Gift fic for go_chan2011 (Part 2/2)
“Subaru promised me to work on the results as fast as possible. I hope he is able to finish it by tomorrow. Maybe we will have another clue then.” Ryo said when they were sitting on the balcony right after eating. The balcony was hidden behind big trees, so no one was able to watch them sitting up there.
“Nishikido-san?” Yokoyama turned around, facing the other one.
“Hm?”
“What will you do when we know who it was?” Yokoyama asked.
“What do you mean?” Ryo twisted the glass in his hands.
“Will you kill the culprit?”
“It depends.” Ryo turned his face to the other one, looking at him.
“On what?”
“It’s your choice. If you say that I should do it then I will.” Ryo answered, shrugging his shoulders. “I don’t do anything without an order.” He added.
“I don’t want that kind of revenge. I am not a fan of tit for tat.” He sipped on his wine. “I want them to get what they deserve, but not on this way. I want them to be punished by the law.”
“If it’s what you want.” Ryo only said.
“I can imagine why people want it, and I really understand it, but it’s not what I feel.” He tried to explain himself.
“No need to make an excuse, really. I get what you mean.” Ryo patted the other one’s shoulder before he stood up and walked back to his room. He often thought about what Yokoyama said right before. “Not a fan of tit for tat.” It was spinning in Ryo’s head, because it was what he himself often thought of.
He shook his head and tried to get rid of the feeling that he needed to change something in his life. He heard his mobile vibrating in his pocket and walked up to pick up the call. “I found something.” Subaru said without even saying hello at first.
“What?” Ryo leaned against the wall, waiting for an answer from the other one.
“There are particles on it. It’s blood. I could find in the register that it is from the prime minister’s daughter. Luckily I have some freaks around me, like your taxi driver Ueda-kun. He came to help me and he immediately recognized the pendant. He saw it on TV when the prime minister’s wife held the audience in the new sky tower last month. She wore it there. He immediately saw it. We checked the tapes. It’s true.” Subaru started and didn’t even make a point between his words.
“Sounds like we have a trace.” Ryo bit his lips nervously. It was definitely a step forward.
“Ryo?”
“What?”
“Have you ever thought of becoming a police man? You and your connections and abilities, we would need something here.” Subaru said.
“I think I am not made for it.” Ryo only said, a small thumping in his chest started.
“What are you planning to do now?” Ryo could hear Shota asking from behind.
“I don’t know. Maybe we should go to see the prime minister’s house. Maybe we can find something interesting there.”
“And how will you get in there?” It was Subaru who was talking with him again.
“Connections.” Ryo smiled before he said good bye and hung up. He called for Yokoyama and told him about what Subaru said and his further plan.
“But isn’t it dangerous to go in there?” Yokoyama wanted to know.
“It is, but I know the security company which is working for the prime minister. So maybe we’ll have a chance to get in there.” Ryo rubbed his chin, thinking about how to solve this problem. “I think you should stay here. It’s too dangerous to take you with me. I will go alone.”
“But I want to help.” Yokoyama insisted.
“You can’t help me if you are in danger.” Ryo replied.
The other nodded at him. “I know. It’s just that I feel really helpless.”
“I know, but we need to be careful now. In the end we don’t want you to get caught.” Ryo explained when his mobile rang again.
“Hey, Jin. I think I need your help again. Can you tell me your working plan? Are you placed at the minister’s house?” Ryo made some notes, writing down some facts and in the end he even got a description from the house. “Thanks for helping me.” He hung up, a bright grin on his face. “They are placed tomorrow evening in front of the house. The family will be out at this time; there is some kind of meeting in town. I will go there and check the house.” Ryo looked from his brother to Yokoyama and back. “Yamashita-kun and Akanishi-kun will be there tomorrow, so no need to worry. They’ll help me.” He added.
“Yokoyama-san?” Ryo turned around to him, facing him.
“Yes?”
“You have to tell me everything about this house. Do you know any special places your wife went to? Is there any room she loved most. Is there something like this?” Ryo asked.
Yokoyama thought some moments before he gave his answer. “The shrine of her dead grandmother. She sat there for hours, thinking about everything. It was the place she went immediately after we came there, every time.”
“Okay, I will watch out for it.” Ryo said.
***
On the next day Ryo was nervous for the whole day. He didn’t break into houses that often. He walked to the drawer and pulled out a small and thin gun, placing it at his back. “Don’t worry Maru, okay?”
His brother nodded at him. Ryo left the apartment earlier than needed, but he wanted to check the area beforehand. He was well aware that it could be that someone saw him, but he risked it. He sneaked through the small forest which belonged to the area around the minister’s house. Ryo could see that Jin already knew that he was there. He saw him smiling in his direction, making a little move to greet him. Ryo bowed a bit, placing himself behind a tree to hide there.
Again he had the feeling that something was off here. Someone followed him from the apartment all the way here. It wasn’t possible that Ryo only imagined it.
He saw the minister and his wife walking out of the house directly to their limousine. He waited until they drove away before he walked up to the entrance, greeting the security. “Jin, Yamapi. Thanks for your help.” He bowed slightly, smiling at them.
“No problem, but be careful and quick, okay?” Yamapi looked around before he opened the other one the door.
“Sure, thanks.” Ryo answered while he slipped into the house.
He walked around, searching for the shrine Yokoyama was talking about. The house was big, and he had to walk around for some minutes till he saw what he looked for.
He knelt down, scanning the shrine properly. First he couldn’t see something, but when he was about to stand up he saw a small piece of paper right underneath it. He pulled it out carefully and put it in his pockets when he heard some voices from downstairs. “Shit.” He cursed, his heart started beating faster. They came home way too early again. He needed to flee from there, but he had no idea how to. And the security’s voices didn’t sound like Jin and Yamapi. He walked up to the small window on the other side and looked out there. It was his only chance to get out. It was the first floor, but he had to jump down there. He breathed out deeply before he opened it and just closed his eyes before he stepped into nothing.
He landed on the hard floor and he felt a burning sting on his forehead, but he didn’t care. He started running like there was no tomorrow. He could hear them right behind him, and he knew it wasn't Jin or Yamapi, because he knew their voices. He saw two security men appearing in front of him, but he smiled. He pushed both of them away without stopping to run. He would thank Jin and Pi afterwards for letting him pass there.
He looked back. They were still after him, till a dark person stepped in the way and they stopped. Without any complains. Ryo shook his head, but he kept on running.
An hour later he was at home, breathless and powerless. No one followed him after this person stepped into the way. He knew he never ran like this in his life before. It was close to getting caught this time.
He walked upstairs and opened the door with shaking hands. He could see Yokoyama staring at him with eyes wide open. “God, what happened?” He walked up to Ryo, helping him into the apartment. He never thought that someone could shiver like he did in this moment. “I am always working in the dark. I get my victims in the dark, but I never, never sneak around like that.” Ryo said after a while.
Yokoyama came back with a towel and some ice cubes to cool the wound on Ryo’s forehead. “Maru isn’t here?”
“Sorry, no. He is working at Okura’s place.” Yokoyama answered, rubbing the cube softly over Ryo’s forehead, who winced because of that. “Does it hurt?”
“No, it’s okay.” Ryo answered. He closed his eyes, enjoying the cool thing on his burning forehead.
“I am sorry that I brought you into this situation.” Yokoyama bowed in front of the other one.
“Ridiculous. I promised to help you, and here I am.” Ryo answered. He sat up a bit, holding his hurting arm.
“Your arm is also hurt?”
“It’s not that bad.” Ryo said and wanted to stand up.
“No way. It’s bleeding. Sit down, I will take care of it.” Yokoyama ordered.
He took out some medicine and plasters and dressed the wound. “Are you feeling okay, or does your head ache?”
“No, I feel okay.” Ryo replied.
“What happened there?” Yokoyama sat next to the other one, waiting for an explanation.
“I had to jump from the first floor. They came home too early.” Ryo just said, already snoozing away. He felt the tension in him fading away and he started feeling exhausted and powerless.
“Go to sleep, I will make something to eat.” Yokoyama said. He helped Ryo to his room, because he could see that the other one was weak in this moment.
“Thanks.” Ryo said before he fell asleep on his bed. It was the first time in months he was able to sleep without nightmares, but maybe because he couldn’t carry it anymore. His batteries were empty and he really needed to charge them.
He didn’t even notice that Yokoyama came to look after him every 15 minutes because he was afraid that Ryo hurt himself worse than it looked like.
“I made a soup and some omurice. I am not really good with it, but I gave it my best.” Yokoyama walked into the room with two plates in his hands when he saw that Ryo was awake.
“Thanks.” Ryo looked at the things on there and started eating when something came to his mind. “Oh, the paper.” He robbed around on the bed till he was able to pull the item out of his pocket. “I found this under the shrine. I have no idea what it is, I just took it before I had to jump down there.”
He gave it to Yokoyama who opened it and started reading. Ryo could see that he got pale and he started nibbling on his lips nervously. “What is it?” Ryo wanted to know.
Yokoyama didn’t answer. He just started reading the letter out loud.
Dear diary,
I hate my life. I am married with someone who doesn’t love me. I have a child with a man who left me before she was born. And I can’t say that I love my daughter to death, because I am broken from this relationship.
I told my parents about it. I think I need to find help. My mother is going to do something terrible, I know it.
I just can’t ask for help. If I am able to get out of this, I want to go my own way, and I want Yoko to go his way. I told him that I hate him, that the child isn’t his. I know I hurt him, but I wanted him to go. I wanted him to start new, to get away from this horror here.
I didn’t love him like I should, because we actually never were a real couple in love, but I liked him, and I wanted him to find his happiness.
Mine will probably be gone now.
Yours,
Hoshio Kimiko
“She didn’t hate me?” Yokoyama’s voice was thin and husky, and he stared into nothing, his thoughts far away.
“Did you love her?” he heard Ryo asking. Slowly he turned his head to the other one, smiling sadly. “No. I started hating her, because I didn’t understand her reactions. I thought she really hated me. I never believed that she wanted me to be safe. I always thought we should stick together, because we shared the same fate. She didn’t love me, and neither did I.”
“But we have a big clue now, you know that, right?” Ryo smiled brightly.
“Yes, maybe they will soon be able to find their peace.” Yokoyama said.
“I will give the letter to Subaru, maybe he is able to find out the truth.” Ryo said slowly.
“You know, about Subaru and me.” Yokoyama started.
“It’s the reason you didn’t love your wife, right?” Ryo interrupted.
“I am not interested in Subaru anymore.”
“I know. That’s not what I meant. I mean in general it’s the reason why you didn’t love her.”
“Yes.” Yokoyama answered. “I want to be what I am from now on.” He added.
“Thanks for cooking for me.” Ryo changed the topic when he realized that the other one didn’t really want to talk about it.
“No problem. I hope it tastes at least a bit good.”
“It’s great.” Ryo answered, taking a bite. He looked up at Yokoyama, who still looked at the letter. Ryo scanned his face properly. It was beautiful, but not female-beautiful. There was something interesting in it, something gentle and friendly, and something caring. He definitely liked that. He smiled at his own thoughts. When was he in love for the last time? It must have been ages. He shook his head about his own thoughts.
“Why are you shaking your head?” Ryo winced at that. He saw the other one looking at him.
“I thought about your face. It’s interesting.” He said, regretting the words right afterwards. He blushed deeply.
“Interesting? Is that good or bad?” Yokoyama wanted to know.
“Good. Definitely.” Ryo answered.
“Then it’s okay.” The other one laughed a bit.
“God, what happened?” Maru stood at the door, his mouth wide open.
“Everything is okay again.” Ryo tried to calm his brother down.
“Are you hurt?”
“No, Maru. It’s not that bad. I had some problems, but I managed everything, and now I am back.” Ryo nodded.
Ryo couldn’t prevent that Maru and Yokoyama occupying his bed for this evening, watching TV with him. He was all grumpy about that, because he wanted to sleep and he needed to think of the case, but even Yokoyama seemed to forget about it for at least some hours. Or maybe he just acted like this, because he wanted Ryo to take a break now.
It was late in the evening when Ryo finally fell asleep. He didn’t even recognized how Maru turned off the light and walked out of the room. Yokoyama wanted to follow, but Ryo’s head was resting on his lap, he himself coiled up there. For the first time since Yokoyama was there he felt like the stronger one. Because the last two days Ryo was the one who had the overview and who would be able to save him if it was necessary. But today Yokoyama was able to give some of the care back. Even though he just cleaned some wounds and cooked the meal.
He stroked over Ryo’s face, smiling slightly. “Yes, men were the reason I never wanted to marry.” He leaned against the backrest and closed his eyes to find some rest. For his surprise he fell asleep soon after.
Ryo woke up with a smile around his lips. He sat up and stopped moving when he saw in whose lap he was sleeping last night. “Were you able to rest?” He heard Yokoyama’s voice next to him. “Yes, a bit.” Ryo answered, trying to hide the flush of his cheeks.
“Good. Me too.” Yokoyama said, stretching his limbs.
They walked out, searching for Maru, who prepared some food for them before he left to work at Okura’s place.
“I will go to Subaru after the breakfast. I will give him the letter and let’s see what he can find out.” Ryo said after a while of silence.
“Sure, sounds good. I will wait here for you.” Yokoyama replied.
It was an awkward situation between the two of them. Even though there happened nothing between them and by now no one of them had the intention that something happened, because they had to save Yokoyama first, there was something between them, like a small sparkle, like a little fire, which needed to survive the upcoming storm. Both knew it, but no one of them said something.
***
“Here is the letter I found.” Ryo handed it to Subaru.
“The handwriting is definitely hers. I know it because of the other stuff I had to research back then. This case tortured me day and night.” Subaru answered, scanning the text properly.
“Do you think we have a chance to find out the truth with enough evidences to get them?” Ryo walked up and down in the room. He knew it was hard to get a politician. They had their connections and before you could react they weren’t guilty anymore.
“I have no idea.” Subaru shook his head. “At least we could manage it to get Yokoyama free. Maybe they stop hunting him. It would be a first step.”
Ryo looked out of the window. He got lost in his thoughts. They hadn’t enough to get them, he knew it. “I know only one way to go.” Ryo finally said. His eyes got small when he saw the shadow again. Maybe he should start hunting it. It was always where he was, always after him.
“Nishikido-kun.” Subaru stood up, walking up to the other one. “You really want to go your way?”
“I don’t know. Yokoyama didn’t want me to. But isn’t it just fair? We know it was one of them. Isn’t it fair to get the revenge?”
“And what do you get when you kill them?” Shota stepped forward. Both turned to look at him.
“You are right, but it feels unfair.” Ryo said.
“Let’s see if we are able to find something.” Subaru promised Ryo to call him as soon as he would be done with the letter.
Ryo was unsatisfied when came home. He wanted to do something, but he couldn’t. They had this evidence, but he knew that it would be impossible to get them.
“You are back? And?” Yokoyama greeted him.
“They will do their best. But I think it will be hard to get them.” Ryo honestly said.
“Nishikido-san?”
“Call me Ryo, okay?”
“Okay, Ryo. Can I ask you a favor?” Yokoyama followed Ryo in his room and stopped at the door frame.
“Sure.”
“Can I help you from time to time with your cases?” Ryo blinked at that. Did the other one really wanted to be something like his partner?
“I never thought of something like this. And I thought you don’t like this tit for tat?” Ryo said, sitting down on his bed.
“No I don’t. I thought I maybe can change your mind a bit.” Yokoyama laughed loudly.
“Idiot.” Ryo pouted, but somehow he knew Yokoyama was right. He would change his current life when this was over.
“I suggested killing them.” Ryo said after a short time of silence.
Yokoyama sighed. “You know I don’t want it. It’s not the way to do it.”
“I know. I am just terribly angry about such people. They destroy someone’s life and act like nothing happened. I can’t stand this.” Ryo threw the key in his hands against the wall.
“You already experienced it?” Yokoyama sat next to the other one.
Ryo breathed out deeply. “Please, don’t tell Maru, okay?” Ryo continued when he saw Yokoyama nodding at him. “I think I know who killed our parents. I just can’t get him. He is an important person, and it’s almost impossible to reach him. I've been trying to make a plan to kill him for what feels like forever, but I can’t get him.”
Ryo rubbed his face nervously. His thoughts were spinning around and everything started getting dizzy around him. “Calm down.” He felt the other one’s hand on his back, roaming up and down. He looked up at Yokoyama, smiling sadly at him. “It seems we both are cursed.”
Yokoyama bent forward and left a small kiss on Ryo’s lips. “Sorry.” Yokoyama said. “I didn’t want to do this. It just happened, and I know it was totally wrong time and place and everything.”
Ryo had to smile about it. The other one seemed totally off right now. “Hey, stop.” Ryo said, taking the other one’s hand. “It’s okay. There's no hurry, okay?” Yokoyama nodded at him, pressing his hand to agree to his words without saying something.
Ryo heard the doorbell ringing and walked up to open it. There was a small envelope lying there. “A tape?” Yokoyama twisted the thing in his hands.
“Let’s listen to it.” Ryo said, taking the recorder to put the item in it. They couldn’t believe what they heard there.
“Kimiko, you aren’t allowed to tell anyone about the child and his real father.” A voice said.
“Mum, I am old enough and I want to live my life. And I want my husband to go his own way.” It was definitely Yokoyama’s wife talking.
“There is no way I will let you. Your father and I always wanted the best for you, but with this the honor of the family is ruined.”
“I will go, no matter what you say.”
“Then I have to go my way and do what I need to do.” They heard some noises in the background, some glass broke farer away, and there was a terrible scream, followed by a child’s cry, which faded away and stopped almost immediately.
“We have evidence.” It was the first which came to Ryo’s mind. He looked at Yokoyama, who stood there, pale and weak. “I am sorry you had to listen to this.” He added, taking the other one’s hand.
“Let’s get them.” Yokoyama only said. The anger in him rose, but he knew there was their chance to really get the culprit.
***
Two days later they could manage it to get Yokoyama out of this case. He could officially go out again without being hunted by several police men. The question of the guilt was still open, but it was time for the lawyer to fight for or against it.
“Where did you get the tape from?” Subaru asked when they were standing in his office. This time Yokoyama went with him. He didn’t dare about being seen anymore.
Ryo took out the envelope and pulled on a small sheet of paper. He didn’t even think of looking at it before.
A short message was written on it, making Ryo grasping for hold.
It will help you, my son. Yours, Nishikido Ane.
“My mum is dead…” Ryo’s voice was trembling.
Yokoyama stroked down the other one’s back, trying to calm him down. “Let’s find out what this means.”
Ryo could only nod at that. He was too lost in his thoughts in that moment. “The shadows. They aren’t my enemy, they are my guardians.”
“Shadows? Guardians?” Yokoyama looked at the other one, not knowing what he was talking about.
“I see some guys following me since my parents are dead. First I thought it’s my enemy, but they never came closer to me. I started ignoring them, but now I wonder if there is any other connection between them and my parents. Since this here started there is one shadow around me almost every time.” Ryo blinked. He started running when he realized what was always right in front of his face. He knew now who it was and what was after him.
He stopped in front of a small building not far away from the police station. He knocked on the door frantically. “Ueda-kun. She is here right?” He saw the other one smiling at him.
“Come in.” he only said, opening the door a bit more.
Ryo couldn’t believe it when he saw the person in black sitting at the table. “Ryo.” He made some steps backwards, leaning against the door. His heart was hammering against his chest. He didn’t even realize that Yokoyama followed him and stood right next to him, till he started talking. “Who is this?”
Ryo winced. He turned his head to him. “My mother.” He stepped a bit closer to the woman, scanning her properly. It was definitely her, no doubt. “What? Why? How?” Were the only words he was able to say.
“I had to hide because of the business we are in. The night we got killed was half a lie. They got your father, but I was able to escape. I had to hide, because otherwise I might have killed you and your brother. I am working for the government now, and I am still in the dark, always. You know I was watching you, and I know you recognized me last night. I had to get involved in your business, because it was a political thing, and some others wanted to get rid of the prime minister as well, so this case was a perfect chance for us. That’s why I started helping you.” She answered, smiling slightly. “I have to go again, Ryo. You know that, don’t you?”
Ryo just nodded at her. He was mesmerized in this moment. He couldn’t believe that his mother, he thought of she was dead, was sitting towards him right now. He knew she was a shadow, and her work was underground “It’s too dangerous to pull you into it. There are much bigger things going on as you can imagine. I can’t talk about it, but please understand that I can’t stay with you.”
“Can you give me some explanations?” Ryo wanted to know. She nodded at him, still smiling. “What happened back then?”
“The night we got separated your father died because of a mistake we made. It’s not important who did it, Ryo. Give up searching for the real reasons. It’s not worth it. I ran away, searching for help and finally found Ueda-kun’s father, who was also in spy businesses. He took care of me and he helped me watching over you and Maru. I was there all the time, watching out that nothing happened. I started living as a shadow, and I was able to erase my identity almost completely. They stopped hunting me, but I, in return, started hunting them. I got a lot of the guys, but there are still some missing. They are in high positions, so I am working for other political scenes right now to get closer to them. I can start anew when our hunters are gone, but it will take some time. Please stop living in past, Ryo. Okay? And please don’t search for me. I don’t want you to be involved in something like this. It’s bigger than every crime you committed.” She stood up and hugged her son shortly before she left the apartment without any further explanation.
“What the hell?” Yokoyama walked behind Ryo, who left the apartment right behind his mother. “I knew it was her.” He said.
“Why?”
“I saw her in the forest when I fled from the minister’s ground. And I heard someone calling Ueda’s name when I returned to the parking lot. I knew it was her. I just couldn’t believe it, because for me she was dead.” Ryo rubbed his face. He was confused about this situation and everything which happened. “Yoko?” He stopped walking and waited till Yokoyama did it same, turning around to face him.
“I want a change. I don’t want to do this anymore.” He finally said.
“Okay. I will help you. Let’s find something together, okay?” Yokoyama stepped a bit closer, his hands wrapping around the other one.
“Thanks.” Ryo leaned against him. Everything was overwhelming him, but he would take his time to sort out everything and to find something new for his - and their - new life.