continued to apply pressure to a cloth that was soaked both with water from the unrelenting rain and fresh blood that flowed from the wound under it. He once again jammed his finger into a button on his cell phone, before swearing and throwing it against the wall of the alley, who's overhang from the buildings surrounding it afforded little shelter from the rain.
"Hey." He said softly, brushing the bangs out of the face of the man who's head was laying in his lap and tapping him on the cheek. "Keisuke, you still with me?"
Kato Keisuke's eyes fluttered open, squinting as if trying to focus. "Kohei..." he murmured. He moved his arms, bracing himself to sit up, but a hand on his chest stopped him.
"Don't move. You've got a bullet in your leg and possible cracked ribs." Takeda Kohei instructed, shuffling around until he could place an ear on Keisuke's chest. "Breathe in deep for me."
Keisuke obeyed in confusion, scrunching his eyes up and releasing the air in a gasp as pain shot through his chest.
"Doesn't sound like you punctured a lung, at least." Kohei said in relief, sitting back against the wall. "How are you feeling?"
When Keisuke didn't reply or open his eyes, Kohei slapped his face lightly. "Keisuke! Stay awake!"
The other man's eyes slowly opened again. "Where are we?" he asked, trying to remember all that had happened up to that point.
"An alley. I'm not sure where. I completely messed up the mission, and we had to run for it..."
"It wasn't your fault." Keisuke said seriously, "I told Minami that we shouldn't have tried to take on the D-Boys yet. I should have tried-"
"Don't blame yourself now!" Kohei insisted, "If I hadn't gotten careless we wouldn't be in this mess and you... I'm sorry, Keisuke." He hung his head, the soggy hat obscuring his face from the other man's view.
Keisuke reached out and tugged the hat off his head. "It's not that bad. Let's start thinking of a way to get out of there. Have you called the others?"
Kohei snatched his hat back and shook his head. "My cell's batteries are dead, and your's is somewhere, most likely broken. It fell while we were running." He stood up, knowing that there was no point in waiting any more. The rain wasn't letting up and his friend needed medical attention. "Do you promise me to stay awake while I go find a phone?"
The younger man nodded. "If you promise me you'll come back."
Kohei grinned and winked, "As if I'd even think of abandoning you. Now sit tight, we'll get you out of here in no time." He sloshed through puddles and headed cautiously onto the road, making a beeline for the first building that looked to have a public phone. He threw one worried glance over his shoulder, and clenched his fists resolutely. He was going to owe Keisuke big time when this was all over.
~~~
The glow of a computer monitor was the only light in the small room as Baba entered it. He approached the man sitting in the chair in front of it. "Hey." His hand rested lightly on the man's shoulder. "I thought you were sleeping."
"Ba-chon!" The young man said in surprise. "I was--until I got this." Nakayama Masei moved the chair back from the desk to let Baba see the screen better.
The slightly older man leaned forward to read the text, and his eyes widened. "What!?"
"Nachural was caught." Masei said, his fingers shaking as they hovered over the keyboard. "They were always so careful."
Baba squeezed the other man's shoulder in reassurance. "They still are. Even if captured, they won't do anything stupid. Ono will be okay. D-Boys, right?"
"Who else? I should tell Takki; this concerns him the most." Masei stood from his chair, but an arm encircled his waist, stopping him.
"Don't tell him yet. He's already worked up about Keisuke and Kohei's disappearance." Baba instructed.
"What?" Masei turned quickly. However, the arm around him didn't and he found himself pressed up against Baba's front. Not distracted even by the closeness, he continued, "They didn't come back? And you haven't heard anything?"
Baba shook his head, his worried expression saying everything.
The younger man's hands gripped at Baba's sleeves. "Do you think-"
"I don't want to think about it." Baba interrupted, impulsively kissing Masei lightly on the lips. "And you shouldn't either. They'll be fine. Kohei's hyper, but he's got energy, and Keisuke's thankfully got enough patience for the both of them."
Masei sighed, relaxing into Baba's arms for a moment. "You're right..."
"Of course I am." Baba grinned and hugged him tight. "Now, we'd better get downstairs, Kei-chan said to bring you."
~~~
Yagami Ren quickly pulled out his cell phone as it vibrated in his pocket. "Moshi moshi?" he answered, meeting the eyes of the expectant Minami, and seeing Takki jerk into a curious and worried expression.
"...Ouji? Anyways, where are you?" Came the confused voice from the other end.
"Takeda!" Ouji, as many people called him, motioned Minami over and put his cell on speaker phone. "Kei-chan and I switched phones for a while. We're waiting at the motel. Where are you? Where's Kato?"
"I'm at a bar about twenty blocks from the mission's destination. We... didn't quite make it. Keisuke's in an alley nearby. I called an ambulance, it should be here soon." Kohei's voice said, obscured slightly by the static of phone transmissions.
"Ambulance!? What happened?" Takiguchi interrupted, yelling it loud enough to be heard in the phone.
"Keisuke got a bullet to the leg and some rib damage." Kohei's voice, even over the phone, sounded worried an apologetic.
"And you?" Minami asked, taking the phone that was actually his from Ouji's hand.
"I'm alright. A few bruises. Apparently we don't have the strength to take on D-Boys just yet."
"That's not it." Minami said forcefully. "We underestimated them is all. With their frequently changing members, it should have taken them longer to regroup. Get back to Keisuke now and call us when you get to the hospital." he instructed.
"Yes, Buchou!" Kohei said jokingly, and hung up the phone. Ouji could imagine him winking and saluting.
"Hospital?"
"Who was that?"
The two voices came from the men that descended down the stairs, confusion and hope written over their faces.
"Takeda called and said Kato's hurt." Ouji supplied, taking his own phone from Minami's offering hand.
Masei's eyes widened, but he knew that Kohei being able to call and get Keisuke to a hospital was a good sign.
"How bad?" Baba questioned, knowing that it wasn't for just a scratch, from the worry that was all over Takki's face.
"He said he hurt his ribs and leg." Takiguchi said. "I'm going to the hospital." Even though it was a statement, he said it like a question and looked to Minami for permission.
Minami nodded, "Head in that direction, I'll call when Kohei tells us which one they went to. But don't go alone; them failing means that their target is still out there."
"I'll go." Baba offered, giving Takki a smile when the man's face relaxed the slightest bit. The information he knew about Nachural gnawed at his insides, though. Takki was technically a part of that group, even if PureBoys was his priority.
~~~
The bus was hardly occupied. It was late, and no one in their right mind was heading out into the rain if they could help it.
"Ba-chon..." Takiguchi asked the man sitting next to him, who was watching the streets pass by, "Who do you think did it?"
"Did what?" Baba asked, turning to see Takki's anxious face, and was glad that he hadn't told him about Nachural.
"Shot Keisuke." The older man whispered, voice shaking slightly.
Baba shrugged, "Someone from the D-Boys."
"I know that... but which one?" Takki persisted.
An understanding expression came over Baba's face as it dawned on him why Takki was so worked up. "You think it was Seto."
Takiguchi winced, as if the name pained him. "Well, he'd have his reasons, wouldn't he? Tomo and Keisuke had that...thing...before he became a D-Boy, right?"
The other reason was obvious, but it was also obvious why Takki wasn't saying it. He and Seto had a 'thing' as well. Only after they were heavily involved did Takki learn that he was one of the enemy. It had caused Takki all sorts of emotional problems, which is where Keisuke came in. Having had similar problems, they were able to form a bond of trust and friendship. Though Baba wouldn't doubt that there was something more there in that relationship. It would only make sense that Seto, who was reportedly now with Tomo, would want to get rid of Keisuke.
"Don't jump to conclusions." Baba reprimanded, "We don't know who was there and who wasn't. We'll be able to ask Kohei at the hospital." When Takki's expression didn't go away, he slung an arm over his shoulder. "It'll be fine." Baba tried to make the words believable when he didn't even believe them himself.
~~~
The time ticked past much to slowly in the waiting room where Takiguchi, Baba, and Takeda sat. Takki's eyes were glued to the clock, while Baba's head rested on his shoulder, giving off soft snores whenever he breathed in. Kohei played with the toys normally set there for children, crashing a plastic car into the wall he had built out of wooden blocks.
A nurse walked in and looked down at Kohei on the floor, "Takeda-san? You were here for Kato-san, correct?"
Kohei looked up sheepishly from his pile of blocks and nodded.
"He says he'd like to see you."
"Is he alright?" Takiguchi asked quickly, forgetting that Baba was asleep on his shoulder and standing quickly.
"Hey, what was that for?" Baba yelled, sitting up and yawning. He ran his hands through his hair, arranging the strands that had gone messy from his sudden movement.
"He'll be fine. There shouldn't be any problems as long as he takes it easy and lets everything heal correctly." The nurse assured. "He's in room 257"
Keisuke's room was white and plain and smelled of iodine. The same could be said of Keisuke himself. His skin was pale, but otherwise looked normal, and he smelled like fresh bandages.
"How are you feeling?" Takki asked as he stood by the bed, Kohei and Baba with him.
Keisuke would have shrugged, but his chest was so tightly wrapped that he could hardly move his shoulders. "Can't really feel anything. All the drugs are making me dizzy, though. What did Minami say? About the mission."
"Nothing much. Our first priority was to make sure you two were okay." Baba supplied, referring to him and Kohei.
"So what happened? Kohei wouldn't talk about it until we could speak to both of you." Takiguchi asked, holding Keisuke's hand, who squeezed it slightly.
"They knew we were coming. We decided to try for it anyway-"
"I decided." Kohei interrupted, "Keisuke said we should have just left it and tried again another time, but I was stupid and said to do it anyway."
The man on the bed sighed and shook his head, "If I didn't want to do it then, too, I would have insisted. It wasn't your fault. Anyways, we went ahead with the mission as planned, sneaking in the building to get to Shirota. We almost had him, only..." Keisuke trailed off, looking at Takki with an apologetic and worried expression.
"Only they had hostages." Kohei finished, looking at Takki as well.
"W-who?" Takiguchi asked, eyes darting between the two who were telling the story. His gut knotted, wondering who it possibly could have been that they didn't want to say.
Baba knew the answer before they said it. It had to be Takagi Shinpei, Yuki Jutta, and Ono Kento. With Takiguchi they made up the four member group Nachural; their frequent allies, and the ones Masei said had been captured.
Keisuke sighed, and held Takiguchi's hand tighter. "I'm sorry Takki, they had Nachural."
Takki stumbled back into Baba, who didn't move and let the man lean on him. "What?" his voice was cracked, and eyes wide. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.
~~~
"We have to do something!" Takiguchi insisted, slamming his hands down on the desk of the Kanpai Motel's lounge.
"And we will. But we can't just rush into this. D-Boys is a lot quicker than we thought if they got Nachural." Minami said calmly. "We'll talk more in the morning. There's nothing we can do with the rest of the night."
"In the morning!? But-"
"Go to bed, Yukihiro." Minami insisted, "We'll save them, if they don't figure out how to save themselves before we can." He stood up and took Ouji by the hand, leading him to the stairs that lead up to their shared room.
"He's right." Baba whispered. "You should get some sleep." He patted Takki on the shoulder.
Masei sighed and gave Takiguchi a nod. "I'm worried about them, too, but.... Well, I know Kento's not stupid. They'll keep themselves alive and well. I'm going to my room, try not to lose sleep over this." He left up the stairs, where he would probably spend all night at the computer, despite his advice to Takki.
With Kohei staying at the hospital with Keisuke, that left Baba and Takiguchi the only ones downstairs.
"Come on." Baba tugged on the older man's hand, and Takki slowly but obediently let the other lead him up the stairs.
He was still in a trance like state when he realized they were at his room, and Baba patted him on the shoulder again. "I'll see you in the morning."
~~~
After a long, hot shower, and much time spent in the bathroom getting his hair to look right even though he was only going to sleep, Baba padded down the hall. He was dressed in only a pair of sweat pants as he pressed his ear to Takiguchi's door. He would have knocked, but there was the chance that the other man had fallen asleep and he didn't want to wake him.
Instead of snoring or breathing, he heard sniffles and gulps. Baba slowly turned the door handle and whispered, "Yuki?"
Inside the room, Takiguchi looked up, eyes puffy and red and face shining in the light of the small lamp from the tears. When Baba's head poked around the door, he looked down as if that would hide the fact he'd been crying. "Toru..."
Taking that as an invitation, Baba fully entered the room and sat next to Takki on the bed. "I may not know them very well, but the way Masei talks about Ono, it doesn't sound like they'll let themselves be dominated so easily."
Takki gulped. "I know, but..."
"They're your friends, yeah." Baba nodded. "We're going to get those D-Boys back for this! They won't know what hit them! Right?" He gave Takki a grin and held out his hand in a fist.
Takki chuckled slightly and tapped his fist against Baba's. "I guess."
Baba fished something out of his pocket and set it in the other man's hand. "Here. It's macadamia. Hope it didn't melt too much already."
Takki gave him a real smile as he held the small container of ice cream in his hand. "Thanks, Ba-chon." He pulled off the lid and Baba handed him a spoon. He dug into the ice cream happily, willing himself to just enjoy it and not think about anything else. He held up a spoonful and asked, "Want some?"
Baba leaned forward and sucked the cold ice cream off the spoon. Soon, between the two of them, the ice cream was gone.
"You can go to bed if you want." Takki offered, setting the empty container on his bedside table.
"Only if you promise me that you will." Baba said stubbornly.
The older man nodded. "I'll try." And to emphasize that, he lay down on his bed, tucking himself under the covers, and sniffing slightly.
"Alright. 'Night, Takki." Baba repressed the urge to lean down and give him a good night kiss as he stood and headed for the door.
"Good night, Ba-chon." Takiguchi replied, wiping his eyes that had gone sticky from the drying tears and waved.
Baba sighed as he closed the door and leaned on it. He meant to visit Masei next, but somehow, didn't feel like it at the moment. Instead he walked back to his room, intent on sleeping away silly thoughts. Takki liked Keisuke, and he liked Masei, anything else would get too complicated. Right? His face quirked into a smile as he tossed himself onto his own bed.
Well, he could always dream.
~~~
A/N: Aha, the 'Kanpai Motel' isn't supposed to be a love hotel, but with a name like that and the activities that happen inside, it might as well be. ;D
I think I might have to make this into a series. I'm too intrigued at the possibilities of PureBoys and D-Boys interaction. Plus I kinda left it hanging, didn't I? XD
Title: In the Endless Rain
Characters: PureBOYS, in various pairings.(By various, I MEAN THAT. I guess main ones would be Minami/Ouji, Baba/Masei, and... Kohei/Keisuke, Keisuke/Takki and Baba/Takki.) And mentions of the D-Boys and Nachural. (With even MORE slight pairings. HELLO LOVE OCTAGON.)
Word Count: About 3400
Summary: AU. Two members of the group of mercenaries(for lack of a better word; gang doesn't sound right and they aren't quite Yakuza...) PureBOYS, have gone missing. Is it the work of rival group, D-Boys? Worksafe.
[Part 2] [Part 3]
Baba Toru checked his watch once more, tapping his foot impatiently as he stared out the glass door into the thick downpour of rain. Only a few people were visible in the neon lights of street signs, and they were all hurrying off somewhere. No one wanted to be stuck in weather like this.
"Will you stop that?" A voice asked in a choked tone. Takiguchi Yukihiro had one hand against the door's glass, and his eyes flicked to Baba's watch and his foot, before straining to look out the door again.
Baba frowned at his watch and then lowered his right arm, willing himself not to check it again. "They're late."
Takki pressed his forehead onto the chilly glass which reflected the light of a small lamp on the desk behind them and sighed. "You don't think-"
"No." Another voice from behind them assured. "They were careful. You've seen the way Keisuke practices, he wouldn't have let anything go wrong."
Takki's head whipped around, eyes softening at the familiar face. "Kei-chan..."
"Ren will be here soon. His bus is delayed by all the traffic of people trying to get home." Minami Keisuke, the leader of their group, PureBoys, reassured. "Where's Masei?"
"Asleep." Baba replied, tearing his eyes away from the street in front of the small, all-but-abandoned motel. "He worked the late shift tonight, and was tired."
"That's not the only reason." Takki muttered, poorly hiding his tone of jealousy.
Baba quickly turned back to the door to hide the blush on his face. "Ah...should I go get him?"
Minami nodded, "Do that. Yukihiro, keep an eye out as best you can, I'm going to meet Ren at the bus stop."
Baba walked past Minami, heading to the back of the front lounge and starting up a set of stairs. He gave his watch a subtle glance as he gripped the railing. Keisuke and Kohei were very late.
Takki nodded his assent and as Minami stepped out the door he quickly remembered to hand him an umbrella. Even in the harsh torrential rain, Takki could still pick out his figure as he waited at the stop at the end of the street. Sure enough, within a minute the bus pulled up and one person exited to be quickly shielded from the rain under Minami's umbrella. Takki didn't miss the way Minami's hand caressed the other's soothingly as they headed back to the 'Kanpai Motel.'
~~
Just out of the light of a flickering streetlamp sat two men, one who, like the streetlamp, seemed to be blinking in and out of consciousness.
"Dammit, Keisuke, don't do this to me!" One of the men yelled as he continued to apply pressure to a cloth that was soaked both with water from the unrelenting rain and fresh blood that flowed from the wound under it. He once again jammed his finger into a button on his cell phone, before swearing and throwing it against the wall of the alley, who's overhang from the buildings surrounding it afforded little shelter from the rain.
"Hey." He said softly, brushing the bangs out of the face of the man who's head was laying in his lap and tapping him on the cheek. "Keisuke, you still with me?"
Kato Keisuke's eyes fluttered open, squinting as if trying to focus. "Kohei..." he murmured. He moved his arms, bracing himself to sit up, but a hand on his chest stopped him.
"Don't move. You've got a bullet in your leg and possible cracked ribs." Takeda Kohei instructed, shuffling around until he could place an ear on Keisuke's chest. "Breathe in deep for me."
Keisuke obeyed in confusion, scrunching his eyes up and releasing the air in a gasp as pain shot through his chest.
"Doesn't sound like you punctured a lung, at least." Kohei said in relief, sitting back against the wall. "How are you feeling?"
When Keisuke didn't reply or open his eyes, Kohei slapped his face lightly. "Keisuke! Stay awake!"
The other man's eyes slowly opened again. "Where are we?" he asked, trying to remember all that had happened up to that point.
"An alley. I'm not sure where. I completely messed up the mission, and we had to run for it..."
"It wasn't your fault." Keisuke said seriously, "I told Minami that we shouldn't have tried to take on the D-Boys yet. I should have tried-"
"Don't blame yourself now!" Kohei insisted, "If I hadn't gotten careless we wouldn't be in this mess and you... I'm sorry, Keisuke." He hung his head, the soggy hat obscuring his face from the other man's view.
Keisuke reached out and tugged the hat off his head. "It's not that bad. Let's start thinking of a way to get out of there. Have you called the others?"
Kohei snatched his hat back and shook his head. "My cell's batteries are dead, and your's is somewhere, most likely broken. It fell while we were running." He stood up, knowing that there was no point in waiting any more. The rain wasn't letting up and his friend needed medical attention. "Do you promise me to stay awake while I go find a phone?"
The younger man nodded. "If you promise me you'll come back."
Kohei grinned and winked, "As if I'd even think of abandoning you. Now sit tight, we'll get you out of here in no time." He sloshed through puddles and headed cautiously onto the road, making a beeline for the first building that looked to have a public phone. He threw one worried glance over his shoulder, and clenched his fists resolutely. He was going to owe Keisuke big time when this was all over.
~~~
The glow of a computer monitor was the only light in the small room as Baba entered it. He approached the man sitting in the chair in front of it. "Hey." His hand rested lightly on the man's shoulder. "I thought you were sleeping."
"Ba-chon!" The young man said in surprise. "I was--until I got this." Nakayama Masei moved the chair back from the desk to let Baba see the screen better.
The slightly older man leaned forward to read the text, and his eyes widened. "What!?"
"Nachural was caught." Masei said, his fingers shaking as they hovered over the keyboard. "They were always so careful."
Baba squeezed the other man's shoulder in reassurance. "They still are. Even if captured, they won't do anything stupid. Ono will be okay. D-Boys, right?"
"Who else? I should tell Takki; this concerns him the most." Masei stood from his chair, but an arm encircled his waist, stopping him.
"Don't tell him yet. He's already worked up about Keisuke and Kohei's disappearance." Baba instructed.
"What?" Masei turned quickly. However, the arm around him didn't and he found himself pressed up against Baba's front. Not distracted even by the closeness, he continued, "They didn't come back? And you haven't heard anything?"
Baba shook his head, his worried expression saying everything.
The younger man's hands gripped at Baba's sleeves. "Do you think-"
"I don't want to think about it." Baba interrupted, impulsively kissing Masei lightly on the lips. "And you shouldn't either. They'll be fine. Kohei's hyper, but he's got energy, and Keisuke's thankfully got enough patience for the both of them."
Masei sighed, relaxing into Baba's arms for a moment. "You're right..."
"Of course I am." Baba grinned and hugged him tight. "Now, we'd better get downstairs, Kei-chan said to bring you."
~~~
Yagami Ren quickly pulled out his cell phone as it vibrated in his pocket. "Moshi moshi?" he answered, meeting the eyes of the expectant Minami, and seeing Takki jerk into a curious and worried expression.
"...Ouji? Anyways, where are you?" Came the confused voice from the other end.
"Takeda!" Ouji, as many people called him, motioned Minami over and put his cell on speaker phone. "Kei-chan and I switched phones for a while. We're waiting at the motel. Where are you? Where's Kato?"
"I'm at a bar about twenty blocks from the mission's destination. We... didn't quite make it. Keisuke's in an alley nearby. I called an ambulance, it should be here soon." Kohei's voice said, obscured slightly by the static of phone transmissions.
"Ambulance!? What happened?" Takiguchi interrupted, yelling it loud enough to be heard in the phone.
"Keisuke got a bullet to the leg and some rib damage." Kohei's voice, even over the phone, sounded worried an apologetic.
"And you?" Minami asked, taking the phone that was actually his from Ouji's hand.
"I'm alright. A few bruises. Apparently we don't have the strength to take on D-Boys just yet."
"That's not it." Minami said forcefully. "We underestimated them is all. With their frequently changing members, it should have taken them longer to regroup. Get back to Keisuke now and call us when you get to the hospital." he instructed.
"Yes, Buchou!" Kohei said jokingly, and hung up the phone. Ouji could imagine him winking and saluting.
"Hospital?"
"Who was that?"
The two voices came from the men that descended down the stairs, confusion and hope written over their faces.
"Takeda called and said Kato's hurt." Ouji supplied, taking his own phone from Minami's offering hand.
Masei's eyes widened, but he knew that Kohei being able to call and get Keisuke to a hospital was a good sign.
"How bad?" Baba questioned, knowing that it wasn't for just a scratch, from the worry that was all over Takki's face.
"He said he hurt his ribs and leg." Takiguchi said. "I'm going to the hospital." Even though it was a statement, he said it like a question and looked to Minami for permission.
Minami nodded, "Head in that direction, I'll call when Kohei tells us which one they went to. But don't go alone; them failing means that their target is still out there."
"I'll go." Baba offered, giving Takki a smile when the man's face relaxed the slightest bit. The information he knew about Nachural gnawed at his insides, though. Takki was technically a part of that group, even if PureBoys was his priority.
~~~
The bus was hardly occupied. It was late, and no one in their right mind was heading out into the rain if they could help it.
"Ba-chon..." Takiguchi asked the man sitting next to him, who was watching the streets pass by, "Who do you think did it?"
"Did what?" Baba asked, turning to see Takki's anxious face, and was glad that he hadn't told him about Nachural.
"Shot Keisuke." The older man whispered, voice shaking slightly.
Baba shrugged, "Someone from the D-Boys."
"I know that... but which one?" Takki persisted.
An understanding expression came over Baba's face as it dawned on him why Takki was so worked up. "You think it was Seto."
Takiguchi winced, as if the name pained him. "Well, he'd have his reasons, wouldn't he? Tomo and Keisuke had that...thing...before he became a D-Boy, right?"
The other reason was obvious, but it was also obvious why Takki wasn't saying it. He and Seto had a 'thing' as well. Only after they were heavily involved did Takki learn that he was one of the enemy. It had caused Takki all sorts of emotional problems, which is where Keisuke came in. Having had similar problems, they were able to form a bond of trust and friendship. Though Baba wouldn't doubt that there was something more there in that relationship. It would only make sense that Seto, who was reportedly now with Tomo, would want to get rid of Keisuke.
"Don't jump to conclusions." Baba reprimanded, "We don't know who was there and who wasn't. We'll be able to ask Kohei at the hospital." When Takki's expression didn't go away, he slung an arm over his shoulder. "It'll be fine." Baba tried to make the words believable when he didn't even believe them himself.
~~~
The time ticked past much to slowly in the waiting room where Takiguchi, Baba, and Takeda sat. Takki's eyes were glued to the clock, while Baba's head rested on his shoulder, giving off soft snores whenever he breathed in. Kohei played with the toys normally set there for children, crashing a plastic car into the wall he had built out of wooden blocks.
A nurse walked in and looked down at Kohei on the floor, "Takeda-san? You were here for Kato-san, correct?"
Kohei looked up sheepishly from his pile of blocks and nodded.
"He says he'd like to see you."
"Is he alright?" Takiguchi asked quickly, forgetting that Baba was asleep on his shoulder and standing quickly.
"Hey, what was that for?" Baba yelled, sitting up and yawning. He ran his hands through his hair, arranging the strands that had gone messy from his sudden movement.
"He'll be fine. There shouldn't be any problems as long as he takes it easy and lets everything heal correctly." The nurse assured. "He's in room 257"
Keisuke's room was white and plain and smelled of iodine. The same could be said of Keisuke himself. His skin was pale, but otherwise looked normal, and he smelled like fresh bandages.
"How are you feeling?" Takki asked as he stood by the bed, Kohei and Baba with him.
Keisuke would have shrugged, but his chest was so tightly wrapped that he could hardly move his shoulders. "Can't really feel anything. All the drugs are making me dizzy, though. What did Minami say? About the mission."
"Nothing much. Our first priority was to make sure you two were okay." Baba supplied, referring to him and Kohei.
"So what happened? Kohei wouldn't talk about it until we could speak to both of you." Takiguchi asked, holding Keisuke's hand, who squeezed it slightly.
"They knew we were coming. We decided to try for it anyway-"
"I decided." Kohei interrupted, "Keisuke said we should have just left it and tried again another time, but I was stupid and said to do it anyway."
The man on the bed sighed and shook his head, "If I didn't want to do it then, too, I would have insisted. It wasn't your fault. Anyways, we went ahead with the mission as planned, sneaking in the building to get to Shirota. We almost had him, only..." Keisuke trailed off, looking at Takki with an apologetic and worried expression.
"Only they had hostages." Kohei finished, looking at Takki as well.
"W-who?" Takiguchi asked, eyes darting between the two who were telling the story. His gut knotted, wondering who it possibly could have been that they didn't want to say.
Baba knew the answer before they said it. It had to be Takagi Shinpei, Yuki Jutta, and Ono Kento. With Takiguchi they made up the four member group Nachural; their frequent allies, and the ones Masei said had been captured.
Keisuke sighed, and held Takiguchi's hand tighter. "I'm sorry Takki, they had Nachural."
Takki stumbled back into Baba, who didn't move and let the man lean on him. "What?" his voice was cracked, and eyes wide. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.
~~~
"We have to do something!" Takiguchi insisted, slamming his hands down on the desk of the Kanpai Motel's lounge.
"And we will. But we can't just rush into this. D-Boys is a lot quicker than we thought if they got Nachural." Minami said calmly. "We'll talk more in the morning. There's nothing we can do with the rest of the night."
"In the morning!? But-"
"Go to bed, Yukihiro." Minami insisted, "We'll save them, if they don't figure out how to save themselves before we can." He stood up and took Ouji by the hand, leading him to the stairs that lead up to their shared room.
"He's right." Baba whispered. "You should get some sleep." He patted Takki on the shoulder.
Masei sighed and gave Takiguchi a nod. "I'm worried about them, too, but.... Well, I know Kento's not stupid. They'll keep themselves alive and well. I'm going to my room, try not to lose sleep over this." He left up the stairs, where he would probably spend all night at the computer, despite his advice to Takki.
With Kohei staying at the hospital with Keisuke, that left Baba and Takiguchi the only ones downstairs.
"Come on." Baba tugged on the older man's hand, and Takki slowly but obediently let the other lead him up the stairs.
He was still in a trance like state when he realized they were at his room, and Baba patted him on the shoulder again. "I'll see you in the morning."
~~~
After a long, hot shower, and much time spent in the bathroom getting his hair to look right even though he was only going to sleep, Baba padded down the hall. He was dressed in only a pair of sweat pants as he pressed his ear to Takiguchi's door. He would have knocked, but there was the chance that the other man had fallen asleep and he didn't want to wake him.
Instead of snoring or breathing, he heard sniffles and gulps. Baba slowly turned the door handle and whispered, "Yuki?"
Inside the room, Takiguchi looked up, eyes puffy and red and face shining in the light of the small lamp from the tears. When Baba's head poked around the door, he looked down as if that would hide the fact he'd been crying. "Toru..."
Taking that as an invitation, Baba fully entered the room and sat next to Takki on the bed. "I may not know them very well, but the way Masei talks about Ono, it doesn't sound like they'll let themselves be dominated so easily."
Takki gulped. "I know, but..."
"They're your friends, yeah." Baba nodded. "We're going to get those D-Boys back for this! They won't know what hit them! Right?" He gave Takki a grin and held out his hand in a fist.
Takki chuckled slightly and tapped his fist against Baba's. "I guess."
Baba fished something out of his pocket and set it in the other man's hand. "Here. It's macadamia. Hope it didn't melt too much already."
Takki gave him a real smile as he held the small container of ice cream in his hand. "Thanks, Ba-chon." He pulled off the lid and Baba handed him a spoon. He dug into the ice cream happily, willing himself to just enjoy it and not think about anything else. He held up a spoonful and asked, "Want some?"
Baba leaned forward and sucked the cold ice cream off the spoon. Soon, between the two of them, the ice cream was gone.
"You can go to bed if you want." Takki offered, setting the empty container on his bedside table.
"Only if you promise me that you will." Baba said stubbornly.
The older man nodded. "I'll try." And to emphasize that, he lay down on his bed, tucking himself under the covers, and sniffing slightly.
"Alright. 'Night, Takki." Baba repressed the urge to lean down and give him a good night kiss as he stood and headed for the door.
"Good night, Ba-chon." Takiguchi replied, wiping his eyes that had gone sticky from the drying tears and waved.
Baba sighed as he closed the door and leaned on it. He meant to visit Masei next, but somehow, didn't feel like it at the moment. Instead he walked back to his room, intent on sleeping away silly thoughts. Takki liked Keisuke, and he liked Masei, anything else would get too complicated. Right? His face quirked into a smile as he tossed himself onto his own bed.
Well, he could always dream.
~~~
A/N: Aha, the 'Kanpai Motel' isn't supposed to be a love hotel, but with a name like that and the activities that happen inside, it might as well be. ;D
I think I might have to make this into a series. I'm too intrigued at the possibilities of PureBoys and D-Boys interaction. Plus I kinda left it hanging, didn't I? XD