Pain In The Heart - Part 2
Author: emmachase
Requested by: No One
Title: Pain In The Heart P2
Rating: PG
Genre: Romance, Tragedy, with a bit of fluffy fluff/Angst
Pairing: OkaJima
Summary: Something has gone wrong as JUMP returns from its break, one of its members is missing... and they must find and bring him back.
Notes: I'm so nervous about this one too! No one requested this one, but the idea popped into my head and I started writing before I knew it. Comments are appreciated!
(>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<)
Yuto watched as Keito knelt on the ground, he could hear the boy’s sobs as he pounded the ground. He wanted so much to go and hug Keito, the boy that had just confessed his love to him, but if he did, Keito would get too involved. He couldn’t do that. He watched as Keito limped home, trailing him in the shadows. Lately, Yuto had gotten good at doing that. He was so ashamed of what he had done to Keito, and as he watched the light in Keito’s room dim and die out, his heart broke and he collapsed onto the sidewalk and wept.
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The next day Keito woke up and found his room just as he left it the night before. The dirt stained pants on the floor proved that last night had actually happened, and the memories of Yuto’s face came back again.
“Great…” Keito mumbled as he got up and took his bath. As he got out he slipped on his day clothes and laid out on his bed again, staring at the ceiling above him. Up until then, he had managed to keep his thoughts on the very edge of his mind. However, now that there was nothing else to focus on, they all came crawling back into focus. Keito could still remember the feeling of Yuto’s cheek against his fingers, the boy’s soft skin stained with blood and dirt.
“Yuto… “ Keito put his pillow over his face and screamed into it, his frustration lessened somewhat for the moment.
“Are you trying to yell at your pillow?” A voice asked.
“Whuh?” Keito removed the pillow to see Daiki’s face above him, blinking in wonder.
“D-Dai-chan! What brings you here?” Keito sat up quickly, pretending as if nothing were happening.
“Oh… nothing, since we have today off, I thought we’d spend the day together, but strangely…. Everyone is busy, so I thought I’d stop by and see if you had plans.” Daiki smiled
“Uh… N-no.. not at all.” Keito stuttered as he gave his thoughts a desperate push out of his mind.
“What’s wrong?” Daiki’s face suddenly turned serious.
“N-Nothing!” Keito stood up and pretended to be interested in a book from his desk.
“You have a tell when you’re lying you know…. You tend to stutter a lot, and be interested in books from your elementary school days I see.” Daiki smiled as he sat on the bed.
“And you have a strange split personality.. you know that? Whats with the smiles one second and these serious ones the next…?” Keito felt uneasy.
“Ah.. sorry.. I suppose it’s my inner nature ne?” Daiki laughed and stood up, he ut his arm around the younger boy and guided him back to the bed.
“Dai-Chan….”
“Hm?”
“Can… I tell you something?”
“Mhm?”
“Last night… I saw Yuto…”
“Oh?”
“And he was hurt…”
“Oh did you help him?”
“I tried…. I wanted to…. But he wouldn’t let me..”
“And you feel helpless right? That you’ve failed him somehow?”
“N-No…..y-yeah… I don't know!” Keito wanted to grab the pillow again.
“Keito…. Yuto doesn’t blame you…. You know that. And we both know that you aren’t weak or helpless, so you have to stop feeling this way.” Daiki put his hand on Keito’s shoulder, giving it a reassuring pat.
“I think…. Yuto is in some serious trouble, he was so scared, and he had all these scratches on him. His eyes were so dark…. So different.” Keito fought back tears again.
“The next time you see Yuto… you had better grab hold of him and tell him all your worries…tell him that you’re here if he needs you. Don’t force yourself into his problems. Yuto is a prideful person, accepting help, may not make him feel any better, only until he knows he’s tried his best, can he accept assistance. Ne?” Daiki nodded. This was a rare side of Arioka that the other members had only heard about, but as Keito listened, he realized that Daiki was right. As much as he loved Yuto, he could only be there for him, and help only if Yuto wanted him to.
“Alright Yuto, if it’s space you need, I’ll give it to you… but just let me be by your side when you need me…” Keito prayed as he closed his eyes.
“Jya! What do you want to do today!” Daiki jumped up, his serious side melted away already.
“….Cry….” Keito pouted
“Oh…. C’mon we just finished talking about this…. you need to get out! Get your mind off of him! Yuto will come, I just know it, but you cant just waste away your life sitting here.” Arioka dragged Keito out of the room and into a cab.
“W-Where are we going?” Keito asked
“I figure we’d go shopping…. That’s usually a fun thing isn’t it?” Daiki smiled
“Arigatou.. Dai-Chan.” Keito forced a smile.
“You know… you really should stop saying that, friends do these things because they are friends, there’s no need to thank them. Especially for doing something as small as taking another friend’s mind off a certain boy…” Daiki nudged Keito’s sides, and in return, Keito felt himself laugh a little. After all that he had been through, all that he had seen, being able to laugh like that was a good feeling.
(>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<)
Meanwhile, Yuto was laying on the hard stone floor of a factory, curled up in an old blanket.
“Yo… Newbie” An older boy came up to him and squatted down, he offered Yuto some bread and a cup of soul.
“I’m…. not hungry.” Yuto said, trying his best not to cry. He had been thinking about Keito, and what their relationship could have been like if he wasn't in this situation. Maybe they would have been the happiest of couples, maybe they would have been in love, but now it all seemed so distant.
“Newbie, you have to eat, especially in this type of work.”
“I’m….. not hungry…. Thank you.” Yuto restated. The older boy sighed and sat down. He put his hand on Yuto’s arm and patted him.
“What’s wrong?”
“N-Nothing…”
“You appeared out of nowhere a few days ago, asking to join our troupe, saying that you needed this huge amount of money…. I’d say that something has happened.”
“L-listen…. I’m sorry…” Yuto sniffled
“For what…?”
“There’s someone… someone very precious to me that has asked me the same thing, and I think that if I couldn't tell my problems to him, then I cant tell them to anyone else until then.”
“Well…. Why cant you tell them your problem?”
“I don’t want them to be involved.”
“They already are, just by being precious to you… they are a part of you aren’t they? If he truly was precious to you, you should be able to open up to this person, just as he should open to you.” As the older boy spoke, Yuto’s mind drifted back to the events in the park. Keito’s yells as he confessed his feelings, the pure feelings of his heart.
“But it’s dangerous…” Yuto mumbled…
“Then isn’t it even better to face it with someone by your side? Maybe… you should find this person, and let him in. You’d feel less lonely…” Yuto looked up and the boy smiled.
“I see the way you stare off into your own world. I’m not saying things aren’t bad… just that they may not be as bad as you think, at least you have someone there for you ne?” The boy smiled and set the food on the floor.
“Good luck….” He said as he walked away and back towards the rest of the group huddled together for warmth in the center of the factory.
“Keito…” Yuto whispered to himself as he rocked on his side, trying to get some warmth.
“Keito… “ He whispered again, closing his eyes as warm tears streaked down his face and washed through the dirt and blood on his cheeks, providing his only warmth for that night.
(>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<)
After his fun day with Daiki, Keito had agreed to go out with the boy again to go see a new shopping center that he had always wanted to go to. Daiki was right, doing this was fun, it was a good way to fend off his worries about Yuto, at least until the night came, and there was nothing to distract him again. Every time the skinnier boy popped into his mind, he would stop, and reassure himself that he was waiting, until the day came that Yuto would return to him, and open his heart.
“Keito!” Daiki came and grabbed his hand.
“Uwa! You totally caught me off guard!” Keito chuckled as the two of them walked in the direction of the mall.
“So!? What are you in the mood for now?” Daiki asked as he surveyed the huge mall.
“Ne… Dai-Chan, thank you…. For helping me, uh! For distracting me… I mean.” Keito bowed slightly.
“It’s okay Keito.” Daiki smiled and patted him on the back.
“Y-You don’t have to keep…. Dragging yourself out-“ Keito started
“Nonsense!” Arioka grabbed Keito’s hand again and dragged him into the music shop nearby.
The two spent the next few hours playing with the instruments and plucking the guitars that Keito drooled over.
“You like that one?” The store owner came over to the two boys.
“Y-Yeah…. But it’s so expensive….” Keito commented as Daiki nodded.
“Well…. That doesn’t mean that you cant try it out right? You should play something” The owner handed the guitar to Keito.
“Go on…” Daiki nudged.
As Keito strummed the strings, He felt a sense of familiarity overtake him, as his hands began to move themselves. He began with a slow melody and ever so softly he plucked and strummed his heart into a song. It was a beautiful melody, one that began with cheery notes and heartwarming chords. His thoughts flew to those times that he and Yuto spent playing together. He remembered the way that Yuto had been trying to twirl his drumsticks, occasionally, smacking himself in the head. Keito chuckled as he played, and the store stood still as everyone watched the English boy play his song. He dreamed of the days that he and Yuto would bump into each other backstage, of the days where they sat in their corner of the park and talked. As reality set itself back into Keito’s mind, his dreams vanished into darkness, and the song wept with him as he envisioned Yuto’s face. The melody dipped and swooned as Keito cried, the image of Yuto’s hollow eyes in the center of his mind. Finally, the song ended, and the entire store stood still. The customers were all wiping their eyes, pretending not to have cried.
“I’m sorry…” Keito said as he dried his own eyes and handed the guitar to the owner who pushed it back.
“You… played beautifully…. I think… it’s meant to be with you. W-What was that song called?” The owner wiped his own tears and asked.
“The Pain In My Heart” Keito responded, without even thinking.
“I’m sorry to hear that….”
“I-it’s nothing.. thank you for letting me play in your store…” Keito bowed and quickly dashed out of the store.
“Your friend’s lost someone very dear to him hasn't he?” The owner asked Daiki.
“Yeah… now lets hope…. That he comes back.” Daiki walked out of the store.
(>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<)
“Time’s almost up…. Almost up….” Yuto repeated to himself as he ran through the streets. He had managed to collect 10,000 yen. Today, would that be enough?
“I hope…” He whispered to himself as he turned a corner into an alley.
“HEY! YOU” A man grabbed Yuto’s shirt, choking him as he stopped and felt onto the pavement.
“Ugh…” Yuto winced as he was pulled up by his shirt again and dragged further into the alley.
“You have our money today?” An even taller man asked as he came out of one of the buildings.
“I…. only have 10,000 today, p-please… is this enough?” Yuto asked as he quickly produced an envelope with his money in it.
“Our agreement was that you’d bring me twice this….”
“B-But I already gave you all the money I had in the beginning… and this… is all I could get today…please…” Yuto begged.
“Oh alright… I’ll give you a break because you’ve been such a good kid.” The man squatted down to Yuto on the ground and put his hand on his cheek.
“You just better be grateful. Remember! No police, no one is to know… or else not only will you suffer, but they will too.” The man finished by slapping Yuto, knocking him off to the side. He walked out of the alley and as he left, he nodded to the two men beside him who nodded back.. As the leader left the alley, the remaining three guys in the alley surrounded Yuto, who could only gaze up at them with terror in his eyes.
“The boss is nice to you today… that doesn’t mean we will be.” One of them said as he fired off a kick, right into Yuto’s side. Yuto screamed in pain as he collapsed onto the ground. Another kick landed on his back, making him arch forward, he screamed again….. and again…
(>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<)
“I cant do this anymore….” Keito cried as he ran out from the store, he had lost his breath already and hunched down to rest. As he thought about what to do, a dire cry pierced his ears and he stood up.
“Yuto!?” He listened as another came and he ran in the direction of the yells, near a set of buildings in the nearby block.
As Keito rounded the corner, he saw three men standing around a boy, laying on concrete. Where the rough floor had scrapped against the boy’s body there was blood, seeping through the thin fabric of his shirt. As a man landed another kick, Keito heard the boy on the ground cry his name…
“Yu…yuto?!” Keito rushed over and fended off the men. He hugged the boy on the ground, sheltering him with his own body.
“Yuto!?” Keito urgently hugged the boy again as he could feel the men surround him.
“Answer me…. Please…” Keito whispered as he braced himself. A foot landed on his back and he felt his elbows slam into the ground below. He was determined, not to let them hit Yuto anymore. He felt another foot kick his knee, and he winced in pain, but kept his embrace upon the still boy in his arms.
“HEY! What are you doing!?” Daiki’s voice rang into the alley way as he rushed forward and dispatched one of the men with a swift kick to the gut. Watching one of their comrades hobble away, the other to men began to take swings at Daiki, who dodged and swept both their feet, tripping them and knocking them on the ground. He turned around and put his foot on the chest of one of them, holding him in place as the other ran away towards their first, still-hobbling friend.
When the blows stopped, Keito looked up, there was no one to be found. He looked behind him to see Daiki, who gave him a thumbs up sign and pressed harder on the man’s chest.
“Yuto!?” Keito turned the boy onto his back and saw his love, unconscious.
Oh…Yuto…” Keito sobbed as he saw the cute ad beautiful face he had grown to love, covered with scratches and even more blood than the last time.
“Yuto… wake up… please? Let me know that you’re okay! Please!?” Keito shouted at the boy, who stirred slightly.
“K-Keito….I’m sorry… I couldn’t tell you…”
“It’s okay… you don't have to apologize for anything…” Keito hugged the boy tighter.
“N-No… I want you to know… that you’re very v-very important to m-me…” Yuto shivered as he swallowed, the taste of his own blood in his mouth.
“A-And you’re very important to me too…” Keito looked at the boy in his arms.
“I'm so… so.. sorry… s-so s-s-sorry…” Yuto repeated as he felt the strength leave his body and the Keito’s face faded into darkness…
“YUTO!” Keito picked the boy up and ran out into the street, he ran towards the direction of the general hospital, he didn’t know how he found the strength to run, carring the boy and with the pain in his knees, but somehow, he arrived. As he walked into the ER, he almost collapsed as the pain in his leg grew intense. The nearby attending doctors quickly relieved the him of the boy in his arms, and began diagnosis and treatment procedures.
“I want to stay with him!” Keito yelled as the nurses tried to escort him to another stretcher. He stretched out his hand, trying to force himself through the wall the nurses had formed. As he stumbled forward, his knee gave way as he fell onto the ER floor. One of the nurses looked at the doctor treating Yuto, who only nodded that it was okay. For the next few hours, he watched as the men and women clad in white, and the men and women in green surgical scrubs, treated Yuto. He watched as the doctors removed the blood stained clothes, revealing bruises along the skinny boy’s body, along his back and his sides.Keito could feel the knot in his throat grow as he bit his lip to keep from crying out. His mind was so focused on Yuto, that he hardly noticed the nurses had already bandaged up his knee and put a small brace on it. After a few hours one of the doctors came over and nodded to Keito, who finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“Your friend will be fine, he’s suffered a few bruises, and nearly broken a rib, but he will be okay. We’ve given him some medicine for the pain, so he will be tired. In any case, he will need to stay here for tonight, and get plenty of rest.” The doctor bowed and left. The two of them were wheeled into a private room in the recovery area of the ER.
“Ow…” Keito winced as he got off the stretcher and limped over to Yuto’s bedside. He looked so at peace now, the scratches on his face had been cleaned and bandaged, his eyes were closed in peaceful slumber. Keito brushed aside a stray lock of hair from Yuto’s eyes and smiled as he could now see Yuto’s face.
“Mm…K-Keito…” Yuto’s eyes opened and fluttered as he tried to focus on the blurry figure at his bedside.
“Yuto? I’m here…” Keito took the boy’s hand and held tightly.
“Keito, you’re s-so important to me… and….. and I’m sorry that I couldn’t tell you… that day.” Yuto squirmed on the hospital bed.
“It’s okay… don’t talk… just rest..” Keito put his hand on Yuto’s shoulder, rubbing him reassuringly.
“N-No… I want.. to tell you.. before these… drugs make me… sleepy..” Yuto’s breath was ragged as he still felt the pain from his sides. Keito helped the boy sit up correctly in the hospital bed and sat down, diligently making eye contact with Yuto
“My little brother Raiya and I came back home about halfway through the break… and everyone was missing… everyone… the men that… that you saw, grabbed us and were going to rob us…. Or kill us. I don't know…” Yuto’s grip tightened on the blanket as he shut his eyes.
“Yuto… stop… you don't have to tell me if you’re not ready..” Keito stood up again, and held Yuto’s hand once again.
“No… I want to tell you. One of the guys recognized me… and told the boss guy that I must have had money to give. He said that…… that if I were to give him 10 million yen… he would let my family and I go. He promised me… that he would let me collect it over the course of a few days. He promised me… before he left… they took my family…. Before he left, he ripped Raiya from my hands, and told me if I told anyone… I’d only be bringing them into trouble, that I would only end up killing them in the long run. Oh god… as they dragged him away… I can still see him, I can see Raiya crying for me…” Yuto’s tears came out again.
“Yuto….” Keito gripped the boy’s hand tighter.
“I tried so hard.. to make the money….. I sold everything I could… I joined those guys… and stole… I did everything…. But it wasn't enough, I was running out of time….and now… now… I don't know what to do!” Yuto cried as he hugged Keito.
“W-Why.. are you telling me this now…? Why didn't you tell me earlier?” Keito asked as he patted the boy gently on the back.
“B-Because… you are important to me…. You are precious...to me. When there’s someone like that…. You should be o-open with them. What was it … that y-you said? Because… I love you…? Because I love you Keito…Oka…oka…moto…” Yuto’s eyes started to close as the drugs finally took over and he started to fall asleep.
“Because… I …..love you.” Yuto repeated.
“Keito sighed as the words Yuto had spoken washed over him and the world seemed much lighter. He laid the skinny boy back onto the bed and stood up. As he did Daiki walked in, carrying a vase of flowers and shrugged shyly as he offered them to Keito.
“What happened?” Daiki asked
“Dai-Chan! Keito!’ Chinen’s voice sounded in the hallway. The other members of JUMP came running in. As Keito explained the situation to them, the hallway was silent.
“Wow….” Hikaru slumped onto a chair as the story ran over in his head.
“That…… is so far… beyond….” Inoo shook his head as he leaned against the wall.
“Well…. If that’s the case…. I’ve got good news….. remember the guy I pinned?” Arioka asked,as Keito nodded.
“When I turned him in, I had a good friend of mine do a little forceful investigating…. And well…. He found the whole thing out, there’s a team out now to where the guy said his boss is holding Yuto’s family.” Daiki gave Keito a pat.
“Maybe…. When he wakes up, you should be the one to tell him ne?”
With that he walked off, down the hallway and out the door.
“Dai-Chan can be rather scary…..but kinda cool, when he wants to be ne?” Ryutaro nodded.
“Anyway…. I uh… I gotta go back in there….thanks for coming…. Guys…. We’re okay… we’ll be back out tomorrow…” Keito opened the door and slipped into the room again. He sat down at the chair next to Yuto’s bedside and held the sleeping boy’s hand again.
(>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<)
“Unh!” Yuto jerked awake in the middle of the night, as he bolted up right he winced as he fell back onto the bed again, his sides still in pain. As he hit the bed again Keito awoke to the sudden movement.
“Y-Yuto?”
“Keito…”
“Yuto…. Are you okay? Are you still hurting..?”
“I’m better… I’m fine.” Yuto forced a smile.
“Yuto…
“Keito… I love you….” Yuto thought it better to be direct.
“I… love you too.” Keito smiled as he chuckled, he still couldn't believe he was finally hearing the words he had longed for.
“I jus-“
“Yuto, let’s not talk about that anymore…. What matters now…. Is that your family is okay… their being rescued by the police.” Keito reassured the boy.
“T-They are?”
“Yes, Dai-chan made sure of that, now just rest…you need it.”
“Keito…. Um…. C-could you…. Rest with me?” Yuto scooted over on the bed and Keito climbed on. He put his arm around Yuto and felt so contented. As he was settling in, Yuto looked at him, his eyes never waivered. The pair stared into each other’s eyes as they drifted closer and closer until finally, their lips met and they shared a sweet and passionate kiss. The feelings they had been experiencing welled up within them and expressed themselves in this kiss.
“Thank you… Keito.” Yuto whispered as the kiss ended, and he put his head on Keito’s shoulders. He blinked and sighed in relief and closed his eyes, glad that he had someone to lean and depend on, Yuto fell asleep, happy and forever in love with his boyfriend, Okamoto Keito.
(>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<)
3 Months Later
“Ne Keito…… isn’t this perfect?” Yuto asked as he put a shirt against his torso, measuring it.
“It’s perfect for you…” Keito smiled as he put his arms around his boyfriend’s waist and kissed his neck.
“Oh…. Is it?” Yuto giggled and turned around, kissing the boy who embraced him.
“Oi oi oi! No kissing or making out in the wardrobe room!” Hikaru said as he walked in.
“Haha sorry….” Keito apologized as Yuto turned around, still in Keito’s embrace and also gave a small bow of apology.
“Oh….. it’s fine….. you two are cute together….. HIkaru’s just bitter.” Inoo laughed as he walked in.
“Yeah…. We are aren’t we….. my english muffin?” Yuto nearly cracked up as he said it. Keito laughed as he heard Yuto’s attempt to be cute.
“Yeah…. We are... my uh.... breadstick…..” Yuto gave a fake gasp of shock and pushed Keito into the nearby sofa before laughing and jumping into his lap. The two shared a kiss again and smiled.
“I’m glad I found you….” Keito whispered
“I’m glad you rescued me…” “Yuto replied as the two hugged and watched the latest of JUMP’s PVs in each other’s warm embrace.
(>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<)
Uwa..... thats the end...... sorry to those who requested fics... but this one just popped into my head.... and had to be written! Please let me know what you think!
~Emmie.
Requested by: No One
Title: Pain In The Heart P2
Rating: PG
Genre: Romance, Tragedy, with a bit of fluffy fluff/Angst
Pairing: OkaJima
Summary: Something has gone wrong as JUMP returns from its break, one of its members is missing... and they must find and bring him back.
Notes: I'm so nervous about this one too! No one requested this one, but the idea popped into my head and I started writing before I knew it. Comments are appreciated!
(>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<)
Yuto watched as Keito knelt on the ground, he could hear the boy’s sobs as he pounded the ground. He wanted so much to go and hug Keito, the boy that had just confessed his love to him, but if he did, Keito would get too involved. He couldn’t do that. He watched as Keito limped home, trailing him in the shadows. Lately, Yuto had gotten good at doing that. He was so ashamed of what he had done to Keito, and as he watched the light in Keito’s room dim and die out, his heart broke and he collapsed onto the sidewalk and wept.
(>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<)
The next day Keito woke up and found his room just as he left it the night before. The dirt stained pants on the floor proved that last night had actually happened, and the memories of Yuto’s face came back again.
“Great…” Keito mumbled as he got up and took his bath. As he got out he slipped on his day clothes and laid out on his bed again, staring at the ceiling above him. Up until then, he had managed to keep his thoughts on the very edge of his mind. However, now that there was nothing else to focus on, they all came crawling back into focus. Keito could still remember the feeling of Yuto’s cheek against his fingers, the boy’s soft skin stained with blood and dirt.
“Yuto… “ Keito put his pillow over his face and screamed into it, his frustration lessened somewhat for the moment.
“Are you trying to yell at your pillow?” A voice asked.
“Whuh?” Keito removed the pillow to see Daiki’s face above him, blinking in wonder.
“D-Dai-chan! What brings you here?” Keito sat up quickly, pretending as if nothing were happening.
“Oh… nothing, since we have today off, I thought we’d spend the day together, but strangely…. Everyone is busy, so I thought I’d stop by and see if you had plans.” Daiki smiled
“Uh… N-no.. not at all.” Keito stuttered as he gave his thoughts a desperate push out of his mind.
“What’s wrong?” Daiki’s face suddenly turned serious.
“N-Nothing!” Keito stood up and pretended to be interested in a book from his desk.
“You have a tell when you’re lying you know…. You tend to stutter a lot, and be interested in books from your elementary school days I see.” Daiki smiled as he sat on the bed.
“And you have a strange split personality.. you know that? Whats with the smiles one second and these serious ones the next…?” Keito felt uneasy.
“Ah.. sorry.. I suppose it’s my inner nature ne?” Daiki laughed and stood up, he ut his arm around the younger boy and guided him back to the bed.
“Dai-Chan….”
“Hm?”
“Can… I tell you something?”
“Mhm?”
“Last night… I saw Yuto…”
“Oh?”
“And he was hurt…”
“Oh did you help him?”
“I tried…. I wanted to…. But he wouldn’t let me..”
“And you feel helpless right? That you’ve failed him somehow?”
“N-No…..y-yeah… I don't know!” Keito wanted to grab the pillow again.
“Keito…. Yuto doesn’t blame you…. You know that. And we both know that you aren’t weak or helpless, so you have to stop feeling this way.” Daiki put his hand on Keito’s shoulder, giving it a reassuring pat.
“I think…. Yuto is in some serious trouble, he was so scared, and he had all these scratches on him. His eyes were so dark…. So different.” Keito fought back tears again.
“The next time you see Yuto… you had better grab hold of him and tell him all your worries…tell him that you’re here if he needs you. Don’t force yourself into his problems. Yuto is a prideful person, accepting help, may not make him feel any better, only until he knows he’s tried his best, can he accept assistance. Ne?” Daiki nodded. This was a rare side of Arioka that the other members had only heard about, but as Keito listened, he realized that Daiki was right. As much as he loved Yuto, he could only be there for him, and help only if Yuto wanted him to.
“Alright Yuto, if it’s space you need, I’ll give it to you… but just let me be by your side when you need me…” Keito prayed as he closed his eyes.
“Jya! What do you want to do today!” Daiki jumped up, his serious side melted away already.
“….Cry….” Keito pouted
“Oh…. C’mon we just finished talking about this…. you need to get out! Get your mind off of him! Yuto will come, I just know it, but you cant just waste away your life sitting here.” Arioka dragged Keito out of the room and into a cab.
“W-Where are we going?” Keito asked
“I figure we’d go shopping…. That’s usually a fun thing isn’t it?” Daiki smiled
“Arigatou.. Dai-Chan.” Keito forced a smile.
“You know… you really should stop saying that, friends do these things because they are friends, there’s no need to thank them. Especially for doing something as small as taking another friend’s mind off a certain boy…” Daiki nudged Keito’s sides, and in return, Keito felt himself laugh a little. After all that he had been through, all that he had seen, being able to laugh like that was a good feeling.
(>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<)
Meanwhile, Yuto was laying on the hard stone floor of a factory, curled up in an old blanket.
“Yo… Newbie” An older boy came up to him and squatted down, he offered Yuto some bread and a cup of soul.
“I’m…. not hungry.” Yuto said, trying his best not to cry. He had been thinking about Keito, and what their relationship could have been like if he wasn't in this situation. Maybe they would have been the happiest of couples, maybe they would have been in love, but now it all seemed so distant.
“Newbie, you have to eat, especially in this type of work.”
“I’m….. not hungry…. Thank you.” Yuto restated. The older boy sighed and sat down. He put his hand on Yuto’s arm and patted him.
“What’s wrong?”
“N-Nothing…”
“You appeared out of nowhere a few days ago, asking to join our troupe, saying that you needed this huge amount of money…. I’d say that something has happened.”
“L-listen…. I’m sorry…” Yuto sniffled
“For what…?”
“There’s someone… someone very precious to me that has asked me the same thing, and I think that if I couldn't tell my problems to him, then I cant tell them to anyone else until then.”
“Well…. Why cant you tell them your problem?”
“I don’t want them to be involved.”
“They already are, just by being precious to you… they are a part of you aren’t they? If he truly was precious to you, you should be able to open up to this person, just as he should open to you.” As the older boy spoke, Yuto’s mind drifted back to the events in the park. Keito’s yells as he confessed his feelings, the pure feelings of his heart.
“But it’s dangerous…” Yuto mumbled…
“Then isn’t it even better to face it with someone by your side? Maybe… you should find this person, and let him in. You’d feel less lonely…” Yuto looked up and the boy smiled.
“I see the way you stare off into your own world. I’m not saying things aren’t bad… just that they may not be as bad as you think, at least you have someone there for you ne?” The boy smiled and set the food on the floor.
“Good luck….” He said as he walked away and back towards the rest of the group huddled together for warmth in the center of the factory.
“Keito…” Yuto whispered to himself as he rocked on his side, trying to get some warmth.
“Keito… “ He whispered again, closing his eyes as warm tears streaked down his face and washed through the dirt and blood on his cheeks, providing his only warmth for that night.
(>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<)
After his fun day with Daiki, Keito had agreed to go out with the boy again to go see a new shopping center that he had always wanted to go to. Daiki was right, doing this was fun, it was a good way to fend off his worries about Yuto, at least until the night came, and there was nothing to distract him again. Every time the skinnier boy popped into his mind, he would stop, and reassure himself that he was waiting, until the day came that Yuto would return to him, and open his heart.
“Keito!” Daiki came and grabbed his hand.
“Uwa! You totally caught me off guard!” Keito chuckled as the two of them walked in the direction of the mall.
“So!? What are you in the mood for now?” Daiki asked as he surveyed the huge mall.
“Ne… Dai-Chan, thank you…. For helping me, uh! For distracting me… I mean.” Keito bowed slightly.
“It’s okay Keito.” Daiki smiled and patted him on the back.
“Y-You don’t have to keep…. Dragging yourself out-“ Keito started
“Nonsense!” Arioka grabbed Keito’s hand again and dragged him into the music shop nearby.
The two spent the next few hours playing with the instruments and plucking the guitars that Keito drooled over.
“You like that one?” The store owner came over to the two boys.
“Y-Yeah…. But it’s so expensive….” Keito commented as Daiki nodded.
“Well…. That doesn’t mean that you cant try it out right? You should play something” The owner handed the guitar to Keito.
“Go on…” Daiki nudged.
As Keito strummed the strings, He felt a sense of familiarity overtake him, as his hands began to move themselves. He began with a slow melody and ever so softly he plucked and strummed his heart into a song. It was a beautiful melody, one that began with cheery notes and heartwarming chords. His thoughts flew to those times that he and Yuto spent playing together. He remembered the way that Yuto had been trying to twirl his drumsticks, occasionally, smacking himself in the head. Keito chuckled as he played, and the store stood still as everyone watched the English boy play his song. He dreamed of the days that he and Yuto would bump into each other backstage, of the days where they sat in their corner of the park and talked. As reality set itself back into Keito’s mind, his dreams vanished into darkness, and the song wept with him as he envisioned Yuto’s face. The melody dipped and swooned as Keito cried, the image of Yuto’s hollow eyes in the center of his mind. Finally, the song ended, and the entire store stood still. The customers were all wiping their eyes, pretending not to have cried.
“I’m sorry…” Keito said as he dried his own eyes and handed the guitar to the owner who pushed it back.
“You… played beautifully…. I think… it’s meant to be with you. W-What was that song called?” The owner wiped his own tears and asked.
“The Pain In My Heart” Keito responded, without even thinking.
“I’m sorry to hear that….”
“I-it’s nothing.. thank you for letting me play in your store…” Keito bowed and quickly dashed out of the store.
“Your friend’s lost someone very dear to him hasn't he?” The owner asked Daiki.
“Yeah… now lets hope…. That he comes back.” Daiki walked out of the store.
(>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<)
“Time’s almost up…. Almost up….” Yuto repeated to himself as he ran through the streets. He had managed to collect 10,000 yen. Today, would that be enough?
“I hope…” He whispered to himself as he turned a corner into an alley.
“HEY! YOU” A man grabbed Yuto’s shirt, choking him as he stopped and felt onto the pavement.
“Ugh…” Yuto winced as he was pulled up by his shirt again and dragged further into the alley.
“You have our money today?” An even taller man asked as he came out of one of the buildings.
“I…. only have 10,000 today, p-please… is this enough?” Yuto asked as he quickly produced an envelope with his money in it.
“Our agreement was that you’d bring me twice this….”
“B-But I already gave you all the money I had in the beginning… and this… is all I could get today…please…” Yuto begged.
“Oh alright… I’ll give you a break because you’ve been such a good kid.” The man squatted down to Yuto on the ground and put his hand on his cheek.
“You just better be grateful. Remember! No police, no one is to know… or else not only will you suffer, but they will too.” The man finished by slapping Yuto, knocking him off to the side. He walked out of the alley and as he left, he nodded to the two men beside him who nodded back.. As the leader left the alley, the remaining three guys in the alley surrounded Yuto, who could only gaze up at them with terror in his eyes.
“The boss is nice to you today… that doesn’t mean we will be.” One of them said as he fired off a kick, right into Yuto’s side. Yuto screamed in pain as he collapsed onto the ground. Another kick landed on his back, making him arch forward, he screamed again….. and again…
(>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<)
“I cant do this anymore….” Keito cried as he ran out from the store, he had lost his breath already and hunched down to rest. As he thought about what to do, a dire cry pierced his ears and he stood up.
“Yuto!?” He listened as another came and he ran in the direction of the yells, near a set of buildings in the nearby block.
As Keito rounded the corner, he saw three men standing around a boy, laying on concrete. Where the rough floor had scrapped against the boy’s body there was blood, seeping through the thin fabric of his shirt. As a man landed another kick, Keito heard the boy on the ground cry his name…
“Yu…yuto?!” Keito rushed over and fended off the men. He hugged the boy on the ground, sheltering him with his own body.
“Yuto!?” Keito urgently hugged the boy again as he could feel the men surround him.
“Answer me…. Please…” Keito whispered as he braced himself. A foot landed on his back and he felt his elbows slam into the ground below. He was determined, not to let them hit Yuto anymore. He felt another foot kick his knee, and he winced in pain, but kept his embrace upon the still boy in his arms.
“HEY! What are you doing!?” Daiki’s voice rang into the alley way as he rushed forward and dispatched one of the men with a swift kick to the gut. Watching one of their comrades hobble away, the other to men began to take swings at Daiki, who dodged and swept both their feet, tripping them and knocking them on the ground. He turned around and put his foot on the chest of one of them, holding him in place as the other ran away towards their first, still-hobbling friend.
When the blows stopped, Keito looked up, there was no one to be found. He looked behind him to see Daiki, who gave him a thumbs up sign and pressed harder on the man’s chest.
“Yuto!?” Keito turned the boy onto his back and saw his love, unconscious.
Oh…Yuto…” Keito sobbed as he saw the cute ad beautiful face he had grown to love, covered with scratches and even more blood than the last time.
“Yuto… wake up… please? Let me know that you’re okay! Please!?” Keito shouted at the boy, who stirred slightly.
“K-Keito….I’m sorry… I couldn’t tell you…”
“It’s okay… you don't have to apologize for anything…” Keito hugged the boy tighter.
“N-No… I want you to know… that you’re very v-very important to m-me…” Yuto shivered as he swallowed, the taste of his own blood in his mouth.
“A-And you’re very important to me too…” Keito looked at the boy in his arms.
“I'm so… so.. sorry… s-so s-s-sorry…” Yuto repeated as he felt the strength leave his body and the Keito’s face faded into darkness…
“YUTO!” Keito picked the boy up and ran out into the street, he ran towards the direction of the general hospital, he didn’t know how he found the strength to run, carring the boy and with the pain in his knees, but somehow, he arrived. As he walked into the ER, he almost collapsed as the pain in his leg grew intense. The nearby attending doctors quickly relieved the him of the boy in his arms, and began diagnosis and treatment procedures.
“I want to stay with him!” Keito yelled as the nurses tried to escort him to another stretcher. He stretched out his hand, trying to force himself through the wall the nurses had formed. As he stumbled forward, his knee gave way as he fell onto the ER floor. One of the nurses looked at the doctor treating Yuto, who only nodded that it was okay. For the next few hours, he watched as the men and women clad in white, and the men and women in green surgical scrubs, treated Yuto. He watched as the doctors removed the blood stained clothes, revealing bruises along the skinny boy’s body, along his back and his sides.Keito could feel the knot in his throat grow as he bit his lip to keep from crying out. His mind was so focused on Yuto, that he hardly noticed the nurses had already bandaged up his knee and put a small brace on it. After a few hours one of the doctors came over and nodded to Keito, who finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“Your friend will be fine, he’s suffered a few bruises, and nearly broken a rib, but he will be okay. We’ve given him some medicine for the pain, so he will be tired. In any case, he will need to stay here for tonight, and get plenty of rest.” The doctor bowed and left. The two of them were wheeled into a private room in the recovery area of the ER.
“Ow…” Keito winced as he got off the stretcher and limped over to Yuto’s bedside. He looked so at peace now, the scratches on his face had been cleaned and bandaged, his eyes were closed in peaceful slumber. Keito brushed aside a stray lock of hair from Yuto’s eyes and smiled as he could now see Yuto’s face.
“Mm…K-Keito…” Yuto’s eyes opened and fluttered as he tried to focus on the blurry figure at his bedside.
“Yuto? I’m here…” Keito took the boy’s hand and held tightly.
“Keito, you’re s-so important to me… and….. and I’m sorry that I couldn’t tell you… that day.” Yuto squirmed on the hospital bed.
“It’s okay… don’t talk… just rest..” Keito put his hand on Yuto’s shoulder, rubbing him reassuringly.
“N-No… I want.. to tell you.. before these… drugs make me… sleepy..” Yuto’s breath was ragged as he still felt the pain from his sides. Keito helped the boy sit up correctly in the hospital bed and sat down, diligently making eye contact with Yuto
“My little brother Raiya and I came back home about halfway through the break… and everyone was missing… everyone… the men that… that you saw, grabbed us and were going to rob us…. Or kill us. I don't know…” Yuto’s grip tightened on the blanket as he shut his eyes.
“Yuto… stop… you don't have to tell me if you’re not ready..” Keito stood up again, and held Yuto’s hand once again.
“No… I want to tell you. One of the guys recognized me… and told the boss guy that I must have had money to give. He said that…… that if I were to give him 10 million yen… he would let my family and I go. He promised me… that he would let me collect it over the course of a few days. He promised me… before he left… they took my family…. Before he left, he ripped Raiya from my hands, and told me if I told anyone… I’d only be bringing them into trouble, that I would only end up killing them in the long run. Oh god… as they dragged him away… I can still see him, I can see Raiya crying for me…” Yuto’s tears came out again.
“Yuto….” Keito gripped the boy’s hand tighter.
“I tried so hard.. to make the money….. I sold everything I could… I joined those guys… and stole… I did everything…. But it wasn't enough, I was running out of time….and now… now… I don't know what to do!” Yuto cried as he hugged Keito.
“W-Why.. are you telling me this now…? Why didn't you tell me earlier?” Keito asked as he patted the boy gently on the back.
“B-Because… you are important to me…. You are precious...to me. When there’s someone like that…. You should be o-open with them. What was it … that y-you said? Because… I love you…? Because I love you Keito…Oka…oka…moto…” Yuto’s eyes started to close as the drugs finally took over and he started to fall asleep.
“Because… I …..love you.” Yuto repeated.
“Keito sighed as the words Yuto had spoken washed over him and the world seemed much lighter. He laid the skinny boy back onto the bed and stood up. As he did Daiki walked in, carrying a vase of flowers and shrugged shyly as he offered them to Keito.
“What happened?” Daiki asked
“Dai-Chan! Keito!’ Chinen’s voice sounded in the hallway. The other members of JUMP came running in. As Keito explained the situation to them, the hallway was silent.
“Wow….” Hikaru slumped onto a chair as the story ran over in his head.
“That…… is so far… beyond….” Inoo shook his head as he leaned against the wall.
“Well…. If that’s the case…. I’ve got good news….. remember the guy I pinned?” Arioka asked,as Keito nodded.
“When I turned him in, I had a good friend of mine do a little forceful investigating…. And well…. He found the whole thing out, there’s a team out now to where the guy said his boss is holding Yuto’s family.” Daiki gave Keito a pat.
“Maybe…. When he wakes up, you should be the one to tell him ne?”
With that he walked off, down the hallway and out the door.
“Dai-Chan can be rather scary…..but kinda cool, when he wants to be ne?” Ryutaro nodded.
“Anyway…. I uh… I gotta go back in there….thanks for coming…. Guys…. We’re okay… we’ll be back out tomorrow…” Keito opened the door and slipped into the room again. He sat down at the chair next to Yuto’s bedside and held the sleeping boy’s hand again.
(>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<)
“Unh!” Yuto jerked awake in the middle of the night, as he bolted up right he winced as he fell back onto the bed again, his sides still in pain. As he hit the bed again Keito awoke to the sudden movement.
“Y-Yuto?”
“Keito…”
“Yuto…. Are you okay? Are you still hurting..?”
“I’m better… I’m fine.” Yuto forced a smile.
“Yuto…
“Keito… I love you….” Yuto thought it better to be direct.
“I… love you too.” Keito smiled as he chuckled, he still couldn't believe he was finally hearing the words he had longed for.
“I jus-“
“Yuto, let’s not talk about that anymore…. What matters now…. Is that your family is okay… their being rescued by the police.” Keito reassured the boy.
“T-They are?”
“Yes, Dai-chan made sure of that, now just rest…you need it.”
“Keito…. Um…. C-could you…. Rest with me?” Yuto scooted over on the bed and Keito climbed on. He put his arm around Yuto and felt so contented. As he was settling in, Yuto looked at him, his eyes never waivered. The pair stared into each other’s eyes as they drifted closer and closer until finally, their lips met and they shared a sweet and passionate kiss. The feelings they had been experiencing welled up within them and expressed themselves in this kiss.
“Thank you… Keito.” Yuto whispered as the kiss ended, and he put his head on Keito’s shoulders. He blinked and sighed in relief and closed his eyes, glad that he had someone to lean and depend on, Yuto fell asleep, happy and forever in love with his boyfriend, Okamoto Keito.
(>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<)
3 Months Later
“Ne Keito…… isn’t this perfect?” Yuto asked as he put a shirt against his torso, measuring it.
“It’s perfect for you…” Keito smiled as he put his arms around his boyfriend’s waist and kissed his neck.
“Oh…. Is it?” Yuto giggled and turned around, kissing the boy who embraced him.
“Oi oi oi! No kissing or making out in the wardrobe room!” Hikaru said as he walked in.
“Haha sorry….” Keito apologized as Yuto turned around, still in Keito’s embrace and also gave a small bow of apology.
“Oh….. it’s fine….. you two are cute together….. HIkaru’s just bitter.” Inoo laughed as he walked in.
“Yeah…. We are aren’t we….. my english muffin?” Yuto nearly cracked up as he said it. Keito laughed as he heard Yuto’s attempt to be cute.
“Yeah…. We are... my uh.... breadstick…..” Yuto gave a fake gasp of shock and pushed Keito into the nearby sofa before laughing and jumping into his lap. The two shared a kiss again and smiled.
“I’m glad I found you….” Keito whispered
“I’m glad you rescued me…” “Yuto replied as the two hugged and watched the latest of JUMP’s PVs in each other’s warm embrace.
(>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<) (>’_’)><(‘_’<)
Uwa..... thats the end...... sorry to those who requested fics... but this one just popped into my head.... and had to be written! Please let me know what you think!
~Emmie.