The smell of rusting metal, the shouts and holler of people he doesn't even know, the cheer of men that surrounded the fenced rooms are what he saw when he opened his eyes for the first time.
Convicted murderer, that's what people on the outside call him but here, he isn't that much of a celebrity. He didn't get the glare that scrutinized every right thing he'd done throughout his lifetime. His name wasn't replaced by horrible words that made it seem like he did the wrong thing… He believed he didn't.
He sighed, calming down his nerves. He did the right thing, period. He doesn't care if people don't understand his actions. He doesn't care if everything he's done right is forgotten just because he ended someone whom everybody considered to be a hero. He did the right thing, period. And if this is how people repay him for what he's done, then so be it.
"We've got ourselves a rookie!" a tall man jeered. 'They're all just glad to see someone new' he told himself, not that he cared anyway.
They all wore the same clothing, like uniforms for a prestigious school the only difference is that they are all prisoners.
This is Hell on earth as the warden Enma told him on his orientation, he can't even take the guy seriously 'cause he's all flabby and stuff. But he knew that this place is the pride of all prisons all over the world. This place doesn't only contain people from one country but from all over the world. Mafia bosses, druglords, and the assorted likes are all here… name one they've got it.
His eyes suddenly caught of something on the farthest side of the row of cells.
An angel.
"Hakutaku! What the hell are you doing standing there again?" One of the guards behind blurted out.
The man dressed in an unbuttoned shirt turned to look at him with empty eyes and his heart skipped
"Where are you going?"
"Somewhere far away, ahaha…"
"What are you even laughing about? You think this is funny?"
"You shouldn't have done stupid things then. Let me do this… Hoozuki"
"Let you do what?"
"Let me do save you for once."
He stood there and the atmosphere shifted. Their eyes met. They were now a few feet from each other. He now wouldn't have to wonder where on earth the other is.
"You were always weak when it comes to me."
"Who said so?"
"I know so." the touch that doused his flames, the voice that reminded him of home, the memory that haunted him every day of his life… resounded in his empty soul… putting his dead emotions back to life.
Hakutaku looked back at him without a tinge of recognition. He didn't seem like himself at all… or at least he wasn't the person he used to be.
"'Ya got a prob' 'ere cap'n?" A tall tanned muscular man appeared behind 'Hakutaku' and draped an arm to declare his ownership over the man.
"J-jirou-san, sorry… I just …" the guard trembled as he looked down. Looking at the guard's reaction it seems this guy was a bigshot that even they can't touch.
"Ahh… well it seemed like you have some problems with me and my princess right here." 'Jirou' said.
Hoozuki twitched at the mention of 'princess'. When he came here, he told himself that he wouldn't care, that nothing really matters anymore, that nothing can ever hurt him - he forgot that one thing that always made him human all over again.
They separated without a wave nor a simple goodbye. He just left him the day he finally got the ring made, the day that their apartment felt so empty, the day his heart felt like someone tore it apart and then stepped on it repeatedly until nothing was left of it.
He didn't know where he went. Nobody had news of the man that stole his heart then threw all of what they had just… like… that…
Back then he was also waiting for the police to come and catch him… but they never came… and so did Hakutaku.
Hoozuki told himself that he wouldn't get involved. He would be staying here for a very long time, so he needed to keep his cool and be as invisible as possible. He would've done just that if he didn't need some explanations. If only his heart would settle. If only he didn't feel the same after two fucking years of nothing… no news… no nothing about him.
He just needs him to end it all. He just needs to be told that he was no longer needed. He just needs a little bit of closure. He just wants for his heart to not make any excuses anymore. He just wants to breathe the way he wanted to… the way he longed to.
He now knew what Enma was talking about a while ago. "There is someone you shouldn't make enemies of. There are things that he can do that we don't have any control of: Jirou Kobayashi - the international drugs and weapons smuggler. If you want to live a quiet life inside then don't stand in his way."
What has he got to lose? Is there anything else that he still holds dear? Is there anything as important as seeing that person again?
He will take what's his back and nothing can stop him. He made an enemy of this cruel world a long time ago. He never looked back because nothing else mattered.
"Princess?" Hoozuki scoffed. "So, what are you then? His prince charming or something? You don't even look the part." he looked up to challenge Jirou and the crowd went silent.
Hakutaku's eyes lit up for a moment and shot right back to him, with tears in his eyes he opened his mouth to remind Hoozuki of everything he lost, "There you go again, stupid."