Wow! Look! It's a sequel to Farther Away! Hehe. Those holding their breath can go and get CPR now. xD
Disclaimer: Dont own it...
Ryou hummed to himself, gently tapping his finger against the steering wheel of his car in time to the music that played from the stereo. Although the outside world was full of honking horns, people swearing, and petrol fumes, the inside of Ryou's car was calm and serene. Rush hour traffic… The whitenette sighed. Lovely…
He didn't mind the traffic jams though, after all, they were certainly a part of everyday life. Ryou sighed, biting his lip softly. Although I swear some of these people are slow on purpose… But Ryou didn't mind the drive, though. This year of college was his last (and hardest), and on top of that his part-time job at the café had just been extended. (Not that Ryou minded the extra money). These moments were the precious few he really had to himself. Ryou liked to relax, and think about the past.
It had been seven years since the dramas with Sadahiro and Kiyoshi, and Ryou was amazed at how much he and Bakura had grown up. Bakura, true to his word, found a part-time job as an apprentice mechanic a month after Ryou's kidnapping, and despite what he said, he enjoyed it. Well, he must have, considering that he'd been in the same garage for these past seven years. He'd risen through the ranks to become a full-time worker. Not just a full-time worker, but one of the most skilled and highly-paid workers in the garage. Bakura's high wages meant that two years ago, Ryou and Bakura were able to move into a larger two bedroom apartment closer to the Bakura's work (Although, unfortunately, was on the other side of town for Ryou's college and part-time job). And in a couple of months, Ryou would have finished his psychology degree, and get a full-time job as a therapist.
So, all in all, yeah, life was pretty good.
A smile spread across Ryou's face at the thought. Who knew that everything would end up working out so well? The whitenette bit his lip, and turned the music up higher. His building was only a block away. Go green, come on, go green... Ryou smiled softly. Finally!
Ryou drove down the street, tapping his finger to the beat. What Ryou called a 'refined taste in music,' Bakura called, 'Pansy crap.' But then again, I've heard what they blare in that garage all day long. So much heavy metal should blow their eardrums...
"Here we go." Ryou turned into the car park. I think it's so convenient, having a park underground. At the old apartment it cost so much money to park them in a meter… Ryou drove into his special slot, one of two marked with 12-B (His apartment). He slammed the door of his Toyota behind him, and grabbed his backpack. Bakura should be home in half an hour… And he'll be hungry. I need to make him something. Ryou ran across the car-park, and over to the elevator.
When Ryou unlocked the door to his apartment and pushed it open, He was met with a pleasant surprise. Bakura? The whitenette blinked at his lover, who stood in the main area of the apartment, where the kitchen, dining room, and living room were combined.
"Wh-What's going on?" Ryou gasped, his mouth falling open. "Y-You told me that you had to work tonight…" The yami chuckled, and walked towards the light, taking the backpack out of Ryou's hand and dropping it to the floor.
"I lied." He purred, before pressing his lips against Ryou's. The whitenette's eyes widened, and then he smiled. Ryou wrapped his arms fiercely around Bakura's neck when the yami broke apart, burying his head in Bakura's shirt. "I wanted to take you out. I've got some good news." Ryou blinked.
"Um… Okay…" Ryou stood away from the yami, and smoothed down a few stray hairs atop his snowy white hair. "I suppose I'd better get changed then…"
"Why?" Bakura stopped Ryou with a hand on his shoulder. "You look beautiful." The younger of the pair couldn't suppress the wide smile spreading across his face. "You do."
"You're too much." Ryou sighed, tilting his head to one side. Bakura only rolled his eyes.
"So I'm not allowed to tell the man I love how pretty he is?" Bakura looped his arm around Ryou's waist, earning a squeak from the male. "Now come on, we gotta leave now. I made reservations."
"You didn't have to get up a table here." Ryou smiled across the candlelit table at the yami. "The Chez Maurice is so expensive…" Bakura only put down his fork, and reached across the table, squeezing the light's hand.
"Nothing's too good for you, Ryou." He said softly. "Even if I laid the world at your feet, it wouldn't be enough." Ryou blushed, and looked down.
"I-I meant that, I'm not sure we can afford it." Ryou said softly. "I mean, we do live comfortably, but-"
"Yes we can." Bakura gave one of his rare smiles across the table at his white-haired lover. "I had a talk with the boss today, Ryou. I'm getting a big raise, and a Christmas bonus!" Ryou almost dropped his fork, his mouth falling open.
"A-Are you serious?" The light breathed, his eyes catching the candle flame and lighting up. Bakura only chuckled and nodded, locking fingers with Ryou. "Oh, Bakura, that's so great! Who knew that you'd be so successful?" This time, the yami blushed, very lightly, and looked down at his plate. "I'm so proud of you…" He sighed. Bakura only coughed.
"Well… It's only because half of the losers there can't tell a spanner from a wrench, I swear. Monkeys are more intelligent than them." Ryou smiled. "It keeps me busy during the day, and puts food on the table."
"Just admit you like what you do, Bakura." The whitenette sighed. "I know you do." Bakura only stuck his tongue out childishly. "Oh, how mature."
"Shut up and eat your ravioli, Ryou." Bakura smirked. Ryou giggled. "Oh… And, there is something else, too." The light blinked. "Um… You know my boss? Well… He has a vacation in a few days, and he'll be gone for just over two weeks… And guess what?"
"What?" Ryou frowned slightly. He thought he could guess, but he wanted Bakura to say it himself. The yami sighed.
"I'm taking over the garage while he's gone, so I'll be running everything." Ryou grinned. "It means longer hours, but…"
"Oh, yami, that's great!" Ryou's smile was as wide as the sky. "Oh, that's brilliant!" Bakura still held hands with Ryou, and he squeezed the long bony digits. "You're just too much…"
"I think we should get a bottle of Champagne to celebrate." Bakura announced. "What do you think, Ryou?" The light tilted his head to one side, surveying his darker half through half-lidded eyes.
"I think you're the greatest person in the whole world." He murmured with a sigh.
"Woah!" Ryou giggled as Bakura unlocked the door with his little lover in his arms. "Ba-Bakura, I-I think that-" He yelped as Bakura kicked the apartment door shut behind him, and marched across the large, but narrow apartment to their shared bedroom, holding Ryou in his arms, bridal style. Ryou squeaked as he was gently thrown on the bed, sinking into the mattress with a giggle.
"I need to piss." Bakura straightened himself and ran towards the bathroom. Ryou sighed, and rolled over.
"Charming." He murmured, and reached for the television remote, biting his lower lip. I'll be able to catch the late-night news report. Ryou rolled himself over again on the bed, and propped himself up on his elbows, before turning on the television. He switched it over to the news channel, listening to the late night news report.
"And, a little closer to home," The news reporter read. "A serial kidnapper, and one of Japans largest convicted human traffickers, Sadahiro Makoto has been granted parole, despite active protest from parents and relatives of his kidnapped victims..."
Ryou froze.
No.
No.
Tears instantly swam in his eyes, and his heart was still for a moment, before hammering desperately in his chest. OhmyGodnothisisnthappeningNonononono… Ryou started to cry as he sat up, staring blankly at the television screen.
"One of Sadahiro's victims –Who we cannot name for privacy reasons- was one of only seven victims found in Asia since his arrest, located just four years ago after being missing for almost six years. We spoke with his mother a few hours after the public announcement of Sadahiro's parole..."
"Bakura!" Ryou finally managed to get his voice working. He was sobbing in pure fear, his frail form shaking. How can this happen? How? How can they him out after what he did? He hurt so many people…
"What's going on in- Ryou?" Bakura froze when he saw the state his love was in. Ryou was almost hyperventilating, wet chocolate eyes glued to the flickering screen. "What is it?" He breathed, sitting down on the bed and opening his arms. Ryou flung himself into Bakura's chest, sobbing into his shoulder. "What happened?"
"I-I-It's…" Ryou hiccupped, barely able to speak through his tears.
"Yes?" Bakura whispered in question, gently rubbing Ryou's back.
"Sadahiro." Ryou breathed, closing his eyes. Bakura tensed, freezing.
"What about him?" His tone was abrupt, cold, and evoked more tears from the whitenette.
"He's out…." Ryou winced as Bakura's hold on him grew painfully tight. "On the news…" Bakura turned his attention to the television, and his mouth fell open.
"It is confirmed, however, that Sadahiro will not be serving parole in Domino. Authorities have revealed that he will remain in an undisclosed location several hundred miles from the city..." Bakura swallowed deeply, and fumbled for the remote. After several attempts, the yami managed to switch off the television.
"Hey…" Bakura whispered soothingly through Ryou's long hair, still rubbing his back. "It's okay, Ryou… He's on parole a long way away from here. He's going to be watched all of the time, and he'll probably go back to jail soon anyway, if people keep protesting." Ryou swallowed deeply, and Bakura gently cupped the side of his face, turning him so they met eye to eye. "And I'll be here. It's going to be okay, Ryou. It's all going to be okay." Ryou was sobbing, still hyperventilating. "Come on Ryou…" Bakura whispered. "You're tired, and you have two lectures tomorrow… I think you need to go to bed." The whitenette sniffed. "Okay?"
"O-Okay…" Ryou half-whispered, half-sobbed. Bakura sighed, and pulled back the blankets. He undressed Ryou as he cried, and tucked him in the bed. Ryou sobbed into the pillow as Bakura shut off all the lights in the apartment, and then walked back into the bedroom, undressing and climbing into the bed.
"It's going to be fine." Bakura whispered as he wrapped his arms around Ryou's slender waist, spooning him close. "He's not going to come near you."
"He said he'd get us." Ryou whispered. "H-He said…"
"Shhh…." Bakura placed a light kiss on Ryou's cheek. "He won't hurt you, I swear." Ryou sighed, still shaking in fear.
"I-I…" Ryou hiccupped again, closing his eyes. I just want to forget the whole ugly incident ever happened. Every time I think about it, I still want to cry. How can this be happening.
"Shhh…" Bakura whispered soothingly. "There's nothing to worry about." Ryou frowned.
He didn't believe Bakura.
If there was nothing to worry about, then why was Bakura shaking so hard?
"You're up early." Ryou remarked, munching on his toast. Bakura only grunted, heading straight for the coffee pot.
"I had to be." Bakura mumbled, pouring himself a cup and taking a long swig. "Now that I'm going to be running the place in a few days, I have to pull in some longer hours." Ryou nodded, and smiled, despite himself.
"You really are starting to take an interest." He sighed. Bakura opened his mouth, thought the better of it, and closed it. "It's only taken you seven years to turn into a real human being Bakura, I'm impressed." The yami only made a face, taking another swig of his coffee. Ryou looked over at Bakura, leaning against the kitchen counter in his royal blue work overalls with his name on the breast pocket. "I really am proud of you." Bakura snorted, and drained the mug.
"I'm proud of you too." He mutters, ruffling Ryou's hair as he leans down to give him a kiss. "I gotta go to work now…" Bakura grabbed his cigarettes off of the table, and stuffed them in his pocket. "Now, don't worry about Sadahiro, okay?" Ryou shook his head, and smiled. "Good." Bakura kissed the whitenette again, and lingered before pulling away.
"Have a good day." Ryou murmured softly, a small, somewhat sad look on his face.
"You too." Bakura straightened himself, grabbing his keys and leaving the apartment, closing the door behind him. Ryou sighed, and buried his face in his hands. Bakura's right. I don't have anything to worry about. Sadahiro isn't going to come near me. I'm going to be fine. The whitenette swallowed. He was still a little- well, a lot- shaken about finding out about Sadahiro's parole, but managed to shrug it off. Bakura's right. I have two lectures today and a shift at the café in the afternoon. I better get going.
"So…" Ryou asked teasingly as he stirred the pot. Bakura grunted, and closed the door behind him. He was covered in oil and crease, hair was falling out of his pony tail, and he looked exhausted. "How was your first day by yourself?" Ryou asked, turning around to face the yami.
"Tiring." Bakura muttered as he sank into a chair by the dining table. "I don't think I can keep this up for two weeks…" Ryou sighed sympathetically, and stopped stirring for a moment. He sat down beside Bakura, and held one of his hands. Although Ryou and Bakura's hands were the same colour, they looked so different. Bakura's nails were blackened, and lined with filth, hands black with oil. Ryou's were white, soft, and clean.
"I'm sure you can." Ryou smiled, placing a chaste kiss on the yami's lips. You're doubting yourself, Bakura. The first day is always the hardest, right? Well, you've gotten through that. I know you can do this." Bakura smiled faintly.
"I can always count on getting praise from you." He sighed, leaning tiredly into Ryou's chest. "What are you cooking? I'm starving." Ryou smiled.
Ryou hummed lightly to himself as he tapped the steering wheel, peering through the windshield. Light's still red… He sighed, looking down at the digital clock on the dashboard. Oh, six O'clock... the news will be on! Ryou leaned over, and switched the stereo over from CD player to radio, where he kept the news tuned in.
"And we bring an important announcement. This just in, Sadahiro Makoto, murderer and kidnapper, was granted permission for parole three weeks ago. As of three O'clock today, Sadahiro has been reported missing, and there have been no sightings of him in the area." Ryou froze. "People have been told to look out for Sadahiro, who is six foot four, with a sallow complexion and balding brown hair. He is easier to identify by the limp in his left leg-"
Ryou switched off the radio, his entire frame shaking. The light had turned green, but his car was still. Ryou felt numb, frozen in shock. He was vaguely aware of his heart pounding in his head, and the angry tooting's directed at him from outside.
Oh my God. I'm going to die.
"Bakura!"
The yami jumped, hitting his head hard.
"OW!"
"Sorry man." The brunette chuckled as Bakura rolled out from underneath the car. "But the phone's for you. It's your boyfriend." He smirked at the last word as Bakura stood up.
"What does Ryou want?" Bakura frowned as he wiped his hands on a rag. His workmate shrugged.
"Dunno… He was really upset, though." Bakura frowned, and ran into the employers lounge. He snatched up the phone, biting his lower lip.
"Hello?" Bakura asked the phone, sinking into a worn couch. He could hear Ryou crying on the other hand. "Baby? What's wrong?" He heard Ryou give out a long, shuddering sigh, and cry harder.
"I-It's Sadahiro…" He whispered. "He… He.." Bakura bit his lip.
"He what, Ryou?" The yami urged. "What's going on?" Ryou hiccupped.
"H-He's escaped…"
Bakura sighed as he sat on the edge of the bed. He looked down at Ryou, curled on his side under the sheets. His eyes were closed, the lids swollen and puffy. Bakura gently smoothed down Ryou's silky white locks, biting his lips. He'd had to drive out to Ryou, and pick him up. He was reduced to a sobbing mess, and it took hours for Bakura to console him.
Ryou whimpered, and Bakura gently ran a finger over a smooth, silky cheek. This wasn't fair. Ryou had done absolutely nothing wrong. The memories had been giving Ryou horrible nightmares at least twice a week every night for these past seven years, and it was Bakura who held him in his arms until he sobbed himself to sleep. It was Bakura who initially had helped him to regain his shattered confidence. Ryou was bedridden for almost a month, and ever since, Bakura had noticed a subtle change in the light's demeanour.
"This shouldn't be happening." Bakura muttered to himself. "How can he get out? This justice system must have been even worse than I thought…" He sighed, and walked over to the other side of the bed, stripping down and sliding between the sheets. "But don't worry, Ryou." Bakura whispered as he snuggled close to the male. "I'll always protect you from him. You have absolutely nothing to worry about.
I swear."
"There. That's him."
"Where?"
"Right there, Mamoru you idiot. Christ, he hasn't changed…"
"Oh, I see. The one in the apron?"
"Yeah… You're not that bright, are you?"
"Shut your bloody face, Kanaye." The brunette scowled, brushing a lock of chestnut hair out of his eyes. The older of the pair continued to stare through the window into the café, where Ryou was working. I'm never going to forget you, you bitch.
"His shift finishes in ten minutes." Kanaye muttered, continuing to stare at the white-haired figure. "You know what we gotta do?"
"Yes…" Mamoru rolled hazel eyes. "Nab him and make sure he's knocked out before he screams… Fuck, I can see why Makoto wanted him so bad…"
"I hate him." Kanaye muttered through clenched teeth, tightening his hands on the steering wheel. "I fucking hate him." Mamoru gave his cousin a sidelong glance, and shook his head. "What?"
"You've only met him once, Kanaye, and that was years and years ago. He probably doesn't even remember you…" The brunette scowled, his knuckled whitening.
"Shut the fuck up." Kanaye growled angrily. Mamoru looked away, biting his lip. "Look…" He pointed. "He's hanging up his apron. Get going." The black-haired man nodded, withdrawing a bottle of Chloroform from the glovebox.
Ryou sighed as he pushed open the front door, wrapping his light over shirt around him. It's cold for this hour… The boy mused as he started to walk down the street. He was so wrapped up in his own fearful thoughts that he didn't realize there was someone shadowing him. He jumped slightly as his cellphone rang in his pocket, and he paused to answer the call. Just as he pulled out the phone however, he felt a tight grasp around his bony wrist. The cellphone clattered to the concrete as Ryou let out a cry, lifting his eyes up to the person who had grabbed him. Ryou opened his mouth to scream, but before he could draw a breath, Mamoru strongly wrapped one arm around his chest, pinning his arms to his side. He pressed the Chloroform-soaked rag to Ryou's face, and started to run towards the black car, which had just pulled up beside him.
"Take you long enough?" Kanaye snarled, glaring at the now unconscious bundle in his arms. Mamoru roughly opened the back door, and threw Ryou inside, before jumping in himself, the care accelerating sharply even as he closed the door.
"People saw." The black-haired man gasped, feeling a little fuzzy from the chloroform fumes. "What if they get the number?"
"We'll ditch the car." Kanaye responded calmly, tearing through the first back alley he reached. "Is he breathing?" Mamoru leaned over the knocked out Ryou, listening for a breath.
"Yeah." He sighed, leaning against the black leather upholstery. "Is he really twenty-three?"
"Will be in a few months." Kanaye snarled. "Little bitch. I'd slit his throat now if Sadahiro didn't want him alive."
"Bakura dude, it's eight O'clock." The yami lifted his head from under the bonnet of the car, raising an eyebrow. "Shouldn't you be thinking about getting home?"
"I'd like to, Jiro." Bakura muttered. "But this car's getting picked up tomorrow, and There's a damn leak in the radiator…" Jiro smirked.
"Okay then." He headed into the employee's lounge, washing his hands. "But the ball and chain isn't going to be happy." Bakura frowned.
"Don't say that about Ryou." He scowled. "You're just jealous because I'm getting some every night and you're not." Jiro wiped his hands on the frost towel, and picked up his jacket.
"Yeah, if I was into ass, I would be." The twenty-two year old shrugged himself into the brown coat. "He's hot… For a guy…" Bakura smiled. "Hey dude, I have to get going. Don't stay here too late."
"I wont." Bakura muttered. "I tried calling Ryou earlier but he didn't answer. He's probably working late…"
"Later dude!" Jiro called as he left the garage. Bakura nodded.
"Later." He muttered, unwittingly realizing that he'd never see his younger colleague again. Bakura sighed, bending over the car once more.
It was another half hour before Bakura was distracted by a knocking on the front door. He sighed, and straightened himself, quickly wiping his hands as he walked over to the front office, and pulled the door open.
"Hello?" Bakura demanded as he opened the front door. "Um, we're closed…" The yami blinked at the pair of men who stood in the doorway. "How can I help you?"
"Oh, you can help us." Kanaye snarled, lifting the baseball bat in his right hand. Bakura's eyes widened, and he instinctively took a step back. Before he could run, or retaliate, however, The brunette swung the bat, and it connected with a sickening crack with the wide of Bakura's head. The yami barely gasped before he dropped to the concrete floor like a stone, blood already starting to stain white tangles of hair.
"Grab him, and let's get going." Kanaye snarled, looking down at the unconscious form sprawled out across the concrete.
Meh. I know it's really choppy but what are you going to do? Can you blame me for wanting to get into the good stuff. XD
R&R?