お帰り [Welcome Home] - Chapter Twelve
Title: お帰り [Welcome Home]
Authors: curionenene and yeonah
Chapter: 12/?
Fandom: SS501
Pairings: KyuMin, HyunSaeng
Rating: PG-16
Warning: Angst, AU
Summary: Black and white... white and black. It isn't always possible to tell what is good and what is evil; and four players in the never-ending fight for freedom would know. In a world where things are painted by shades of grey, taking a stand could mean life or death. And the struggle to be free, truly free, may tear them apart until there is nothing left but ash.
A/N: KyuJong and HyunJoong are played by curionenene , while JungMin and YoungSaeng are played by yeonah .
“Urgh…”
Okay… everything in his body hurt… and KyuJong was hard-pressed to even open his eyes; his eyelids feeling as if they’d been superglued together.
“Min…?” He mumbled, shifting reluctantly into wakefulness. God…what did he do last night that he ached so much?
Stirring at the noises coming from his partner without his usual ear buds and eye patch to block it out, JungMin's eyes fluttered open. Blinking sleepily, everything that happened came back to him after a moment and he opened his eyes fully, looking down at KyuJong. "Heya," he said quietly, brushing locks of hair out of the other man's face worriedly. "How are you feeling, Kyu?"
The noises woke up YoungSaeng at the other end of the room, the kittens' ears twitching as golden eyes slowly opened.
HyunJoong had been awake all this while, and he smiled as he watched how careful JungMin was with KyuJong, and idly wondered why the redhead didn’t kiss the ankou already. Then, he was distracted as YoungSaeng woke up as well, grinning down at the kitten. “Morning. Had a good sleep?”
YoungSaeng's golden eyes flicked up to HyunJoong, and he gave a faint but positive mew before trying to sit up in the human's lap, looking back at his bandaged tail. He couldn't move it properly...hopefully that was just the bandage.
Deciding he'd worry about that later, he turned his attention back to HyunJoong, looking up at his master's face. You didn't sleep, he accused.
HyunJoong blinked, distracted from YoungSaeng’s accusation a little by the rather interesting scene in front of him. And decided that he might as well use it to dodge answering that question, HyunJoong put a finger to his lips, pointing at the other pair.
KyuJong blinked blearily around, his eyes moving around the room before settling on JungMin. “Hello…err…I feel…horrible…urgh…” He tried to get up, only to fall back down again, wincing. “Where are we?”
"Hey, careful," JungMin said, moving to support KyuJong as the ankou fell back down. "We're in one of the safe houses." He rubbed the other man's back lightly. "How much do you remember?" he asked, uncertain what to say.
“Hmmm?” KyuJong shook his head - it felt like it had been run through a blender. “Erh…not much…I can remember us running from the HQ…and then…a hunter was trying to shoot you…Wait! Are you hurt, Min? The hunter didn’t get you right?” He ignored the sharp pain in his back as he sat up straight, hands running up and down JungMin to make sure he was all right.
"No, he di-" cut off by the hands running along his body, JungMin's eyes widened, and then he did something he'd never done before; blush, red appearing in his cheeks as he carefully pulled KyuJong's hands away. "I'm fine," he laughed, trying to ignore the sudden warmth. "He didn't get me...thanks to you."
Holding on to KyuJong's hands, JungMin became serious then. "Do you...remember anything after that?" he asked quietly.
KyuJong stared when JungMin pulled his hand away, unsure if he was seeing what he was seeing. But he thought he must have been mistaken after JungMin asked the next question. “Urh…” KyuJong frowned, trying to recall what had happened before shaking his head. “After that…everything is a…blank…”
"...All right...” Looking at his partner, JungMin bit his lip and wondering if he should bring it up if KyuJong didn't remember...but he needed to know. He wanted to know just what had happened to KyuJong.
"What about this?" he asked, and held up one of the hands in his own...the hand that now wore the seal ring.
“Eh?” KyuJong looked down in surprise. This seal ring…he had worn it? But why? He hadn’t even had a chance to modify it yet…had he…had he gone berserk? Had there been a need for him to completely seal his powers?
Crap…if that had been so. Then had JungMin seen that side of him? That horrible side of him? “…Min, what exactly happened?”
"I'm not entirely sure myself," JungMin said, blinking. He had the funny feeling he'd missed the important parts because he'd focused on the hunter rather than KyuJong. "There was a bright light, and you said something, and the hunter died."
He paused for a moment, trying to decide what he should say. "You were acting strange right after, but then you put on the ring and passed out." He decided to leave out the bit about KyuJong pointing at his chest.
Bás. That was what he had said - ‘Die’. He had ordered the hunter to die, and obedient to the ankou’s right and power, the hunter had. So, he had lost control…
“I…” KyuJong looked down, biting his lips. “Min…I…don’t…I don’t know…”
JungMin pressed his lips firmly together, trying to meet KyuJong's gaze except that the ankou wasn't meeting his eyes anymore. "What happened, Kyu?" he asked quietly. "It wasn't like you at all."
What wasn't KyuJong telling him?
"I can't help if you don't tell me what's wrong..."
KyuJong didn’t know what to say. Any second now, it was all going to crack, and the truth would flow out like a dam. And for a moment, KyuJong was tempted to tell it all - to get it off his chest. To let JungMin help him.
But, no…he couldn’t. He just couldn’t. This wasn’t JungMin’s burden to bear.
Firmly pushing JungMin away, KyuJong swallowed bitter tears as he pushed himself from off the bed, backing toward the door.
Startled when he was pushed away, JungMin stood when KyuJong did, eyes concerned. "KyuJong, please," he said quietly, knowing that the ankou was going to run. "We're...we're partners, right? You don't have to run from me."
It hurt that KyuJong didn't seem to trust him...more than he thought it would.
“I-It’s not you!” KyuJong shouted, eyebrows knotting in pain at JungMin’s expression. “D-don’t look at me like that! Please…I…”
He bit his lip, looking up with eyes wet with frustrated tears. “Maybe…the person you think you know isn’t really me, Min. Maybe it was…that person who killed that hunter.” And with that, he ran out of the room.
Okay… that was not good. HyunJoong quickly stood up, his hands still firmly around YoungSaeng. They couldn’t afford to let KyuJong run around now while the hunters were still looking for them. “Crap.”
JungMin didn't even look back at the other two, wide eyes on the swinging door. Then he ran out after KyuJong, chasing after the ankou.
YoungSaeng watched them both leave, mewling in concern and frustration. We need to follow them and make sure they don't get themselves killed... He needed to shift back, or he'd be useless in following. His balance would be off for a while with his tail bandaged.
“Well, then hang on!” HyunJoong said as he tightened his hold on YoungSaeng, running after the two for all he was worth.
Another mew escaped YoungSaeng as his master started to run, the kitten curling up in his arms to make it easier. "HyunJoong, I can shift back and catch up with you. I'm slowing you down like this."
“Tch, I know I said you’re getting heavy, but you’re not that heavy.” HyunJoong chuckled as he followed behind the two, managing to shorten the distance quite a bit. He hadn’t been training all these years for nothing. “And there’s no way I’m letting you shift back with your tail like that.”
YoungSaeng flattened his ears and tried not to sulk. He hated being dependant on anyone, and with his tail like this he couldn't even balance on HyunJoong's shoulder so his arms were free. "Stupid hunter slicing the one thing I can't afford to have injured..."
JungMin was momentarily glad for the seal; KyuJong was slowed down to a human speed with his powers blocked, which gave the anti-hunter a chance to catch up. Controlling his breathing, he took a corner sharply and continued after the figure he could see up ahead, not caring about where they were going as long as he caught up.
KyuJong swallowed a shaky breath, unused to running at such a slow speed while exhausting such a high level of energy. Biting his lip, KyuJong tore down the corridor, unsure as to where he was going - but as long as he could run as far away as he could from JungMin. He didn’t care how far - as long as he didn’t hurt his master.
JungMin could see KyuJong was starting to tire, not used to running around for long lengths without his powers to help him. The human bit his lower lip and fought back the exhaustion that was threatening to slow him down as well, lengthening his stride to shorten the distance between them. He was catching up...just a bit more and he'd be able to grab the ankou.
Why? Why was he so useless? Even now, KyuJong couldn’t protect his master by doing this simple thing of running away? Why? Why? Why?
Taking a pained breath, KyuJong tried to lengthen the distance that had been shortening with JungMin’s every step. But he couldn’t - his body still tired from its exertion, and he tripped, nearly falling face-first onto the floor.
That trip did it, JungMin finally drawing close enough to reach out, catching KyuJong's hand as the ankou nearly fell. Pulling him back maybe a little harder than he should have, JungMin stumbled backwards when the ankou fell against him instead, causing JungMin to fall backwards and land on the ground, KyuJong in his lap.
Disorientated for a moment, JungMin wrapped his arms firmly around KyuJong's waist to keep him from escaping again. "Gotcha," he panted, tired.
“Aah…” KyuJong panted hard, trying to catch his breath. He made an attempt to get out of JungMin’s hold, but gave up after finding the human’s hands wrapped tightly around his waist. Damn… as a human, JungMin was much stronger than KyuJong the way he was now.
“Why?” He asked, burying his face into JungMin’s chest. “Why don’t you let me protect you?”
HyunJoong skidded to a halt at the entrance of the alleyway they were in, pausing as he took in the scene before him.
"Maybe I don't want to be protected if it means you running away from me," JungMin snorted, regaining his breath slowly. "You are an idiot. I have absolutely no idea what's going on, but I told you I wasn't going anywhere, and I meant it."
Swallowing thickly at the feeling of KyuJong's face against his chest, JungMin cradled the ankou close, resting his head against the top of the other man's head. "We're in this together, alright?" he murmured. "Don't make me tie you to the bed again before you realize that."
“You’re the idiot.” KyuJong muttered back, but it had no strength behind it, and with each of JungMin’s words he could feel his resolve crumble. “Idiot… idiot…”
Tears streamed down his face, and emotion poured out raw and hurt like a waterfall. And KyuJong began to bawl like a baby in JungMin’s arms.
JungMin smiled faintly as KyuJong started to cry, and he couldn't stop himself from pressing his lips lightly against the ankou's soft hair as he held him, rubbing one hand along KyuJong's back soothingly without speaking.
HyunJoong smiled warmly at the scene, and without a word, backed out of the corridor, making his way back to the room.
YoungSaeng gave an inner sigh of relief when he saw all was well again, closing his eyes after a moment and burying himself against HyunJoong's shirt as the human started back, the gentle rocking motion soothing.
HyunJoong smiled as YoungSaeng buried himself into his chest, and gently he stroked the soft fur, humming to himself. It seemed like everything was going to be okay at least for a while.
He couldn’t have been more wrong.
“I finally found you.”
It was at the voice that stopped HyunJoong in his tracks. It was the voice that haunted his nightmares, the voice that he dreaded ever hearing again - that he thought he never would. The voice that could control his every action, his every thought - his every desire.
Turning around in shock, HyunJoong’s breath caught in his throat, disbelief and horror plain on his face.
“JaeJoong?”
Something had changed. YoungSaeng's eyes opened again as HyunJoong stopped, the human's body suddenly tense...so tense he might snap. Squirming in the man's grip slightly, YoungSaeng turned himself around so that he could see just what was causing this reaction in his master.
His ears perked up at the man who stood before them, the scent of a non-human reaching his nose. Fox...Kitsune. Golden eyes taking in the man's appearance, the one HyunJoong called JaeJoong, YoungSaeng noted the ears on top of the man's head.
But there was something else...an aura of power around him, one that set the felinefolk's fur on end...
And HyunJoong was scared of this man.
Reacting instantly to the tension in his master's body, YoungSaeng sat up in the man's arms and flattened his ears, hissing. "HyunJoong, who is he?"
HyunJoong couldn’t answer straightaway - he could barely move in the wake of the aura that now surrounded and suppressed his own. How had he not sensed JaeJoong’s massive spiritual energy? He should have, at the very least…
…If not for the fact that JaeJoong was supposed to be dead.
The kitsune named JaeJoong tilted his head, his red eyes surveying the man in front of him, and as HyunJoong felt that same gaze that he had once loved holding the attention of, he shuddered, taking a step back.
It was that fear that galvanized him into action. Trembling horribly, HyunJoong looked down at the cat in his arms and knew that he had to protect YoungSaeng from JaeJoong.
“Run.”
And with that, he let go of YoungSaeng, drawing out his gun and charging straight at JaeJoong.
YoungSaeng yelped as he was dropped, landing on the ground and staring in alarm as HyunJoong charged the kitsune. "Hyun!" he cried out. No...there was too much energy coming from the fox, too much power, there was no way a human could stand it.
And YoungSaeng was completely useless right now. Anything he did wouldn't make a difference.
Scrambling for a way to help, anything, his mind went to the two not that far away, JungMin and KyuJong.
Casting his master a frantic glance, YoungSaeng darted back down the way they had came, running as fast as he could and ignoring the pain as he followed the scent of the ankou.
YoungSaeng was running - that was good. As long as he wasn’t around, HyunJoong could do this…
Stopping his charge, HyunJoong quickly switched his hold as he skid to a stop. Pointing the gun to his own head instead.
There was no way he could defeat JaeJoong, and unless he did this, the kitsune would only have one more tool at which to make him grow even stronger. Closing his eyes tight, HyunJoong squeezed the trigger of the gun.
There was a loud bang.
The loud gunshot echoed through the air as YoungSaeng spotted the pair, spurring him on faster. Not even bothering to be polite, he crashed straight into JungMin, snapping the human out of the daze he'd been in while watching after KyuJong.
"Hey...YoungSaeng..?" He stared at the kitten that righted itself instantly, yowling in urgency and looking a lot less composed than he usually was. What was that bang?
"Trouble, big trouble, hurry up!" YoungSaeng yelled at them, knowing that they wouldn't understand but doing it anyways.
"What's-OW!" YoungSaeng had finally bit JungMin's hand before taking off back the way he'd come.
Unlike JungMin, KyuJong could hear and understand everything that YoungSaeng said. However, it took him a while to place where he’d seen YoungSaeng before, and snap out of his slight stupor crying had placed him in.
“Uh… oh!” KyuJong immediately pushed himself off JungMin, tugging at his master to get up. “He said there’s trouble! Let’s go!”
JungMin's eyes widened, standing up with KyuJong's help. Their hands still intertwined, they ran after the small black kitten that seemed to be yelling at them for being slow now.
Running along, and being careful that the other two could see him at all times, YoungSaeng felt fear race through him when there were no further gunshots. What had happened? Was the kitsune dead? Or was HyunJoong...
No. No, he couldn't be, he just couldn't be.
Taking the final corner, YoungSaeng reappeared at the end of the alley...and skidded to a dead stop, his heart stopping as well.
KyuJong and JungMin rounded the last corner as well, and the ankou nearly tread over YoungSaeng’s tail when he realized that the felinefolk had stopped. Letting out a sound of surprise, he looked up only to be even more stunned.
“What… the…?” KyuJong eyes grew to the size of saucers at the sight in front of him. It…couldn’t be right? What the hell was going on? “YoungSaeng sshi…? Isn’t that…?”
The hunter that KyuJong thought was YoungSaeng’s partner was kissing a kitsune right in front of their eyes.
Staring at the scene in front of him, YoungSaeng couldn't move. What...? What was going on? HyunJoong...
It was hard to breath all of a sudden, something breaking...but the felinefolk knew he hadn't imagined the way HyunJoong's body tensed in fear...pure fear.
JungMin, stunned by the sudden turn of events, jumped when the kitten at their feet released a yowl of anger and pain before darting forward, latching on to the kitsune's leg and biting down hard.
The kitsune let out a yell, breaking off the kiss immediately. “Insolent…!” Red eyes flashed, and suddenly the corridor was filled with tails of snaking fur, nine of them in all. And one of them curled around YoungSaeng, pulling him off and throwing him at the wall.
“YoungSaeng sshi!” KyuJong cried out in horror, but with the ring still around his finger, he could do absolutely nothing. Nothing except grab onto JungMin so that he wouldn’t do anything foolish - this was a nine-tailed kitsune. A monster that was entirely out of their league…
Then, before the cat could crash into the wall, there was a dark blur and the sound of sand filled the air. “沙! 包围!”
The kitsune hissed, leaping away from HyunJoong as a pillar of sand materialized out of thin air, aiming to curl around his waist in order to prevent him from running away. Red eyes glared however, not at the one who was attacking him, but the new arrival that had wrapped his arms around a dazed-looking HyunJoong’s form, pulling him away from the onslaught of sand. “Tch…why do you persist in getting in my way, Daniel?!”
Another man stood not that far away, YoungSaeng held in one arm. The other arm was pointing out, directing the sand as it fell and rose in a continuous stream.
"You've done enough damage, JaeJoong," the man holding HyunJoong said, eyes sharp. "This can't be allowed to continue."
YoungSaeng watched what was going on with wide eyes, still disorientated from his sudden flight. JungMin looked back at KyuJong as he was held back, gun already out in his hand. "Are...those two really..."
He'd only seen the man called Tablo once from afar...and his partner Mithra was seen even less.
Mithra flicked his wrist to one side, directing the stream of sand back towards the kitsune in a rush.
“Ugh.” JaeJoong growled, lifting up his hand to cover his face - but although the action was small, it brought the nine tails up in formation, blocking the sand from reaching JaeJoong.
But it was obvious that the kitsune was being forced back. And finally, JaeJoong cast a baleful glare at Tablo and HyunJoong. “I will not be thwarted long, Daniel. HyunJoong is mine and he knows it…he will be the one to come and find me.”
And with that, the kitsune retreated - one second he was there, and the next, he was not.
JungMin jumped as the kitsune disappeared, looking around. The sense of power in the alley had disappeared as suddenly as it came, leaving the human disorientated. He wasn't used to being able to sense such things, and the fact that he could said something about the kitsune's power.
His train of thought was cut off by a heartbreaking cry, and he looked up to see YoungSaeng fight his way out of Mithra's hold and drop to the ground, darting to HyunJoong. Meowing continuously, the felinefolk twined around his master's foot and pawed at his leg, trying to get his attention, the small kitten growing more and more frantic.
But HyunJoong didn’t reply, and KyuJong could see the dazed, unfocused look in HyunJoong’s eyes. The human didn’t look as if he was breathing…
Then the man whom KyuJong guessed was Tablo placed his hand over HyunJoong’s chest, muttering several phrases. And although KyuJong’s powers were sealed, he knew a breaking technique when he saw one.
There was a brief flash of light, then a sharp intake of breath as HyunJoong snapped back to his senses. His eyes roved around before they finally settled down on YoungSaeng who was still pawing at his leg.
“Saeng…” HyunJoong said it as if it was a lifeline, and reaching down, he picked the felinefolk up, cradling him as if he was the last comfort HyunJoong had in this world.
YoungSaeng mewled loudly, hooking his front paws into HyunJoong's shirt and nuzzling against his neck and jaw with the top of his head, the intensity of his purring a complete opposite to how quiet he usually was.
"He's gone," a slightly frustrated voice spoke, and JungMin's attention went to Mithra, who was now beside Tablo (when had he even moved?). The man's eyes were the color of sand, a duller gold than YoungSaeng's, before he blinked and they shifted into black. "There's no trace of him in the area."
JungMin looked back at KyuJong, eyes wide. "I think we're missing out on something important," he said. Just who was the kitsune?
Tablo’s gaze shifted back to JungMin and KyuJong at the statement and was about to reply when HyunJoong looked up, a shaky question in his eyes. “Hyung…”
Black eyes met brown, and finally, Tablo had to look away. “I’m sorry, HyunJoong…”
It was as if the apology broke a dam, and suddenly tears poured out from HyunJoong’s eyes, as did uncontrollable tremors. “W-Why…? Why i-is he here?”
A shaky breath that was close to hyperventilation, then a swallowed gasp. “I-I thought…he was dead…d-didn’t you say…that y-you killed h-him?”
Guilt shone in Tablo’s eyes as he walked forward, kneeling down beside HyunJoong and wrapping his arms around the terrified man. “I’m sorry…I lied…”
YoungSaeng meowed quietly, ears flattening at the tears that fell down HyunJoong's face. Managing to stretch further, he rubbed his head gently against his master's cheek, trying to calm him as well and ignoring Tablo for now.
"Who was he?" JungMin asked quietly.
Mithra glanced at them, and then sighed. "A powerful kitsune we've kept under seal for five years. His name is Kim JaeJoong." He started to say more, then hesitated and looked at HyunJoong.
"HyunJoong?" YoungSaeng asked quietly, golden eyes blinking at him worriedly.
HyunJoong’s hands tightened around YoungSaeng as if drawing comfort from holding him. And with a painful breath, he answered the question that everyone was asking. “JaeJoong…was my partner for seven years…”
He looked down, his entire body shaking as he said the next part. “And for the last year…we became lovers…until he…he…”
It was then that Tablo took pity on HyunJoong, completing the sentence for him. “He turned rogue. He bound HyunJoong in a spell of absolute compliance to his every order and killed at least 10 of our people…and he almost got away with it, except that Mithra and I were lucky enough to stop him…”
JungMin's eyes widened. Absolute compliance?
Meaning JaeJoong could control everything HyunJoong did...every single thing about the human.
"Then...that kiss that we walked in on means that he still has control over HyunJoong?" JungMin asked.
YoungSaeng gave a strained mewl.
"I'm afraid that might be the case," Mithra sighed, glancing at HyunJoong before looking away. "We told you that JaeJoong had been killed to avoid the possibility that you might look for him. In reality, we had him sealed away. His power was to the point we couldn't kill him without the risk of losing half the organization."
“I’m sorry…but in the state you were in, you would have gone to find JaeJoong.” Tablo continued to hold HyunJoong tight. “I…I sealed your ability to sense him…which was why you didn’t earlier…I’m sorry. You must have gotten a shock.”
HyunJoong didn’t say anything in reply; instead, his hands loosened around YoungSaeng as he slowly put the felinefolk down. Shrugging Tablo’s startled hands off, his expression was hidden by the bangs that had fallen across his face as he stood up. “I…I just need some time alone…”
And ignoring the looks of surprise he was given, HyunJoong walked off, making his way down in the search of somewhere quiet.
Watching HyunJoong walk away with wide, golden eyes, YoungSaeng glanced at them all before going to follow his master, hiding himself in the shadows and following from a distance. He didn't want to let HyunJoong out of his sights.
Mithra sighed, looking at Tablo. "I'll be around. There has to be a trace of him somewhere." With that the man was gone, like sand blown away in the wind.
JungMin looked back at KyuJong. "What now?" he asked quietly, unsure what they were supposed to do. This was a little out of their usual territory.
KyuJong was about to shrug when there was a hand on his shoulder. He looked up to see Tablo pointing at KyuJong’s finger - or rather, the ring on the finger - as if asking for permission to look at it.
“Er…” KyuJong lifted up his hand and Tablo took it, turning the ring around on the finger with a frown.
“Now…I’ll make you a new seal ring.” Tablo said with a sigh. “An ankou who can use his powers without worrying about his superiority complex will be useful.”
“Ah.” KyuJong’s face fell, before he turned and looked at JungMin. It seemed that…the truth would probably come out soon.
Looking from Tablo to KyuJong, JungMin held back a sigh. It seemed everyone had an idea of what was going on with KyuJong except for him.
"Superiority complex?" he echoed, looking at KyuJong for a better explanation. "I've been a bit out of the loop...KyuJong, please?" he asked quietly. He needed to know what was going on, and he wanted to hear it from his partner.
KyuJong bit his lip, looking down. He had never wanted JungMin to find out…but it looked like he had no choice but to tell the human now…
Looking at the scene, Tablo realized that his presence would probably only make things awkward and so, mumbling something about getting materials, he walked off, leaving the two alone.
Grateful for the privacy, KyuJong sighed before looking up at JungMin and began to explain.
“You see…JungMin…”
Authors: curionenene and yeonah
Chapter: 12/?
Fandom: SS501
Pairings: KyuMin, HyunSaeng
Rating: PG-16
Warning: Angst, AU
Summary: Black and white... white and black. It isn't always possible to tell what is good and what is evil; and four players in the never-ending fight for freedom would know. In a world where things are painted by shades of grey, taking a stand could mean life or death. And the struggle to be free, truly free, may tear them apart until there is nothing left but ash.
A/N: KyuJong and HyunJoong are played by curionenene , while JungMin and YoungSaeng are played by yeonah .
“Urgh…”
Okay… everything in his body hurt… and KyuJong was hard-pressed to even open his eyes; his eyelids feeling as if they’d been superglued together.
“Min…?” He mumbled, shifting reluctantly into wakefulness. God…what did he do last night that he ached so much?
Stirring at the noises coming from his partner without his usual ear buds and eye patch to block it out, JungMin's eyes fluttered open. Blinking sleepily, everything that happened came back to him after a moment and he opened his eyes fully, looking down at KyuJong. "Heya," he said quietly, brushing locks of hair out of the other man's face worriedly. "How are you feeling, Kyu?"
The noises woke up YoungSaeng at the other end of the room, the kittens' ears twitching as golden eyes slowly opened.
HyunJoong had been awake all this while, and he smiled as he watched how careful JungMin was with KyuJong, and idly wondered why the redhead didn’t kiss the ankou already. Then, he was distracted as YoungSaeng woke up as well, grinning down at the kitten. “Morning. Had a good sleep?”
YoungSaeng's golden eyes flicked up to HyunJoong, and he gave a faint but positive mew before trying to sit up in the human's lap, looking back at his bandaged tail. He couldn't move it properly...hopefully that was just the bandage.
Deciding he'd worry about that later, he turned his attention back to HyunJoong, looking up at his master's face. You didn't sleep, he accused.
HyunJoong blinked, distracted from YoungSaeng’s accusation a little by the rather interesting scene in front of him. And decided that he might as well use it to dodge answering that question, HyunJoong put a finger to his lips, pointing at the other pair.
KyuJong blinked blearily around, his eyes moving around the room before settling on JungMin. “Hello…err…I feel…horrible…urgh…” He tried to get up, only to fall back down again, wincing. “Where are we?”
"Hey, careful," JungMin said, moving to support KyuJong as the ankou fell back down. "We're in one of the safe houses." He rubbed the other man's back lightly. "How much do you remember?" he asked, uncertain what to say.
“Hmmm?” KyuJong shook his head - it felt like it had been run through a blender. “Erh…not much…I can remember us running from the HQ…and then…a hunter was trying to shoot you…Wait! Are you hurt, Min? The hunter didn’t get you right?” He ignored the sharp pain in his back as he sat up straight, hands running up and down JungMin to make sure he was all right.
"No, he di-" cut off by the hands running along his body, JungMin's eyes widened, and then he did something he'd never done before; blush, red appearing in his cheeks as he carefully pulled KyuJong's hands away. "I'm fine," he laughed, trying to ignore the sudden warmth. "He didn't get me...thanks to you."
Holding on to KyuJong's hands, JungMin became serious then. "Do you...remember anything after that?" he asked quietly.
KyuJong stared when JungMin pulled his hand away, unsure if he was seeing what he was seeing. But he thought he must have been mistaken after JungMin asked the next question. “Urh…” KyuJong frowned, trying to recall what had happened before shaking his head. “After that…everything is a…blank…”
"...All right...” Looking at his partner, JungMin bit his lip and wondering if he should bring it up if KyuJong didn't remember...but he needed to know. He wanted to know just what had happened to KyuJong.
"What about this?" he asked, and held up one of the hands in his own...the hand that now wore the seal ring.
“Eh?” KyuJong looked down in surprise. This seal ring…he had worn it? But why? He hadn’t even had a chance to modify it yet…had he…had he gone berserk? Had there been a need for him to completely seal his powers?
Crap…if that had been so. Then had JungMin seen that side of him? That horrible side of him? “…Min, what exactly happened?”
"I'm not entirely sure myself," JungMin said, blinking. He had the funny feeling he'd missed the important parts because he'd focused on the hunter rather than KyuJong. "There was a bright light, and you said something, and the hunter died."
He paused for a moment, trying to decide what he should say. "You were acting strange right after, but then you put on the ring and passed out." He decided to leave out the bit about KyuJong pointing at his chest.
Bás. That was what he had said - ‘Die’. He had ordered the hunter to die, and obedient to the ankou’s right and power, the hunter had. So, he had lost control…
“I…” KyuJong looked down, biting his lips. “Min…I…don’t…I don’t know…”
JungMin pressed his lips firmly together, trying to meet KyuJong's gaze except that the ankou wasn't meeting his eyes anymore. "What happened, Kyu?" he asked quietly. "It wasn't like you at all."
What wasn't KyuJong telling him?
"I can't help if you don't tell me what's wrong..."
KyuJong didn’t know what to say. Any second now, it was all going to crack, and the truth would flow out like a dam. And for a moment, KyuJong was tempted to tell it all - to get it off his chest. To let JungMin help him.
But, no…he couldn’t. He just couldn’t. This wasn’t JungMin’s burden to bear.
Firmly pushing JungMin away, KyuJong swallowed bitter tears as he pushed himself from off the bed, backing toward the door.
Startled when he was pushed away, JungMin stood when KyuJong did, eyes concerned. "KyuJong, please," he said quietly, knowing that the ankou was going to run. "We're...we're partners, right? You don't have to run from me."
It hurt that KyuJong didn't seem to trust him...more than he thought it would.
“I-It’s not you!” KyuJong shouted, eyebrows knotting in pain at JungMin’s expression. “D-don’t look at me like that! Please…I…”
He bit his lip, looking up with eyes wet with frustrated tears. “Maybe…the person you think you know isn’t really me, Min. Maybe it was…that person who killed that hunter.” And with that, he ran out of the room.
Okay… that was not good. HyunJoong quickly stood up, his hands still firmly around YoungSaeng. They couldn’t afford to let KyuJong run around now while the hunters were still looking for them. “Crap.”
JungMin didn't even look back at the other two, wide eyes on the swinging door. Then he ran out after KyuJong, chasing after the ankou.
YoungSaeng watched them both leave, mewling in concern and frustration. We need to follow them and make sure they don't get themselves killed... He needed to shift back, or he'd be useless in following. His balance would be off for a while with his tail bandaged.
“Well, then hang on!” HyunJoong said as he tightened his hold on YoungSaeng, running after the two for all he was worth.
Another mew escaped YoungSaeng as his master started to run, the kitten curling up in his arms to make it easier. "HyunJoong, I can shift back and catch up with you. I'm slowing you down like this."
“Tch, I know I said you’re getting heavy, but you’re not that heavy.” HyunJoong chuckled as he followed behind the two, managing to shorten the distance quite a bit. He hadn’t been training all these years for nothing. “And there’s no way I’m letting you shift back with your tail like that.”
YoungSaeng flattened his ears and tried not to sulk. He hated being dependant on anyone, and with his tail like this he couldn't even balance on HyunJoong's shoulder so his arms were free. "Stupid hunter slicing the one thing I can't afford to have injured..."
JungMin was momentarily glad for the seal; KyuJong was slowed down to a human speed with his powers blocked, which gave the anti-hunter a chance to catch up. Controlling his breathing, he took a corner sharply and continued after the figure he could see up ahead, not caring about where they were going as long as he caught up.
KyuJong swallowed a shaky breath, unused to running at such a slow speed while exhausting such a high level of energy. Biting his lip, KyuJong tore down the corridor, unsure as to where he was going - but as long as he could run as far away as he could from JungMin. He didn’t care how far - as long as he didn’t hurt his master.
JungMin could see KyuJong was starting to tire, not used to running around for long lengths without his powers to help him. The human bit his lower lip and fought back the exhaustion that was threatening to slow him down as well, lengthening his stride to shorten the distance between them. He was catching up...just a bit more and he'd be able to grab the ankou.
Why? Why was he so useless? Even now, KyuJong couldn’t protect his master by doing this simple thing of running away? Why? Why? Why?
Taking a pained breath, KyuJong tried to lengthen the distance that had been shortening with JungMin’s every step. But he couldn’t - his body still tired from its exertion, and he tripped, nearly falling face-first onto the floor.
That trip did it, JungMin finally drawing close enough to reach out, catching KyuJong's hand as the ankou nearly fell. Pulling him back maybe a little harder than he should have, JungMin stumbled backwards when the ankou fell against him instead, causing JungMin to fall backwards and land on the ground, KyuJong in his lap.
Disorientated for a moment, JungMin wrapped his arms firmly around KyuJong's waist to keep him from escaping again. "Gotcha," he panted, tired.
“Aah…” KyuJong panted hard, trying to catch his breath. He made an attempt to get out of JungMin’s hold, but gave up after finding the human’s hands wrapped tightly around his waist. Damn… as a human, JungMin was much stronger than KyuJong the way he was now.
“Why?” He asked, burying his face into JungMin’s chest. “Why don’t you let me protect you?”
HyunJoong skidded to a halt at the entrance of the alleyway they were in, pausing as he took in the scene before him.
"Maybe I don't want to be protected if it means you running away from me," JungMin snorted, regaining his breath slowly. "You are an idiot. I have absolutely no idea what's going on, but I told you I wasn't going anywhere, and I meant it."
Swallowing thickly at the feeling of KyuJong's face against his chest, JungMin cradled the ankou close, resting his head against the top of the other man's head. "We're in this together, alright?" he murmured. "Don't make me tie you to the bed again before you realize that."
“You’re the idiot.” KyuJong muttered back, but it had no strength behind it, and with each of JungMin’s words he could feel his resolve crumble. “Idiot… idiot…”
Tears streamed down his face, and emotion poured out raw and hurt like a waterfall. And KyuJong began to bawl like a baby in JungMin’s arms.
JungMin smiled faintly as KyuJong started to cry, and he couldn't stop himself from pressing his lips lightly against the ankou's soft hair as he held him, rubbing one hand along KyuJong's back soothingly without speaking.
HyunJoong smiled warmly at the scene, and without a word, backed out of the corridor, making his way back to the room.
YoungSaeng gave an inner sigh of relief when he saw all was well again, closing his eyes after a moment and burying himself against HyunJoong's shirt as the human started back, the gentle rocking motion soothing.
HyunJoong smiled as YoungSaeng buried himself into his chest, and gently he stroked the soft fur, humming to himself. It seemed like everything was going to be okay at least for a while.
He couldn’t have been more wrong.
“I finally found you.”
It was at the voice that stopped HyunJoong in his tracks. It was the voice that haunted his nightmares, the voice that he dreaded ever hearing again - that he thought he never would. The voice that could control his every action, his every thought - his every desire.
Turning around in shock, HyunJoong’s breath caught in his throat, disbelief and horror plain on his face.
“JaeJoong?”
Something had changed. YoungSaeng's eyes opened again as HyunJoong stopped, the human's body suddenly tense...so tense he might snap. Squirming in the man's grip slightly, YoungSaeng turned himself around so that he could see just what was causing this reaction in his master.
His ears perked up at the man who stood before them, the scent of a non-human reaching his nose. Fox...Kitsune. Golden eyes taking in the man's appearance, the one HyunJoong called JaeJoong, YoungSaeng noted the ears on top of the man's head.
But there was something else...an aura of power around him, one that set the felinefolk's fur on end...
And HyunJoong was scared of this man.
Reacting instantly to the tension in his master's body, YoungSaeng sat up in the man's arms and flattened his ears, hissing. "HyunJoong, who is he?"
HyunJoong couldn’t answer straightaway - he could barely move in the wake of the aura that now surrounded and suppressed his own. How had he not sensed JaeJoong’s massive spiritual energy? He should have, at the very least…
…If not for the fact that JaeJoong was supposed to be dead.
The kitsune named JaeJoong tilted his head, his red eyes surveying the man in front of him, and as HyunJoong felt that same gaze that he had once loved holding the attention of, he shuddered, taking a step back.
It was that fear that galvanized him into action. Trembling horribly, HyunJoong looked down at the cat in his arms and knew that he had to protect YoungSaeng from JaeJoong.
“Run.”
And with that, he let go of YoungSaeng, drawing out his gun and charging straight at JaeJoong.
YoungSaeng yelped as he was dropped, landing on the ground and staring in alarm as HyunJoong charged the kitsune. "Hyun!" he cried out. No...there was too much energy coming from the fox, too much power, there was no way a human could stand it.
And YoungSaeng was completely useless right now. Anything he did wouldn't make a difference.
Scrambling for a way to help, anything, his mind went to the two not that far away, JungMin and KyuJong.
Casting his master a frantic glance, YoungSaeng darted back down the way they had came, running as fast as he could and ignoring the pain as he followed the scent of the ankou.
YoungSaeng was running - that was good. As long as he wasn’t around, HyunJoong could do this…
Stopping his charge, HyunJoong quickly switched his hold as he skid to a stop. Pointing the gun to his own head instead.
There was no way he could defeat JaeJoong, and unless he did this, the kitsune would only have one more tool at which to make him grow even stronger. Closing his eyes tight, HyunJoong squeezed the trigger of the gun.
There was a loud bang.
The loud gunshot echoed through the air as YoungSaeng spotted the pair, spurring him on faster. Not even bothering to be polite, he crashed straight into JungMin, snapping the human out of the daze he'd been in while watching after KyuJong.
"Hey...YoungSaeng..?" He stared at the kitten that righted itself instantly, yowling in urgency and looking a lot less composed than he usually was. What was that bang?
"Trouble, big trouble, hurry up!" YoungSaeng yelled at them, knowing that they wouldn't understand but doing it anyways.
"What's-OW!" YoungSaeng had finally bit JungMin's hand before taking off back the way he'd come.
Unlike JungMin, KyuJong could hear and understand everything that YoungSaeng said. However, it took him a while to place where he’d seen YoungSaeng before, and snap out of his slight stupor crying had placed him in.
“Uh… oh!” KyuJong immediately pushed himself off JungMin, tugging at his master to get up. “He said there’s trouble! Let’s go!”
JungMin's eyes widened, standing up with KyuJong's help. Their hands still intertwined, they ran after the small black kitten that seemed to be yelling at them for being slow now.
Running along, and being careful that the other two could see him at all times, YoungSaeng felt fear race through him when there were no further gunshots. What had happened? Was the kitsune dead? Or was HyunJoong...
No. No, he couldn't be, he just couldn't be.
Taking the final corner, YoungSaeng reappeared at the end of the alley...and skidded to a dead stop, his heart stopping as well.
KyuJong and JungMin rounded the last corner as well, and the ankou nearly tread over YoungSaeng’s tail when he realized that the felinefolk had stopped. Letting out a sound of surprise, he looked up only to be even more stunned.
“What… the…?” KyuJong eyes grew to the size of saucers at the sight in front of him. It…couldn’t be right? What the hell was going on? “YoungSaeng sshi…? Isn’t that…?”
The hunter that KyuJong thought was YoungSaeng’s partner was kissing a kitsune right in front of their eyes.
Staring at the scene in front of him, YoungSaeng couldn't move. What...? What was going on? HyunJoong...
It was hard to breath all of a sudden, something breaking...but the felinefolk knew he hadn't imagined the way HyunJoong's body tensed in fear...pure fear.
JungMin, stunned by the sudden turn of events, jumped when the kitten at their feet released a yowl of anger and pain before darting forward, latching on to the kitsune's leg and biting down hard.
The kitsune let out a yell, breaking off the kiss immediately. “Insolent…!” Red eyes flashed, and suddenly the corridor was filled with tails of snaking fur, nine of them in all. And one of them curled around YoungSaeng, pulling him off and throwing him at the wall.
“YoungSaeng sshi!” KyuJong cried out in horror, but with the ring still around his finger, he could do absolutely nothing. Nothing except grab onto JungMin so that he wouldn’t do anything foolish - this was a nine-tailed kitsune. A monster that was entirely out of their league…
Then, before the cat could crash into the wall, there was a dark blur and the sound of sand filled the air. “沙! 包围!”
The kitsune hissed, leaping away from HyunJoong as a pillar of sand materialized out of thin air, aiming to curl around his waist in order to prevent him from running away. Red eyes glared however, not at the one who was attacking him, but the new arrival that had wrapped his arms around a dazed-looking HyunJoong’s form, pulling him away from the onslaught of sand. “Tch…why do you persist in getting in my way, Daniel?!”
Another man stood not that far away, YoungSaeng held in one arm. The other arm was pointing out, directing the sand as it fell and rose in a continuous stream.
"You've done enough damage, JaeJoong," the man holding HyunJoong said, eyes sharp. "This can't be allowed to continue."
YoungSaeng watched what was going on with wide eyes, still disorientated from his sudden flight. JungMin looked back at KyuJong as he was held back, gun already out in his hand. "Are...those two really..."
He'd only seen the man called Tablo once from afar...and his partner Mithra was seen even less.
Mithra flicked his wrist to one side, directing the stream of sand back towards the kitsune in a rush.
“Ugh.” JaeJoong growled, lifting up his hand to cover his face - but although the action was small, it brought the nine tails up in formation, blocking the sand from reaching JaeJoong.
But it was obvious that the kitsune was being forced back. And finally, JaeJoong cast a baleful glare at Tablo and HyunJoong. “I will not be thwarted long, Daniel. HyunJoong is mine and he knows it…he will be the one to come and find me.”
And with that, the kitsune retreated - one second he was there, and the next, he was not.
JungMin jumped as the kitsune disappeared, looking around. The sense of power in the alley had disappeared as suddenly as it came, leaving the human disorientated. He wasn't used to being able to sense such things, and the fact that he could said something about the kitsune's power.
His train of thought was cut off by a heartbreaking cry, and he looked up to see YoungSaeng fight his way out of Mithra's hold and drop to the ground, darting to HyunJoong. Meowing continuously, the felinefolk twined around his master's foot and pawed at his leg, trying to get his attention, the small kitten growing more and more frantic.
But HyunJoong didn’t reply, and KyuJong could see the dazed, unfocused look in HyunJoong’s eyes. The human didn’t look as if he was breathing…
Then the man whom KyuJong guessed was Tablo placed his hand over HyunJoong’s chest, muttering several phrases. And although KyuJong’s powers were sealed, he knew a breaking technique when he saw one.
There was a brief flash of light, then a sharp intake of breath as HyunJoong snapped back to his senses. His eyes roved around before they finally settled down on YoungSaeng who was still pawing at his leg.
“Saeng…” HyunJoong said it as if it was a lifeline, and reaching down, he picked the felinefolk up, cradling him as if he was the last comfort HyunJoong had in this world.
YoungSaeng mewled loudly, hooking his front paws into HyunJoong's shirt and nuzzling against his neck and jaw with the top of his head, the intensity of his purring a complete opposite to how quiet he usually was.
"He's gone," a slightly frustrated voice spoke, and JungMin's attention went to Mithra, who was now beside Tablo (when had he even moved?). The man's eyes were the color of sand, a duller gold than YoungSaeng's, before he blinked and they shifted into black. "There's no trace of him in the area."
JungMin looked back at KyuJong, eyes wide. "I think we're missing out on something important," he said. Just who was the kitsune?
Tablo’s gaze shifted back to JungMin and KyuJong at the statement and was about to reply when HyunJoong looked up, a shaky question in his eyes. “Hyung…”
Black eyes met brown, and finally, Tablo had to look away. “I’m sorry, HyunJoong…”
It was as if the apology broke a dam, and suddenly tears poured out from HyunJoong’s eyes, as did uncontrollable tremors. “W-Why…? Why i-is he here?”
A shaky breath that was close to hyperventilation, then a swallowed gasp. “I-I thought…he was dead…d-didn’t you say…that y-you killed h-him?”
Guilt shone in Tablo’s eyes as he walked forward, kneeling down beside HyunJoong and wrapping his arms around the terrified man. “I’m sorry…I lied…”
YoungSaeng meowed quietly, ears flattening at the tears that fell down HyunJoong's face. Managing to stretch further, he rubbed his head gently against his master's cheek, trying to calm him as well and ignoring Tablo for now.
"Who was he?" JungMin asked quietly.
Mithra glanced at them, and then sighed. "A powerful kitsune we've kept under seal for five years. His name is Kim JaeJoong." He started to say more, then hesitated and looked at HyunJoong.
"HyunJoong?" YoungSaeng asked quietly, golden eyes blinking at him worriedly.
HyunJoong’s hands tightened around YoungSaeng as if drawing comfort from holding him. And with a painful breath, he answered the question that everyone was asking. “JaeJoong…was my partner for seven years…”
He looked down, his entire body shaking as he said the next part. “And for the last year…we became lovers…until he…he…”
It was then that Tablo took pity on HyunJoong, completing the sentence for him. “He turned rogue. He bound HyunJoong in a spell of absolute compliance to his every order and killed at least 10 of our people…and he almost got away with it, except that Mithra and I were lucky enough to stop him…”
JungMin's eyes widened. Absolute compliance?
Meaning JaeJoong could control everything HyunJoong did...every single thing about the human.
"Then...that kiss that we walked in on means that he still has control over HyunJoong?" JungMin asked.
YoungSaeng gave a strained mewl.
"I'm afraid that might be the case," Mithra sighed, glancing at HyunJoong before looking away. "We told you that JaeJoong had been killed to avoid the possibility that you might look for him. In reality, we had him sealed away. His power was to the point we couldn't kill him without the risk of losing half the organization."
“I’m sorry…but in the state you were in, you would have gone to find JaeJoong.” Tablo continued to hold HyunJoong tight. “I…I sealed your ability to sense him…which was why you didn’t earlier…I’m sorry. You must have gotten a shock.”
HyunJoong didn’t say anything in reply; instead, his hands loosened around YoungSaeng as he slowly put the felinefolk down. Shrugging Tablo’s startled hands off, his expression was hidden by the bangs that had fallen across his face as he stood up. “I…I just need some time alone…”
And ignoring the looks of surprise he was given, HyunJoong walked off, making his way down in the search of somewhere quiet.
Watching HyunJoong walk away with wide, golden eyes, YoungSaeng glanced at them all before going to follow his master, hiding himself in the shadows and following from a distance. He didn't want to let HyunJoong out of his sights.
Mithra sighed, looking at Tablo. "I'll be around. There has to be a trace of him somewhere." With that the man was gone, like sand blown away in the wind.
JungMin looked back at KyuJong. "What now?" he asked quietly, unsure what they were supposed to do. This was a little out of their usual territory.
KyuJong was about to shrug when there was a hand on his shoulder. He looked up to see Tablo pointing at KyuJong’s finger - or rather, the ring on the finger - as if asking for permission to look at it.
“Er…” KyuJong lifted up his hand and Tablo took it, turning the ring around on the finger with a frown.
“Now…I’ll make you a new seal ring.” Tablo said with a sigh. “An ankou who can use his powers without worrying about his superiority complex will be useful.”
“Ah.” KyuJong’s face fell, before he turned and looked at JungMin. It seemed that…the truth would probably come out soon.
Looking from Tablo to KyuJong, JungMin held back a sigh. It seemed everyone had an idea of what was going on with KyuJong except for him.
"Superiority complex?" he echoed, looking at KyuJong for a better explanation. "I've been a bit out of the loop...KyuJong, please?" he asked quietly. He needed to know what was going on, and he wanted to hear it from his partner.
KyuJong bit his lip, looking down. He had never wanted JungMin to find out…but it looked like he had no choice but to tell the human now…
Looking at the scene, Tablo realized that his presence would probably only make things awkward and so, mumbling something about getting materials, he walked off, leaving the two alone.
Grateful for the privacy, KyuJong sighed before looking up at JungMin and began to explain.
“You see…JungMin…”