Losing Grip

Prologue

The night had gone relatively peaceful. The sky had been cloudy and starry and outside he could hear the chirping of the crickets and the rustle of the bamboo leaves as it played along with the gentle breeze of the wind. He really should be relaxing or being reflective by now, what with the calm feel and everything, but he can't. All because the cloud had dispersed and revealed him the moon. The bloody, bloody red moon.

As peaceful as it was outside, he was just as restless, as unsettled. The turmoil of feelings inside him was eating him whole. His heart was beating twice as fast of that of a drumbeat and his head was racing miles faster than the law allows… All because he was fucking worried.

The last time he'd seen the red moon, a dear friend, his only friend had come to him on the brink of death. He was deathly pale then and he had been injured the worse he'd ever seen him in. If not for his patient care and his friend's vast knowledge on medicine and his strong will, his silver haired friend would have never seen another daylight, or rather, he thought as he adopted his friend's way of thinking, another moonlight.

His forehead creased as he took a long drag from his pipe and blew lazy circles of smoke. Its not as if he should worry this much, his friend is very capable and very dangerous if he so desires but the fire he's playing with… It's just too strong for him to handle. More so because he's become obsessed with it.

Last time he checked on him, he had the boy and the plan was on its last stage. He really didn't approve of anything that hurts the innocent but what power does he have on his friend? For sure he'd shrug and say obscenities that humans are insects and by the time he's finished with his speech, he'll be nodding and agreeing.

This time around, he had been 'helped' by a stunning high school student with raven hair and leaf green eyes. Because he had taken advantage of his weakness, the empath had been in his grasp faster that he can say the phrase 'I order you'. His friend had been deliriously happy with his progress and had been incomprehensible except for his constant calling for his 'beloved'.

He remembered pitying the boy. He had seen that he had the potential of being great, not so long ago when they encountered and fought with the swords. The boy had a strong sense of determination and passion, and for him that's what makes a man. 

His friend had taken the boy for granted and for that he had to pay the price. He lost the opportunity he had been hunting for ages; the opportunity to raise his brother from the dead and his 'beloved' is lost to him for eternity.

He sighed as he eyed the moon; now slowly losing is brilliant red color. Its either he had succeeded or the violet eyed wonder did. He would bet his life on the latter guess. He knows for a fact that the violet eyed shinigami loves the empath and there is no doubt in his mind that he'll do anything, anything for him.

He didn't also forget the fact that Tsuzuki Asato, especially when provoked is a force of unstoppable, disastrous nature. And one way of successfully provoking him, is to hurt the green eyed empath. It's no hidden secret that he already loathed the mismatched eyed doctor but to find out that the doctor he so hates had hurt the boy… 

He shivered slightly at the thought. That was a definite way to spook your already worried self… The wind blew harder and he was more so lost in his thoughts when he heard something landed noiselessly behind him.

Swiftly withdrawing his katana he readied himself for battle, the nature of his work had kept him rich with enemies, and eyed his place with a critical stare. He wondered briefly why an idiot would try to challenge him. Its plain knowledge that he's good with the martial arts and even his customers both feared and admired him.

He stilled to listen with all his might. His instincts had been honed to perfection so it's no wonder he found the intruder in a beat of a heart. He pointed the sharp tip of his katana on where he thought the intruder's throat is. He didn't put the lights on and it was completely dark this side of the house.

"Get out of my house." He stated simply, his voice dripping with animosity.

"Is that the way you treat a friend?" A croaky voice had answered before promptly falling to his knees.

"Kazutaka?" Oriya inquired as he pulled his katana and stowed it away. He lighted the oil lamp and indeed, to his horror saw a grotesque looking Kazutaka.

Half of his face was burned, his right cheek and jaw were charred black and now that he had a good look on him, he noticed that for that matter, half his body was burned. Besides that he had numerous bruises and gashes here and there. His breathing was faint and he barely had the consciousness.

"What happened to you?!" Oriya asked him as he cradled Muraki gently in his arms and without effort, lifted him up to bring him to a room. He really didn't need to ask his friend on what happened. He can already second guess.

The burn was probably from Touda's black fire. Ordinary fire had no effect whatsoever on Muraki and he can't imagine Suzaku's fire hurting Muraki as much as did this. The bruises and gashes were probably from physical attack, undoubtedly from Tsuzuki Asato himself… but the knife injuries in his hands… it couldn't be possibly Tsuzuki, he knew he doesn't favor weapons… it's probably from the boy.

"Isn't it obvious? I'm beaten to a pulp." He said his voice faint but dripping nonetheless with sarcasm. Hmmm, he would have been surprised if Muraki had answered his question… This was more like him. Sarcasm all the way.

"This isn't funny. Haven't I told you that the fire you're playing is…"

"…Very dangerous. But don't you know that I don't play with fire unless I know it's worth playing?" Kazutaka answered with a small smile. Oriya just shook his head in wonder. When will he ever learn that whatever his friend does has an explanation and justice?

"Fine. But look at you. Next time I won't be surprised if you came in here in a matchbox." Muraki looked like he was trying to laugh but he fell into a coughing fit. Oriya shushed him down but he already fainted from exhaustion.

He clicked his tongue as he laid Muraki on a bed and proceeded to rid him of his clothes to clean him up. He felt a surge of anger in him as he saw the true extent of his injuries. Much as he knew that this is all his friend's fault, he can't help feeling hatred towards the violet eyed shinigami and his partner.

If it weren't for them… His friend wouldn't be this way either… Obsessed and on the edge of insanity. They brought him this fate… They will have to pay.

And besides, he thought as he looked at Muraki's sleeping, contorted face, he can't afford to have the golden duo have a moment's peace when his friend is in here suffering. He has to put matters in his own hands. For Kazutaka's sake.

t.b.c