A Place To Call Home Part 5
“E-Eh? Really?!” Yuto jumped up and down at hearing the news.
“Yep, they say that with a few therapeutic treatments, your father will be good as new!” Keito cheered, pumping his fist into the air.
“Kyyaaa~” Yuto jumped and hugged his boyfriend
“I thought that was something that girls do…” Keito sounded confused
“….hush….” Yuto gave him a sarcastic look before his face brightened up and kissed the STILL confused Keito.
“Anyway…. I pulled some strings, and I’ve gotten your father into a private clinic near the address your mother gave me. They will be leaving later this afternoon…”
“W-What!? Why so soon!?”
“Your father said that he didn’t want you to see him this way, and that as soon as he was better he would come and visit. Sasaki has given him the address, and our phone number, and I believe Yuya gave you a phone right? I gave him the number to that one as well.” Keito nodded as he patted the Yuto’s back.
“But… I never got to talk to him….”
“Yuto…. He will get better, he will come back and see you… I know it…” Keito comforted the boy.
“Un… Arigatou… Keito” Yuto nodded, taking comfort in the words.
The news came early in the morning, as the boys were leaving the hospital to return home. Keito had to pull Yuto away from the bench outside his father’s room with the promise that they would come back later during the day.
“Keito… what am I going to do now?” Yuto asked abruptly as the car pulled into the driveway of the Okamoto estate.
“Do? About what?”
“Now that my parents are here… I mean…. I can’t always stay here with you… you know?”
“No… I don't know… and why can’t you stay here with me? You did promise me that you’d stay with me didn't you?” Keito stopped dead in his tracks and watched the skinny boy walk beside him and for a brief moment their eyes met.
“I did… but I still don’t want to be a burden on you…I mean look at what happened… because of me… you ended up in the hospital, and then just a short while after that, I’m making you take care of my father….” Yuto looked ashamed at his inability to do anything more than take Keito’s charity.
“You’re not making me do anything… and you didn’t cause any of that…you’ll never be a burden to me Yuto, never. How many times do I have to say it, how many ways? YOU are the one that I love Nakajima Yuto, only YOU.” Keito smiled as he hugged his boyfriend.
“Now I want you to promise me, that you’ll never think that way again.”
“But-“
“Hey… I went into the hospital for you…least you could do is promise…”
“A….Ah… okay…. I promise….” Yuto stuttered as Keito kissed him lightly on the cheek and walked into the house.
“H-Hey! Wait a minute, you just said that wasn’t my fault!” Yuto jumped realizing what Keito had just said.
“Doesn’t matter you promised~” Keito sang loudly as he walked towards his room.
“Mou……” The skinny boy pouted as he walked towards his room and shut the door. He leaned back and stared at the ceiling, it was truly a strange twist of fate wasn't it? A mysterious boy getting out of his car one day, finding him and bringing him back to his house, and now…. Well now… this.
“Ahh…. I’m so confused…..”
“Young master Yuto? Keito-sama has sent me to inform you that your father has been sent off to the clinic, your mother has gone with him.”
“A-Arigatou.. Sasaki.” Yuto sat up. As soon as the sound of the door closing hit his ears, Yuto laid down on the bed again, letting his mind wander. He thought about just what it was that he was doing here… he thought about what he would do with himself… but mostly, he thought about Keito….
His thoughts drifted around his mind, swirling around in a blur as he let the thoughts lull him to sleep.
“Yuuuu-Chan!” Yuto jerked awake as he felt a sudden motion on his bed. He woke up to find Ryutaro and Chinen on the bed, pouncing up and down on him.
“A-Ah-Chinen… Ryutaro!?” He sat up suddenly feeling wide awake
“Yahh! We all came over to visit and we thought we’d come get you.” They smiled in unison as Yuto sighed in relief and with a few reassuring breaths smiled and nodded. Together the three of them walked towards the main sitting area.
“Hello… Minna.” Yuto greeted them all and immediately he felt arms wrap around his waist.
“Wake up already sleepyhead?” Keito’s voice sounded out as the boy put his chin on Yuto’s shoulder.
“Hai..”
“Awe….. aren’t they cute!” Hikaru asked in a cutesy tone of voice.
“Very… “ Yamada nodded as he walked towards the couch and sat down.
“Soooo…… What’s going on today…?”
“Nothing really… we don’t have any plans… but for obvious reasons, Keito, your house seems to be the more entertaining place to be recently…” Inoo said, not taking his eyes off the book he was reading.
“Ya know… you could stand to look at us when you’re talking…” Takaki complained
“Why?” Kei lowered the book until his sharp brown eyes were staring at his friend.
“N-Nevermind… keep reading…” Yuto chuckled as Takaki pointed to Inoo and mouthed the word “scaryyy” to him.
“I think…. We should just spend a nice day out…. It’s cool outside, and I think a picnic would do us good!” Chinen jumped
“Yah! A picnic!” Ryutaro nodded
“That does… sound rather nice….” Yabu agreed
“Well then, shall we have ourselves a little picnic?” Daiki asked as everyone in the room nodded.
The next few moments seemed to be a blur to Yuto as the boys shuffled past him, throwing things he had never seen before into a basket and then throwing their compiled baskets into the car.
“Leeeeets gooo!” Takaki Cheered as he literally jumped into the car.
“Wheeeee~” Yamada hopped in afterwards.
“Ne…. you’d better take this jacket, it’s going to be windy today…” Keito surprised Yuto as he put a jacket around the boy’s thin shoulders.
“Arigatou..” Yuto smiled as they shared a small kiss before entering the car themselves.
“Fuaaaahh It’s so nice out!” Hikaru spread his arms out to the open air as the sounds of children playing reached his ears..
“Mmmm it is isn’t it!” Daiki smiled, doing the same.
“Hey lovebirds, you coming or did you come to the park to sit in the car?” Yabu teased as Yuto and Keito slowly climbed out. They had spent the better part of the drive there in each other’s arms, staring nervously at each other. It seemed that this was the first time that they actually spent as a couple. The thought scared both of them, either side being too afraid to do anything that might be construed as taking things “too fast”.
Together the boys set up the picnic, a simple large sheet on the ground with a small portable table in the center that held different foods. When they finished, they all took a step back and admired their work.
“Foooods ready!”
“ITADAKIMASUU!” The boys chimed together as they dove into the small pile.
“Arent you hungry?” Keito asked as he noticed Yuto hadn’t moved.
“mmh” Yuto shook his head.
“Me neither…” With that the older boy walked over and slid his arms around the thin boy’s waist and smiled as he put his chin on his shoulders and with a slight turn of his head kissed him.
“So long as I have you, I don't need anything else.” He said.
“You’re being corny…” Yuto giggled.
“Oh the lovebirds are at it again….” Takaki rolled his eyes
“Well… it is the first time that they’ve been able to really enjoy being a couple…. it seems that every time they have any sort of opportunity to be alone, something happens.” Inoo said as he viciously took a bite of his sandwich.
“You know, Inoo-Chan, for someone who is so dignified normally, when food comes, all that just goes out the window doesn't it?” Ryutaro teased.
“Hush….”
Yuto and Keito lay on a small corner of the picnic sheet and they were contently gazing at the sky above.
“Yuto… I’m so happy… just being here with you….” Keito sighed contently, pulling his boyfriend into his body.
“I’m so happy to be with you too…. “ Yuto replied softly, his body shivered as a sudden gust brushed through him, and he buried himself in Keito’s warmth. It felt so nice, being in his arms. It was a strange kind of warmth that he had never experienced before, but he knew he loved it, he knew he loved him.
“Keito…”
“Hm?”
“I… love you…” Yuto whispered gently as he snuggled against the boy’s firm chest, he heard the heart contained within beat faster as the words sunk in.
“I love you too…..”
With that the pair smiled to each other in a mutual understanding. Slowly their eyes closed as they warmth lulled them to sleep. The subtle scent of the fresh tea that Inoo was brewing, the stronger smell of the meat that Yabu was barbequing, all of it came and playfully danced around the boys. It was nice, it was peaceful, for once.
“They make a cute couple don't you think?” Daiki asked, watching his two friends doze off together.
“Yeah… Yuto is a very special boy… there’s something about him… you know?” Chinen nodded
“Whatever it is, Keito found it before us……” Yabu sighed as he sat down, adding more meat to the platter.
As they watched, Yuto’s sleeping face smiled gently as he turned and his head nestled into Keito’s neck.
“Awe……..” The other eight boys cooed in unison, giggling slightly at the sight.
“Ohkay guys, stop oogling them and let’s finish cooking the rest of the stuff….” Ryutaro tugged on Yabu, pulling him back to the small portable grill.
‘It’s so warm… I’ve never felt this way before…why? Is it his smile? Is it the way he’s holding me? I don’t want to be alone anymore, I always want this warmth… I want this feeling….to last forever….’ Yuto thought as his mind drifted off into a peaceful sleep.
The picnic continued well into the afternoon, the sun in the sky had dropped below the horizon, giving its last few glorious rays. The sky was tinted a beautiful orange and Yuto and Keito spent the time in each other’s arms, their eyes closed, smiling with a gentle understanding that they had found something more beautiful than the setting sun.
“It’s time to go home guys!” Yabu called out to the other boys as he put away the grill he had just wiped clean.
“Is that everything?” Hikaru asked as Yamada and Inoo counted.
“Ah Ahh!” Ryutaro yelled as a sudden wind blew the paper plates he had been packing off the table and into the air. Immediately the other boys laughed as they hopped up and down trying to catch the dancing plates.
“I got two!” Yabu called
“Just cause you’re tall…I got 1….” Chinen pouted.
“I’ll get those three!” Yuto yelled excitedly, the first time he had ever felt so cheerful. Perhaps the picnic had done him some good….
Yuto ran off towards the small patch of woods in the center of the park, jumping every so often, failing to snatch the plates. It wasn't until he had gotten to the small shack on the outskirts of the trees that the plates had finally grown tired of their game and fallen to the ground with the dying winds.
“Ahh… you stupid plates.. make me run all the way over here…” Yuto panted as he smiled jokingly and picked them up.
“Hey… you..” Someone came up behind Yuto.
“E-Eh?”
“Are you Nakajima Yuto?” The large man asked
“Y-Yes?”
“Good.” The last thing Yuto felt was the feeling of something jabbing into his back, before his entire body fell to the ground and he blacked out.
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“Unh!” Keito gasped as a sudden pain struck him.
“What’s wrong?” Chinen asked as he watched his friend kneel down on the ground to compose himself.
“I don't know… something’s… wrong…” Keito’s eyes widened as somewhere in his mind he felt the answer. Anxiously he looked around for Yuto, finding only the green grasses taunting him in his search.
“Y-Yuto!?” Keito yelled as he looked in the direction he had run.
“Yuto!” He called again.
“Yuto…” He gasped as he ran towards the woods and saw the plates that Yuto had gone to get laying on the ground, the boy nowhere in sight.
“Yuto!” He cried as he knelt down
“Why… why again…..? Every time… we finally have our time, something happens… something….” Keito sobbed as the other eight boys crowded around him.
“It looks like…. Someone’s taken him….” Inoo pointed to the grass that had been trampled by shoes and the faint outline of a body being dragged along it.
“Probably using this….” Daiki picked up a small disposable syringe in the grasses near the trashcan.
“Keito… I promise you….. we’ll get Yuto back, we’ve done it before right?” Yabu comforted his fallen friend.
“It’s not fair…. It’s not fair….. every time…. “
“I know.. I know…”
“Is it that hard? For destiny to leave us alone? Am I supposed to just meet him and then lose him every time?”
“No… you’ve got to stop thinking like that… “ Yabu sighed as he held Keito in a gentle embrace and let him cry into his shoulders.
“Love is full of hurdles, but the prize at the end makes it all worth it.” Inoo knelt down and put his hand on Keito’s back, gently rubbing it up and down.
“It only means, that when all this is over, you and Yuto will be even stronger, you two will be inseparable.” He smiled weakly.
Yabu escorted Keito back to the car and nodded to the other boys.
“I’ll take him home first, you guys see what you can find and I’ll be back.” He waved as Sasaki bowed his head solemnly and drove off.
As the boys took to looking, Daiki grabbed Ryosuke’s hand and turned to look at him.
“I know who did it…”
“E-Eh!?”
“I know who did it, but you aren’t going to like it….”
“How?”
“This needle, see the little crest on the end? it’s a trademark of the recent kidnappings, you know the one with the brother and sister who were kidnapped, and found a month later dead in and old factory?” Daiki turned and looked at the nearby roads.
“W-Weren’t they… abused before they died….?” Ryutaro gulped as he received a nod.
“We can’t let happen….”
“We must find him…”
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Meanwhie, Yuto lay on the cold stone floor in a dark room, the our source of light being a small window in the door. It was hot and humid as he felt the sweat drench his body. The last few hours had been excruciating, even now, his bones still tingled with the feeling of electricity running through him. Every move felt as if a thousand dull needles were poking at his muscles.
“Nnnh…” Yuto whimpered as he mustered only enough strength to set upright against a wall in the darkness, the only cool place in what looked to be a little rundown shack.
“Keito….” He whispered as he put his head into his arms, as he thought about the boy that had helped him withstand the torture he had just been through, a sudden pain shot through his head.
“Arrgh!” He groaned, clutching his head. The very thought that used to comfort him, seemed to bring nothing but pain now, as he remembered the sensations of the electricity along his skin.
“I don’t want to forget….”
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“Keito?”
“Hi…” Keito lay on his bed, he hadn’t moved for the last two days.
“Keito, you cant just sit here like this…. it’s been two days already. We’re all looking for him, we’ll find him soon…”
“I hope…..”
“Keito…” Yamada sighed, looking at his defeated friend.
“No luck….”
“Well… Yama-chan didn't have any luck…. Whos next?” Yabu asked. Since Yuto’s disappearance, the other boys had taken to staying at the Okamoto mansion. Everyday they’d visit Keito in his room. Sometimes, late at night they would wake up to the sound of his lonely cries and pray for him.
“Guys…. It’s been two days already, Dai-Chan’s people haven’t been able to find him… and the police force under my parents haven’t been able to find him either…”
“Ryosuke… you mustn’t be so easily defeated, for Keito’s sake we have to be strong.” Inoo sighed as he put his book down.
“Inoo-Chan, what are we going to do…… ?” Hikaru asked, the dreary mood of the manor kept dragging him down.
“I just really…. I want for him to be happy…” Daiki sighed
“You’re just like a big brother aren’t you?”
“Eh?” Daiki looked confused at Takaki’s question.
“He does owe Keito a bit doesn't he?” Ryutaro interjected
“Yes…. A lot….” Chinen nodded
“Hey hey hey, we aren’t talking about me!” Daiki jumped up
“Oh? I hadn’t heard this story yet….” Hikaru sat up, anxiously awaiting for someone to tell him what they were talking about.
“Really… ? Well, a few years ago….” Inoo began.
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“Young male, about 14, severe bruising along the ribcage, possible fractured rib and concussion. Major blood loss and patient is drifting in and out of consciousness.” A EMT dressed in white called into the radio.
“This is Kitou Hospital, we do not have the resources necessary to treat a critical care patient like that, we are sorry….” The radio responded
“We have to take him to the Okamoto’s hospital, they should be able to do something about him…” The driver yelled as the EMT nodded.
Daiki could remember the feeling, his body was broken in so many places, the pain wasn’t so bad when he drifted in and out of consciousness. He remembered as they arrived at the hospital, the Okamoto’s hospital. There happened to be a boy there, standing at the door to the Ambulance. He smiled at him, when others would have recoiled in horror at the bloody mess that he had become.
“Young master Okamoto, we have to take this patient inside, excuse us.” The EMT bowed as he took the stretcher Daiki was on and pulled it out. He remembered being wheeled down the pristine white hallways.
“We don’t know if this boy has any insurance… we cannot provide any treatment, until we receive that and his medical records.” A doctor said as they wheeled him into the room.
“But he’ll die if we let this go on too much longer! We’ve already been routed away from two other hospitals.!”
“We cannot treat him!” The doctor shook his head.
“Sasaki… onegai…” Keito turned as the younger Sasaki smiled and nodded. With a stride the two of them walked up as the doctor and EMT backed away. In an instant Sasaki began to rip the bloodstained clothes from the body and as the cool air touched his chest, Daiki gasped, his eyes widening. The man worked with the utmost of grace and ease, Daiki could barely feel anything as he tended to his head.
“Does this hurt?” Sasaki asked, putting gentle pressure on Daiki’s abdomen. The boy gasped and nodded, unable to catch his breath.
“It’ll be okay….” Keito smiled at him and for that moment, Daiki believed him.
“This boy’s care will be taken care of by Keito-Sama, begin to prep an OR for emergency trauma treatment. I have already prepared the concussion and he is stable. We will have Keito-Sama’s doctor reset the fractured ribs and do any other procedures necessary.” Sasaki turned to the doctor who nodded and scurried out of the room.
“My name is Keito… what’s yours?” Keito asked, his eyes still shining brightly in the white room.
“Dai..ki…”
“Nice to meet you…” Keito put his hand on Daiki’s hand and gave him a gentle squeeze
“You’ll be okay…” He repeated as an orderly came to wheeled Daiki away.
“Keito….”
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“And when Dai-Chan here woke up, Keito was there to see him and from then on… it was history.” Inoo finished his tale.
“Ahhh So that’s why you’re so… protective of him! Because he saved your life!” Hikaru grinned as Chinen and Ryutaro nodded knowingly behind him.
“Keito has a habit of picking up friends from people who are down on their luck ne~” Yabu sighed.
“What happened to you anyway?” Inoo asked, curious.
“It was… stupid. I got into a fight with some men…. And thinking I could take them on…you know… it was before I took self-defense lessons and all that…” Daiki brushed off the question.
“What are we sitting here for?! We have a missing friend to find!” Yamada cheered, trying to change the mood.
“Yeah! I think…. We should talk to all of Yuto’s old connections, maybe they’ll know someone who would do something like this to him.” Daiki agreed, happy that someone had changed the focus.
The boys visited place after place upon Sasaki’s suggestions. They visited the small alleyway where Keito had first met Yuto, and the owner of the public bath shook his head and looked on in horror as they explained the situation to him. The owner of the small restaurant shook his head as well adding only that he knew Yuto had a bit of debt on his head.
“Debt?” Chinen asked
“Yeah, poor kid… the money wasn't even his…. His adoptive parents took out money from some shady people and put his life on the line as collateral… I tried my best to keep him here in the alley, where we could keep an eye on him, me and Matsu-San, the owner of the baths I mean….” The man shook his head and sighed as he turned back to his restaurant.
“Would you boys like to come in for dinner? It’s dark already.”
“Ah… it’s okay…really….”
“It’s okay, any friends of Yuto are welcome, my treat… it’s nothing fancy mind you..” The man smiled as he held the door open and the boys realizing that searching in the pitch black of night wouldn’t do them any good…. Agreed.
“Let me make dinner for you Iba-San, I’ll make a few dishes if you’ll provide the ingredients, you’ve worked a full day already….” Daiki smiled as he walked over to the kitchen and picked up a knife. The man smiled and nodded and immediately Daiki set to work.
“Wow… that friend of yours… he seems to be very skilled in the kitchen doesn't he?”
“Naturally… his family owns a chain of restaurants….” Ryutaro nodded as he they all sat and watched Daiki cutting vegetables with speed.
“Eh? Really? What was his name again?” The man asked
“Arioka… Arioka Daiki.” Yabu replied sitting down behind the two.
“EH!? You don't mean…. THOSE Arioka? The ones that own the entire chain of…..” His voice got softer and softer as the other boys nodded and his eyes widened as he turned to watch the boy in the kitchen throw vegetables into a pan as a great eruption of fire came and the smells of gourmet food began to waft through the air.
“Tada!” Daiki cheered as he presented five big plates of rice, noodles, vegetables and meats.
“Whee~ Its not everyday that Dai-Chan cooks for us ne~” Hikaru teased poking Daiki in the side.
“Ah! Heeeey~” The boy smiled weakly as he looked down at the fruits of his labor. He had been thinking about Yuto the entire time, worried if he had anything to eat. He had been thinking about Keito, worried if had anymore will to live….
“It’s frustrating you know….” Daiki whispered, and immediately the room quieted.
“Dai-Chan?” Chinen looked concerned
“It’s frustrating… with however much money or power we have, we can’t stop things like this…. things from taking the people we love… “
The rest of the night was spent quietly sitting in the small restaurant, absent-mindedly eating before the boys left and returned to find everything as they had left it in Okamoto Manor. Keito hadn’t left his room and he lay there, in silence, his skin pale and his body frail from days of not eating.
“Keito..” Yabu sighed
“We’re sorry…” Ryutaro frowned as the other boys sat on his bed and looked at their friend.
“It’s… not.. your fault…” Keito sunk further into his bed.
“Still.. we’re sorry…..” Yamada put his head on Keito’s leg as the other boys hugged him and together they fell asleep for the night, occasionally waking up to Keito’s mumblings in the night. Their hearts cringed as he begged an invisible hand not to take Yuto away, and tears formed every time they looked at the pained expressions on his face.
“I promise you…. We’ll find him…..” Daiki whispered as he stood up and gazed at the night sky.
“We’ll find him, so long as we’re under the same sky…I owe it to you Keito… to make you happy….”
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Omg I’m sorry it’s been so long… I’m still getting into my writing groove…. Gomenasai…. I wrote this in like SO MANY parts… so it might be a bit…… crazy.. disjointed…. I’ll make it up to you! T_T
~Emmie
“Yep, they say that with a few therapeutic treatments, your father will be good as new!” Keito cheered, pumping his fist into the air.
“Kyyaaa~” Yuto jumped and hugged his boyfriend
“I thought that was something that girls do…” Keito sounded confused
“….hush….” Yuto gave him a sarcastic look before his face brightened up and kissed the STILL confused Keito.
“Anyway…. I pulled some strings, and I’ve gotten your father into a private clinic near the address your mother gave me. They will be leaving later this afternoon…”
“W-What!? Why so soon!?”
“Your father said that he didn’t want you to see him this way, and that as soon as he was better he would come and visit. Sasaki has given him the address, and our phone number, and I believe Yuya gave you a phone right? I gave him the number to that one as well.” Keito nodded as he patted the Yuto’s back.
“But… I never got to talk to him….”
“Yuto…. He will get better, he will come back and see you… I know it…” Keito comforted the boy.
“Un… Arigatou… Keito” Yuto nodded, taking comfort in the words.
The news came early in the morning, as the boys were leaving the hospital to return home. Keito had to pull Yuto away from the bench outside his father’s room with the promise that they would come back later during the day.
“Keito… what am I going to do now?” Yuto asked abruptly as the car pulled into the driveway of the Okamoto estate.
“Do? About what?”
“Now that my parents are here… I mean…. I can’t always stay here with you… you know?”
“No… I don't know… and why can’t you stay here with me? You did promise me that you’d stay with me didn't you?” Keito stopped dead in his tracks and watched the skinny boy walk beside him and for a brief moment their eyes met.
“I did… but I still don’t want to be a burden on you…I mean look at what happened… because of me… you ended up in the hospital, and then just a short while after that, I’m making you take care of my father….” Yuto looked ashamed at his inability to do anything more than take Keito’s charity.
“You’re not making me do anything… and you didn’t cause any of that…you’ll never be a burden to me Yuto, never. How many times do I have to say it, how many ways? YOU are the one that I love Nakajima Yuto, only YOU.” Keito smiled as he hugged his boyfriend.
“Now I want you to promise me, that you’ll never think that way again.”
“But-“
“Hey… I went into the hospital for you…least you could do is promise…”
“A….Ah… okay…. I promise….” Yuto stuttered as Keito kissed him lightly on the cheek and walked into the house.
“H-Hey! Wait a minute, you just said that wasn’t my fault!” Yuto jumped realizing what Keito had just said.
“Doesn’t matter you promised~” Keito sang loudly as he walked towards his room.
“Mou……” The skinny boy pouted as he walked towards his room and shut the door. He leaned back and stared at the ceiling, it was truly a strange twist of fate wasn't it? A mysterious boy getting out of his car one day, finding him and bringing him back to his house, and now…. Well now… this.
“Ahh…. I’m so confused…..”
“Young master Yuto? Keito-sama has sent me to inform you that your father has been sent off to the clinic, your mother has gone with him.”
“A-Arigatou.. Sasaki.” Yuto sat up. As soon as the sound of the door closing hit his ears, Yuto laid down on the bed again, letting his mind wander. He thought about just what it was that he was doing here… he thought about what he would do with himself… but mostly, he thought about Keito….
His thoughts drifted around his mind, swirling around in a blur as he let the thoughts lull him to sleep.
“Yuuuu-Chan!” Yuto jerked awake as he felt a sudden motion on his bed. He woke up to find Ryutaro and Chinen on the bed, pouncing up and down on him.
“A-Ah-Chinen… Ryutaro!?” He sat up suddenly feeling wide awake
“Yahh! We all came over to visit and we thought we’d come get you.” They smiled in unison as Yuto sighed in relief and with a few reassuring breaths smiled and nodded. Together the three of them walked towards the main sitting area.
“Hello… Minna.” Yuto greeted them all and immediately he felt arms wrap around his waist.
“Wake up already sleepyhead?” Keito’s voice sounded out as the boy put his chin on Yuto’s shoulder.
“Hai..”
“Awe….. aren’t they cute!” Hikaru asked in a cutesy tone of voice.
“Very… “ Yamada nodded as he walked towards the couch and sat down.
“Soooo…… What’s going on today…?”
“Nothing really… we don’t have any plans… but for obvious reasons, Keito, your house seems to be the more entertaining place to be recently…” Inoo said, not taking his eyes off the book he was reading.
“Ya know… you could stand to look at us when you’re talking…” Takaki complained
“Why?” Kei lowered the book until his sharp brown eyes were staring at his friend.
“N-Nevermind… keep reading…” Yuto chuckled as Takaki pointed to Inoo and mouthed the word “scaryyy” to him.
“I think…. We should just spend a nice day out…. It’s cool outside, and I think a picnic would do us good!” Chinen jumped
“Yah! A picnic!” Ryutaro nodded
“That does… sound rather nice….” Yabu agreed
“Well then, shall we have ourselves a little picnic?” Daiki asked as everyone in the room nodded.
The next few moments seemed to be a blur to Yuto as the boys shuffled past him, throwing things he had never seen before into a basket and then throwing their compiled baskets into the car.
“Leeeeets gooo!” Takaki Cheered as he literally jumped into the car.
“Wheeeee~” Yamada hopped in afterwards.
“Ne…. you’d better take this jacket, it’s going to be windy today…” Keito surprised Yuto as he put a jacket around the boy’s thin shoulders.
“Arigatou..” Yuto smiled as they shared a small kiss before entering the car themselves.
“Fuaaaahh It’s so nice out!” Hikaru spread his arms out to the open air as the sounds of children playing reached his ears..
“Mmmm it is isn’t it!” Daiki smiled, doing the same.
“Hey lovebirds, you coming or did you come to the park to sit in the car?” Yabu teased as Yuto and Keito slowly climbed out. They had spent the better part of the drive there in each other’s arms, staring nervously at each other. It seemed that this was the first time that they actually spent as a couple. The thought scared both of them, either side being too afraid to do anything that might be construed as taking things “too fast”.
Together the boys set up the picnic, a simple large sheet on the ground with a small portable table in the center that held different foods. When they finished, they all took a step back and admired their work.
“Foooods ready!”
“ITADAKIMASUU!” The boys chimed together as they dove into the small pile.
“Arent you hungry?” Keito asked as he noticed Yuto hadn’t moved.
“mmh” Yuto shook his head.
“Me neither…” With that the older boy walked over and slid his arms around the thin boy’s waist and smiled as he put his chin on his shoulders and with a slight turn of his head kissed him.
“So long as I have you, I don't need anything else.” He said.
“You’re being corny…” Yuto giggled.
“Oh the lovebirds are at it again….” Takaki rolled his eyes
“Well… it is the first time that they’ve been able to really enjoy being a couple…. it seems that every time they have any sort of opportunity to be alone, something happens.” Inoo said as he viciously took a bite of his sandwich.
“You know, Inoo-Chan, for someone who is so dignified normally, when food comes, all that just goes out the window doesn't it?” Ryutaro teased.
“Hush….”
Yuto and Keito lay on a small corner of the picnic sheet and they were contently gazing at the sky above.
“Yuto… I’m so happy… just being here with you….” Keito sighed contently, pulling his boyfriend into his body.
“I’m so happy to be with you too…. “ Yuto replied softly, his body shivered as a sudden gust brushed through him, and he buried himself in Keito’s warmth. It felt so nice, being in his arms. It was a strange kind of warmth that he had never experienced before, but he knew he loved it, he knew he loved him.
“Keito…”
“Hm?”
“I… love you…” Yuto whispered gently as he snuggled against the boy’s firm chest, he heard the heart contained within beat faster as the words sunk in.
“I love you too…..”
With that the pair smiled to each other in a mutual understanding. Slowly their eyes closed as they warmth lulled them to sleep. The subtle scent of the fresh tea that Inoo was brewing, the stronger smell of the meat that Yabu was barbequing, all of it came and playfully danced around the boys. It was nice, it was peaceful, for once.
“They make a cute couple don't you think?” Daiki asked, watching his two friends doze off together.
“Yeah… Yuto is a very special boy… there’s something about him… you know?” Chinen nodded
“Whatever it is, Keito found it before us……” Yabu sighed as he sat down, adding more meat to the platter.
As they watched, Yuto’s sleeping face smiled gently as he turned and his head nestled into Keito’s neck.
“Awe……..” The other eight boys cooed in unison, giggling slightly at the sight.
“Ohkay guys, stop oogling them and let’s finish cooking the rest of the stuff….” Ryutaro tugged on Yabu, pulling him back to the small portable grill.
‘It’s so warm… I’ve never felt this way before…why? Is it his smile? Is it the way he’s holding me? I don’t want to be alone anymore, I always want this warmth… I want this feeling….to last forever….’ Yuto thought as his mind drifted off into a peaceful sleep.
The picnic continued well into the afternoon, the sun in the sky had dropped below the horizon, giving its last few glorious rays. The sky was tinted a beautiful orange and Yuto and Keito spent the time in each other’s arms, their eyes closed, smiling with a gentle understanding that they had found something more beautiful than the setting sun.
“It’s time to go home guys!” Yabu called out to the other boys as he put away the grill he had just wiped clean.
“Is that everything?” Hikaru asked as Yamada and Inoo counted.
“Ah Ahh!” Ryutaro yelled as a sudden wind blew the paper plates he had been packing off the table and into the air. Immediately the other boys laughed as they hopped up and down trying to catch the dancing plates.
“I got two!” Yabu called
“Just cause you’re tall…I got 1….” Chinen pouted.
“I’ll get those three!” Yuto yelled excitedly, the first time he had ever felt so cheerful. Perhaps the picnic had done him some good….
Yuto ran off towards the small patch of woods in the center of the park, jumping every so often, failing to snatch the plates. It wasn't until he had gotten to the small shack on the outskirts of the trees that the plates had finally grown tired of their game and fallen to the ground with the dying winds.
“Ahh… you stupid plates.. make me run all the way over here…” Yuto panted as he smiled jokingly and picked them up.
“Hey… you..” Someone came up behind Yuto.
“E-Eh?”
“Are you Nakajima Yuto?” The large man asked
“Y-Yes?”
“Good.” The last thing Yuto felt was the feeling of something jabbing into his back, before his entire body fell to the ground and he blacked out.
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“Unh!” Keito gasped as a sudden pain struck him.
“What’s wrong?” Chinen asked as he watched his friend kneel down on the ground to compose himself.
“I don't know… something’s… wrong…” Keito’s eyes widened as somewhere in his mind he felt the answer. Anxiously he looked around for Yuto, finding only the green grasses taunting him in his search.
“Y-Yuto!?” Keito yelled as he looked in the direction he had run.
“Yuto!” He called again.
“Yuto…” He gasped as he ran towards the woods and saw the plates that Yuto had gone to get laying on the ground, the boy nowhere in sight.
“Yuto!” He cried as he knelt down
“Why… why again…..? Every time… we finally have our time, something happens… something….” Keito sobbed as the other eight boys crowded around him.
“It looks like…. Someone’s taken him….” Inoo pointed to the grass that had been trampled by shoes and the faint outline of a body being dragged along it.
“Probably using this….” Daiki picked up a small disposable syringe in the grasses near the trashcan.
“Keito… I promise you….. we’ll get Yuto back, we’ve done it before right?” Yabu comforted his fallen friend.
“It’s not fair…. It’s not fair….. every time…. “
“I know.. I know…”
“Is it that hard? For destiny to leave us alone? Am I supposed to just meet him and then lose him every time?”
“No… you’ve got to stop thinking like that… “ Yabu sighed as he held Keito in a gentle embrace and let him cry into his shoulders.
“Love is full of hurdles, but the prize at the end makes it all worth it.” Inoo knelt down and put his hand on Keito’s back, gently rubbing it up and down.
“It only means, that when all this is over, you and Yuto will be even stronger, you two will be inseparable.” He smiled weakly.
Yabu escorted Keito back to the car and nodded to the other boys.
“I’ll take him home first, you guys see what you can find and I’ll be back.” He waved as Sasaki bowed his head solemnly and drove off.
As the boys took to looking, Daiki grabbed Ryosuke’s hand and turned to look at him.
“I know who did it…”
“E-Eh!?”
“I know who did it, but you aren’t going to like it….”
“How?”
“This needle, see the little crest on the end? it’s a trademark of the recent kidnappings, you know the one with the brother and sister who were kidnapped, and found a month later dead in and old factory?” Daiki turned and looked at the nearby roads.
“W-Weren’t they… abused before they died….?” Ryutaro gulped as he received a nod.
“We can’t let happen….”
“We must find him…”
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Meanwhie, Yuto lay on the cold stone floor in a dark room, the our source of light being a small window in the door. It was hot and humid as he felt the sweat drench his body. The last few hours had been excruciating, even now, his bones still tingled with the feeling of electricity running through him. Every move felt as if a thousand dull needles were poking at his muscles.
“Nnnh…” Yuto whimpered as he mustered only enough strength to set upright against a wall in the darkness, the only cool place in what looked to be a little rundown shack.
“Keito….” He whispered as he put his head into his arms, as he thought about the boy that had helped him withstand the torture he had just been through, a sudden pain shot through his head.
“Arrgh!” He groaned, clutching his head. The very thought that used to comfort him, seemed to bring nothing but pain now, as he remembered the sensations of the electricity along his skin.
“I don’t want to forget….”
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“Keito?”
“Hi…” Keito lay on his bed, he hadn’t moved for the last two days.
“Keito, you cant just sit here like this…. it’s been two days already. We’re all looking for him, we’ll find him soon…”
“I hope…..”
“Keito…” Yamada sighed, looking at his defeated friend.
“No luck….”
“Well… Yama-chan didn't have any luck…. Whos next?” Yabu asked. Since Yuto’s disappearance, the other boys had taken to staying at the Okamoto mansion. Everyday they’d visit Keito in his room. Sometimes, late at night they would wake up to the sound of his lonely cries and pray for him.
“Guys…. It’s been two days already, Dai-Chan’s people haven’t been able to find him… and the police force under my parents haven’t been able to find him either…”
“Ryosuke… you mustn’t be so easily defeated, for Keito’s sake we have to be strong.” Inoo sighed as he put his book down.
“Inoo-Chan, what are we going to do…… ?” Hikaru asked, the dreary mood of the manor kept dragging him down.
“I just really…. I want for him to be happy…” Daiki sighed
“You’re just like a big brother aren’t you?”
“Eh?” Daiki looked confused at Takaki’s question.
“He does owe Keito a bit doesn't he?” Ryutaro interjected
“Yes…. A lot….” Chinen nodded
“Hey hey hey, we aren’t talking about me!” Daiki jumped up
“Oh? I hadn’t heard this story yet….” Hikaru sat up, anxiously awaiting for someone to tell him what they were talking about.
“Really… ? Well, a few years ago….” Inoo began.
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“Young male, about 14, severe bruising along the ribcage, possible fractured rib and concussion. Major blood loss and patient is drifting in and out of consciousness.” A EMT dressed in white called into the radio.
“This is Kitou Hospital, we do not have the resources necessary to treat a critical care patient like that, we are sorry….” The radio responded
“We have to take him to the Okamoto’s hospital, they should be able to do something about him…” The driver yelled as the EMT nodded.
Daiki could remember the feeling, his body was broken in so many places, the pain wasn’t so bad when he drifted in and out of consciousness. He remembered as they arrived at the hospital, the Okamoto’s hospital. There happened to be a boy there, standing at the door to the Ambulance. He smiled at him, when others would have recoiled in horror at the bloody mess that he had become.
“Young master Okamoto, we have to take this patient inside, excuse us.” The EMT bowed as he took the stretcher Daiki was on and pulled it out. He remembered being wheeled down the pristine white hallways.
“We don’t know if this boy has any insurance… we cannot provide any treatment, until we receive that and his medical records.” A doctor said as they wheeled him into the room.
“But he’ll die if we let this go on too much longer! We’ve already been routed away from two other hospitals.!”
“We cannot treat him!” The doctor shook his head.
“Sasaki… onegai…” Keito turned as the younger Sasaki smiled and nodded. With a stride the two of them walked up as the doctor and EMT backed away. In an instant Sasaki began to rip the bloodstained clothes from the body and as the cool air touched his chest, Daiki gasped, his eyes widening. The man worked with the utmost of grace and ease, Daiki could barely feel anything as he tended to his head.
“Does this hurt?” Sasaki asked, putting gentle pressure on Daiki’s abdomen. The boy gasped and nodded, unable to catch his breath.
“It’ll be okay….” Keito smiled at him and for that moment, Daiki believed him.
“This boy’s care will be taken care of by Keito-Sama, begin to prep an OR for emergency trauma treatment. I have already prepared the concussion and he is stable. We will have Keito-Sama’s doctor reset the fractured ribs and do any other procedures necessary.” Sasaki turned to the doctor who nodded and scurried out of the room.
“My name is Keito… what’s yours?” Keito asked, his eyes still shining brightly in the white room.
“Dai..ki…”
“Nice to meet you…” Keito put his hand on Daiki’s hand and gave him a gentle squeeze
“You’ll be okay…” He repeated as an orderly came to wheeled Daiki away.
“Keito….”
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“And when Dai-Chan here woke up, Keito was there to see him and from then on… it was history.” Inoo finished his tale.
“Ahhh So that’s why you’re so… protective of him! Because he saved your life!” Hikaru grinned as Chinen and Ryutaro nodded knowingly behind him.
“Keito has a habit of picking up friends from people who are down on their luck ne~” Yabu sighed.
“What happened to you anyway?” Inoo asked, curious.
“It was… stupid. I got into a fight with some men…. And thinking I could take them on…you know… it was before I took self-defense lessons and all that…” Daiki brushed off the question.
“What are we sitting here for?! We have a missing friend to find!” Yamada cheered, trying to change the mood.
“Yeah! I think…. We should talk to all of Yuto’s old connections, maybe they’ll know someone who would do something like this to him.” Daiki agreed, happy that someone had changed the focus.
The boys visited place after place upon Sasaki’s suggestions. They visited the small alleyway where Keito had first met Yuto, and the owner of the public bath shook his head and looked on in horror as they explained the situation to him. The owner of the small restaurant shook his head as well adding only that he knew Yuto had a bit of debt on his head.
“Debt?” Chinen asked
“Yeah, poor kid… the money wasn't even his…. His adoptive parents took out money from some shady people and put his life on the line as collateral… I tried my best to keep him here in the alley, where we could keep an eye on him, me and Matsu-San, the owner of the baths I mean….” The man shook his head and sighed as he turned back to his restaurant.
“Would you boys like to come in for dinner? It’s dark already.”
“Ah… it’s okay…really….”
“It’s okay, any friends of Yuto are welcome, my treat… it’s nothing fancy mind you..” The man smiled as he held the door open and the boys realizing that searching in the pitch black of night wouldn’t do them any good…. Agreed.
“Let me make dinner for you Iba-San, I’ll make a few dishes if you’ll provide the ingredients, you’ve worked a full day already….” Daiki smiled as he walked over to the kitchen and picked up a knife. The man smiled and nodded and immediately Daiki set to work.
“Wow… that friend of yours… he seems to be very skilled in the kitchen doesn't he?”
“Naturally… his family owns a chain of restaurants….” Ryutaro nodded as he they all sat and watched Daiki cutting vegetables with speed.
“Eh? Really? What was his name again?” The man asked
“Arioka… Arioka Daiki.” Yabu replied sitting down behind the two.
“EH!? You don't mean…. THOSE Arioka? The ones that own the entire chain of…..” His voice got softer and softer as the other boys nodded and his eyes widened as he turned to watch the boy in the kitchen throw vegetables into a pan as a great eruption of fire came and the smells of gourmet food began to waft through the air.
“Tada!” Daiki cheered as he presented five big plates of rice, noodles, vegetables and meats.
“Whee~ Its not everyday that Dai-Chan cooks for us ne~” Hikaru teased poking Daiki in the side.
“Ah! Heeeey~” The boy smiled weakly as he looked down at the fruits of his labor. He had been thinking about Yuto the entire time, worried if he had anything to eat. He had been thinking about Keito, worried if had anymore will to live….
“It’s frustrating you know….” Daiki whispered, and immediately the room quieted.
“Dai-Chan?” Chinen looked concerned
“It’s frustrating… with however much money or power we have, we can’t stop things like this…. things from taking the people we love… “
The rest of the night was spent quietly sitting in the small restaurant, absent-mindedly eating before the boys left and returned to find everything as they had left it in Okamoto Manor. Keito hadn’t left his room and he lay there, in silence, his skin pale and his body frail from days of not eating.
“Keito..” Yabu sighed
“We’re sorry…” Ryutaro frowned as the other boys sat on his bed and looked at their friend.
“It’s… not.. your fault…” Keito sunk further into his bed.
“Still.. we’re sorry…..” Yamada put his head on Keito’s leg as the other boys hugged him and together they fell asleep for the night, occasionally waking up to Keito’s mumblings in the night. Their hearts cringed as he begged an invisible hand not to take Yuto away, and tears formed every time they looked at the pained expressions on his face.
“I promise you…. We’ll find him…..” Daiki whispered as he stood up and gazed at the night sky.
“We’ll find him, so long as we’re under the same sky…I owe it to you Keito… to make you happy….”
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Omg I’m sorry it’s been so long… I’m still getting into my writing groove…. Gomenasai…. I wrote this in like SO MANY parts… so it might be a bit…… crazy.. disjointed…. I’ll make it up to you! T_T
~Emmie