By: Araki

Chapter Rating: XxX

Summary: After a kitchen fire “accident”, Shuichi is thrown out by Yuki, and found by a stalker. It’s up to Yuki to sort out his feelings for the boy before the singer ends up dead, along with the stalker’s next victim…Tohma.

Pairings: Eiri x Shuichi, OC x Shuichi (N/C), OC x Tohma (N/C), Tohma x Shuichi

Author Notes: Sadly, I’m bad for jumping into things without much knowledge. This would be one of them. I’ve only read Gravitation book 1, so give me some slack from lack of knowledge, but what I do know I’ve read in fanfics (I’ve read most of them now off of AFF) and fanart. If I have a BIG error in the plot, say something about the character, please tell me so I can fix it. L)

It was a nice day, yet it’s contents were not what ‘pleased’ the pink haired individual as he walked through the busy streets of Tokyo. He just wanted to be helpful to Eiri; it didn’t seem all that of a bad idea when he first tried making breakfast, the fire was an accident. That had been the last straw for the novelist as he told the boy to get out of his apartment. If Shuichi was allowed back, it was unsure, but he knew he wouldn’t be welcome for at least twenty-four hours. That would be more than enough time for Eiri to calm down and at least let the singer into his apartment.

Pulling his tan jacket closer around his lithe form, Shuichi didn’t meet any eye contact to the few people that had a clue whom he was. Face it, he stood out like a sore thumb. Few had pink hair – natural pink hair that was. From a distance, he would look like a girl that was yet to develop her chest, but it only gave more innocence to the singer that gave so many admirers.

The soft breeze nipped through his blue hip huggers, making him shutter as he continued down the street. His destination was unsure, he was just walking; he’d arrive to wherever his legs took him at some point. His parents? Hiro’s? It didn’t matter. Wherever he could crash would be fine. He finally stopped, staring up long enough at the light, before shrugging his shoulders and turning a corner.

Sometimes, Shuichi had to wonder what possessed him into staying with someone like Eiri. The novelist had made it clear enough that the pink-haired bundle of energy was no more than entertainment in bed, and then was easy to send away once the romp was over. What was the comment the blonde had once used – ‘a free ride’? Shuichi shuddered at remembering that comment. It had hurt him so much that he had slapped the blonde and took off to Hiro’s. Yet, he couldn’t remember how he ended up, once more, in the arms of Eiri as if nothing had ever happened.

His heart. That was it; he was a mere pawn to his hearts play. He loved Eiri, truly he did – and he was too stupid to realize that that love would never be returned. Kicking a can, Shuichi brushed his hand over his eyes, wiping away the tears that came with thinking about the blonde novelist. He took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves, but all failed as his shoulders hunched, and a soft cry escaped his lips. It had happened again! He was…tied to Eiri, no matter what happened between them, he’d stray back like a lost puppy, expecting love to be returned. He was going to return to the same thing - false concerns, false apologies (him saying them, never Eiri – the blonde did no wrong), and false make up sex. After, he’d crawl to the couch to sleep. Then, after a few days – weeks, if luck, months – they’d have a fight, and Shuichi would be gone to repeat the process.

Giving up on his walk, the pink haired boy slumped against a wall to some building, watching what few people pass him by – talking amongst themselves with no drama, no problems, nothing to weigh them down. Falling to his knees, his let his hands cover his eyes as he started crying, unable to stop himself, inside his voice continuing to call himself a helpless idiot. A romantic one, but still an idiot.

A shadow over came what little light that fell into his hands, causing the pink haired boy to stare up, facing gorgeous green eyes of a man as tall as Eiri. In the man’s hand was a handkerchief, a hand sewn lettering to the side curving in a gorgeous kanji of KI. Blushing, Shuichi took the offer of the cloth, wiping his eyes with the fabric, unable to even his breathing. The man didn’t leave though. He continued to watch the petite boy with what seemed as fascination and confusion. One could guess the next as sympathy, but he had no clue what Shuichi was crying about so it was neither sympathy nor empathy in his passive face. “Are you all right?” He finally said as Shuichi clutched the fabric closer to his face to stop more tears from falling.

Shaking his head in response, Shuichi smiled politely at the man. “I will be, thank you.” He whispered. The man moved auburn hair from his face, it’s shoulder length coils once more falling into his face, but he paid no means of once more moving it.

“What has you down, if you don’t mind me asking? A pretty thing like you shouldn’t have tears, you should be happy and enjoying life to its fullest.” He brushed pink hair from Shuichi’s face, causing the boy to look away.

Shuichi was unsure if he should tell the stranger all about Eiri, how he gave devotional love that would never – could never – be returned. His shoulder’s hunched again as he started crying once more, cursing himself for that little reminder. The man frowned, sitting next to the sulking boy carefully – in worry that he may scare what one could only guess as a child, away. Staring up once more, the singer struggled to find his voice before whispering, “I’m a helpless fool that fell in love.”

The man smiled, pulling Shuichi against his chest – only to cause the young adult to tense completely. “Love? Is that all? You should be happy to find something like that.” He held tightly on to the small boy.

“I love him so much!” Shuichi muffled his face into the offering stranger’s chest, trying to find some – if any – comfort. “He just won’t love me, he can’t stand me! I’d do anything for him, give up my life for him, but he couldn’t care less. I gave him my life, but he stays impassive as ever, telling me to go away. I didn’t mean to set fire to the stove top, I thought I could muffled the fire before the smoke alarms went off, nothing I did worked. They went off, his computer short-circuited as water came down, his story that he had spent hours on gone, and all I could say was ‘oops’. I didn’t know what else to do, I wanted to be nice, he needed to eat, I was being helpful!” Shuichi took in a deep breath as the warm, comforting arms held tightly onto him. “He tossed me out of his apartment the minute the fire department left, told me not to come back. I finally did it, I blew my chances with him because I can’t do anything right!”

The stranger nodded his head, patting the small boy on his back as he stared at the slowing roads. “Maybe it wasn’t meant to be?” He suggested. “Have you talked to him about it?” He stared down, his auburn hair mixing with Shuichi’s.

“I know not to call him, or even come near him, within twenty-four hours of an accident I cause.” The singer was calming down greatly, all due to talking to the stranger. It was making him feel better. “I was on my way to Hiro’s, to stay.” He pulled out of the stranger’s embrace.

“Do you always go to this…Hiro’s…once you and this man have a fight?” The stranger asked, staring up at Shuichi faintly.

Blushing, Shuichi nodded, his hands grasping the bottom of his shirt, playing with the fabric nervously. “Yah, he calms me down, and lets me stay. It’s nice to have a friend like him.” He smiled softly, thinking of the longhaired friend that always took him in after a fight – no matter what time of the day (or night) it was.

“If you and this lover of yours routinely fight, don’t you think you’re over staying your welcome at this Hiro’s place? I mean, not to sound rude or anything, but I’d get a little irritated if my friend continued to come over due to the same means, and then returning back to the source of the problem.” Shuichi’s eyes widened, tears filling in them at the point that was striking him completely. He had such a good friend, and he was over using his welcome. Hiro did seem frustrated with the problem, continuing to happen. He had once asked why Shuichi returned to the man that would only break his heart again. “Why don’t you stay with me until things cool down with this man?” The stranger offered, but Shuichi had to hold up his hands.

“Um, no thank you. I’ll just go to Hiro’s until it does.” He held back the handkerchief. The stranger stared at him, eyes showing a flash of anger that was soon vaporized with understanding. “It was nice talking to you though. Thank you very much.” Shuichi bowed politely before starting back down the road, never watching the stranger scrunch his handkerchief and start following the young pink haired singer.

A small smile fell to Shuichi’s lips as he turned yet another corner, humming a soft tune that made no sense to him or another. He felt so much better, why couldn’t most people be like that stranger? He giggled as he continued walked. It was sudden that a hand wrapped around his face, cupping his mouth to stop all screams the young adult had to offer with a moist handkerchief. With an intake of hair to try screaming again, pure air no longer entered his lungs. It was a greenish tasting air that swelled down his throat, making it burn as he fell back, trying to pry out of the strong hold around him. Everything around was becoming swirls to his eyes, and nothing made sense to him any longer as darkness finally came to him.

Behind him, the stranger smiled as he held his victim to his body, comforting the singer close to him with a smile. “All mine.” He turned with his prize, down the alleys towards his own home.

It was cold and clammy when all senses returned to his immobilized body. For the life of him, he could not tell where he was, or what was around him besides the darkness. It was to dark, causing the innocent youth to whimper slightly as he stood up on hesitantly legs, trying his best to remember what had happen to him.

That morning, he had a fight with Eiri, went on a long walk to Hiro’s place, talked to a stranger, then…

It all became clear as Shuichi fell to his knees, unsure where he was going anyway. Tears were filling his eyes, causing it to be hard for him to tell where he was going. The stranger had done something to make him unconscious, something on the handkerchief that had taken the air out of his lungs quickly. Speaking of lungs, they felt like liquid, causing him to reach to touch his throat self-consciously. Everything around him felt cold and chilled, especially his body.

He didn’t have to stare down to realize he was naked, his could tell such due to the lack of friction that was normally there. Once more, he stood of his feet, straggling to catch a glimpse of the door, but it was too dark. His hands went out in front of him, searching for compounds of the room, each step being hesitant, almost as though he were to touch a fire. His hands stopped to rest of the cold metal of, what Shuichi could guess, the doorknob, quickly making him grasp it as if it were the hand of god. Turning it slowly, he smiled as the door opened, bringing in the hallway light to the dark room, causing Shuichi to hiss in slight pain from an unknown headache.

Lavender eyes stared around, expecting some monster to come out and yell at him, but he heard nothing giving him the heads up to continue on his way. It was a long hallway, where it was heading to was unsure to the pink haired boy as he stared about. A window on one side was covered with plywood, making sure Shuichi had no signs to whether it was day or night, or how long he had been unconscious in the dark room. Turning, he started towards the other side of the hall, brushing past two doors, yet had no courage to open and see what had been inside. Likely one was a bathroom, the other a bedroom. Staring around once more, Shuichi checked the remaining of the apartment he was in. Just an ordinary living room with attached kitchen. Nothing spectacular. It was clean, that was for certain. Not as clean as Eiri’s apartment was, but Shuichi could only guess no rats were living there besides the stranger himself. Walking towards the door, the singer once more made sure no one was around before grabbing the handle and got ready to turn it.

“And where are you going?” A voice boomed behind the pink haired boy, causing Shuichi to turn and face the auburn man from before. “You’re not escaping that easily, Shindou Shuichi.” The man said clearly.

Licking his lips, Shuichi packed up against the door, his eyes staying on the man as his heart beat quicker. “How do you know my name…?” He whispered, before mentally kicking himself.

“Everyone knows who you are. Bad Luck’s lead singer. I’ve been watching you for a long time.” He stepped closer, causing Shuichi to fall to his knees from lack of strength to hold himself up. “I spent countless hours tracking your schedules, your likes, your dislikes. I found all about your family, your life. I wanted to show those around me that I knew what I wanted, a cute boy that gave into all submissions no matter how dire the consequences could be. Returned, no matter how broken the future seemed. Isn’t that what is with your little Yuki Eiri?” He smiled down at the boy.

Fear was making it’s way throughout Shuichi’s face, his heart quickening further. “W-Who are you?” He whispered to the stalker.

“I?” The man smiled. “I am your new owner, as they say. You, my pretty little pet, will only refer to me as such.” He ran a hand down Shuichi’s face, cupping his chin in his hands to lean the kissable boy towards his face to keep the avoidant eyes on him. “Others will, or may, refer to me as Itainu Kuuli.” He smiled, almost in a sadistic way as his hands left from under Shuichi’s jaw, and to the boy’s throat in a hold that captured all the air from the pink haired singer quickly. Feet kicking, Shuichi grasped the man’s wrist, trying to pull free as his body was lifted from the ground, his once pale face becoming blue over time. “And I think it is now time to show you who is the master, and who is the pet.” Kuuli’s mischievous eyes sparkled with delight as the boy, once more, lost consciousness with one word escaping the boy’s lips.

“Eiri…”

A faint tapping upon his cheek made his heavy eye lids lift up to allow the light from the many outside lights to make their daring entrance. The tapping stopped, and the hand moved to his chest, tweaking his perk nipples with his palm, not playfully, but just to stimulate them. Shuichi brought his hand up quickly, grasping hold to Kuuli’s hand to stop it from touching him. Only Eiri could touch him that way. Swallowing, the glare on the auburn’s face was not passed up by Shuichi. He tensed completely both of his hands were grabbed and slammed above his head, awkwardly. Pressure was growing quickly in Shuichi’s upper arms, the muscle (and likely the bone) not use to being stretched in that direction were burning as they were stretched.

Crying out, Shuichi turned his head, building up the courage to let out a scream for help. Someone had to hear him, it was the residential area of Tokyo, where everybody lived in apartment complexes. He was backhanded for the defiance, causing his head to roll slightly to the side, his face wanting to take cover in the pillow. Kuuli was not pleased, obviously, with that scream. He reached into the bedside draw, pulling out handcuffs that had seen finer days. Blood stained the rims, telling Shuichi that they were not dull enough to not slice into his wrist.

Kuuli reached forward, clipping the pink-haired singers wrist in the restraints, chaining them to the bed frame so Shuichi didn’t have ideas of running away. Standing up from the bed, the man walked towards a closet door that was on the other side of the plain bedroom, reaching in to find a whip that, too, was stained with blood. “Do you really think you’re my first pet, Shuichi?” Kuuli asked, walking towards the singer. “Believe me, a pet that is unable to learn, has no reason to live. Where you lie now, they died. I am certain you may know of some of their names. Say, Sugami Nanatamu?” He smiled as Shuichi took in what had been said.

Sugami Nanatamu had been a voice actress from many popular shows, what seemed four or five years ago. Shuichi would know, he was a major fan of her leading role in Ichi Tenshi 1. She was in the height of her career when she suddenly had gone missing. Detectives had been puzzled; she left without a trace only to appear three years later. Well, what remained of her did. She had been decapitated. Her remains burned. It was grieving news to the world of fans.

Shuichi’s eyes had been wide for what seemed and eternity as he stared away from Kuuli’s face, trying to picture himself as ending up the same way. It made his stomach churn. “Please don’t hurt me.” He finally whispered, staring at the whip in Kuuli’s hand.

The man ignored him, placing the whip in his left hand as he slowly dug under the bed, pulling out a box that looked to only be opened once. He pulled out what seemed to the sweet and innocent Shuichi as a weird thong with a small ring up front, and a plug (he had seen a plug before due to Eiri’s kinky side) on the other. Curiosity over took him as he watched Kuuli move to the end of the bed and place the elaborate article on the pink haired boy. Lifting up the singer’s hips, the auburn man slipped the plug into Shuichi’s derrière without so much as preparation.

It was painful, to say the least, but Shuichi refused to cry out as he stared at the ring that had been holding the crotch together on the male thong be slid over his cock before resting at it’s base. In the effort to get the article in place, Shuichi (much to his own shame) had hardened in pleasure; his cheek’s finding a rosy tint.

With fascination, Kuuli ran his hand over Shuichi’s cock, grasping hold of it in a playful hold – as if testing to make sure it wasn’t too fragile in his hands. Shuichi covered his face in his pillow as his body reacted to the playful ministrations. In the matter of minutes, he was hard, but he refused to show his face as he ducked further into the pillow, his voice whimper and pleading for Kuuli to stop what he was doing.

A sudden rushing of wind, Shuichi let out a scream as the leather of the whip hit his side, causing him to fall back where he was again, no longer seeking to get loose as the action was repeated. Shuichi let out a scream that time as his back arched off from the bed, the handcuffs beginning to cut into his wrist. “Open you eyes, pet.” Kuuli muttered, and Shuichi did as he was asked. He met the emerald ones that stared into his soul. “How many swats have I given you so far?”

Shuichi couldn’t find his voice as he stared at Kuuli mutely. His fist clenched, no longer trying to escape their bindings. “T-Two.” He finally said.

Nodding, Kuuli ran his hands through Shuichi’s hair, brushing it back from his face. “And how many times have those tears fallen from your eyes, ruining your face and making you weak?” He smiled, and Shuichi turned a complete pale color as he met the connection Kuuli wiped tears away. “Don’t worry, I’m going to teach those tears to never fall again, it doesn’t fit you to cry as you did.” He lifted his arm again, readying to whip the small child.

He screamed again, the pain was becoming hard to take. After awhile it was no more than a stinging pain, a remanence of the last strike. He had to count every strike, thirty-five. He was praised for not passing out, but deep down, Shuichi felt like doing so. His stomach and chest was in pain, and every time he had lost his erection, Kuuli had made it rise once more. After around the twelfth time, it didn’t go away no matter how much pain Shuichi had been in.

Releasing the handcuffs, Kuuli placed them along with the bloodied whip in the box, placing it under the bed before he stared at the pink haired boy that tried to get up. When Shuichi did manage to sit his body completely up, a firm hand pressed against his back, shoving him, head first, into the floor. No cry escaped the singers lips, no tears from his eyes as he sat up, holding his head, eyes turned to the strict man near him. “Crawl after me, never bother getting on your two feet unless I give permission.” He said, walking out of the room.

Not feeling like disrespecting the man, Shuichi followed the man out and into the dining/living room. He sat back onto his thighs, staring up at his restrainer as the man worked in the kitchen. Making dinner. In almost an hour, around the time Shuichi’s legs had fallen asleep, the man placed two silver dishes onto the floor near a pantry. “Don’t use your hands, pet. Eat like any other pet would.” Kuuli ordered, sitting at the table with his own meal to watch and watch the humiliation he was placing on the young singer.

Grimacing, Shuichi placed his face near the bowl, expecting to find dog food or something, but real food was what he met. Taking his orders seriously,Shuichi lowered his face into the meal, slowly eating it before eyeing the bowl next to it that held water. Getting the feeling he had to drink the same way, Shuichi turned red as he dipped his face into the liquid and drank as much as he could, a soft chuckle from behind him said he was doing well for a first timer.

After dinner, while Kuuli was watching television, Shuichi was brought to the bathroom, and – watched by Kuuli – go the bathroom, before being taken into the room his whole ordeal started with for bed. His pet life began completely the next day.

After saying his last good byes to the gentlemen that could come on such short notice to fix up his kitchen, Eiri Yugi sat at the couch in his living room, speculating his empty entertainment center. All of his electronics went up in smoke, all because of the annoying boy he had brought home. Well, he didn’t mean to bring it home; it was more of a lost puppy. Say one thing about it, and it wanted to attack.

He snorted, perking a foot up against the table as he stared intently at the wall. Speaking of which, it had been twenty-four hours since the fire had happened, usually around that point of time, Shuichi was clawing at his door, begging to be forgiven, unless he was finally understanding that he wasn’t needed around the house.

It wasn’t that he hated the stupid pink haired singer, yet he wasn’t going to say he liked the boy either. There were its ups and downs of the boy being around. The down being his mouth – nothing could shut it up, he was always talking and whining. It was enough to drive Eiri insane. The good part was, when he was sexually frustrated, he had someone he could take it out on. Face it; having the boy was only good for that. Getting women to come over for a one-night stand was impossible. First they wanted dates, flowers, promises of forever, and finally when sex came around, there were too many damn rules. With Shuichi, all it took was a little sign of affection, and the boy spread his legs easily.

Taking out his cigarette pack, he reached in for a stick and stuck it between his lips, lighting it with a drag to the much-needed nicotine. Peace was so nice for once, but it was rather nerve shattering. Over the year that the pink haired boy moved in, peace was the last thing that would ever happen, and Eiri had adapted to not having the silence. Now felt so…foreign to him. Taking another drag, Eiri let the smoke leave his lips as he was relieve by the sudden reassurance he had from them. Cancer? A superstition. He smiled lightly, letting the breeze from the open patio door wrap around him; he pulled closer to the arm of the couch.

It didn’t matter how much he said, honestly, he didn’t hate the boy. The boy’s presence was greatly appreciated; it at least made sure Eiri was a little healthier (’Beer and cigarettes are not a meal, I’ll pick you up a ramen bowl on the way home’, that’s how Shuichi always put). Not one person made that much of an impact on his life, and was able to get him away from his computer so he wasn’t pulling forty-eight hours every two days. Then, after some sex and eight hours of sleep, the writer was shocked at his complexion. Did it ever appear that a novelist like himself could not look ragged?

After fifteen minutes of thinking about the boy, Eiri stretched his back, allowing it to pop as he decided to relieve some anger out on the boy by calling him back just for rough sex. All their other fights left the pink haired singer going to Hiro’s, so he only figured that was where he’d find him upon calling. Just what he needed, some sex, toss the boy out on the front porch, go to sleep. Repeat. It was a wonderful stress reliever, making that small child scream and kick the door. Because, it gave satisfaction to Eiri to know that the boy would return to him. Shuichi Shindou was a giddy schoolgirl with a schoolgirl’s crush.

One ring…two rings, finally after five, a muffled voice spoke into the phone, giving a tone of greeting that was filled with somber. “Send Shuichi over here,” was all Eiri said as he turned off the connection, never giving reason. He sat back, dragging the last of his cigarette before pressing the cherry into his ashtray. The phone rang again, what Eiri could only guess as Shuichi calling to make sure all was okay for him to return. “Yes. Hiro? What do you mean Shuichi isn’t with you?” His heart dropped to his stomach. Shuichi always went there when they had fights, why was this so different. “Yes, we had a fight, he left yesterday around…” Eiri rolled his eyes; trying to remember the time the fire department burst through his door and sprayed the fire in his kitchen. “…eleven. No, not night, in the morning.” Eiri was getting frustrated; he was perfectly calm where the redhead was beginning to lose it. Maybe the idiot went to his parents.

Hiro was talking uncontrollably, giving possible ideas that the boy was unconscious in an ally, a victim of rape – or someone mugged him for all he did have on him. What, his clothes? Well, the homeless sure are lucky for lithe items like such. Irritated of his voice, I once more shut off the phone, entering my home office to sit at my new laptop. A hiss escaped my sadly from his lips at the thought that his sixty five page story he had worked on for three days went kaput in as much time as that stupid ‘oops’ came out while the kitchen was in blazes. Yes, for all he cared, the rats could have a warm home in the brat’s dead body.

Leaning onto his hands, he pulled out his pack of cigarettes again and repeated the earlier pattern of lightening it. His golden eyes stared at his once more, neatly stacked desk. Clutter free, easy to work with. Near the monitor was the only picture he had of Shuichi. It was around the time of a picnic the boy had invited him to, a family picnic. If he remembered why, Shuichi’s sister had taken the picture. Eiri was staring elsewhere, his mind was thinking of a beautiful plot setting for later chapters as the blonde idiot snuck a hug.

Lifting the picture frame in his hands, Eiri flung it at the door to his office, watching it shatter. Damn boy was haunting him already.

The doors to his office were thrown open, causing Tohma to stare up in a small tinge of concern, the rest hidden by a neutral stare. Hiro walked into his office; face pale as could be before he reached the desk. He looked tired, worn, and scared. His breathing was deep, and labored, eyes full of fear that seemed to come from his strides. “Eiri Yuki tossed Shuichi out, Shuichi never came to my house, I can’t find him-” Everything came out quickly, his hands running through his hair, a sign that he was becoming nervous and each of those nerves long since shot.

Sighing, Tohma stared at him with what little concern he could pull through. “Why are you bringing this to me? Maybe he needed a walk, he and Eiri get in enough fights as is.” He tried to reason. It surprised him, as is, that Shuichi was hard headed enough to go back where he wasn’t wanted. Hiro didn’t accept that answer, causing Tohma to sigh. “Look, don’t bring it up to me. In twenty-four hours of the time he disappeared, you can call the police to search for him. That’s as far as I can help. If he’s just shaking up with a friend, then maybe he needs his space to think of some sense.” He nodded his head, tiredly standing up to leave.

“O…Okay.” Hiro whispered. “I’m going to continue searching for him, though.” He turned around, walking out of the room. Sighing, Tohma walked out of the room, going over how busy his schedule was that day. He had to check up on ASK, as well as make sure K was keeping track, now, of the fact that Shuichi was missing. Lifting up his cell phone, he called up K to make him aware of that situation, talking smoothly until he reached the garage. As he put his phone in his pocket, a familiar sense of paranoia.

Shifting his blue eyes around the garage, his looked for any signs of life, yet met none. It wasn’t the first time he felt like such, it had happened often in the last month. It was the sickening feeling someone was watching him, and at times, he heard cameras snap. When he brought it up to Mika, she had said that it was stress from his job catching up to him, but that seemed less likely. He knew, at times, he saw a man staring at him, but like the wind, he’d be gone the next glance.

Regaining his breath, he opened up his car door, entering the vehicle to quickly leave the garage before whatever paranoia caught up with him again.

Shuichi cradled his legs to his chest as he eyed the hard erection between his legs. Arms and back were now bruised because when Kuuli walked in to wake the young adult up, he had discovered somewhere in the night, the singer had lost his erection from the cock ring. After beating the boy up (yet made sure not to mark Shuichi’s face), the erection once more stood at attention.

Brushing back tears, he stared up as the door opened and Kuuli walked in, flinging his coat onto the couch that had its occupant on it. Shuichi looked at the glare that met his confused eyes before realizing his mistake. He was a pet, an animal. Pets are not allowed on the furniture. He crawled off, falling to his knees, only to regain the possession he had been in when the man left earlier. A yelp escaped his lips as a shoe hit him in his head, causing him to lower his face into his hands. His mother did that to a dog they once had for getting on the couch, however, it was also a shoe the dog had ate. There was a difference, he hadn’t chewed any shoes.

“Stupid.” Kuuli growled, walking towards the refrigerator to grab himself a beer. So close to Eiri, and yet so different. Shuichi stared at the man as he grasped hold of the empty water dish that belonged to Shuichi and filled it with water. “There.” He growled, walking towards the couch to sit and watch television. Crawling off, Shuichi sat next to his water bowl, staring down tiredly before he slowly begun to drink what little he wanted in hopes to sedate his hunger pangs. Crawling back towards the couch, he lazily he to his side, staring up to the news channel that was on. In all his years of life, he had yet to figure out what these people saw in it.

He jerked as a hand fell into his hair, scratching behind his ear as if he were any other animal, causing the pink haired singer to blush as he tilted his head to the side to allow more touch. “Don’t worry, you’ll have a friend here soon.” Kuuli smiled at his pet, causing Shuichi to frown at that comment. His body tensed once more as a hand slid down his bare back, scrapping the number of bruises that was already forming. “Then, my business can start. It’s not a moneymaker to only have one idol. I need scandal for these journalists to attack. What more than show the scandal behind their music. NG Producer, Seguchi Tohma giving you the job for sex seems rather touchy on the scandal subject, do you think?” He smiled, running his hand towards the front to rub against the pulsing dick that was being hidden in Shuichi’s scrunched legs.

“He is married, happily if I do say so myself.” Shuichi muttered. “No one would believe you.”

“Believe me, corporate scandals and insider videos are all they ever need to believe anything. Yet, this does look like something that could blow up Tohma san’s career, ne?” He smiled at the pink haired singer. “Your image will soar of course. ‘Pink haired individual finds way to the top, first Popular Novelist, now NG Producer. Who next?’ You’d never see the end of it. Scandal is so beautiful, really.” Kuuli ran his tongue down Shuichi’s neck, stopping at his vertebrae start.

“I’ve n-never slept with, Seguchi sama.” Shuichi whispered. “I am not f-fucking my way to the t-top. I-I love E-Eiri ‘Yuki’ Uesugi with all my heart.” Shuichi whimpered as the teeth bit into his neck, leaving a wound for all those around to see. Pressing the boy against the ground, Kuuli smiled down at the red tint that made its way upon Shuichi’s face as he glided his hips upon the smaller boy’s, erecting a moan from his lips. Shuichi reached towards a table, wanting to pull out of the grip as Kuuli removed the butt plug from his derrière and exchange the emptiness with his own fingers long enough to feel the tight ring return back to it’s normal size.

“Really? I’d think more would be up this ass than just your boyfriend. What about Hiro? Did you ever spread your legs for him, let him take you so other times would hurt. Made sure both he and Yuki had your lithe ass well trained for rape when you get even further in your career?” He watched as Shuichi’s eyes went from horror at the though of even sleeping with Hiro to confusion. “What, did you not know? Stars, as they get more famous, people get sneaker. Stalkers rape them, and they can’t do anything about it. You’ll be a broken rat on the street when the fame is gone, just like all the other singers, a name in history to those that even care.” He removed his fingers from the once more tight passage, placing the tip of his hard cock before it.

Shuichi whimpered as he tried to pull away, tears forming at the side of his eyes, threatening to fall, but a fist connecting into his cheek stopped just that. All of their movements stopped as a phone rang, causing Kuuli to curse as he walked off to answer it. As he was let go, Shuichi sat up, staring at the man in the kitchen before sense caught up with him and he stood on his two legs, running towards the bathroom as quickly as he could. As he pushed the door shut, his fingers began to lock the door, slamming it into Kuuli’s face as he stepped back, touching the tub with large eyes. He could hear the man’s voice, yelling over the phone about grabbing Tohma in that week, and it made his heart feel heavy as he quickly stared around.

A window was in the far side of the room, bringing in the light from outside, but of course it was unable to be open without a blunt object breaking the it and it’d still not be enough. It was too small to even let an infant crawl out of. Pressing his legs against the door, Shuichi sat back against the tub as he readied himself for whatever the man outside could beat against the door. He refused to budge.

He was unsure how long he had been there, but it was quiet when he awoke from his small nap. His legs were sore for being in one position for so long, his hands trying to get the ring off his semi-hard erection. None of his attempts worked as tears fell down his face and a knocking started once more.

“Shuichi, if you do not unlock this door right now, your dinner is going in the trash, and the next meal won’t be until tomorrow morning with our new guest. That’s right, your dear Seguchi Tohma is on his way right now, you want to make a good impression, do you not? Come on, open the door.” He soothed, and the pink haired singer stared down at his stomach as a growl agreed with the information about food. His throat was dry, but because the man outside the door had been able to unlock the door countless of times, he didn’t want to move to get water from the sink. His eyes fell to the feet under the door that walked away as he released his strong hold against the door long enough to turn on the sink and duck his head under the faucet to gulp down water. His heart froze as the door slammed open, and his eye met the reflection of an angry Kuuli.

“Please, don’t hurt me…”

It was rather an odd surprise when Eiri had called him, asking if Shuichi had arrived at work that day. It had pained Tohma to no end when he had to be truthful and reply that ‘no, Shuichi had not arrived’. Now, after a call to Mika to delay his arrival home, he was going to stop by Eiri’s apartment to make sure that his brother-in-law was okay with the recent predicament.

The blonde had told him over the phone what had happened. About how Shuichi’s wonderful cooking skills burned his kitchen, set off all the sprinklers, destroying every little electronic in the house. The electronics was one thing, but when his story was part of that, two weeks from deadline, then there was a problem. He had kicked Shuichi out, yet expected the singer would return home to cry and apologize over and over for being a thorn in Yuki’s paw (metaphorically speaking).

At first, he had thought during the day that little Shuichi would come out of hiding as well, but with still no luck, he was going to call in a missing persons report himself.

Walking towards his car, he fiddled with his keys, pulling them out of his pocket, only to drop them as a sense of paranoia once more over came him. Staring around, he expected to find someone staring at him, but none came. Bending down, he grabbed his keys, only for his heart to stop as a hand reached out from under his vehicle and yanked him down. Landing head first against the rim of the car, he let out a scream as fought viciously as a pair of aqua eyes stared at him, pulling him under the car and placed a rag over his mouth. Fighting viciously, Tohma slammed his head back, hoping to pull out of the hold, only to take in a breath of air that did not seem right. The room quickly became hazy, filters that were like heat blocking his vision as he was pulled closer against the intruder’s chest, lazily watching security walk by his car. He could fight no more, he felt weak already, causing him to pass out as soon as the next breath entered his lungs.

As the coast was clear, the intruder pulled out from under the car, keeping the sleeping blonde against him as he opened the door to a beat down Chevy, tossing the man carelessly across the seats and reached down for a gas can. Walking towards Seguchi’s car. He checked around him as he picked up the keys to unlock the door, staring around once more so he was not opening chances on being caught.

Pouring the thick liquid across the seats, he pulled away, opening the hood of the car to pour – carefully – gas around the engine. If anything, the car would blow in no time. Going towards his own vehicle, he started it up before starting to drive, his hand flicking out to throw a match towards the abandoned vehicle. Hesitantly, he made it out the last gate, no one checking in his car as he drove out of the building and around the corner where he finally heard the explosion. Perfect.

Reaching into the glove department, he fumbled with his cell phone, placing it against his tan ear. It rang a few times, before a rough voice answered. “Hey, Kuuli. I finally have the brat, took awhile, but I have him. No, don’t worry, nobody saw the whole struggle, and his car is up in flames. Got the camera ready? This is big bucks. Huh? Oh, don’t worry, he’ll be unconscious the whole time until we get to the apartment. That Shindou kid, is he ready to give the audience an insider peek of his life?” He chuckled as the associate spoke to him, giving him enough time to brush his black hair back. “Don’t worry, this plan is full proof, no evidence to either’s disappearance, and no one would care either. All right, I have to go, busy traffic. See ya soon.” He hung up the phone, tossing it back at the glove department as he turned a corner, the blonde in the back seat effortlessly being thrown on the floor of the car, but never moving from his state of unconsciousness. Unaware what the last taste of freedom could ever be like.

The front door flew open, causing Shuichi to stare up at the moving item as another man walked into the already quiet apartment. Long black hair and tied back around the nape of his neck, beautiful aqua eyes staring at him with the same sadistic grin that Kuuli had on his face as he walked into the living room from the back room. In his arms, Shuichi realized, was Tohma, still unconscious, yet he looked like an angel, not a businessman that was being over worked as time went by. Walking towards the couch, the new man placed the producer on it before walking back towards the door to shut it. When that was done, he fell to his knees in front of Shuichi, taking the boy’s face in his hands and tilted it up towards his own face.

“So this is Shindou Shuichi, newest idol to popular music.” He ran a palm over Shuichi’s e yes, covering them lavender hue away from sight. “So you had to take a whip to him?” He eyed the bruises around the boy’s body. Slipping his hand down, he embraced the boy’s chin, tilting the small mouth towards his lips in a small brush of the lips. As he felt Shuichi pull back, the new stranger wrapped his arms around the singer’s head and pulled him close to slip in his tongue. The singer pulled away, staring at the ground quickly as he started crawling off, leaving the stranger on the kitchen floor, smiling smugly.

Kuuli walked in after their kiss, hands curled into fist as he opened the refrigerator to grab a beer. “Ne, Montoro.” Was the greeting as he popped the cap, walking into the living room to sit down. Tapping his hands upon the couch cushion, he directed the dark haired man to come sit by him. “Camera is all set up. I have everything ready to go.” He smiled brightly, fingers snapping to catch Shuichi’s attention as the boy climbed into a seat to stare out a window towards the lone streets. Staring at him, Shuichi climbed down, his body shaking in fear as two sets of eyes stared him down, eyeing him with lust.

“Have you slept with him?” Was the response, and it only sent fear through the small boy’s heart as he stared at the two men. Montoro stared back at him, his aqua eyes meeting the singers before standing up to intimidate the child. “What are you staring at, filthy bitch?” He yelled, and Shuichi started crawling towards the end of the hallway where an animal bed had been placed. He could hear the men talking from down there, but paid no mind to either as he stared intently on the bedroom door where Tohma had been stashed until later. It was a hunch, but he had the feeling that it would involve a whip just as well.

Calm, polite Tohma. How would he react in a situation that had been given to them? Shuichi was already falling to what they want. He was crying less, and that was certain. In the two days he had been there, he was use to the rules by then. He was a pet, not much given. He was treated as such, minus the dry animal food and walks. Craning his head to the bathroom, he tightened his legs hesitantly as the water he had drank from lunch and dinner affected his bladder. ‘Shit’, he groaned, crawling towards the bathroom door.

It was opened slightly, and the pink haired boy felt that it wouldn’t matter if he went in there just to go the bathroom? Who’d notice he was missing for a few seconds. A minute tops. Sliding his way through the door, he stood up on his weak legs; they still hurt from being beat behind the knees. Kuuli said it was the only way to teach him not to stand up without permission. Shuichi never took orders anyway. Hesitantly relieving his bladder, he stared at the door, expecting it at any second to slam open and both men glaring at him, it never happened. Flushing, he walked towards the sink, slowly washing his hands before falling back to his knees to walk out of the bathroom, and towards his animal bed. Patiently, he stared towards the living room, but heard no sounds from either of the men.

Stretching, he crawled towards the living room, staring around at how empty it was. It was to his surprise when arms wrapped around his waist, flinging him carelessly over a broad shoulder and walked towards the bedroom. Just as expected, Tohma lay unconscious on a white bed; clothes had been cut off, obviously from the flesh wounds that already marked his body. Turning pink, the boy turned his head, trying to give Tohma the needed privacy, but it wasn’t happening as he was thrown upon the bed, on the blonde.

“Don’t worry, Shuichi, this is just to see how good you two will look together. It won’t be worth it if I put this all over the Internet, and it wasn’t all appealing,” Kuuli ran a hand down Shuichi’s spine. The pink haired boy froze, trying to pull out of Kuuli’s wrapping arms as he was forced to watch Montoro jack Tohma to stiffness. His mouth, once closed, had been opened in a force of amazement. Him and Tohma weren’t all that tall compared to most people around them, but Tohma wasn’t exactly small for his size. He flushed completely as he realized he had been thinking about the size Tohma was.

“Wow, he is big.” Montoro whispered, cupping Tohma’s face in his hands and lowering from a kiss, a small brush on the lips. “Put Shuichi’s mouth to work, and get the camera rolling.” He demanded, pushing Shuichi’s face near Tohma’s stiff dick.

Crying out, Shuichi pushed past the man’s hold, pulling towards the wall in fear, his body shivering. “No! I’m Eiri’s!” He screamed.

Growling, Montoro snapped his belt off his waist, walking towards the boy in the far corner as Kuuli turned off the camera again. Shuichi’s face turned white as a scream came from his lips, trying to catchanyones attention around the building.

Standing up, he walked into the living room and opened the front door, his eyes widening slowly before going back to it’s bored gaze as he met his sister’s eyes. Beyond the faint tears threatening in the woman’s eyes, she looked normal enough. “Eiri, please tell me Tohma came here around three this afternoon! Please!” She cried out.

Rubbing his ear, Eiri sighed before shaking his head. “No, can’t say he has. I was aware he was planning on coming to visit me today, but when he did not show up, I supposed that another problem had occurred.” He watched as her eyes wandered his home, expecting him to be kidding. “Believe me, he’s not here. I am about to start my own search for Shuichi, he’s been missing for three days now.”

“I don’t care about your bed accessory! Don’t you watch the news, or anything! Tohma’s car blew up, he wasn’t found in it, he told me he was coming here. I’m aware he has been rather paranoid lately about someone following him, I thought maybe he took a taxi here instead of his own vehicle.” She broke a sweat, staring out his window at the vast city.

Staring out the window, Eiri grabbed his jacket and started out the door. He looked straightforward as his eyes swiftly observed the busy streets. It was now his problem. If he could assume (and Eiri despised assuming) that whoever took Shuichi was a fan, and Tohma’s paranoia was normally correct. Maybe he could be lucky and both of the two were in the same place. Tohma was strong, he knew that. Taking out a cigarette, he stared around darkly to those around him, expecting for them to just throw Shuichi and Tohma back towards him.

He had all rights to wish.

A soft groan escaped his lips, causing blue eyes to flash open. Staring around, the heart that beat slowly stopped as he saw pink hair flashing back and forth. Turning his head, Tohma jerked as he saw Shuichi being tagged teamed. Choking, the pink haired boy was unable to stand on his own leg as he was thrown upon the floor, a man with long black hair repositioning his thrust inside the boy. Another man was slamming into the teen’s mouth, the guy’s auburn hair was thrown back as he moaned softly, an eye opening to stare at their voyeur.

Tohma stepped back, watching as the two men cried out their orgasm before leaving the heap of pink on the floor, bleeding from his mouth and anal open. The black haired one was to be marked as the one that had grabbed him, and Tohma tensed up as this man grabbed his arm. Flushing red, he started kicking as he was carried through the halls and dropped carelessly on the bed, arms pinned to the bedpost. Staring up, he glared intently at the two before fighting to get his arms loose.

“Shuichi-neko tried to same thing, only to cut through his wrist. Quit while you’re ahead.” He ran a hand down the forearm of Tohma. Shuddering, Tohma tried to pull out of the handcuffs again, his hand bending to try to pull out of it. He felt the hand, once more against his upper arm, brushing the skin like butterfly kisses, but they were far from reassuring. “Don’t move.” He was ordered, and the black haired man stared at his friend, getting a box from under the bed as he spoke, monotone, to the other guy, explaining the blood that covered the strap. Upon hearing Shuichi’s name, Tohma’s blood washed from his body, trying to pull away as he heard air being pushed and the strap landing against his chest. Pain was the first thing that crossed Tohma’s head as he screamed. The whip came again with accuracy that would have a sniper jealous, the same spot that had once been red had the first bit of skin ripped.

A tickle down his side told the blonde that he had started to bled, and he tried pulling his hands away again until an awful snap came to his ears, and pain from his wrist. The man above him laughed as the auburn removed his fingers from his ears. “Montoro, Shuichi-neko didn’t cause this much racquet. And look at that, he broke his wrist trying to escape.” It wasn’t sympathy, but a sadistic reply, the crimson from Tohma’s side being an essence to their insanity.

“If he’d shut up, enough to listen, then I’d think about stopping.” He whispered, but the order was to no one. Tohma had already buried his head into the feather pillow under him, trying his hardest not to cry. He refused to satisfy the two with that. “He’s no good if he can’t take orders. Your neko was just like that. We asked for him to put his mouth to a test upon this boy, and what does he do – disobey.” Tohma listened to their conversation as moving from under the bed made him more than aware they had more planned for him. A hand was placed under his flaccid cock, brushing up to his tip, and Tohma’s body disobeyed him, taking in the pleasure at once. Moving his unbroken wrist, Tohma once more tried to fit his hand out to get free.

The black haired man, Montoro, chuckled fondly at the display of the man at their mercy. His fingers fled from the guys shaft, towards his chest where it dipped in the blood to rush towards the blonde’s perked, cold, nipples. “Get the ring on him, Kuuli.” He said, slyly. As Kuuli did as he was asked, Montoro stared down, mockingly into the blonde’s eyes. “Confused, aren’t you?” He smiled, and Tohma refused to reply. “Shuichi’s been missing for what, three days starting today? Does anyone even care besides his Hiro? We’re doing him a favor. Of course, one doesn’t do something nice for free. There’s been a demand for Singer Shuichi Shindou to have some more…provocative pictures of the star.”

“And I’m here for…?” Tohma questioned, his voice hoarse. Answers would be nice.

“Upon Shuichi, we’ve had others. Tokushi Jiro, Ito Mursho, and Nanatamu Sugami, they’ve asked for Shindou Shuichi, Seguchi Tohma, Sakuma Ryuichi, need I continue?” He smiled, as Tohma did not meet his eyes, taking it all in. “Jiro, Mursho, and Sugami weren’t ready for any of our choices, weren’t good slaves. If you can’t be taught, then we have to get rid of you. Malfunctioned slaves are never any good.” He brushed his hand from Tohma’s jaw as Kuuli stood up. “Let’s start training shall we? That erection we gave you better stay, you’ll get use to it. Dinner is in the kitchen, your bowl is the slightly gray one, next to the pink one. You will only go the bathroom in the morning, noon, and evening. I hope you can hold for awhile. Oh, and Kuuli, your…pet…was in the bathroom while we were setting up the bedroom.

Nodding his head, Kuuli grinned. “I am aware, and he’ll know all about my disproval tomorrow.” He started out of the room, grinning from ear to ear. Montoro picked up his whip again, grinning from ear to ear as Tohma started fighting his restraint once more.

“Now, where did we leave off…”

“Shuichi! Tohma!” Yuki walked out another alley, his eyes scanning the terrain for any signs of the two. Clutching his jacket against him as the wind picked up, the blonde continued, his eyes continuing to move as he reached to grab another pedestrian and show them Shuichi’s picture, when that was frowned, he’d show them Tohma’s, once more asking if they had seen either. No clues, no replies.

Continuing his walk, he turned down Music Central of Tokyo. The music blared everywhere, much to his disliking. It was loud, reminding him of Shuichi, and he could hear Shuichi’s voice. Damn the music. Continuing his walking, he heard many girls scream about the song being played, saying it was the best, but arguments starting about whom the best was arose after.

He didn’t know why he was even trying this area, if he were to show them a picture of the small boy, they’d all know who the boy was, want to know why he was asking, then it’d be another attack by fangirls until he could retreat. He could never understand what the teens saw in any of this. Turning, he left the street, not seeing any havoc going around, which told him the boy wasn’t on that street in the first place just to purchase music.

Concentrating on the sidewalk, he slowed as he saw an elderly woman brushing off her front porch, humming a soft, serene, tune to herself. A beautiful store, and of all stores, a book store – an old book store. Reminding himself of the name of the store, he walked towards her, pulling out the picture from his wallet. “Excuse me, ma’am?” He asked, bowing to give his respect to the elderly.

“Yes?” She stared up, stopping her sweeping.

“I was wondering if you had seen this boy around her, two days ago?” Eiri held out his personal picture of the boy. “He might have been crying, or upset.” He tried explaining. “He was wearing a pair of blue jeans, green shirt that seemed a little…to big for him,” Eiri thought back to that day, it was his shirt – of course it was too big for the petite singer, “and a tan jacket.”

The woman nodded, handing the picture back. “Yes, I saw this child on the way back from a friend’s house two days ago, if my memories serve right. He was crying, and talking to a man of auburn hair and two gorgeous green eyes. I figured them as friends, the way the child was crying into the man’s chest.”

No names clicked in Yuki’s head as he thought about what the woman had said. “What street did he go down?” He finally asked, his heart healing from where it had long since sleep. Hope.

“In the Kiyosumi District, just somewhere there, I didn’t pay much attention to the street he had been walking on.” The woman excused her self inside as Eiri shook his head. Shuichi was talking to a stranger? Why didn’t he seem surprised? When he grabbed that boy, he was going to knock sense into the child’s thick skull – after he reclaimed the child.

It was a sudden pull upon his wrist awoke Tohma with a startled yelp, but he knew whoever was doing the first aid had some, if limited, clue on what they were doing. A ripping noise came after, and soon his wrist wand bound to hold the brake together. Finally, with what courage he had, he stared over at the one playing doctor on his wrist to meet the depressed pink-haired boy. Shuichi was working peaceful, as well as quietly; his eyes not opening to met the others. Finally, with what little patience Tohma had to be noticed, he reached towards Shuichi’s face, brushing pink hair from his eyes.

“Ne, Shindou-kun, are you okay?” You’re not your usual bundle of energy, Tohma watched as Shuichi nodded, smiling brightly. “I was unaware of the fact that you knew first aid.” He nursed his hand to his chest, forcing his body to sit up. Shuichi just smiled, shrugging as he reached down to Tohma’s flaccid cock and rubbed it back to life. Tohma, who had no clue what was going on still, was startled by the act of affection.

“Hiro-kun taught me, when his parents were insistent of him becoming a doctor. Every time he’d learn how to deal with a broken arm, he’d show me at home. I’m sorry about touching you, Seguchi-sama, but if you aren’t hard when Kuuli and Montoro come in, they’ll beat you.” He stood up on his shaky legs, walking towards the door. “Come, I was told to take you to the bathroom with me.” He opened the door and left Tohma, shocked, on the floor.

Finally, standing up, Tohma followed the pink haired singer into the hall, where they turned to go into a single bathroom. “We have to do our morning business with each other?” He finally asked, losing his color. First he was naked with the presence of a naked Shuichi, now he had to take a piss in the same room as the boy? Nodding, Shuichi relieved himself, not bothering to flush as Tohma followed to – but flushed once he was finished, understanding it was so he didn’t have to wait until he could go the bathroom as well. As Shuichi turned on the water, they stared at each other, before breaking contact with a blush. “Eiri-san is looking for you.” Tohma smiled, saying the name as he officially would with anyone else he’d be with.

“Is he eating properly?” Shuichi whispered, touching the water with his hand before turning the water a little colder. “Because, I know he’s not looking for me. He said he wanted me out of the house, and normally when I come back, he’s not all that happy about it.” He stepped into the shower, followed by a confused Tohma. “We only have a few minutes of bathroom privacy,” Shuichi explained, “before Kuuli-sama opens the door and say breakfast. If we walk out into that room dripping wet, we get beaten, if we don’t come out because we’re still drying off, we miss breakfast and get punished.” He reached out, making sure Tohma did not wet the mischief cast before shampooing the boy’s head for him.

Tohma blushed at the contact as Shuichi’s fingers worked his hair, lathering it up. “So, if we do anything they don’t like, we’re punished?” He muttered.

Nodding, Shuichi removed his fingers from the blonde’s hair, before starting to shampoo his own. “When we walk out there, we are expected to crawl, never get on your knees without your hands being on the ground too. Never stand as well, that’d only be worse. Our dishes are like dog food dishes, so eat like an animal, don’t use your hands. Face first as they say. Water is also given; don’t drink it all because that’s all you get today. Anything else, they normally tell you. Oh! And keep off the furniture, they throw shoes at you!” Shuichi giggled, rinsing his hair out. “It hurts more then it sounds, the shoe.” He smiled, trying to lighten the mood, but it didn’t work.

Getting out of the shower, Tohma opened the cabinet inside the bathroom, pulling a towel for himself and for Shuichi as he stared forward, drying himself. “Ne, Shindou-kun, it sounds to me that you have already been beaten for all of the above.” He stared at the boy, expecting a nod, but none came as Shuichi finished drying himself, hardened his dick, and fell to his knees, never picking up the towel as he started out of the bathroom. Inside, Tohma was kicking himself hard for what he had said as he dropped to his knees. Putting his hand down, he stared questioning at his broken wrist before walking on three towards the living room. He stared at Shuichi as he watched the boy get scratched behind his ear – like a common animal – before being fed. Kuuli smiled at Tohma as the blonde limped his way towards the food dish, frowning.

“So Shuichi’s already explained the rules, how quaint. It seems to me that you are already limping.” He smiled, eyeing the wrist that had been tied up. “Don’t worry, six weeks is rather normal for something to heal .” He put Tohma’s dish in front of him before walking towards the table to eat. Tohma stared at Shuichi again, watching at the boy swallowed eggs down as a dog would, licking his lips to clean food off that was not there. Lavender eyes stared over the blonde before finish eating his meal, never staring up again. As Tohma lowered down to his meal, he stared up as Shuichi was called towards the living room, next to Kuuli for company as the guy sat at his laptop. Forcing himself up, he stared around, looking for Montoro, but the black-haired kidnapper was not there.

Taking a few sips from his water, Tohma crawled towards the living room, staring around to understand his location better, hand attached to his chest so it didn’t become his will to put his weight against it in movement. Kuuli chuckled at his predicament, running his hands through Shuichi’s hair as he reached into his pocket, pulling out Tohma’s cell phone. “People are starting to fear your death, Tohma.” He remarked. “Call your wife up and tell her you’re okay, no more, no less.” He ruffled Shuichi’s hair, putting the tangled knots everywhere before he reached towards the coffee table to brush the knots out.

Fiddling with the cell phone, Tohma placed it to his ear, staring at the two as it started ringing, praying that Mika would actually have her cell phone on. Upon receiving the message that she wasn’t there, smiling brightly he masked his worried voice as he spoke in a haunted, cheerful voice that all was okay, he would be staying with a friend out of the city until his paranoia of being followed was gone. His late words before stating his love was to give Eiri a message, that Shuichi was there as well, smiling and laughing. All which were lies as he heard Shuichi cry out as hair was yanked from his head with a knot.

Tohma sat further towards the wall, staring at Shuichi and Kuuli play Candyland together; it was nice to see Shuichi laughing like nothing had ever happened. Montoro sat on the couch, flipping through the channels of the television, every few minutes, he’d glare at Shuichi, and the pink haired singer would quiet. After awhile, Kuuli stood up, going to the kitchenette to start dinner, and Shuichi, slowly, began to put the game away.

After a few cards being placed correctly, Montoro became angry and kicked the box, sending the cards scattering across the floor. Tohma suspected the man had an anger management problem. Sucking in his breath, Shuichi began crawling after the cards, once more picking them up in the designated order he was expected to place them in. By color then by the rank of the card in letter and gift order. Starting towards the boy, Tohma began to help him, only to have his head slapped.

“He was playing with them, he’ll clean them.” He started towards the kitchen and went through cabinets before pulling out a box and whispering in Kuuli’s ear. Kuuli grinned, staring back at Tohma. There was a faint taste of indigestion at the bottom of his stomach, the smile chilling him to the bone as he crawled back into his corner and sat back, never meeting any one’s eyes as the box began sliding against the floor, and towards the TV stand, where it was finally put up by Shuichi. The pink haired boy crawled towards Tohma, sitting back next to him awkwardly.

“Are you okay, Seguchi-sama?” He asked, as polite as ever towards one of his many superiors. Well, at least as polite as he was to his favorite band members.

Nodding, Tohma brushed hair from his eyes, staring at the pink haired boy with interest. “Smile more.” He demanded.

“Nani?” Shuichi whispered, staring up with wide eyes. “What do you mean ‘smile more’? I am smiling.” He blinked, trying to force a smile on his lips to support his words. Tohma didn’t buy such when he turned to face the two hesitantly. Leaning back against the wall, Shuichi stared off towards the distance, never meeting Tohma’s eyes as their dishes were placed on the ground, Kuuli eating a sandwich as he started towards the backroom. Cautiously, Shuichi walked towards the bowl to eat, leaving Tohma to his thoughts as the president stared at Montoro with confusion – never trusting either man.

Finally, his stomach won the battle as he crawled towards the meal, staring at the sandwich curiously before lowering his head to eat it, eyes turning towards Shuichi as the pink haired singer tried keeping the sandwich together, but failed miserably. Smirking, Tohma began eating his own meal, not earning the same mess, eyes on the news that Montoro was watching. Placing his fingers against the bone in his wrist.

“Tohma!” Kuuli cried from the back rooms, causing Tohma to growl as he started towards them, never glancing back at the curious look that Shuichi was giving him. A sudden taste of nausea struck him as he made it towards the door, his body giving out on him, causing him to crush onto his broken wrist. The pain was gone as a sudden burning sensation in his stomach turned, causing him to gasps, his stiffening erection causing a friction with the cool floor – it felt so good.

Kuuli stepped out of the room, staring at the man with slight joy, fingers to his hips. “All ready?” He gushed, reaching down towards the boy to drag him into the room as Montoro started down the hall, Shuichi in his arms, trying to fight his way down. As Tohma stared up, he was over came with another sense, making his rub his lower region against the single blanket on the raggedy mattress, a breathless moan escaping his lips. A hand grasped hairs from the top of his head, throwing him on the sprawled out Shuichi. Warm skin touched cool, and both boy’s emitted a gasps of surprise. Tohma’s that of sudden pleasure, Shuichi mainly of surprise. Tohma couldn’t control himself as he shifted his body upon the boy benefit him, making him feel so much better.

Shuichi was less then amused by the situation as his hands grasped upon Tohma’s shoulders, trying to push the older man off of him, lower body wiggling – innocently – to get loose. His face paled as he felt the blonde harden considerately against his inner thigh, staring up to meet the bright red light of a camera hooked in the wall. “Seguchi-sama, you need to stop! No, please, don’t do this!” He fought feverishly to get loose, Tohma’s cold hand spreading his legs, seeking another body to deal with the pressure in his lower abdomen. “Tohma!”

Eiri ran up towards the stoop of the building the old lady had given him, his fist slamming against the door to catch attention to those that lived inside. He didn’t care if they were asleep or busy, he needed information. After a few excuses from the inside, the door opened where another elderly women stared at him, obviously had been awakened. “What may I do for you?” She asked, irritated.

Ignoring her state, Eiri growled out, “Your friend suggested I come and speak to you about a few days ago. A pink haired boy was crying around here, said you’d probably know where he went.” He tried stressing the details, eyeing her as if he could see into her soul.

Nodding, the old women closed the door some, blocking the inside of her house from the strange man that dared bother her. “Yes, pink haired boy. Couldn’t miss him. Was crying into another man’s shoulder, just outside my house. They talked about the pink one’s boyfriend, about a Hiro, where the pink one would stay. Other said something about living with him for the time being.”

“Are you certain?” Eiri growled, eyeing her further. Damn old people, bad sight, bad hearing.

“Couldn’t forget the crying, broke this old lady’s heart. Luckily, he said no. Boy had some sense – if not understanding he shouldn’t be talking to strangers. Walked down that road, never saw him again.” She made to shut the door, only to be stopped by Eiri’s hand. “Look, that’s all I know. Pink haired boys would be noticeable on this street, I’m sorry I can’t do any more for you, maybe someone else saw him. If you’re his boyfriend, you should be ashamed of yourself for throwing him out. Kitchens may burn, but he was cooking with the goodness of his heart, you should accept that. My husband lived with me a year after marriage, and half of which I cooked turned out burnt, never complained once.” She slammed the door, causing Eiri to withdrawal his hand, cursing in pain.

He didn’t need her telling him how to live his life! Walking down the stoop, he turned the corner, still nowhere at identifying Shuichi’s location. Nothing times nothing was still nothing, and he had thought he had gotten so far too.

Eiri turned the corner with skill, staring around as if he were a detective. His golden eyes scanned the area, looking for people that could have lived there for a while, until he turned towards an alley, staring over a man sitting patiently on the side. “Excuse me, have you seen a pink haired boy in this area a few days ago?” He stared at the man, the homeless guy stared up, raising an eyebrow smugly.

“I’ve seen a lot of people, refresh my memory.” Was the snide remark. The blonde shook his head, clutching his fist to his sides.

“I don’t have to refresh your memory.” He stepped forward, wanting to strangle the man. “Just a pink haired boy, who was around him, and if he was okay.” Eiri snarled, walking towards the man, only to see him hold up his hands in defense.

“I saw a pink haired boy, but my memory is scratchy.” He held up his hand, signaling what he was talking about.

Growling, Eiri pulled out his wallet, pulling out three hundred yen, but made no move to hand it over to the homeless man. “Tell me what you know, and I’ll pay you. More money for more information – correct information.” He smiled, enjoying the scowl on the man’s face.

“Pink haired fag was walking down the street, his face puffy, but he wasn’t crying. I was watching him, fresh meat you could say – had to have money on him. I just knew it, but if someone was following him, I don’t know.” Yuki took out another three hundred, teasing the man with the money. “Ah, it comes back. Auburn haired man grabbed him, put a rag on his face, and the boy passed out. Fighting was not there, and he passed out. Which way did they go,” he scratched his chin, trying to remember the information. Yuki took out a thousand. Finally, some good information. “All right, well he turned down that alley,” he pointed his finger towards a lonely street, “that area is druggie land, if the boy’s still alive, who knows. Now, my pay.” He held out his hand.

Grinning, Eiri turned away from the man, pulling his phone from his pocket to finally call the police. He had enough information, now he knew his lover was in trouble. He glared at the man that stared at him, mocking him with the money before putting it back in his pocket. “I don’t pay worthless help. If he was in danger, you should have helped him.” He walked away, giving all the information he could to the person that answered. Finally, he was away from the alley, where the man was yelling at him that he was being unfair.

When he hung up, his phone rang, causing him to place it to his ear as a voice mail was brought to him. It was for Mika, but it was obviously forward to him when he heard Tohma tell him that Shuichi was okay – and he was obviously lying when Shuichi let out a scream. As the message ended, he stared down at the ground, frowning. He was correct; Shuichi and Tohma were together, yet both were likely in danger.

Fighting with his conscious, he called Mika up to tell what he knew that far. She was thankful, but he didn’t feel any better as he stared in the distance. “Damnit Toma, be nice to Shuichi now.”

Pressing his lips against the smaller boy’s rose petal like lips, Tohma forced his tongue in the nether reign of the velvet texture. An addicting taste of strawberry, one that could intoxicate anyone into submission to his or her own desires. For god sakes, he was horny for the little hellion now! His lower body spread Shuichi’s legs open, lying himself between the spread limbs, feeling Shuichi’s hardening shaft against his own, causing a moan to erect from his lips. For all he had done in his life, this was punishment for the very such – he was no better than their holders. His every thought fell towards the relief of pleasure that excited him through and through, he pressed his body down again.

Baby smooth hands against his shoulders tried harder to push him away, but he was no more aware of them then his calm state of mind. He was going crazy, ever taste he had of the boy was intoxicating. Breaking the kiss, he breathed deeply, kissing the boys flabby, baby-like, cheeks playfully before stopping at his neck. Shuichi fought no more, finding it impossible to get past Tohma’s passionate touches. Nipping the skin with his teeth, Tohma broke the skin slightly, before pulling back and sucked upon the wound enough to leave a mark. His insides screamed at the irresponsibleness he was showing. He was married, he had affections for Eiri, and here – now – he had claimed the vain of his affection!

“Yuki…” Shuichi whimpered, trying to clutched the end of the bed and pull his way out from under Tohma’s body, only to excite another moan from both parties as a shake of passion went up them. Both were falling to need as Tohma lowered his mouth to the rose bud nipples, taking one into his mouth with a playful lick, if only experimenting what would happen. A gasp escaped from Shuichi’s mouth, his hands reaching down, and into, Tohma’s hair, unsure whether to seek more of the majestic sexual arousing or push his boss away.

As his lips played with the buds on the boy’s chest, his hands were busying themselves elsewhere, mostly between the boy’s legs. Removing the plug from the singer’s bottom, Tohma replaced it with his own stiff dick. The sudden pain was gone, but he didn’t move, upon seeing the child break out into tears, fighting to pull away from Tohma’s hold. Reaching up, he ran a hand through the silky pink strands from the boy’s face long enough to see his eyes close again in discomfort. He had expected tears, soft pleas, but none came. With the disappearing smile, tears were disappearing. If that was Kuuli and Montoro’s means of doing any of this, they had won. Sweet innocence was gone, again in his life. The ache had weakened, wasn’t as demanding, and grief struck him as quickly as the sexual arouse.

The warmth in his abdomen returned, causing Tohma to whimper, but he refused to move as he leaned his head towards Shuichi’s ear. “I’m sorry.” He finally whispered, pulling out of the boy. In thought that the pain and betrayal was over, Shuichi relaxed as the appendage left his body, yet it returned in slow, agonizing thrusts. Shuichi’s head fell back as he cried into the pillow, his body betraying him into submission as a cry escaped his lips, one of mercy towards the sexual desire – one that needed attention from Tohma for his own pleasure. The blonde agreed, aiming his thrust with more vigor into the pink haired boy.

Shuichi grasped onto the older man’s shoulders, squeezing his anal muscles to quickly rid Tohma of the problem that was leading on the whole rape, but the ring that Tohma wore stopped all chances of either gaining that release. Placing his hands upon Shuichi’s sides, Tohma lifted the boy onto his knees, changing the direction of his thrust, into the pink haired boy’s prostate. Eyes wide, Shuichi moaned, his eyes closing as he bit into his lip. Never once did he open his eyes to stare at Tohma, who was thrusting into him with a pace to cause them both to cum, to get it all over with.

Throwing his head back, Shuichi closed his eyes tighter as he hesitantly brought his hand towards his own shaft. It worried him, the camera’s red glare staring into his soul, watching his every move as he obediently started helping Tohma with his desire. There was no love in this; it was so close to sex with Eiri. No love at all.

Avoiding the urge to lean down and bite the open neck, Tohma bit his lip as he projected his hips once more in the angle that caused Shuichi to wither under him, receiving another moan from the boy. He swore, if he was going to hurt Shuichi, it was at least going to be as pleasurable as possible. He could feel the singer begin to shake, inner muscles clamping around his own hard on. He needed release, but both were being denied. The burning sensation that had started the entire problem was laughing at him, controlling him to be rougher, to earn groans from the child as Shuichi’s head through back. How could one so innocent look so whorishly perfect at that moment was a wonder to Tohma.

It was his goal, to make sure Shuichi came before he could (if he could). Projecting his hips once more into the boy’s nerve, he felt the child clamp upon him and still, and with a scream (for Eiri, as it may) he came. Sperm that had been held off came quickly upon the blanket bellow them, Tohma watched Shuichi’s own hand milk himself for all it was worth before falling upon the bed. A sight that made Tohma twitch as, he too, came, filling the boy with his own essence. Perfection, the burning no longer bothered him, but no energy could come to pull out of the Shuichi. Brushing sweat-bathed hair from Shuichi’s eyes, he watched them squeeze shut; seeking towards the warmth the hand gave. A faint whisper escaped the pink haired pop star’s mouth, “Yuki…”

If that was the closest Shuichi could get to Eiri, so be it. But, another name coming from his mouth brought jealousy to Tohma, even if faint. Why was that? He had no feelings for the boy that could cause Eiri more pain than needed. He shook his head, brushing more of the pink hair from Shuichi’s head as he stared down. Why all of the sudden had he felt sympathetic, what was with that day. What was with Shuichi that Tohma was beginning to worry about him? So many questions, so much trouble.

It occurred to him, watching the black lashes so close to charcoal stay closed, sweat looking like well-desired tears. Who was it that Shuichi looked so much like? One may say Ryuichi, but there was another sudden feeling of déjà vu, he couldn’t fight the urge, and his urges were normally correct. Sweet, innocence, child like demeanor, a state of mind that would pull you along for the ride, but who?

Tohma’s eyes went wide as he stared over the boy again. It had hit so suddenly, why didn’t he notice before. They were so much like the late Tokushi Jiro that was who! Jiro had been his idol all those years ago. The other twenty-year-old was a pop star for Japan, Asia, and was well known in America for his voice. Then, one day he disappeared (Tohma now knew it was Kuuli and Montoro that took him), and the music world was in shock. In a year, the singer suddenly reappeared, walking down a street aimlessly. He had long since lost his voice, no longer smiled, or brought cheer. He made people worry, his sudden depressing attitude, and his lack of will to talk.

He, one day, invited Tohma over to talk (which included a notebook so he could send back his reply). He was so depressed, never smiled and told the blonde to be careful. That was when Tohma was told to watch his back for stalkers, ones not because of their music, but for the sex. When he had wrote that down, he hugged Tohma before opening up a drawer and took his gun to his head, telling him to watch out for himself. Tohma had tried stopping him, but it was too late – Jiro was too far-gone to care when he committed suicide. Kuuli and Montoro took his innocence and love away.

Staring down upon Shuichi, Tohma sighed, promising himself to protect the boy for those two. He couldn’t have another dying in front of him. Closing his eyes, he promised himself to also protect Ryuichi, since he was also on his list before he jerked up. “Shuichi!” He cried, grabbing the boy’s shoulders as a familiar heat spread across his belly. He wanted Shuichi to participate if sex was going to deal with it. Opening his eyes, Shuichi pulled himself up, preparing for sex. Before Tohma fell victim to need, he stared up to see a red, camera light. Oh shit…

Wrapping his arms around the pink haired boy’s lithe form, Tohma held on tightly to him, brushing hair from the boy’s face in apology. “Please,” He whispered, what seemed like that thousandth time he had whispered that single word, “just hit me, cry, do anything.” He whined. His conscious was getting to him, he had done so much wrong, being told so by Shuichi would make him feel so much better, but the boy didn’t cry, just stared distantly towards the wall, waiting for the door to unlock.

It was a realization that Tohma hated. He, himself, had fight left, and refused to give up to Montoro’s wishes to be a sex slave for their camera. Shuichi was already a doll for them, when told to stop, he’d do so. It was finally explained to him, why the child that was always laughing and bringing cheer to others, refused to cry didn’t want to laugh. They had stopped each tear, beat him for them. Tohma swore he was at fault. Always a fault. He couldn’t protect anyone, Jiro, Eiri, or Shuichi. Soon Ryuichi would be in the same boat, Montoro said they needed the five-year-old like man. Cuddling closer to the boy, he held on tightly to the small boy.

“Would you like to hear a song, Shuichi?” He finally asked, and the boy stared at him, confused. “Have you ever heard of Tokushi Jiro?” He received a nod, making him smile. “I loved him music when I was twenty, he was four years older then me. The master, the idol.” He held out his hand, proving his point. “I had an interest in him as you have with the Nittle Graspers.” Tohma smiled, a trip down memory lane. “Anyway, one of my favorites songs…how did it go.” He closed his eyes, tapping his hand slightly to get the beat. “Me no mae niwa kyoukaisen. Mirai wa chikaku hatenaku tooi…” He whispered, the beat slightly off as he fought to remember all the words. Shuichi giggled, a noise that made Tohma’s heart flutter with happiness. “Like you can do any better with old songs.” He harassed, thinking again for the next line.

“…Shiawase wa tabun nanigenakute. Mitasareta toki wa kao wo kakusu. Furikaeru hodo no yoyuu mo naku. Yasuragi ni mi wo yoseru demo nai. Ikiru tsuyosa wo hoshigari nagara. Mou sukoshi dake koko ni isasete.” Shuichi gave the next line, and Tohma started singing the verses with him, holding him close. “I liked his music. Why did he commit suicide, do you know?”

“A person, or persons, took his happiness away the same way yours is going. Please, don’t stop smiling; I don’t want you to end up like him. Eiri-san loves you, and he’d only be depressed if you died the same way. The minute he realized you still did not come home, he called Hiro wanting to know where you were, then me. I’m sure half of Tokyo is upside down as he is looking.” He smiled, bringing a giggle to Shuichi at the image. “Keep that smile.” He held him close as the door finally opened. “Don’t let them get you down, promise me that.”

Shuichi stared at Tohma’s broken wrist before nodding. “Hai! I promise, Tohma!” He smiled, crawling towards the door with the spunk he started with.

If any moment called for it, it was now. Ice cream! The delicious taste of vanilla could calm him, and sedate his stomach before continuing on his foot search for Tohma and Shuichi. No body knew where they were, and he wasn’t planning on giving up the search until he could find them. Ryuichi smiled at the small parlor before walking in. It was still empty, well, beyond the man eating a banana split. The guy stared up at him with piercing aqua eyes, smiled, and then went back to his meal. Being himself, Ryuichi returned the smile, tucked Kumagorou under his arm, and walked towards a table.

“What flavor do you want Kumagorou?” He stared at them before bending down to hear what the bunny said. “Right! Vanilla for the both of us before Noriko-chan comes, na no da!” He stared towards the counter with a grin on his face. The woman smiled patiently at him as he asked for his bowl of ice cream, making sure it had another spoon with it “Kumagorou needs his fill too!” He smiled, and she nodded, unsure what he was talking about.

Leaning onto his elbows, he stared down at all the ice cream, smiling distantly as he hummed a song under his breath. Such a good mood he was in! The woman handed the ice cream towards the thirty-year-old, and he turned to grab a few napkins and heard the bell chime that the only man in the room had left. Sighing, Ryuichi walked towards the table, feeling a little bit better. The guy made him feel weird, the place was so quiet and ever few seconds those eyes would burn the back of Ryuichi’s head, making him shiver.

“Vanilla ice cream, Kumagorou!” He cheered towards the pink rabbit, only to drop the said treat. His eyes shift, his heart ached when he couldn’t find his best companion. “Ne, Kumagorou-chan?” He stared under the table, expecting that maybe he dropped. Still nothing, Ryuichi’s eyes filled with tears as he started looking under every table, crying out for the stuff animal, but it never called back to him. “This isn’t funny Kumagorou!”

“What’s wrong sir?” The cashier asked, bending down next to the child-like man.

“Kumagorou’s gone!” He yelled, just as the door chimed.

Noriko stared at the singer, her face churned with confusion at his attics. “Ne, Ryuichi, what are you doing on the floor like that?” She was forced to bend down as a soft whisper escaped Ryuichi’s mouth, tears falling down his cheeks. “What’s wrong?”

“Someone took Kumagorou! I left him right here to get our ice cream!” The man cried loudly. “It was that man, na no da! Black hair, green eyes! He left with Kumagorou!” Noriko wrapped her arms around the man, tapping his back as she stared around the parlor to find the said stuffed toy, then out the window to find the said man. They were in Japan, one like that would stand out.

It was almost like his freshman year of high school, a month went by so slowly and it only pained him more each day. Kuuli and Montoro had called war upon him, for taking what they had earned from Shuichi. The boy was laughing, and playing games (imaginary ones if needed), and no amount of rape or abuse could stop that. Yet, Tohma was losing the battle, Shuichi still had yet to shed a tear. It made him wonder if the smiles were false, the giggles just to make him feel better. So Shuichi, to put others before himself. At that moment, Tohma was teaching the boy how to play poker, his lips remaining thin as Shuichi whispered to him to make a conversation that could not be heard.

If Kuuli had a job, he didn’t have one anymore. The man remained home all hours of the day; working at his computer with the shots he had taken of both Shuichi and Tohma in sexual (most commonly a form of rape) moments. Montoro brought in a steady income, Tohma supposed. He hadn’t seen much of the dark haired man, when he did come over; it was to continue there at home work.

Tapping his shoulder, Shuichi pulled the producer from his thoughts, showing him his cards, winning the game. No prizes, just the amusement. Tohma placed his cards down, picking up the pile to put away as Shuichi stretched, his back popping. Nobody stared up as the door opened, Montoro walking in with a bag in his arms. His expression was a smirk as he tossed it upon the counter, causing it to skid across the surface and fall upon the ground before leaving the room to go the bathroom. The blonde heard Shuichi gasps, causing he, too, to stare up and look at the familiar pink rabbit that fell out, its nose hitting the ground with a soft thunk.

Crawling towards it, Shuichi brought the stuff animal into his arms, cradling it like a baby. “Kumagorou.” He whispered. “Tohma,” He whined, “They stole this from Sakuma-san, and they’re going to kidnap him soon!” He stared at the bathroom door as it opened up, Montoro walking out of it and towards the living room, never staring at either ‘pet’ before taking a seat and turning on the television. Shuichi stared down at the toy, a faint depression marking his eyes, but Tohma worked quickly to pull the boy into a hug.

“Ne, I’m sure Ryuichi would think sanely, and realize that this was just a … threat that he is next. He’ll probably stay the night with Noriko, and he’ll be safe.” He nodded his head, trying to reassure the boy. Shuichi took it in as he started towards the couch, glaring at Montoro.

“What are you looking at?” Montoro snapped, glaring at the boy as Shuichi held tightly onto the pink animal. “Don’t worry, the owners not dead.” He smiled towards the television screen as a missing person report came on for Shuichi and Tohma. It was the pink animal that Shuichi clutched for dear life that caught his attention again, causing his patience to drop. “Go and put that thing back on the counter.” He ordered.

Shuichi didn’t budge as he sat on the heels of his feet, staring at the man with great defiance. Tohma reached forward, pulling the pink toy out of the teen’s hand, preparing to place it where demanded when his hand was grabbed by Montoro. Releasing his hold, Tohma stepped back; knowing the man out matched him as he stood at full height above Shuichi. The pink haired boy grasped hold of Kumagorou and took off down the hall, as fast as his sore legs would move.

Montoro did not follow, but his gaze did not leave the boy as the bathroom door slammed shut, the lock latching just in time for Kuuli to step on out of the boys’ room. A scowl captured his face as he slammed his fist again, muttering, “not again.” His eyes never meet the man walking towards him with a screwdriver, planning on removing the door. Tohma swallowed the lump in his throat as the door was removed, and Shuichi started screaming, but a string of courage started towards his chest and made him crawl towards the bathroom.

“I’m sick of this!” Montoro yelled, dragging Shuichi by his hair, and the boy screamed, yet refused to release the pink bunny from his grasp. As Tohma prepared to run towards them, he was grabbed by Kuuli, and pinned against the ground to stare at the boy that was no longer being pulled, but kicked brutally.

Shuichi’s hands grasped the bunny to his bare chest as a kick was aimed towards his stomach, knocking wind out of him. On instinct, he moved his hand down to protect that region, trying to move away, only to have a boot slam into his ribs. Falling over, Shuichi’s eyes grew wide as he started coughing, wanting to cry by not tears would fall – the beating would only be worse. The child grew red as the boot pressed against his back, applying weight towards it.

“When I give you an order, you’d best do what I say.” Montoro released his weight, starting out the door, his foot falling upon Shuichi’s ankle and snapped it. A scream, one that was loud enough to shatter anything, broke through the house as Shuichi started whimper, alligator tears was all he got. He was left in the bedroom, upon the messed up floor that was covered in dried blood and dust, the pink toy under him, apply cold to his burning wounds.

Tohma sat outside of the room as Kuuli locked the door, following Montoro through the house, yelling at him about profits. He forgot what they said as he looked at the door, the dreaded sound of Shuichi’s scream echoing in his ear. A face of pain, tearless eyes, traumatized. He was failing, he knew it – Shuichi still was not crying, which meant all the smiles were fake. Failure, that was what he was, a failure.

Crawling into the room, Tohma ran his hand over the sleeping face of the pale boy known as Shuichi. He had asked for items to mend the wounds the boy had, but Montoro laughed at him, saying the singer would learn not to mess with him. Tohma licked his lips, staring around for anything to dress Shuichi’s wounds, but came up with nothing. Moving next to the boy, Tohma wrapped his arms around Shuichi’s body, touching the silky rabbit that was still in the boy’s arms like another skin. The stupid rabbit that had caused him so much pain.

“Ne, Tohma-kun,” came the broken voice of Bad Luck’s singer, and Tohma opened his eyes, expecting the boy to be talking in his sleep, but the boy was starting to rub his broken wrist, paying attention to the president’s wounds than his own. “Was Montoro-sama mad at me when he left me alone?” He asked.

“Don’t call him that. Ever.” Tohma growled, pulling Shuichi closer, and digging his nose into the scent of Shuichi’s hair, the beautiful everglade scent that made him feel freedom.

“Talk to me, please. I don’t want to be alone, and I’m not crazy enough to start talking to Kumagorou.” The pink haired boy sniffled, struggling to turn and face the blonde producer. Tohma helped him move, running his hand down Shuichi’s back as comfort.

“I don’t know what to talk about, Shuichi.” Tohma whispered. “What do you want to know?” He whispered, brushing pink hair from Shuichi’s face.

The pink haired boy thought for a moment, before smiling brightly. “Your hair. I’ve come to the conclusion that Yuki is a mutant of the family, with his blonde hair but complete Japanese heredity. What about you?” He smiled brightly, and Tohma blushed pink.

What type of questions is that,” Tohma thought, but thought how to answer it. “It’s natural, not dye. You, on the other hand, is what everybody wants to know. Is that natural, there’s no way…” He stared down at the boy, seeing a grin – a real grin – escape the boy’s lips.

“Everybody wants to know that. It is natural, was kind of red when I was younger, lost its color as I became older. I think by the time I was in the third grade, it was this hot pink color that made me worry all the time. People continually laughed at it, asking why I dyed it that color. I’m glad it’s not as…bright…now.” He smiled, touching the silk like texture.

A snort escaped Tohma’s lips, one he could not control. “I’m so glad too. That’d be rather scary…” He grinned as Shuichi slapped his shoulder. “What?”

“My hair is not scary, when I first was in high school, everybody thought it was cool. Of course, most wanted to know what brand of hair dye I used. I was use to it by then. Don’t care really; say it’s my weird background. Hiro should be laughed at; he has that bright red hair.” He stared away, before comforting his head in the nook of Tohma’s neck, making himself comfortable. Tohma grouched as the pink toy was pressed against the, as if Shuichi was making sure it was hidden from others sight.

“Why didn’t you just put it back on the table?” Tohma whispered. “I can’t protect you if you’re getting yourself into trouble.”

Shuichi didn’t meet Tohma’s eyes as he stared at the other’s chest, a faint pink on his cheeks. “Because when we get out of this, Sakuma-sama will ask us if we took care of Kumagorou, and when I tell him we couldn’t feed him, he’ll start crying and I don’t want to deal with that. Also, if Sakuma-sama is brought here, and Kumagorou is in ruins, then it is my fault, and he’ll never forgive me.”

Tohma breathed deeply, running his hand through Shuichi’s hair. “Trust me, Kumagorou’s safety should be the last thing on your mind. You likely have a few broken ribs, your ankle is broken, don’t act like I can’t tell the pain you’re in, and you still haven’t cried.” He stared at the pink haired boy’s eyes, trying to see any moisture, none. He was in pain, but he wasn’t crying. It was Eiri all over again.

“I’m tired. Good night, Tohma-kun.” The boy cuddled closer in a hug, and fell asleep. Tohma breathed a sigh as his body reacted to the intimate touches. God Damnit…

The room was dark, an endless darkness that was overcome with screams of pain and grunts of passion. I stood, ready to attack what ever was going on, but I could see nothing. A flicker suddenly caught my eye, one of light – a spectral light that would bring joy to ones heart. It didn’t mine, but I continued to stare, looking for the source of the noise when pink suddenly came to view. “Shuichi?” I ran towards him, only to see a shadowy figure hold him further down, and gravity over came me.

It was solid, the ground under me, yet was cold. My eyes stared up again, seeing Shuichi’s small hand reach towards me, I expected tears in his eyes, but none were there. He was in pain, I could tell that much, he kept reaching for me, calling my name in screams, the shadow on him continued to rape him. Once more, I tried to get up and move, but my foot came to close, and the ground bellow me started to crack. I pulled back and stared at him.

“Yuki! Yuki, save me!” He screamed again, the ground under him shattering due to my step, each shard would rise in the air, cutting his face. The shadow stopped panting, his thrust losing vigor, as he stared up. Aqua eyes full of hate glared at me, and the shadows around him suddenly became flames, making me try harder to stand up, to run towards Shuichi. Don’t burn my Shuichi! The flames became a blue, and he was gone. Shuichi was stark naked, bleeding and crying for me. The remaining bit of air from the shadow became to transform, and a pink rabbit fell against the ground, ripping into shreds. The end of a child’s innocence, I realized.

Finally, the strong gravity was no more, and I was thrown towards Shuichi. I tossed the ripped toy away from him, taking the boy into my arms to stare at him as he cried into my arms. I couldn’t let go, I’d lose him again, I didn’t want to lose him. His cries became hiccups, and he stared at me with his dry face, red eyes. “I called for you, Yuki! Why didn’t you save me, please save me!” He started screaming, fighting the hold I held him in, and I started crying. Only around him would I ever cry. He brought that emotion to me.

I refused to let go as I rubbed soaked hair from his face, staring at his eyes. “Shuichi…I l-love…” Before I could utter the last, his body broke into flames, and I jumped back, dropping him. He was no more. I was alone in the eternal darkness again, tears running down my face as I stared at the pink bunny that still remained. I lost him.

Eiri let out a cry as he pulled up in bed, his breathing elastic as he stared around his dark room, immediately turning on the light. Tears fell down his face, staring at the empty side of the bed, one that was never covered, but a remembrance that his was alone, that he no longer had Shuichi to warm that side of his heart.

That dream had haunted him, ever night, for the past month. He kept dreaming of it, and was slowly starting to figure it out. The shadow had to be the man that kidnapped him, no, he had green eyes, that can’t be it. Eiri shook his head, trying to calm his rambunctious thoughts. Well, the ground had to be one of their sanities, always cracking and destroying with each second that they were in pain. Shuichi gone…Eiri didn’t even want to think of it.

Pulling out of bed, he walked out of the bedroom, his blanket wrapped around his body before lying out on the couch where Shuichi had always slept, long enough to place his nose in the soft fabric and smell the boy. It was still there; Shuichi’s exotic smell remained on that couch. Keeping the blanket tightly around his body, he turned onto his side, waiting for a phone call from the police that they had found Shuichi, that he was okay. It was a dream that still hadn’t happened, but he prayed it would. He desired for it to do so.

Deep down, Eiri was disgusted with himself. He had spent all those months that Shuichi forced into his life that the boy was no more than a ‘release when things grew hard’, but here he was, being relaxed by Shuichi’s fragrance that made it’s way into his couch. He had told himself that if the boy just disappeared, all would be better, and he’d have his life back. Was he ever wrong, he found himself unable to write without adding the word “pink” somewhere; he was being reminded of the boy’s voice every time he heard a child on the street. One of the main reasons why he kept the window open now was because he needed the noise. The dead silence in his home was killing him, he needed some racket, someone walking around, continually talking. Hell, he felt tempted to call Ryuichi over just for that noise.

Shaking his head, he closed his eyes. Staying awake wasn’t going to deal with the situation; he needed his sleep to start his search again the next day, and the stories deadline could wait. They’d understand what he was going through if he wrote it in an author’s afterwards. Damnit, there I admit it. I love the brat! I need him here!

Awakening to an empty side of the bed was common in the last month for Shuichi as he stared where Tohma normally lay, protecting him from all harm. Silently, he pulled Kumagorou close to his chest, staring at the door, intently on the light emitted from under it. He could hear, from in the other room, Kuuli’s moans, a faint clicking of a camera, and steady breathing, likely from Tohma. What they were doing did not matter to him. Moving his arm, he let out a soft hiss as his ribs gave a noisy pop; his breathing was already ragged, his ankle swollen. For a while, his back ached, and now was a faint tingle that reminded him of the disobedience he had. The energy that Eiri complained about caused so much of his pain, so simply, if he no longer cried, they would leave him alone. He’d be worthless. It was circular logic.

Taking in a deep breath, he patted Kumagorou’s head, staring intently at the door, expecting for it to open, but it wouldn’t. Silently he wanted to talk, that was all he wanted to do, but he was not insane enough to talk to a pink bunny in his arms. Was he? Shaking his head, he curled up in a ball, shutting his eyes to tune out noises that only he could hear. Noises like cars turning corners outside, one that had music blaring – likely showing off their sound system that was in it. Then, quiet would come; only to follow by the sounds of people talking, yelling – arguing. He was truly alone.

Dreams that had haunted him since the first night with Tohma, the reminiscence that he was unfaithful to Yuki, that he was no more than a whore for everybody to see. His clothing choice was proof of that, even though they called out his name. What he did was his personality, now it was biting him back. The silence echoed on. Yuki would love the place.

The door opened, and he could hear the exhausted movement of feet as Tohma collapsed in the bed right next to him, curled up, and once more fell asleep. His lips were bruised, a forming mark on his face where he had been slapped. On his chin was a small trickle of semen rested, moving slowly down the firm curves of his face. Blushing, Shuichi brushed the pink bunny over the essence before pulling the rabbit against his chest as Tohma mumbled in his sleep and turned to his other side, way from Shuichi’s line of view.

Perking his attentions once more, he stared at the bottom of the door, expecting for it the fling open and someone shoot him (he prayed it be K, at least he’d know it was all a bad dream), but it never happened – only the faint voices of the two men in the living room, laughing and talking like good friends he swore they were. Soon, the front door shut, and the living room light turned off, a shadow walked past the bedroom door and into the other bedroom where, it too, shut. Silence filled the house, but Shuichi could not sleep, no longer had to need to.

Carefully, he pulled out of bed with Kumagorou to his chest, working his way towards the door, staring back at Tohma, but the blonde slept on, a sign that he was exhausted. Continuing his walk, Shuichi hissed as his foot stepped on a loose floorboard, a creak following through the house like the sound of death’s cunning shrill. Staring around, his heartbeat became rapid as he waited for the door to open and Kuuli to walk out, but no movement followed him, and he was once more safe. Stepping up, the board groaned at his disappearing weight as he stepped into the darkened, lonely living room.

Staring around, he boy tightened his grip to the creature as he started towards the phone on the coffee table, grasping it near the rabbit as he started into the kitchen – expecting an alarm to go off, but that only happened in science fiction movies as well as the American James Bond ones. Opening cabinet door, he looked desperately for one that held nothing within, until he came across one under the mixing center. Crawling inside of it, he stared back at the darkened room, allowing the light to be left so he could quickly dial up a number he had become ill with waiting for. As the ring tone started, he shut the cabinet door, and locked himself in the reaches of protection.

The phone rang and rang until a groggily voice answered it, one unmistakably being Eiri’s voice, and Shuichi had to fight his voice from screaming out his name, but he did whisper, “Yuki. It’s me.” He could hear the blonde take in a breath as he leaned back, against the hard surface behind him, listening to his foot pop as he set it awkwardly. “I’m okay Yuki, just in a little pain. Tohma is too, he’s really tired so I can’t wake him to come talk to you.” He smiled as Eiri expressed his gratitude about not having to talk to Tohma at that moment, before Shuichi smiled softly, listening to the silky sound of Eiri’s voice. “Read to me, Yuki. I want to hear your voice, so read to me. No, please don’t go back to sleep, I want to hear you talk to me, I want to feel safe. Yes, I promise not to fall asleep, I just want to hear your voice…” Shuichi smiled as Eiri began ruffling around his house before sitting down – saying he had to get some coffee.

Shuichi sat where he had been for hours, listening to Eiri’s whispering to the story, going over each word perfectly, and to prove his point that he was listening, Shuichi whispered a silent ‘please, continue’. Eiri was a genius in his own nature, Shuichi smiled hesitantly as Eiri muttered out a person’s line before grouching, ‘what the hell was I smoking when I said that line?’ Neither spoke anything towards each other, only Eiri’s reading continued through the cabinet until Kuuli’s voice rang through the house, screaming at Tohma where Shuichi was. “Don’t listen to them Yuki, please, continue read…why did he leave her?” He listened as Eiri continued the story. He could tell he had been there for a while, his legs tingled from sleep, and Eiri’s voice was becoming breathless and hoarse from his readings. They were already up to chapter six, and Shuichi had decided that if they didn’t finish it, he’d read it when they were safe – if they ever were safe again.

He could hear a crash, becoming aware that Tohma had been tossed to search for Shuichi, and the pink bunny to his chest became the only comfort he had to offer. He waited, in fear for the cabinet door to be flung open, little of his attention on Eiri’s voice as the writer continued on with his story, his voice with more edge since he had started his first beer of the day.

A smashing on the counter made both quiet, but Eiri began reading again, Shuichi’s quickened breathing was not encouraging. Curling his legs to his chest, Shuichi bit his tongue as Eiri red the last line of the chapter, asking if Shuichi had trouble understanding, but the boy never responded, his breathing becoming ridged. “Yuki, I love you…” He whispered, staring down at the ground as the door to his chamber flung open, and Kuuli glared at him, long and hard. He could tell that Eiri was trying to utter the words, but they didn’t escape as the phone was ripped from his hands and he was dragged out from under the counter. Tohma was sitting next to the animal bed at the end of the hall as he was pulled down the halls, slammed in the bedroom, and locked there until Montoro would arrive.

Eiri stared at the phone in his hands as the dial tone echoed into his ear. He sat at his desk, reading Shuichi his latest work (if the boy wanted more, the bookshelf had the first editions, the boy could read them himself!). Shuichi, like so many times, had said his love, and Eiri had at least tried to say it, but saying the word was like speaking Hebrew to him, just wasn’t coming easily. The boy was making him cry again, his body shook as he tried to forget what he had heard; all of Shuichi’s breathing made him wonder the safety of the boy. It didn’t matter if the boy had asked him to sing opera, likely he’d sit there the whole…six hours, and singing to the boy if it meant knowing the boy was still living. Nobody had expected them to call; the only house that was being tapped by the police in case of this was Mika’s.

Standing up, he stared out the window, brushing his hand through his mussed hair; he started towards his room to put on day clothes so he could continue his search for the pink haired singer.

Shuichi was slammed against the wall, his back aligned straight, bruising easily as he collapsed against the floor. In his arms, Kumagorou’s arm ripped, white cotton coming from the tear from where they tried ripping the bunny out of him arms. Montoro glared down at him, eyes filled with hatred that scared Shuichi to the core, near the door – Tohma was being pinned so he didn’t help Shuichi. The black haired, aqua eyed, man was not happy to say the least – being called from work that Shuichi had escaped and was on the phone. They were only lucky the pink haired boy had no clue whatsoever where there location was.

Turning around, the man walked into the back room, receiving a questioning glance from Kuuli before returning with a set of clothes and tossed them at the pink haired boy. “Get dressed.” He ordered.

Stepping up, Montoro stared intently at the black haired man as Shuichi started getting dressed. “What the hell are you doing? I put my job on the line to grab him! You can’t just get rid of him already, he can be trained!” He snarled, his fist flying in the air in his fury.

“If you can’t train them in a month, they are retards – simply get rid of them while you still have time and get a new one.” He smirked, sending chills through Shuichi’s body as he pulled the girls gym shorts up his lithe thighs, a blush on his lips as the shirt – from Tokyo High – also was of gym criteria. Not tucking it in, he let it fall over his slender legs, leaving everything for the eye to see. Reaching over, Montoro grasped his upper arm, and pulled the limping boy out the door as Shuichi stared in shock at Tohma, clutching the pink rabbit under his arm as they were pulled down stairs. Tilting his head, he stared over the less than standard flooring, the trash that littered the place and the stench of unmistakable blood and garbage. No wonder no one could hear his calls, no one lived with them in the abandoned apartment complex that needed to be torn down. Well, the place wasn’t completely abandoned, druggies were on the first floor, and Shuichi tensed as they stared at him before he was pulled out the door.

Officer Toru walked out of the small bakery with his coffee in his hand, walking towards his cruiser. Of all the days he was stuck with double patrol, all to look for two celebrities that had gone missing earlier that month. Opening his car door, he snorted silently, thinking of leads they had – it was like looking for a needle in the haystack, all they knew what both men were together. Staring over the rundown apartment complexes, he took the first sip of his coffee, preparing to start his cruiser and move out. The solemn streets were always like this, besides the dogfight earlier, that area was a snooze.

Turning the key, he stared out his windshield, jerking as he saw a flash of pink – the radio becoming loud in his car to another car to go to a building due to a call in of domestic violence. Staring closely, he saw an identified male pulling the pink haired girl – boy? – with him and tossed him in the car. Staring around, Toru looked at his aqua eyes as the man pushed out black hair from his face, placing sunglasses on before getting in the car. Not taking his eyes off the man, he picked up his radio, muttering in it to get someone out the building to look inside for Seguchi Tohma – for he had seen a pink haired person that resembled the missing Shindou Shuichi. Watching the car turn the corner, he put his own vehicle in drive and followed as commonly as possible.

Watching them turn on the road leading towards the woodland area outside of Tokyo, and his eyes squinted as he saw the two sharing a screaming match from within the vehicle. He slowed down slightly as the man started around another corner, leading into the woods, and he froze for a minute, before he too, followed in – long enough to see the car take a sharp turn off the road, and driving into the wilderness. Stopping, he waited patiently for the car to return, drinking his coffee slowly (his nerves shot). In a few minutes, a loud bang filled the area, and Toru prepared his cruiser to turn in, only to see the car leave (this time with one passenger).

Working past shook, he pulled the vehicle over, and it did. The black haired man rolled down the window, looking as confused as possible. “How may I help you officer?”

“License and registration, if you may.” He stared within the car, trying to see if the pink haired boy was in there as the dark haired man handed the asked items. Staring them over he sighed. “Get out of the car, Natari-san.” The man frowned for a second before doing as asked. Without trying, he pushed the man back against the car, cuffing him all in the same motion. “Where’s the person that was with you?”

“What person?” The man asked.

“The pink haired teen that was with you when you left your apartment!” He yelled, and the man smiled, shaking his head – almost gleefully.

“Your eyes are going officer, only I left, and only I am here.” He stared in the distance, towards the woods.

“Oh? Really?” Toru questioned, quirking an eyebrow. “Then why are you driving off the road into private property? Hm? Show me where the boy is!” He tugged the man’s arm, eyes wide when he saw blood on the side of the car. He made his conclusion, pushing the man towards the back of his car, and starting into the woods to find the – hopefully – not dead boy.

Shuichi cried out as he was pressed against the seat of Montoro’s car, staring up with wide eyes as Montoro put on sunglasses before getting in as well, and with that they started down the car. He repeated asked – in demands – to know where they were going, but the man just screamed at him to shut up as they started into the woods, and Shuichi stared up through the rearview mirror at the police cruiser following them slowly.

The car turned again, off the road and onto the bumpy dirt through the woods before pulling to a stop further within. Shuichi didn’t know what directions they had taken to get wherever they were; he could only remember the address of the place he had stayed in for a month, so he could save Tohma if he made it back to civilization. Montoro ordered him out of the car, and the boy did as asked, staring at the tree before him in curiosity as the sun blared down from above. Was it noon all ready?

Montoro was still in the car, digging through the glove department as Shuichi stared at the car, wondering, if he ran, which way would he go. Before he could choose an answer, Montoro stepped out of the car, a gun in his hand, a ruthless smile on his face. “We tried to be nice to you, you know that, don’t you?” He stepped closer, and Shuichi stepped further against the tree, dropping Kumagorou upon the ground. “Yet, all you do is find ways to piss me off, trust me – you probably hear this all the time, but you’re horrible in bed. Nobody needs that. You don’t give good head, and your pink hair disgust me. I don’t see what people see in you, but they make demands. There are no good pictures of the Nittle Grasper band or Bad Luck, no pictures to deal with the fan’s likes. They want images of all you without clothes, it’s disgusting, and all of you are disgusting. Faux pictures are everywhere on the net, but none are as authentic as what Kuuli and I have, because we own the bands, we make them grovel like they should. You people think you can walk on everybody, just because you have a little talent. I don’t see the talent, but people claim you have it! We make good money with the celebrities, have the best sex we can get – and they never turn us in. They either die, or break down. Those we did let go, we took their voice so they couldn’t speak, and they take their lives away. What good are they when they don’t have the talent that makes the money.” He stepped forward, lifting the gun.

“It’s not about the money, we do it because it’s fun!” Shuichi cried.

“Lies you spoiled brat!” He yelled, shooting Shuichi. The time for having K-san as a manager paid off, and Shuichi could move away quickly from where he was doomed to be shot, only having his arm hit. Falling to his knees, he stared up as his fingers clutched the wound, and Montoro flung the gun against the ground, irritated. “That was my only bullet!” He screamed, slamming into his car and driving away, leaving Shuichi upon the ground, clutching his arm as he reached for Kumagorou. Hiro never taught him what to do with a bullet wound…He winced as he tried moving his arm. That wasn’t good, he watched as fresh blood continued down his arm, quickly.

What seemed like a short walk was taking hours, feet staggering behind him, Shuichi stared up at the setting sun, guessing that noon had turned into nightfall. It was getting cold, and the pink haired singer had taken off his shirt to dress his bleeding arms to get it to stop bleeding, when that had not worked, he had placed Kumagorou onto the wound and tied the heavy bunny against it. He’d apologize to Ryuichi later for the bloodstains, rips, and such, right now – he just wanted to live. Lonesome had taken its toll already, and the extroverted boy had begun talking to the pink toy (and at times, imagined the answer on which he replied). He was starting to see why Ryuichi kept the rabbit in the first place.

He stopped abruptly as he saw the path he had followed for hours begin to lower, and upon staring down – he grew dizzy and decided to find another route off the path. He was thirsty and hungry, tired as well – but if he went to sleep, he’d only freeze faster. He remembered that from school.

Staring around, he swallowed some saliva that had made it in his mouth, taking a deep breath to lick his dry lips before continuing down the trail. Was it just him or had it only gotten colder? A chill drove down his spine making his shudder before stopping to grasp a tree as the ground under him began moving. Was it an earthquake? Sure, he had been through many of them, but this was different. It was the ground shaking, it was moving out from under him, taking his breath away as the trees began to multiply before him, and his grasps was no longer there, causing him to fall to the ground and try to catch his breath. A drop of blood landed next to his hand, making him stare in wonder.

He was tired, very tired. His head was pounding, and his ankle was beginning to ache again. Would a small nap hurt? Shaking his head he laid his head in some bushes, smelling the pollen in them. Very pretty, beautiful sky, wonderful birdcalls, and footsteps. Shuichi tried to flutter his eyes as he realized footsteps was likely from humans, but couldn’t find the strength to as he let sleep take over him, his dreams flowing to Yuki, the times he had seen the man smile.

“Maki! I found someone!”

“Quickly! Let’s get him to the hospital, his pulse is weak!”

The beautiful sounds of people, how he loved to hear those voices, it was why he wanted to be a musician – to hear praise, to hear people around him talk.

Tohma sat up, breathing deeply as he heard silence, then a small beep. The room was white, a boring white – was he dead? A rag touched his head, a wet one, making him turn and face Mika’s smile, making him smile as he laid back to stare at him, fingers brushing her brunette hair back. “Hey.”

“Nice to see you too, you scared me!” Mika growled out, causing Tohma to smile before wincing to stare down at his wrist that now what wrapped correctly. “Some dumb ass, when you were gone, set it wrong, doctors had to break it again and reset it.” She tapped his wrist, making Tohma smile. Didn’t matter if the ‘dumb ass’ set it wrong, at least he tried being helpful.

Both stared up as the door opened, the elderly doctor smiling at Tohma as he flashed a light in the blonde’s eyes, all while asking questions for headaches, moving his body, and if Tohma could remember everything. As the man left, Tohma stared at his wife, eyes full of worry trying to find his voice, “have they found Shuichi yet?”

The woman stared at his eyes before nodding her head. “He was shoot in the arm, having the bullet removed right now – Eiri’s outside waiting for any news on the boy.” She explained, and Tohma nodded his head. “I’ve never heard you refer to Shuichi as such…did you grow a soft spot for him?” She eyed him warily, and her husband smiled back.

Eiri stared up as he watched Shuichi being rolled into a recovery room; his eyes never left the boy as he slept, peacefully. The look of sheer content was on his face – he had been told Shuichi awoke once in the ambulance, smiled at them before once more falling asleep. Staring at the door, he nodded his head as the nurse instructed him to be careful with the boy before he walked into the room and sucked in his breath. A month had done it’s due on the boy, that was for certain. Shuichi had loss some baby fat in his cheeks, making the shrunken in and he look malnourished, pink hair was mussed, making the victim look much older than he really was.

Walking over to Shuichi, Yuki carefully ran his fingers through the boy’s fine hair, brushing the strands down properly before staring at him closely. He looked exhausted, Eiri didn’t have heart to wake him up and give him a greeting of safety. He almost lost the pink haired fool again, and now Eiri knew what life was like without the boy for so long. He couldn’t survive that, he need Shuichi. He had to have Shuichi with him. Brushing more hairs out of the boy’s face, he lowered his lips and kissed the boy’s lips before pulling away, long enough to see the singer tense up.

Turning around, he pulled up a chair, silently sitting in it as his gaze stared upon the sleeping boy, watching the rise and fall of his chest, all the way down to the singer’s cast ankle. They had found Shuichi around seven that night, and once he was notified that the singer was found, he immediately drove down to see the pink haired boy. If the rest of Shuichi’s band knew, Eiri didn’t know, nor did he care.

In seconds, his head fell against his chest, and sound sleep took him, the first time since he found out that Shuichi was really gone.

“Shuichi?” Tohma’s voice flooded his senses, and a faint sense of fear arose in Shuichi’s chest. Had it all been a dream, did Montoro find him and bring him back to the apartment? Opening his heavy eyelids, he stared towards Tohma’s smiling face as the blonde stared at him. “Are you okay? You have Eiri-san all worried.”

“Ne…” Shuichi croaked out, never sitting up as he tried to pop his back (a morning ritual), but found him enable to do such. “Tohma-kun, where are we…?” He stared around. White walls, boring halls. He had a guess.

“We’re at a hospital now, we’re safe. A cop saw you being pulled out the door by Montoro, and he called for back up to get me, and went after you. He followed Montoro’s car into the woods before he couldn’t follow. When Montoro’s care left the area, you were no longer in the car. Both Kuuli and Montoro have been arrested, and they found you last night. We’re safe now, Shuichi.” He reached for the boy’s cheek as a smile escaped on his face. “Please, Shuichi, weep for joy – shed some tears so I know it’s all over.”

Staring down, Shuichi rubbed the blanket to the bed before staring up once more. “I can’t. I want to cry, but I just can’t.” He stared towards the empty chair next to the bed. “Where’s Yuki?” He whispered.

“Visiting hours were over, so they pushed him to go home, take a bath, and come in tomorrow.” Tohma smiled. “Are you hungry? I talked the nurse into ordering us some pizza. We’ve lived in hell for a month, it’s the least we deserve.” Shuichi returned the smile, nodding his head. “We’re having quite the visitor party tomorrow, you can say. Everybody seems to want to come. I’ve only seen Mika thus far, but she says they’ve all been worried.”

Shuichi grinned, nodding his head. “Thanks for staying with me, Tohma-kun.” He leaned over, kissing the blonde on his cheek before staring at the door, bottom lip standing out. “I was scared, I wanted to cry. It’s unfair, they only did this because of money.” He looked at his lap before back up. “When he tried killing me, I thought he’d get in his car and try to run over me, just to make sure I didn’t talk.” Tohma reached over, rubbing Shuichi’s head, trying to calm him down from the boy’s ragged breathing. “I was always aware of people that would do things like this, but why do they have to actually go through with it?”

“Because their sadist?” Tohma pulled the pink haired singer’s head against his chest. “They sought for our pain to earn money – maybe there was lust in there somewhere, but the rest was to see us in pain.” He buried his nose into Shuichi’s hair, holding the boy close as they had done so many times before. “Please, you’re only going through their goals, to see you break from laughter and tears, destroying your innocence. Show them that they have lost, weep…” Tohma couldn’t control himself as tears escaped the sides of his eyes as he faced the dull eyes that stared lost. A soft knocking interrupted them as the young nurse showed them the pizza they had asked for. Brushing his eyes, he reached for it, placing it at the end of the bed for Shuichi and himself to eat.

The pink haired singer never met eye contact the rest of the night, his eyes becoming further distant from Tohma the minute the blonde was pulled from the bedside and towards his room.

Repositioning the boy on his back, Tohma stepped down another corner of the hospital, smiling brightly as Shuichi stuck his tongue out before holding a donut in front of Tohma’s face – and Tohma snatched it in his mouth, eating happily as they continued down the corridors of the depressing hospital. Tohma figured between both of them, they had the money and looks to bribe anybody to fetch what they wanted, that being a bag of cream filled donuts, a cappuccino for Tohma, and a Java Kula for Shuichi. He had to admit, the creamed over drink that Shuichi drank happily did taste good (Tohma had taken a straw and took a sip of it, just to see if he liked – which he did).

As they snuck back into Shuichi’s recovery room, Tohma sat the boy down, made sure all the cords they had yanked out were once more where needed to be, and sat to drink his cappuccino, smiling brightly still as Shuichi bit into a donut. “Thanks so much, Tohma-kun!” He grinned, and Tohma nodded his head, still defeated by the night before. The two spent the rest of breakfast in silence, Shuichi sipping from the straw in his sugary drink before eating another donut; comfortable that Tohma was staying with him that day. A timid knock made them stare up, facing a bright face woman in a white outfit, two files in his manicured hands, bleach blonde hair in pigtails.

“Seguchi Tohma and Shindou Shuichi, I presume?” She smiled, and both nodded, either eating or drinking. Shuichi held up the bag of donuts, offering one, but she denied it. “My name is Doctor Chika Marikuro, I’m here to talk to you about the ordeal you’ve been through, so you’re not haunted by it.” She gave a bow, making Shuichi smile, with a giggle.

“We don’t need help, we’re normal, and just a few bruises, and maybe we’re getting along a little nicer…” He stared at the blonde haired producer for support, but Tohma’s eyes said likewise. He took a breath, letting silence fill the room as he stared away. “I can get over it, I always do.”

“He needs help, get him to cry – they hold him back that way.” Tohma situated himself better in the hard chair, placing his coffee on a stand. “I’ll deal with therapy as well, but I don’t see any difference in anything I do. I can get caught back up to wave as it was before the abduction, but with more strength.” He reached to touch Shuichi, but the boy pulled away on reflex.

Marikuro stared intently at both of them, smiling sweetly, a small shake of her head. “I assure that both of you are doing just well, but it’s office regulation for rape and abuse victims to have therapy. I’m not forcing anything, but I can assure you, things will be far different now then what it was before the attack. I only want to have you acknowledge what could happen if you don’t have this fixed now, since it can affect your love life and your appeal on going back to normal, civil, duties.” She smiled brightly, before staring over the halls. “It seems you have some guest, I’ll come around later, enjoy your donuts.” She bowed once more before leaving as Ryuichi ran into the room, stared both of the two down before deciding to jump Tohma first, then fling himself to Shuichi in a hug – all minus his pink bunny.

“Are you two okay, na no da?” He stared at them, flashing a bright smile a Tohma smiled politely at him before taking a sip from his coffee.

“Where is Kumagorou, Ryuichi?” Tohma asked, bringing up the missing companion that had to be with Ryuichi all the time. The man smiled, rubbing the back of his head as he stared down.

“Kumagorou was very dirty, they took him to get a bath and sew him together. He’s getting a makeover, na no da.” He smiled, seeing the hurt flash over Shuichi’s eyes. “Ryuichi thank Shuichi-kun for taking such good care of Kumagorou, he was without his jacket, I’m happy he’s not sick. Ryuichi also happy Kumagorou take care of Shuichi!” He smiled, hugging the dazed pink haired man.

“I-I ripped him though, I never meant to,” Shuichi whined, staring at his hands. “And the blood was an accident also. I didn’t want him to get dirty, I’m so sorry…” He clutched his hands to his heard, not making eye contact as Tohma reached over to calm him down, but the older singer beat him to it, clutching the boy to his chest.

Tohma sat back, staring at them as Ryuichi muttered that he wasn’t upset about the blood, his vibe becoming serious. They stared up again as the door once more opened, allowing a group of friends to the two enter, most with smiling faces (Sakano far from smiling, began freaking out over the wounds the singer of Bad Luck had), as Eiri started towards the pink haired boy, growling (but a look of gratitude stayed on his face), and Shuichi held out his free arm, demanding an embrace, knowing he’d get it because no one would let him move his arm to much – or his leg – just to jump his distant lover.

Hiro demanded the next hug, scowling his best friend about following strangers anywhere – and Shuichi sat there, never fixing the story to the truth as he smiled brightly towards them, enjoying the bundles of life throughout the room. All stared up as Ryuichi squealed, holding a box close to his chest, before ripping it open and showing Shuichi the cleaned pink bunny. It looked…different, Shuichi admitted. Where the arm had been torn, fabric had been added to make arm cuffs with designs sprawled across them, around it’s stomach was a wrap of leather, in Kanji it spelt out the bunnies given name, and towards the end, where it wrapped around towards it’s cotton tail – a belt covering where blood stains had been. “Isn’t he pretty now?” He smiled, and Shuichi nodded, took hold of the rabbit, and gave it a hug before returning it to it’s owner. He owed a lot to the rabbit, but he wasn’t about to admit it.

As Tohma expected the bunny’s new look, all eyes on them – addressing that the rabbit looked ‘interesting’, Eiri leaned towards Shuichi, tilting the boy’s head to face his for the first time since he entered the room. His eyes stayed cold, but Shuichi could see warmth that was only for him in them as the man kept a straight face. “If you dare leave the apartment because I tell you to, or we fight, you’d better go to Hiro’s – no and, ifs, or buts.” He leaned forward, kissing Shuichi to leave him in a daze because he knew the look that was overcoming Shuichi’s face. Though it didn’t work, and Shuichi clung himself to the writer cheering that Yuki did love him, both were overcome with warmth for being in each other’s arms after the daring ordeal that had happened that whole month.

In a few hours, the room was once more empty except for Yuki, K, Sakano, Bad Luck’s members, and Tohma. The blonde president stared, intently, at the pink haired boy as Shuichi giggled, clinging to Yuki’s arm as the other hand combed through his hair, grumbling about knots. Sakano wasn’t talking much, spending more time whimpering to himself that they’d have to stop more publicity until the singer was healed, and K telling Shuichi to spend the time out on lyrics. They were interrupted to a knock at the door, the large group turning to face the doctor and two men in suits. The doctor smiled brightly, ordering that the guest make themselves scarce in a polite tone. Yuki didn’t leave Shuichi’s side until the doctor introduced the two men in suits as detectives, and a woman started intowards the room, smiling brightly – their therepist. In a squeaking voice, Shuichi suggested that his man left for a while, and Yuki – after receiving the same glance from Tohma – exited the room, muttering profanity.

“Let’s retry this, shall we? Seguchi-san, Shindou-san, this is detectives Yui and Tuguni, they have insisted that they speak to one of you at a time, and are wishing to speak to Shindou-san since he was there longer, while Marikuro-san has made wishes to start recovery sessions with Tohma.” He gave a nod, letting the three go to their business. Tohma gave Shuichi an encouraging hug before leaving the room as Shuichi stared back. Yui’s dark black eyes fell upon him, blaring through the singers tattered soul.

“Good afternoon, I apologize for what happened.” He stepped forward, his partner taking a seat, while pulling up a chair for Tuguni. “Would you mind telling us what happened, it’s for the best.” He smiled, giving his full attention to the boy.

“Where do you want to start?” Shuichi whispered, figuring the beginning. “I think I was upset that Yuki yelled at me to go away after burning his kitchen, so I made myself scarce by walking the streets until I knew I could go to Hiro’s and stay, but I broke down before that. That was where I met Kuuli, he was really nice! He told me that I shouldn’t waste my time of such, that Yuki should be happy that I tried – then he offered me coming home with him so I didn’t impose on Hiro. I didn’t agree, I know not to, so I went on my merry way after giving him a hug for helping me. I had turned the corner when someone grabbed me, put a cloth on my face. I fell asleep, I know I did, and I woke up in their apartment…”

“Kuuli’s apartment?” Detective Tuguni asked, and Shuichi nodded. “When did he begin to hit you?” He directed towards the bruises going across Shuichi’s chest, needing time to heal.

“I wasn’t awake for very long when he pulled me into the bedroom…his bedroom. He chained me to the bed and began hitting me with a whip, telling me that I should follow orders, not to cry. I made so many mistakes they didn’t like that first week – like eating with my hands – that they made the threat sure enough to kill me by starvation. When Tohma came around, I think a week later I lost track of time, I was going on three days of no food, drinking shower water, and keeping in a corner so I didn’t get picked on by Kuuli-sa…” He stopped himself from saying ‘sama’. “So, I made sure Tohma-kun knew what to do so he didn’t have to starve, I was so glad when I saw food in my bowl the day he was brought in.” He stared away.

“And your relationship with Seguchi Tohma, when did that start?” Yui asked, making notes in a notebook.

Shuichi stared up when they stated relationship, unsure of what they started before his eyes grew wide. “Those images on the internet! I didn’t want to do any of that, but they threatened to beat us, so we … um, did it with each other. We weren’t cheating, they made us!” He covered his chest, staring down. “Every time, people take pictures, harassing me with them, threatening public knowledge. Now the public thinks we were in a relationship, I never wanted it!” He began to repeat himself, trying to pull away from the bed, but Tuguni stopped him.

“The website was removed from the net, any IP address linked to that site has been checked, all stolen copies removed, what happens after is out of our control, since we’re still working on the IP addressing.” Tuguni smiled. “Don’t worry, no one is suggesting that either you, or Seguchi-san, are committing adultery. You were just pawns in a game, and it’s all over now.” He reminded, and Shuichi nodded, covering his face with his hands as he continued the rest of the agonizing tale.

Tohma sat back against a chair he had pulled up in the safety of one of the many empty offices of the hospital, his eyes staring at the therapist across from him as she manipulated answers from him, he knew all the tricks, he had nothing to hide, yet every few comments, she’d return to the informal way he had used for Bad Luck’s singer. Who was he to blame for being the way he was?

He had made it clear that he cared for the pink haired singer from that point on, but she didn’t seem interested in his denial – and he could tell he was lying more to himself. He never wanted to admit it, but he felt something for the boy, the same thing he felt for with Eiri. He didn’t cause anything to happen, but if Shuichi fell into the same dark hole that Eiri had, then Tohma would never forgive himself. Perhaps he also loved the boy, he found himself constantly smelling the strawberry scented hair the whole time. Which was strange, since they had used some other shampoo the whole enslavement.

“Tell me, Seguchi-san, how did you feel for Shindou-san before this whole ordeal, be honest, we’re not judging, and no one will ever know.” She kept her sweet smile on as Tohma explained about the dislike he had for the boy, for taking his Yuki away, for helping the icy man in a way he was unable to. Staring down, he flushed slightly as he realized the shift in feelings he had for the boy, but he swore he didn’t love Shuichi. “Don’t worry, Seguchi-san,” Chika pulled him out of those thoughts. “It’s common for those that have been in life threatening situations to grow a bond to the other victim, because you now share a traumatizing experience. Don’t push those away, you’ll find out the only way you’ll get over this, is if Shindou stays close to you through the healing process.” She smiled, before checking her watch. “Time to talk with Shindou-san, those men may just come in here to talk to you, that is if you feel up to it.” She politely bowed before leaving the room, Tohma lost in his thoughts.

He was interrupted with the entrance of the two detectives, before they started talking – asking – about Kuuli and Montoro, Tohma gave his best observations, his understandings with prior hostages, and what he had seen up to the moment he first arrived. When asked, he couldn’t stop the flash of seeing Shuichi before his own eyes, being raped before abandoned. He, when he first raped Shuichi (to Tohma, it was anything but consensual due to the drugs that had been added in his dinner), he spent hours holding the pink haired singer to his chest, singing old tunes with the boy that he knew, trying to brighten the boy up. Yet, it was too late, in a week, they had taken the innocent hour from Bad Luck’s singer. The boy didn’t act like this when Taki had him gangbanged, why was this any different? Perhaps this was because it didn’t include Eiri Yuki, but just Shuichi.

As they left the room, leaving Tohma to stare out the window, the blonde could hear one whispering to the other “I don’t like how this case is going to turn out”, and truthfully, Tohma didn’t want to know. As long as he could get both Kuuli and Montoro jailed for life, no probation, he refused to let the case drop. The evidence was all against them, nobody to back either up. “Ne, Tohma-kun…” He stared up, over towards the door to see a kind nurse pushing Shuichi in a wheel chair, since with an arm wound and an ankle one, he wasn’t allowed to walk even with crutches. The nurse helped the pink haired boy into the bed, staring at the blonde.

“I apologize for this, but it’s lights out for every patient, and he asked to stay with you, that he was scared.” She stared down at the kitten like singer, snuggling against Tohma.

“To me?” Eiri and Mika said simultaneously as Tohma and Shuichi stared at their therapist in confusion. After three sessions, she had requested to speak with her client’s partners for life, and nobody understood why that had to be. In her playful tone, she told both ex-victims to make scarce, and Shuichi’s face lit up slightly as he asked if they had permission to go the café across the street. With permission, Tohma lifted the boy on his back and started towards the door. Eiri glared at Tohma before facing the woman that insisted his attention as she cleared her throat.

“I have the feeling that neither Tohma nor Shuichi have discussed with either of you what they have been through for the past month?” Each shook their head in the negative, making her sigh as she leaned back against the wall of Tohma’s room, where Shuichi spent most of his time when no one else was around. She had solved that case, and hand Tohma’s idea of it. In the time she knew Tohma, she was aware he always wanted to be right, and normally was – but each in a sense, he was only correct if it he had feelings for it. This time, he was wrong. “Well first off, let me give you some information that will obviously be on the news once the reporters get word of this, since the hospitals security has become very tight.

“Seguchi-san and Shindou-san are victims of rape, continuous abusive rape. Recently, they seek each other for comfort, because that’s all they’ve had for a month, each other. I suppose you’ve been told also that Shindou-san is always sleeping in here at night?” She received two glares and nods. “Well, that’s because it’s how they’ve slept for this month, learning to be on their own may not come easy. Tohma, when we had Shuichi sleep on his own the other day, constantly woke up, staring around for Shuichi before running towards the boy’s room just to make sure he was breathing. Shuichi would clutch the other side of the bed, looking for Tohma, asking if Tohma left him, just as Yuki did. Both are emotional messes, as you can tell. They desire each other to be there for them.

“With that said, I have to warn you on what may happen in your future.” She halted any kind of talking from either. “Your relationships may not last, fighting and continuous worrying of the others behalf. This might is what will ruin the love you have for them, so expect changes in personality, never assume that they don’t love you anymore. Believe me, when we’re no talking about Kuuli and Montoro, they speak constantly about you two – depending on who they live with, or if they still love you a lot. Tohma would never leave you Mika, but he wonders if you can handle with him worrying about Yuki – since that had been your common interest – as well as Shuichi from that point on. Shuichi told me that he knows that Mika will take great care of Tohma and make sure no one gets him, but he can’t help but worry.” She stood back up, walking towards the window to stare out it, at a small café that Tohma and Shuichi had taken them to. Mika and Yuki followed after, staring out as Tohma said something to the boy to make him laugh.

“So what, are we just suppose to sit back and watch relationships crumble?” Eiri spoke, glaring at his pink haired lover and Shuichi pushed back some of Tohma’s bangs, muttering seriously.

“No, that’s not what I’ve been saying!” Marikuro insisted, brushing her blonde hair back. “Reassuring them that it’s all over, and comforting them will help, how you approach is really up to you. Most patients don’t wish to see change in their lives, so don’t bring it up and change how you have spoken to them before…it may worry them.” She glanced at Yuki, making him roll his eyes. “Yes, Yuki Eiri, that means you. Tone it down on your insults, it’s what caused this to happen to Shuichi, but don’t go narrow on him and be polite that it causes you to creak as you talk – he’ll probably put you into a mental institution if that happened.”

Turning around, Eiri grumbled about needing a cigarette as he left his sister and the therapist in the back room to discuss further information. As he started outside, he stared intently at the small café as he snuck around to hear what they had been saying since he was in the upper floors of the hospital. He wasn’t shocked that several people were coming around asking for their signature since neither was wearing disguises, but it didn’t bother them as they spoke towards only each other.

“Yuki’s been mad for some reason, Tohma.” Shuichi whispered, eyes upon the table. “Do you think it’s because I called him at two in the morning and made him read one of his books?”

Tohma laughed at that comment, taking a drink from his coffee. “I think you should be happy that he actually read the book to you. I despise saying it, but he actually loves you enough to give up on his sleep. More than he’s done with me, he would have hung up and disconnected the phone.” Tohma reached over and took a bite of the boy’s large muffin, the boy squealing that it was his.

Taking a drag from his cigarette, Eiri walked towards the two boys, brought his elbow upon Shuichi’s head to get the pink haired boy to notice him, and stared down at Tohma. “Be best if you stayed away from the brat, Tohma. He might inflict you with something.” He knew the blonde would understand his statement more towards, ‘I’ve killed before, and taking you out of the picture would be nothing, just my dream.’

“Yuki!” Shuichi jumped up, clinging to the writer’s arm, making him look bored as he stared off in the distance. The boy lost weight, that was for sure, and his annoying screech didn’t have as much feeling towards it.

“Get the hell off of me.” He growled out, and Shuichi did as told, sitting down once more. The way Shuichi was acting, it was like he had never had his arm shoot or his ankle broke. Pulling up a seat, Yuki stared at their small lunch, eyeing the muffing Shuichi had bought. “Is that all you’re eating? I’d think you’d eat more after eating hospital food.” He frowned more as both boys blushed.

“We have had take out this whole time, Eiri-san.” Tohma smiled. “Nurses are very easy to win over when discussing our hunger for real food.” Rolling his eyes, Eiri sat back in his chair as Shuichi turned his head towards the hospital before climbing into Yuki’s lap, just as Mika came, stared at the now empty seat, and took it.

Snorting, Eiri wrapped his arms around the boys slender waist, thinking how easy it’d be to push the singer off, but the contact against he unused sex felt great. This damn attack had ruined his sex life, when he had time; he was going to ravish the boy on his lap. Shuichi innocently made himself more comfortable on the writer’s lap, the soft fabric for his sweatpants (Yuki brought them in so Shuichi didn’t have to go around half naked) aroused the writer, making him turn his face from whatever the three before him were discussing.

Shuichi rolled his hips again, and Yuki hid his face inside the pink hair, nipping Shuichi’s neck to get the innocent male to stop moving. Shuichi gasped, causing both Seguchi’s to stare up, wondering was wrong, and Yuki wrapped his arms closer to the bulge rising in his lover’s pants, lips against the boy’s ear. “Stop moving.” It was an order, how Shuichi reacted upon it depended if either got off in front of the two, as well as the crowds.

As those words escaped his mouth, Eiri felt Shuichi tense, eyes becoming cloudy as he tried pushing off of Yuki and towards Tohma. Seeing the tension between the two, Tohma took the singer in his arms, pulling Shuichi’s head against his neck as he whispered in the boy’s ears that it wasn’t Kuuli or Montoro, but Eiri. Mika glared, that time, at her brother before reaching over and running her hand through Shuichi’s hair. “He’s just sexually frustrated because you haven’t been around.” She smiled, and Shuichi stared up wide eyes.

“You mean he hasn’t slept with any women! Yuki!” He jumped from Tohma’s lap to Yuki’s, giving him a sloppy kiss. Tohma could feel that Shuichi had used his bad ankle to direct the fling, and had a feeling that he made it worse. Yet, he could see the pain of it in the false smile, but the tears were still missing.

“God Damnit! Get the hell away from me, you freak!”

They couldn’t order pizza that night, probably punishment for Shuichi tearing more muscle in his ankle that had them immobilize it and Tohma to stay out of the room, but since it wasn’t lights out yet, Tohma was sitting next to the pouting boy, telling him to be good because any more tears, he wouldn’t be able to sing and dance anymore. That made Shuichi agree, but he was still pouting.

The next day would be Kuuli and Montoro’s case, and both had to go, to state their cases even though it was obvious what the men had done. Sometimes, Tohma couldn’t understand what went through people’s minds. He prepared to stand up when a timid voice before him called out, “matte, Tohma.”

Turning back, he stared at the pink haired singer as Shuichi stared down at his lap before staring up. “I’m scared, about tomorrow. I have the feeling I’m not going to like it.” He stared up, intently.

“I’ll be there, so don’t worry. Chika-san said that this is the first step to recovery, turning them in.” He bent down, kissing the boy’s forehead as he usually did, it held no passion or emotion, just a kiss good night, then he left the room, the same feeling about the next day coming to him suddenly.

It seemed like when all the gods that had ever been discussed, had decided to turn against the two men in the front row of the courtroom, wide eyed. Nothing was going well that day, Shuichi had screamed and complained about having to use a wheelchair, which Tohma had smiled and said he’d push it – that all seemed perfect compared to the verdict that had just been read. Maybe it didn’t seem nice to most people, but it was still unfair. After all they had been through!

Kuuli and Montoro were read out of the room, both wearing twin grins as they faced both boys, winking. It was as if Death himself stood behind both of them, tickling the back of their’ necks with his scythe and laughed. Shuichi grasped hold of Eiri’s hand, calming the man that was about to jump them to kill – all for the name of the pink haired singer. Hiro shared the same look, as well as most of the singer’s companions. Yet, amazement and shame shoot through them all.

“Shuichi,” Hiro stared down at the singer, never turning back as Mika wrapped her arms around Tohma, holding him close, but neither victims spoke. Face white as ghosts - their feeling had been right – they no longer felt secure. Fate was cruel. Both men that had caused them so much harm, had won. Both were found not guilty due to insanity, and would only be placed into confinement for a period of time, then therapy.

As the small group made it back to the hospital, neither male would speak to anyone as Tohma prepared to go home the next day, his eyes fell upon the small room that Shuichi was in as the small boy stared distantly at a wall, Eiri’s fingers lacing through his hair as he spoke calmly. Tohma shook his head, listening carefully at what he was saying – but it only seemed like repeats that had already been said to the boy.

He watched as Shuichi’s head turned to face his lover as he closed his eyes, and let out a wail – to Tohma’s shook as he began to cry into the blonde’s neck. The two sat on the hospital bed, enclosed into each other’s arms as Shuichi cried, and Eiri calmed him down. Tohma leaned back against the wall as he stared them over, his eyes clouding over in what seemed hate, but he couldn’t put where it was directed. Had Shuichi done something to him, or Eiri? Or perhaps he was still upset with the verdict.

“Tohma?” Mika walked down the corridor, stopping at where Tohma was standing, fixated upon the small room as sniffles escaped it, followed by Eiri’s mummers that everything would be all right. “Are you okay?”

The blonde stared up, eyes closing as a smile fell upon his lips. “It’s always the same, I want to be of help, but I can’t. Not between those two, they have no desire for my support – because I always have my own motives. I just wanted to save Shuichi from following the same path that Eiri took, but look where it had lead. I’ve failed him where Eiri can succeed. Why is that…” He asked to no one in particular as his wife stared into the room.

“Eiri knows what Shuichi needs, I suppose. He’s made the boy cry countless of times.” She shook her head, solemnly. “Come on, let’s go.” She kissed him, lacing her fingers with his own.

“Ano…” Tohma smiled, patting her cheek. “I’ll be out soon, I need to say something to Eiri, go on ahead.” He didn’t break his smile as his wife shrugged and walked off before his eyes once more turned to the two in the room, clearing his throat. “Eiri-san.”

“What Seguchi?” Eiri flashed a glare at the man, cradling the sleeping singer in his arms.

Walking towards the doorframe, Tohma leaned against it as he stared at his bound hand before back up. “You’ve won.” Eiri gave him a confused glance. “For weeks, I’ve tried to get him to cry, it was all I asked for – to know all of his emotions were will, or merely fragments of innocence that had been destroyed. You, in little of a week, have accomplished making him smile and cry. You won, but I don’t fall easily. I love you,” He closed his head and smiled, tilting his head to the side, “just as I love Shindou-san,” he reverted back to formality, “and if I ever hear that he’s crying because of you – which is a good thing that he’s crying, but I don’t want it to be because you’ve tossed him out – I’ll be at your door. I know for a fact I get on your nerves just as Shindou-san. You tossing him out started this mess, get use to it, or someone will just come around and pick him up again. That someone just maybe me,” he started down the corridor, speaking as loudly as he could for Eiri to hear, “I’m sure Mika would love to adopt Shuichi-kun, I just noticed how he seems to leach on to everyone’s heart.”

He knew he made his point clear for the man to take care of the boy, all in a days work solved.

“Take an easy step with that crutch, Shindou-san,” The doctor instructed the fumbling boy as he worked on using one crutch, and being held up with his wounded arm. As long as he didn’t do jumping jacks like that, he’d be safe – that thought made him squirm a bit, the only movement he’d likely get is Yuki having sex with him. “Are you sure you wouldn’t prefer the wheelchair, with the crutch under your injured arm, and you ankle as broke as it is, you’ll never recover like this, quickly at least.” He carefully slid the second crutch under the other arm when Shuichi refused to respond. “All right, trick is too avoid placing any pressure to your right arm or left foot, so it’ll be more of a limp-like-hobble. As you place all your body weight upon your left side of the body, make sure your left foot never touches the ground.” The doctor backed off patiently as Shuichi tensed up before moving as told.

Luckily Eiri was standing behind him, his reflexes being quick enough to grab the boy as he fell. Shuichi stared up, smiled, and tried standing up again. “Damnit brat, why don’t you just stay in the hospital until your arm heals!” He yelled suddenly as Shuichi limped towards the door and back towards him, tears in his eyes. “Gah!” Eiri stared away, ignoring the runny nose as the boy began to cry out “Yuki hates me”.

“I’m sure he doesn’t hate you,” A kind voice spoke from the door, causing Shuichi to stop crying and start grinning before limping towards Tohma, and the man welcomed him with open arms. “Nice to see you walking.”

Grinning, Shuichi stepped again. “It’s really tricky,” he said, limping towards Eiri as the man leaned back against the wall, once more sitting at his laptop that he brought with him to work with as Shuichi learned to walk once more in his life. Shuichi stared at him for a second, ignoring Tohma as he leaned forward, blocking Eiri’s vision. “Eie! When we get back home, you have to show me where the book you were reading is, I have to finish it!”

Eiri pushed the pink haired boy back, not staring up as Tohma caught the pink haired boy, cuddling Shuichi as fake tears rolled his eyes. “Number one, it’s my, not just home. Number two, if you want to finish read that, then leave me the hell alone so I can at least finish it!” He glared up from his laptop at the boy whose face turned from played sadness to excitement.

“Seguchi-san! Did you hear that, he read me his new book! I’m the first one who got to read it!” The boy quirked up, and only Tohma caught the smile that drifted from Eiri’s face.

“Seems you two are doing well.” Tohma smiled. “Anyway, just hear to make sure Shuichi is ready to go home, and that Eiri-san is being nice to him.” He rubbed the boy’s head before walking out of the room, leaving Shuichi to once more be scowled by the doctor about not using his crutch properly.

After a while, the doctor left, leaving Shuichi and Eiri to talk before the boy could be released. For once, Shuichi sat quietly on the ground, warn out from his work-out with the crutch, eyes staying on Eiri the whole time as the man finished another chapter. “You should surprise you readers,” the pink haired boy finally said, causing Eiri to lift a brow.

“I’ve done that before.” He stared back down. “Isn’t my style.”

Shuichi stared up, casually watching the clouds just outside the room’s window. “No, lead them to believe your story is going to end just like all the rest, that she’ll commit suicide just ‘cause her boyfriend left her, but instead she finds the man of her dreams…or woman, whatever. She seems more to be happy with another woman.” Shuichi didn’t stare back to Eiri as the man gave a uncaring snort. There was the Eiri Shuichi loved, the one that was teaching him a new language – caveman grunts. One grunt for sure, two for ‘get the hell out of here’. Just one meant a good thing.

“Like I’m going to take story advice from a third-grade writer like you?” Eiri muttered, continuing to type, but a smile formed his lips as he heard Shuichi give a stubborn pout. He had to admit, perhaps the pink haired fool was right, the idea did have a certain ring to it. Of course, Eiri didn’t see Shuichi actually going through his promise and reading this book, so maybe it was safe. Staring at the boy, Eiri smirked, perfect idea indeed.

And it was, with Shuichi’s choose in his story ending – making it end happily, made the novel best known – only because, it had a piece of Eiri’s personal life, Shuichi Shindou.